mother 1300 people died as a rose for the seventh year in a row. truth? for the seventh year in a row. why is it still happening _ for the seventh year in a row. “55°71? is it still happening and for the seventh year in a row. “11: is it still happening and why has this been allowed to be content with. why are these numbers up, death figures up again? the scottish government has admitted the situation is a national disgrace. also tonight: yes! gold for beth shriever, silver for kye whyte, as together they make 0lympic history winning britain's first ever medals in bmx. england's star all—rounder ben stokes is taking an indefinite break from cricket with immediate effect to concentrate on his mental health.

pregnant women are being urged to get the covid jab as soon as possible, as the number of mothers in hospital with the virus rises. and a packed audience and no more social distancing at the royal albert hall for the first night of the proms. and coming up in sport on the bbc news channel, team gb wins six more medals at the olympics, including duncan scott's third of the games — silver in the 200 metres individual medley. good evening. the number of deaths linked to drug misuse in scotland has risen to a record level for the seventh consecutive year. more than 1,300 people died of drug misuse in scotland last year alone.

almost two thirds of all drug—related deaths were of people aged between 35 and 5a. scotland's drug—death rate is more than three and a half times that for the uk as a whole. and, as this graph shows, scotland has by far the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in europe. 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordon reports. it would have been angela mclauchlan�*s birthday this week. angela had one of the most contagious, laughs, smiles, big blue eyes, and everybody loved her. but, like too many others in scotland, her life lost to drugs. do you miss her? every day. because you feel robbed. angela's sister, who is a local councillor, works helping others dealing with addiction in the ayrshire town of irvin. she says over recent years there has been no letup in the numbers dying.

we are hit with a wave after wave after wave. it is a tsunami coming towards us. how much can we take? waves of deaths? waves of deaths. when you hear it every single day, you are consoling families every single day, that is not where i want to be. the scale of scotland's problem with drugs has been recognised for some time, but these latest figures are another grim milestone, showing the number of drug—related deaths here rising for the seventh year in a row. many are dying after taking a cocktail of drugs, what's known as poly drug use, mixing dangerous street drugs, including what is known as street valium, with alcohol and prescription pills. the first minister made a very honest acknowledgement that we have not done enough in the past that is either big enough or quick enough to tackle the scale of the challenge we face, but we are now determined, going forward, to invest more in life—saving services. and there are new initiatives,

including this trial, where police in some areas, including here in glasgow, have started carrying naloxone, which rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. the early indications - are that it is very positive. in 23 times i've used it, - 21 times at least, when using it, it will help to save someone's life. there is no doubt that that is very positive. i the scale of scotland's drugs crisis is staggering. there was maybe about 50 of us and there are only ten of us left or something. the scottish government has committed a quarter of £1 billion to addressing the emergency, but this recovering addict, who is now a community worker, says that money must trickle down. there is always noise, always all this money to be invested and, "we're going to have this policy and that policy," but it doesn't do anything.

they need to be investing in the communities, where they know the people, they know the problems they have. in glasgow this afternoon, a vigil for those who lost their lives, their families and friends gathered around a provocative symbol they hope will focus minds on the crisis. they say they are no longerjust calling for change, but demanding it. and lorna joins me now. these numbers keep on rising. a huge challenge and one proving very difficult to tackle.— difficult to tackle. sophie, a long-running _ difficult to tackle. sophie, a long-running issue - difficult to tackle. sophie, a long-running issue here - difficult to tackle. sophie, a long-running issue here in. difficult to tackle. sophie, a - long-running issue here in scotland long—running issue here in scotland and in some areas it is multi—generational. these figures today show a strong link between poverty, deprivation and the drug related deaths as well. the scottish government is putting money toward theissue, government is putting money toward the issue, £250 million over the next five years, and they say the immediate priority is to get more people into treatment. they say they are committed to ensuring everyone can access the services they need no matter where they live. there are some more innovative programmes going on as well. you saw the trial by the police there, there is now

prescribing to some addicts and others are getting prescribed medical grade heroin on the nhs, but make no mistake that the government here is under a lot of pressure. 0pposition parties say cuts by the snp government to rehab and addiction services have played a big part in the rise in drug—related deaths in recent years. well, scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon said today every single death is a tragedy. she said what is needed is not words but action, and she said that is what the scottish government is committed to deliver. lorna gordon, thank you. it's been another bumper day for team gb at the tokyo 0lympics, with six more medals added to the tally overnight. but it was two bmx bikers who stole the show today. 21—year—old bethany shriever, a teaching assistant who had to crowdfund her way to tokyo, made history as she won gold in the women's race just moments after her team—mate kye whyte won silver in the men's event. 0ur sports correspondent

natalie pirks was watching. we're no stranger to british cyclists flying the flag at an 0lympics, but this time, for the first time, bmx provided the pedal power. beautiful technique! it's a sport of thrills...and spills. the peckham projectile, ready to launch himself onto this course. for britain's kye white in his first 0lympics, this race was a study in composure. nailed the start... it is a great start from kye white! ..hammer the finish. yes, it is a silver! at the bmx club where his dad was coach, mum was secretary and older brother a world bronze medallist, the party was in full flow. it means the world. changed my life. changed my family life, 100%. i know great opportunities are going to come from this, so, yeah, it changes everything. bethany shriever... but there wasn't time for british bmx to breathe before beth was off.

making the final was a bonus — a medal wasn't truly in her plans. there we go, beth, all the way. but as the double olympic champion from colombia breathed down her neck, the dream finally became reality. all the way! yes! bethany shriever at the first time of asking! olympic champion! 0n the sidelines, she had her very own hype man. this long course had strained every sinew and as she collapsed, look who was there to pick her up... beth, good work! kye wasn't the only one. beth had needed crowdfunding to get here, after uk sport had axed women's bmx funding after rio. the irony, this was britain's first female gold here. could you ever have dreamt of this moment? to be honest, no. i dreamed of coming here, but to get a medal, it is just something else. it is what every athlete dreams of, but i have worked so hard, i gave it everything i have got and i have been rewarded with

this, which is unbelievable. where is your medal? back home in essex, her proud parents finally caught up with her. wahey! there it is! look at that! what this has done for the sport, which is going to be fantastic, more girls will want to do it because they will see that they can achieve their dreams. you know, hopefully funding will not be an issue any more for girls in sport, particularly for bmx. beth shriever did not lose a race all day and that truly dominant performance caps britain's best day in olympic bmx racing history. from no medals to two, in five frenetic minutes. from time to time, we all need a lift. in the 0lympics' game ofjeopardy, this pair supported each other, to an historic double. natalie pirks, bbc news, tokyo.

well, swimmer duncan scott has added yet another medal to his 0lympic haul after winning silver in the 200 metre individual medley. he could become the first british 0lympian to win four medals at a single games when he races again this weekend. but it has been a very different story for britain's rowers — their worst performance since 1996 and the first time team gb rowers have not won a gold at the olympics since 1980. with more, here's our sports editor dan roan. steve is just going to break down. he's breaking down here... for decades, it was team gb's banker — britain the leading rowing nation at the last three games, but not any more. victoria thornley in for great britain in five. the latest to miss out on a medal, vicky thornley in the singles sculls. the sixth time a british boat has finished fourth here, as the team sank to 14th in the rowing medal table. the british now have got to hold off germany! it is great britain... the men's managed bronze, but it completed the squad's worst 0lympics for more than a0 years.

there's no doubt, we can't escape the fact that the british team haven't performed the way that we have in the last five, six, you know, editions of the olympic games. so, on one level, it's disappointing. i don't think there are many questions to ask of the athletes. i think they have performed out of their skins. this is the first time team gb's rowers have not won gold since 1980, despite being the country's best funded sport. and the recriminations have begun. the role of legendary but controversial former head coach, jurgen grobler, who left last year after almost three decades of success, has split the squad. some missing him, others attacking his treatment of athletes. the man in charge now admits britain's at risk of being left behind. i think we've got to make some significant changes to really step up. we've got to look at the analysis of what the other countries in the world are doing that we're not doing. we've got a great base and a great model that has given us performances over the years, but everyone else is starting to move forward, and we've got to move forward with them. coming is duncan scott in the red hat! british swimming is another

well—funded sport, but it's been going in the right direction. a second gold of the games may have narrowly eluded duncan scott earlier, but his three metals here are more than any british swimmer has managed at an olympics in over a century. the scotsman now among team gb's most decorated ever athletes. luke greenbank secured bronze in the 200 metre backstroke, although, when asked, he then questioned whether it was a clean race, after a russian athlete won, with russia still under suspicion following their state—sponsored doping scandal. it's obviously a very difficult situation, not knowing whether. .. ..who you are racing against his clean, but it's something that i think is part of the sport, and, if i'm honest, more needs to be done to tackle that. but little detracts from team gb's achievements here. with a haul of six medals now, and the prospect of more to come, these have been a breakthrough games

for british swimming. after years of struggling to compete with the likes of the united states, they've now established themselves as a real powerhouse in the sport. what lies behind this resurgence, do you think? you know, way back in 2015, peaty won his first world championship. i think the way he does about his business, so professional, you know, it does rub off on people. you know, the coaches as well that the athletes get to work with day in, day out, there are so many that have, you know, constant strive to improve, and i think that means it's so special to a lot of the swimmers. and in the relays this weekend, scott can become the first british 0lympian to win four medals in a single games — not yet a household name, but on the verge of history. dan roan, bbc news, tokyo. let's take a look at some of the other 0lympic action. great britain's bryony page claimed her second 0lympic medal as she won bronze in the women's trampolining final. the rio 2016 silver medallist had spent two years recovering from operations on her ankle and said she was "grateful to be back" doing what she loves.

but disappointment for gb's women's football team who suffered a heartbreaking defeat in their quarter—final against australia. ellen white's hat—trick was not enough to prevent a 11—3 defeat in extra time. while all eyes are on the games, japan is facing a surge in covid cases, with the country extending a state of emergency in tokyo and expanding it to new regions. street lights in the capital were switched off to try raise awareness of the situation, yet hundreds came out to watch instead. less than 30% of japan's population are fully vaccinated. it's been announced tonight that the england cricketer ben stokes is to take "an indefinite break" from the sport with immediate effect. it means he'll miss england's test series against india which starts on wednesday. 0ur sports correpsondent laura scott is here. laura, why? this

afternoon is courage in opening up and said he would be given as long as he needs, but it is significant on two levels, firstly from a quicker perspective, this is a big blow for england. he is a talismanic figure on and off the pitch and there is a really busy period ahead culminating in an ashes tour this winter and this will undoubtedly heighten the scrutiny put on the players during covid, with the bubble environments they have been operating in and the length of time they spend away from home. players like ben stokes who play more than one format of cricket face the prospect of several months away from their families this autumn and winter and he is also dealing with the death of his father at the end of last year and more generally, this will add to the conversation around athlete well—being and elite sport, something that has already been headline news this week with global stars like simone biles and naomi 0saka stepping back from

competitions to focus on mental health. it feels a watershed moment and another example of sport leading the way in raising awareness on a hugely important subject. the number of daily coronavirus cases in the uk has fallen after two days of rises. the latest government figures show there were 29,622 new cases, in the latest 24—hour period, meaning an average of 28,272 new cases per day in the past seven days. 68 deaths were recorded in the last 2a hours. that's an average of 72 deaths a day in the past week. the number of people in hospital with covid has fallen back below 6,000. more than 88% of uk adults have now had their firstjab and nearly 72% are now fully vaccinated. pregnant women are being urged to get the covid jab as soon as possible, as the number of mothers in hospital with the virus rises. estimates, based on public health england data, suggest that hundreds of thousands of pregnant women have not had the jab.

england's chief midwife says they should do so to protect themselves and their babies. 0ur health correspondent catherine burns has the story. at london's chelsea and westminster hospital, an antenatal clinic with a difference. mums to be having vaccines at the same time as routine scans and blood tests. we just thought it was important to have it, to protect me and the baby as well. i was really nervous before i had it done, and then i did a bit of reading and thought, "actually, this is perfect." kind ofjust want to do - the best thing for my baby. and i was really scared about getting covid. i catching covid during pregnancy puts mother and baby at extra risk, so the chief midwife for england is encouraging anyone who is pregnant to get theirjab. we want mums and babies to be safe, and indeed theirfamilies, and that's why we encourage and urge every pregnant woman in england today to seek some wise counsel, speak to a health professional, and indeed choose to have the vaccine. across london, at king's college

hospital, they have about 20 births a day and about two of the mums have covid. most women who get covid in pregnancy will sail through and be absolutely fine, but we see a small number of women who come in with severe breathing difficulties, and we have to act rapidly — they go on ventilators, have to have an emergency delivery for their baby. and, from our point of view, it feels tragic, because these women will now be almost certainly unvaccinated and we know that if they'd been vaccinated it could have been avoided. avoided, because vaccines can make all the difference. since february, 742 pregnant women have been admitted to hospital with covid symptoms. almost all, 738, have not been vaccinated. four have had a single dose. none were double jabbed. initially, pregnant women were told they should only get the vaccine if they had a higher chance of catching covid or had underlying health problems. since april, though, the advice has been clear. you should get vaccinated

during pregnancy. even so, the best estimates suggest that nine in ten pregnant women are not taking up the vaccine. iona's first baby is due in ten weeks. she's struggling to decide whether to get vaccinated or not. she's worried about what would happen if she caught covid, but has concerns about the vaccine. because it's so new, i think that's why i'm still hesitating. so i think that's what's keeping me from getting vaccinated. almost 200,000 pregnant women across america and the uk have had at least one dose with no safety issues. meanwhile, though, there are signs that the delta variant is affecting pregnant women more severely. in the first wave, a quarter of pregnant women in hospital with covid had moderate or severe disease. now it's closer to half. catherine burns, bbc news. a british national is one of two people who have died

after an israeli managed tanker was attacked off the coast of oman. us and eu sources say iran is the main suspect. israel is calling for a harsh response. here, a man has pleaded guilty to assaulting england's chief medical officer, professor chris whitty, in a central london park last month. lewis hughes, who's twenty—four, appeared before westminster magistrates' court. a second man, jonathan chew from brentwood in essex, pleaded not guilty to assault, and will stand trial in november. a steward at wembley stadium has admitted trying to sell security wristbands, official lanyards and hi—vis jackets — to allow ticketless fans to get into wembley for england's euro 2020 final against italy. yusaf amin, who's 18, stood to make £4,500. he posted screenshots of the items on facebook marketplace on the day of the match, with a promise of "guaranteed entry or money back". campaigners say more than 100 former interpreters seeking relocation to the uk

after helping british forces in afghanistan have had their applications rejected. some say they are now living in fear of reprisals from the taliban. britain has already relocated more than 2,000 local afghan staff, including interpreters and their relatives. secunder kermani reports from kabul. tens of thousands of british soldiers served in afghanistan. crucial to their mission, the help of local interpreters. with international troops withdrawing, hundreds of them, along with their families, are being relocated to the uk. but others remain stuck in afghanistan. this man is one of dozens of interpreters whose applications have been rejected. he says he fears for his life. they're going to kill me. that's it. it's a big threat for my family also. because of me, my family

will pay for that. he served with british forces for two years in helmand province, but was then sacked. those dismissed for serious offences are not being relocated. he says he simply refused to go on a second consecutive mission, in order to attend his engagement ceremony. defence sources alleged he repeatedly failed to turn up to work. i was very sad. i wrote all my story, what happened to me in helmand, because i did a good service. so, i thought that maybe i would receive a positive response. afghan forces pushed back a taliban advance towards herat city. the insurgents have not taken any provincial capital yet, but some fear it is only a matter of time. the taliban say former interpreters who worked with foreign forces but now show remorse will not be harmed. few are reassured by that, though. dozens are reported to have been killed by the group in recent years. military veterans and campaigners

say the evacuation policies need to be more generous. the priority for afghan relocation and assistance policy is looking at, are these people are under threat, because of their association with us and the only exception that needs to be made there is that if there would be any individuals who would be posing a risk to the national security of the uk, then it would be a basis for exclusion. with fresh taliban assaults every day, britain's ministry of defence says it has already relocated more than 2000 former local staff and their relatives and that its scheme is one of the most inclusive in the world. everyone knows the situation is growing increasingly critical. secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. tonight was the first night of the proms at the royal albert hall — one of the highlights of the cultural calendar. and for the first time since 2019 audiences returned — allowed in if they could show a negative covid test or double jab.

more than 2000 musicians from 30 orchestras will play over the next six weeks as live music returns on a scale not seen in the uk since the start of the pandemic. mark savage reports. for music lovers of the royal albert hall, the wait is over.— hall, the wait is over. finally, i am absolutely _ hall, the wait is over. finally, i am absolutely thrilled, - hall, the wait is over. finally, i am absolutely thrilled, i - hall, the wait is over. finally, i am absolutely thrilled, i have l hall, the wait is over. finally, i- am absolutely thrilled, i have been waiting two years for this day. be not socially distance will be something to quickly get over. to be leaning _ something to quickly get over. to be leaning forward, listening to music with the _ leaning forward, listening to music with the same intensity as the person— with the same intensity as the person next to you is going to be, it is a _ person next to you is going to be, it is a feeling of community. the concert was _ it is a feeling of community. the concert was led _ it is a feeling of community. tue: concert was led by it is a feeling of community. t“t;e: concert was led by finnish it is a feeling of community. t“t9 concert was led by finnish conductor with the bbc symphony orchestra socially distance on a extended stage. socially distance on a extended staue. :, , : socially distance on a extended staie, :, , . ., socially distance on a extended stage-_ we socially distance on a extended state, :, , . ., , we have stage. how strict are they? we have a nu with

stage. how strict are they? we have a guy with a — stage. how strict are they? we have a guy with a ruler. _ stage. how strict are they? we have a guy with a ruler. what _ stage. how strict are they? we have a guy with a ruler. what is _ stage. how strict are they? we have a guy with a ruler. what is it - stage. how strict are they? we have a guy with a ruler. what is it like - a guy with a ruler. what is it like to be back? we a guy with a ruler. what is it like to be back?— a guy with a ruler. what is it like to be back? we have been waiting over one year _ to be back? we have been waiting over one year to _ to be back? we have been waiting over one year to have _ to be back? we have been waiting over one year to have a _ to be back? we have been waiting over one year to have a full - over one year to have a full audience and i think that we are all emotional and we are going to play really our hearts out with this concert. ~ :, , :, :, concert. what is the moment of the concert. what is the moment of the concert you're _ concert. what is the moment of the concert you're most _ concert. what is the moment of the concert you're most looking - concert. what is the moment of the j concert you're most looking forward to? , :, :, to? just to hear the people clapping and the whole _ to? just to hear the people clapping and the whole ritual, _ to? just to hear the people clapping and the whole ritual, just _ to? just to hear the people clapping and the whole ritual, just to - to? just to hear the people clapping and the whole ritual, just to start i and the whole ritual, just to start the silence and the waiting, when the silence and the waiting, when the first note starts to play. and the opening piece of music held a special significance.— a special significance. really the whole night _ a special significance. really the whole night is _ a special significance. really the whole night is about _ a special significance. really the whole night is about new - a special significance. really the - whole night is about new beginnings and celebrating together. last yea r�*s last year's proms ended on a controversial note after the bbc announced and then reversed a decision not to sing the lyrics of rule britannia. t decision not to sing the lyrics of rule britannia.—

decision not to sing the lyrics of rule britannia. :, ,, :, :, rule britannia. i have kind of moved forward from — rule britannia. i have kind of moved forward from all _ rule britannia. i have kind of moved forward from all of that _ rule britannia. i have kind of moved forward from all of that and - rule britannia. i have kind of moved forward from all of that and what - rule britannia. i have kind of moved forward from all of that and what i i forward from all of that and what i really want to say is that i am extremely proud that the whole last night actually came together at all. this year's opening night drew a line under the controversy with a programme that was simultaneously reflective and helpful. and when it is all over, how are you going to feel? t is all over, how are you going to feel? ~ :, :, :, , feel? i think that after the journey feel? i think that after the “ourney that we have i feel? i think that after the “ourney that we have made after h feel? i think that after the journey that we have made after doing - feel? i think that after the journey | that we have made after doing this for one and a half years and that we finish the concert and we have the audience is there, i think it will feel like a great victory. classical music, feel like a great victory. classical music. she _ feel like a great victory. classical music, she says, _ feel like a great victory. classical music, she says, has _ feel like a great victory. classical music, she says, has a _ feel like a great victory. classical music, she says, has a healing i music, she says, has a healing quality, something that has never been so important. mark savage, bbc news. that's it. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are.

good evening. storm evert will move out into the north sea as we go through the night. but it's brought some disruptive winds, it's brought torrential rain, particularly to northern and eastern parts of england through the afternoon and through the evening. still few storms rumbling as yet, but they should fade away overnight. but there's always, for eastern areas, going to be some further rainfall, a lot of cloud. the showers further west tend to become fewer and further between. a fresher night, 10—13 degrees celsius. because we're switching our wind direction to the north, notable for scotland and northern ireland tomorrow, where there will still be a few showers around, but fewer generally speaking. most of them will be for eastern scotland, eastern england, and then through the day, breaking out with the heat of the sun at this time or the strength of the sun at this time of year, across england and wales. so, once again, some torrential downpours are possible. 20—21 in the south without that strong wind, feeling a bit more pleasant. but a cooler day on the whole on sunday, and still a showery

picture sunday and into the start of the new week.

this is bbc news. the headlines — internet giant amazon has been fined almost $900 million for breaking the eu's data protection laws. it's the biggest fine everfor a breach of the privacy regulations. two crew mebers have been killed after an israeli—operated oil tanker was attacked by a suspected drone off the coast of oman. the israeli company said that one of the dead was british and the other romanian. a covid outbreak discovered in the chinese city of nanjing has spread to five provinces and beijing, with state media calling it the most extensive contagion since wuhan. almost 200 people have been infected. japan's prime minister has warned that covid is spreading at "unprecedented speed" across the country and could increase the strain on hospitals, though he says the tokyo 0lympics are not to blame.