party during lockdown. others hold theirfire, until the outcome of a senior civil servant's inquiry, while labour says the facts, are already clear. he accepts he shouldn't have done that looking back. it was done in good faith. there is no possible malice or intention to do anything other than to give a heartfelt thank you to people who have been working incredibly hard. do they really think this behaviour is excusable? are they really going to defend him? are they really going to stand by him? because in the end, it's notjust the prime minister that voters will conclude is unfit to govern, it's conservative mps who stand by him. we'll have the very latest live from westminster.

also this lunchtime... the number of people on hospital waiting lists in england, hits six million for the first time. england's isolation period for coronavirus is reduced yet again, if there are two negative results. the scale of our river pollution — a damning verdict in a parliamentary report. and novak djokovic is in the draw for the australian open, but could he still be deported before start of play? and coming up in sport on the bbc news channel — they're battling injuries, but mark wood says ben stokes and jonny bairstow are desperate to play for england in the final ashes test, which starts tomorrow. good afternoon, and welcome

to the bbc news at one. borisjohnson�*s future as prime minister remains in the balance, despite his apology for attending a drinks party during the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020. some senior conservatives are calling for him to resign. but members of the cabinet have rallied to his defence, after he said yesterday, he understood the public�*s rage at his actions. he pulled out of a planned visit to a vaccination clinic today, after a family member tested positive for coronavirus. with all the latest, here's our political correspondent, helen catt. westminster is waiting. as the fallout from the pmi's apology for what he handled correct my carry handle for what he claims were given continues. borisjohnson should have beenin continues. borisjohnson should have been in front of the cameras in lancashire today. the visit cancelled. one of his family members tested positive for covid. some of his own mps have been on the airwaves. his own mps have been on the airwaves-_ his own mps have been on the airwaves. ~ , airwaves. the prime minister, the dis - atch airwaves. the prime minister, the dispatch box _ airwaves. the prime minister, the dispatch box yesterday, _ airwaves. the prime minister, the dispatch box yesterday, first - airwaves. the prime minister, the dispatch box yesterday, first of i airwaves. the prime minister, thei dispatch box yesterday, first of all made an apology, which was the right

thing to do, i accept that. but unfortunately, then went onto say that he spent 25 minutes a day, what he described as a work event, which was in fact a party. having said on the 8th of december, at the dispatch box, that it was not aware of any parties in downing street. when he clearly attended one, which means he misled the house. the clearly attended one, which means he misled the house.— misled the house. the mood isn't areat. misled the house. the mood isn't great- there _ misled the house. the mood isn't great. there is _ misled the house. the mood isn't great. there is a _ misled the house. the mood isn't great. there is a lot _ misled the house. the mood isn't great. there is a lot of— misled the house. the mood isn't great. there is a lot of concern i great. there is a lot of concern among — great. there is a lot of concern among colleagues about the damage that these revelations are doing to the conservative party. but i do think_ the conservative party. but i do think yesterday there was a bit of a turning _ think yesterday there was a bit of a turning of— think yesterday there was a bit of a turning of colleagues's opinion. it was a _ turning of colleagues's opinion. it was a very— turning of colleagues's opinion. it was a very contrite, a very heartfelt — was a very contrite, a very heartfelt apology. do was a very contrite, a very heartfelt apology.- was a very contrite, a very heartfelt apology. do you still su ort heartfelt apology. do you still support boris _ heartfelt apology. do you still support boris johnson? - heartfelt apology. do you still- support boris johnson? absolutely, 10096. the support boris johnson? absolutely, 100%. the cabinet _ support boris johnson? absolutely, 100%. the cabinet is _ support boris johnson? absolutely, 10096. the cabinet is backing - support boris johnson? absolutely, 10096. the cabinet is backing borisl 10096. the cabinet is backing boris johnson. 10096. the cabinet is backing boris johnson- he _ 10096. the cabinet is backing boris johnson. he said _ 10096. the cabinet is backing boris johnson. he said he _ 10096. the cabinet is backing boris johnson. he said he had _ 10096. the cabinet is backing boris johnson. he said he had been - 10096. the cabinet is backing boris| johnson. he said he had been right johnson. he said he had been right to apologise and agreed there should be patient while an enquiry is carried out. other ministers have given more full throated backing. there is no question in my mind

borisjohnson was acting in good faith to thank the people who had been helping to guide the country through the crisis, working incredibly hard. he accepts the oughtn�*t to have done that looking bad but it was done in good faith. one minister's defense sparked a backlash after he said this about the leader of the scottish conservative.— the leader of the scottish conservative. douglas ross has alwa s conservative. douglas ross has always been — conservative. douglas ross has always been quite _ conservative. douglas ross has always been quite a _ conservative. douglas ross has always been quite a lightweighti always been quite a lightweight figure _ always been quite a lightweight figure so i don't think he is not a micro _ figure so i don't think he is not a micro hang — figure so i don't think he is not a micro hang on. the figure so i don't think he is not a micro hang on.— figure so i don't think he is not a micro hang on. the leader of the scottish conservatives, - micro hang on. the leader of the scottish conservatives, and - micro hang on. the leader of the | scottish conservatives, and msp, micro hang on. the leader of the i scottish conservatives, and msp, is a lightweight figure? mr scottish conservatives, and msp, is a lightweight figure?— scottish conservatives, and msp, is a lightweight figure? mr ross is one of four conservative _ a lightweight figure? mr ross is one of four conservative mps _ a lightweight figure? mr ross is one of four conservative mps who i a lightweight figure? mr ross is one of four conservative mps who are i of four conservative mps who are publicly called on mrjohnson to go. meanwhile, the opposition is increasing the pressure on tory mps. do they really think this behaviour is excusable? are they really going to defend him? are they really going to defend him? are they really going to stand by him? because in the end it's notjust the prime minister that voters will conclude is not fit to govern, it is conservative mps who stand by him.— to govern, it is conservative mps who stand by him. many conservative mps a- ear who stand by him. many conservative mps appear to _ who stand by him. many conservative mps appear to be _ who stand by him. many conservative mps appear to be holding _ who stand by him. many conservative mps appear to be holding off- who stand by him. many conservative mps appear to be holding off passing| mps appear to be holding off passing judgment until the senior civil

servant sue gray finishes her report. that is expected in the next week. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. during the first lockdown, thousands of families were forced to say their final goodbyes to loved ones via video link. andy rhind—tutt�*s father george died and was buried on the day of the downing street party, back in may 2020. fiona lamdin has been speaking to him. # where the blue of the night...# this is 89—year—old george. his family say he was always singing. but during lockdown, when george couldn't see his family, he started to deteriorate. on may the 4th, he died, and we were — just me and my brother and sister — were able to be with him at the moment he died, and it was very moving, very sad. the funeral was the 20th of may. it was very difficult for us again. pretty emotional, as you can imagine, to not be able to celebrate his life, and to watch his coffin being lowered into the ground

with just, around the grave, the immediate family. so to hear the news that there was a law passed that we all abided to, and on the day that we buried my father, there was a party in downing street and that the prime minister was there, itjust leaves such a bitter taste. do you feel you can trust the prime minister? i don't, at the moment. and the other end of the country, in bolton, suleman is also struggling with the prime minister's apology. you know, when they're having parties, i couldn't visit my wife. his wife, nicola, was a2. this was her being treated for sepsis in march 2020. he didn't see her again till the night before she died. i hadn't seen her for seven weeks, because of all these flippin' rules. and i thought i was doing the right thing.

while borisjohnson was in the garden at downing street in may 2020, 36—year—old graham was in intensive care. his sister is haunted by it. only lisa and her mum were allowed in the room as graham passed away. they had to video call her dad and sister. i can't describe how wrong it felt, and how disrespectful it felt to... ..hold a camera up to my brother's face. but i had to do it, because it was the only way that my dad, or my sister, would see him again. # at the corner of the street...# this is how george's family will remember him. but they — like many others — feel they haven't had their chance to gather and say their goodbyes. # she were absolutely wonderful, and marvellous and beautiful.#

fiona lamdin, bbc news. our political correspondent nick eardley is in westminster for us now. nick, i suppose the bottom line is, did yesterday's apology do the trick for the prime minister? weill. did yesterday's apology do the trick for the prime minister? well, look, clive, we for the prime minister? well, look, clive. we have _ for the prime minister? well, look, clive, we have had _ for the prime minister? well, look, clive, we have had a _ for the prime minister? well, look, clive, we have had a steady - for the prime minister? well, look, clive, we have had a steady stream j clive, we have had a steady stream of cabinet ministers coming out to bat for the prime minister, which is always a sure sign that the man at the top is under significant pressure. but i have got to say that within the wider conservative party there isn't felt the same sort of full throated support for the prime minister are coming forward. and i think the next few days are going to be really dangerous for boris johnson. there will be tory backbenchers going back to their constituencies this weekend to judge the mood, to see how that apology went down yesterday. i spoke to one former cabinet minister last night, who said they had been deluged with

angry e—mails after borisjohnson appeared in the commons yesterday. they reckon it is looking bad for the prime minister. then there are those tory mps who have seen boris johnson as an electoral asset. they might not like him, but they have decided he's the best man to help them win. might they change their minds if it looks the wind is blowing the other way? then there is the report from the civil servant looking into all of these allegations. if that comes back with something damaging for the prime minister, anotherformer something damaging for the prime minister, another former cabinet minister said to me that that could mean that it is terminal. it is the eye of the storm at the moment, clive, but that can change any minute. . ~ clive, but that can change any minute. w' . , clive, but that can change any minute. w ., , ., minute. nick eardley in central lobb at minute. nick eardley in central lobby at the — minute. nick eardley in central lobby at the house _ minute. nick eardley in central lobby at the house of- minute. nick eardley in central. lobby at the house of commons. the health secretary, sajid javid, has confirmed he's cutting the isolation period for people testing positive for covid in england. from monday, people who test positive will be freed from isolation at the start of day six, if they've had negative tests on days five and six. it's hoped the move will ease

pressure on employers hit by staff absences, especially in the nhs. it comes as the number of people in england waiting to start routine hospital treatment has risen to another record high during the pandemic. our health corresponent, dominic hughes, reports now from warrington hospital in cheshire. you did say there was a space in here a while ago. in the emergency department at warrington hospital, staff are having to manage competing pressures. the omicron wave is sweeping across north—west england with a fast—growing number of covid patients. we are running on escalation numbers every day, just to ensure we are safe. staff are falling sick, and all this while non—covid patients also need urgent care. it's almost a perfect winter storm. across the region our numbers of covid inpatients are almost as high as they were in previous waves. now, we're also dealing with our usual winter pressures and the need to catch up with all that elective work that we wanted to do in previous years, so we've never felt the pressure so much.

keep an eye on it, press on it. the latest data shows more than 40,000 nhs hospital staff in england — around 5% — were absent because of covid sickness or isolation last week. four patients waiting. and as more staff fall sick, it's needed everyone to get involved. we've got support from across the organisation of admin staff coming to help is in the mornings, to support with comfort with the patients. so it's a real team effort. absolutely, it's been like that from day one. to ease the pressure on understaffed hospital departments, the government has just changed the rules so isolation can end on day six. uk hsa data shows that around two thirds of positive cases are no longer infectious by the end of day five, and we want to use the testing capacity that we've built up to help these people leave isolation safely. new figures from nhs england show the havoc the pandemic has played with waiting times. in november 2021, 6 million people

were waiting for planned surgery. 307,000 people have been waiting more than a year for their treatment. and december saw a record number of ambulance call—outs for the most urgent cases, but average response times failed to meet current targets. fraser knows first—hand the impact a delayed ambulance can have. when he had a heart attack six years ago, an ambulance was there within minutes. on new year's day he experienced the same symptoms, but this time he was told it would be at least two hours before an ambulance could get to him. this time it was going through my mind of if its two hours for the ambulance just to get here, i haven't got a chance. who's going to look after my partner and my kids if this doesn't get sorted in time? in winter the nhs is running hot. this is shaping up to be one of the toughest periods the health service and those patients waiting for treatment have experienced.

dominic hughes, bbc news, warrington. our health correspondent, jim reed, is here. the isolation period in england is being cut again. what is the science behind that? this being cut again. what is the science behind that?— behind that? this is something ministers have _ behind that? this is something ministers have been _ behind that? this is something ministers have been hinting i behind that? this is something ministers have been hinting at| behind that? this is something i ministers have been hinting at for some time. just to be absolutely clear what we are talking about, this is the isolation period if you yourself test positive. for most of the pandemic it meant staying at home for ten days. just before christmas, that was reduced. so you could be released in england on day seven, then the other nations of the uk followed suit. from monday, in england alone, that is being reduced by essentially an extra day. so on day six, you can now leave isolation if you have a negative rapid covid test on day five and six. you asked about the science around this. scientists think at that point, after five days of being in isolation, around two thirds of

people will not be infectious any more. so the argument is, it is unfair to more. so the argument is, it is unfairto make more. so the argument is, it is unfair to make those people stay at home, they will miss work and they may not be allowed to go to school, so it is freeing up that group. the other side that is that one in three may be infectious and be able to pass the virus on to others, which is why you see this demand for extra lateral flow test before you can be released. jim lateral flow test before you can be released. , with pressure on hospitals growing, take a look at the bbc�*s nhs tracker, which has the latest data on emergency waiting times for services in your area, and how that compares, to pre—pandemic demand. he's been one of the faces of the government's battle against coronavirus. but now, professor sirjonathan van—tam is stepping down from his role as england's deputy chief medical officer. borisjohnson has thanked him for what he called his "extraordinary contribution to our country," and the professor became well known for his colourful analogies at downing street news conferences. don't tear the pants out of it.

i think the mum test is very important. my mum is 78, she will be 79 shortly. and i have already said to her, "mum, make sure, when you're called, you're ready." it's clear that in the first half the away team gave us an absolute battering. they got a goal. and in the 70th minute we've now got an equaliser. this is a complex product with a very fragile culture. it's not a yoghurt that can be taken out of the fridge and put back in multiple times. it's the third goal in the back of the net now in my penalty shoot—out. it's the third vaccine with a positive readout. the train has now slowed down safely. it has now stopped and the station and the doors have opened. you what we need now is for people to get on that train. the strikers who score the wonder goals are the ones who make the headlines, actually the hard yards are done by the defenders and by the defensive midfielders tracking back, tracking back.

it's a bit like being 3—0 up in a game and thinking, "well, we can't possibly lose this now," but how may times have you seen the other side take it 4—3? do not wreck this now. professor sirjohn sulston banter and, stepping down as the deputy chief medical officer of england. —— jonathan van—tam. france is relaxing its travel rules for vaccinated brits. travellers will no longer need a compelling reason to visit the country, and won't be required to self—isolate on arrival. but a negative covid test, taken 2a hours before leaving the uk, is required. our business correspondent, katy austin, is here. good news for travellers, further relaxation, and good news for the travel industry?— relaxation, and good news for the travel industry? yes. the rules that were introduced _ travel industry? yes. the rules that were introduced in _ travel industry? yes. the rules that were introduced in december, i travel industry? yes. the rules that were introduced in december, as i were introduced in december, as france tried to curb the spread of the omicron variant, are now being rolled back from tomorrow. regardless of vaccination status.

people will still need to have a negative covid test, either pcr or antigen lateral flow, negative covid test, either pcr or antigen lateralflow, in negative covid test, either pcr or antigen lateral flow, in the previous 2a hours, but this change does mean that vaccinated people can't now go to france on holiday, or to visit friends or family. when the restrictions were introduced, it came just in time to cancel lots of people's christmas plans, and the travel industry saw this as a huge blow. france is a very popular holiday destination. so the move has been welcomed by businesses, including eurostar, brittany ferries and the airline jet too, which said it saw an immediate spike in bookings for ski flights. this will also be music to the ears of firms in the french alps, because it means british tourists can go there is skiing again. this comes about a week after the uk relaxed its travel testing requirements for people coming into this country, again for fully vaccinated passengers. thank

ou. katie fully vaccinated passengers. thank you. katie austen. _ our top story this lunchtime. there is no let up on the pressure on borisjohnson as some mps say he should resign. virginia giuffre's lawyer says she's unlikely to accept a purely financial settlement from prince andrew, following her sexual assault allegations. and coming up in sport on the bbc news channel — still playing the waiting game. novak djokovic's visa could yet be cancelled but he's named in the draw for the australian open, which starts on monday. not a single river in england is free from pollution, according to the findings of an influential group of mps. the environmental audit committee says it's uncovered a "chemical cocktail" of sewage, agricultural waste and plastic in our waterways. the mps are calling for tougher enforcement of rules on dumping and better monitoring of the problem. here's our environment

correspondent, jonah fisher. see it down there? i don't know what that is. it looks a bit like poo, doesn't it? ashley smith is searching for sewage. these particles coming out. this is shill brook in oxfordshire, a stream that receives the outflow from two water treatment plants. with this camera we've seen basically chopped up untreated sewage coming out. ashley comes here often to monitor the water quality. his videos, evidence of an ecosystem being steadily poisoned. yes, that's visible, but in sewage you can imagine everything that goes into your drains at home, through your shower and sink and toilet, all the chemicals that you see in the supermarkets — all of that goes into this. when it's untreated it's not even affected in any way. we've done some river flow monitoring here, some invertebrate sampling, and in this area here we found virtually nothing in the invertebrate department apart

from some bloodworms, which will live in virtually anything. it's dreadful. for the last year parliament's environmental audit committee has been putting together a report into the state of england's rivers and it's published today. the mps' report blames pretty much everyone for what it calls the mess of england's rivers. water companies, farmers, inadequate testing and monitoring, years of complacency by policymakers, and also you and i, for all the things that we throw down the toilet every day that go on to block the sewers. it's a very complex system that we have but in essence for the last 60 years we have not as a nation invested in our water treatment assets to the same extent as we've invested in what happens above ground. underground, it's unseen, people don't know that it's there until there's a problem,

by which time it's too late. so when the sewage has been fully treated in the sewage works... the role of water companies is also scrutinised, with mps saying they'd have to invest more and become more transparent about when they allow raw sewage to flow into rivers. were we wrong to expect private water companies to put the quality of water ahead of profits? no, i don't believe that at all. it's not a question of public or private, it's about doing a good job, getting the incentives right and the regulation right, and having the right people with the right equipment and the right investment. we regard all discharges of untreated sewage as unacceptable, but it's going to take a long time to get that problem completely solved. it will also take money and political will, but at least the pollution of our rivers is no longer a dirty secret. jonah fisher, bbc news, in oxfordshire.

the lawyer representing virginia giuffre, the woman who's accused prince andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was 17, has told the bbc he doesn't think she'll accept a purely financial settlement. ajudge in new york has rejected the duke's attempts to dismiss the civil case. prince andrew has consistently denied the allegations. our royal correspondent sarah campbelljoins us now from near the duke's home in windsor. one wonders what happens now, what the duke of�*s options are. the duke of's options are. indeed and i the duke of's options are. indeed and i think— the duke of's options are. indeed and i think we _ the duke of's options are. indeed and i think we can _ the duke of's options are. indeed and i think we can say _ the duke of's options are. indeed and i think we can say the - the duke of's options are. indeed | and i think we can say the options are limited. he could appealjudge kaplan's decision but i think most people agree it was a fairly definitivejudgment so his people agree it was a fairly definitive judgment so his chances on that front are considered slim. he could refuse to engage with the court case altogether, but that would almost certainly mean he would lose by default, so he could fight the case, which would mean it that before july of this year

the case, which would mean it that beforejuly of this year he and his accuser would have to sit down with opposition lawyers and give testimony under oath, this would be recorded and would also be open to any other witnesses which could include members of the duke's family, and that's before the case even gets to trial. or he could try to settle, an option which would undoubtedly prove to be expensive and viriginia giuffre may refuse to settle. certainly the statement that was released on her behalf by her lawyer suggested she wants her day in court. prince andrew vehemently denies any wrongdoing and has been no comment from his legal team today. there is no comment either from buckingham palace but i think we can say with some certainty that behind the castle walls there will behind the castle walls there will be upset, there will be frustration, these allegations have been circling for years and now will potentially cast a cloud over this year's platinum jubilee celebrations. sarah cambell, platinum jubilee celebrations. sarah campbell. on _ platinum jubilee celebrations. sarah campbell, on cue, _ platinum jubilee celebrations. sarah campbell, on cue, live _ platinum jubilee celebrations. sarah campbell, on cue, live in _ platinum jubilee celebrations. sarah campbell, on cue, live in windsor. —— thank you.

a court in germany has sentenced a syrian colonel to life for crimes against humanity. anwar raslan, who's 58, was linked to the torture of 4,000 people at a prison in damascus known as "hell on earth". a former officer under president bashar al—assad, he was arrested in germany, where he'd claimed asylum, two years ago. our correspondent, jenny hill, has that story. those who opposed the syrian president paid a terrible price. bashar al—assad's regime violently crushed street protests in 2011. civilians rounded up, detained, tortured, killed, by people like this former secret service officer. anwar raslan presided over the torture of 4000 people at the notorious al—khatib prison in damascus. he'd claimed asylum in germany, but today, he was jailed for life here for crimes against humanity. yeah, it's like hell, really. wassim survived incarceration, interrogation at al—khatib. he told me directly, lay

on your stomach and raise your feet in the air so you are in a stress position, and i should answer the questions, and whenever the answers didn't, he didn't like the answers i gave, he ordered somebody next to me to start to hit me. it's a painful justice. many were tortured to death and over two years the court has heard terrible stories. torturers using special tools, electric shocks, rape, crimes so serious they could be tried outside syria in a german court. this verdict really matters. it's justice, of course, for the families of those killed, for those who survived torture. it's also a criminal court, acknowledging that the regime of bashar al—assad committed crimes against humanity, against its own people. this is anwar al—bunni, who was himself arrested by raslan and recognised him after both men

came to germany. i am so happy. it's historical, this, in fact, and an historical step happened here in koblenz today. it's victory. but even as raslan starts his sentence, survivors, relatives, campaigners, want the world to know this is still happening. jenny hill, bbc news, koblenz. marks & spencer and tesco have reported bumper sales in the run up to christmas, and both companies are forecasting strong full—year profits. they're the latest big retailers to report healthy trading. our business correspondent emma simpson is on london's oxford street. our britain's retailers going to be papping our britain's retailers going to be popping champagne corks after the christmas period?— christmas period? well, there's a bit to celebrate. _ christmas period? well, there's a bit to celebrate. it _ christmas period? well, there's a bit to celebrate. it wasn't - bit to celebrate. it wasn't that long ago that there were fears over

empty shelves and despite all those supply chain problems and labour shortages which were real, i think actually retailers have had a pretty decent christmas overall. as for this one, well, it's had a really good one. m and s is a christmas winner and i think that's because food has done particularly well, more than i2% up compared with the same period before the pandemic, and actually it said it had its best everfood actually it said it had its best ever food sales in the week before christmas. clothing and home also up a bit. as for tesco, its uk sales were up more than 7%, so clearly the supermarkets have benefited from more people eating, drinking, entertaining at home, having deserted pubs and restaurants because of the omicron effect. now of course omicron has clearly impacted the high street but people carried on spending. there is online and the demand was there, people wanted to treat themselves and to

celebrate. i think the question is what's going to happen to consumer spending in the months ahead as we see this cost of living squeeze really starting to loom. emma simpson. _ really starting to loom. emma simpson, thank _ really starting to loom. emma simpson, thank you, - really starting to loom. emma simpson, thank you, in i really starting to loom. emma| simpson, thank you, in central london. ovo energy, the uk gas and electricity provider, has told staff it plans to cut a quarter of its workforce. the firm is expected to axe 1,700 employees from a total 6,200 workers. it's understood the cuts will be made through voluntary redundancy. the bbc has learned that next has cut sick pay for unvaccinated staff who must self—isolate because of covid exposure. unvaccinated staff will still get full sick pay if they test positive for the virus. the retailer's move follows a similar one by ikea. novak djokovic has been drawn to play in the first round of the australian open, despite continuing uncertainty over his visa status. he's due to face the fellow serbian player, miomir kecmanovic.

but the world men's number one could still be deported. our australia correspondent shaimaa khalil has the latest. the world number one is back on the court, preparing for a tournament he might not get to compete in. but the draw for the 2022 australian open was made and he was in it as the top seed. novak djokovic on line number one. djokovic is due to play fellow serbian miomir kecmanovic next week — that is, of course, unless australia's government decides to deport him. the country's immigration minister alex hawke is still considering whether to cancel the star's visa and officials are looking at additional details submitted by djokovic's team after the tennis star revealed that he provided false information on his travel declaration form and admitted to doing an interview with the french publication l'equipe when he knew he had covid.

the prime minister scott morrison was asked about the delay but he wouldn't be drawn on the issue. why has a decision about novak djokovic's visa yet to be made and how long is your government going to let this drag on for? well, i refer to minister hawke's most recent statement and that position hasn't changed and these are personal ministerial powers able to be exercised by minister hawke and i don't propose to make any further comment at this time. it's been a strange day here in melbourne — more drama, more tension, more anticipation, still no decision on novak djokovic's visa status, and the longer this drags on the closer we get to the australian open, the clearer it becomes that the government is in a real bind about what to do with this. the country's battling a surge in covid—i9 cases and testing clinics are overwhelmed. as the diplomatic and political storm around him continues, novak djokovic is still waiting for a decision on whether he'll be able to defend his title. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, melbourne.