back to the exam hall for gcse and a—level students in england. the government confirms exams will go ahead this summer, as exam boards release advance information on what pupils can expect to be tested on. details are being published throughout the day. also this lunchtime... a plan to tackle the nhs waiting list backlog in england is delayed but the government has announced a new online service to let patients waiting for routine surgery see how long it's going to take. i am interested in what we at westminster do to help people across the country. myjob is to address what i think is the number one issue for this country, which is fixing the covid backlog. the uk and ireland have

dropped their plan to make a joint bid for the 2030 football world cup. a pioneering medical treatment has allowed a patient in switzerland who was paralysed more than a decade ago, to become a dad. team gb go for curling glory at the winter olympics in beijing. coming up on the bbc news channel paul collingwood is named as interim head coach of the england men's cricket team replacing chris silverwood who lost his job after the ashes. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. gcse and a—level pupils in england will be given advance information today about the topics that will appear on their exam papers this summer.

the government has confirmed that for the first time in three years, exams will go ahead — despite a high number of teacher absences due to covid. our education correspondent, elaine dunkley, reports. can you just line up as well please? thank you. it's a busy timetable for the pupils at ellesmere port church of england college. how do you feel you did in that maths test this morning? i think i did 0k. i didn't do as great on my last one, but i'm trying to improve. it is all about exam practice. the next few weeks will be serious revision for mocks, and for the first time in three years, this summer, they are expected to sit external exams. i had to be off with covid. i didn't get to sit my full mock exams, so i wasn't, like, mentally fully prepared. nicole is doing a—levels, and wants to go to university. she is worried about exams because of the ongoing disruption. there is a lot of teachers off in this board, due to like, covid reasons. so they are finding it quite

difficult for us to get supply for everyone. still quite nervous. yeah. here, they welcome the return of exams. for the past two years, gcses and a—levels have been awarded using teacher— assessed grades. last year was difficult for teachers, as well. there was a huge amount of work to ensure that students were given the grades that were fair. huge amounts from students and teachers in terms of gathering that evidence to begin with. numerous assessments taking place which then had to be marked, so i think everyone will welcome the opportunity to go back to exams, where a lot of that pressure and stress has been removed. exam boards will publish more details about the topics pupils can expect across different subjects, and say marking will be generous, but it won't lead to further grade inflation. the government says these plans recognise the disruption caused. for those preparing to take exams, so much depends on the next few months. there are still challenges ahead,

and pupils are hoping today's guidance will bring them closer to getting the grades they need. elaine dunkley, bbc news, in ellesmere port. our education correspondent, sean dilley, is here. how much detail can students expect? not a lot of detail, they can expect pointers in the right direction. in fact specifically before this was published in the exam boards in england, they said it was going to give you an idea. obviously they will not give you the precise questions because then people can simply learn that answer. last year we saw more students awarded higher grades after being assessed by their own teachers — how generous will external examiners be this year? they seem to be saying that they will be more generous than they where in 2019. that is a significant year because that was the last time these national exams were externally marked and graded. for 2020, 2021, there was teacher assessment, and there was teacher assessment, and

there were people raising concerns about grade inflation, so the sweet spot that they are looking to go for is the midpoint between the two. thank you very much, sean dilley, education correspondent. a wide—ranging plan from nhs england to tackle the long backlog of routine surgery has been delayed — an announcement had been expected today. one part of the plan that has been released though — a new online service to let patients waiting for routine surgery information about how long it might take, as well as details of their operation. that will be available later this month. our health correspondent, sophie hutchinson, reports. the prime minister and chancellor on a hospital visit this morning. it was expected a recovery plan for the nhs in england would be announced today, but that seems to have been ditched at the last minute. mr johnson did however spell out what was expected of nhs cancer services. we want the vast majority of people

who may think that they have cancer to have a diagnosis either confirming that they do or that they don't have cancer within 28 days. what happened to the plan isn't clear, but the treasury has not denied that it intervene. labour said it was more evidence the government is in disarray. irate government is in disarray. we desperately— government is in disarray. - desperately need a plan. the government said it was going to come up government said it was going to come up with a plan and now it hasn't. it is yet more evidence that the chaos and incompetence of particularly the last three or four months where everybody has been embroiled in allegations about partygate, there is a price for that, the price is the government not getting on with the government not getting on with thejob. the government not getting on with the job. the the government not getting on with the “ob. , ., ., , ., ., the job. the plan was meant to tackle the _ the job. the plan was meant to tackle the record _ the job. the plan was meant to tackle the record high - the job. the plan was meant to tackle the record high nhs - the job. the plan was meant to - tackle the record high nhs backlog, 6 million people are on waiting lists for nonurgent operations, like knee replacements. notjust inconvenient but often causing huge suffering to those available. this

is --eole suffering to those available. ti 3 is people putting their lives on hold, it makes most people despondent and they are likely to lose hope that they themselves will recover. we talk about system recovery but what we are talking about is people's ability to recover their lives. the about is people's ability to recover their lives. , ., ., , ., ., their lives. the plan was meant to hel the their lives. the plan was meant to help the nhs _ their lives. the plan was meant to help the nhs in _ their lives. the plan was meant to help the nhs in england - their lives. the plan was meant to help the nhs in england find - help the nhs in england find solutions to getting through the backlog, particularly for those who have waited the longest.— backlog, particularly for those who have waited the longest. there will be measures _ have waited the longest. there will be measures to _ have waited the longest. there will be measures to free _ have waited the longest. there will be measures to free up _ have waited the longest. there will be measures to free up clinician . be measures to free up clinician time, it will be measures to support trusts to work more effectively together. critically, it will be measures to help to keep patients well, while they wait for their procedures. £8 well, while they wait for their procedures-— well, while they wait for their rocedures. j~ ., ., , , , procedures. £8 million has been set aside to ease _ procedures. £8 million has been set aside to ease the _ procedures. £8 million has been set aside to ease the backlog. - procedures. £8 million has been set aside to ease the backlog. there - procedures. £8 million has been set| aside to ease the backlog. there had been a debate about whether, in return, the nhs should meet targets, but however that was resolved, many experts believe that the plan which had been worked on since before omicron, had been signed off. i{finite

omicron, had been signed off. quite what could be _ omicron, had been signed off. quite what could be holding _ omicron, had been signed off. quite what could be holding it _ omicron, had been signed off. qt ta: what could be holding it up now, omicron, had been signed off. 4ei 1&2 what could be holding it up now, one hopes, it is really an issue of detail or a misunderstanding, not something more fundamental, because this has been worked on for many months. , ., ., ., , ., ., months. instead of the main plan to address the — months. instead of the main plan to address the patient _ months. instead of the main plan to address the patient backlog, - months. instead of the main plan to address the patient backlog, there l address the patient backlog, there was a smaller government announcement today, another new online service providing waiting times information for those in need of treatment. so if you hutchinson, bbc news. —— sophie hutchinson. the prime minister's new director of communications has described his new boss as "not a complete clown," and said he asked borisjohnson, "are you going to survive?" before taking the job and then joined him in singing a song. our political correspondent, chris mason, is in westminster. what's he had to say chris? quite a bit, as it turns out. there he was arriving at work this morning with a grin. seeming to make light

of all of the allegations about wine and boozy parties during various aspects of lockdown over the last couple of years, he said pointing to the whole some refreshments in his bulging shopping bag, which said reuse and recycle. well, he has been reused and recycled by the prime minister given that guto harri used to work for mrjohnson when he was born —— mayor of london. guto harri has given an interview to a welsh website and magazine, in which he describes the prime minister as "not a complete clown". he says he is likeable and mentions that when they went in to meet he saluted boris johnson, they have not seen each other face—to—face four years, the prime minister began to salute back thenjoked prime minister began to salute back then joked that he should take the knee, a reference to guto harri working for gb news, and he took the knee, and wasn't in their employment for that much longer, with guto harri reflecting that he wants to go in there, and try to help the prime

minister. numberten in there, and try to help the prime minister. number ten saying this lunchtime that he is committed to the government's agenda despite some spiky words to various podcast in recent weeks, including newscast, about the particular situation boris johnson finds himself in, so here we are at lunchtime on day one of the director of communications being alongside borisjohnson. there used to be a sense that the director of communications should not become the story, but it has not been a good couple of years or convention around the parts —— for convention around these parts, and that seems set to continue. . ~ these parts, and that seems set to continue. ., ~ , ., , these parts, and that seems set to continue. ., ~ i. , ., continue. thank you, chris mason at westminster- _ the uk and ireland have dropped their plan to make a joint bid for the 2030 football world cup. the football associations of england, scotland, wales and northern ireland — plus the republic of ireland — will now focus on a bid to host the euros in 2028 instead. the decision comes after the uk government committed £2.8 million to see if it was worth bidding. nesta mcgregor reports.

the last and only time there has been a football world cup in the uk, england, 1966, and we all know how that went. ., ,., england, 1966, and we all know how that went. ., , ., , that went. there are some people in the its, that went. there are some people in the pits. they _ that went. there are some people in the pits, they think _ that went. there are some people in the pits, they think it _ that went. there are some people in the pits, they think it is _ that went. there are some people in the pits, they think it is all - the pits, they think it is all over... ,, . ., , over... since then there have been efforts to bring _ over... since then there have been efforts to bring the _ over... since then there have been efforts to bring the world - over... since then there have been efforts to bring the world cup - efforts to bring the world cup "home". prince william and david beckham are part of the fa campaign to host the 2018 tournament. but, that went to russia. so, with 2030 in mind, the hope was that a joint uk bid might be seen by fifa is a more attractive proposal but after spending £11 million looking into the impact of hosting a world cup, the impact of hosting a world cup, the fa released a statement on behalf of the five associations. we accept the conclusion of the five football associations that now was not a moment to proceed with a bit. we remain passionate about bringing a world cup to the uk and ireland when the time is right. turning

their attention to a joint bid for euro 2028, citing a smaller tournament costing less to deliver, and the benefits realised sooner. it and the benefits realised sooner. ht would be great if we get 2028, but backing away from the 2030 world cup makes it more possible for us to get the euros in 2028, and i should be more than happy with that. the fa has not ruled _ more than happy with that. the fa has not ruled out _ more than happy with that. the fa has not ruled out bidding - more than happy with that. the fa has not ruled out bidding for - has not ruled out bidding for future world cup tournaments, but for now, playing to host and to win football's biggest prize, goes on. the president of france, emmanuel macron, is to hold talks in moscow with president putin about the ukraine crisis. the two men have spoken three times in recent days, but this will be their first face—to—face meeting since 2019. mr macron called for a "new balance" to protect european states and appease russia. while he told a french newspaper that it was "legitimate"

for russia to raise questions about its own security, he restated that the sovereignty of ukraine was not up for discussion. for the latest on the situation in ukraine, let's speak to our correspondents in the region. capital kyiv, we'll speak to him in a moment, but first caroline davies joins us from moscow. how's moscow seeing this? in the words of the kremlin, this is a very important meeting and they expect these folks to be substantial and lengthy, but the crucial question is, is there enough on the table to make russia feel that it can de—escalate the situation? we know what the us has previously offered rusher, because it was elite, including things like missile deployment and missile inspection as well. we know what was not offered previously, which was any suggestion that nato would not expand any further. that is something russia is very adamant about, and that is the guarantee it once, but of course the us and nato have been adamant that

there is not on the table from deriks —— perspective. and last week president putin said that those demands have been ignored. both sites have talked about the fact that they will continue with diplomatic efforts, but it will be interesting to see what president putin's tone is like after this meeting with president macron. it is worth saying that in terms of resolution russia doesn't expect everything to be resolved today. they have said that that there might be substantial talks, they are not expecting a breakthrough, in the course of one meeting.— expecting a breakthrough, in the course of one meeting. paul, there has been so _ course of one meeting. paul, there has been so much _ course of one meeting. paul, there has been so much diplomatic- has been so much diplomatic activity. is all of this going to stop russia invading ukraine? llhtiil stop russia invading ukraine? until --erhas stop russia invading ukraine? until perhaps just _ stop russia invading ukraine? until perhapsjust a _ stop russia invading ukraine? until perhapsjust a few— stop russia invading ukraine? until perhaps just a few weeks ago, kia was not _ perhaps just a few weeks ago, kia was not on — perhaps just a few weeks ago, kia was not on the main diplomatic trail _ was not on the main diplomatic trail what _ was not on the main diplomatic trail. what a difference the last few weeks of may. boris johnson was here, _ few weeks of may. boris johnson was here, emmanuel macron, when he arrives _ here, emmanuel macron, when he arrives they — here, emmanuel macron, when he arrives they will be the first french _ arrives they will be the first french president to visit ukraine in 24 years _

french president to visit ukraine in 24 years. right now there are four european — 24 years. right now there are four european foreign ministers in the country. — european foreign ministers in the country, with more expected later in the week _ country, with more expected later in the week. mr macron is making a bold claim _ the week. mr macron is making a bold claim for— the week. mr macron is making a bold claim for its _ the week. mr macron is making a bold claim for its diplomacy, he said the diplomacy— claim for its diplomacy, he said the diplomacy was likely to prevent a military— diplomacy was likely to prevent a military confrontation but that is indeed _ military confrontation but that is indeed a — military confrontation but that is indeed a very bold claim, but there is a feeling — indeed a very bold claim, but there is a feeling at the moment that, as we approach this moment of maximum danger— we approach this moment of maximum danger with_ we approach this moment of maximum danger with american officials still talking _ danger with american officials still talking about mid february, as the point _ talking about mid february, as the point at _ talking about mid february, as the point at which russia might be capable — point at which russia might be capable of launching some kind of military— capable of launching some kind of military intervention, western leaders — military intervention, western leaders and officials are intent on traipsing — leaders and officials are intent on traipsing to and fro, from here to moscow— traipsing to and fro, from here to moscow and elsewhere, forming some kind of— moscow and elsewhere, forming some kind of diplomatic human chain to prevent— kind of diplomatic human chain to prevent the crisis unfolding. ukraine _ prevent the crisis unfolding. ukraine welcomes all of that attention. the foreign minister spoke — attention. the foreign minister spoke today about the foreign military— spoke today about the foreign military assistance coming to the country— military assistance coming to the country in — military assistance coming to the country in recent weeks, and he said the international coalition to support— the international coalition to support ukraine was now, in his words, _ support ukraine was now, in his words. on — support ukraine was now, in his words, on the global scale, but they do have _ words, on the global scale, but they do have misgivings. they are worried that germany has only been willing to support —

that germany has only been willing to support them to the tune of 5000 helmets, _ to support them to the tune of 5000 helmets, and, when president macron talks about _ helmets, and, when president macron talks about russia's legitimate interests, there will be some nervousness here in ukraine about exactly _ nervousness here in ukraine about exactly what that means.— nervousness here in ukraine about exactly what that means. thank you, paul and caroline. _ our top story this lunchtime... the government confirms exams will go ahead this summer, as exam boards release advance information on what pupils can expect to be tested on. and still to come — we ask if politics got in the way of vaccinating the world against coronavirus. coming up on the bbc news channel, the football association said the four home nations and the republic of ireland will bid to host the european championship in 2028 and not the world cup two years later saying it's cheaper to put on. when david m'zee was paralysed after a gymnastics accident when he was 22, he was told he would never be able to have children.

but now thanks to an electrical implant in his spine, he hasn't only regained the ability to walk, his health has continued to improve to such an extent, that he's now the father of a baby girl. our science correspondent pallab ghosh has travelled to switzerland to meet him and his family. let's race. david m'zee is about to have a race with his one—year—old daughter zoe. ready, set, go! yes, oh, you're fast. david is paralysed... wait for me! ..but he can walk because of an electrical implant. using a control panel on his walker, he can send signals to his spine. it enables him to stand and to walk slowly. yeah, way faster! but he cannot keep up with his daughter. it has changed his life. she said "bye—bye". david, how is it going? it is great. it is a good feeling, especially walking with my daughter. she with her walker, i with mine. nice. david has continued to improve since he first had his implant. he can now do things

he could only imagine when he first had his accident. the hope is that many more people can benefit. wait for daddy. david had a gymnastics accident 12 years ago when he was just 22. he was paralysed, unable to walk and unable to have a child. you push the button. the implant has changed his life. he now has a family life he always wanted. it is beautiful. it is a lot of work, it is even less sleep than before, but it is nice. this is david when he first had his implant in 2017. "stim on" means electrical stimulation on. when it is turned off, he cannot move. back on, and he is able to walk again. nerves in the spinal cord send signals from the brain to the legs. some people are paralysed when the nerves are damaged through injury. in most cases, there is still a small signal to the legs, but it is too weak to create movement.

the implant boosts the signal, enabling david to walk. it has also improved david's kite surfing. he can make slight movements with his feet to control the surfboard. even with his implant turned off. that is the wrong leg which just got stimulated. the technology was developed by a team led by gregoire courtine. looks like it walks! so far, nine people have successfully received the implant, but none of them use it to help them walk in their everyday lives. instead they use it to practise walking, which exercises their muscles, improves their health, and often restores a little bit of movement. this is not the cure for spinal—cord injury. but it is a critical step to improve people's quality of life. we are going to empower them with the ability to stand, maybe to make some steps. researchers are using the implant to treat other conditions. mark has parkinson's and has difficulty walking.

let's turn on the stimulation. see what happens now. we are going to turn around. 0k, not too fast. the technology has helped david to have a better quality of life and to have a family. it will take many more years before it can be used routinely to help paralysed people walk again. pallab ghosh, bbc news, zurich. australia is to open its borders to fully vaccinated travellers almost two years after after imposing strict controls on arrivals, to control the spread of covid—19. unvaccinated travellers will have to apply for an exemption — and stay in a quarantine hotel on arrival. the rules will change in two weeks' time. a state of emergency has been declared in canada's capital, ottawa, because of protests against covid restrictions by lorry drivers. the "freedom convoy" was sparked by the introduction last month of a new rule that all truckers must be vaccinated

to cross the us—canada border, but the protests have grown into broader challenges to covid health restrictions. its ambition was to be a vaccine for the world — two and a half billion doses of the oxford—astrazeneca jab were delivered across the globe during the pandemic and nearly half of all adults in the uk received two doses of it. its use in the rest of europe, though, wasn't straightforward. there was a row with the eu about supply shortages and restrictions were put on the vaccine's use over the risk of rare blood clots. so did politics get in the way? our medical editor fergus walsh reports. cheering. the roll—out of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine in the uk is widely regarded as a great success, but, in the eu, it was beset by hurdles. in late january 2021, with vaccines in desperately short supply, president macron described the astrazeneca jab as quasi—ineffective in the elderly.

france and germany said they would not use it for older adults, but both reversed that decision weeks later when it was shown to be highly protective. many eu countries briefly suspended its use completely over the risk of rare blood clots. a few never used it again. sirjohn bell, of oxford university, who helped bring astrazeneca on board, is scathing about what he sees as missteps by decision—makers in the eu. bad behaviourfrom both scientists and from politicians will have killed probably hundreds of thousands of people. and that they cannot be proud of. they have damaged the reputation of the vaccine in a way that echoes throughout the rest of the world. then there is the issue of vaccine equity. six in ten of the world's population have received at least one dose of a covid vaccine.

but across africa, just one in 20 people are double—jabbed. we are going to be deep into 2022 before we have this pandemic under control in a best—case scenario. because that is how long it is going to take to get vaccines rolled out equitably around the world. billions of vaccine doses have now been pledged for low—income countries. but the logistics of getting them to those who need them is a major problem. nigeria destroyed 1 million astrazeneca doses in december, which had a shelf life ofjust a few weeks — too little time to use them. the scientist who created the jab wants vaccine production scaled up well before the next deadly virus emerges. for the next pandemic, we need to increase our manufacturing capacity across the world. if the vaccines don't exist, then they can't be shared. despite the setbacks, the oxford astrazeneca vaccine has played a major role

in curbing the pandemic. easy to store and transport and sold at no profit, it has had a truly global reach. fergus walsh, bbc news. the children's commissioner for england has said only around a third of children with a �*probable mental health disorder�* are able to get the help they need. in a new report, dame rachel de souza said the pandemic has made the challenge of dealing with the mental health of young people greater. she said fewer young people were being referred for help but those who were offered treatment weren't having to wait as long. the government says it recognises the impact the pandemic�*s had on people and that it was committing extra money to help. anisa kadri reports. counting the cost of the covid pandemic, this report says more children are struggling with their mental health, up from one in nine to one in six, according to data. but the number in england referred to nhs mental health services by the likes of gps and teachers fell sharply at the

start of covid—19. children around the country really have suffered with this isolation and being away from school. so i think it is a very, very important issue. although, overall referrals have dropped, what you can see is, it was during lockdown that referrals really dropped and then they sharply went up. the commissioner's report says that between 2020 and 2021, around 497,000 children were referred, compared to 539,000 the year before. it also says only around a third of children with a probable mental health disorder are able to access treatment. for those accepted into children's mental health treatment services, average waiting times fell from 43 days to 32 days, but there are big regional differences. just one in three young people are able to get the help and support they need, and the numbers of young people with growing mental health problems is increasing significantly as a result of the pandemic.

the commission's report is quite simple. it tells us that there is a need to act, there is a need to act quite urgently, if we are not going to lose a generation to poor mental health. the department for health says it recognises the impact the pandemic has had on people and that is why it is committing extra money this year for those most affected, including £79 million for children's mental health services. anisa kadri, bbc news. new rules for private car parks in england, scotland and wales mean those who run them will have to introduce a fairer system for appeals and give drivers a ten—minute grace period for being late. most penalty payments will be capped at £50 — down from £100. the code of conduct has been drawn up following complaints of bad behaviour by some operators. the chinese tennis player, peng shuai, has given an interview to a french newspaper in which she again denied accusing a communist party official of sexual assault. there were fears for

the player's safety when she disappeared from public view last year, after the allegations first appeared. peng shuai told l'equipe there had been a huge misunderstanding, and she urged fans not to worry about her. it's day three of the winter olympics in beijing and nine gold medals are upfor grabs. team gb�*s bruce mouat and jen dodds are playing norway this lunchtime in the semi—finals of the mixed curling. victory would guarantee them at least a silver medal. meanwhile, teenager kirsty muir has qualified for the skiing big airfinal. our sports correspondent, laura scott, reports from beijing. commentator: now it is the turn of kirsty muir. i talk about teenage tricks, from team gb�*s youngest star, kirsty muir. soaring above an abandoned steel mill, the 17—year—old from aberdeen showed her mettle. big score secured her seventh place, and a spot in tomorrow's ski big airfinal.

fellow brit katie summerhayes landed just outside the top 12. the weather here in yangqing meant that there was a day's delay to the men's downhill, the blue riband event of the winter olympics, but as the wind speeds dropped, the world's fastest skiers could finally get under way. beat feuz had won pretty much everything in skiing except olympic gold. blitzing his way downhill at more than 80 mph. hurtling himself towards the line. he flies! the swiss speed merchant got his hands on the title he so craved. time for two athletes at different stages of their careers to do something no women have ever done before at an olympics. and a glorious quadruple salco... 15—year—old figure skating prodigy kamila valieva landing a quadruplejump, not once but twice, before speed skating great ireen wust became the first woman to win an individual gold medal at five separate games.

and could these be britain's first medallists of this olympics? mixed curling dquen dodds and bruce mouat are one win away from guaranteeing themselves a place on the podium. laura scott, bbc news, beijing. the semi final match in the mixed double curling is going on in the ice cube are behind me, playing a husband and wife team norway. jen and bruce are childhood friends, world champions, this is their olympic debut, playing really well so far winning six out of there at nine round—robin matches but of course this is the most important and they lost to norway only last night. superstitious viewers will be pleased to know bruce is leaving nothing to chance, he has once again won his lucky had which has become quite famous in the olympic games so far but i can tell you at the moment it is delicately poised, great britain trailing in the seventh out

of eight ends. if they lost denied they would still be in the bronze medal match tomorrow and if they were to win, they would be going to try to win the first olympic curling gold for great britain in 20 years. laura, thank you and good luck to them. the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations have begun with a bang, as gun salutes were fired across the country to mark her 70—year reign. at noon the king's troop royal horse artillery, named by the queen's father king george vi, fired a 41—gun salute from london's green park. events will be held over the coming year in honour of the queen. gun salutes were also fired in edinburgh and outside the tower of london. time for a look at the weather. here's susan powell. good afternoon. it feels springlike outside, sunshine in the east of the