people who work in care homes for the elderly in england may have to have a covid jab or risk losing theirjob. this is a really difficult position to be in and, ideally, we want everybody to be able to make their own individual choices, but i think the focus for us is that we need to provide the best protection for those people who are most vulnerable. the prime minister's former top advisor dominic cummings has released a whatsapp message he says was from borisjohnson, describing the health secretary as "hopeless". the us and russian presidents meet for the first time. joe biden and vladmir putin shake hands before sitting down for talks. prices are rising at their fastest rate for two years — because we've been spending more as lockdowns eased. a nine—year—old boy's written a letter to the prime minister asking for a medical cannabis prescription, that he hopes will make a difference to his epileptic brother. i hope it does very because this

will impact lots of families and change the world, hopefully. coming u - , change the world, hopefully. coming u, how change the world, hopefully. coming up. how have — change the world, hopefully. coming up, how have different _ change the world, hopefully. coming up, how have different parts - change the world, hopefully. coming up, how have different parts of- change the world, hopefully. coming up, how have different parts of the l up, how have different parts of the uk adapted to the an precedented situation of the pulse 15 months? today, we are in lincoln speaking to businesses, residents and visitors. and wales prepare to play turkey in their crucial second game in the euros — kick—off is just a few good afternoon. staff who look after elderly people in england's care homes will have to get a covid jab or risk losing theirjob, the bbc understands. ministers are expected to announce that workers must be vaccinated within 16 weeks, and those who refuse could be moved from front line care. consultations will begin on a similar rule for other people working in the health sector.

managers of care homes have warned they already face problems recruiting staff. jim reed reports. just relax that arm as much as you can... vaccines, say the government, are the way out of this pandemic. back in december, sarah, a care home manager, was one of the first to be given the jab in newcastle. ministers though have been consulting on whether to go much further and make vaccines compulsory for all care home staff in england. it's clearly very important that we protect vulnerable people in our care homes. we've been looking as a government about what more we can do, in terms of making sure staff are vaccinated. it's obviously important that everybody gets vaccinated. it is key to dealing with covid. but also enabling us to open up the economy. it is not officially confirmed yet but the bbc understands the government will soon go ahead and make those jabs mandatory

for the 1.5 million people working in the sector. the latest statistics show that across england, 84% of adult care workers have had one dose of the vaccine and almost 69% have had both jabs. it's thought ministers have particular concerns about low take—up in some areas. in manchester, for example, just 73% of staff have had a first dose, with 51% a second. a government source said making the covid jab mandatory for care staff would save lives. other health officials are cautious but supportive. we know that we provide vaccinations for other aspects of health care. for example, a surgeon has to have a hepatitis b vaccination to protect the patient so it is something we have done before. personally, if my mum was in a care setting, i would want to make sure all the people working with her had the same level of protection so they were able to protect her. but any move to make the jabs

compulsory will be controversial. the industry is warning it could cause real difficulties in a sector that already struggles to recruit enough workers. we would very much like to see everybody vaccinated. of course we would. but this compulsion at this stage may not be the right thing to do when we have the vacancies that we have, when we know there are challenges ahead of us. we just need to think very carefully about the implications of this. under government plans, it's thought care workers will be given 16 weeks to have the jab, be redeployed or risk losing theirjob. a consultation will also start on extending the policy to other nhs staff, including doctors and nurses, working on the front line. jim reed, bbc news. our social affairs correspondent alison holt has more on the controversy surrounding the decision. it is controversial because they fear if you bring in the element of compulsion,

that will make it even more difficult to recruit staff and they really have serious problems in terms of recruitment. there are vacancies of about 112,000 people in england, and the fear is they will go somewhere else. so there is real nervousness about that and i would expect that is something that will need to be addressed. how do you make sure that you keep the workforce in place, or a workforce in place in care homes where there are low levels of ta ke—up? you don't want everyone going. but there is generally good take—up across the sector. we saw injim's report, there, 84% across the sector. it is just the patches where that is proving stubborn, it is proving difficult to persuade people. one of the things the care organisations, the care sector is calling for, is for much more persuasion, information, answering questions, and i think that will be the pressure if this is rolled out for consultation, as we expect, for health and wider care staff.

the government wants to vaccinate all adults as quickly as possible. but constraints on the supply of the pfizer vaccine mean ministers can't speed up the process. 0ur health correspondent nick triggle said there's a limit to how quickly the under 40s can be vaccinated. the actually —— there is actually plenty of vaccine doses in the country but the problem is, it is the wrong type of vaccine. there is thought to be a stockpile of around 5 million doses of the astrazeneca vaccine but the under 40s, r, as you mentioned, being given the pfizer and moderna vaccines so there is plenty of vaccine available to give the second doses to people in their 40s and 50s but there is a limit to how quickly the government can vaccinate the under 40s. we are getting around 1.5 million doses of the pfizer and moderna vaccines imported into the country each week

and the government is confident about those supply lines. they believe there is enough to do the remaining under 40s by the 19th of july but we can't start the second doses until after that, and the pfizer vaccine will also be the vaccine that will be used to vaccinate children, if that is given the green light. so that has an implication for when that could start and how quickly that can be done. ministers have always said supply of vaccination is the rate—limiting factor and that is clear, that is more true now as we approach the end of the roll—out thanit approach the end of the roll—out than it has ever been. borisjohnson�*s former top aide, dominic cummings, has published what he says are messages he received from the prime minister, in which mrjohnson described the health secretary as "hopeless". mr cummings has blamed matt hancock forfailings during the pandemic, and said he should have been sacked. let's speak to our political correspondent, iain watson.

they are quite right, aren't they, some of the messages? the? they are quite right, aren't they, some of the messages? they are, so we have to — some of the messages? they are, so we have to be _ some of the messages? they are, so we have to be careful— some of the messages? they are, so we have to be careful what _ some of the messages? they are, so we have to be careful what we - some of the messages? they are, so we have to be careful what we say, i we have to be careful what we say, martin, and perhaps not quote exactly verbatim from some of these messages which have emerged in a new blog, a new pile of material from dominic cummings. as you know, he appeared before mps dominic cummings. as you know, he appeared before mstust dominic cummings. as you know, he appeared before mps just last month and made a whole series of accusations about matt hancock, including that he had lied to the prime minister about testing in care homes. matt hancock himself appeared before mps and said he had not lied and he was always pretty straight with people. so those mps including the former health secretaryjeremy hunt have been pushing dominic cummings to produce a material, some evidence to back up his assumption. we still only have a partial picture today, a weighty document but still only a partial picture including three whatsapp messages which dominic cummings says our exchanges between him and the prime minister which are of interest. again, downing street has not confirmed

whether these are correct and we don't get to see the full messages but as you say, they are very ripe indeed so let's look at the first one, where dominic cummings is complaining about slow progress of testing and it appears that the prime minister suggests matt hancock is hopeless, and he uses, as you were perhaps suggesting, martin, an anglo—saxon expletive to emphasise this view. in the second whatsapp message, mr cummings alleges that the health officials have been turning down ventilators because the price had gone up. the prime minister seems to blame matt hancock himself and says in terms, he has been hopeless. and in the third of these exchanges come again, if the message is genuine, the prime minister seems to think the provision of ppe has been a disaster and contemplates replacing matt hancock with michael gove. dominic cummings thinks that might make matters worse, though. what is interesting about all of this, i think, is that if these are genuine

exchanges, it shows some of the chaos that was going on inside government around march and april last year, when the pandemic struck. but there's a whole series of other allegations in dominic cummings' dossier are as well. he says for example that the current border policy, which was raised by sir keir starmer at pmqs, is a joke, and has allowed the delta variant to spread but said in effect there was no border policy betweenjanuary but said in effect there was no border policy between january and march last year because at that time, the strategy was for herd immunity, a strategy which he had to push, he says, very hard to overturn and because of that, a whole range of other things didn't happen. there was no testing, for example. he claims matt hancock was taking credit for a testing regime but in fact it was number ten that were pushing the big increase in testing. he is also very suspicious, i think it needs to be said, on the question of whether people got the treatment they needed. matt hancock said they did, the nhs was not overwhelmed but

again, he points us towards graphs which show such a high rate of mortality during the first wave. so he is questioning that as well. all of which is embarrassing for the government but of course, dominic cummings is well known for his trip to durham whilst family members were displaying symptoms of covid, of coronavirus, at the time, so some people perhaps might not take all of his allegations desperately seriously. therefore, ithink his allegations desperately seriously. therefore, i think what he wanted to do today was put some of this in the public domain in black and white and we're still waiting for the official downing street response. labour's response is quite simply this, that if indeed the prime ministerfelt is quite simply this, that if indeed the prime minister felt matt hancock was useless, why is he still in office now?— was useless, why is he still in office now? , , ., office now? let me help you with that resoonse — office now? let me help you with that response form _ office now? let me help you with that response form downing - office now? let me help you with i that response form downing street because while we have been talking, reuters have just posted some responses from the prime minister's spokesman, saying he does not plan to engage with every allegation that

is made. "0urfocus is on delivering for the public". it goes on to say the prime minister has full confidence in the health secretary and finishes off by saying that the prime minister himself has said before, it is utter nonsense that he will step down early. so they are kind of batting this away a bit, aren't they?— aren't they? yes, there was a briefin: aren't they? yes, there was a briefing for — aren't they? yes, there was a briefing for political _ aren't they? yes, there was a | briefing for politicaljournalists going on even as we were speaking so thatis going on even as we were speaking so that is where those lines have been emerging from and that is where downing street would make its response. i did not even get to that particular bit of the dominic cummings blog before the response but he also said the prime minister had a clear plan to step down within two years of the next general election so they have engaged with that bit. they are suggesting that is not necessarily the case but obviously, they are engaging far less with the contents of these whatsapp messages but i am noting in that response he read out that they were not denying that these were genuine and they were not denouncing them as partial accounts at the time. in terms of substance, though,

the prime minister is backing matt hancock but if you look elsewhere in this rather weighty blog that dominic cummings posted just before pmqs, he is suggesting that both the prior minister and matt hancock were in an 0rwellian row away trying to rewrite history to claim they never had backed, for example, herd immunity or that in fact they had never really been a ppe shortage, both of which he says are untrue. 7000 words, i believe, in the blood, if anyone's got the time to read it. thank you very much, for the moment, iain watson in westminster. joe biden is meeting the russian leader, vladimir putin, for the first time since he became us president. relations between the two countries are at their lowest ebb in decades. mr biden has previously described mr putin as a "killer". 0ur correspondent sarah rainsford sent this report from geneva. it began with a handshake and smiles but these are adversaries, not friends. joe biden, after all,

has called vladimir putin a killer. inside, the body language was stiff. the us president asked for this summit to warn moscow over its malign activity. but the meeting put russia's president front and centre on the global stage. vladimir putin has a long history with us presidents but the relationship has gone from warm to cool, even awkward. barack 0bama did try a reset but russia's annexation of crimea put paid to that. moscow then had big hopes for donald trump, but accusations that the kremlin helped get him elected dogged relations from the very start. their summit three years ago in helsinki was seen by many as a disasterfor the us, as mr trump said he trusted mr putin's claims of innocence over his own intelligence agents'. president putin, hejust said it's not russia. i will say this — i don't see any reason why it would be. vladimir putin has metjoe biden before, a decade ago,

when the american supposedly told the russian he "didn't have a soul". this time, they may agree to begin proper talks about arms control at the very least. cybersecurity�*s on the agenda too — the new battleground. ukraine, syria — the list of flashpoints is long. but don't expect mr putin to give any ground on the fate of this man, alexei navalny, the opposition politician first poisoned with a nerve agent and now in prison. ahead of this encounter here in geneva, both russia and the us have been really playing down expectations. there will be no breakthrough in relations. the hostility is here to stay. perhaps the best both sides can hope for is to stop things getting any worse. but during around five hours of talks in this swiss mansion, there'll be no shared meal and no joint appearance at the end of it all. joe biden's aim of stable and predictable relations seems unlikely, then.

cooling the temperature perhaps a more attainable goal. sarah rainsford, bbc news, geneva. let's get more from our correspondent mark lowen, who's in geneva. if the relation between them is a god, what is the point of meeting? is it about not turning down an opportunity to meet your opposite number? i opportunity to meet your opposite number? ~ ., ., number? i think vladimir putin would not have wanted _ number? i think vladimir putin would not have wanted to _ number? i think vladimir putin would not have wanted to turn _ number? i think vladimir putin would not have wanted to turn down - number? i think vladimir putin would not have wanted to turn down the - not have wanted to turn down the invitation to a summit because of the mere fact ofjoe biden wanting to hold a summit with him in the first place gave vladimir putin the kind of position on the centre of the world stage that he wanted. in terms of whyjoe biden decided to hold the summit, well, in the words of the white house press secretary when she was asked about it, she said, this is how diplomacy works. you have to engage with adversaries, evenif you have to engage with adversaries, even if you don't agree with them. clearly, vladimir putin is not going

anywhere. this is the fifth us president whom he is seeing, and america needs to engage with russia even though there are plenty of areas of disagreement and friction, as you heard in the report. but there are some areas where they would hope to try to reach agreement. sarah talked about the possibility of containment on nuclear weapons. they will try to reach agreement in some element on climate change. they might try to replace their respective ambassadors, who has been recalled. they may try to talk about the iranian nuclear deal. these are two major world players that have to engage even though they are not on the same page on most issues, quite frankly. for the same page on most issues, quite frankl . ., ., ., ~' ministers have been warned the uk is woefully unprepared to deal with the effects of climate change. a report by the experts who advise the government says global warming will hit the country harder than first thought — with more severe heatwaves,

and heavier rain. they say homes, infrastructure and services must be ready to withstand hotter temperatures, as well as flooding. here's our science correspondent david shukman. is the uk ready for more of this? floods, storms and other extremes. the government's climate advisers have assessed what's in store for us and they're worried. they reckon the country is not properly geared up for the hazards to come. with temperatures set to rise globally and in the uk, wildfires and heatwaves will become more common, and the advisers say this isn't something for the distant future — it's already happening here and now. we only have to look back to last summer, when we had six days in august when temperatures in the south—east were 10 degrees above normal. i mean, that's extraordinary and that's impacts of climate change hitting us now in the uk. and it's going to get worse.

they highlight met office projections for how the uk could heat up. first, by 2050, in an optimistic scenario, and then by 2080, if little is done to stop the gases that are driving up temperatures, and this would affect everyone. power supplies could become more vulnerable, the advisers say, put at risk by more violent weather, just when everyone will be relying on electricity for their cars. and homes across the country will also feel the heat — literally, never designed for temperatures on the scale forecast, and experts say many people are having trouble staying cool right now. most of the people that contact us, they are just at their wits' end. when it's in your home and you can't escape the heat and you can't sleep at night, and particularly with flats in london, you're having to make a judgment between — do i leave the windows open and not sleep because it's noisy, or do i close the windows and then not sleep because i'm overheating?

another risk is more landslides, like this one last year. so, what's the government's response? it says the uk is a world leader in tackling climate change and that its planning does take account of the latest science. but it also says it will study what the report has to say. david shukman, bbc news. well, we can speak now to the green party mp caroline lucas. thank you forjoining us. the government says that we are going to build back better and build back greener after the pandemic. what signs are you seeing that that is the case? , ., ., , the case? very few, unfortunately, and i the case? very few, unfortunately, and i think— the case? very few, unfortunately, and i think this _ the case? very few, unfortunately, and i think this report _ the case? very few, unfortunately, and i think this report makes - the case? very few, unfortunately, and i think this report makes very i and i think this report makes very clear this is a government that is strong on warm words but very weak on delivery. that is the trouble because the prime minister will bandy around the latest targets that he has adopted but the trouble is, if you don't have the policy is to deliver those targets, they are essentially meaningless. so we have

got a government that for example is still pressing ahead with a £27 billion road—building scheme they boast that will be the biggest road—building scheme in england, huge numbers of emissions and yet not seeing any kind of connection between that and the growing climate crisis that is happening all around us. the government needs to listen to this report. it is a devastating report. it points out we have not seen anything like enough ambition in terms of actual action on the ground and it needs to do so, fast. how much more palatable would the road—building programme be if we were driving electric cars? road-building programme be if we were driving electric cars?- were driving electric cars? electric cars, for were driving electric cars? electric cars. for sure. _ were driving electric cars? electric cars, for sure, are _ were driving electric cars? electric cars, for sure, are part _ were driving electric cars? electric cars, for sure, are part of - were driving electric cars? electric cars, for sure, are part of the - cars, for sure, are part of the solution but we can't simply look at the number of cars on the roads today and say we simply want to turn all of those into electric vehicles and that will be fine. we need a massive investment in public transport. we need to leave more areas of our very crowded country open for nature recovery and restoration because we know not only is that good for our physical and

mental health but it is also good in terms of sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. we simply can't have a situation where we cover the country in yet more roads, whether we are driving electric vehicles on them or indeed petrol ones. let’s them or indeed petrol ones. let's look at this _ them or indeed petrol ones. let's look at this from _ them or indeed petrol ones. let's look at this from a _ them or indeed petrol ones. let's look at this from a more - them or indeed petrol ones. let's look at this from a more optimistic perspective, if we can. what are the opportunities here in terms of investment and the development of so—called greenjobs? it isn't all bad news, is it? so-called green “obs? it isn't all bad news, is it?— bad news, is it? well, you are certainly _ bad news, is it? well, you are certainly right _ bad news, is it? well, you are certainly right to _ bad news, is it? well, you are certainly right to point - bad news, is it? well, you are certainly right to point to - bad news, is it? well, you are certainly right to point to the l bad news, is it? well, you are i certainly right to point to the fact that there is an opportunity here, if the government were to grasp it. we know the chancellor is going to have to put quite a lot of money into the economy in the coming months in order to recoverfrom the pandemic and all of the evidence shows that if you put that money into nature recovery, into environmentaljobs, that is the fastest way of getting us out of the economic difficulties that we face and it is certainly the fastest way to create jobs. that is why we need to create jobs. that is why we need to see the government properly investing in the green recovery and

that means jobs in everything a constituency. for example, why has the government scrapped the only programme that there was to insulate people's homes? the green homes grant was meant to be a flagship programme of this government, insulating people's times, retrofitting them with other kinds of tools in order to make them more energy—efficient and so forth and yet they just scrapped it, energy—efficient and so forth and yet theyjust scrapped it, and yet, that would have created hundreds of thousands ofjobs in every constituency of the country. so even when there are very obvious things to do, things that have very good paybackin to do, things that have very good payback in terms of finance but also in terms ofjobs and getting our climate emissions down, it frankly beggars belief that the government still isn't doing them. {lit beggars belief that the government still isn't doing them.— still isn't doing them. of course, a lot of it requires _ still isn't doing them. of course, a lot of it requires policy _ still isn't doing them. of course, a lot of it requires policy and - lot of it requires policy and legislation and leadership but it also requires action by us as individuals. how well—informed do you think we are as a nation about what life is going to have to look like if we are going to get on top

of this properly?— like if we are going to get on top of this properly? well, i would say we are not — of this properly? well, i would say we are not well-informed - of this properly? well, i would say we are not well-informed enough | of this properly? well, i would say i we are not well-informed enough and we are not well—informed enough and if you think about some of the public information campaigns that have been around now in recent months, around the covid pandemic, you know, that is the same kind of communication and more that we need around the climate crisis and i suppose some good news is that when people do have the information and the evidence, for example, through the evidence, for example, through the process of so—called citizens assemblies, where a completely representative group of people, including people who don't care much about climate change, come together and hear the evidence, then they come up with policies that are far bolder and more ambitious than anything the government is coming up with. so when people have that information, they are very happy to try to make the changes needed and they want the government to put in place a more enabling policy framework to make those changes, so for example, making public transport more affordable, making sure that if you live in a village in a remote area, that you still have public transport options into the evening,

for example, so if the government makes it easy for people to make the changes necessary, all the evidence suggests that when people have the information, they are certainly up for making those changes stop at caroline lucas, the green party mp, thank you. this week on bbc news, we're reporting from across the uk to find out what you think about life during and after the pandemic and the impact it's had on your businesses and communities. we'll be hearing from residents of all these locations throughout the week. yesterday, we visited the city of london, and tomorrow, we'll be in taunton. the historic city of lincoln is a hit with tourists, but businesses in the city and surrounding countryside have had to adapt to new restrictions over the past 15 months. 0ur presenter annita mcveigh is there. she drew the long straw. it looks a very nice day to be visiting. it absolutely is, my freckles are coming on a treat stop lots of sun cream required. and this glorious

sunshine is really showing of the city at its very best today, i'm in the cornell quarter and talking to a range of local people about different issues, from farmers to djs, live venues, students, and let's talk now about the wedding industry and of course, look at all the couples, in common with couples around the uk, who have had their big day on hold. with me now as a bride to be, and herfiance, and you are now on to your fourth wedding day, rachel? are now on to your fourth wedding day. rachel?— are now on to your fourth wedding i day, rachel?_ tell day, rachel? yes, number four. tell us a bit, day, rachel? yes, number four. tell us a bit. give — day, rachel? yes, number four. tell us a bit. give us _ day, rachel? yes, number four. tell us a bit, give us a _ day, rachel? yes, number four. tell us a bit, give us a potted _ day, rachel? yes, number four. tell us a bit, give us a potted history. . us a bit, give us a potted history. we were originally meant to get married last may and i think no one has ever experienced a global pandemic before so we were quite hopeful it would be done a lot quicker than it has been so we changed the date initially to august last year, then to april this year and now it is august again. august the 19th, so _ and now it is august again. august the 19th, so exactly _ and now it is august again. august the 19th, so exactly one _ and now it is august again. august the 19th, so exactly one month, i and now it is august again. august | the 19th, so exactly one month, we believe, after the final restrictions should come to an end in england so hopefully, all things being well, you can have as many

people as you want, evening entertainment and so on. how much of a difference will that make to you to be able to do that, to have the full works? it to be able to do that, to have the full works?— full works? it will make a huge difference. _ full works? it will make a huge difference, i— full works? it will make a huge difference, ithink— full works? it will make a huge difference, i think everyone . difference, i think everyone pictures their wedding day being one of the best days of their life and there's lots of elements that come with that so to have the normal wedding day would just be fantastic for us. wedding day would 'ust be fantastic for us. . , ., wedding day would 'ust be fantastic for us. ., i. .,, wedding day would 'ust be fantastic for us. ., y., ., , wedding day would 'ust be fantastic forus. ., ., , ., for us. have you lost money through this process. — for us. have you lost money through this process, the _ for us. have you lost money through this process, the cancellations - for us. have you lost money through this process, the cancellations and l this process, the cancellations and rebutting is? irate this process, the cancellations and rebutting is?— rebutting is? we have been quite luc in rebutting is? we have been quite lucky in that _ rebutting is? we have been quite lucky in that a — rebutting is? we have been quite lucky in that a lot _ rebutting is? we have been quite lucky in that a lot of _ rebutting is? we have been quite lucky in that a lot of the - rebutting is? we have been quite lucky in that a lot of the supplies| lucky in that a lot of the supplies have been able to move with us to the new dates. the biggest blow we had was the deposit we lost on the photographers. a photographer is quite a personal thing to choose, the style of photos you are looking for so to find a new one was a challenge as well. but luckily now we are getting married on a weekday, there's lots more availability of photographers so we were able to find someone you but we lost some money through the process, yes, which is unfortunate. we money through the process, yes, which is unfortunate.— which is unfortunate. we were chattina which is unfortunate. we were chatting earlier _ which is unfortunate. we were chatting earlier and _ which is unfortunate. we were chatting earlier and you - which is unfortunate. we were chatting earlier and you were l which is unfortunate. we were - chatting earlier and you were saying you can't quite fully relax and look forward to the big day in the way that you would like to. this whole process, the cancellations and

re—bookings must be incredibly stressful. re-bookings must be incredibly stressful. , ., , re-bookings must be incredibly stressful. , , stressful. yes, it has been incredibly _ stressful. yes, it has been incredibly stressful. - stressful. yes, it has been incredibly stressful. it - stressful. yes, it has been incredibly stressful. it is l stressful. yes, it has been - incredibly stressful. it is meant to be an enjoyable process, planning your wedding and especially now, with eight weeks to go, it is meant to be a really enjoyable time but there is that kind of anxiety and feeling of being unsettled because we still don't know how it's going to look at what plans we can make. it depends on the 19th ofjuly. but if we aet it depends on the 19th ofjuly. but if we get to _ it depends on the 19th ofjuly. but if we get to that date and the final restrictions that you, do you think you will relax then and enjoy the final few weeks before? you will relax then and en'oy the final few weeks before? absolutely, i will be watching _ final few weeks before? absolutely, i will be watching the _ final few weeks before? absolutely, i will be watching the tv _ final few weeks before? absolutely, i will be watching the tv with - final few weeks before? absolutely, i will be watching the tv with bated | i will be watching the tv with bated breath on the 19th, hoping everything goes as planned. you and so many cooples _ everything goes as planned. you and so many couples around _ everything goes as planned. you and so many couples around the - everything goes as planned. you and so many couples around the uk. - so many couples around the uk. rachel, on behalf of the bbc, let me wish you and matt a wonderful day. i know you said you are going to get married on that day no matter what happens, that is going to be the big day so we wish you the very best. good luck to all of the couples who

have had to rebook their big day so many times and deal with all the disruption. laterthis many times and deal with all the disruption. later this hour, many times and deal with all the disruption. laterthis hour, because the bbc has unparalleled access to our experts right around the uk, i will be talking to some of our colleagues from bbc radio lincolnshire to get their thoughts on what the pandemic has been like for the area and the challenges ahead. back to you. i hope you have a parasol handy. trio. i hope you have a parasol handy. no, i hope you have a parasol handy. no, i left it at home, _ i hope you have a parasol handy. iirr, i left it at home, funnily enough but i've got an umbrella. it might work. it but i've got an umbrella. it might work. , ., �* ., work. it might but don't encourage it to rain any _ work. it might but don't encourage it to rain any sooner— work. it might but don't encourage it to rain any sooner than - it to rain any sooner than necessary. we will speak to you later. annita mcveigh in lincoln, there. now it's time for a look at the weather with ben rich. hello. the weather is set to turn more turbulent for some of us, especially in those southern and eastern areas that have been so hot and humid today. there is a risk of thunderstorms through tonight and tomorrow. some torrential downpours for some. the thunderstorms drifting up from northern france, moving across the channel islands, and then getting into southern

and eastern areas as we head through this evening and tonight. they will be quite hit and miss. some places will avoid them and stay pretty much dry but others will have some pretty intense downpours, especially across the far south—east of england, drifting up into east anglia as well. further north and west, you will wonder what all the fuss is about. more dry weather, some clear spells and quite a fresh feel up towards the far north—west of scotland. nine in stornoway. 18 in london, with some really humid and quite muggy conditions here. and more heavy, thundery downpours drifting across parts of england, maybe east wales, through tomorrow. northern ireland and scotland staying largely dry with some spells of sunshine. still quite humid to the south—east. cooler and fresher further north and west. hello, this is bbc news, with martine croxall. the headlines — people who work in care homes for the elderly in england may have to have a covid jab — or risk losing theirjob.

downing street says the prime minister has full confidence in the health secretary, after boris johnson's former top advisor dominic cummings released a text message, in which the pm appeared to describe matt hancock as "hopeless". the us and russian presidents meet for the first time — joe biden and vladmir putin shake hands, before sitting down for talks. prices are rising at their fastest rate for two years, because we've been spending more as lockdowns eased. a nine—year—old boy's written a letter to the prime minister, asking for a medical cannabis prescription that he hopes will make a difference to his epileptic brother. sport now, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's lizzie. good afternoon. we're starting at the euros, where all eyes will be on wales later this afternoon, as they play their second group game against turkey, who lost their opening game. wales drew their first match, so a win tonight will give them a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

it is being played in azerbaijan again. it will be more like a home game for the turkish, who have a huge population in baku. 30,000 fans are expected to be there to support them, but the former wales manager mark hughes insists the atmosphere can only help. wales's performance, certainly against the swiss, there was a bit of a lack of edge to their play, and i think that might have something to do with the fact that they said the stadium was for all intents and purposes barely full. so i think, given that we are going to have a huge crowd up against us, almost everybody within the stadium will be against us, i think we can lose that to our own end. —— use that to our own end. finland are playing for the first time since their match against denmark, in which christian eriksen had a heart attack. they're taking on russia in st petersburg. before the game, the finland players wore shirts bearing the words, "get well, christian". awin a win will guarantee them a place in the next round today and they thought they were in front early on

but this header was ruled off—side. these are live pictures from that match. still goalless, just over half an hour on the clock. it has been a lively match, though. russia, who lost their opening game to belgium 3—0 will be desperate for a win, and it has been kind of end to end. they've had several chances but goalless as i say at the moment in saint petersburg. well, while we focus on the euros, next season's premier league fixtures are already out, and champions manchester city will travel to tottenham in the first round of matches, which could be made even more interesting if harry kane ends up moving to city in the summer. the first games will take place on the 14th of august, and newly—promoted brentford will host arsenal in their first top—flight game in over 70 years. andy murray and venus williams have both been given wildcards for wimbledon, which starts at the end of this month. murray won his first singles match on grass for three years yesterday, beating frenchman benoit paire at queens in straight sets. it's his latest comeback,

following his hip resurfacing operation two years ago. murray has been hampered with subsequent injuries and bad luck — he missed the australian open in february after testing positive for covid. meanwhile, these are live pictures from queens, which is on bbc two, as cameron norrie plays his second round match against russia's aslan karatsev. he's just taken the first set 7—5. norrie is one of four british players in the second round of queens — the first time that's happened for 16 years. the england and wales cricket board have apologised after being unable to provide a fresh wicket for england women's one—off test match against india, which started this morning. the fixture is being played at bristol's county ground, which hosted a men's twenty20 match on friday night. england have won the toss and are batting first — the latest score from bristol is england are 116—1. tammy beaumont is still at the crease on a half century. britian's silver medal winning 0lympic swimmer siobhan—marie 0'connor has announced she's been forced to retire

at the age of 25, as a result of her ulcerative colitis condition. she was diagnosed with the chronic inflammatory bowel disease, aged 16. despite numerous setbacks, and several spells in hospital, she defied all expectations during a decade of senior international swimming for great britain. the reason i'm retiring is because my bodyjust can't do it any more, and my health has unfortunately taken a backward step, and thatjust meant that i couldn't compete at trials. but i look back and i feel so grateful for the fact that i was able to do what i did with that condition, and i can look back on my career and say i achieved everything that i set out to achieve, which is a lovely feeling. that is all the sport for now. lizzie, thank you very much, see you in a while. brexit minister lord frost has said that support for the northern ireland protocol

has eroded, as he appeared before mps this morning, to be questioned over trade difficulties between northern ireland and britain. arguments between the eu and the uk about the post—brexit status of northern ireland have intensified over the last few weeks, with authorities in northern ireland struggling to deal with demand, and the sheer amount of checks required on goods entering northern irish ports from great britain. with me is our reality check correspondent chris morris. so what are the possible solutions? because it has been rumbling on for quite awhile. it because it has been rumbling on for quite awhile-— quite awhile. it has been rumbling on for quite _ quite awhile. it has been rumbling on for quite a _ quite awhile. it has been rumbling on for quite a while. _ quite awhile. it has been rumbling on for quite a while. most - quite awhile. it has been rumbling on for quite a while. most of - quite awhile. it has been rumbling on for quite a while. most of the l on for quite a while. most of the trade that is difficult is the trade in field —— in food, because you have to do lots of checks on food and the eu rules are very strict. so there are a couple of different proposals out there for the way this could be reduced. what the eu has suggested is in agreement a little bit like the one it has with switzerland. so that's another neighbouring country, which is close and does a lot of trade with the uk,

and does a lot of trade with the uk, and the agreement with switzerland will basically mean that the uk would follow all eu food hygiene rules, and if those rules change, it would have to follow those rules as well, it would have to change automatically, and the eu said that would make 80% of all the checks needed at the moment disappear. so it sounds like a good solution. the trouble is it does mean the uk following all of the eu's food hygiene rules, and if you recall, brexit was kind of about not following the eu rules. so lord frost again this morning in front of the northern ireland committee ruled that out, saying we are not interested in doing that. there is also i suppose the that it could it more difficult to do a trade deal in the future with the united states, if you are following eu rules on food, although at the moment a trade deal with the united states is not one of president bitin's big priorities. it feels like now it is quite a long way off but basically the eu position is this is what we should do, just follow our rules in the uk are saying no.— should do, just follow our rules in the uk are saying no. what does the uk government _ the uk are saying no. what does the uk government want, _ the uk are saying no. what does the uk government want, then? -

the uk are saying no. what does the uk government want, then? the - the uk are saying no. what does the uk government want, then? the ukj uk government want, then? the uk government — uk government want, then? the uk government would _ uk government want, then? the uk government would like _ uk government want, then? the uk government would like the - uk government want, then? the uk government would like the eu - uk government want, then? the uk government would like the eu to - uk government want, then? the uk government would like the eu to be| uk government want, then? the uk | government would like the eu to be a lot more flexible and one of the things it has suggested is a deal along the lines of the one the eu has with new zealand. now, it's a lot further away, so there is a lot less trade, but what it means is, roughly, i agree to recognise your rules as equivalent to mine and you do the same. so we say, yes, it's pretty much the same, it's all going to be fine. the problem of that is it wouldn't get away with nearly as many checks. you'd have to do a series of bespoke deals on individual thing so it is a lot more complicated, and the difficulty is at the moment if you want to sort of try and negotiate this big, complex agreement, you need a bit of trust. and as we saw at the g7 and as we have seen before, trust is in pretty short supply, so i guess you can sort of summarise things by saying that the eu is saying to the uk, you must impairment the law. the uk are saying to the eu, you have to be a lot more flexible, and i think we have a clip we can listen to have lord frost this morning setting out an example of that.

the way that the protocol is being operated is not, in our view, consistent with the intentions of us as negotiators. and to take one point to illustrate it in a concrete way, it is simply not enough for people to point to the provision in the protocol which says that the union customs code should apply, because there's also a provision in the protocol, article 6.2, which says that everybody, both sides, should do their best to minimise checks and controls in the ports of northern ireland. so, obviously, that provision cannot be read straight. and it's a matter ofjudgment as to whether both sides are exercising the responsibility, under article 6.2. so it is not a simple black and white question. lord frost. so where does this go to next, then, because we have sort of joke, but it's not funny, about

sausage wars, and sometimes you try and buy something and it was say at the top of a website, we can't export at the moment to northern ireland. it's very difficult for some businesses. it ireland. it's very difficult for some businesses.— ireland. it's very difficult for some businesses. , some businesses. it is. the sausage war issue is — some businesses. it is. the sausage war issue is a _ some businesses. it is. the sausage war issue is a big — some businesses. it is. the sausage war issue is a big one, _ some businesses. it is. the sausage war issue is a big one, because - war issue is a big one, because under eu law, you cannot import into the eu, now that northern ireland is following eu rules, it is meant to include northern ireland, you can't import chilled meat. frozen meat, 0k, frozen sausages but not chilled meat. those of the rules, there has been a grace period for six months, which expires at the end of this month. now, lord frost says this morning that he has asked the eu for that grace period to be extended, while they continue to discuss a solution. if the eu doesn't agree to that, there is a prospect of the uk once again taking unilateral action, and that's when you start to escalate things. we take unilateral action, they increase the legal challenges that they've already begun, and, pretty soon, you could begun, and, pretty soon, you could be staring down the barrel of a

proper trade war about northern ireland, which could include, and we are a way from this yet, but it could get to the stage of the eu saying, we are going to start imposing on the forms of tariffs and other goods because you're not following the rules in northern ireland. this is happening at the beginning ofjune, beginning of july, just as northern ireland starts to get into its very sensitive marching season. so we know it has already raised the temperature uncomfortably politically, and both sides say in public they are very keen not to raise it any further but it does mean they need to find a compromise on these technical issues, which also politically very sensitive. another cliff edge, then, looming. thank you very much, chris morris. prices are rising at their fastest rate in two years. inflationjumped to 2.1% in may, as people went back to the high street after lockdown eased. the cost of fuel and clothing was partly responsible for the rise, as andy verity reports. maintaining your bike has become a necessity in the pandemic, not least because it's been hard to get hold

of a new one. a cycling surge during lockdowns, the big brands struggled to book enough slots at chinese factories to meet demand, and the average price of bikesjumped by 9.7%. average price of bikes “umped by 9.796. , ., , average price of bikes “umped by 9.796. r . , 9.796. they have been some inflationary _ 9.796. they have been some inflationary pressures - 9.796. they have been some inflationary pressures from | inflationary pressures from increases in production and shipping costs, but again at halford's, we have been able to mitigate a number of these. since the start of the pandemic with the big increase in number of people cycling, notjust in the uk but also around the world, there have been some shortages in supply. there have been some shortages in su -l . �* . supply. behind the higher than exected supply. behind the higher than expected 2.196 _ supply. behind the higher than expected 2.196 rise _ supply. behind the higher than expected 2.196 rise in - supply. behind the higher than expected 2.196 rise in the - supply. behind the higher than expected 2.196 rise in the costl supply. behind the higher than l expected 2.196 rise in the cost of expected 2.1% rise in the cost of living is the usual culprit, the price of petrol, which rebounded by 17.9%, after dropping the lockdowns of last year. as economies have reopened across the world, demand for goods has surged, and suppliers haven't yet brought enough capacity back on stream to meet that demand. in the spring, bottlenecks and supply chains, like the one caused by the container ship stranded in the suez canal, led to higher transport costs. shortages of key

commodities like steel. the average price manufactures paid for raw materials by 10.7%. economists predict that as suppliers restart more production, that inflationary pressure will eventually be relieved. , pressure will eventually be relieved-— pressure will eventually be relieved. , , ., relieved. the input costs from importing _ relieved. the input costs from importing things _ relieved. the input costs from importing things from - relieved. the input costs from importing things from parts i relieved. the input costs from importing things from parts of relieved. the input costs from - importing things from parts of asia where there are supply chain shortages and blockages, so all these costs are coming together for companies, and they got a choice. they can absorb it at their margins, or they can pass it on to us, as consumers. and if they decide to pass that on to us as consumers, and we the consumers can kind of afford it, then come you know, it does look like may be inflation does stay a bit higherfor a bit longer than bit higher for a bit longer than perhaps bit higherfor a bit longer than perhaps people were expecting. some commodity prices _ perhaps people were expecting. some commodity prices have _ perhaps people were expecting. some commodity prices have already fallen. the price of lumbar shot up to a record of $1711 in may, but more recently it has dropped sharply to just over $1010. while more recently it has dropped sharply tojust over $1010. while prices more recently it has dropped sharply to just over $1010. while prices for some services, such as hairdressing,

rose sharply, and prices of some goods rose at a record pace, most economists and traders are convinced, for now, that the upward pressure on prices is temporary. by the end of this year, we will know if that prediction is right. andy verity, bbc news. a nine—year—old boy has delivered a handwritten letter to downing street, asking for help for his parents and other mums and dads, who have to pay for medical cannabis for their epileptic children. thomas braun s brother, eddie, who is six tomorrow, has a private prescription for the drug which costs the family nearly £800 per month. a change in the law in 2018 allowed nhs doctors to prescribe it, but since then, campaigners sayjust 3 prescriptions have been issued. ellie price reports. (tx) dear prime minister, my brother eddie has really bad epilepsy. my mum and dad try their hardest for me and eddie. tom only took three goes to write out his letter neat enough for the prime minister. he's nine, though keen to point out he'll be ten next month. and he's got a lot on his mind.

"but getting a prescription from the nhs would help them a lot. "please support my family and all the other families. "yours sincerely, thomas braun". i'm feeling excited to finally, maybe, help the solution to get eddie to live a better life, and i'm feeling quite nervous as well. because i feel like there's pressure for me on trying to help eddie. eddie was born with brain damage, following a rare genetic mutation. he has cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and severe complex epilepsy, and it's for that he takes medicinal cannabis. he's six tomorrow, and has been on the drug since early 2017. it's not an nhs prescription, so it costs the family £780 a month. some of the other families we know, they've run out of money already, their kids are no longer on the product that was helping them, and are doing worse for it.

you know, they're back in hospital, they're back having lots of seizures. another family have sold their family home. so it's a very, very real crisis that we're all facing. we can't maintain private prescriptions and we need the government to act now to help us. the law was changed three years ago to allow nhs doctors to prescribe medical cannabis. but campaigners sayjust three nhs prescriptions have been issued. prescriptions have been issued, leaving thousands of families to pay for the drug privately, and that's why tom and his mum went to downing street to ask the prime minister personally for help. i'm more than proud at what he's done, and yeah, thank you. and also i'm sorry that you've done this. because you should not have too but i hope it has made a difference. this will impact loads of families' lives and change the world, hopefully. the government's position is that it is ultimately up to clinicians to decide the best

course of treatment. a department for health spokesman told us that licensed cannabis—based medicines are funded by the nhs when there is clear evidence of their safety and clinical effectiveness. this family say they have that clear evidence, and hope the prime minister will agree. ellie price, bbc news. the countess of wessex has said the death of prince philip left a �*giant—sized hole' in the lives of the royal family. she said the pandemic made it more difficult to spend time with the queen and the duke. daniella relph reports. i beg your pardon. we're not going to talk about that at all now. this on bbc news, we are reporting from across the uk to find out what people think about life during and after the pandemic, and the impact it has had on businesses and communities. we'll be hearing from residents of all these locations throughout the week. yesterday, we visited the city

of london, and tomorrow we'll be in taunton. the historic city of lincoln is a hit with tourists, but businesses in the city and surrounding countryside have had to adapt to new restrictions over the past 15 months. 0ur presenter annita mcveigh is there. thank you very much. welcome back to lincoln. whether it is lincoln or anywhere else in the uk, the bbc has teams of local experts, they have a wealth of knowledge about them and so, as i am in lincolnshire, who better to talk to you than some of my colleagues from bbc radio lincolnshire. with me is news radio editor martin slack. talk to us about how important that local knowledge is when it comes to reporting what goes on here. you have come _ reporting what goes on here. you have come to _ reporting what goes on here. you have come to visit _ reporting what goes on here. you have come to visit us in lincoln today, — have come to visit us in lincoln today, and _ have come to visit us in lincoln today, and chose an absolutely lovely — today, and chose an absolutely lovely day for it. but, as you say, the bbc_ lovely day for it. but, as you say, the bbc is — lovely day for it. but, as you say, the bbc is here in lincoln, and in lincolnshire _ the bbc is here in lincoln, and in lincolnshire all the time. that's the job— lincolnshire all the time. that's the job of— lincolnshire all the time. that's the job of my team at bbc radio lincolnshire. we are here to reflect

what _ lincolnshire. we are here to reflect what happens here in lincolnshire, in the _ what happens here in lincolnshire, in the city, — what happens here in lincolnshire, in the city, and the county, in the towns _ in the city, and the county, in the towns come — in the city, and the county, in the towns come on the countryside, and we are _ towns come on the countryside, and we are here — towns come on the countryside, and we are here to tell the stories of people _ we are here to tell the stories of people who live here, and we know them, _ people who live here, and we know them, and — people who live here, and we know them, and we like to think they know us, and _ them, and we like to think they know us, and we _ them, and we like to think they know us, and we act as kind of a way of linking _ us, and we act as kind of a way of linking the — us, and we act as kind of a way of linking the community together. so during _ linking the community together. so during the — linking the community together. so during the covid pandemic, it has been _ during the covid pandemic, it has been a _ during the covid pandemic, it has been a big — during the covid pandemic, it has been a big challenge for everybody, and bbc_ been a big challenge for everybody, and bbc radio lincolnshire and the bbc here _ and bbc radio lincolnshire and the bbc here in lincolnshire has really worked _ bbc here in lincolnshire has really worked hard to give people the information they need to live their lives during covid, the details that they need — lives during covid, the details that they need about the lockdowns, or restrictions, or whatever other info they need — restrictions, or whatever other info they need. we've got really good connections with the local authorities, the emergency services, all of— authorities, the emergency services, all of those _ authorities, the emergency services, all of those people who could give information in sort of very rapid time, _ information in sort of very rapid time, and we can get it out within ten, _ time, and we can get it out within ten,15_ time, and we can get it out within ten, 15 minutes or whatever. so what have been the _ ten, 15 minutes or whatever. so what have been the particular _ ten, 15 minutes or whatever. so what have been the particular issues - have been the particular issues

affecting lincoln during the pandemic, and what you think it's going to take to get lincoln and lincolnshire back to pre—pandemic normal? i5 lincolnshire back to pre-pandemic normal? , , ., ., , lincolnshire back to pre-pandemic normal? , ., , normal? is your heroes are visited ourself, normal? is your heroes are visited yourself. you _ normal? is your heroes are visited yourself, you will— normal? is your heroes are visited yourself, you will realise - normal? is your heroes are visited yourself, you will realise that - yourself, you will realise that lincoln — yourself, you will realise that lincoln is _ yourself, you will realise that lincoln is very much a tourist destination and lot of the counties are a tourist destination as well. that— are a tourist destination as well. that industry has been completely decimated, completely gone. this time last— decimated, completely gone. this time last year there were no visitors _ time last year there were no visitors obviously, and that affected _ visitors obviously, and that affected all businesses around us, and so _ affected all businesses around us, and so many businesses, retail businesses, bed—and—breakfast businesses, bed—and—breakfast businesses, both here and on the coast _ businesses, both here and on the coast also — businesses, both here and on the coast. also in the city, the university has been affected, which has affected the retail businesses, and in _ has affected the retail businesses, and in the — has affected the retail businesses, and in the countryside there has been _ and in the countryside there has been a — and in the countryside there has been a big — and in the countryside there has been a big issue around isolation and problems of the nhs too. reaching people and getting that information to them. it is where we come _ information to them. it is where we come in _ information to them. it is where we come in and — information to them. it is where we come in and can report what is happening _ come in and can report what is happening and get that information to people. let happening and get that information to --eole. , to people. let me bring in your colleague. _ to people. let me bring in your colleague, political— to people. let me bring in your colleague, political reporter. to people. let me bring in your- colleague, political reporter sharon edwards, who is in skegness.

afternoon to you, sharon. just as we at bbc news are travelling around this week, reflecting different people's experiences in different parts of the country about the pandemic, you're in skegness for the week. tell us what you're doing there. ~ . ., ., week. tell us what you're doing there. ~ _, ., ., week. tell us what you're doing there. ~ ., ., . , , ., there. welcome to an incredibly hot skeuness there. welcome to an incredibly hot skegness will _ there. welcome to an incredibly hot skegness will stop _ there. welcome to an incredibly hot skegness will stop i _ there. welcome to an incredibly hot skegness will stop i don't _ there. welcome to an incredibly hot skegness will stop i don't know - there. welcome to an incredibly hotj skegness will stop i don't know how hot it— skegness will stop i don't know how hot it is— skegness will stop i don't know how hot it is in_ skegness will stop i don't know how hot it is in lincoln _ skegness will stop i don't know how hot it is in lincoln but _ skegness will stop i don't know how hot it is in lincoln but it's— hot it is in lincoln but it's hot here — hot it is in lincoln but it's hot here and _ hot it is in lincoln but it's hot here and an _ hot it is in lincoln but it's hot here. and an incredibly- hot it is in lincoln but it's hot here. and an incredibly busyl hot it is in lincoln but it's hot- here. and an incredibly busy one. yes, _ here. and an incredibly busy one. yes. itn— here. and an incredibly busy one. yes. i'm here— here. and an incredibly busy one. yes, i'm here all— here. and an incredibly busy one. yes, i'm here all week— here. and an incredibly busy one. yes, i'm here all week with - here. and an incredibly busy one. yes, i'm here all week with my. yes, i'm here all week with my colleague, _ yes, i'm here all week with my colleague, scott. _ yes, i'm here all week with my colleague, scott. i'm— yes, i'm here all week with my colleague, scott. i'm staying i yes, i'm here all week with my| colleague, scott. i'm staying in yes, i'm here all week with my. colleague, scott. i'm staying in a local— colleague, scott. i'm staying in a local caravan _ colleague, scott. i'm staying in a local caravan park, _ colleague, scott. i'm staying in a local caravan park, talking - colleague, scott. i'm staying in a local caravan park, talking to - local caravan park, talking to people — local caravan park, talking to people who _ local caravan park, talking to people who live _ local caravan park, talking to people who live here, - local caravan park, talking to people who live here, who i local caravan park, talking to i people who live here, who work local caravan park, talking to - people who live here, who work here, who run _ people who live here, who work here, who run businesses— people who live here, who work here, who run businesses here, _ people who live here, who work here, who run businesses here, raise - people who live here, who work here, who run businesses here, raise their. who run businesses here, raise their children— who run businesses here, raise their children here, — who run businesses here, raise their children here, but _ who run businesses here, raise their children here, but also _ who run businesses here, raise their children here, but also the - who run businesses here, raise their children here, but also the many - children here, but also the many people _ children here, but also the many people who _ children here, but also the many people who visit _ children here, but also the many people who visit here _ children here, but also the many people who visit here and - children here, but also the many people who visit here and who i children here, but also the many - people who visit here and who retire here _ people who visit here and who retire here asking — people who visit here and who retire here. asking them _ people who visit here and who retire here. asking them how— people who visit here and who retire here. asking them how they- people who visit here and who retire here. asking them how they think i here. asking them how they think this area — here. asking them how they think this area is — here. asking them how they think this area is faring _ here. asking them how they think this area is faring as _ here. asking them how they think this area is faring as it _ here. asking them how they think this area is faring as it emerges. this area is faring as it emerges from _ this area is faring as it emerges from lockdown. _ this area is faring as it emerges from lockdown. there - this area is faring as it emerges from lockdown. there is- this area is faring as it emerges from lockdown. there is a - this area is faring as it emerges from lockdown. there is a reall this area is faring as it emerges- from lockdown. there is a real sense on the _ from lockdown. there is a real sense on the coast — from lockdown. there is a real sense on the coast that, _ from lockdown. there is a real sense on the coast that, with _ from lockdown. there is a real sense on the coast that, with the _ on the coast that, with the international— on the coast that, with the international travel - on the coast that, with the - international travel restrictions, this area — international travel restrictions, this area could _ international travel restrictions, this area could be _ international travel restrictions, this area could be in— international travel restrictions, this area could be in for- international travel restrictions, this area could be in for a - international travel restrictions, i this area could be in for a massive boom _ this area could be in for a massive boom this — this area could be in for a massive boom this summer. in— this area could be in for a massive boom this summer. in fact, - this area could be in for a massive boom this summer. in fact, you i this area could be in for a massive i boom this summer. in fact, you can already— boom this summer. in fact, you can already see — boom this summer. in fact, you can already see it — boom this summer. in fact, you can already see it. the _ boom this summer. in fact, you can already see it. the businesses - boom this summer. in fact, you can already see it. the businesses we i already see it. the businesses we are talking — already see it. the businesses we are talking to _ already see it. the businesses we are talking to are _ already see it. the businesses we are talking to are telling - already see it. the businesses we are talking to are telling us - already see it. the businesses we are talking to are telling us that i are talking to are telling us that they've — are talking to are telling us that they've never— are talking to are telling us that they've never seen _ are talking to are telling us that they've never seen it— are talking to are telling us that they've never seen it this - are talking to are telling us that they've never seen it this busy. are talking to are telling us that i they've never seen it this busy this quickly _ they've never seen it this busy this quickly so— they've never seen it this busy this quickly. so we've _ they've never seen it this busy this

quickly. so we've been _ they've never seen it this busy this quickly. so we've been here - they've never seen it this busy this quickly. so we've been here all- they've never seen it this busy this i quickly. so we've been here all week doing _ quickly. so we've been here all week doing live _ quickly. so we've been here all week doing live interviews _ quickly. so we've been here all week doing live interviews and _ doing live interviews and broadcasts, _ doing live interviews and broadcasts, a _ doing live interviews and broadcasts, a live - doing live interviews and broadcasts, a live cast. doing live interviews and i broadcasts, a live cast from skegness— broadcasts, a live cast from skegness every— broadcasts, a live cast from skegness every night - broadcasts, a live cast from . skegness every night between broadcasts, a live cast from - skegness every night between five and 6pm, — skegness every night between five and 6pm, telling _ skegness every night between five and 6pm, telling those _ skegness every night between five and 6pm, telling those stories. . skegness every night between five. and 6pm, telling those stories. 0k, sharon, and 6pm, telling those stories. 0k, sharon. thank _ and 6pm, telling those stories. sharon, thank you very much, and martin, thank you as well, good to hear some bbc radio lincolnshire voices. that's it for the moment, we will be back next hour and back to you, martin. see will be back next hour and back to you. martin-— you, martin. see you in a little while. the countess of wessex has said the death of prince philip left a �*giant—sized hole' in the lives of the royal family. she said the pandemic made it more difficult to spend time with the queen and the duke. daniella relph reports. the countess of wessex spoke openly about her charity work, parenting teenagers, and the death of the duke of edinburgh. just before lockdown, she visited south sudan to raise awareness of sexual violence against women living in conflict zones. it's a key part of her royal work. she praised the bravery of women who shared the brutality of their experience.

when you hear somebody�*s story of gang rape and, literally, physically what has happened to them, it absolutely brings you to your knees. and i had tears falling off my face as she was talking to me. i was completely silent, but i was just in floods of tears. the countess also welcomed the increased openness amongst young women in the uk to discuss the sexual harassment and abuse they faced. she said it was something she had discussed with her 17—year—old daughter and valued the honest conversations they have as a family. she is actually quite aware of it, so we chat about it quite a lot, and particularly if i've been on a trip somewhere, she wants to know where i've been and what i've been doing. so she has a natural curiosity about it, and it's easy to have that kind of conversation with her. she also spoke about the death of the duke of edinburgh and the impact of grief, especially those moments that catch you when you realise he isn't there.

we were lucky enough to go to scotland for half—term. i don't know if you remember the photograph that i took. of the queen and the duke? yeah. i was pregnant with louise at the time. and we went up there, during half—term... are you 0k? mm. and just to be there, in that place was an �*oh, my god' moment. so i think they'll come and go. but you have to let them come and let them go. away from the sadder moments, the countess said she'd got fitter in lockdown, and the tv series she had binged over the past year — line of duty. daniela relph, bbc news. the famous vanishing bikini, worn by dame barbara windsor in the film �*carry on camping',

has sold for around ten times more than its original estimate. when it went under the hammer at auction, it sold for £9,500. the proceeds will go to the alzheimer's society in memory of dame barbara, who died last year aged 83. now, have you heard of yashoda, a supposedly psychic elephant? a long—time resident of a zoo in hamburg — yashoda correctly predicted that france would beat germany. they won 1—0. although we don't think she predicted the score. it's a result that, no doubt being an elephant, she won't forget for a very long time. now it's time for a look at the weather, with ben rich. for some of us, the weather is about to turn quite turbulent, especially towards the south and the east of the uk, where today we have had the best of the sunshine, and some pretty high temperatures as well to stop you can see in the earlier satellite picture, the storm clouds

that have been drifting from up across france, and some are heading in our direction, particularly for southern, central and eastern parts of england, there is the risk for some thunderstorms tonight, and into tomorrow. torrential downpours in places. but in the shorter term, there is a lot of dry weather through the rest of the day, quite cool and fresh across scotland and northern ireland, a band of cloud bringing some rain for southern scotland, north—west england and west wales, but it is across central, eastern, southern parts of eglin where we have the highest temperatures. lots of sunshine, too. 29, 30 degrees, quite temperatures. lots of sunshine, too. 29,30 degrees, quite a humid feel, and into the evening you will see some of those thunderstorms creeping up some of those thunderstorms creeping up from the south, drifting across the channel islands into southern of england, the south—east could see some really intense thundery rain for a time, then moving up into east anglia. these showers quite hit and miss, some places will stay dry but others could see a lot of rain, and frequent lightning too, and further pulses of heavy, thundery rain will just continue to drift through

during the small hours of thursday. whereas further north and west you will wonder what all the fuss is about, a lot of dry weather, some clear skies, about, a lot of dry weather, some clearskies, quite about, a lot of dry weather, some clear skies, quite a fresh feel to the north west of scotland but a very humid and muggy one down towards the south—east of england. into tomorrow come across a good part of england, you have the continued risk of some heavy, thundery rain may be clipping into east wales as well, but for much of northern ireland and scotland, again we will see some spells of sunshine. temperatures for many relatively cool and fresh, 17 degrees in belfast, 23 in london, still some humidity holding on towards the south—east corner. now, as we move through thursday night into friday, high—pressure building in towards the west and the north of the uk. so lots of dry weather to come here but down to the south—east, the potential for more pulses of heavy and possibly thundery rain to move through. some of these downpours could be very happy indeed. temperatures lower for all of us by this stage, may be 17 or 18 for norwich and for london, high teens or low 20s, the general figures elsewhere. through the weekend,

saturday the dryer day for most, greater chance of rain on sunday.

this is bbc news.

the headlines. people who work in care homes for the elderly in england may have to have a covid jab or risk losing theirjob. this is a really difficult position to be in and, ideally, we want everybody to be able to make their own individual choices, but i think the focus for us is that we need to provide the best protection for those people who are most vulnerable. downing street says the prime minister has full confidence in the health secretary, after boris johnson's former top advisor dominic cummings released a text message in which the pm appeared to describe matt hancock as "hopeless". the us and russian presidents meet for the first time. joe biden and vladmir putin shake hands before sitting down for talks. prices are rising at their fastest rate for two years, because we've been spending more as lockdowns eased. a nine—year—old boy's written a letter to the prime minister asking for a medical cannabis prescription that he hopes will make a difference to his epileptic brother.

i hope it does very much because this will impact lots of families' lives and change the world, hopefully. iam i am annita mcveigh live in lincoln and i've been talking to local people all day about how the pandemic has affected them. this hour, student life. good afternoon. staff who look after elderly people in england's care homes will have to get a covid jab or risk losing theirjob, the bbc understands. ministers are expected to announce that workers must be vaccinated within 16 weeks, and those who refuse could be moved from front line care. consultations will begin

on a similar rule for other people working in the health sector. managers of care homes have warned they already face problems recruiting staff. jim reed reports. just relax that arm as much as you can... vaccines, say the government, are the way out of this pandemic. back in december, sarah, a care home manager, was one of the first to be given the jab in newcastle. ministers though have been consulting on whether to go much further and make vaccines compulsory for all care home staff in england. it's clearly very important that we protect vulnerable people in our care homes. we've been looking as a government about what more we can do,

in terms of making sure staff are vaccinated. it's obviously important that everybody gets vaccinated. it is key to dealing with covid. but also enabling us to open up the economy. it is not officially confirmed yet but the bbc understands the government will soon go ahead and make those jabs mandatory for the 1.5 million people working in the sector. the latest statistics show that across england, 84% of adult care workers have had one dose of the vaccine and almost 69% have had both jabs. it's thought ministers have particular concerns about low take—up in some areas. in manchester, for example, just 73% of staff have had a first dose, with 51% a second. a government source said making the covid jab mandatory for care staff would save lives. other health officials are cautious but supportive. we know that we provide vaccinations for other aspects of health care. for example, a surgeon has to have a hepatitis b vaccination to protect the patient so it is something we have done before. personally, if my mum was in a care setting, i would want to make sure all the people working with her had the same level of protection so they were able to protect her.

but any move to make the jabs compulsory will be controversial. the industry is warning it could cause real difficulties in a sector that already struggles to recruit enough workers. we would very much like to see everybody vaccinated. of course we would. but this compulsion at this stage may not be the right thing to do when we have the vacancies that we have, when we know there are challenges ahead of us. we just need to think very carefully about the implications of this. under government plans, it's thought care workers will be given 16 weeks to have the jab, be redeployed or risk losing theirjob. a consultation will also start on extending the policy to other nhs staff, including doctors and nurses, working on the front line. jim reed, bbc news. 0ur social affairs correspondent alison holt has more on the controversy surrounding the decision. it is controversial because they fear if you bring

in the element of compulsion, that will make it even more difficult to recruit staff and they really have serious problems in terms of recruitment. there are vacancies of about 112,000 people in england, and the fear is they will go somewhere else. so there is real nervousness about that and i would expect that is something that will need to be addressed. how do you make sure that you keep the workforce in place, or a workforce in place in care homes where there are low levels of ta ke—up? you don't want everyone going. but there is generally good take—up across the sector. we saw injim's report, there, 84% across the sector. it is just the patches where that is proving stubborn, it is proving difficult to persuade people. one of the things the care organisations, the care sector is calling for, is for much more persuasion, information, answering questions, and i think that will be the pressure if this is rolled out for consultation, as we expect, for health and wider care staff.

the government wants to vaccinate all adults as quickly as possible. but constraints on the supply of the pfizer vaccine mean ministers can't speed up the process. 0ur health correspondent nick triggle said there's a limit to how quickly the under 40s can be vaccinated. there is actually plenty of vaccine doses in the country but the problem is, it is the wrong type of vaccine. there is thought to be a stockpile of around 5 million doses of the astrazeneca vaccine but the under 40s are, as you mentioned, being given the pfizer and moderna vaccines so there is plenty of vaccine available to give the second doses to people in their 40s and 50s, but there is a limit to how quickly the government can vaccinate the under 40s. we are getting around 1.5 million doses of the pfizer and moderna vaccines imported into the country each week and the government is confident about those supply lines.

they believe there is enough to do the remaining under 40s by the 19th ofjuly but we can't start the second doses until after that, and the pfizer vaccine will also be the vaccine that will be used to vaccinate children, if that is given the green light. so that has an implication for when that could start and how quickly that can be done. ministers have always said supply of vaccination is the rate—limiting factor and that is clear, that is more true now as we approach the end of the roll—out than it has ever been. borisjohnson's former top aide, dominic cummings, has published what he says are messages he received from the prime minister, in which mrjohnson described the health secretary as "hopeless". mr cummings has blamed matt hancock forfailings during the pandemic, and said he should have been sacked. the prime minister's spokesman says the pm has "full confidence"

in mr hancock. let's speak to our political correspondent iain watson. so we have had a response and no rejection of the messages as being inauthentic stopper aiello that is right, i think matt hancock probably has the safest seat at the cabinet table because there is no way boris johnson will be sucking somebody on the basis of what his disgruntled former aide says. i the basis of what his disgruntled former aide says.— the basis of what his disgruntled former aide says. i think equally, were matt _ former aide says. i think equally, were matt hancock _ former aide says. i think equally, were matt hancock to _ former aide says. i think equally, were matt hancock to be - former aide says. i think equally, were matt hancock to be sacked, former aide says. i think equally, l were matt hancock to be sacked, it might look like an admission that everything dominic cummings is complaining about happened to be true. so matt hancock is staying in place and what downing street are saying on the specific whatsapp messages that have been released by dominic cummings, which he purports are between the prime minister and himself, they say they are not going to engage in every allegation put forward. however, another allegation was put forward by dominic cummings that the prime minister would stand down within two years after the next election. they have engaged with

that and said it is utter nonsense. so draw your own conclusions in the non—answer about those various whatsapp messages but let's go through what the messages said. first of all, there are three in particular that are worth looking at, and first of all, dominic cummings was complaining back at the very beginning of the pandemic last march about the problems over a lack of testing and in that message, which we think was genuine, the prime minister says matt hancock is hopeless, and actually, he uses an anglo—saxon expletive to emphasise just how hopeless, apparently, he believes the health secretary is. there is a second message as well where dominic cummings is basically a leading health officials have been turning down ventilators because the price has gone up and the prime minister seems to play matt hancock himself for this, saying in terms, he has been hopeless. and in the third, as we say, if this is genuine, downing street would not confirm or deny, the prime minister

seems to think the provision of ppe has been a disaster. he clearly contemplates replacing matt hancock with michael gove. interestingly enough, dominic cummings thinks that might actually make matters worse and not only is he criticising what the health department are up to at the health department are up to at the time but also michael gove's cabinet office as well. that shows you some of the tensions that were there during the pandemic, especially last year right at the heart of government. some other interesting stuff as welcome in what was a rather large dossier which was dumped just ahead of pmqs by dominic cummings. he, like sir keir starmer, believes the borders policy is inadequate, for example, and has helped the delta variant spread and there was no borders policy in place between january and march last year because the government was still pursuing what in the end he thought was a wrong headed herd immunity strategy and not one to be willingly undersold, he makes it clear that he

believes both the prime minister and matt hancock are involved in an 0rwellian strategy to rewrite history over that period. it has to be said, matt hancock has responded to mps about some of the initial allegations that dominic cummings made and he will be in the house of commons this afternoon and will have an opportunity to comment on this as well but he has made it very clear that some of the allegations, that he was lying, for example, are simply not true and he was actually pursuing a policy to try to save lives. ., . ., ., ., lives. iain watson, for the moment, thank ou lives. iain watson, for the moment, thank you from _ lives. iain watson, for the moment, thank you from westminster. - let's speak now to former government special advisor peter cardwell, who worked with dominic cummings at number10. thank you forjoining us. how much more than a disgruntled former employee is dominic cummings? what is his motivation?— is his motivation? well, dominic cummings _ is his motivation? well, dominic cummings believes _ is his motivation? well, dominic cummings believes he _ is his motivation? well, dominic cummings believes he is - is his motivation? well, dominic cummings believes he is on - is his motivation? well, dominic cummings believes he is on a i is his motivation? well, dominic . cummings believes he is on a moral mission. he said in his very long, 7000 word plus blog, that his mission was to get the information into the public domain but i think

it is his version of the truth, just as matt hancock has his own version of the truth. we have had from both men in some detail, dominic cummings for seven hours and now with the thousands of extra words but i don't think the truth is really any clear and that probably won't come out until the public enquiry and of course, matt hancock denies that he was incompetent, that he should have been sacked, and all those denials have been made to the committee very recently in the last few days and we will hear from recently in the last few days and we will hearfrom him later in the commons today as well. but dominic cummings is clearly on a mission to destroy matt hancock. i don't think he will, with this blog post. there are certainly embarrassing revelations but he is maintaining, dominic cummings, his line on those allegations and attempting to review some of the evidence. it is interesting from borisjohnson's perspective now because in the next reshuffle which may be in next month or two or even after the party conference, but sometime this year probably, if he moves, demote saw sachs matt hancock, he looks weak and as though he is playing into his

former adviser�*s hands. does and as though he is playing into his former adviser's hands.— former adviser's hands. does that mean matt _ former adviser's hands. does that mean matt hancock— former adviser's hands. does that mean matt hancock is _ former adviser's hands. does that mean matt hancock is safe - former adviser's hands. does that mean matt hancock is safe at - former adviser's hands. does that mean matt hancock is safe at the | mean matt hancock is safe at the health department? he mean matt hancock is safe at the health department?— mean matt hancock is safe at the health department? he is either safe at the health — health department? he is either safe at the health department _ health department? he is either safe at the health department or- health department? he is either safe at the health department or he - health department? he is either safe at the health department or he will. at the health department or he will be moved sideways but it would be very difficult for any prime minister in this particular situation, to say actually, i am going to choose my former disgruntled adviser who has been making music century claims in the public domain, over my health secretary, whom borisjohnson has said publicly at least on a number of occasions that he has full confidence in. i think what is quite worrying for borisjohnson and many people in government, i would imagine, is the fact that some of what were meant to be private whatsapp conversations are now in a public domain. dominic cummings says of course he is doing this in the public interest but it does seem to certainly align with his getting matt hancock messages and i think there will be a lot of worry across government in terms of what other whatsapp messages from dominic cummings may be in the public domain in the time to come.— in the time to come. given we are uuite in the time to come. given we are quite some _ in the time to come. given we are quite some time _ in the time to come. given we are quite some time away _ in the time to come. given we are quite some time away from - in the time to come. given we are quite some time away from a - in the time to come. given we are i quite some time away from a public inquiry into the handling of the

pandemic, how much more of this do you think there will be from dominic cummings, and his grip on matt hancock? . , ., , hancock? dominic cummings has never -la ed b hancock? dominic cummings has never played by the — hancock? dominic cummings has never played by the rules- _ hancock? dominic cummings has never played by the rules. he _ hancock? dominic cummings has never played by the rules. he is— hancock? dominic cummings has never played by the rules. he is always - played by the rules. he is always someone who has been a bit out there, a bit of a maverick, and i think he is on a very strong mission. he's got absolutely nothing to lose, there is no chance whatsoever he will return to government, he has the financial means he does not need to and i think he will have a job in the short term anyway so he can continue with this and keep going and keep on putting things in the public domain. i suppose the question is how that can be interrogated because of course, he had seven hours at the health and science joint committee in parliament, and he then promised to give documentary evidence to them, which he then did not do. so he has not put himself up for interview on any media outlets and so on but may he will do that, i don't know. but in terms of interrogating the evidence from dominic cummings, he's got a very effective way of putting it all in the public domain without any challenge to these extra revelations that have come out this morning and

interestingly, about 20 minute before pmqs, and sir keir starmer did not ask a single question about them. ., ., , , . ., them. peter cardwell, former special adviser, them. peter cardwell, former special adviser. thank _ them. peter cardwell, former special adviser, thank you _ them. peter cardwell, former special adviser, thank you for _ them. peter cardwell, former special adviser, thank you for your _ them. peter cardwell, former special adviser, thank you for your time. - joe biden is meeting the russian leader, vladimir putin, for the first time since he became us president. relations between the two countries are at their lowest ebb in decades. mr biden has previously described mr putin as a "killer". 0ur correspondent sarah rainsford sent this report from geneva. it began with a handshake and smiles but these are adversaries, not friends. joe biden, after all, has called vladimir putin a killer. inside, the body language was stiff. the us president asked for this summit to warn moscow over its malign activity. but the meeting put russia's president front and centre on the global stage. vladimir putin has a long history with us presidents but the relationship has gone from warm to cool, even awkward. barack 0bama did try a reset

but russia's annexation of crimea put paid to that. moscow then had big hopes for donald trump, but accusations that the kremlin helped get him elected dogged relations from the very start. their summit three years ago in helsinki was seen by many as a disasterfor the us, as mr trump said he trusted mr putin's claims of innocence over his own intelligence agents'. president putin, hejust said it's not russia. i will say this — i don't see any reason why it would be. vladimir putin has metjoe biden before, a decade ago, when the american supposedly told the russian he "didn't have a soul". this time, they may agree to begin proper talks about arms control at the very least. cybersecurity�*s on the agenda too — the new battleground. ukraine, syria — the list of flashpoints is long. but don't expect mr putin to give any ground on the fate of this man, alexei navalny, the opposition

politician first poisoned with a nerve agent and now in prison. ahead of this encounter here in geneva, both russia and the us have been really playing down expectations. there will be no breakthrough in relations. the hostility is here to stay. perhaps the best both sides can hope for is to stop things getting any worse. but during around five hours of talks in this swiss mansion, there'll be no shared meal and no joint appearance at the end of it all. joe biden's aim of stable and predictable relations seems unlikely, then. cooling the temperature perhaps a more attainable goal. this week on bbc news, we're reporting from across the uk to find out what you think about life during and after the pandemic and the impact it's had on your businesses and communities. we'll be hearing from residents of all these locations throughout the week. yesterday, we visited the city

of london, and tomorrow we'll be in taunton. the historic city of lincoln is a hit with tourists, but businesses in the city and surrounding countryside have had to adapt to new restrictions over the past 15 months. 0ur presenter annita mcveigh is there. thank you, and welcome back to lincoln, what a bit of a day, shelling of the city to its best effect. we have been hearing from a range of versus —— voices, from farmers, people involved in the night—time industry, a bride day and this hour, we are talking to some students to find how student life and the university of lincoln has been affected by the pandemic. joining me is jasmine and also glory, second—year music student at the university. thank you for joining us. 0ut the university. thank you for joining us. out of your two academic years are so far, how much time have you spent at university? brute

years are so far, how much time have you spent at university?— you spent at university? we have had about ten months _ you spent at university? we have had about ten months altogether - you spent at university? we have had about ten months altogether but - you spent at university? we have had about ten months altogether but it i about ten months altogether but it feels like a lot is because we have holidays in between. bud feels like a lot is because we have holidays in between.— feels like a lot is because we have holidays in between. and your course is very practical. _ holidays in between. and your course is very practical, so _ holidays in between. and your course is very practical, so have _ holidays in between. and your course is very practical, so have you - holidays in between. and your course is very practical, so have you been i is very practical, so have you been able to do as much as you would like to on that front? probably not, i'm guessing. to on that front? probably not, i'm cruessin. , ., , to on that front? probably not, i'm cruessin. , .,, , guessing. yes, it has been quite tou:h, guessing. yes, it has been quite tough, especially _ guessing. yes, it has been quite tough, especially during - guessing. yes, it has been quite i tough, especially during lockdown where _ tough, especially during lockdown where we — tough, especially during lockdown where we had to go from online to in-person — where we had to go from online to in—person and especially with some of the _ in—person and especially with some of the modules as well that we have on the _ of the modules as well that we have on the course, it required us to be in person — on the course, it required us to be in person it — on the course, it required us to be in person. it has been quite difficult _ in person. it has been quite difficult. but i think we have adjusted quite well. difficult. but i think we have ad'usted uuite well. , . , ., adjusted quite well. jasmine, u and glo and adjusted quite well. jasmine, u and glory and a — adjusted quite well. jasmine, u and glory and a number— adjusted quite well. jasmine, u and glory and a number of— adjusted quite well. jasmine, u and glory and a number of others - adjusted quite well. jasmine, u and glory and a number of others have. glory and a number of others have shared a house so have you formed a friendship bubble? yes. shared a house so have you formed a friendship bubble?— friendship bubble? yes, because there's six _ friendship bubble? yes, because there's six of— friendship bubble? yes, because there's six of us, _ friendship bubble? yes, because there's six of us, we _ friendship bubble? yes, because there's six of us, we have - friendship bubble? yes, because there's six of us, we have done i there's six of us, we have done stuff together but also the cause is very small, there's only 15 so we are quite close, everybody on the course and in our bubble. bud are quite close, everybody on the course and in our bubble. and you have been — course and in our bubble. and you have been staying _ course and in our bubble. and you have been staying in _ course and in our bubble. and you have been staying in the - course and in our bubble. and you have been staying in the house . course and in our bubble. and you have been staying in the house allj have been staying in the house all the way through so you have not been

in a situation where you have been paying for accommodation you can't use? , , ., , ., paying for accommodation you can't use? , ., .,, use? yes, it is a private house so ou can use? yes, it is a private house so you can stay _ use? yes, it is a private house so you can stay through _ use? yes, it is a private house so you can stay through the - use? yes, it is a private house soj you can stay through the summer use? yes, it is a private house so i you can stay through the summer as well. �* . , you can stay through the summer as well. �* ., , , ., , ., ., well. and finally, glory, what are our well. and finally, glory, what are your hopes _ well. and finally, glory, what are your hopes for — well. and finally, glory, what are your hopes for the _ well. and finally, glory, what are your hopes for the future? i well. and finally, glory, what are your hopes for the future? are i well. and finally, glory, what are i your hopes for the future? are you optimistic for your final year of your degree that things will be better? , ., , , your degree that things will be better? , , , , better? yes, hopefully because i feel like as _ better? yes, hopefully because i feel like as music— better? yes, hopefully because i feel like as music students... i better? yes, hopefully because i| feel like as music students... i'm so sorry to _ feel like as music students... i“n so sorry to interrupt but we have to go to the house of commons now for more on the debate that is taking place this afternoon. fin more on the debate that is taking place this afternoon. on december the 8th last _ place this afternoon. on december the 8th last year, _ place this afternoon. on december the 8th last year, we _ place this afternoon. on december the 8th last year, we fired - place this afternoon. on december the 8th last year, we fired the i the 8th last year, we fired the starting gun on the race between the vaccine and the virus and started delivering a programme that has allowed us to restore so many of the precious freedoms that we cherish. in the space ofjust six months, madam deputy speaker, we have now given first doses of coronavirus vaccine to almost four in five adults in the uk and we have given second doses to over 30 million people. we have made such rapid

progress through the cohorts that today, we are able to extend the offer of a vaccine to anyone aged 21 and over and thanks to the protection of the vaccination programme, huge advances in treatments, like dexamethasone, which was discovered a year ago today, the resolve of the british people in following the rules that this house has laid down, we have been able to take the first three steps on the road map to removing restrictions and restoring colour to the nation. but we have always said that we take each step at a time and look at the data and our four tests before deciding whether to proceed. madam deputy speaker, the regulations before the house today put into effect our decision to pause step four on the road map untiljuly the 19th. before outlining the regulations that will put this into effect, i would like to set out why we made this difficult but essential decision. unfortunately, there has been a

significant change since we started on ourjourney down the road map in february. a new variant has given the virus extra legs, both because it spreads more easily, and because there is some evidence that the risk of hospitalisation is higher than for the alpha variant which was of course previously dominant in this country. the delta variant now accounts for 96% of new cases. the number of cases is rising and hospitalisations are starting to rise, too. there are 48% over the past week. the number of deaths in england is thankfully not rising and remains very low but as i told the house on monday, we don't yet know the extent to which the link between hospitalisation and death has been broken. so we proposed to give the nhs a few more crucial weeks to get those remaining jabs into the arms of those who need them. although we are taking the steps outlined in the regulations today, and i know this

is disappointing for many people, we know that science has given us a solution. we must use this time to protect as many people as we can, as quickly as we can. because even though this vaccination programme has been going at a blistering pace, there are still people who we must protect. i will give way. flan there are still people who we must protect. i will give way.— protect. iwill give way. can i 'ust ask him a— protect. iwill give way. can i 'ust ask him a question i protect. iwill give way. can i 'ust ask him a question about i protect. iwill give way. can ijust ask him a question about what i protect. iwill give way. can ijust| ask him a question about what we expect— ask him a question about what we expect to — ask him a question about what we expect to achieve in the four weeks? ithink— expect to achieve in the four weeks? i think i_ expect to achieve in the four weeks? i think i am _ expect to achieve in the four weeks? i think i am right in saying there are 13— i think i am right in saying there are 1.3 million people in priority are1.3 million people in priority groups— are 1.3 million people in priority groups i

we are going to get to this point in four weeks' time and we are going to be back— four weeks' time and we are going to be back here again, extending the restrictions and that is what we are concerned — restrictions and that is what we are concerned about.— concerned about. know, on the contrary. _ concerned about. know, on the contrary. that _ concerned about. know, on the contrary, that is _ concerned about. know, on the contrary, that is the... - concerned about. know, on the contrary, that is the... that i concerned about. know, on the contrary, that is the... that is. concerned about. know, on the i contrary, that is the... that is our view of how far the vaccination programme we need to get. we are not aiming to eradicate this virus in this country because that is not possible and indeed, in the parts of the country where it has been tried, it has been found to be not possible. we are aiming to live with this virus like we do with the flu. and in fact, as of midnight last night, i can give my right honourable friend and update, there are now 1.2 million people who are over 50 and 4.4 million over 40s who have had the first but not the second jab and we are seeking to get a second jab into a majority of them, not all but a majority of them by the 19th ofjuly. and if i can just finish this point and then i will come to you, and by taking that pause in the step, the estimate is

that we can save thousands of lives, but the estimate i can tell my right honourable friend is also that taking further time, a further pause, for longer, is not estimated to save many more lives, because the level of protection, especially among the over 50s, who are of course as we know, most likely to die from the disease... i will take the honourable gentleman on the other site and then my honourable friend. i’m other site and then my honourable friend. �* , ., friend. i'm very grateful, the secretary — friend. i'm very grateful, the secretary of _ friend. i'm very grateful, the secretary of state _ friend. i'm very grateful, the secretary of state knows i i friend. i'm very grateful, the i secretary of state knows i broadly agree _ secretary of state knows i broadly agree with what he's doing today but he referred _ agree with what he's doing today but he referred just now to us having to live with _ he referred just now to us having to live with the — he referred just now to us having to live with the virus as we do with flu. live with the virus as we do with flu~ with — live with the virus as we do with flu. with flu, we don't require people — flu. with flu, we don't require people to _ flu. with flu, we don't require people to self—isolate and we don't ask them _ people to self—isolate and we don't ask them to test and trace. my understanding is that government is intending _ understanding is that government is intending to keep test and trace on a mandatory, statutory basis, all the way— a mandatory, statutory basis, all the way through the rest of this year— the way through the rest of this year and — the way through the rest of this year and possibly until the end of march, _ year and possibly until the end of march, or— year and possibly until the end of march, oram year and possibly until the end of march, or am i year and possibly until the end of march, oram i wrong? year and possibly until the end of march, or am i wrong?— year and possibly until the end of march, or am i wrong? well, with flu, of march, or am i wrong? well, with flu. of course. — march, or am i wrong? well, with flu, of course, if _ march, or am i wrong? well, with flu, of course, if you _ march, or am i wrong? well, with flu, of course, if you have - flu, of course, if you have symptomatic flu and you are ill,

then people do tend to stay at home. of course, we have not done that on of course, we have not done that on a mandatory basis before but it is advisable that if you have symptoms of flu, then you should stay at home. we are in fact, for contacts, we are already piloting, as he probably knows, that for vaccinated people, instead of having to isolate as a contact, you go into a testing regime, and that is the approach that i am very attracted to for the future, especially as more and more people get vaccinated because we know that the risks once you have been vaccinated is so much lower. so we are accelerating the second doses and also reducing the time from first to second jab for all of those aged 40 and above from 12 weeks down to eight weeks and in fact since i came to the house on monday, madame debord is bigger, i have rearranged myjab to be eight weeks after the first rather than 12 weeks after my first rather than 12 weeks after my first and with that, i will give

way. first and with that, i will give wa . . ~' first and with that, i will give wa . ., ~ y first and with that, i will give wa . ., ~ , . first and with that, i will give wa. ., , . way. thank you very much, me, too, tomorrow morning, _ way. thank you very much, me, too, tomorrow morning, madam - way. thank you very much, me, too, tomorrow morning, madam deputy l tomorrow morning, madam deputy speaker, _ tomorrow morning, madam deputy speaker, in line with my right honourable friend's advice and further— honourable friend's advice and further to— honourable friend's advice and further to the intervention from my right _ further to the intervention from my right honourable friend from the forest— right honourable friend from the forest of— right honourable friend from the forest of dean, it is very clear the regulations— forest of dean, it is very clear the regulations will be passed by the house _ regulations will be passed by the house today. in point 2.3, it talks about— house today. in point 2.3, it talks about substituting the 13th ofjune for the _ about substituting the 13th ofjune for the 18th ofjuly and the prime minister— for the 18th ofjuly and the prime minister talk about the 19th being a terminus. _ minister talk about the 19th being a terminus, the end point, the end of the line. _ terminus, the end point, the end of the line. by— terminus, the end point, the end of the line, by definition. would the secretary— the line, by definition. would the secretary of state categorising it -- in _ secretary of state categorising it —— in exactly those terms because i think— —— in exactly those terms because i think and _ —— in exactly those terms because i think and want to know what the 19th ofjuly— think and want to know what the 19th ofjuly means that the 215t ofjune did not? _ ofjuly means that the 21st ofjune did not? , ., . ., , did not? yes, i would characterise it that way — did not? yes, i would characterise it that way and — did not? yes, i would characterise it that way and what _ did not? yes, i would characterise it that way and what i _ did not? yes, i would characterise it that way and what i would i did not? yes, i would characterise it that way and what i would say i did not? yes, i would characterise it that way and what i would say is that our goal ahead of the 19th of july is to take steps four and on the basis of the evidence so far, i am confident that we will not need more than the four weeks to get this job done and to take step four. i

give way to my right honourable friend stoppe i'm extremely grateful for him giving way. i wonder if he can give us some more information about the rise in hospitalisations that he mentioned? riff about the rise in hospitalisations that he mentioned?— about the rise in hospitalisations that he mentioned? of those being hospitalised. _ that he mentioned? of those being hospitalised, how _ that he mentioned? of those being hospitalised, how many _ that he mentioned? of those being hospitalised, how many are - that he mentioned? of those being hospitalised, how many are in i that he mentioned? of those being hospitalised, how many are in the i hospitalised, how many are in the younger— hospitalised, how many are in the youngerage hospitalised, how many are in the younger age group who are not yet eligible — younger age group who are not yet eligible for the vaccine and how many— eligible for the vaccine and how many are — eligible for the vaccine and how many are above that age, in other words. _ many are above that age, in other words, those who were able to get the vaccine — words, those who were able to get the vaccine but chose not to get it? my right _ the vaccine but chose not to get it? my right honourable friend makes a really important point and the answer is the majority are in the younger age group who have not yet had the chance to be vaccinated. just under a fifth of those going into hospital in the last week have had both jabs, about a fifth have had both jabs, about a fifth have had one jab and the majority have not had any. the majority are under the age of 50 and have not yet had the age of 50 and have not yet had the opportunity to have both jabs but i think there is a material difference in... between the state's responsibility to offer the vaccine

to all adults and the duty that we have when somebody has not been offered the vaccine is greater than the duty we have when we have offered a vaccine but someone has chosen not to take it up and there is a material difference between those two situations that i think my right honourable friend was getting at. i will give way to my right honourable friend and then continue. i'm grateful to my right honourable friend _ i'm grateful to my right honourable friend and _ i'm grateful to my right honourable friend and can ijust take what our honourable friend said one step further, — honourable friend said one step further, if— honourable friend said one step further, if i choose not to have, say, _ further, if i choose not to have, say, a _ further, if i choose not to have, say, a yellow feverjab when i go to a place _ say, a yellow feverjab when i go to a place that— say, a yellow feverjab when i go to a place that suffers from yellow fever. _ a place that suffers from yellow fever, the government of the uk takes _ fever, the government of the uk takes no — fever, the government of the uk takes no interest whatsoever in my illness _ takes no interest whatsoever in my illness status so when my right honourable friend says that he has less of— honourable friend says that he has less of a _ honourable friend says that he has less of a duty, surely what he means is he _ less of a duty, surely what he means is he has _ less of a duty, surely what he means is he has no — less of a duty, surely what he means is he has no duty at all? it is for people — is he has no duty at all? it is for people to — is he has no duty at all? it is for people to take up the vaccine. up to a oint, people to take up the vaccine. up to a point. and — people to take up the vaccine. up to a point. and the _ people to take up the vaccine. up to a point, and the point _ people to take up the vaccine. up to a point, and the point is _ people to take up the vaccine. up to a point, and the point is that - a point, and the point is that should you take that as an absolute

principle, then there is a challenge, should there be an overwhelming demand on the nhs that would impact on others and of course, with a communicable disease, there is an impact on others in terms of spreading the disease so we do have to have one eye on that which is why i phrased it as i did. but in terms of the argument that my right honourable friend is putting, i think she and i concur in the broad thrust of the case being made. my my point is a slight niche point, the reason we develop vaccines is because thousands of brits volunteered to try them. there are now a number who trialled vaccines that aren't yet approved. who are therefore, as far as the nhs app and some other things, they can't use. should they go for two shots from another vaccine, should they go for two shots from anothervaccine, or should they go for two shots from another vaccine, or is the health department going to take this into account? �* . ., , ., account? being certified as having had a vaccine _

account? being certified as having had a vaccine includes _ account? being certified as having had a vaccine includes being i account? being certified as having had a vaccine includes being on i account? being certified as having had a vaccine includes being on a. had a vaccine includes being on a vaccine clinical trial, and the deputy chief medical officer professorjonathan van tam has written to participants in vaccine clinical trials, who are doing as my right honourable friend says, great service to their country, indeed to world, by offering themselves to have an unlicensed vaccine, in order to check that it works. i'm very grateful to all of them. we will not put them in a more difficult position because of that. we will make sure that, when it comes to proving that you have been certified as vaccinated, being on a clinical trial counts as certified, and continues to count as certified during a grace period after you are unblinded, so that if you are in the placebo arm, you can get both jabs, and you will not be disadvantaged for being on the clinical trial. it's a very important point, i'm very glad my right honourable friend raises it, and if anybody on either side of the house gets this question

from a constituent, please point them to the comprehensive letter by professorjonathan van tam that explains and reassures. finally, and then i will make some progress, i will give way. then i will make some progress, i will give way-— will give way. can i commend my riaht will give way. can i commend my right honourable _ will give way. can i commend my right honourable friend _ will give way. can i commend my right honourable friend for- will give way. can i commend my right honourable friend for the i right honourable friend for the effort he has put in to keeping colleagues informed and responding to their questions along the way? it has been extremely good. can i press him on this two—week break point, that he has referred to in the prime minister has refer to? can i ask him what underpins that? is it simply a desire to get through a certain number of vaccinations, a figure that he presumably already knows, or is it uncertainty over the data as it currently exists, because if it is, and given that this should be led by the data, then there is every likelihood that in the next few days we will get some indication as to whether the increase in the delta virus instrument since being translated into icu admissions and deaths. can he give any comfort for me and others considering how to vote this evening around that two—week point, because if we have

the sense that there may indeed be a genuine break at that point if those cases do not translate into deaths or icu admissions, then we can be a little bit more comfortable? share or icu admissions, then we can be a little bit more comfortable?- little bit more comfortable? are so often, m little bit more comfortable? are so often. my right _ little bit more comfortable? are so often, my right honourable - little bit more comfortable? are so often, my right honourable friend, | often, my right honourable friend, who was one of the most astute medical practitioners in this house, crikey, i could have got myself into trouble there because all of the medical practitioners in this house are astute, but he is also a public health expert, anyway, i'll start again. my right honourable friend's point was a really good one, and very astute, and i think he is exactly right about our approach. the two week review is a data review. now, at up to around ten days to a week before the decision—making cut off for the 21st ofjune proposal to step four, it looked like hospitalisations were staying flat, despite rising case rates. we didn't know if that was

because of a lack or because there is now going to be no cases turning into hospitalisations —— because of a lag. that remains the case now to the link to the number of people dying, because the number of people dying, because the number of people dying each day in england is actually slightly falling at the moment, thank goodness, and there have not been a rise in the number of deaths following rising case rates, which started about three weeks ago. within a couple of weeks, weeks ago. within a couple of weeks, we will know whether that continues to be flat, or whether it rises a little. it has risen a little in scotland, ijust put that little. it has risen a little in scotland, i just put that warning and there, but that is precisely the sort of data we will be looking at at the two—week point. in terms of vaccinations, we have been absolutely clear that the goal on which we hang the decision, ahead of the 19th ofjuly, is one on delivering the vaccines, and we have a very high degree of confidence that we can deliver the vaccines that we can deliver the vaccines that we can deliver the vaccines that we think are needed, in order

then to be able to take step four on then to be able to take step four on the 19th ofjuly. i hope that a clear and, the 19th ofjuly. i hope that a clearand, hence the 19th ofjuly. i hope that a clear and, hence the question once more. i untangled myself from my initial response to his question and i will give way on the front bench. isn't the problem, though, with this two—week checkpoint that it creates another moment of hope for people who still feel even these restrictions very acutely, and isn't there the problem, if you create hope and then shift the goalposts again, people continue to deepen their despair? what would you say to them? �* .., , ~ their despair? what would you say to them? �* , ~', them? because i think people understand — them? because i think people understand that _ them? because i think people understand that we _ them? because i think people understand that we are - them? because i think people | understand that we are putting forward the moments by which we can make assessments, and then we will make assessments, and then we will make assessments, and then we will make assessments according to the data. we've done that throughout, and i think people get that, and i think people understood that head of the 21st ofjune, and i think people are smart enough to understand that distinction. mr deputy speaker,

after this four week pause, we will be in a stronger position, because of this vaccination roll—out we've been discussing, to keep hospitalisations down, and so to live with this disease and take that final step on the road map. turning to the regulations themselves, they would put this pause into effect by amending the expiry date of the regulations, so they expire at midnight on the evening of 18th of july. to reflect this change, we also need to align the dates on several other covert regulations which are essential for keeping us safe. these include the regulations for face coverings on public transport, for the regulations that give powers to manage local outbreaks, like cancelling events and closing individual premises, and the regulations that give local authorities powers to enforce covid—secure measures for businesses, and these will all be extended until midnight on the 18th ofjuly. mr deputy speaker, we don't want to extend these regulations a day longer than we have to do. and we've always said that we will ease

restrictions as soon as we were able safely to do. and even though we have put forward these regulations to pause step four, we are also putting forward regulations to ease restrictions in some areas too. these regulations will allow us to remove the 30 person gathering limit for weddings, receptions and commit much of events, subject course to social distancing measures, and they will allow us to run another phase of our pilots for large events at higher capacities, including some, like wimbledon, at full capacity, the wimbledon final. even though we haven't been able to take the full step four, as we wanted, the regulations would allow us to make some cautious changes that will bring some joy to many people, some cautious changes that will bring somejoy to many people, and move us slightly further down the road to recovery. fine move us slightly further down the road to recovery.— move us slightly further down the road to recovery. one important life events, road to recovery. one important life events. while _ road to recovery. one important life events, while it _ road to recovery. one important life events, while it is _ road to recovery. one important life events, while it is welcomed - road to recovery. one important life events, while it is welcomed some. road to recovery. one important life. events, while it is welcomed some of the slight relaxing on things like wedding, there are certain other key life events that have not been included. i'm looking at the likes of bar mitzvahs and baptisms, which

mean so much to so many. will my honourable friend look at those restrictions cannot even look at the two week cut—off point, to weaken the future point, to see if those life events like baptisms be subjected to reducing regulations? i am happy to look at other life events. not for these regulations, which are before the house now. today. and they are not open to amendment. but i am happy to discuss with my honourable friend, and look at other life events. mr deputy speaker, if i can turn to two other points before closing. the first, the motion tabled by my right honourable friend the leader of the is. this house has been determined to ensure that, even in the worst clutches of the pandemic, we found a way to ensure democracy can function, and this house performed its vital functions. function, and this house performed its vitalfunctions. like function, and this house performed its vital functions. like everyone here, i miss the bustle and the clamour of the chamber when it's full, and i can't wait for the

moment when we can all cram once more into our cockpit of democracy. and just as we have extended other regulations, we propose extending the hybrid arrangements for this house until the house arises for summer recess on 22nd ofjuly, and this will allow for proxy voting to continue, along with virtual participation. but, crucially, they fall this summer recess, so when we return in september, we are confident that we can return in full, cheek byjowl once more, and i don't know about you, mr speaker, or indeed my honourable friend, but i can't wait. mr indeed my honourable friend, but i can't wait. ~ ,,, ., ,, ., indeed my honourable friend, but i can't wait. ~ ., ,, ., ., can't wait. mr speaker, i want to hel m can't wait. mr speaker, i want to help my honourable _ can't wait. mr speaker, i want to help my honourable friend. i can't wait. mr speaker, i want to help my honourable friend. he i can't wait. mr speaker, i want to i help my honourable friend. he can't wait, so why wait? why not make this house a pilot to see what happens? look at the testing facilities will stop let's make it a pilot. say that now, secretary of state. i stop let's make it a pilot. say that now, secretary of state.— now, secretary of state. i would dearly love _ now, secretary of state. i would dearly love that, _ now, secretary of state. i would dearly love that, and _ now, secretary of state. i would dearly love that, and i _ now, secretary of state. i would dearly love that, and i will- now, secretary of state. i would dearly love that, and i will go i now, secretary of state. i would l dearly love that, and i will go and talk to my right honourable friend, the leader of the house, who i

understand is an enthusiast also, well, i know that very well. and i would love it if we could make that so. let us see. ifinally would love it if we could make that so. let us see. i finally also want to tell the house about the results of our consultation on vaccination as a condition of deployment in care homes. after careful consultation, we've decided to take this proposal forward, to protect residents. now, the vast majority of staff in care homes are already vaccinated, but not all, and we know that the vaccine not only protects you, but protects those around you, and therefore we will be taking forward therefore we will be taking forward the measures to ensure the man daesh as a condition of deployment, for staff in care homes, and we will consult on the same approach in the nhs, in orderto consult on the same approach in the nhs, in order to save lives and protect patients from disease. i will give way. imilli

protect patients from disease. i will give way-— protect patients from disease. i will live wa . ~ , ., will give way. will you then explain to the house _ will give way. will you then explain to the house whether— will give way. will you then explain to the house whether or _ will give way. will you then explain to the house whether or not - will give way. will you then explain | to the house whether or not visitors to the house whether or not visitors to care homes or hospitals will also require proof of vaccination? will delivery drivers, will people who provide other services to those care homes and hospitals require the same, and is he not now walking down the road of requiring mandatory vaccination for almost everyone? mo. vaccination for almost everyone? no. i do not agree — vaccination for almost everyone? in; i do not agree with mandatory vaccination of the public, but for those who have a duty to care, in an environment that include some of the most vulnerable people in the country, i think this is a sensible and reasonable step, in order to save lives. i will give way. fin and reasonable step, in order to save lives. i will give way. on that oint, he save lives. i will give way. on that point. he will _ save lives. i will give way. on that point, he will also _ save lives. i will give way. on that point, he will also be _ save lives. i will give way. on that point, he will also be aware - save lives. i will give way. on that point, he will also be aware that l point, he will also be aware that those care staff who provide domiciliary care in people's homes,

and to many people potentially, going to many homes during the day, also are caring, and present a similar challenge. now, my own personal view is i think it would be preferable in the first instance if we could get those vaccination rates up we could get those vaccination rates up by we could get those vaccination rates up by education and persuasion. i am prepared, if that isn't possible, following the precedent that we have in the nhs for those who perform operations and have to be vaccinated against hepatitis to agree to this matter, but there is a real issue with the millions of people that provide domiciliary care, they are provide domiciliary care, they are provide directly —— they are employed directly often, and how's that going to work and provide the level of protection required? yes. level of protection required? yes, we do propose — level of protection required? yes, we do propose to _ level of protection required? yes, we do propose to consult - level of protection required? 123 we do propose to consult on level of protection required? isis we do propose to consult on this point, alongside a consultation on the mandatory vaccination as a condition of deployment the nhs. as he rightly says, it is a complicated operational matter. the principle of

vaccination for those in a caring responsibility is already embedded, as he says, and indeed there is a history going back more than a century of vaccination being required in certain circumstances, and i think these are reasonable circumstances. so we will go ahead for those who work in care homes, and we will consult for those in domiciliary care and on the nhs, but i have no proposals for and wouldn't expect that we would then go any wider, and i will give way. i can understand _ wider, and i will give way. i can understand why _ wider, and i will give way. i can understand why we _ wider, and i will give way. i can understand why we would - wider, and i will give way. i can understand why we would want | wider, and i will give way. i can understand why we would want to especially protect people in those circumstances, of course, but can he explain why it isn't possible to maintain their right to choose not to be vaccinated by instead requiring, say, daily lateralflow tests for workers in those industries?— tests for workers in those industries? ~ ., ., ., , ., tests for workers in those industries? ._, ., , industries? we do already of course have significant _ industries? we do already of course have significant testing, _ industries? we do already of course have significant testing, but - industries? we do already of course have significant testing, but it's - industries? we do already of course have significant testing, but it's a i have significant testing, but it's a matter of risk, and we know that the vaccine reduces that risk very significantly. i vaccine reduces that risk very significantly-—

vaccine reduces that risk very sianificantl . . ., ., significantly. i am grateful to the secretary of _ significantly. i am grateful to the secretary of state. _ significantly. i am grateful to the secretary of state. i _ significantly. i am grateful to the secretary of state. i won't - significantly. i am grateful to the secretary of state. i won't be - secretary of state. i won't be joining in the lobbies later on, partly for civil liberties reasons, but i do agree with what he saying about vaccination. i sat on the technology committee about four years ago, it looked at the level of flu vaccination in care homes, and at that time it was at about 20%. flu, like covid, is a killer of elderly people. will he be looking not only to make it a condition of employment for covid vaccination, but also for flu vaccination? yes. but also for flu vaccination? yes, we will, but also for flu vaccination? yes, we will. for _ but also for flu vaccination? yes, we will, for exactly _ but also for flu vaccination? yes, we will, for exactly the _ but also for flu vaccination? yes, we will, for exactly the reason i but also for flu vaccination? isis we will, for exactly the reason that he sets out. we will, for exactly the reason that he sets out-— he sets out. grateful, 'ust on rovin: he sets out. grateful, 'ust on proving that h he sets out. grateful, 'ust on proving that you t he sets out. grateful, 'ust on proving that you are _ he sets out. grateful, just on proving that you are double l proving that you are double vaccinated, there is still an issue between england and wales and other parts of the uk. ijust wonder when this is going to be solved, because of italy everyone doesn't live in a hermetically sealed unit. if. of italy everyone doesn't live in a hermetically sealed unit. is someone who crew hermetically sealed unit. is someone who grew up — hermetically sealed unit. is someone who grew up literally _ hermetically sealed unit. is someone who grew up literally right _ hermetically sealed unit. is someone who grew up literally right on - hermetically sealed unit. is someone who grew up literally right on the - who grew up literally right on the welsh border, i entirely understand that and i'm working with baroness

morgan, the new health minister in the welsh government, to ensure we have, the interoperability that he calls for, and that's a significant piece of work gets under way now. we need to sort this for vaccine data flows, but we also, frankly, need to sort it for all health data flows across the border, and use this particularly acute need to actually change the policy and the practices to sort this out, once and for all. mr speaker, these regulations in front of a house today are there in order to pursue our goal, as throughout, to work to protect lives and get us out of this pandemic as soon as safety possible, and i commend the motions to the house. the question is mission number two, is on _ the question is mission number two, is on the _ the question is mission number two, is on the order paper. jonathan ashworlh _ is on the order paper. jonathan ashworth-_ is on the order paper. jonathan ashworth. ., ~ , , , ashworth. thank you, mr deputy seaker. ashworth. thank you, mr deputy speaker- may — ashworth. thank you, mr deputy speaker- may i — ashworth. thank you, mr deputy speaker. may i begin _ ashworth. thank you, mr deputy speaker. may i begin by - ashworth. thank you, mr deputy speaker. may i begin byjust- ashworth. thank you, mr deputy i speaker. may i begin byjust paying tribute to our much missed friend and colleague, jo cox. jo was an

internationalist, and i know if she was with us today, she would be rallying support, notjust across this country, but for our international contacts for a campaign to vaccinate the world. she would remind us that we will only defeat this virus through our common endeavour, and i think all of us missjo and want to send our best wishes to herfamily missjo and want to send our best wishes to her family today. mr deputy speaker, we will support the extinction of restrictions in the lobbies tonight, but we, of course, do so with a heavy heart. but we are guided by data, not dates, and we have to recognise the facts before us. the delta variant is 60% more transmissible than alpha, and even with the current restrictions in place, the daily total of positive cases has been rising. the seven day rolling average over 7000 per day, compared to around 2000 a day in early may. and this is beginning to

translate into hospitalisations, and with cases doubling every nine days, with cases doubling every nine days, with it at the moment, it looks like hospitalisations are also doubling. 96 people with covid were admitted on the lith ofjune. nine days later, 187 people were admitted, almost double. if this continues to double within four sets of doubling is, we would be close to the april twenty20 peak. and given that we know there is always a lag in the figures, we are no doubt likely to see around 250 admissions a day in ten days' time. so we are seeing this third wave in the nhs, and we need to do all we can to stop the hospitalisations rising. because this is a time of huge pressure on the national health service. we've lost a number of beds over the last ten years, and because of the needs for infection control measures, we have less general and acute beds open today in the nhs, as well. we are facing a monumental backlog in

care, 5 million on the waiting list, over 385,000 waiting over 12 months for treatment, over 385,000 waiting over 12 months fortreatment, nearly over 385,000 waiting over 12 months for treatment, nearly 3000 now waiting over two years for treatment. and, throughout this crisis, we've said the nhs wasn't overwhelmed, but it was only not overwhelmed, but it was only not overwhelmed because of some of the terrible choices that had to be made, and, to be frank, i don't want to see the nhs forced to make choices between providing covert care and cancer care. that's why we should listen to those nhs leaders, who have warned us about the increasing pressures on the nhs at the moment. chris hopson for nhs providers, "the nhs is running hot at the moment, dealing with backlog recovery and emergency care pressures. the nhs confederation, health leaders are very aware of the damaging effects that prolong social restrictions could have on the nation's physical health and mental well—being, yet according to our survey the majority of nhs leaders are concerned about the risks that lifting prematurely could have on the nhs�*s ability to cover. of

course i will give way. i’m the nhs's ability to cover. of course i will give way. i'm 'ust keen to explore i course i will give way. i'm 'ust keen to explore with i course i will give way. i'm 'ust keen to explore with him, i course i will give way. i'm just keen to explore with him, i i course i will give way. i'm just i keen to explore with him, i know course i will give way. i'm just - keen to explore with him, i know the official opposition position will be to support this today but would he be happy to see the terminus on the 19th ofjuly or what he may be like to see it at the end of september when the entire adult population would be double jab, or perhaps to the end of next year, when he thinks —— in the g7 thinks the rest of the world will be vaccinated? flit -- in the g7 thinks the rest of the world will be vaccinated? of course i want to see _ world will be vaccinated? of course i want to see terminus _ world will be vaccinated? of course i want to see terminus day - world will be vaccinated? of course i want to see terminus day on - world will be vaccinated? of course i want to see terminus day on the l i want to see terminus day on the 19th, though i'm not sure we're going to because the honourable gentlemen, he is always well informed, he will have no doubt read the explanatory notes, which indicate that this four week period is to assess the data, and the four tests will be applied at the end of that four—week period. that is not quite the terminus day that the prime minister and the secretary of state have indicated. isn’t prime minister and the secretary of state have indicated.— state have indicated. isn't it misleading _ state have indicated. isn't it misleading to _ state have indicated. isn't it misleading to call _ state have indicated. isn't it misleading to call it - state have indicated. isn't it misleading to call it a - state have indicated. isn't it i misleading to call it a terminus date anyway, even if we were to implement a cessation of some of the

measures on the 19th ofjuly, there are still going to be lots of other measures, which are going to exist, including testing trays, may be for quite proper reasons. but to mislead the nation by constantly going on about freedom days and terminus is just a mistake. mr; about freedom days and terminus is just a mistake-— about freedom days and terminus is just a mistake. my honourable friend makes a good _ just a mistake. my honourable friend makes a good point, _ just a mistake. my honourable friend makes a good point, and, _ just a mistake. my honourable friend makes a good point, and, look, i just a mistake. my honourable friend makes a good point, and, look, of. makes a good point, and, look, of course i want to see terminus day. i want to see freedom, i want to get back to doing the things that i enjoy doing, although i'm quite happy to sit in a group of six in the pub, not sure that i've got more than six friends, mr deputy speaker! 50 it has kind of suited me in many so it has kind of suited me in many ways, but more generally, i see you've got one less friend today, secretary of state! i am keen to see terminus day. but the interesting

thing is, the prime minister, the chancel of that at you, the secretary of state in recent days have tried to hint that restrictions are coming to an end by using this new phrase, we have to learn to live with the virus like we live with the flu. but the secretary of state or the prime minister haven't really outlined to us what that means, because they are trying to suggest to us that it's all going to go back to us that it's all going to go back to normal, but actually, we put in place mitigation to deal with the flu year by year, the honourable gentleman was a public health minister, he was very much involved in the flu vaccination campaign. we vaccinate children to deal with flu, we put infection control measures into care homes when there is a flu outbreak. they will have to be mitigations in place when we go back to living with this virus, but the secretary of state has to explain to us what those mitigations are. let me finish my point. will we continue wearing masks? the secretary of state needs to explain whether we should not. will we be supporting

buildings to put proper ventilation systems in place? we have known about the importance of ventilation in dealing with respiratory viruses since the days of florence nightingale. countries like belgium are now providing buildings and premises with c02 monitors to improve theirair premises with c02 monitors to improve their air quality. will we be doing that? the other thing about this virus is that even when we vaccinate people, and i want to see us meet these various vaccination targets of course i do, we do know that some people will still be at more severe risk than they would be from flu. there will be people who will develop long covid symptoms, and for some people, those symptoms are beyond a keenness and tiredness. we've seen people lose hair, people lose teeth, some people it has presented as depression, anxiety, even psychosis in some circumstances. so even psychosis in some circumstances. 50 living with this virus like flu, or learning to live with it, ministers must explain to us exactly what that means, they should also explain to us, and it didn't come up in the exchanges and i thought perhaps an honourable member might ask the secretary of

state this, but they didn't. what are we going to do in the winter? and perhaps the secretary of state or the minister responding to the debate can tell us if the secretary of state or the minister, or department officials, are putting together plans for restrictions this winter, and whether the secretary of state has developed or discussed those plans with any colleagues in whitehall. i would those plans with any colleagues in whitehall. iwould be those plans with any colleagues in whitehall. i would be grateful if the secretary of state or the minister could tell us about that. he is right, we had a battle royal with influenza in the first year that i was on the job, but the difference was we didn't have any on pharmaceutical interventions. 0ur interventions were about the take—up of the vaccine. yes, for children as well as for adults, especially the vulnerable. and one of our chief advisers, the deputy chief medical officer then, advisers, the deputy chief medical officerthen, one advisers, the deputy chief medical officer then, one professor chris whitty, neversuggested officer then, one professor chris whitty, never suggested masks, officer then, one professor chris whitty, neversuggested masks, let alone closing schools, just a really good roll—out of a flu vaccine, and we lost 22,000 people that year. never where those numbers rolled on bbc news, never did we know the r

number, but there was a point where we accepted an element of risk in society, and i guess that's the point of my first intervention on the honourable gentleman is, what is the honourable gentleman is, what is the element of risk that he is prepared to accept? because that is what it comes down to, our own mortality as part of the human condition. we mortality as part of the human condition-— mortality as part of the human condition. ~ ., . .. , , condition. we do accept it, but we don't glibly _ condition. we do accept it, but we don't glibly accept _ condition. we do accept it, but we don't glibly accept it, _ condition. we do accept it, but we don't glibly accept it, because i condition. we do accept it, but we| don't glibly accept it, because year ljy don't glibly accept it, because year by year, we are looking for improvements in vaccinations and therapeutics and medicines to push down infection rates as low as possible, so even though we are grown—up enough to be aware that sadly some people will die from flu and pneumonia, we do all we can to avoid it. and that's what we will have to do with this but i don't want to see it done by some of the wider restrictions, lockdowns we have heard about, which is why i would be interested to know if the department has developed plans for restrictions this winter, and if the secretary of state has been discussing it with whitehall colleagues or not. just discussing it with whitehall colleagues or not.- discussing it with whitehall colleagues or not. just on that oint, colleagues or not. just on that point. that _ colleagues or not. just on that point, that the _ colleagues or not. just on that point, that the shadow - colleagues or not. just on that point, that the shadow health j point, that the shadow health secretary mentioned about those

restrictions, i know those discussions are going on, because i've seen documents from within government, with very detailed suggestions about what measures may continue. and i ask the secretary of state about this, when he was in the commons earlier this week, and he didn't rule out bringing in restrictions this winter, which is one of the reasons why colleagues on our side of the house are very concerned, and why we are not going to vote for these regulations today. what i wanted to take it back to was his comments about what chris hobson said about the nhs, and the fact it is very busy at the moment, because there is a danger here. now, very sympathetic to colleagues who work in the nhs, who have done a fantasticjob, but i don't think we can get to a point where we restrict and manage society, in order to manage nhs waiting lists. i don't think that's the right way round. the nhs is here to serve society. if it's the case that we need to enable it's the case that we need to enable it to do that, we have to think of a way of doing it, other than putting

restrictions on the rest of society. i don't think that is a sustainable or desirable position, but it is the logical consequence, i think of what chris hobson was saying earlier this month. ., month. even though we will find ourselves in _ month. even though we will find ourselves in different _ month. even though we will find ourselves in different lobbies i month. even though we will find l ourselves in different lobbies this evening, i think there is more income and with us than perhaps we might expect. i don't want to see restrictions remain in place any longer than they need to be, and i want to move to a system where we are trying to push down covid infection rates by yes, rolling up vaccination as far as is possible to people, but putting in place the properframework, so people, but putting in place the proper framework, so those that are ill or a contact of someone who has beeniu ill or a contact of someone who has been ill with covid is able to isolate themselves. we do have a culture, the secretary of state has referred to it in the past, he thought how we all soldiered on in this country, and i dare say many of us in this chamber, i have certainly done it, in my last 20 years of working life, gone on to work with a sore throat or feeling under the weather and so on, thinking i will just have some paracetamol and i just have some paracetamol and i just get on with it. i mean, things

like this have got to change, because although that sore throat may well have been fine for me, we now understand in great detail that it could have been very dangerous for others. so i think we've got to change our attitude, but there will be a lot of people who still have to go to work, because they can't afford to stay at home. so again, we need decent sick pay sorted out, and one of the things that was revealed in the morning politico e—mail was a link of a government document, who said that the isolation system is still not effective, that is because we still don't pay people sick pay. this is going to become more of an issue because if trista —— test and traces to stay in place for the next year or so as my honourable friend from the ronde indicated, there will be people who have had two jabs who will be asked to isolate themselves, who will ask themselves not unreasonably, if i had had two jabs, wide ready to isolate, so i think this will become much more of a challenge and we will need proper sick pay in place. just to finally finish the point from the honourable

memberfrom winchester, i finish the point from the honourable member from winchester, i want us to control the virus through things like sick pay, proper ventilation support, by doing things like investing properly in public health systems and local primary care systems, because one of the things we know about this virus, like flu, is that it does disproportionately hit the poorest and the disadvantaged, because they are the people who have to go to work, or it is in those communities where significant long—term conditions, diabetes, copd, hypertension might tend to cluster, which often makes those people more vulnerable to these types of respiratory viruses. studio: that was the shadow health secretary, jon ashworth, speaking in that debate about the extinction of the coronavirus restrictions in england. time for a look at the weather now with ben. the weather is set to ten more

turbulent for some of us, especially in some of their southern and eastern areas that have been hot and humid today. some risk of thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow, some torrential downpours for some. drifting up from northern france, moving across the channel islands, then getting into southern and eastern areas as we head through this evening and tonight. they will be quite hit and miss, some places will avoid them and stay pretty much dry, but others will have some really intense downpours, especially across the far south—east of england, drifting up into east anglia as well. further north and west you will wonder what all the fuss is about, more dry weather, some clear spells, quite a fresh feel up towards the far north—west of scotland, nine for stornoway but 18 in london, with some really humid and quite muggy conditions here, and more heavy, thundery downpours drifting across parts of england and maybe east wales through tomorrow. northern ireland and scotland staying largely dry woods and spells of sunshine, still quite humid to the south—east, cooler and fresher further north and west. this is bbc news.

the headlines. the us and russian presidents are meeting for the first time. joe biden and vladmir putin shake hands before sitting down for talks. people who work in care homes for the elderly in england may have to have a covid jab or risk losing theirjob. this is a really difficult position to be in and, ideally, we want everybody to be able to make their own individual choices, but i think the focus for us is that we need to provide the best protection for those people who are most vulnerable. downing street says the prime minister has full confidence in the health secretary, after boris johnson's former top advisor dominic cummings released a text message in which the pm appeared to describe matt hancock as "hopeless". prices are rising at their fastest rate for two years because we've been spending more as lockdowns eased. a nine—year—old boy's written a letter to the prime minister asking for a medical cannabis prescription, that he hopes will make a difference to his epileptic brother. i hope it does very much because this will impact

lots of families' lives and change the world, hopefully. good afternoon. joe biden is meeting the russian leader, vladimir putin, for the first time since he became us president. relations between the two countries are at their lowest ebb in decades. mr biden has previously described mr putin as a "killer". let's join our correspondent in geneva — mark lowen. thank you very much indeed and hello from the beautiful shores of lake geneva where we are just inside a

beautiful 18th century villa, the somervell where vladimir putin and joe biden are currently in their second session of talks. they had a first session just with the secretary of state of the us and the russian foreign minister but it is now expanding to a slightly wider delegation. very tough talks ahead. there is a long list of areas of disagreement, areas of friction, from cyber hacking to russian election meddling in the us, to human rights also anti russia's interventions in the wider region but also areas of cooperation where they are trying to find common ground, the two leaders, perhaps climate change, also perhaps the iranian nuclear deal as well. asjoe biden knows well, vladimir putin is going nowhere and this is a man he has to deal with. sarah rainsford reports. it began with a handshake and smiles but these are adversaries, not france, after all, joe biden has

gone vladimir putin a killer. inside, the body language was stiff. the us president asked for the summit toward moscow over its malign activity but the meeting puts russia's president front and centre on the global stage. vladimir putin has along history with us president and the relationship has gone from warm to cool and even awkward. barack 0bama tried a reset, but russia's annexation of crimea put paid to that. moscow then had big hopes for donald trump but accusations that the kremlin helped get him elected doctor relations from the very start. there summit three years ago in helsinki was seen by many as a disasterfor in helsinki was seen by many as a disaster for the in helsinki was seen by many as a disasterfor the us, as mr trump said he trusted mr putin's claims of innocence over his own intelligence agents. innocence over his own intelligence a . ents. , , agents. president putin, he 'ust said it is not �* agents. president putin, he 'ust said it is not russia. i i agents. president putin, he 'ust said it is not russia. i will i agents. president putin, hejust said it is not russia. i will say . said it is not russia. i will say this, i don't see any reason why it would be. ., this, i don't see any reason why it would be. . . , . ., would be. vladimir putin has met joe biden before. — would be. vladimir putin has met joe biden before, a _ would be. vladimir putin has met joe biden before, a decade _ would be. vladimir putin has met joe biden before, a decade ago, - would be. vladimir putin has met joe biden before, a decade ago, when i would be. vladimir putin has met joel biden before, a decade ago, when the american supposedly told the russian didn't have a soul. this time, they

may agree to begin proper talks about arms control at the very least. cybersecurity is on the agenda, too, the new battleground. ukraine, syria, the list flashpoints is long. but don't expect mr putin to give any ground on the fate of this man, alexey navalny, the opposition politician first poisoned with a nerve agent and now in prison. ahead of this encounter in geneva, both russia and the us have been really playing down expectations. there will be no breakthrough in relations. the hostility is here to stay. perhaps the best both sides can hope for is to stop things getting any worse. but during around five hours of talks in this swiss mansion, there will be no shared meal and nojoint appearance at the end. joe biden's aim of stable and predictable relations seems unlikely, then.

cooling the temperature, perhaps the more attainable goal. so neutral territory, here, more attainable goal. so neutralterritory, here, but more attainable goal. so neutral territory, here, but very tough talks that are still ongoing and we are told they could last for some four or five hours. and we are told they could last for some four orfive hours. before and we are told they could last for some four or five hours. before the summit, we were told ready by both delegations to dampen down the expectations. no significant breakthroughs are expected from the summit, more and airing of grievances and for both sides to out exactly what they are against and what they are trying to get the other side to do. and to discuss this more, we are delighted to be joined by a journalist from both countries, mary louise kelly, the former national security correspondence with npr radio and elizabeth are from the russian news agency. what do you thinkjoe biden is trying to get out of this? he is t ini to is trying to get out of this? he is trying to hold — is trying to get out of this? he is trying to hold a _ is trying to get out of this? he is trying to hold a harder— is trying to get out of this? he is trying to hold a harder line i is trying to get out of this? he: 3 trying to hold a harder line than former president trump, which is not a high bar but that is where he is. he is trying to say to vladimir putin, america is back, we havejust

flown in from brussels and the uk, with the force of an entire lights behind us. it is notjust me as the president of the us here, nato and the eu are in the back—seat with me and it is time to knock itself on cyber attacks and election which have obviously affected the us and made front—page news in washington where i am but have affected europe and its allies as well. he is going to say, human rights, give a bit of a lecture, why have you imprisoned your political rival, alexei navalny? the question is how the lecture will be received. will they get any sense, and maybe you want to weigh in on this, from vladimir putin that he is receptive to this message? putin that he is receptive to this messa . e? ., putin that he is receptive to this messaie? ., . , . message? indeed, how far is vladimir putin iioin message? indeed, how far is vladimir putin going to — message? indeed, how far is vladimir putin going to accept _ message? indeed, how far is vladimir putin going to accept a _ message? indeed, how far is vladimir putin going to accept a lecture - message? indeed, how far is vladimir putin going to accept a lecture from . putin going to accept a lecture from joe biden on human rights issues, on the imprisonment of alexei navalny, the imprisonment of alexei navalny, the opposition figure, on russian build—up of troops in the eastern ukraine. is vladimir putin going to be receptive tojoe biden's red lines? i

be receptive to joe biden's red fines? ~ , be receptive to joe biden's red lines? ~' , , .. lines? i think in the first place, we should _ lines? i think in the first place, we should mention _ lines? i think in the first place, we should mention it _ lines? i think in the first place, we should mention it is - lines? i think in the first place, we should mention it is a i lines? i think in the first place, i we should mention it is a dialogue for the _ we should mention it is a dialogue for the russian side, we should mention it is a dialogue forthe russian side, it we should mention it is a dialogue for the russian side, it is not a lecturing — for the russian side, it is not a lecturing from either side. vladimir putin— lecturing from either side. vladimir putin came — lecturing from either side. vladimir putin came here to discuss not to fight _ putin came here to discuss not to fight. though more likely, he is going _ fight. though more likely, he is going to — fight. though more likely, he is going to have a more constructive dialogue — going to have a more constructive dialogue with the us because both countries — dialogue with the us because both countries understand we have the lowest _ countries understand we have the lowest level of our relationship for the moment. for russia, it is very important — the moment. for russia, it is very important also to hear the position of biden— important also to hear the position of biden and the us, and to propose to say— of biden and the us, and to propose to say what— of biden and the us, and to propose to say what our positions are. and how is this — to say what our positions are. and how is this being _ to say what our positions are. jifuc how is this being seen to say what our positions are. fific how is this being seen back to say what our positions are. e"ic how is this being seen back in russia? it is a win for vladimir putin, just the factjoe biden invited him to a summit and he is coming to the centre of the world stage politics at this moment? in russia, people are actually looking with hope — russia, people are actually looking with hope and expectation for this summit— with hope and expectation for this summit because for russians, it is also, _ summit because for russians, it is also, and — summit because for russians, it is also, and for— summit because for russians, it is also, and for the whole world, it is the beginning of something, at least — the beginning of something, at least it— the beginning of something, at least. it is a good thing that the dialogue — least. it is a good thing that the dialogue has started and both presidents are here. we must notice

it is the _ presidents are here. we must notice it is the first — presidents are here. we must notice it is the first time, or maybe, it is the _ it is the first time, or maybe, it is the rarest _ it is the first time, or maybe, it is the rarest time that putin has come _ is the rarest time that putin has come on — is the rarest time that putin has come on time, and everything is going _ come on time, and everything is going according to schedule. so that means— going according to schedule. so that means from the russian side, it is trying _ means from the russian side, it is trying to— means from the russian side, it is trying to show that we are ready, we are here _ trying to show that we are ready, we are here and — trying to show that we are ready, we are here and ready to hear your side _ are here and ready to hear your side, we — are here and ready to hear your side, we are ready to hear your position— side, we are ready to hear your position and propose our ideas as welt _ position and propose our ideas as well. �* , position and propose our ideas as well. . , . h, position and propose our ideas as well. . , . .,, ,, well. and is there also openness in america from _ well. and is there also openness in america from the _ well. and is there also openness in america from the american - well. and is there also openness in america from the american side i america from the american side towardsjoe biden's overtures towardsjoe biden's overtures towards vladimir putin? you mentioned the donald trump meeting and there was horror i think in may in america when trump sided with putin in the conference in 2018, in helsinki, overthe putin in the conference in 2018, in helsinki, over the us intelligence community. is there backing forjoe biden to be here, do you think, cross partisan backing? the people i've interviewed _ cross partisan backing? the people i've interviewed in _ cross partisan backing? the people i've interviewed in the _ cross partisan backing? the people i've interviewed in the last - cross partisan backing? the people i've interviewed in the last 24 i i've interviewed in the last 2a hours, two of the names of the us delegation who were at the table in helsinki with president trump, fiona hill, his top russian adviser, who the biden team consulted before

coming here, and john bolton, the american national security adviser we just interviewed. they will tell you helsinki was a train wreck and there was nowhere to go but up from there was nowhere to go but up from the level of that side. president biden has signalled he would like to talk about less about russia. he wants to focus on china. and more than anything, he would like to focus on domestic problems, of which we have a lot, which has been visible, sadly, on the world stage in the last months and years. he wants to focus on the economy. he wants to focus on the economy. he wants to focus on the economy. he wants to focus on finally turning the corner on the pandemic, he wants to focus on racialjustice protests and putting things right. so it would be a triumph out of this summit if he did succeed and i think americans would back the effort but let's ratchet things down a little bit, so we can take care of all the other stuff. bit, so we can take care of all the other stuff-— other stuff. engagement but containment _ other stuff. engagement but containment i _ other stuff. engagement but containment i suppose i other stuff. engagement but containment i suppose is i other stuff. engagement but| containment i suppose is the other stuff. engagement but i containment i suppose is the way other stuff. engagement but - containment i suppose is the way you would characterise the summit. thank you forjoining us. now of course, the last time that geneva played host to leaders from the soviet

union back then and the us was 1985 at mikhail gorbachev sat down with ronald reagan in geneva. that was a crucial meeting to thaw the cold war and led to a detente. we are not expecting that same kind of level of personal rapport and wants between the two leaders out of the talks. we wait to see what, if anything, they can achieve. we will have plenty more from geneva in the coming hours but for now, back to london. marc levin in geneva and we are expecting two separate press conferences, festival, vladimir putin, we to believe it might be around li:30pm and then later, at 5:30pm, if it does not slip a bit, joe biden willjoe biden will make a statement. the health secretary matt hancock has confirmed that the government will be making vaccinations mandatory for staff in care homes. he said a similar move was being considered for those working in the health service. he's been speaking in the commons in the last half hour. after careful consultation, we have decided to take this proposal forward

to protect residents. now, the vast majority of staff in care homes are already vaccinated, but not all and we know that the vaccine not only protects you but protects those around you. and therefore, we will be taking forward the measures to ensure the mandation for, as a condition of deployment for staff in care homes and we will consult on the same approach in the nhs in order to save lives and protect patients from disease. the government wants to vaccinate all adults as quickly as possible. but constraints on the supply of the pfizer vaccine mean ministers can't speed up the process. our health correspondent, nick triggle said there's a limit to how quickly the under 40s can be vaccinated. there is actually plenty of vaccine doses in the country but the problem is, it is the wrong type of vaccine. there is thought to be a stockpile

of around 5 million doses of the astrazeneca vaccine but the under 40s are, as you mentioned, being given the pfizer and moderna vaccines so there is plenty of vaccine available to give the second doses to people in their 40s and 50s, but there is a limit to how quickly the government can vaccinate the under 405. we are getting around 1.5 million doses of the pfizer and moderna vaccines imported into the country each week and the government is confident about those supply lines. they believe there is enough to do the remaining under 40s by the 19th ofjuly but we can't start the second doses until after that, and the pfizer vaccine will also be the vaccine that will be used to vaccinate children, if that is given the green light. so that has an implication for when that could start and how quickly that can be done. ministers have always said supply of vaccination is the rate—limiting

factor and that is clear, that is more true now as we approach the end of the roll—out than it has ever been. borisjohnson's former top aide, dominic cummings, has published what he says are messages he received from the prime minister, in which mrjohnson described the health secretary as "hopeless". mr cummings has blamed matt hancock forfailings during the pandemic, and said he should have been sacked. earlier, i spoke to peter cardwell, former government special advisor about why dominic cummings may have released these messages. dominic cummings believes he is on a moral mission. he said in his very long, 7000—word plus blog, that his mission was to get the truth into the public domain but i think it is his version of the truth, just as matt hancock has his own version of the truth. we have heard from both men in some detail, dominic cummings for seven hours and now with these thousands of extra words but i don't think the truth is really any clearer, and that probably won't come out until the public inquiry

and of course, matt hancock denies that he was incompetent, that he should have been sacked, and all those denials he made to the committee very recently in the last few days, and we will hearfrom him later in the commons today as well. but dominic cummings is clearly on a mission to destroy matt hancock. i don't think he will with this blog post. there are certainly embarrassing revelations but he is maintaining, dominic cummings, his line on those allegations and attempting to refute some of the evidence. it is interesting from borisjohnson's perspective now because in the next reshuffle which may be in next month or two or even after the party conferences, but sometime this year probably, if he moves, demotes or sacks matt hancock, he looks weak and as though he is playing into his former adviser's hands. does that mean matt hancock is safe at the health department? he is either safe at the health department or he will be moved sideways or promoted, but it would be very difficult for any prime minister in this particular situation,

to say actually, i am going to choose my former disgruntled adviser who has been making incendiary claims in the public domain, over my health secretary, whom borisjohnson has said publicly at least on a number of occasions that he has full confidence in. i think what is quite worrying for borisjohnson and many people in government, i would imagine, is the fact that some of what were meant to be private whatsapp conversations are now in the public domain. dominic cummings says of course he is doing this in the public interest, but it does seem to certainly align with his anti matt hancock messages and i think there will be a lot of worry across government in terms of what other whatsapp messages from dominic cummings may be in the public domain in the time to come. given we are quite some time away from a public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic, how much more of this do you think there will be from dominic cummings, and his grip on matt hancock? dominic cummings has never played by the rules. he is always someone who has been a bit out there, a bit of a maverick, and i think he is on a very strong mission.

he's got absolutely nothing to lose, there is no chance whatsoever he will return to government, he has the financial means that he does not need to have a job in the short term anyway so he can continue with this and keep going and keep on putting things in the public domain. i suppose the question is how that can be interrogated because of course, he had seven hours at the health and science joint committee in parliament, and he then promised to give documentary evidence to them, which he then did not do. he has not put himself up for interview on any media outlets and so on but maybe he will do that, i don't know. but in terms of interrogating the evidence from dominic cummings, he's got a very effective way of putting it all in the public domain without any challenge to these extra revelations that have come out this morning and interestingly, about 20 minutes before pmqs, and sir keir starmer did not ask a single question about them. ministers have been warned the uk is woefully unprepared to deal with the effects of climate change.

a report by the experts who advise the government says global warming will hit the country harder than first thought, with more severe heatwaves, and heavier rain. they say homes, infrastructure and services must be ready to withstand hotter temperatures, as well as flooding. here's our science editor david shukman. is the uk ready for more of this? floods, storms and other extremes. the government's climate advisers have assessed what's in store for us and they're worried. they reckon the country is not properly geared up for the hazards to come. with temperatures set to rise globally and in the uk, wildfires and heatwaves will become more common, and the advisers say this isn't something for the distant future — it's already happening here and now. we only have to look back to last summer, when we had six days in august when temperatures in the south—east were 10 degrees above normal. i mean, that's extraordinary

and that's impacts of climate change hitting us now in the uk. and it's going to get worse. they highlight met office projections for how the uk could heat up. first, by 2050, in an optimistic scenario, and then by 2080, if little is done to stop the gases that are driving up temperatures, and this would affect everyone. power supplies could become more vulnerable, the advisers say, put at risk by more violent weather, just when everyone will be relying on electricity for their cars. and homes across the country will also feel the heat — literally, never designed for temperatures on the scale forecast, and experts say many people are having trouble staying cool right now. most of the people that contact us, they are just at their wits' end. when it's in your home and you can't escape the heat and you can't sleep at night, and particularly with flats in london, you're having to make a judgment between — do i leave the windows open and not

sleep because it's noisy, or do i close the windows and then not sleep because i'm overheating? another risk is more landslides, like this one last year. so, what's the government's response? it says the uk is a world leader in tackling climate change and that its planning does take account of the latest science. but it also says it will study what the report has to say. david shukman, bbc news. prices are rising at their fastest rate in two years. inflationjumped to 2.1% in may, as people went back to the high street after lockdown eased. the cost of fuel and clothing was partly responsible for the rise, as andy verity reports. maintaining your bike has become a necessity in the pandemic, not least because it has been hard to get hold of a new one. as cycling surged during lockdowns, the big brands struggled to book enough slots at chinese factories to meet demand, and the average price of bikesjumped by 9.7%.

there have been some inflationary pressures from increases in production and shipping costs. again, at halfords, we have been able to mitigate a large number of these to continue... since the start of the pandemic with the big increase om people with the big increase in people cycling, notjust in the uk but around the world, there have been some shortages in supply. behind the higher than expected 2.1% rise in the cost of living is the usual culprit, the price of petrol, which rebounded by 17.9% after dropping in the lockdowns of last year. as economies have reopened across the world, demand for goods has surged and suppliers have not yet brought enough capacity back on stream to meet that demand. in the spring, bottlenecks in supply chains like the one caused by the container ship stranded in the suez canal led to higher transport costs. shortages of key commodities like steel forced up the average price manufacturers pay for raw materials by 10.7%. economists predict that as suppliers restart more production, that inflationary pressure

will eventually be relieved. the input costs from importing things from parts of asia, where there are supply chain shortages and blockages, so all these costs are coming together for companies and they have a choice. they can absorb it at their margins or pass it on to us as consumers. and if they decide to pass that on to us as consumers, and we the consumers can kind of afford it, then it does look like maybe inflation stays a bit higher and for a bit longer than people might have expected. some commodity prices have already fallen. the price of lumber shot up to a record of $1711 for every 1000 feet of wood board in may, but more recently, has dropped sharply to just over $1010. while prices for some services, such as hairdressing, rose sharply and prices of some goods rose at a record pace, most economists and traders are convinced for now that the upward pressure on prices is temporary.

by the end of this year, we will know if that prediction is right. andy verity, bbc news. a nine—year—old boy has delivered a handwritten letter to downing street asking for help for his parents — and "other mums and dads" — who have to pay for medical cannabis for their epileptic children. thomas braun's brother, eddie, who is six tomorrow, has a private prescription for the drug which costs the family nearly £800 per month. a change in the law in 2018 allowed nhs doctors to prescribe it, but since then, campaigners say just three prescriptions have been issued. ellie price reports. dear prime minister, my brother eddie has really bad epilepsy. my mum and dad try their hardest for me and eddie. tom only took three goes to write out his letter neat enough for the prime minister. he's nine, though keen to point out he'll be ten next month. and he's got a lot on his mind. "but getting a prescription from the nhs would help them a lot. "please support my family

and all the other families. "yours sincerely, thomas braun". i'm feeling excited to finally, maybe, help the solution to get eddie to live a better life, and i'm feeling quite nervous as well. because i feel like there's pressure for me on trying to help eddie. eddie was born with brain damage, following a rare genetic mutation. he has cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and severe complex epilepsy, and it's for that he takes medicinal cannabis. he's six tomorrow, and has been on the drug since early 2017. it's not an nhs prescription, so it costs the family £780 a month. some of the other families we know, they've run out of money already, their kids are no longer on the product that was helping them, and are doing worse for it. you know, they're back in hospital, they're back having lots of seizures. another family have sold their family home. so it's a very, very real crisis

that we're all facing. we can't maintain private prescriptions and we need the government to act now to help us. the law was changed three years ago to allow nhs doctors to prescribe medical cannabis. but campaigners sayjust three nhs prescriptions have been issued, leaving thousands of families to pay for the drug privately, and that's why tom and his mum went to downing street to ask the prime minister personally for help. i'm more than proud at what he's done, and yeah, thank you. and also i'm sorry that you've done this. because you should not have to but i hope it has made a difference. this will impact loads of families' lives and change the world, hopefully. the government's position is that it is ultimately up to clinicians to decide the best course of treatment. a department for health spokesman told us that licensed cannabis—based medicines are funded by the nhs when there is clear evidence of their safety

and clinical effectiveness. this family say they have that clear evidence, and hope the prime minister will agree. ellie price, bbc news. we have got the latest coronavirus statistics from the government, and nine new deaths have been reported, of people who had tested positive for covid—19 in the previous 28 days. there have been a further 9055 new cases of the virus reported, which has gone up quite a lot. there were 7673 cases a day earlier so thatis were 7673 cases a day earlier so that is quite a remarkable increase, isn't it, and the government is concerned because of the delta variant. in terms of the number of vaccines, a further 190,000 people have had the first dose and that means more than 30,41i4,000 people

have had two doses now. —— 30,440,000. the countess of wessex has said the death of prince philip left a "giant—sized hole" in the lives of the royal family. she said the pandemic made it more difficult to spend time with the queen and the duke. daniella relph reports. the countess of wessex spoke openly about her charity work, parenting teenagers, and the death of the duke of edinburgh. just before lockdown, she visited south sudan to raise awareness of sexual violence against women living in conflict zones. it's a key part of her royal work. she praised the bravery of women who shared the brutality of their experience. when you hear somebody�*s story of gang rape and, literally, physically what has happened to them, it absolutely brings you to your knees. and i had tears falling off my face as she was talking to me. i was completely silent,

but i was just in floods of tears. the countess also welcomed the increased openness amongst young women in the uk to discuss the sexual harassment and abuse they faced. she said it was something she had discussed with her 17—year—old daughter and valued the honest conversations they have as a family. she is actually quite aware of it, so we chat about it quite a lot, and particularly if i've been on a trip somewhere, she wants to know where i've been and what i've been doing. so she has a natural curiosity about it, and it's easy to have that kind of conversation with her. she also spoke about the death of the duke of edinburgh and the impact of grief, especially those moments that catch you when you realise he isn't there. we were lucky enough to go to scotland for half—term. i don't know if you remember the photograph that i took. of the queen and the duke? yeah. i was pregnant with louise at the time.

and we went up there, during half—term... are you 0k? mm. and just to be there, in that place was an "oh, my god" moment. so i think they'll come and go. but you have to let them come and let them go. away from the sadder moments, the countess said she'd got fitter in lockdown, and the tv series she had binged over the past year — line of duty. daniela relph, bbc news. now, ben rich has the weather. hello. the weather is set to turn more turbulent for some of us, especially in those southern and eastern areas that have been so hot and humid today. there is a risk of thunderstorms through tonight and tomorrow. some torrential downpours for some. the thunderstorms drifting up from northern france, moving across the channel islands, and then getting into southern and eastern areas as we head

through this evening and tonight. they will be quite hit and miss. some places will avoid them and stay pretty much dry but others will have some pretty intense downpours, especially across the far south—east of england, drifting up into east anglia as well. further north and west, you will wonder what all the fuss is about. more dry weather, some clear spells and quite a fresh feel up towards the far north—west of scotland. nine in stornoway. 18 in london, with some really humid and quite muggy conditions here. and more heavy, thundery downpours drifting across parts of england, maybe east wales, through tomorrow. northern ireland and scotland staying largely dry with some spells of sunshine. still quite humid to the south—east. cooler and fresher further north and west.

hello, this is bbc news with martine croxall. the headlines — the us and russian presidents meet for the first time — joe biden and vladmir putin shake hands, before sitting down for talks. people who work in care homes for the elderly in england may have to have a covid jab, or risk losing theirjob. downing street says the prime minister has full confidence in the health secretary, after boris johnson's former top advisor dominic cummings released a text message, in which the pm appeared to describe matt hancock as "hopeless". prices are rising at their fastest rate for two years, because we've been spending more as lockdowns eased. a nine—year—old boy's written

a letter to the prime minister, asking for a medical cannabis prescription that he hopes will make a difference to his epileptic brother. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's lizzie. good afternoon, we're starting at the euros, where all eyes are on wales, who, in less than half an hour, will kick off their second group game against turkey. wales drew their first match, so a win this evening will give them a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stages. it's being played in azerbaijan again, which will be more like a home game for the turkish who have a huge population in baku. our correspondent hywel griffith is there. there will be some 30,000 turkey fans in the stadium barony, outnumbering the welsh ones by something like 100 to one. speaking to the welsh players this week they think actually maybe they could tell that to their advantage because of the pandemic, it has been along

time since anyone from wales has played in front of a crowd anything the size of that. they like the big occasion, they like the noise, and ultimately they can turn hostility in their favour, ultimately they can turn hostility in theirfavour, particularly ultimately they can turn hostility in their favour, particularly if the turkish crowd get on the backs of their team. turkish crowd get on the backs of theirteam. remember, they their team. remember, they underperformed theirteam. remember, they underperformed in their first game. wales were 0k underperformed in their first game. wales were ok but not great again switzerland, certainly they will have wanted to make a bigger mark, and the end clinging on by their fingertips for that drawer. the wells want to see more from their beginning players, the likes of gareth bale, aaron ramsey need to bring more to this game, helping to maybe free danieljames on the wing and ultimately find the head of kieffer moore, the welshman who has the only golfer well so far, looking to make a name for himself on the international stage. to make a name for himself on the internationalstage. so to make a name for himself on the international stage. 50 wales need a big performance here and let us not say must win, but clearly a win would almost guarantee them a place in the next round so there's a lot at stake. russia have blown group b wide open after a 1—0 win over finland in saint petersburg

in today's early kick—off. it was finland's first appearance since their match against denmark in which christian eriksen had a cardiac arrest during the game and they showed their support to the dane before kick off. but russia took the three points with this goal — a moment of quality from aleksey miranchuk giving russia their first win of the torunament, after losing their opening game to belgium. british players are continuing to do well at queens. cameron norrie reached his first quarterfinals there after a comfortable straight sets win over aslan karatsev. the british number two will play the winner of this match. the winner of this match between 19—year—old brit jack draper and world number 39 alexander bublik of khazakstan. draper is one set up and heading to victory. andy murray and venus williams have both been given wildcards for wimbledon which starts at the end of this month.

at the moment, there is turning out to be one of the best queens tournaments for britain. murray won his first singles match on grass for three years yesterday, beating frenchman benoit paire at queens in straight sets. it's his latest comeback following his hip resurfacing operation two years ago, murray has been hampered with subsequent injuries and bad luck. he missed the australian open in february after testing positive for covid. the big race at royal ascot, the prince of wales stakes, was won by love. the unbeaten super filly returned after a year off to win for irish trainer aiden o'brien underjockey ryan moore. england's women's cricketers have made a strong start to their one of test match against india in bristol. after winning the toss and electing to bat, tammy beaumont�*s 66 and captain heather knight's

unbeaten 65 have taken england to 198—2. you can listen to commentary right now on 5 live sports extra. that's all the sport for now. brexit minister lord frost has said that support for the northern ireland protocol has eroded, as he appeared before mps this morning to be questioned over trade difficulties between northern ireland and britain. arguments between the eu and the uk about the post—brexit status of northern ireland have intensified over the last few weeks, with authorities in northern ireland struggling to deal with demand and the sheer amount of checks required on goods entering northern irish ports from great britain. our reality correspondent chris morris gave me this update on the different options being considered to solve the current problems at the border. most of the trade that is difficult is the trade in food, because you have to do lots of checks on food and the eu rules are very strict. so there are a couple of different proposals out there for the way this could be reduced. what the eu has suggested

is in agreement a little bit like the one it has with switzerland. so that's another neighbouring country, which is close and does a lot of trade with the uk, and the agreement with switzerland will basically mean that the uk would follow all eu food hygiene rules, and if those rules change, it would have to follow those rules as well, it would have to change automatically, and the eu said that would make 80% of all the checks needed at the moment disappear. so it sounds like a good solution. the trouble is it does mean the uk following all of the eu's food hygiene rules, and if you recall, brexit was kind of about not following the eu rules. 50 lord frost again this morning, in front of the northern ireland committee, ruled that out, saying we are not interested in doing that. there is also i suppose the complication that it could it more difficult to do a trade deal in the future with the united states, if you are following eu rules on food, although at the moment a trade deal with the united states is not one of president

biden's big priorities. it feels like now it is quite a long way off but basically the eu position is this is what we should do, just follow our rules in the uk are saying no. what does the uk government want, then? the uk government would like the eu to be a lot more flexible and one of the things it has suggested is a deal along the lines of the one the eu has with new zealand. now, it's a lot further away, so there is a lot less trade, but what it means is, roughly, i agree to recognise your rules as equivalent to mine and you do the same. so we say, yes, it's pretty much the same, it's all going to be fine. the problem with that is it wouldn't do away with nearly as many checks. you'd have to do a series of bespoke deals on individual things, so it is a lot more complicated, and the difficulty is at the moment if you want to sort of try and negotiate this big, complex agreement, you need a bit of trust. and as we saw at the g7, and as we have seen before, trust is in pretty short supply, so i guess you can sort of summarise

things by saying that the eu is saying to the uk, you must implement the law. the uk is saying to the eu, you have to be a lot more flexible, and i think we have a clip we can listen to of lord frost this morning setting out an example of that. the way that the protocol is being operated — the way that the protocol is being operated is not, in our view, consistent— operated is not, in our view, consistent with the intentions of us as negotiators, and take one point, to illustrate — as negotiators, and take one point, to illustrate it in a concrete way, it is simply— to illustrate it in a concrete way, it is simply not enough for people to point— it is simply not enough for people to point to — it is simply not enough for people to point to the provision in the protocol, _ to point to the provision in the protocol, which says that the union custonis _ protocol, which says that the union customs code should apply, because there is— customs code should apply, because there is also a provision in the protocol, _ there is also a provision in the protocol, article 6.2, which says everybody. _ protocol, article 6.2, which says everybody, both sides, should do their— everybody, both sides, should do their best — everybody, both sides, should do their best to minimise checks and controls _ their best to minimise checks and controls on — their best to minimise checks and controls on the ports of northern ireland — controls on the ports of northern ireland. so, obviously, that provision— ireland. so, obviously, that provision cannot be read straight, and it's_ provision cannot be read straight, and it's a — provision cannot be read straight, and it's a matter ofjudgment as to whether— and it's a matter ofjudgment as to whether both sides are exercising the responsibility under article

61— the responsibility under article 62 so — the responsibility under article 62 so it— the responsibility under article 6.2. so it is not a simple black—and—white question. 6.2. so it is not a simple black-and-white question. lord frost. so where _ black-and-white question. lord frost. so where does _ black-and-white question. lord frost. so where does this i black—and—white question. ij7"lc frost. so where does this go to frost. 50 where does this go to next, because we have sort ofjoke, but it's not funny, bout sausage was, and sometimes you try and buy something and it was a at the top of a website, we can't export at the moment to northern ireland. it's very difficult for some businesses. it is very difficult for some businesses. the sausage war issue is a big one, because under eu law, you cannot import into the eu, and now that northern ireland is following eu rules, it is meant to include northern ireland, you can't import chilled meat. frozen meat, 0k, frozen sausages but not chilled meat. those are the rules, and there has been a grace period for six months, which expires at the end of this month. now, lord frost says this morning that he has asked the eu for that grace period to be extended, while they continue to discuss a solution. if the eu doesn't agree to that, there is a prospect of the uk once again taking unilateral action, and that's when you start to escalate things. we take unilateral action,

they increase the legal challenges that they've already begun, and, pretty soon, you could be staring down the barrel of a proper trade war about northern ireland, which could include, and we are a way from this yet, but it could get to the stage of the eu saying, we are going to start imposing other forms of tariffs and other goods, because you're not following the rules in northern ireland. don't forget, this is happening at the end ofjune, beginning ofjuly, just as northern ireland starts to get into its very sensitive marching season. so we know it has already raised the temperature uncomfortably, politically, and both sides say in public they are very keen not to raise it any further but it does mean they need to find a compromise on these technical issues, which are also politically very sensitive. our reality check correspondent chris morris. wales face turkey today in their second group a match of euro 2020, at the olympic stadium in baku, azerbaijan. wales drew with switzerland in their opening match last week, while turkey lost their first game 3—0 against italy on the opening night

of the competition in rome. let's speak now to our wales correspondent tomos morgan. how confident are fans feeling about this match, tomos?_ this match, tomos? well, the fans here at the — this match, tomos? well, the fans here at the vail— this match, tomos? well, the fans here at the vail sports _ this match, tomos? well, the fans here at the vail sports arena i this match, tomos? well, the fans here at the vail sports arena are i here at the vail sports arena are really confident, and i think everyone i have spoken to are looking forward to this match, because really, if wales when they almost certainly through to the knockout stages. as you mentioned, they drew the first game, turkey lost their first game, comprehensively. i lost theirfirst game, comprehensively. i think wales go into this game as favourites, and now that lockdown restrictions have eased somewhat in wales, it does mean that this is probably the biggest gathering of fans, potentially, in wales actually for this game. roughly less than 300 here. capacity is 2000, but because of social distancing their can only be 50% maximum capacity for stuff they have been songs already, people are really looking forward to this game, because if we win it, there is a very good chance, almost certainly we would be through to the knockout

stages, and everyone's hoping that we can replicate the success of 2016. ., ., _, , ., 2016. prior to the competition startini , 2016. prior to the competition starting, though, _ 2016. prior to the competition starting, though, wales i 2016. prior to the competition i starting, though, wales weren't 2016. prior to the competition - starting, though, wales weren't even forecast to make it through to the knockout phase, where they? 50 fans must feel that they really got something to look forward to? this it something to look forward to? as it was the same _ something to look forward to? as it was the same back _ something to look forward to? as it was the same back in _ something to look forward to? e: t was the same back in 2016 something to look forward to? els t was the same back in 2016 as something to look forward to? el3 t was the same back in 2016 as well, getting out of that group was a great task, then coming against belgium in the knockout phases, we were the favourites at beating them as well, comprehensively, 3—1. if you remember, wales top the group in 2016, a group that had england in it as well, so they exceeded expectations ben, and i think, even though we drew the first game, the atmosphere here, today, everyone is feeling as though they can do the same today and take that win. however, if it's anything less than that, they will face the really tough task on sunday of going to rome against italy, that have started their first game in amazing fashion, smashing turkey 3—0, really. so fashion, smashing turkey 3—0, really. 50 really they must get a

result here to keep any chance of going through and progressing in the tournament alive.— tournament alive. from what i've been reading. — tournament alive. from what i've been reading, though, _ tournament alive. from what i've been reading, though, tomos, i tournament alive. from what i've. been reading, though, tomos, the players are going to have to cope with some really hot conditions in baku. i with some really hot conditions in baku. .. ~ ., , with some really hot conditions in baku. ,, . . , . with some really hot conditions in baku. ~' . . , . . , baku. i think wales have really drawn the _ baku. i think wales have really drawn the short _ baku. i think wales have really drawn the short straw, - baku. i think wales have really drawn the short straw, really. l drawn the short straw, really. england and scotland able to playback here in the uk, but wales having to travel five and a half hours over tobacco. azerbaijan is welcome such a close neighbour of turkey that really this is going to be almost a home game for turkey. but the fans here in cardiff will be doing as best as they can, cheering as loud as possible, hoping those cheers carry all the way over to eastern europe to lift the fans will stop the fans were such an important part of the 2016 success, when the games were played over in france, so many fans went over there but this time around the football association of wales advising fans not to go. nevertheless, a couple of hundred have gone on but they will surely be drowned out by the turkish and

azerbaijani fans in the stadium today. but nevertheless, there is a huge amount of optimism here today, it's difficult not to get drawn into the optimism really standing here for the game. the optimism really standing here for the game-— the optimism really standing here for the iame. . , . for the game. those fans are in fine voice already. _ for the game. those fans are in fine voice already, thomas. _ for the game. those fans are in fine voice already, thomas. thank- for the game. those fans are in fine voice already, thomas. thank you l voice already, thomas. thank you very much, tomos morgan. the mother of teenager nora quoirin, who was found dead in a remote part of malaysia in august 2019, has welcomed the overturning of a coroner's verdict, that her daughter died by misadventure. the malaysian high court this morning changed the finding to an open verdict, paving the way for future possible police inquiries into the death of the special needs teenager. she's spoken to the bbc this afternoon, giving her response to the verdict. it is a very big day for us. we are very emotional but we are very pleased with the outcome. nora was always going to be worth fighting for, and this is the verdict that we wanted.

it really was the only reasonable verdict open to us, in the sense that the proof that we had could only really lead to this road as a credible one, as far as we were concerned. we were so desperately disappointed injanuary, when the coroner ruled a verdict of misadventure. it really felt like we had not been listened to, and crucially, for us, the coroner had not really taken the time to understand who nora was. today's ruling was very different indeed, a very clear, reasoned explanation of the facts, as were ascertained throughout the whole inquest. and in our view, the only logical conclusion that someone could possibly come to. we are really pleased that outcome has been reached, and we finally feel that someone has listened to us and has recognised who nora truly was. the headlines on bbc news... the us and russian presidents meet for the first time —

joe biden and vladmir putin shake hands, before sitting down for talks. people who work in care homes for the elderly in england may have to have a covid jab, or risk losing theirjob. downing street says the prime minister has full confidence in the health secretary, after boris johnson's former top advisor dominic cummings released a text message, in which the pm appeared to describe matt hancock as "hopeless". researchers say they have found another life—saving therapy to prevent deaths from covid—19, exactly a year after the discovery that a cheap steroid drug did something similar. the treatment involves using antibodies to neutralise the virus. that means it is only effective in people whose bodies have not previously developed antibodies to the disease. clinical trials suggest it could help one in three people in hospital with severe covid symptoms. and for every 100 patients treated, experts calculate, it would save six lives. professor sir martin landray is thejoint chief investigator

for the clinical trial gave more details on the treatment. the science itself is targeted. of course, a year ago, this was a new virus and we had no new treatments, but during the course of last year, many companies were developing antibodies targeted at the virus itself. and then, from last september, through to the middle of may, to use a word you have actually just used, we ran a randomised trial in which patients in the nhs either got the treatment, the active treatment, the antibody, or they got the best usual care at the nhs could offer, but without the additional antibody. now, that's been enormously successful study, because 10,000 people were enrolled, these are patients who were really quite sick and in hospital, and as you havejust highlighted, sick and in hospital, and as you have just highlighted, what we have found is that for patients who had failed for whatever reason to develop antibodies of their own, if

you give them some in the form of the strike, then actually we save lives, shorten the time in hospital, reduce the need for ventilators. good for the patient but good for the health system, both here in the uk and elsewhere. let's ta ke let's take you to geneva where we can hear president vladimir putin of russia speaking after his meeting with joe russia speaking after his meeting withjoe biden. translation: taste russia speaking after his meeting with joe biden. translation: we also talked about cooperation _ with joe biden. translation: we also talked about cooperation in _ with joe biden. translation: we also talked about cooperation in the - talked about cooperation in the arctic, — talked about cooperation in the arctic, that is the least of topics. please _ arctic, that is the least of topics. please ask— arctic, that is the least of topics. please ask your questions. translation:— please ask your questions. translation: _, ., e , please ask your questions. translation: , i. translation: good evening, maybe you can dwell on the — translation: good evening, maybe you can dwell on the topics _ translation: good evening, maybe you can dwell on the topics that _ translation: good evening, maybe you can dwell on the topics that you - can dwell on the topics that you discussed in more detail? for instance, have you discussed the ukrainian topic, have you discussed

the situation in dom bars and possible ukraine accession to nato, and in the run—up to the negotiations, there were a lot of expectations of others returning to their host countries. your assistant, have you decided on that? with regards to the return of ambassadors to their workplaces? return of the american ambassador to moscow and our ambassador to washington rare moscow and our ambassador to washington— moscow and our ambassador to washington moscow and our ambassador to washiniton ., . , ., washington we agreed that they would return to their — washington we agreed that they would return to their service, _ washington we agreed that they would return to their service, to _ washington we agreed that they would return to their service, to their - return to their service, to their duties — return to their service, to their duties as _ return to their service, to their duties. as for the timeline, tomorrow— duties. as for the timeline, tomorrow or the day after. this is a pure _ tomorrow or the day after. this is a pure technicality. we agreed that russian _ pure technicality. we agreed that russian mfa and state department will start— russian mfa and state department will start consultations on a whole range _ will start consultations on a whole range of— will start consultations on a whole range of issues of diplomatic cooperation. there's a lotto range of issues of diplomatic cooperation. there's a lot to talk about, _ cooperation. there's a lot to talk about, a — cooperation. there's a lot to talk about, a lot _ cooperation. there's a lot to talk about, a lot of questions have piled

up. about, a lot of questions have piled up i_ about, a lot of questions have piled up. i believe that both parties, including — up. i believe that both parties, including the united states, seek to find common ground and find solutions. as for ukraine, indeed, we touched — solutions. as for ukraine, indeed, we touched upon this matter. i wouldn't — we touched upon this matter. i wouldn't say we had a lengthy conversation on that, but as far as i understood, president biden said that the _ i understood, president biden said that the basis for the ukrainian settlement should be the linz package of measures. as for possible ukraine _ package of measures. as for possible ukraine accession to nato, well, we 'ust ukraine accession to nato, well, we just touched upon this broadly, and there _ just touched upon this broadly, and there is— just touched upon this broadly, and there is nothing to discuss here. translation: mr president, you said that one of the — translation: mr president, you said that one of the topics _ translation: mr president, you said that one of the topics was _ translation: mr president, you said that one of the topics was strategic i that one of the topics was strategic stability. could you please elaborate on the decisions on this

matter? and will russia and the united states resume or launch negotiations on strategic stability and disarmament, and namely on the new style treaty, do you plan to start negotiations on the third extension or review of modalities, or may be a signing of a new treaty in this area full stop thank you. the us and russia hold special responsibility for strategic responsibility for strategic responsibility in the world. judging by the _ responsibility in the world. judging by the fact that we are the largest nuclear— by the fact that we are the largest nuclear powers, in terms of the number— nuclear powers, in terms of the number of— nuclear powers, in terms of the number of warheads, re—entry vehicles — number of warheads, re—entry vehicles and delivery means, as well as the _ vehicles and delivery means, as well as the quality and the skill of modernity of these weapons, we realised — modernity of these weapons, we realised the responsibility, and

president biden took a responsible and timely decision to extend the new style — and timely decision to extend the new style treaty by another five years _ new style treaty by another five years until 2024. indeed, new style treaty by another five years unti12024. indeed, a new style treaty by another five years until 2024. indeed, a question arises. _ years until 2024. indeed, a question arises, what's next? we agreed that we will_ arises, what's next? we agreed that we will launch consultations at the interagency level, under the auspices _ interagency level, under the auspices of the us state department and the _ auspices of the us state department and the russian foreign ministry. colleagues will decide on the make up colleagues will decide on the make up of— colleagues will decide on the make up of these delegations, and the venue _ up of these delegations, and the venue for— up of these delegations, and the venue for negotiations, as well as the schedule of these meetings. let's _ the schedule of these meetings. let's give — the schedule of these meetings. let's give the floor to foreign journalists —— journalists, cnn. matthew — journalists —— journalists, cnn. matthewjennings from cnn. first of all, could you characterise the dynamic between yourself and president biden? was it hostile or was it friendly? secondly, throughout these conversations, did

you commit to ceasing carrying out cyber attacks on the united states? did you commit to stopping threatening ukraine's security, and did you commit to stop cracking down on the opposition in russia? translation: figs on the opposition in russia? translation:— on the opposition in russia? translation: . , ., ., ., translation: as for the overall assessment. _ translation: as for the overall assessment, i— translation: as for the overall assessment, i believe _ translation: as for the overall assessment, i believe there i translation: as for the overall assessment, i believe there has| translation: as for the overall i assessment, i believe there has been no hostility _ assessment, i believe there has been no hostility. on the contrary, our meeting — no hostility. on the contrary, our meeting took place in a constructive spirit _ meeting took place in a constructive spirit. indeed, we have provided assessments on the number of issues, but both— assessments on the number of issues, but both sides expressed their intention— but both sides expressed their intention to understand each other, and to— intention to understand each other, and to seek— intention to understand each other, and to seek common ground. talks were _ and to seek common ground. talks were quite — and to seek common ground. talks were quite constructive. as for cyber— were quite constructive. as for cyber security, we agreed that we would _

cyber security, we agreed that we would begin consultations in this respect — would begin consultations in this respect i— would begin consultations in this respect. i believe it is extremely important — respect. i believe it is extremely important. as for responsibilities, and who— important. as for responsibilities, and who should take them, let me brief you _ and who should take them, let me brief you on— and who should take them, let me brief you on matters that are common knowledge, _ brief you on matters that are common knowledge, but probably not everybody is aware of that. us sources, — everybody is aware of that. us sources, i_ everybody is aware of that. us sources, i don't want to make a mistake — sources, i don't want to make a mistake here is to the name of this organisation, but the us sources claim _ organisation, but the us sources claim that — organisation, but the us sources claim that the majority of cyber attacks — claim that the majority of cyber attacks are made from the us territory _ attacks are made from the us territory. then a second one is canada. — territory. then a second one is canada, then two latin american states, _ canada, then two latin american states, and — canada, then two latin american states, and then the uk. as for russia, — states, and then the uk. as for russia, it — states, and then the uk. as for russia, it is— states, and then the uk. as for russia, it is not listed in this ranking _ russia, it is not listed in this ranking of— russia, it is not listed in this ranking of countries that see the significant number of cyber attacks

from their— significant number of cyber attacks from their territory. that's one thing — from their territory. that's one thing the _ from their territory. that's one thing. the second thing, throughout 2020. _ thing. the second thing, throughout 2020, we _ thing. the second thing, throughout 2020, we have received ten requests, regarding _ 2020, we have received ten requests, regarding cyber attacks, from attacks — regarding cyber attacks, from attacks on the us infrastructure. as our colleagues put it, these cyber attacks _ our colleagues put it, these cyber attacks were launched from the russian — attacks were launched from the russian territory, and we received two such _ russian territory, and we received two such requests this year, and on all these _ two such requests this year, and on all these requests, our colleagues received _ all these requests, our colleagues received exhaustive answers. on its turn, _ received exhaustive answers. on its turn, russia— received exhaustive answers. on its turn, russia sent last year 45 such requests _ turn, russia sent last year 45 such requests to— turn, russia sent last year 45 such requests to the relevant agencies of the united _ requests to the relevant agencies of the united states, and this year we sent 35— the united states, and this year we sent 35 requests, and no response has been _ sent 35 requests, and no response has been provided so far. that says that we _ has been provided so far. that says that we have lots of work on, and as for the _ that we have lots of work on, and as for the scale — that we have lots of work on, and as for the scale of responsibilities, and who— for the scale of responsibilities, and who should take down, it should

be decided _ and who should take down, it should be decided within negotiations. we agreed _ be decided within negotiations. we agreed we would start consultations, and we _ agreed we would start consultations, and we believe that the cyber security— and we believe that the cyber security area is extremely important in the _ security area is extremely important in the world — security area is extremely important in the world at large, for the united — in the world at large, for the united states in particular, as well as for— united states in particular, as well as for the — united states in particular, as well as for the russian federation, to the same — as for the russian federation, to the same extent. for instance, we know _ the same extent. for instance, we know about — the same extent. for instance, we know about cyber attacks against the pipeline _ know about cyber attacks against the pipeline organisation in the united states. _ pipeline organisation in the united states, and we know that this company— states, and we know that this company had to pay a ransom of 5 million _ company had to pay a ransom of 5 million us— company had to pay a ransom of 5 million us dollars. according to my information, they were returned some parts of— information, they were returned some parts of this _ information, they were returned some parts of this money, but some parts of this— parts of this money, but some parts of this money is still missing. but what _ of this money is still missing. but what does — of this money is still missing. but what does and what do russian authorities have to do with this? we have faced _ authorities have to do with this? we have faced similar threats when it comes— have faced similar threats when it comes to — have faced similar threats when it comes to one of the key russian

regions, — comes to one of the key russian regions, and its health system, and we see _ regions, and its health system, and we see where these cyber attacks are launched _ we see where these cyber attacks are launched from, we see that these attacks _ launched from, we see that these attacks are — launched from, we see that these attacks are coordinated from the united _ attacks are coordinated from the united states territory. i don't think— united states territory. i don't think that _ united states territory. i don't think that the united states authorities are interested in such kind of— authorities are interested in such kind of manipulations. we need to -et kind of manipulations. we need to get rid _ kind of manipulations. we need to get rid of— kind of manipulations. we need to get rid of all kinds of insinuations and innuendo, and we should launch the expert— and innuendo, and we should launch the expert work for the benefit of the expert work for the benefit of the united states and russian federation. we have reached an agreement in principle and russia is ready— agreement in principle and russia is ready to _ agreement in principle and russia is ready to do — agreement in principle and russia is ready to do that. rt. please give the mic— ready to do that. rt. please give the mic to — ready to do that. rt. please give the mic to rt.— ready to do that. rt. please give the mic to rt._ || the mic to rt. translation: i believe some _ the mic to rt. translation: i believe some part _ the mic to rt. translation: i believe some part of _ the mic to rt. translation: i believe some part of the i the mic to rt. translation: i. believe some part of the question was not answered. there were two other parts, the first one was do you commit in these meetings to stop threatening ukraine? rememberthe threatening ukraine? remember the reason threatening ukraine? rememberthe reason the summit was called in the first place, or the timing of it,

was when russia was building up lots of forces, and the second or third part of the question was, did you commit to stopping your crackdown against the opposition groups inside russia, led by alexei navalny? translation:— russia, led by alexei navalny? translation: ~ ., , ., , translation: well, to be honest, this art of translation: well, to be honest, this part of the _ translation: well, to be honest, this part of the question _ translation: well, to be honest, this part of the question was i translation: well, to be honest, this part of the question was not i this part of the question was not interpreted, or maybe you decided to ask a second part of your question, but with— ask a second part of your question, but with regards to commitments to ukraine, _ but with regards to commitments to ukraine, we have one single commitment to help and facilitate the implantation of the minsk agreements. if the ukrainian side is ready— agreements. if the ukrainian side is ready to _ agreements. if the ukrainian side is ready to do — agreements. if the ukrainian side is ready to do that, we are ready to hold _ ready to do that, we are ready to hold this — ready to do that, we are ready to hold this part without any doubts. let hold this part without any doubts. let me _ hold this part without any doubts. let me draw your attention to one thing _ let me draw your attention to one thing in _ let me draw your attention to one thing. in november2020, the ukrainian— thing. in november2020, the ukrainian delegation presented its ideas _ ukrainian delegation presented its ideas on _ ukrainian delegation presented its ideas on how it intends to implement the minsk— ideas on how it intends to implement the minsk agreement, and it is not a confidential— the minsk agreement, and it is not a confidential document. it stipulates

that, first _ confidential document. it stipulates that, first of all, proposals on the political— that, first of all, proposals on the political integration of donbass to the ukrainian legal system to be presented, as well as to the constitution. to this end, the constitution should be amended. it is stipulated there. that is the first— is stipulated there. that is the first thing. secondly, borders within— first thing. secondly, borders within the russian federation and the ukraine, the donbass line, the security— the ukraine, the donbass line, the security situation should be ensured the next _ security situation should be ensured the next day after the election, that is— the next day after the election, that is article nine. so what did ukraine — that is article nine. so what did ukraine propose? in the first that it proposed to return the ukrainian armed _ it proposed to return the ukrainian armed forces to the permanent station — armed forces to the permanent station areas. that means ukrainian armed _ station areas. that means ukrainian armed forces should be deployed in donbas _ armed forces should be deployed in donbas. that's the first thing. secondly, _ donbas. that's the first thing. secondly, they proposed to close the ukrainian- _ secondly, they proposed to close the ukrainian— russian border in this secondly, they proposed to close the ukrainian- _ secondly, they proposed to close the ukrainian— russian border in this area, _ area. _ ukrainian— russian border in this area, and — ukrainian— russian border in this area, and third, to hold elections ukrainian— russian border in this area. and — ukrainian— russian border in this area, and third, to hold elections after— area, and third, to hold elections after these — area, and third, to hold elections after these two steps. close the after— area, and third, to hold elections after these — area, and third, to hold elections after these two steps. one does not

need to— after these two steps. one does not need to be _ after these two steps. one does not need to be a lawyer and one does not need to be a lawyer and one does not need to be a lawyer and one does not need to— need to be a lawyer and one does not need to have — need to be a lawyer and one does not need to have a special experience to understand — need to have a special experience to understand that has nothing to do with the _ understand that has nothing to do with the agreements. it contradicts the names— with the agreements. it contradicts the names agreements so what kind of an additional operation should russia — an additional operation should russia take care? the answer is pretty— russia take care? the answer is pretty understandable. as for the exercises — pretty understandable. as for the exercises where holding these exercises where holding these exercises in our territoryjust like the united — exercises in our territoryjust like the united states does with the many drills but— the united states does with the many drills but you do not hold our exercises _ drills but you do not hold our exercises by deploying military equipment close to the us border and unfortunately that's what the american partners are doing with regard _ american partners are doing with regard to — american partners are doing with regard to us so we need to have these _