this is bbc news i'm ben brown. the headlines at five. britain rules the waves at the games — with double gold in the sailing. dylan fletcher and stuart bithell in the men's 49er class and giles scott in the finn. and teenager keely hodgkinson takes silver in the women's 800 metres — breaking the british record set by kelly holmes. i wanted to put it all out, leave it all out there. i leave it all out there. want to thank my amazing te family

i want to thank my amazing team, my family that made so many amazing sacrifices for me. and beaming biles — after struggles with her mental health — superstar american gymnast simone biles takes bronze on the beam. in other news... first minister nicola sturgeon says scotland will remove most of its remaining covid restrictions from monday — face coverings in indoor public settings will continue. this change is significant and hard—earned. the sacrifices everyone has made over the past year and a half can never be overstated. coronavirus cases continue to fall in the uk, but deaths have risen to 138 — the highest reported daily figure since march 17th. borisjohnson meets the opposition leader of belarus — after one of the country's athletes at the olympics sought sanctuary in a foreign embassy. sprinter tells the bbc why she did it. i want people to stop being afraid, i want them to speak out

because when there is pressure it's really important not to keep silent. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. team gb have won their biggest haul of medals in a single day so far at the tokyo olympics. of medals in a single day so far there was double gold for britain's sailors. dylan fletcher and stuart bithell claimed victory in the men's 49er class, and giles scott retained his title in the men's finn class. in the athletics — keely hodgkinson brought home team gb's first medal on the track — with a silver in the 800m — beating kelly holmes�*s british record. jason kenny got silver in the men's team sprint — equalling the total medal haul of sir bradley wiggins to become the joint most decorated british olympian.

and there was also silver for his wife laura kenny in the women's team pursuit — herfifth olympic medal. meanwhile the american gymnast simone biles — who pulled out of a string of finals to focus on her mental health — has been back in action, winning bronze in the beam. let's get more on all those stories with austin at the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. team gb has a new star on the track keely who took silver on the women's 800 metres if you just been saying to what has been a brilliant day for the brits in tokyo. she was competing in a really tough field and managed to finish in second behind america's and a time of one minute, 55.88 seconds. a personal best and the new british record beating carrie homes his previous pass. elation for hodgkinson. she put the highly offensive as well butjust missing

out for the brits finishing forth with alex bell in seven. nonetheless, a brilliant silverfrom hodgkinson. i nonetheless, a brilliant silver from hodgkinson-— hodgkinson. i am speechless right now. obviously _ hodgkinson. i am speechless right now. obviously kelly _ hodgkinson. i am speechless right now. obviously kelly is _ hodgkinson. i am speechless right now. obviously kelly is a - hodgkinson. i am speechless right now. obviously kelly is a legend, l now. obviously kelly is a legend, she's_ now. obviously kelly is a legend, she's good — now. obviously kelly is a legend, she's good be of legend for a long time _ she's good be of legend for a long time i've — she's good be of legend for a long time. i've looked up to her and of the past — time. i've looked up to her and of the past couple days she's a lovely person _ the past couple days she's a lovely person and — the past couple days she's a lovely person and i have no words, honestly _ person and i have no words, honestly i_ person and i have no words, honestly. i want to thank my amazing team, _ honestly. i want to thank my amazing team, my— honestly. i want to thank my amazing team, my family that have made somebody sacrifices for me. trevor and jenny, — somebody sacrifices for me. trevor and jenny, they've got so much belief— and jenny, they've got so much belief in— and jenny, they've got so much belief in me. i did it.— and jenny, they've got so much belief in me. i did it. also on the tractor is like _ belief in me. i did it. also on the tractor is like in _ belief in me. i did it. also on the tractor is like in rio _ belief in me. i did it. also on the tractor is like in rio elaine - tractor is like in rio elaine thompson haro has been crowned the sprint queen of the tokyo games. she took gold in the women's 200 metres took gold in the women's 200 metres to go with her gold in the 100 metres at the weekend. she surged to victory in 21.53 seconds, the second

fastest time in history. it means that she completes the double double after achieving gold in the same events at rio in 2016. need to christine and usa gabrielle thomas took silver and the bronze. two more british metals came and the track cycling with golden couple jason and laura kenny. both adding to their already impressive hall. silver in the team spread forjason, he draws level with bradley wiggins on eight metals as britain's most decorated olympian. going into the final against the netherlands team gb had far too much to do in this final lap. kenny along with ryan owens and jack carlin battle but they did have to settle for silver. beating comprehensively by the dutch in the end who set a new olympic record in the process. i end who set a new olympic record in the process-— the process. i think we poured into the second — the process. i think we poured into the second round _ the process. i think we poured into the second round to _ the process. i think we poured into the second round to get _ the process. i think we poured into the second round to get to - the process. i think we poured into the second round to get to the - the second round to get to the final — the second round to get to the final and _ the second round to get to the final. and thenjust roll the dice

in the _ final. and thenjust roll the dice in the final. geared up and just went— in the final. geared up and just went for— in the final. geared up and just went for it _ in the final. geared up and just went for it. obviously we knew had a bit of— went for it. obviously we knew had a bit of ground to make up. i mean, i had nothing — bit of ground to make up. i mean, i had nothing in the final. i was rubbish — had nothing in the final. i was rubbish. we tried so hard to get there _ rubbish. we tried so hard to get there we — rubbish. we tried so hard to get there. we always focus on the team spirit _ there. we always focus on the team spirit and _ there. we always focus on the team spirit and to — there. we always focus on the team spirit and to me that was always our best chance — spirit and to me that was always our best chance of getting on the podium so that— best chance of getting on the podium so that i_ best chance of getting on the podium so that i am — best chance of getting on the podium so that i am really happy that we are. ~ ., so that i am really happy that we are. ~ . ., ., , .,, are. meanwhile laura kenny was denied a fifth _ are. meanwhile laura kenny was denied a fifth olympic _ are. meanwhile laura kenny was denied a fifth olympic title. - are. meanwhile laura kenny was denied a fifth olympic title. her| denied a fifth olympic title. her team would be in by germany who broke the world record on their way to gold in the women's team pursued. the british team of canedy, archibald, evans and knight were the favourites but they were outclassed by a really strong germany team who took almost two seconds off their previous world record in an emphatically good emphatic victory. silver surf team gb but kenny has the chance of gold still later on in the chance of gold still later on in the week. it was a great morning for team gb on the water with two

sailing goals coming in a space of just an hour. fletcher and bethel got there first place in the men's 49 or after a nail—biting race to the finish line with germany. it's the finish line with germany. it's the first time great britain have ever won a gold medal in that classification. shortly after scott defended his gold medal in the men's then that six consecutive gold medals in that class for gb. there was a silver to add to the tally on the water with burnett and gibson getting second place in the mixed class. simone iles says it meant the world to her to be able to compete again after withdrawing from four events to protect her mental health. the american return to the gymnastics arena with a bronze medal in the beam final after saying she was suffering from whatjim is called the twisties which means that gymnast becomes disoriented calls in the air. it gymnast becomes disoriented calls in the air. , , ., , the air. it definitely feels a bit sweeter than _ the air. it definitely feels a bit sweeter than 20 _ the air. it definitely feels a bit sweeter than 20 sixteenths i the air. it definitely feels a bit - sweeter than 20 sixteenths bronze medai _

sweeter than 20 sixteenths bronze medal. after had to go into training, _ medal. after had to go into training, change my dismount, i puiled _ training, change my dismount, i puiled out — training, change my dismount, i pulled out of all my other finals 'ust pulled out of all my other finals just because i wasn't cleared to do them _ just because i wasn't cleared to do them and — just because i wasn't cleared to do them and i— just because i wasn't cleared to do them and i didn't think i was going to be _ them and i didn't think i was going to be cleared to do being. when i was sitting — to be cleared to do being. when i was sitting down with the metal i was sitting down with the metal i was shaking i was so nervous. it 'ust was shaking i was so nervous. it just means _ was shaking i was so nervous. it just means the world that i could come _ just means the world that i could come out — just means the world that i could come out here and compete or more time before — come out here and compete or more time before these games are over. finally, _ time before these games are over. finally, another boxing medal for finally, another boxing medalfor team gb. in boxing, pat mccormack from team gb won a silver medal at welterweight level in tokoyo. mccormick had been ranked as a top seed as well but lost by a unanimous decision after a really impressive performance from a glaze he is who is now 13 olympic medals. mccormick�*s silver means team gb has secured a record six metals in the boxing events at tokyo. then, you can bring us more on the brits six sex on the ring as well.— sex on the ring as well. indeed. we're going _ sex on the ring as well. indeed. we're going to _ sex on the ring as well. indeed. we're going to talk _ sex on the ring as well. indeed. we're going to talk more - sex on the ring as well. indeed. we're going to talk more about| we're going to talk more about boxing as you were hearing there.

let's get more reaction to that. we can speak to lou campbell who won gold in bantamweight 2012. just tell us ba ntamweight 2012. just tell us about bantamweight 2012. just tell us about pat mccormick�*s achievement there? it’s about pat mccormick's achievement there? �* , ., about pat mccormick's achievement there? �*, . , there? it's an unbelievable achievement _ there? it's an unbelievable achievement and _ there? it's an unbelievable achievement and i - there? it's an unbelievable achievement and i was - there? it's an unbelievable i achievement and i was gutted there? it's an unbelievable - achievement and i was gutted for him. i had him down there to win the gold medal. that's the olympics for you. in glaze he is has been around as well for a long time. even from when i was in the amateurs. he's fought literally everybody. he must�*ve had —— five. fought literally everybody. he must've had -- five.— fought literally everybody. he must've had -- five. what happens next was maggie — must've had -- five. what happens next was maggie saying _ must've had -- five. what happens next was maggie saying this - must've had -- five. what happens next was maggie saying this is - must've had -- five. what happens next was maggie saying this is a i next was maggie saying this is a good platform to turn professional. you made that transition, you went from a gold medal winning olympian to professional, you just retired. what advice would you have for him? i guess the advice i would give pat

is make sure you get a solid team around you for when your first step into the professional boxing, make sure you got it good team that's experienced, knows what they're doing and of got the time for you. i doing and of got the time for you. i suppose it's different from other olympic sports in that most successful olympic boxers then do become professional. yes. successful olympic boxers then do become professional.— become professional. yes, i don't know, the — become professional. yes, i don't know, the olympics _ become professional. yes, i don't know, the olympics is _ become professional. yes, i don't know, the olympics is like i become professional. yes, i don't know, the olympics is like get i become professional. yes, i don't i know, the olympics is like get metal in olympic it's that golden egg. for ten and over in the professional rankings because the publicity you get from the olympics is huge. you already get a fan base. and then you have to be the best of the best to get a metal which then the promoters then are looking at the best of the best. in then are looking at the best of the best. �* , ,., ., then are looking at the best of the best. �* , ., , ., best. in british boxing, a history? there certainly _ best. in british boxing, a history? there certainly is. _ best. in british boxing, a history? there certainly is. let's _ best. in british boxing, a history? there certainly is. let'sjust i best. in british boxing, a history?

there certainly is. let's just talk l there certainly is. let's just talk about team gb boxing. we are guaranteed six metals at these games, that's a brilliant hall, is in a? �* , , ., , games, that's a brilliant hall, is in a? �* , , . , ~' in a? it's unbelievable. i feel like there's a lot _ in a? it's unbelievable. i feel like there's a lot of _ in a? it's unbelievable. i feel like there's a lot of people _ in a? it's unbelievable. i feel like there's a lot of people that i in a? it's unbelievable. i feel like there's a lot of people that look. there's a lot of people that look that could get that from such a small boxing team. we contribute so many metals to the table out of all the sports. boxing is a huge, huge sport, what we are very successful at. ~ ., , sport, what we are very successful at. . . , , . ., sport, what we are very successful at. what is the secret of that success. _ at. what is the secret of that success. why _ at. what is the secret of that success, why is _ at. what is the secret of that success, why is team i at. what is the secret of that success, why is team gb i at. what is the secret of that success, why is team gb sol at. what is the secret of that i success, why is team gb so good at boxing? i success, why is team gb so good at boxin: ? , , �* , , success, why is team gb so good at boxina? ,, �*, , _, boxing? i guess it's 'ust the start u - , boxing? i guess it's 'ust the start u, and boxing? i guess it's 'ust the start up. and shh h boxing? i guess it's 'ust the start up, and shh field i boxing? i guess it'sjust the start up, and shh field and _ boxing? i guess it'sjust the start up, and shh field and the i up, and shh field and the constant tournaments, trainings, good coaching it's not one thing but it's several things that can make us very good and obviously into champions. good to talk to you. lou campbell who won gold at bantamweight in london 2012.

you're watching bbc news. the time is 11 past five exactly. let's move away from the olympics. let's move away from the olympics. let's take a look at the latest coronavirus figures for the uk. in the latest 2a hour period, the uk has recorded 21,691 cases. 138 people have died — that's within 28 days of a positive test. looking at vaccinations — nearly 46.9 million people have received their first dose. and nearly 38.5 million people have now received both doses. nicola sturgeon has confirmed the scottish government will go ahead with plans to end most remaining covid restrictions on august ninth. the first minister said laws requiring physical distancing and limiting social gatherings will be dropped and all venues will be allowed to open. but laws requiring face coverings to be worn in some indoor settings

will remain in place. and — adults identified as close contacts of covid cases will no longer have to self isolate for ten days as long as they are fully vaccinated, symptom free and have a negative pcr test. let's take a listen to what she had to say a short time ago. it's the combination of the steady decline in cases, the success of vaccination, helping to weaken the link between cases and serious illness and of course our understanding of the social, health and economic harms continued restrictions have, all underpinned by our obligation to ensure that any restrictions that remain in place are lawful. in other words, that they are both necessary and proportionate that forms the basis for our decision today to move beyond level zero. the move beyond level zero will entail the lifting of most

of the remaining legally imposed restrictions, most notably on physical distancing and limits to the size of social gatherings. it also means from the 9th of august no venues will be legally required to close. this change is significant and it is hard—earned. the sacrifices everyone has made over the past year and a half can never be overstated. however, while this move will restore a substantial degree of normality, it is important to be clear that it does not signal the end of the pandemic, or a return to life exactly as we knew it before covid struck. declaring freedom from or victory over the virus, is in my view, premature. the harm the virus can do, including through the impact of long covid, shouldn't be underestimated and its ability to mutate may yet pose us real challenges. nicola sturgeon addressing the scottish parliament earlier. let's get more on this with linda bauld, professor of public health at the university of edinburgh.

do you think nicola sturgeon has got the balance about right? i do you think nicola sturgeon has got the balance about right?— the balance about right? i think all arts of the balance about right? i think all parts of the _ the balance about right? i think all parts of the uk _ the balance about right? i think all parts of the uk are _ the balance about right? i think all parts of the uk are looking i parts of the uk are looking ahead and trying to open up. we've always heard a slightly more cautious tone from the scottish government. i think the two main government with the approach in england face coverings are still going to be legally required. all the settings where they currently are including interestingly when schools go back interestingly when schools go back in a couple of weeks, they'll be required for at least the first six weeks. secondly, that test and trace data, test and track are still going to need to be collected in restaurants and pubs etc. other than that they are not big differences. we've actually seen some big drops in cases, about a third of cases we had in the beginning of the gi and a good reduction in the number of people in the hospital of the last ten days or so. which are not yet beginning to see significantly in england. the direction of travel is positive. the government is

balancing different harms in today's decision was pretty inevitable. just talkinu decision was pretty inevitable. just talking about case numbers, looking at the uk figures are not, they have fallen again slightly today. although debts are up. what do you make of those figures given that we had in england of course the end of restrictions on the 19th ofjuly? i restrictions on the 19th ofjuly? i don't think yet seeing the impact of what happened on the 19th ofjuly, not fully under way. these declines are encouraging and schools not in session at the moment, the summer, all those things people do more outside is helping. i hope that the client will continue using a few red flags i think there's been an outbreak in lincoln linked to a nightclub. we really need to wait a wee bit longer to see what the impact ofjuly the 19th has been. i think most of us in public health are looking ahead to a more critical. of universities, colleges and schools returning and then thinking ahead to the winter. i'm pretty optimistic about the next few weeks. 50 pretty optimistic about the next few weeks. ,, ., pretty optimistic about the next few weeks, ,, ., ., pretty optimistic about the next few weeks, ., ., ., “ pretty optimistic about the next few weeks. ., ., ., ., weeks. so we are looking ahead to that.

weeks. so we are looking ahead to that- what — weeks. so we are looking ahead to that. what are _ weeks. so we are looking ahead to that. what are the _ weeks. so we are looking ahead to that. what are the implications i weeks. so we are looking ahead to that. what are the implications on | that. what are the implications on that. what are the implications on that in terms of vaccinations, what would you like to see happening with vaccinations?— vaccinations? especially in young eo - le. vaccinations? especially in young people- as _ vaccinations? especially in young people- as you — vaccinations? especially in young people. as you know, _ vaccinations? especially in young people. as you know, they're i people. as you know, they're different views on this. it's very welcome but more vulnerable young people are eligible for the vaccine and again in scotland was google backis and again in scotland was google back is a big push to get those. about 40,000 teenagers in category vaccinated. i understand there will be further announcements of the next few days. my personal perspective, and i'm not privy all the evidence i struggled to understand why my nieces and nephews, teenagers in canada have taken that decision, germany, italy and other countries to make more teenagers eligible. i'm hopeful that might be the shift here but i realise there are different things you consider including what's happening globally. but i think it would give people reassurance as we return schools and even for example 17—year—olds, some will be going to university that they also have the

protection provided by vaccines. band protection provided by vaccines. and nicola sturgeon was very keen to stress this is in the end of the pandemic. this isn't in any sense a kind of freedom day. ilrrui’eiiii pandemic. this isn't in any sense a kind of freedom day.— kind of freedom day. well it's not, with this virus _ kind of freedom day. well it's not, with this virus is _ kind of freedom day. well it's not, with this virus is not _ kind of freedom day. well it's not, with this virus is not disappearing. i with this virus is not disappearing. i think this is the highest number of deaths today that we've seen in this wave since march at uk level. that's what a lagging indicator but people are still dying from this virus. i've talked about the vaccine is not a wall of protection but a net or a sieve and every person vaccinated strengths and god. we need to recognise we are going to have flare—ups. the other thing the first minister said was really a warning that as we saw in places like aberdeen previously when things had open up they had to shut down again. there may be local restrictions if we have flare—ups. i hope we can avoid those but that may be something we need to anticipate. thank you very much indeed. the headlines on bbc news.

britain rules the waves at the olympics in tokyo — with double gold in the sailing. dylan fletcher and stuart bithell in the men's 49er class and giles scott in the finn. and teenager keely hodgkinson takes silver in the women's 800 metres — breaking the british record set by kelly holmes. and beaming biles — after struggles with her mental health — superstar american gymnast simone biles takes bronze on the beam. in afghanistan, government forces are fighting to stop the taliban from taking control of lashkar gah, the capital of helmand province, where british troops were stationed for many years. the militants are reported to have captured most of the city. the taliban's assault in helmand is part of a major offensive across the country following the departure of american troops.

there's been reports of a powerful explosion in the cabell there's been reports of a powerful explosion in the our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet has the latest from the capital kabul. these are images which will not be easy to see four british soldiers who patrolled in the same streets for years and on the same squares in the city the taliban had been filming themselves there and in the besieged capital of helmand province the police headquarters coming under assault. the taliban are trying to attack the president. the taliban are trying to attack the president. —— prison. the afghan special forces who have been helicoptered in to reinforce special forces on the ground —— soldiers on the ground have been backed up by afghan war planes which have been bombing targets trying to push the taliban back. the united states as well in the last weeks of the united states led nato mission in afghanistan,

and nearly 20 year—long mission, the united states is also using its air power to try to support afghan forces. this is a really, really tough fight. as you mentioned, most of helmand province and most of the districts across rural afghanistan are taliban hands. most of the city of lashka gha is in taliban hands. they're desperate to siege a provincial capital which will give them notjust territory but a psychological boost but the word from the afghan forces is war is not over yet. let's speak to sir nick kay, who was britain's ambassador to afghanistan from 2017—2019 and is also a former nato senior civilian representative to afghanistan. thank you very much for being with us. what do you make of what's happening in afghanistan right now, as we were saying so many british

troops served in lost their lives and were injured?— troops served in lost their lives and were injured? troops served in lost their lives and were in'ured? , ., ~ and were in'ured? yes, indeed, thank ou for and were injured? yes, indeed, thank you for having — and were injured? yes, indeed, thank you for having me. _ and were injured? yes, indeed, thank you for having me. these _ and were injured? yes, indeed, thank you for having me. these are - you for having me. these are perilous days for afghanistan, quite dark and dangerous times. the taliban are absolutely trying to push home their advantage. they wrongly believe they can achieve an outright military victory by capturing provincial capitals to strengthen their negotiating position. and eventually the whole country. they are wrong and bad. but i think at this time what we need to do isjust take i think at this time what we need to do is just take a deep i think at this time what we need to do isjust take a deep breath. there is nothing inevitable about a taliban victory at all. this is not a replay of 90 for, 96, the taliban are taking on a very different afghanistan. and there will be plenty of challenges for them ahead.

let's hope for the best and do the things which we can do and we must do still. we must support the afghan nation, the afghan forces, nato is still there on the ground supporting, training, advising and assisting and finding the afghan forces. it's important that continues was up and it's important that we continue to support humanitarian assistant to the country as well. five and a half million people insecure forfood. that's about the population of scotland. the needs are great keep fighting. keep doing what we can and should be doing. you fighting. keep doing what we can and should be doing.— should be doing. you are saying that a taliban victory _ should be doing. you are saying that a taliban victory isn't _ should be doing. you are saying that a taliban victory isn't inevitable i a taliban victory isn't inevitable but they've already made progress and are already taking swathes of territory. many people would be asking with the british sacrifices in afghanistan worth a? i’m asking with the british sacrifices in afghanistan worth a? i'm sorry i didn't hear— in afghanistan worth a? i'm sorry i didn't hear the _ in afghanistan worth a? i'm sorry i didn't hear the question. - in afghanistan worth a? i'm sorry i

didn't hear the question. just i didn't hear the question. just askin: didn't hear the question. just asking many _ didn't hear the question. just asking many people will say was the british sacrifice in afghanistan worth it? i think we've lost certain nick k. we got some of his thoughts about the future of that conflict in afghanistan. borisjohnson is meeting the opposition leader of belarus, sviatlana tsikhanovskaya, in downing street to discuss human rights. their talks come a day after one of the country's olympic athletes sought sanctuary in tokyo, after defying orders to fly home early because she feared for her safety. the opposition in belarus has faced a brutal crackdown since president lukashenko's disputed re—election a year ago. richard galpin reports. in the midst of the olympics a different drama playing out. in the midst of the olympics a different drama playing out. this athlete from belarus, krystsina tsikhanouskaya, now in her second day taking sanctuary here in

the polish embassy. after criticising television olympic officials. she says they try to force her into returning to belarus and feared for her safety. translation: the only thing i want to happen now is to get safely back to happen now is to get safely back to europe _ to happen now is to get safely back to europe and to be in a safe place and to— to europe and to be in a safe place and to be — to europe and to be in a safe place and to be able to have some conversations, some discussions. 0pposition— conversations, some discussions. opposition activists and belarus say no one who speaks out against the repressive belarus government is safe. not even olympic athletes. the belarus president lukashenko who's beenin belarus president lukashenko who's been in powerfor 27 years has been ruthless in suppressing any dissent in the country. those who tried to protest face beatings and arrest by the authorities. it led to many leaving the country. today the belarus opposition leader has been holding talks with the prime

minister here in downing street. she wants western countries to impose sanctions on the belarus authorities. and she is well aware of the risks she's taking in opposing president lukashenko. i can disa ear opposing president lukashenko. i can disa- ear at opposing president lukashenko. i can disappear at any _ opposing president lukashenko. i can disappear at any moment, i understand this. but i should do what i am doing, i can't stop because i... ifeel responsibility for the future of my country. the same as all those fighting in the moment feel their responsibility. the discovery today that this television activists had been found deadin television activists had been found dead in the ukrainian capital kyiv will add to concerns about the safety of those opposing president lukashenko. task el. the activists was found hanged in park. the ngo he ran says it had received warnings that television special forces were in the area. —— belarus.

well, you saw krystina timanovskaya speaking to bbc newshour in that report — and we can see a little more of that now. she told my colleague razia iqbal that that she was shocked at what had happened because she has never said anything �*political�*. translation: i was very surprised, i didn't understand because i didn'tl say anything political. i just said that my trainers took decisions behind my back and i was very surprised. i want people to stop being afraid, i want them to speak out because when there is pressure it's really important not to keep silent. i think that when i know that it's safe and i can return, i want to because my family

is there, it's my motherland, i love my country and i didn't betray my country as it has been said now but it's my home. the belarusian athlete there speaking to bbc world service. in the united states an investigation into the governor of new york andrew cuomo is found that he sexually harassed multiple women including senior employees at his office. the five month long investigation found that the governor cuomo had violated federal and state laws while creating a climate of fear in the workplace was up he has previously denied any wrongdoing. you're watching bbc news working to take during that pause and check the weather with nick miller. downpours will become more widespread across the uk again.

they have been fairly isolated in any showers that have popped up will gradually fade as we get into the night. although overnight we will continue with showers affecting the north, northwest of scotland into the western isles. there'll be a few mist and fog patch is developing, it will be cooler in the countryside again some places will be into single figures as we start the day to my office up with a lot of dry weather for tomorrow morning, to my office up with a lot of dry weatherfor tomorrow morning, some sunshine around still the showers affecting north, northwest scotland and if few will pop us elsewhere. scotland northern island a greater chance of downpours developing in northern england compared with a decent days. not everyone will see them. if you do can be heavy and thundery a few will pop up elsewhere in england and wales with the recent days. not everyone will see them. if you do can be heavy and thundery a few will pop up elsewhere in england and wales. most will stay dry, light winds and for those reasons it will feel very pleasant we get to see some occasional sunny spells. as we head into the low 20s letter, when here on thursday.

this is bbc world news, the headlines in the men's class and the thin.

breaking the british record set by kelly holmes. after struggles with her mental health, superstar american gymnasts takes bronze on the beam. the first ministers since scotland will remove most of its remaining covid—19 restrictions from monday, face coverings and most indoor public settings will continue. coronavirus kisses continue to fall across the uk but deaths have risen 238. it is the highest recorded daily figure since march the 17th. borisjohnson has been meeting the opposition leader after one of the countries athletes sought sanctuary in a foreign embassy. the sprinter told the bbc why she did it.

hi ben, yes it's been a great day for team gb. their best of the games so far... and it got off to the perfect start with two golds in the space of an hour on the water in the sailing. the brits really are having a great regatta so far. and dylan fletcher and stuart bithell made it even better, finishing in first in the men's 49er, after a nail—biting race to the finish line with germany. it's the first time great britain have won a gold in the classification. it was so intense. we had a great regroup and it made it clear we had to do to pass the germans and after that, it was every single, it was so close and even we weren't too sure of the finish. and it is just incredible. attention to detail and concentration was incredible under pressure. concentration was incredible under ressure. , , concentration was incredible under ressure. ,, ., ., ., .,

pressure. less than an hour after that, scott _ pressure. less than an hour after that, scott defended _ pressure. less than an hour after that, scott defended his - pressure. less than an hour after that, scott defended his title i pressure. less than an hour after that, scott defended his title in l that, scott defended his title in the men's film, that's six consecutive gold medals in that class for gb. and there was a silver to add to the tally on the water with anna burnet and john gimson getting second place in the mixed nacra 17 class. 19—year—old keely hodgkinson — who took silver in the women's 800 meanwhile, team gb has a new star on the track. 19—year—old keely hodgkinson — who took silver in the women's 800 metres, to cap off a brilliant day for the brits in tokyo. she was competing in a really tough field and managed to finish in second behind america's athing mu — in a time of one minute, 55.88 seconds. a personal best, and british record — beating kelly holmes' previous best. so elation for her. she pipped the highly fancied american raevyn rogers — butjust missing out for britain, wasjemma reekie, she finished fourth, with alex bell in seventh. is absolutely incredible. i think that everyone has to remember is she

is a 19—year—old girl. this is her first olympics championship and we should not forget that she is european indoor champion and i think she was a european under 18 champion and she's got that pedigree of championship running and this is a big stage, this is the worlds biggest stage. she is a brilliant tactician and if you look at how she runs, she has a lot of poise and very confident in taking the shortest route to the inside line and i never had that confidence. but what struck me was her semifinals. i knew she could run like that in the semifinals and no one would expect the time of course and very level—headed, great tactician runner and a lovely girl. meanwhile, just like in rio. elaine thompson—herah has been crowned the sprint queen of the tokyo games. she took gold in the women's 200

meters to go with her gold in the 100 at the weekend. she surged to victory in 21.53 seconds — the second fastest time in history! it means that thompson—herah completes the "double—double" after achieving golds in the same events at rio in 2016. namibia's christine mboma and usa's gabrielle thomas took silver and bronze. and finally there was another boxing medalfor team gb, with a silver for pat mccormack in the welterweight division. he was beaten in the gold—medal fight by cuba's ron—eel iglesias. mccormack had been ranked as the top seed, but lost by a unanamous decision after an impressive performance from iglesias, who's now won three olympic medals. mccormack�*s silver means team gb has secured a record six medals in the boxing events at tokyo. two more british medals came in the track cycling,

with golden couple jason and laura kenny, both adding to their already impressive hauls. a silver in the team sprint forjason means he draws level with bradley wiggins on eight medals, as britian's most decorated olympian. going into the final against the netherlands, team gb had far too much work to do in the final lap. kenny, along with ryan owens and jack carlin, battled but had to settle for silver — beaten comprehensively by the dutch team who set a new olympic record. i think we poured our heart into the second right to get to the final and just geared up and went for it because obviously we knew we had a bit of ground to make up. i mean, i had nothing in the final. i was rubbish. but like i say we tried so hard to get there. we always focus on team spirit and that was always our best chance

of getting on the podium so i'm happy that we are. while laura kenny was denied a fifth olympic title — her team were beaten by germany, who broke the world record on their way to gold, in the women's team pursuit. the british team of kenny, katie archibald, neah evans and josie knight were the favourites but they were outclassed by a really strong germany team, who took almost two seconds off their previous world record time in an emphatic victory. so silverfor team gb, but kenny has the chance of gold in the omnium or madison later in the week. i think that the government by surprise. just in the qualifier, —— i think they took everyone by surprise. and i knew we were going to go for an fast but maybe not that fast stop i paid an opportunity for tumour metals? yeah, this keeps showing up see what happens. —— two more metals.

so two silver medals for team gb — and team kenny — in the velodrome today. earlier i spoke to the former olympic champion, sir chris hoy, and asked him whether there'd be disappointment in the team that they'd ended up with silvers rather than golds. i think there is mixed emotions today. the sprint with the dutch team was the hot favourite for that event but laura kenny and their team—mates, they're hoping for the gold medal. they were the favourites. of the german team broke the world record and was just in a different class today. and the hoop different class today. and the how im - ressive different class today. and the how impressive is _ different class today. and the how impressive is that? it's usually i impressive is that? it's usually impressive _ impressive is that? it's usually impressive i — impressive is that? it's usually impressive i don't _ impressive is that? it's usually impressive i don't think- impressive is that? it's usually impressive i don't think he i impressive is that? it's usually| impressive i don't think he gets enough credit and he has shown longevity, the ability to cope with

pressure and i think he is a very understated guy but i think we should be giving him more applause for all the achievements he said through his career and there hopefully more to come in the spring. if he gets one more goal, he surpasses your total of court metals. he surpassed me already and so i will give them that when and yes, it'sjust so i will give them that when and yes, it's just amazing to see his career. he came on the team shortly before the beijing olympics as this freshfaced youngster who took the responsibility and the pressure on his shoulders so well and he's gone from strength to strength since then and i'm proud to be a friend of his and i'm proud to be a friend of his and to watch one of your mates take your record, it is not as bad as that. he could be somebody else and so british cycling do you think it is as good as it ever was or other nations catching up? i as good as it ever was or other nations catching up?— as good as it ever was or other nations catching up? i think british clina is nations catching up? i think british cycling is better— nations catching up? i think british cycling is better than _ nations catching up? i think british cycling is better than it _ nations catching up? i think british cycling is better than it was i nations catching up? i think british cycling is better than it was and i l cycling is better than it was and i think the performances are improving

and they're going faster than they have before. it is that other countries are catching up and raising the bar and some ovens, going quite quicker. and so the women's team pursued, one of the events that we are expecting to win gold in and it was a surprise that germany have brought that incredible performance to these games but other events like the men's teams pursued, and the danish team, team, the dutch team and they have gone to a new level, so it's up for britain to respond but on the whole, they've invested in other parts of the sport to there is a gold medal into and bmx, british have done very well and are more metals to come, but it's perhaps not the dominance of that scene in the last three or four olympic games.— scene in the last three or four olympic games. scene in the last three or four ol mic games. . ~' ,, . scene in the last three or four ol mic games. ., ,, . ., olympic games. thank you so much for time.

were a new amber watchlist was abandoned. they are trying to see which countries were in in danger after being put on the red list which would have meant having to quarantine in a hotel on their return. travel firms have opposed the idea and the government has denied it is made a u—turn. tony has this report. the problem though is that there are concerns about covid—19 the travel industry wants to take them. the problem is there are concerns over covid cases in countries like spain and greece. the idea of an amber watchlist was to warn travellers about those countries currently on the amber list but are in danger of turning red. if that happens, it would mean a full stay in a quarantine hotel at the travel�*s own expense. the idea was discussed by ministers but has now been ditched. we have looked at the various options. on balance we think the system has to be simple enough. it is difficult to tread

a careful balance but that is what we are trying to do. we definitely want to open up travel. airlines are relieved. it is a victory for common—sense. the last thing we needed was category and a traffic light system. passengers need as much clarity as possible. they need to know they are not facing rules that will change overnight. labour is calling for more transparency. the current system . is not fit for purpose. we have seen that in no way portugal was treated in france was treated i we have seen that in the way portugal was treated - in france was treated _ where they created a new category for the amber list. that creates more confusion - and means the travelling public does not have confidence to book ahead. what we have been calling i for is a simple system that says it is either safe to go and should be on the green list or not safe i to go which means ought to be on the red list. i this latest row comes amid an intense debate in government over international travel. many are cautious but others

are making it known they want to open up more quickly to protectjobs. a difficult balance for the government to strike. the next big announcement will come in the next you days when we get the latest update to the travel list. the decision many holiday—makers will be following closely. we get the latest update to the travel list. the decision many holiday—makers will be following the giant container ship that blocked the suez canal earlier this year — causing disruption to global shipping — has arrived in the uk. the �*ever—given' has been in rotterdam, been in rotterdam, via various eu ports, since being freed from the suez canal in march. the 400 meter—long ship had been due to arrive at felixstowe harbour in april. our correspondent theo leggett is just across the river orwell at shotley marina for us. the evergreen is the company and

ever given is the ship. this the evergreen is the company and ever given is the ship.— ever given is the ship. this is the shi that ever given is the ship. this is the ship that became _ ever given is the ship. this is the ship that became wheat - ever given is the ship. this is the ship that became wheat across . ever given is the ship. this is the i ship that became wheat across the suez canal and prevented hundreds of vessels from being able to go down with the worlds busiest shipping lanes. it caused all sorts of knock on effects for the shipping industry around the world and its showed that there were delayed and they would arrive together at congestion and that caused all sorts of knock on effects that lasted for weeks, if not months and all this happened at the time of the container shipping industry was already suffering from the stresses caused by covid—19 that is been shipping rates and the amount the people paid to ship goods around the world shot up from $2000, $2500 to contain his last year to over $80,000 now. although this particular sagas coming to an end, she is back here in the industry itself is still suffering and businesses are still suffering as a

result. another shipping line. they at the moment are benefiting in the scarcity of supply, rates are shooting up and they're making a lot money. shooting up and they're making a lot mone . . ~' shooting up and they're making a lot mone . . ~ i. shooting up and they're making a lot mone . . ~ ,, y shooting up and they're making a lot mone. . , . now on bbc news were going to talk more about travel in your questions answered. earlier, julia lowboasayeed, ceo of advantage travel partnership, and the independent�*s travel correspondent simon calder answered your questions on the new travel rules with my colleague shaun ley. and with me now to answer your questions. the ceo of advantage travel partnership and the independence travel correspondent and editor. thank you for being with us. let's start straight off. would you like to try this one first. this

is for martin who asks, have there been any indications that the usa will open up to noncitizens or non—green card holders soon. very close friends and closest families in the usa who have not been able to visit since march last year. this is a big question that so many of us want answered. this a big question that so many of us want answered.— a big question that so many of us want answered. as it stands right now, us citizens _ want answered. as it stands right now, us citizens can _ want answered. as it stands right now, us citizens can come i want answered. as it stands right now, us citizens can come to i want answered. as it stands right now, us citizens can come to the | want answered. as it stands right i now, us citizens can come to the uk and we have as it stands, american citizens can come to the uk as of monday without the need to quarantine if you are fully vaccinated, but unfortunately we still have the us population in place which does not allow us to travel to the us and as it stands at the moment there are no real concrete indications that the white house is opening their borders and has any enthusiasm to allow british people to travel so we have got to wait and see i'm afraid. phil in hungary.

"i reside in hungary and i have been vaccinated with the sputnik vaccine. i want to return to the uk in september to see family who i haven't seen for over two years. will i be allowed to enter the uk under the new easements on travel into the uk?" if the rules stay the same at the moment, the answer is no, because hungary is on the amber list and the only way you can avoid quarantining if you are coming in from somewhere with european vaccinations is if they are approved by the european medicines agency and they are still looking at the russian sputnik vaccine. it is still not approved and therefore still not acceptable to the uk authorities. a couple of things, they may approve it and secondly, hungary is looking to be a good candidate for the green list which is the category which nobody needs to quarantine and it would not surprise me at all if that happened before september in which case you would be able to come straight in although of course you have got

to have a test before you board the plane to the uk and you have got to pre—book a pcr test on the day you arrive or the day after or the day after that, but i would be relatively optimistic, more likely green listing than the european medicines agency deciding they like the russian vaccine. yes, that will probably take a bit longer. the government says they will be some news on thursday about new travel arrangements, possibly a replacement for the traffic light system, so who knows, other countries may come into play. see what happens on thursday on the bbc website. julia, this is from dave. "i want to travel to portugal with my son. "i have been double jabbed but my son is 19 and has only had one jab. "can we travel?" the good news is, you can travel, and james will be able to travel because he has been double vaccinated, and he also needs to do

a test before arrival into portugal but the bad news for his son is that portugal require everyone over the age of 18 to be fully vaccinated and if you are not vaccinated you will have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival so probably makes a two—week holiday not very useful! not really good news. the only thing to say, rules are changing all the time and i don't know whenjames is looking to travel so he has to look at the portuguese rules which are also changing alongside when we change ours, so keep an eye on the rules as they change. there's also a over the astrazeneca covishield vaccine and the european medicines agency are also reviewing that in portugal with regards to whether they will accept it, so there are questions over portugal which james needs to keep a close eye on. very interesting because many older

people will have been double vaccinated and think they are fine and the restrictions don't apply but you say if they have been vaccinated with astrazeneca it may not be as simple? it is the covishield. simon? me and many other people are lucky enough to have vaccines made by the serum institute of india, pulsing around our veins and i'm very happy with it, thank you very much, but due to what appears to be a bureaucratic mix—up the european medicines agency has not formally approved the so—called covishield vaccine for use, but i have got a very good nhs covid letter showing that i've got two vaccines which is astrazeneca and it doesn't mention the indian covishield one at all. but if you are an expert on batch numbers you can work it out.

the only problem i have heard of it is very sadly some people being turned away from malta which for about 36 hours had a prohibition on this and i've been trying to contact the portuguese authorities and get an answer out of them all day since the story came about. i'm looking forward to going back to portugal and i'm pretty sure that this will get me in 0k. it is annoying but please don't stress about it. fair enough. that probably answers david's question because he was also concerned about the issue regarding the astrazeneca vaccine as it applied to the united states which is academic until the us decides british people can come back in. we have another question from the south of france. "when is this amber+ category going to be removed for travel from france? does the government not realise the implication this is having on families visiting — it's been almost two

years since i was able to see my family in the uk? enough is enough." sounds as though the prime minister might have got the message? susan is right, enough is enough for everybody, this is a crazy ruling that came in, very left field for everyone, and we have got to wait and see, there could be good news this thursday but we don't know. the irony is it is about the variant which came from the reunion island which is about 6000 miles away so clearly nowhere near france. ridiculous crazy ruling but it has caught out a lot of individuals who were in france at the time and clearly is restricting people's ability to travel to france this summer. some people thought that the foreign secretary had misunderstood reunion island and thought it was on mainland france rather than a former french colony. the government says they are worried about the beta variant in the island

of reunion but bizarrely susan can make this sound even weirder, she could quite legally and responsibly get on a plane from her nearest airport to reunion island and stay there for ten days, it is a beautiful place by all accounts, but be careful about the beta variant, and then fly back legally via somewhere like mauritius but not paris and she would not need to self—isolate because she would have cleansed her french mainland status. asjulia says, it is absolutely weird and i think especially after the office for national statistics wrote to the joint biosecurity centre and said, hang on, why have you done this? i think reasons might be found on thursday when we have got the transport secretary reviewing the traffic light list, i would think we might find that our mbut plus disappears

for france although it could still be brought back into play especially if you are going to upgrade some of the red list countries —— amber plus. but this is all speculation and don't book your holiday to reunion island based on what i'm saying! it is not as crazy as what it sounds because you can get quite cheap flights if you are a french national to the french islands, unlike the rest of us, so maybe susan can afford to do that. this next one is from helen. "my son arrived from spain into england on friday 30thjuly. he is double vaccinated with az. he has done all the tests required and has always been negative. now that these new rules are in place, does he have to still quarantine considering that everyone now can just walk into the country and not isolate? i would imagine that this affects a large number of people. can you shed some light on this situation please?" so frustrating but unfortunately her son missed it byjust a few days and the rules for arriving into the uk from an amber list country for those fully vaccinated

change that 4am on monday morning, just gone, and had her son arrived on monday morning he would have just needed to do his predeparture test and his test in the uk and could have been out of isolation but he will now need to self—isolate and he will still need to do the relevant tests which in his case would be a day two, and a day eight, and he can take another test under the test and release scheme on day five if he wants to reduce site isolation but unfortunately five if he wants to reduce self isolation. but unfortunately the rules as the government have in place, it was as of monday and any dates before that unfortunately missed out on this opportunity of not having to self—isolate. given this is about an infection and the number of days it takes to show signs of infection and therefore the number of days you are potentially infectious to people, isn't it a bit strange that it can

still apply retrospectively when people coming in now you could argue are more likely to be more infectious and they can just wander in? odd is a very polite way of putting it. i wondered if it was just me! sometimes i don't see the wood for the trees but there you go. simon, a couple of questions. "why is dubai still in red? their vaccination rate is like uk. they are more strict than uk with covid. they have suspended flights from high risk countries. i have not seen my son for nearly two years. he lives in dubai. it's very frustrating." huge amounts of frustration out there and a lot of expatriates out in the uae and i can tell you why dubai and the rest of the uae is on the list and that is because the transport secretary told us in april it is entirely because dubai is such a global hub and basically you have planes coming in from all over the place and you can't tell who is on them so it was put on the red list for that reason. it might be that the uae will actually leave the red list

and maybe go on to the famous amber plus list but there is concern about the remarkably constant number of new infections in the uae which some people are suggesting suggests that the figures might not be entirely valid. again, there is nothing which is going to change about the hub status of the uae so effectively if you take what the transport secretary said at face value, it won't change for the rest of the year, but i think it might. but that was the reason originally given. we only have a minute left. this is from justin. "i recently travelled abroad to an amber list country, ibiza, and five days after returning i got pinged and instructed to isolate. is it mandatory that i self—isolate or only advisory?" if you get pinged from a track and trace it is mandatory and if it is from the nhs app it is advisory. they go by the passenger information

from when you entered the uk so one is mandatory and one isjust advice. to simon and julia, that was really informative. for me, certainly, i'm quite sure for everybody watching at home. thank you for your clarity. much appreciated. hello, there is no heat wave, temperatures are a degree or so low pressure will turn things when and downpours will become more widespread across the uk. there have been fairly isolated today in many showers that have popped up will gradually fade is going through the night. overand i gradually fade is going through the night. over and i will continue wish i was affecting the north

northwestern scotland in the western aisles. some places will be in single figures is to start the day tomorrow. with dry weather tomorrow morning and some sunshine around, still the show was affecting north and northwest scotland and popping up and northwest scotland and popping up elsewhere in northern ireland and dump was developing in northern england and not everyone will see them. if you do, be heavy and thundering with a few popping up elsewhere in england and wales. most will stay dry, light winds and for those reasons will feel very pleasant when we get to see some occasional sunny spells as we head into the low 20s. wetter, windier on thursday.

today at six, it's been another rewarding day for team gb at the olympic games injapan. right on the line. great britain win the medal race and with it the gold medal. there were two golds and a silver in sailing. britain is sixth overall in the medal table. and in cycling, jason kenny won his eighth medal, to match the all—time record for british olympians. you do your first olympics, and i think you just

catch up in the momentum, and to repeat it and then having to do it again and again, itjust gets...