this is bbc news, i'm tim wilcox. the headlines at 2pm: exam boards say gcse and a level students will be graded more generously this year to account for covid. hospital chiefs speak of their frustation at delays to a plan to tackle the nhs waiting list backlog in england. the 15—year—old killed at a holiday park on the north wales coast. amanda selby�*s19—year—old brother admits her manslaughter. french president emmanuel macron heads to moscow for talks with vladimir putin about the ongoing crisis in ukraine. medical pioneer — the spinal implant that has helped a paralysed man become a dad. also coming up — the uk and republic of ireland will focus on a joint bid to host euro 2028, after abandoning plans to host

the 2030 football world cup. good afternoon. welcome to bbc news. 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. 0ur 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 on 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's 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's worried about exams because of the ongoing disruption. there's a lot of teachers off in this school due to, like, covid reasons, so they're 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 of work 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. let's talk to our education correspondent sean dilley. the government would argue that public exams is the fairest way of doing this, but presumably for those pupils who have been disadvantaged through teacher absences and things as well, it is still going to be

quite an exercise?— as well, it is still going to be quite an exercise? yes and how do ou quite an exercise? yes and how do you explain — quite an exercise? yes and how do you explain to _ quite an exercise? yes and how do you explain to a student _ quite an exercise? yes and how do you explain to a student taking - you explain to a student taking exams, and we're looking at this example of gcse and a—level specifically in england, but right across the uk, taking exams that their system of examination is different to those taking exams last year. but the government say, well, actually, they have also been disadvantaged. they are going to take those traditional exams externally marked as they used to be backin externally marked as they used to be back in 2019, so as a mark of fairness or a safety net, they say they are looking to find that sweet spotin they are looking to find that sweet spot in the middle between being a lower boundary to get more generous mark is compared to 2019 when exams happened in any way they are happening now. and honestly slightly harder threshold than last year and a year before when teachers assessed grades. a year before when teachers assessed arades. �* ., , , grades. and there has been grade inflation which _ grades. and there has been grade inflation which we _ grades. and there has been grade inflation which we will _ grades. and there has been grade inflation which we will come - grades. and there has been grade inflation which we will come to - inflation which we will come to light any programme but in terms of grade inflation, government is saying they want examiners to mark more generously. —— come to later in

the programme. how do you fix that question mark they want them to mark more generously than 2019, they do not want them to mark more generously than last summer. the mechanism _ generously than last summer. tue: mechanism was different. generously than last summer. tte: mechanism was different. what they are saying is we just want to ttip the balance to make sure it is fair. let's be really clear here —— change the balance. let's be really clear here -- change the balance-— the balance. and pupils will now have advanced _ the balance. and pupils will now have advanced the _ the balance. and pupils will now have advanced the of _ the balance. and pupils will now have advanced the of the - have advanced the of the question areas, not all subjects are covered here. what does that mean? questions themselves, but these are the topics you will be facing?— you will be facing? wouldn't that be aood if you will be facing? wouldn't that be good if they — you will be facing? wouldn't that be good if they said, _ you will be facing? wouldn't that be good if they said, we are _ you will be facing? wouldn't that be good if they said, we are going - good if they said, we are going to ask you this question? i imagine we would get so many more a stars. the idea behind it is because there has been absence and disruption, pupils will have a bit of an idea of what they should be looking at, for instance, the english civil war, the

weimar republic, historically. but one thing to bear in mind is it is one thing to bear in mind is it is one of many adaptations because guidance in some areas, and in other areas that is not guidance, for instance in some topics such as mass, people will be able to take in formula sheets so they do not need to remember complex equations. it is a series of measures that the government say will be fatter and teachers say they hope will be fairer, some of whom saying we could have —— will be fairer. teacher saying they could have done with more notice. aha, saying they could have done with more notice-— saying they could have done with more notice. �* ., , ., ., , ., more notice. a few months ago before exams start- — more notice. a few months ago before exams start. thank _ more notice. a few months ago before exams start. thank you. _ 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 has been released though — a new online service to let patients waiting for routine surgery know how long it might take, as well as details of their operation. that will be available later this month. 0ur 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. mrjohnson did, however, spell out what was expected of nhs cancer services. we want the vast majority of people who think they may 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 intervened. labour said it was more evidence the government is in disarray. we desperately need a plan. the government said it was going to come up with a plan and now it hasn't. i think 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, and the price is the government not getting on with the job. the plan was meant to tackle the record high nhs backlog — six million people are on waiting lists for nonurgent operations, like knee replacements. notjust inconvenient but often causing huge suffering to those waiting. we hear from people that this is really putting their lives is really 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 plan was meant to help the nhs in england find solutions to getting through the backlog, particularly for those who have waited the longest. there will 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 billion 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 0micron, had been signed off. quite what could be holding it up now, one hopes, it's merely an issue of detail or a misunderstanding, not something more fundamental, because this has been worked on for many, many months. instead of the main plan to address the patient backlog, there was a smaller government announcement today — a new online service providing waiting times information for those in need of treatment. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the latest waiting list figures from nhs england were released in november. they show six million people were waiting for non—urgent treatment.

for that help, and around 18,500 of those people were waiting more than two years to be seen. the health secretary had previously suggested that the waiting list could grow to 13 million, but that was before extra investment was announced. he now says it's not clear how big the backlog could become. joining me now is sarah scobie, deputy director of research at health think tank, the nuffield trust. there seems to be some battle going on between any treasury and health department here perhaps in terms of not releasing this plan because of the tragedy is reported to be wanting more focused targets, where do you see this going under targets the right way forward? t do you see this going under targets the right way forward?— the right way forward? i think over a number of _ the right way forward? i think over a number of years _ the right way forward? i think over a number of years we _ the right way forward? i think over a number of years we have - the right way forward? i think over a number of years we have seen . a number of years we have seen the nhs be very successful in improving

services by developing plans and delivering on targets, but we often need to remember that is often a strong temptation for politicians who are facing difficult news to promise at the unachievable in terms of targets in ways that they might later regret. so we have seen this fairly recently with some gp targets and mental health targets. i think there is a real balance here where there is a real balance here where the nhs needs to know where to focus and prioritise, but at the same time, if any target that is set needs to be realistic because of the backlog. the continuing impact of covid and the fragile state of the workforce, have been under such pressure for so long.— pressure for so long. doesn't the history of targets, _ pressure for so long. doesn't the history of targets, going - pressure for so long. doesn't the history of targets, going back - history of targets, going back 20 or 30 years, show that other areas of care are skewed to meet these

targets? and how do you prevent that? ., ., that? the government of the day can set tar: ets that? the government of the day can set targets to — that? the government of the day can set targets to focus priorities - that? the government of the day can set targets to focus priorities and - set targets to focus priorities and inevitably, if there is a lot of public concern about waiting lists, it is not surprising that there will be waiting list targets. we already have a whole set of targets for waiting lists that have not been met for some time. in terms of this debate at the moment, we need to remember that the nhs went into covid with demand already outstripping capacity, so we already had a waiting list of about 11.5 million before covid, so the challenge for the nhs of having the capacity to meet targets is one that predates covid. tt

capacity to meet targets is one that predates covid.— predates covid. it is more than 'ust cash, predates covid. it is more than 'ust cash. isn't — predates covid. it is more than 'ust cash. m in fl predates covid. it is more than 'ust cash. m in s�* predates covid. it is more than 'ust cash, isn't it? 8 billion, * predates covid. it is more than 'ust cash, isn't it? 8 billion, it�* cash, isn't it? 8 billion, it sounds, the national insurance rise has been propagated to bring,... it was said that when you when you're working with more transparency and with patient choice as well. the government seems to be suggesting there is patient choice on the nhs up and i think it is one in three patients do not actually need to be in hospital. maybe that is something the pandemic has taught us, virtual clinics can work. weill. us, virtual clinics can work. well, i think for— us, virtual clinics can work. well, i think for many _ us, virtual clinics can work. well, i think for many of _ us, virtual clinics can work. well, i think for many of the _ us, virtual clinics can work. well, i think for many of the things - i think for many of the things people are waiting for, there conditions, those procedures would likely take place as day cases,

surgical procedures, so we are not necessarily talking about needing lots of inpatient care, but we do need the staff to be there and i think as much as the money, it's the workforce which is at the real challenge for the nhs. and any capacity in terms of staff. so there will be new models of care and virtual worlds outside of hospital has been suggested for some conditions, but ultimately, you still need staff to deliver those services, whether that is in hospital outside hospital. tqm. services, whether that is in hospital outside hospital. 0k, thank ou ve hospital outside hospital. 0k, thank you very much _ hospital outside hospital. 0k, thank you very much indeed _ hospital outside hospital. 0k, thank you very much indeed for _ hospital outside hospital. 0k, thank you very much indeed for speaking i hospital outside hospital. 0k, thankl you very much indeed for speaking to us. whilst we were speaking to sarah, some years has come about the queen's activities. she has been in sandringham, this at 70th anniversary today of her accession. she has returned to windsor castle

and will be taking on some public duties. the details that have just been coming through sure she will be attending a diplomatic reception at windsor castle on the 7th of march, 14th of march and then a thanksgiving on westminster abbey for the duke of edinburgh on the 29th of march. that is all subject to final confirmation nearer the time. the prime minister's new director of communications has insisted that borisjohnson is a fun character but "not a complete clown". guto harri arrived for his first day in downing street this morning. what is the first thing you're going to do today? give healthy snacks and a drink of water to the staff. guto harri who has worked with boris johnson over several years. 0ur political correspondent,

chris mason, is following the changes in downing street. 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, pointing to the wholesome refreshments in his bulging shopping bag, which said "reuse and recycle", you might have noticed there. well, he has been reused and recycled by the prime minister because mr harri used to work for borisjohnson when he was mayor of london. he has also given an interview, mr harri, to a welsh website and magazine in which he describes the prime minister as "not a complete clown", says that he is "likeable" and mentions that when they went into meet, he saluted borisjohnson. they haven't seen each other face—to—face four years. the prime minister began to salute back and then joked that perhaps he should take the knee, a reference to guto harri formerly working for gb news, where he took the knee and wasn't in their employment for all that much longer. and guto harri reflecting

that he wants to go in there and try and help the prime minister. number 10 saying this lunchtime that he is committed to the government's agenda, despite some pretty spiky words to various podcasts in recent weeks, including newscast, about the particular situation borisjohnson 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 hey, it's not been a good couple of years for convention around these parts, and so that seems to continue. chris mason there. and guto harri used to be chief political correspondent on the bbc news channel as well. today's news that gcses and a—levels will be marked more generously this year comes on the back of reports that some independent schools in england gave out up to more than eight times as many top grades compared with before the covid pandemic.

with exams scrapped due to covid, teachers were told to award a—level and gcse results by assessment, but analysis by the sunday times suggested some schools gamed the arrangements by massively increasing the rate of top grades awarded to their pupils. there have been calls for an inquiry and sanctions. joining me now is dr gill wyness from the institute of education at ucl. does it seem to you that by the ten independent schools have gamed the system? t independent schools have gamed the s stem? ~ , , independent schools have gamed the s stem? ~' , , ., , system? i think the results of this anal sis is system? i think the results of this analysis is not _ system? i think the results of this analysis is not particularly - analysis is not particularly surprising. —— that private and independent schools. they could base at the criteria on coursework, tests, etc so they were open to interpretation by different teachers and so i think it is not particularly surprising that we see some level of grade inflation arising as a result of the system.

but are looking at the analysis yesterday, it is private and independent schools who have done this when the same system of marking for a teacher assessment was used in state schools and although grades went up, buy nowhere near the same scale. . . went up, buy nowhere near the same scale. ., ., ., scale. yeah, what we need to remember — scale. yeah, what we need to remember is _ scale. yeah, what we need to remember is quite _ scale. yeah, what we need to remember is quite a lot - scale. yeah, what we need to remember is quite a lot of. scale. yeah, what we need to l remember is quite a lot of that scale. yeah, what we need to - remember is quite a lot of that is focused on a stars which are right at the top of the distribution, the best grade students can get, so it is not surprised we would see independent schools being more likely to award their students a stars because their students are typically among the highest achievers, and we might see different patterns if we looked at cs and a bs, but having said that there is no denying that is quite striking grade inflation happening in independent schools. what striking grade inflation happening in independent schools. what sort of samlin: in independent schools. what sort of sampling was — in independent schools. what sort of sampling was done _ in independent schools. what sort of sampling was done by the _ in independent schools. what sort of i sampling was done by the government or 0fqual during this? 50% of the

results being analysed are much lower than that? tt results being analysed are much lower than that?— results being analysed are much lower than that? it was quite low. i do not know _ lower than that? it was quite low. i do not know of _ lower than that? it was quite low. i do not know of the top of _ lower than that? it was quite low. i do not know of the top of my - lower than that? it was quite low. i j do not know of the top of my head, but i think it was about 20% of schools. and also it was quite a difficultjob for 0fqual to do, to question any of these results. as i said, the results were based on pieces of coursework, in—class tests, etc, so it could be quite easy for the school to demonstrate that they are a student in particular was aware of an a star. it is quite difficult to question that. in the absence of externally set and marked exams, it becomes quite subjective. 50 set and marked exams, it becomes quite subjective-— quite sub'ective. so with that obviate quite subjective. so with that obviate the need for- quite subjective. so with that obviate the need for an - quite subjective. so with that. obviate the need for an inquiry that some people are calling for an? t some people are calling for an? i would welcome an inquiry. i some people are calling for an? t would welcome an inquiry. i think an inquiry would be a really good step. i think we do need to understand exactly what went on in these schools and in the different

schools. ., schools. forgive me for interrupting, _ schools. forgive me for interrupting, but - schools. forgive me for interrupting, but you i schools. forgive me for - interrupting, but you just said it would be very difficult to actually work out, if the system has been gamed because the school can say, here is the coursework, this merits an a or a star. here is the coursework, this merits an a or a star-— an a or a star. yes, that i think that is true _ an a or a star. yes, that i think that is true and _ an a or a star. yes, that i think that is true and it is _ an a or a star. yes, that i think that is true and it is very, - an a or a star. yes, that i think that is true and it is very, very | that is true and it is very, very difficult and problematic, but there is a need to understand at the individual schools how big these increases were. and i would call for researchers such as myself to have access to this data. currently, we can't access the grades at individual school level that were given out in 2021 and we would very much like to get access to that data so we can do your own analysis ourselves. t so we can do your own analysis ourselves-— so we can do your own analysis ourselves. ~ ., , ., ., , ourselves. i think that is a really important _ ourselves. i think that is a really important thing _ ourselves. i think that is a really important thing to _ ourselves. i think that is a really important thing to do. _ ourselves. i think that is a really important thing to do. all- ourselves. i think that is a really important thing to do. all right, | ourselves. i think that is a really i important thing to do. all right, dr gill wyness, thank you forjoining us. a 19—year—old man has admitted

killing his 15—year—old sister at a welsh caravan park last summer. matthew selby from ashton—under—lyne, greater manchester, denied murdering his sister amanda in conwy county but admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. matthew richards reports from mold crown court. well, this was meant to be a family holiday at a busy holiday park last summer, but onjuly 31st, police were called to reports of a domestic disturbance in one of the caravans there. ambulance crews also attended and it was quickly clear that this was a very serious incident, which obviously shocked those who were spending time with their own families at the site. 15—year—old amanda selby died as a result of asphyxia resulting from neck compression and airway obstruction at ty mawr holiday park in towyn, which is in conwy county. in a statement released by her family at the time, she was described as a loving daughter and granddaughter who was caring, thoughtful and liked to help others, and was very much loved. her brother, 19—year—old matthew selby from ashton—under—lyne in greater manchester,

had denied her murder but appearing via video link at mold crown court this morning, he admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, which was accepted by the prosecution barrister. that essentially means that at the time of the incident, his mentalfunctions were impaired as a result of a medical condition. he was told he's due to be sentenced on 18th march once further psychiatric and legal reports, including things like impact statements from other family members, are carried out. matthew richards reporting from mold crown court. 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 re—stated

that the sovereignty of ukraine was not up for discussion. let's talk to our correspondent in kyiv, james waterhouse. is there any nervousness about this visit by emanuel macron where you are? he does not seem to be presenting a united nato and eu front when it comes to what russia's demands are?— demands are? despite that, there is not much nervousness _ demands are? despite that, there is not much nervousness at _ demands are? despite that, there is not much nervousness at all. - demands are? despite that, there is not much nervousness at all. the . not much nervousness at all. the reason being, this kind of diplomacy, this kind of public support showing of support, in the eyes of the ukrainian government at least, is most welcomed because they think it will help them at the negotiating table for any possible deal around this crisis. to give you a flavour of the diplomatic treadmill which has been happening here for the number of weeks now, there are three foreign ministers from the czech republic, slovakia and austria in the east of the country having a helicopter tour of the front line there. germany's foreign minister will arrive later

on this afternoon for discussions. this has not really stopped. ukraine has long said that this kind of diplomacy will help us and the more military aid we receive, it means we are less likely to have to use it. on that, today we learn from the foreign minister of ukraine that they had received a record number of support, $1.5 billion of aid, —— million of aid, including equipment. it gives you a sense of the scale, speaking of his own red lines of the country in terms of discussions, firstly that the occupied territories in the east of the country are not recognised politically, the so—called people's republics. there is no dialogue there. and the fact that ukraine's sovereignty is not... we learnt a bit more about ukraine's position

today, but these kind of talks are welcomed broadly. taste today, but these kind of talks are welcomed broadly.— welcomed broadly. we have the polish defence minister _ welcomed broadly. we have the polish defence minister giving _ welcomed broadly. we have the polish defence minister giving a _ welcomed broadly. we have the polish defence minister giving a press - defence minister giving a press conference with the british defence minister, ben wallace, in a few minutes' time and will be going live to that but at the same time, you have these various meetings taking place where you are and we have the german chancellor going to washington to have talks withjoe biden. he and germany seem to be taking a very different view in terms of the support they are prepared to give ukraine. that is very true- _ prepared to give ukraine. that is very true. germany _ prepared to give ukraine. that is very true. germany have - prepared to give ukraine. that is| very true. germany have just had their position clarified this afternoon. they had promised 5000 helmets for any potential fighting,. helmets for any potential fighting, . but helmets for any potential fighting,. but the defence minister of ukraine has tweeted he had that confirmation in writing, but germany's decision, despite committing to a military hospital, which the foreign minister will visit later on today. the decision to not give direct military aid has been criticised by some in

the country, germany has come of course, made its political justification for that saying they are those to donate weapons in that way. then you have the us, just look at the language they are using this week, saying an attack is imminent, and this is the window that could happen any couple of days or a matter of weeks. you have two very different approaches there, but this dialogue is continuing, as you say. noticeably, these talks between emanuel macron and vladimir putin and president zelensky here in kyiv are both beenjointly and president zelensky here in kyiv are both been jointly coordinated and president zelensky here in kyiv are both beenjointly coordinated by nato and us allies and imagine it will be discussed this afternoon. whilst the language and tone is different, there is a bit of continuity in some senses. it will be interesting to see how that pans out over the course of the next two days, despite the kremlin saying they are not expecting any major breakthrough. they are not expecting any ma'or breakthroughd they are not expecting any ma'or breakthrou-h. , ., , ., , breakthrough. james, with the latest in k iv, breakthrough. james, with the latest in kyiv. thank— breakthrough. james, with the latest in kyiv. thank you — breakthrough. james, with the latest in kyiv, thank you very _ breakthrough. james, with the latest

in kyiv, thank you very much - breakthrough. james, with the latest in kyiv, thank you very much indeed. asi as i was just saying to james, we will be dipping into that press conference at the mod between ben wallace and his polish counterpart in a few minutes' time. the press is assembled and we think it will start at 2:30pm, so a few minutes to go before that. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. hello. it's going to be a little bit like the battle of the seasons, our weather, through this week ahead. monday has felt very spring—like — it's been mild, we've been sitting in this atlantic air, the yellow colour on the map behind me. but trying to come in behind this band of rain in the north—west is arctic air, and that is going to progressively move its way south through the week ahead, bringing back a definite feeling of it being more wintry. in fact, we could see some wintry showers on the westerly wind coming into the higher ground of scotland by the end of the night. temperatures here in the lower end of single figures for many. to the south, overnight lows of seven to nine. the dividing line —

this band of rain, sinking a little bit further south through tuesday. cloudier across northern england with some rain on and off. to the south, some bright spells. still very mild, temperatures 12 to 1a celsius. definitely colder for scotland, later in the day for northern england and northern ireland as well — temperatures of perhaps six to eight. we cling on to some milder air across southern—most counties on wednesday. it's into all parts of the uk thursday.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: exam boards say gcse and a level students will be graded more generously this year to account for covid. hospital chiefs speak of their frustation at delays to a plan to tackle the nhs waiting list backlog in england. the 15—year—old killed at a holiday park on the north wales coast, amanda selby�*s19—year—old brother

admits her manslaughter. french president emmanuel macron heads to moscow for talks with vladimir putin about the ongoing crisis in ukraine. medical pioneer — the spinal implant that has helped a paralysed man become a dad. we'll be crossing to that press conference when it starts. sport now and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. team gb�*s mixed doubles curlers will have to settle for a bronze at best after losing their semi final at the winter olympics bruce mouat and jen dodds started their match against norway well. but their lead was wiped out on end six. norway scoring three points. they then needed a simple draw on the hammer of the eigth and final end to claim the 6—5 win. gb now heading to a bronze medal playoff against sweden tomorrow morning.

i'm just really disappointed in my last three ends. i think that's going to be the toughest thing to get over. it was amazing all day and just disappointed more for what i've done to the team than myself. it's tough. earlier, teenager kirsty muir has qualifed for the final of the women's big air competition, being held at a former steel mill in beijing. muir's first run was her best. however, katie summerhayesjust missed out, finishing 13th. only the top 12 went through to tomorrow's final. james woods also failed to make the men's final. history was made at the speed skating. ireen wust has become the first athlete to win an individual gold at five different 0lympics. it's a sixth gold. and 12th medal overall at the games for wust. the dutch skater won the 1,500 metres in beijing to retain the title she claimed four years ago. the 35—year—old has said these games

will be her last before retiring. and here is the moment 15—year—old kamila valieva became the first female figure skater to land a quadruplejump at the winter olympics as the russian olympic committee won team gold. the football associations of the four home nations and the republic of ireland have decided not to bid to host the 2030 world cup. but instead focus on a joint bid for euro 2028. it comes after a uk government feasibility study. that cost nearly £3 million into the world cup bid. it looked at the economic impact and costs of hosting the tournament. it's led the republic of ireland, england, northern ireland, wales and scotland to decide on a joint bid for the european championship just months after england hosted the euro 2020 final at wembley, where there were serious issues with fan trouble. the digital, culture, media and sport committee chair julian knight tweeted, "i welcome the news that the fa have decided to focus on the euro 2028 bid rather

than that of the 2030 world cup. however, as i said last year, it is great pity millions were wasted on this vanity project of a bid we were never going to win." we know that we have the infrastructure here, we have the it capacity, the transport, we have everything really needed for a country to host the world cup, but hosting the euros is a very, very important occasion as well, but it would be great if we got the 20 81 and i shall be more than happy with that. and paul collingwood has said he "can't wait to get started" after being appointed as interim head coach of the england men's cricket team. he'll take charge for the three—match test series against west indies next month. chris silverwood left the role following england's 4—0 ashes defeat in australia. collingwood also took charge of england's t20 series defeat in the caribbean last month. the test squad will be announced later this week. that's all the sport for now.

the chinese tennis star, peng shuai, has given her first western media interview since she accused a former a senior communist party official of sexual assault. there's been global concern for her safety since november, when she made the allegation and disappeared from the public eye for three weeks. she's now told a french newspaper she didn't accuse anyone of sexual assault and that it was all a "huge misunderstanding". courtney bembridge has more. the story started on the second of november with a post on the chinese social media site, weibo, which was very quickly deleted. in it, peng shuai accused a former vice premier of the communist party of sexual assault. she then disappeared from the public eye and by the middle of november several high—profile tennis players, including naomi 0saka and serena williams, were tweeting about the situation using the hashtag #whereispengshuai.

chinese state—run media then then posted an email which it said was written by peng shuai, saying, "i'm not missing nor am i unsafe. i've just been resting at home and everything is fine." but it did little to quell concerns and the un and the white house called for an investigation and verifiable proof of her whereabouts. two days later, the international olympic committee president, thomas bach, said he held a video call with peng shuai and she said she was safe and well, but there were chinese officials on the call. then in december, the women's tennis association announced it was suspending all of its tournaments in china, including in hong kong, until there was a full and transparent investigation without censorship or coercion. now, peng shuai has confirmed her retirement from the sport in an interview with a french sport newspaper, on the sidelines of the beijing winter olympics. she said...

she also said she had a dinner with the ioc president over the weekend and they had a nice discussion. an ioc statement gave few details of the conversation. peng shuai was accompanied by the chinese olympic committee chief of staff during the interview, raising further questions about whether she was able to speak freely. courtney bembridge, bbc news. its ambition was to be a vaccine for the world — 2.5 billion doses of the 0xford—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? 0ur medical editor, fergus walsh, reports. cheering. the roll—out of the

0xford—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 one 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 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 of 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. 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. gary rycroft, a lawyer, said some people had been intimidated by demands from private car parks. i'm sorry to say that for some of these businesses, the business model seems to have been, let's be really aggressive and frighten people into thinking what they have received is akin to a public parking ticket. so there is a clear distinction in the law between a parking ticket you receive from a local authority or the police, for a park contravention on the public highway or a parking contravention that occurs in a public car park as opposed to parking on private land. the legal position with parking on private land is entirely different, but many private parking companies want you to think that what you have received is a fine, just like you would receive from a public car park on they aren't finds, they are basically a bill to parking on private land and they can only be

enforced through the court. in canada a state of emergency has been declared in the capital 0ttawa in response to the ongoing truckers' protests against covid restrictions. the mayorjim watson said the city was outnumbered and losing the battle against the freedom convoy. the truckers have paralysed the centre of ottawa with vehicles and tents blocking roads. horns blare. honking horns at a blockade of streets around parliament hill in the capital 0ttowa. the protest, dubbed the "freedom convoy", began over a week ago, its aim to reverse the government's vaccine requirement for cross—border truckers. but it's turned into a rallying point against all covid measures and prime ministerjustin trudeau's government. the city's mayorjim watson said the city was completely out of control with protesters outnumbering police. he said...

many 0ttawa residents object to the demonstrations. we go live to the mod where ben wallace and his polish counterpart discussing the situation in ukraine. we saw british and polish exercising side by side and we meet regularly in romania. polish is one of our oldest allies in europe if not the oldest allies in europe if not the oldest ally. my own mother had polish officers living in her house in the second world war. the links between scotland and poland in the uk and poland go way back. at this time, where there is real anxiousness about the activity of russia towards ukraine on europe's eastern borders and we will worry

about the continuing military build—up of forces both in belarus andindeed build—up of forces both in belarus and indeed russia and near ukraine. it's absolutely right that two of europe's closest allies meet to discuss what we could do to deter russia and any further steps being taken and indeed what we would do if russia were to make the foolish mistake of invading a sovereign country that has expressed through its own free will and desire to not only be part of nato but also to do things its way and what more we can do to make sure that other peoples of europe feel still secure and indeed to strengthen our nato partnership. studio: i'm told we have translation for the polish counterpart. let's

hold for a moment to see if that comes through. this is ben wallace's statement being translated into polish. it's worth pointing out that poland has been a long—term ally of ukraine and has already spent munitions, mortars and drawings and other defence and military equipment to ukraine. also working with ukraine in terms of trying to put forward its accession or to the eu, very provocative for moscow. it is a slightly out of step with some of its european partners about this. i'm afraid my polish is

nonexistent so let's just listen in again. the united kingdom and the smaller baltic states�* efforts to demonstrate that we stand in solidarity with ukraine, notjust in words but also in training and indeed the supplying of weapons and other equipment to help ukraine defend itself. translator speaks polish but also recentl went translator speaks polish but also recently went belarus _ translator speaks polish but also recently went belarus cynically - translator speaks polish but also recently went belarus cynically used . recently went belarus cynically used human beings as a way of destabilising its neighbours using illegal migration or indeed forcing people across the border, britain stood shoulder to shoulder with poland and sent 100 royal engineers to support them in those efforts to counter the use of migrants as a

tool. translator speaks polish but in that spirit of solidarity and helping share each other�*s challenges of resilience, we will add to those 101 engineers by sending a further 350 british troops to poland as a bilateral deployment to poland as a bilateral deployment to show that we can work together and send a strong signal that britain and poland stand side by side. translator speaks polish

thank you very much for your invitation and the opportunity to discuss information concerning clear russian threats.— russian threats. there is this challenge _ russian threats. there is this challenge for _ russian threats. there is this challenge for us. _ russian threats. there is this challenge for us. in _ russian threats. there is this challenge for us. in polish, . russian threats. there is this | challenge for us. in polish, let russian threats. there is this - challenge for us. in polish, let me continue _ challenge for us. in polish, let me continue in — challenge for us. in polish, let me continue in polish. studio: appears to speak excellent english but presumably speaking polish for the press group travelling with him he has a to polish. i�*m waiting to see if we do

have a translator available. i think it is going to be translated now. translation: t it is going to be translated now. translation:— it is going to be translated now. translation: ., ~ �* . ., it is going to be translated now. translation: ., ., translation: i thank ben wallace for sendin: the translation: i thank ben wallace for sending the troops _ translation: i thank ben wallace for sending the troops to _ translation: i thank ben wallace for sending the troops to reinforce - translation: i thank ben wallace for sending the troops to reinforce the - sending the troops to reinforce the ones already in poland and increasing the security when it comes to the threat on the border. he speaks polish translation: i'm grateful to translation: i'm gratefulto ben for this response — translation: i'm gratefulto ben for this response and _ translation: i'm gratefulto ben for this response and the _ translation: i'm gratefulto ben for this response and the government - translation: i'm gratefulto ben for this response and the government of| this response and the government of the united _ this response and the government of the united kingdom for supporting poland _ the united kingdom for supporting poland during this attack. those soldiers — poland during this attack. those soldiers will indeed support our army— soldiers will indeed support our army as — soldiers will indeed support our army as well.

translation: today we are facing another challenge, _ translation: today we are facing another challenge, the _ translation: today we are facing another challenge, the russian - another challenge, the russian aggressive policy towards ukraine and is _ aggressive policy towards ukraine and is part as nato but also in a bilateral— and is part as nato but also in a bilateral level, poland and the uk are necessary to take decisions to deter— are necessary to take decisions to deter potential aggression. translation: a based on experience, we see that only _

translation: a based on experience, we see that only a _ translation: a based on experience, we see that only a deterrent _ translation: a based on experience, we see that only a deterrent policy - we see that only a deterrent policy can stop _ we see that only a deterrent policy can stop russian aggression and based _ can stop russian aggression and based on — can stop russian aggression and based on history we see that a policy— based on history we see that a policy of— based on history we see that a policy of appeasement only encourages the enemy to do something. translation: again i would like to thank ou translation: again i would like to thank you very _ translation: again i would like to thank you very much _ translation: again i would like to thank you very much for _ translation: again i would like to thank you very much for your - thank you very much for your decision— thank you very much for your decision and we welcome the troops from the _ decision and we welcome the troops from the united kingdom as soon as possible _ from the united kingdom as soon as possible and we want them to operate east of _ possible and we want them to operate east of the _ possible and we want them to operate east of the river in this part of poland — east of the river in this part of poland that we are remaining focused onjust_ poland that we are remaining focused oniust now —

translation: we also talk among other topics. _ translation: we also talk among other topics, defence _ translation: we also talk among other topics, defence and - other topics, defence and cooperation between poland and the uk. cooperation between poland and the uk in _ cooperation between poland and the uk. in novemberwe cooperation between poland and the uk. in november we sent a letter of intent— uk. in november we sent a letter of intent on— uk. in november we sent a letter of intent on the cooperation regarding missiles _ intent on the cooperation regarding missiles and we are working on the memorandum of understanding and in this spirit— memorandum of understanding and in this spirit we have talked about our cooperation and we are on the best way to— cooperation and we are on the best way to finalise this as well.

translation: we talked about cybersecurity — translation: we talked about cybersecurity and _ translation: we talked about cybersecurity and one _ translation: we talked about cybersecurity and one memberl translation: we talked about. cybersecurity and one member of translation: we talked about - cybersecurity and one member of my delegation— cybersecurity and one member of my delegation is the commander of the territorial _ delegation is the commander of the territorial cyber defence forces. we would _ territorial cyber defence forces. we would like — territorial cyber defence forces. we would like to have an open exchange on this— would like to have an open exchange on this and _ would like to have an open exchange on this and we count also that our partners _ on this and we count also that our partners from the uk will share their— partners from the uk will share their achievements and their experience in this because cyber knows _ experience in this because cyber knows no — experience in this because cyber knows no borders, hence the cooperation in this area would be beneficial— cooperation in this area would be beneficial for both of us. once _ beneficial for both of us. once again i would like to thank you for reinforcing nato's eastern flank by deploying further uk troops to poland _ by deploying further uk troops to poland. . ~ by deploying further uk troops to poland. ., ,, i. by deploying further uk troops to poland. ., ~' ,, , . by deploying further uk troops to | poland-_ we by deploying further uk troops to poland. . ~ , ., , . we have poland. thank you very much. we have a coule of poland. thank you very much. we have a couple of minutes _ poland. thank you very much. we have a couple of minutes for— poland. thank you very much. we have a couple of minutes for questions, - a couple of minutes for questions, we will— a couple of minutes for questions, we will begin — a couple of minutes for questions, we will begin with _ a couple of minutes for questions, we will begin with uk _ a couple of minutes for questions, we will begin with uk media. -

a couple of minutes for questions, we will begin with uk media. if. a couple of minutes for questions, i we will begin with uk media. if you could _ we will begin with uk media. if you could just _ we will begin with uk media. if you could just announce _ we will begin with uk media. if you could just announce which - could just announce which organisation _ could just announce which organisation you - could just announce which organisation you are - could just announce which | organisation you are from. could just announce which organisation you are from. dominic nichols from _ organisation you are from. dominic nichols from the _ organisation you are from. dominic nichols from the telegraph. - organisation you are from. dominic nichols from the telegraph. mr - nichols from the telegraph. mr wallace, could you give more details on what they are going to do and can we have an update on any more nato exercises in estonia? and for mariusz blaszczak, how do you think nato should respond to the situation in belarus to other russian nuclear missiles to be based on belarusian soil and what qualities do you think the next nato secretary general should have?— should have? we will get you the details for the first question of i details for the first question of the 350 trips later. —— troops. there are routine and plant exercises, there is a very major

exercises, there is a very major exercise called called response in the high north which involves thousands of nato troops up in the arctic, it will be coming towards the end of february or march and that will be planned. there are lots of other exercises and as they were saying last week, there are people in nato and central europe and southern europe who have expressed either a wish or worry about a consequence of invasion of ukraine and those are in the south. at nato we have offered a range of forces that we could put into that and how they wish to deploy those forces or deterrents on those decisions are being made as we studio: i think we will come off

this press conference now. ben wallace has said 350 uk troops will be going to poland to bolster nato�*s position on europe and nato�*s eastern flank, cooperation also between poland and the uk involving cybersecurity and other areas as well. one analysis of that on the website. time for the weather. it's it�*s going to be like the battle of the seasons this week. mandy has been mild but behind this band of rain is arctic air and that is going to progressively move its way south —— monday has been mild. we could see wintry showers on the westerly wind coming into the higher ground of scotland by the end of the night,

temperatures here in the lower end of single figures for many. to the south, overnight lows of 79. this band of rain is a sinking further south through tuesday, clouded across northern england with rain on and off to the south. some bright speu and off to the south. some bright spell is still very mild, chapters of 12 to m celsius, definitely cold for scotland later in the day, for northern england and northern ireland as well, temperatures of six to eight celsius. milder air across the counties on wednesday, into all parts of the uk on thursday.

this is bbc news, i�*m tim wilcox. the headlines: exam boards say gcse and a—level students will be graded more generously this year to account for covid. hospital chiefs speak of their frustation at delays to a plan to tackle the nhs waiting list backlog in england. the 15—year—old killed at a holiday park on the north wales coast. amanda selby�*s19—year—old brother admits her manslaughter. the defence secretary holds a press conference with his polish counterpart to discuss what the western allies can do about the ongoing crisis in ukraine. medical pioneer — the spinal implant that has helped a paralysed man become a dad. also coming up, the uk and republic of ireland will focus on a joint

bid to host euro 2028, after abandoning plans to host the 2030 football world cup good afternoon. welcome to bbc news. 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, public 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 on that maths test this morning? i think i did ok. i didn't do as great on my last one, but i'm trying to improve.

it's 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�*s worried about exams because of the ongoing disruption. there�*s a lot of teachers off in this school due to, like, covid reasons, so they�*re 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 given the grades that were fair. huge amounts of work 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. earlier i spoke to our education correspondent sean dilley, who explained why students will enjoy lower grade boundaries. the government say, well, actually, they�*ve also been disadvantaged, they are going to take those traditional exams that are externally marked

as they used to do back in 2019, so as a mark of fairness or a safety net, they say they�*re looking to find that sweet spot in the middle between being sort of a lower boundary to get more generous marks compared to 2019 when exams happened in the way they�*re happening now and, you know, obviously a slightly harder threshold than last year and the year before, when teachers assessed the grades. and there�*s been grade inflation, which we�*re going to come to a bit later on in the programme. but in terms of the grade inflation now, the government�*s saying that they�*re wanting examiners to mark more generously now. how do you codify that? well, it�*s really important not to get confused. they want them to mark more generously than 2019. they don�*t really want them to mark more generously than last summer and the year before because the mechanism was different. so what they�*re saying is, look, we just want to tip the balance to make sure that it is fair. so, again, let�*s be really, really clear here more generously than when exams happened in this way

before the pandemic. ok. and pupils now will have advance sight of the question areas. not all subjects are covered here. what does that mean? not questions themselves, but these are the topics that you will be facing? yeah. i mean, wouldn�*t that be good if they did say, "wwe�*re going to ask you this question"? i would imagine we�*d get so many more a stars. so the idea behind it is that because there has been absence, because there�*s been disruption that pupils will have a bit of an idea of what should you be looking at? so, for instance, is that the english civil war, is that the weimar republic, historically, whatever it might be and they have that pointer. but, tim, the one thing to bear in mind is that�*s one of many adaptations because, you know, guidance in some areas. in other areas, there�*s not guidance, for instance, in some topics, such as maths, people will be able to take in formula sheets so they don�*t need to remember complex equations. so it�*s a series of measures that the government say is going to be fairer and teachers say they hope will be fairer,

some of whom are saying, well, we could have done with a little bit more notice, and others slightly more optimistic. sean dilley. 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 has been released though — a new online service to let patients waiting for routine surgery know 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. mrjohnson did, however, spell out what was required of nhs cancer services. what we are saying is that we want the vast majority of people

who think they may 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 intervened. labour said it was more evidence the government is in disarray. we desperately need a plan. the government said it was going to come up with a plan and now it hasn�*t. i think 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, and the price is the government not getting on with the job. the plan was meant to tackle the record high nhs backlog — six million people are on waiting lists for nonurgent operations, like knee replacements. notjust inconvenient but often causing huge suffering to those waiting. we hearfrom people that this is really putting their lives on hold.

it makes people anxious, it makes people despondent, and it makes people 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 plan was meant to help the nhs in england find solutions to getting through the backlog, particularly for those who have waited the longest. it will be measures to free up clinician time. 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 billion 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. quite what could be holding it up now, one hopes it�*s merely an issue of detail or a misunderstanding,

not something more fundamental, because this has been worked on for many, many months. instead of the main plan to address the patient backlog, there was a smaller government announcement today — a new online service providing waiting times information for those in need of treatment. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the latest waiting list figures from nhs england were released in november. they show six million people were waiting for non—urgent treatment. one in 20 of those people were waiting more than a year for that help, and around 18,500 of those people were waiting more than two years to be seen. the health secretary had previously suggested that the waiting list could grow to 13 million, but that was before extra investment was announced. he now says it�*s not clear how big the backlog could become. joining me now is tim gardner, senior policy fellow at the health foundation, a charity which works for better health and health

care across the uk. what is behind this delay? what are you hearing?— what is behind this delay? what are ou hearinu? ., ,, ,., you hearing? your guess is almost as aood as you hearing? your guess is almost as good as mine- _ you hearing? your guess is almost as good as mine. we know _ you hearing? your guess is almost as good as mine. we know that - you hearing? your guess is almost as good as mine. we know that the planj good as mine. we know that the plan was pretty much ready to go before the end of last year and that was scuppered by omicron. quite what is holding it up now, we don�*t know. reports suggest it is the tragedy delaying things. from the time i�*ve spent in government, that does not sound implausible. what are the treasury will be doing in this sort of situation is wanting to make sure that the nhs is delivering the maximum possible value for taxpayers�* money, which has as its job, but equally, nhs england will not be wanting to sign up to targets that they do not think they have a realistic chance of delivery. in the meantime, it is patients who are caught in the middle and waiting longer. 8 caught in the middle and waiting loner. sm .,

caught in the middle and waiting loner. j~ , ., ~' caught in the middle and waiting loner. , ., ,, , longer. 8 billion i think is the fiaure longer. 8 billion i think is the figure allocated _ longer. 8 billion i think is the figure allocated for _ longer. 8 billion i think is the l figure allocated for this. surely longer. 8 billion i think is the - figure allocated for this. surely it is notjust about money. there needs to be some new fresh thinking. you�*re absolutely right it is not just about money. there is extra funding going on. the main limiting factor that will determine how quickly the health service will be able to address this backlog is staffing. even before the pandemic, the health service had over 100,000 vacancies. by international standards, we have really low numbers of doctors and nurses and hospital beds compared to most of the countries in europe. we will not really be able to address the backlog in a serious way without improving that situation. and yet, the other thing that we have not seen from the government, despite repeated promises to do so, is a comprehensive plan for growing and developing the nhs workforce. 100,000 vacancies? that could take months, years, couldn�*t it, to fill?

absolutely. but the sooner we do it, the sooner we start, the sooner we will do it. there is still scope for the nhs to start making progress on elective care, even without all those vacancies being filled. so this is one of the reasons why it is really disheartening to see a delay to this plan. the plan can start putting in place and are setting out details of, for local managers of nhs services, what resource and support will be available to them. and how do they go about accessing it? so they can start developing their plans for getting all of this moving. so it is a real shame that the plan is not out today. how helpful is it having information on the nhs app where patients themselves can, effectively, shop around to see different parts of the country they might want to go because they can get their surgery

completed more quickly there? t5 at completed more quickly there? is at that really going to help? or could itjust lead to everyone chasing after the same hospitals and trusts and causing more delay because of that? t and causing more delay because of that? 4' , ., , and causing more delay because of that? ~ , ., , , ., that? i think if they hope is that people will _ that? i think if they hope is that people will shop _ that? i think if they hope is that people will shop around - people will shop around and go elsewhere for their treatment and that will fix things, in itself, i think we are probably living in cloud cuckoo land. this is the sort of thing that has been tried a number of times before and the vast majority of patients do not want to be travelling long distances, even if it means a shorter wait. what they want to do is have treatment locally. if the new website really fully delivers on everything that is promised to do, and it gives people more meaningful information about how long they are likely to wait at their hospital, and give them access, point them towards resources to help support them while they wait, that is potentially quite

useful. but we do need to match that online support with a more practical off—line support. for those people who are facing these long waits, and that means boasting general practice, community services, and a social care to make sure that people stay as healthy as possible while they wait —— means boosting general practice, community service and social care. and give them a place to go if they have a problem that cannot wait-— to go if they have a problem that cannot wait. ., ,, i. ., , , ., ,, cannot wait. thank you for speaking to us. the prime minister�*s new director of communications has insisted that borisjohnson is a fun character but "not a complete clown". guto harri arrived for his first day in downing street this morning. what�*s the first thing you�*re going to do today? give healthy snacks and a drink of water to the staff. guto harri going into number 10.

let�*s talk to our political correspondent ione wells. they have known each other for a long time so they probably have a measure of each other�*s characters, will he be someone who can stable the ship? he will he be someone who can stable the shi? ., ~' will he be someone who can stable the shi - ? ., ~ ., the ship? he worked for the prime minister when _ the ship? he worked for the prime minister when he was _ the ship? he worked for the prime minister when he was mayor- the ship? he worked for the prime minister when he was mayor of. minister when he was mayor of london and he is somebody who is not afraid, particularly even in recent weeks and months, of being critical of the prime minister too. as i think he is certainly being seen as someone who can point out some flaws in the prime minister and be a critical friend in the prime minister and be a criticalfriend to him. they in the prime minister and be a critical friend to him. they haven�*t necessarily seen each other in person for quite some time, but we got a little flavour today in an interview that guto harri did with a wealth language —— well slang which magazine about how their meeting went —— welsh language magazine. he said borisjohnson was not a complete cloak, but when he met him,

borisjohnson said to him i will survive to the tune of gloria gaynohs survive to the tune of gloria gaynor�*s famous song and have a sing song with a guto harri and then they had a serious discussion about what needed to change in number ten, but certainly the interview today has sparked headlines, not necessarily in the way number 10 may have wanted on the day they are supposed to be talking about their big reset, trying to appease some of those backbench mps in particular to try and stem the tide of letters of no confidence that had been going on from some mps over the last few weeks and try and build back that faith of some of those hairy backbenchers.— backbenchers. and have all the other ositions backbenchers. and have all the other positions being _ backbenchers. and have all the other positions being filled? _ backbenchers. and have all the other positions being filled? -- _ backbenchers. and have all the other positions being filled? -- tory - positions being filled? —— tory backbenchers. the premise was reported as saying that so lynton crosby, the man who masterminded his election victory —— prime minister was reported. that sir lynton crosby will be coming back. but so lynton

crosby reports i�*ve seen, knows nothing about it. crosby reports i've seen, knows nothing about it.— nothing about it. there is no indication — nothing about it. there is no indication that _ nothing about it. there is no indication that he _ nothing about it. there is no indication that he is coming | nothing about it. there is no - indication that he is coming back in some form. about the two key appointments that have been made so far, guto harri, the new director of communications, certainly not a new face for borisjohnson or in those parts. underthe face for borisjohnson or in those parts. under the second big appointment we had over the weekend was at the cabinet office minister as well, stephen barclay, being given the new role, an additional role, i should say in addition to his cabinet office minister role as chief of staff forjohnson too. there are some questions of how he could juggle chief of staff in downing street, cabinet office minister attending cabinet a secretary of state there, but also be someone who is an mp as well, so there have been questions about who how he willjuggle those roles. we were told by number 10 that he will have desks in number 10 and the

cabinet office and will do both those roles as well. there are a couple of rolls still to be filled as well, notably the vacant position of the principal private secretary to the prime minister, a top civil servant advisory role for the prime minister. this was held by martin reynolds, the top civil servant who was implicated in the row over lactone events because it was him who had sent that invitation to a particularly damning event on may 20 —— lockdown events. it was sent allegedly to 100 people inviting them to drink in the downing street garden so there is still that vacancy to be filled as well and also a lot of speculation in westminster about changes potentially coming down the road to the government whips operation. those in charge of party discipline. there has been much talk of a shake—up and many reshuffle their to try and see, again, if the party can restore that discipline among particularly some of those backbench mps have not been particularly happy with how the prime minister has handled the situation lately. tia.

handled the situation lately. no. thank you for— handled the situation lately. no. thank you for now. sir keir starmer has been cleared of an allegation he broke lockdown rules after he was filmed drinking a beer in an office. the labour leader was pictured drinking indoors with colleagues in the run—up to the hartlepool by—election. he has previously insisted he did nothing wrong, despite comparisons by his opponents to the partygate allegations at 10 downing street. durham police have now confirmed they did not believe any offence was committed. when david 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. wait for me, zoe! 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 the family

life he always wanted. it�*s beautiful, it�*s beautiful. it�*s a lot of work, it�*s even less sleep than before, but it�*s nice. this is david when he first had his implant in 2017. "stim on" means electrical stimulation on. when it�*s turned off, he can�*t 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�*s the wrong leg that just got stimulated. the technology was developed by a team led by gregoire courtine. looks like it works! so far, nine people have

successfully received the implant, but none of them use it to help them walk in their everyday lives. idid the i did the step slightly different. 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're going to turn around. oh, wow. ok, 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.

an amazing story. a 19—year—old man has admitted killing his 15—year—old sister at a welsh caravan park last summer. matthew selby from ashton—under—lyne, greater manchester, denied murdering his sister amanda in conwy county but admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. matthew richards reports from mold crown court. well, this was meant to be a family holiday at a busy holiday park last summer, but onjuly 31st, police were called to reports of a domestic disturbance in one of the caravans there. ambulance crews also attended and it was quickly clear that this was a very serious incident, which obviously shocked those who were spending time with their own families at the site. 15—year—old amanda selby died as a result of asphyxia resulting from neck compression and airway obstruction at ty mawr holiday park in towyn, which is in conwy county. in a statement released by her family at the time, she was described as a loving daughter and granddaughter who was caring, thoughtful and liked to help others,

and was very much loved. her brother, 19—year—old matthew selby from ashton—under—lyne in greater manchester, had denied her murder but appearing via video link at mold crown court this morning, he admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, which was accepted by the prosecution barrister. that essentially means that at the time of the incident, his mentalfunctions were impaired as a result of a medical condition. he was told he�*s due to be sentenced on 18th march once further psychiatric and legal reports, including things like impact statements from other family members, are carried out. matthew richards reporting. 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 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�*s 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 of 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. in canada, a state of emergency has been declared in the capital ottawa in response to the ongoing truckers�* protests against covid restrictions. the mayor, jim watson, said the city was outnumbered and losing the battle against the freedom

convoy. the truckers have paralysed the centre of ottawa with vehicles and tents blocking roads. aru na iyengar reports. horns blare honking horns at a blockade of streets around parliament hill in the capital 0ttowa. protests dubbed the "freedom convoy" began over a week ago, its aim to reverse the government�*s vaccine requirement for cross—border truckers. but it�*s turned into a rallying point against all covid measures and prime ministerjustin trudeau�*s government. the city�*s mayor, jim watson, said the city was completely out of control, with protesters outnumbering police. he said... many ottawa residents object to the demonstrations. patience is definitely running out for the folks

who actually live in the downtown core, who have been absolutely fed up with the behaviour of the protesters, the constant noise. just this evening, there was a raucous dance party with djs taking place just in the shadow of parliament hill. protests here might be loud, but canadians are broadly supportive of vaccine mandates. nearly 83% of canadians are fully vaccinated. the prime minister has said the convoy represents a small fringe minority. it�*s not clear yet what emergency measures will be brought in. police say they are concerned the convoy has attracted far right and extremist elements. the fundraising site gofundme said on friday it would withhold millions of dollars raised for the truckers, citing police reports of violence. there�*s also criticism that support has come from outside canada. on friday, former us president donald trump gave his backing. i�*m here to denounce that

the unvaccinated for two years have been shamed and thrown under the bus on the public�*s place. it goes against freedom of speech in canada. meanwhile, the protesters have dug in — the convoys organised, well funded and committed. they have promised to protest peacefully and respect the law but also to stay for as long as it takes. dance music plays aruna iyengar, bbc news. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with susan powell hello. it�*s going to be a little bit like the battle of the seasons, our weather, through this week ahead. monday has felt very spring—like — it�*s been mild, we�*ve been sitting in this atlantic air, the yellow colour on the map behind me. but trying to come in behind this band of rain in the north—west is arctic air, and that is going to progressively move its way south through the week ahead, bringing back a definite feeling of it being more wintry. in fact, we could see some wintry showers on the westerly wind coming into the higher ground of scotland by the end of the night. temperatures here in the lower end

of single figures for many. to the south, overnight lows of seven to nine. the dividing line — this band of rain, sinking a little bit further south through tuesday. cloudier across northern england with some rain on and off. to the south, some bright spells. still very mild, temperatures 12 to m celsius. definitely colder for scotland, later in the day for northern england and northern ireland as well — temperatures of perhaps six to eight. we cling on to some milder air across southern—most counties on wednesday. it�*s into all parts of the uk thursday. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: exam boards say gcse and a level students will be graded more generously this year to account for covid. hospital chiefs speak of their frustation at delays to a plan to tackle the nhs waiting list backlog in england. the 15—year—old killed at a holiday park on the north wales coast.

amanda selby�*s19—year—old brother admits her manslaughter. the defence secretary holds a press conference with his polish counterpart and says the uk will send 350 more troops to the polish border amid ukraine tensions. medical pioneer — the spinal implant that has helped a paralysed man become a dad. sport and a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. team gb�*s mixed doubles curlers will have to settle for a bronze at best after losing their semi final at the winter olympics. bruce mouat and jen dodds started their match against norway well but their lead was wiped out on end six with norway scoring three points. they then needed a simple draw on the hammer of the eigth and final end to claim the 6—5 win with gb now heading to a bronze medal playoff against sweden tomorrow morning.

i�*m just really disappointed in my last three ends. i think that�*s going to be the toughest thing to get over. jen played amazing all day and i�*m just disappointed more for what i�*ve done to the team than myself. it�*s tough. earlier, teenager kirsty muir qualifed for the final of the women�*s big air competition, being held at a former steel mill in beijing. muir�*s first run was her best. however, katie summerhayesjust missed out, finishing 13th. only the top 12 went through to tomorrow�*s final. james woods also failed to make the men�*s final. and history was made at the speed skating. ireen wust has become the first athlete to win an individual gold at five different olympics. it�*s a sixth gold and 12th medal overall at the games for wust. the dutch skater won the 1500 metres in beijing to retain the title she claimed four years ago. the 35—year—old has said these games

will be her last before retiring. and here is the moment 15—year—old kamila valieva became the first female figure skater to land a quadruplejump at the winter olympics as the russian olympic committee won team gold. the football associations of the four home nations and the republic of ireland have decided not to bid to host the 2030 world cup, but instead focus on a joint bid for euro 2028. it comes after a uk government feasibility study that cost nearly £3 million into the world cup bid. it looked at the economic impact and costs of hosting the tournament. it�*s led the republic of ireland, england, northern ireland, wales and scotland to decide on a joint bid for the european championship, just months after england hosted the euro 2020 final at wembley, where there were serious issues with fan trouble. but digital, culture, media and sport committee chair julian knight tweeted:

it's it�*s a knock for england. i think it�*s not for the combined countries coming together but it�*s an indictment against football authorities globally at the european level that we are now into this type of situation, that we have pulled out because of the geopolitics of football and that�*s very unfortunate. the ajax director of football marc overmars has resigned after sending a series of inappropriate messages to several female colleagues at the club. overmars won three league titles and the champions league as a player with ajax and then the double when with arsenal. he said he was "ashamed" and that his behaviour was "unacceptable". he had been in the job for ten years. and paul collingwood has said

he "can�*t wait to get started" after being appointed as interim head coach of the england men�*s cricket team. he�*ll take charge for the three—match test series against west indies next month. chris silverwood left the role following england�*s 4—0 ashes defeat in australia. collingwood also took charge of england�*s t20 series defeat in the caribbean last month. the test squad will be announced later this week. that�*s all the sport for now. i�*ll have more for you in the next hour. today�*s news that gcses and a—levels will be marked more generously this year comes on the back of reports that some independent schools in england gave out up to more than eight times as many top grades compared with before the covid pandemic. with exams scrapped due to covid, teachers were told to award a—level and gcse results by assessment, but analysis by the sunday times suggested some schools gamed the arrangements by massively increasing the rate of top grades awarded to their pupils. there have been calls for an inquiry and sanctions. with me now is the shadow secretary

of state for education bridget phillipson mp. its continuous assessment, isn�*t it going to be very difficult to prove that actually some of these pupils did not deserve the great is if the school can say, here is all their coursework, it was very good, they deserve that great? t coursework, it was very good, they deserve that great?— deserve that great? i think what we've seen _ deserve that great? i think what we've seen over _ deserve that great? i think what we've seen over the _ deserve that great? i think what we've seen over the weekend i deserve that great? i think what i we've seen over the weekend where we�*ve seen over the weekend where private schools massive increase in top grades awarded above and beyond what we had seen in previous but also with reference to state schools demonstrates why we need an urgent inquiry to get to the bottom of all of that. the secretary of state needs to urgently set out that inquiry because we�*ve got exams coming up this summer yet only today we�*ve seen the department set out what our children will be expected to learn for those exams, what they will need to know. it�*s completely unacceptable and right throughout this pandemic our children have been an afterthought and the department for education and the secretary of state need to get a grip on this. some education experts and others

we�*ve been speaking to have said that actually those grade inflation was right across the board and in some state schools, maybe you would not have had as many potential a—star candidates so the inflation move people up grades, this is their analysis, and that you would have expected more a—stars where the teaching is more intensive. t expected more a-stars where the teaching is more intensive. i don't think the increases _ teaching is more intensive. i don't think the increases we _ teaching is more intensive. i don't think the increases we have i teaching is more intensive. i don't think the increases we have seen l teaching is more intensive. i don't. think the increases we have seen in private schools are set out that way by the data but that�*s why we need an inquiry to really understand exactly what has gone on here. it�*s very much the case that for children in state schools, they have missed out a significant degree of their education. the government has not put in place a children�*s recovery plan that will allow them to get that extra support to catch up on all of that lost learning that they have experienced. that hasn�*t actually gone away, many of our children are still facing disruption to their education. labour set out a very clear costed and ambitious

programme to allow our children to have that tutoring, that support, that mental and well—being support too to allow them to do really well this year. we want all of our children to have the opportunity to succeed and thrive but the minister resigned in protest because he said the plans were inadequate. do resigned in protest because he said the plans were inadequate.- the plans were inadequate. do you su ort the plans were inadequate. do you support the _ the plans were inadequate. do you support the decision _ the plans were inadequate. do you support the decision for _ the plans were inadequate. do you support the decision for the i the plans were inadequate. do you support the decision for the return | support the decision for the return to public exams and indeed some education on which topics are going to be on the papers? t education on which topics are going to be on the papers?— to be on the papers? i want to see children in — to be on the papers? i want to see children in school— to be on the papers? i want to see children in school learning - to be on the papers? i want to see children in school learning and i children in school learning and playing together, it�*s absolutely essential that they do that. for many of the young people we�*ve spoken to, they want the opportunity to demonstrate in an exam what they have learned and you have that chance to demonstrate what they can do. but what they also say to me time and again is that they want a level playing field and what we saw last year doesn�*t represent a level playing field, which is why it is essential, given that we got exams starting injust essential, given that we got exams starting in just a essential, given that we got exams starting injust a matter of essential, given that we got exams starting in just a matter of months that the government gets a grip on

this, that we get an inquiry into what has gone on and that the secretary of state make sure the problems we have seen again and again, and it wasn�*tjust last year right through the pandemic, of those last—minute chaotic decisions aren�*t repeated into the summer as well. tit repeated into the summer as well. in what way is it not a level playing field this year?— field this year? children in state schools haven't _ field this year? children in state schools haven't had _ field this year? children in state schools haven't had the - field this year? children in state | schools haven't had the catch-up schools haven�*t had the catch—up support they need. labour set up what that should involve. the government�*s version is a pale imitation of what their own education recovery commissioner said was necessary to allow all of our children to succeed. but right through the pandemic, our children have been overlooked, little more than an afterthought, when we know it is so essential they get that support, notjust for individual support, not just for individual children support, notjust for individual children and families, is that is, because country and a society, unless we get this right we will suffer the consequences for many, many many years to come. bridget phili son, many many years to come. bridget philipson, thank— many many years to come. bridget philipson, thank you _ many many years to come. bridget philipson, thank you very - many many years to come. bridget philipson, thank you very much i many many years to come. bridget philipson, thank you very much for| philipson, thank you very much for joining us here. let�*s go live to moscow. emmanuel

macron, the french president landed half an hour ago. holding talks with vladimir putin, these pictures coming in live from moscow. emmanuel macron saying before his visit in an interview that he obviously believed interview that he obviously believed in the sovereignty of all the countries there but recognising also russia�*s concerns on its western flank about nato, which has concerned some members of nato and the eu. president macron will be going to ukraine tomorrow. the german chancellor takes a slightly different line in terms of the armament going to ukraine. germany hasn�*t sent any arms and munitions at all, just helmets, is in washington talking tojoe biden. those picturesjust washington talking tojoe biden. those pictures just ended the live shot. emmanuel macron in moscow for those talks with vladimir putin.

with up to eight million people at risk of starvation — including 1 million children — afghanistan is facing a grave humanitarian crisis. that�*s the warning from aid agencies on the ground, who say sanctions imposed on the taliban by western countries have helped accelerate economic collapse. now, the former head of britain�*s armed forces has called on countries to formally recognise the new taliban administration as john simpson reports. just under six months after the taliban took power, afghanistan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. in cities like kabul, there�*s no actual shortage of food, but people don�*t have the cash to buy it. as a result, up to eight million people are facing starvation. the economy has simply collapsed. the west has frozen afghanistan�*s financial assets — nearly $10 billion worth.

and because the taliban are still classed as a terrorist organisation, sanctions have been imposed, which mean the country has run out of cash. it�*s a very difficult and challenging time for the people of afghanistan, but the core need is to help them revive their own economy, their own livelihood, and that is not possible without the state. nazir kabiri was a minister in the previous government, but he felt it was his duty to stay on and work with the country�*s new masters. one senior british military figure believes it�*s time to work with britain�*s former enemies in order to protect the afghan people. i think the west is going to end up recognising the taliban government. if that�*s the case, then we�*d better get on with it sooner rather than later. there�*s a great phrase — "be magnanimous in victory". i think this is an occasion for us

to be magnanimous in defeat. this is kohsan, outside the city of herat. on top of everything else, over the past four years, afghanistan has suffered from a devastating drought. people here can�*t grow their own food any longer — now they have to queue for hand—outs. i feel terrible for my people. it�*s so sad to see how dependent people are and how desperate people are. it�*s one of the most difficult times i�*ve ever seen in my life. the uk government says it�*s providing £286 million in aid, but the situation is increasingly desperate — famine added to economic collapse. i�*ve been reporting on afghanistan for more than 1t0 years, but i don�*t think i�*ve ever felt before that i might be watching the destruction of a nation.

and do you know what? these people have been through so much in the past decades and they simply don�*t deserve it. john simpson, bbc news, kohsan, afghanistan. joining me now is the afghanistan country director for action aid, sudipta kumar. the most bleak assessment of the next few months from john simpson there. what are your people on the ground saying about the casualties now and the malnutrition that they are encountering?— are encountering? before this drou:ht, are encountering? before this drought, there _ are encountering? before this drought, there had _ are encountering? before this drought, there had been i are encountering? before this drought, there had been two l are encountering? before this i drought, there had been two waves are encountering? before this - drought, there had been two waves of covid in afghanistan. that has led to many people losing jobs and this drought has made it even more desperate. more than 22 million

people are now under stress and that is one of the key issues. winter as i was harsh on afghanistan. —— winter is always harsh. that is somewhere else people need to be supported because it can be as low as —20 which means people will need to be protected from the elements and given support. the third area in the field is food. we have spoken a lot about food and we see that people are having to do with dried bread and some tea for the whole day. security, winter support,

hygiene support, there are many people returning to afghanistan from other countries who need support. last but not least is the stress people are going through, they need to be supported through counselling so that is also another area that action aid is focusing on. hour so that is also another area that action aid is focusing on. how much food is physically — action aid is focusing on. how much food is physically in _ action aid is focusing on. how much food is physically in warehouses i action aid is focusing on. how much food is physically in warehouses in l food is physically in warehouses in afghanistan and is the taliban helping people, for example, working with your organisation and other aid agencies to distribute the food? the drou . ht agencies to distribute the food? tte: drought has made people more dependent on imported food so it is available in the market but people need to be able to buy them. in

terms of food entering the country thatis terms of food entering the country that is fine, but food prices are at an all—time high because of the import clinic. our challenge is that people have the resources to buy them. the united nations are doing their best to ensure they have bread on their plates. that is what we are doing. t5 on their plates. that is what we are doinu. . on their plates. that is what we are doint _ , ., ,., on their plates. that is what we are doinu. , ., , ., doing. is the taliban helping or hinderin: doing. is the taliban helping or hindering the _ doing. is the taliban helping or hindering the distribution? i doing. is the taliban helping or hindering the distribution? we| doing. is the taliban helping or- hindering the distribution? we have not faced any _ hindering the distribution? we have not faced any problems _ hindering the distribution? we have not faced any problems so - hindering the distribution? we have not faced any problems so far- hindering the distribution? we have not faced any problems so far as i hindering the distribution? we have not faced any problems so far as far as what goes because we have access to whatever we need to go. we go to people who are most at need and we have not faced any problems so far

from our perspective. obviously i think many of the areas are inaccessible due to snow and that has been a challenge. when the snow stops we will be able to reach those areas. as of now, we support about 10,000 families. for us, accessing people who are at need has not been a problem so far.— a problem so far. thank you very much indeed _ a problem so far. thank you very much indeed for _ a problem so far. thank you very much indeed forjoining - a problem so far. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. i tinnitus sufferers are calling for renewed efforts to research and find cures for the hearing condition after a survey revealed almost one in ten people living with it have experienced suicidal thoughts or self—harm in the past two years. our health correspondent,

anna collinson, has more and a warning that the sounds used at the start of her report may trigger some people�*s tinnitus. this is my silence. sharp whistling. for the millions living with tinnitus, the perception of noises like hissing or buzzing can cause serious distress. but, currently, there is no cure. kirsty has lived with a constant ringing sound three years. i was stuck in a real stress cycle. i�*ve got tinnitus, it�*s stressing me out, the stress made my tinnitus worse, so i am in this vicious cycle that ijust couldn�*t break. it was affecting every area of my life. when i hit rock bottom, i have been quite open and honest about this, i actually said to my mum i didn�*t want to be here any more, because you become so desperate and you just think the only way to get away from it is to leave the earth. as part of new research, the british tinnitus association

surveyed 2,600 people with the condition and found one in three thought about it every hour, causing them anxiety and sadness. and nearly one in ten had thoughts about suicide or self—harm. the majority were dissatisfied with current treatments. experts say there�*s now an urgent need for a tinnitus biobank where thousands of people with the condition would be encouraged to undergo basic tests. that data would then be shared with scientists around the world to help improve treatments faster. i think what i�*m very confident it�*ll do is really make a major step forward in our understanding of tinnitus and providing this resource that will go on, really assisting and enabling further scientific studies. so i think it is a big step in the journey towards a cure and will help accelerate a cure. for now, kirsty says counselling and reflexology has helped her adjust. i think one of the main things we could probably give tinnitus sufferers right now is hope that one day there will be a cure, because i think every

human needs hope to keep living, keep going. former employees of instagram have warned that the way the social media platform is designed can lead vulnerable users to see more and more potentially harmful content. they make the claims in a new documentary — called the instagram effect — which is on bbc three tonight. the programme features abby, who says she was encouraged to self—harm on instagram, as cristina criddle reports. end of year 10, year 11, i started really wanting to hurt myself and i would, but i think apart from that, then, like, before i didn�*t really want to and i was just doing it because on instagram it�*s glamourised and it�*s meant to be like... people make it look good. like, everything on instagram�*s glamourised whether it�*s the positive life and going shopping and having loads of money or self—harm. 17—year—old abbyjoined instagram in 2016. she became involved in what�*s known

as the anti recovery community on instagram. groups of accounts that promote self—harm. you get added into groups and people would tell us to go and kill myself and they�*d want to do it together, they would want to do a video call to self—harm together, which is just corrupt. instagram�*s algorithm, how it uses technology to order its content, can lead vulnerable users down dangerous paths. former facebook staff told the bbc... you might have a low day, a single low day and you might go and search for something on instagram that you might not otherwise search for. suddenly, the algorithm has a little seed. it can start to grow. a little tiny glimmer and instagram will pull you in that direction. algorithms predict stuff.

in particular, they predict behavior. like, think about the risk of using prediction to rank things in terms of a physical, public square and when you come into the square, the first thing that happens is you�*re handed a particular leaflet and then how you react to that leaflet determines which leaflet you�*re handed next. once you start down a particular route through that square, the leaflets that you see are going to be more and more related to each other. and that might be a good thing. it might be that you get shown a cat leaflet and you really like that cat leaflet. so then you get shown more cat leaflets. but it might also be a dangerous thing. what that means is that you have to have the determination to give the ranking model the same signals consistently over time that you are not in fact interested in that thing that you were interested before, and it�*ll test to see if you�*re still not interested in them. so it takes real will and resolve to break the self—reinforcing dynamic of using prediction to rank things. it�*s not impossible, but it asks a real life test of human psychology.

abby was hospitalized for self—harm and had her phone taken off her. she remains in supervised accommodation. i think there must be a way that instagram can monitor things that are happening on there. they must know and possibly turn a blind eye. it�*s happening every day to everyday kids, and we are very lucky abby is still here. i think people need to take responsibility for what they're posting and acknowledge how it can impact others. instagram could try and monitor this a lot more closely and try and tackle this problem as soon as possible. meta, instagram�*s parent company, said... we�*ve built sophisticated technology to help us find and remove this content more quickly, and we�*re in discussions with regulators about bringing this

technology to the uk. cristina criddle, bbc news. now it�*s time for a look at the weather. hello. this week it�*s something of a case of a battle of the seasons across the uk. it�*s been a pretty mild start to the week and it has felt quite springlike and the flowers have been coming out accordingly. but all the while, we are keeping our eye to the north of the uk, behind this band of cloud here, for colder air which will be trying to sink its way south through the week ahead. as we finish off monday, the majority of us will still be sitting in the relatively mild air but this weather front already starting to push its way into the northwest will usher some rain into scotland and northern ireland and then the colder air will follow on behind through the evening and overnight on into tuesday. this is how that looks on the weather map. there goes the weather front. through the evening and overnight, some rain for scotland, northern ireland. by the end of the night, pushing into northern england.

perhaps some wintry showers moving into scotland, coming in on the westerly wind by the end of the night with the cold air arriving. possibly not quite cold enough for a frost. to the south, it will be a mild night with lows of 7—9 celsius. tuesday, this weather front straddles the uk and it is basically like a dividing line. to the south, there should be some bright or sunny spells and it will be mild once again, temperatures maybe even 13 or m celsius. to the north it will be bright, but it will definitely feel much crisper. some wintry showers coming in on the breeze and temperatures in the mid—range of single figures for many. then there�*s the weather front sitting possibly across northern ireland, through into northern england, bringing more cloud and some patchy, but quite persistent rain here. and it stays with us on into wednesday, but it does slide somewhat further south. for wednesday, more cloud around across southern britain, some rain tending to fizzle out through the day, but it will stay mild for southernmost counties, whereas the colder air will start to fizzle down into the midlands and north wales

by the end of the afternoon. quite a few as possible to the northwest of the uk through wednesday. wednesday into thursday, we�*re all going into the arctic air. we�*re going to keep a close eye on this little area of low pressure that runs across northern britain. number one, it could drop some quite significant snowfall. numbertwo, it could mean some very strong, gusty, even damaging winds across scotland for a time. you can see that drop—off and temperatures through thursday and friday. but there will be a lot of sunshine as a payoff.

this is bbc news, i�*m tim wilcox. the headlines: exam boards say gcse and a—level students will be graded more generously this year to account for covid. hospital chiefs speak of their frustation at delays to a plan to tackle the nhs waiting list backlog in england. the 15—year—old killed at a holiday park on the north wales coast. amanda selby�*s19—year—old brother admits her manslaughter. french president emmanuel macron is holding talks in moscow with vladimir putin amid ukraine tensions. here, the defence secretary ben wallace says a further 350 british troops will be sent to poland

"in the spirit of solidarity" with neighbouring ukraine. and have a spinal implant helped one man walk again and father a child. —— how a spinal implant. good afternoon. 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, public 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 on that maths test this morning? i think i did ok. i didn't do as great on my last one, but i'm trying to improve. it's 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�*s worried about exams because of the ongoing disruption. there�*s a lot of teachers off in this school due to, like, covid reasons, so they�*re 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 of work 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. earlier i spoke to our education correspondent sean dilley, who explained why students will enjoy lower grade boundaries. the government say, well, actually, they�*ve also been disadvantaged, they are going to take those traditional exams that are externally marked as they used to do back in 2019, so as a mark of fairness or a safety net, they say they�*re looking to find that sweet spot in the middle between being sort of a lower boundary to get more generous marks compared to 2019 when exams happened in the way they�*re happening now and, you know, obviously a slightly harder threshold than last year and the year before, when teachers assessed the grades. and there�*s been grade inflation, which we�*re going to come to a bit later on in the programme. but in terms of the grade inflation now, the government�*s saying that they�*re wanting examiners to mark more generously now. how do you codify that? well, it�*s really important not to get confused. they want them to mark more

generously than 2019. they don�*t really want them to mark more generously than last summer and the year before because the mechanism was different. so what they�*re saying is, look, we just want to tip the balance to make sure that it is fair. so, again, let�*s be really, really clear here more generously than when exams happened in this way before the pandemic. ok. and pupils now will have advance sight of the question areas. not all subjects are covered here. what does that mean? not questions themselves, but these are the topics that you will be facing? yeah. i mean, wouldn�*t that be good if they did say, "we�*re going to ask you this question"? i would imagine we�*d get so many more a stars. so the idea behind it is that because there has been absence, because there�*s been disruption that pupils will have a bit of an idea of what should you be looking at? so, for instance, is that the english civil war, is that the weimar republic, historically, whatever it might be and they have that pointer. but, tim, the one thing to bear in mind is that�*s one of many adaptations because,

you know, guidance in some areas. in other areas, there�*s not guidance, for instance, in some topics, such as maths, people will be able to take in formula sheets so they don�*t need to remember complex equations. so it�*s a series of measures that the government say is going to be fairer and teachers say they hope will be fairer, some of whom are saying, well, we could have done with a little bit more notice, and others slightly more optimistic. sean dilley speaking to me a little bit earlier. 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 has been released though: a new online service to let patients waiting for routine surgery know 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. mrjohnson did, however, spell out what was required of nhs cancer services. what we are saying is that we want the vast majority of people who think they may 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 intervened. labour said it was more evidence the government is in disarray. we desperately need a plan. the government said it was going to come up with a plan and now it hasn�*t. i think 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, and the price is the government not getting on with the job. the plan was meant to tackle

the record high nhs backlog — six million people are on waiting lists for nonurgent operations, like knee replacements. notjust inconvenient but often causing huge suffering to those waiting. we hearfrom people that this is really putting their lives on hold. it makes people anxious, it makes people despondent, and it makes people 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 plan was meant to help the nhs in england find solutions to getting through the backlog, particularly for those who have waited the longest. it will be measures to free up clinician time. 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 billion 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. quite what could be holding it up now, one hopes it�*s merely an issue of detail or a misunderstanding, not something more fundamental, because this has been worked on for many, many months. instead of the main plan to address the patient backlog, there was a smaller government announcement today — a new online service providing waiting times information for those in need of treatment. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. inafew in a few minutes�* time, we will speak to a doctor who is chair of the bma on that story. the prime minister�*s new director of communications has insisted that borisjohnson is a fun character but "not a complete clown". guto harri arrived for his first day

in downing street this morning. what is the first thing you�*re going to do today? give healthy snacks and a drink of water to the staff. earlier our political correspondent ione wells explained a bit more about their previous working relationship. guto harri is somebody who worked for the prime minister when he was mayor of london. they know each other very well and also he�*s somebody who hasn�*t been afraid, particularly even in recent weeks and months, of being critical of the prime minister too, so i think certainly is being seen as somebody who can point out some flaws in the prime mminister and certainly be a sort of critical friend to him. now, they hadn�*t necessarily seen each other in person for quite some time, but we got a little flavor today in an interview time, but we got a little flavour today in an interview that guto harri did with a welsh language magazine about how their first sort of reunion went. as you mentioned there, guto harri said in this interview that borisjohnson was not a "complete clown," but did describe

what sort of seemed to be a bit of an amicable reunion between the two of them. he said that when he met his boss and was appointed the new director of communications, borisjohnson said to him, "i will survive" to the tune of gloria gaynor�*s famous song of those lyrics as well, and proceeded to have a bit of a sing song with guto harri, too. so he went on to say that they did then have a sort of serious discussion about what needed to change in number 10, but i think certainly the interview today has sort of sparked headlines, not necessarily in the way that number 10 may have wanted on the day that they are supposed to be talking about their sort of big reset, trying to appease some of those backbench mps, in particular to try and sort of stem the tide of letters of no confidence that had been going in from some mps over the last few weeks, and try and build back that faith of some of those tory backbenchers. and have all the other positions been filled? just hold that thought as well, because number 10 for weeks, it seems, has been saying, or the prime minister is reported

as saying, that sir lynton crosby — the man who masterminded his election victory and, of course, when he was running for mayor — will be coming back. and some of the reports i�*ve read say that sir lynton crosby doesn�*t know anything about it. that�*s right, currently no indication that he�*s necessarily coming back in some form, even if he has been in touch with the prime minister. but what we do know is that sort of the two key appointments that have been made so far — firstly, as i say, guto harri, the new director of communications, certainly not a new face in those parts and not a new face for borisjohnson, either. the second big appointment that we had over the weekend was obviously the cabinet office minister as well, stephen barclay, being given also a new role, well, being given an additional role, i should say, in addition to his cabinet office minister role, as chief of staff for borisjohnson in downing street too now. now there were some questions about how he could sort ofjuggle the role of chief of staff in downing street, cabinet office minister attending cabinet as a secretary of state there, but also being somebody

who is an mp as well, so there have been some questions about how he�*s going to juggle all those roles. now, we were told today by number 10 that he is going to have desks in number 10 as well as in the cabinet office too, that he will continue to do both those roles as well. but there are, as you say, a couple of roles still to be filled as well. notably, there is still a vacant position of the principal private secretary to the prime minister, a sort of top civil servant advisory role for the prime minister. this was held by martin reynolds, who was that top civil servant who was implicated in the row over lockdown events because it was him who had sent that invitation to a particularly damning event on may 20th, which had been sent sort of allegedly to about 100 people inviting them to drinks in the downing street garden. so there is still that vacancy to be filled as well, and also a lot of speculation here in westminster about changes potentially coming down the road to the government whips�* operation, those in charge of party discipline.

there has been much talk of a shake—up and a sort of mini reshuffle there to try and see again if we can, if the party can restore that discipline among particularly some of those backbench mps who haven�*t been particularly happy with how the prime minister�*s handled the situation lately. sir keir starmer has been cleared of an allegation he broke lockdown rules after he was filmed drinking a beer in an office. the labour leader was pictured drinking indoors with colleagues in the run—up to the hartlepool by—election. he has previously insisted he did nothing wrong, despite comparisons by his opponents to the partygate allegations at 10 downing street. durham police have now confirmed they did not believe any offence was committed. the french president emmanuel macron has just the french president emmanuel macron hasjust gone into the french president emmanuel macron has just gone into a meeting with vladimir putin. a to reporters before going into the meeting and they said they have common concerns over the security situation in europe. near lee 100,000 people are

close to the border —— nearly 100,000 soldiers are close to the border with ukraine. ben wallace said that it would send 350 more trips to poland to support ukraine and germany has said it would present a 300 more troops to lithuania. latertoday, present a 300 more troops to lithuania. later today, the new german chancellor, although schultz, will be meeting president biden at the white house. —— olaf schultz. here�*s the defence secretary at that meeting earlier today with his polish counterpart. it is absolutely right that two of europe is my closest allies meet to discuss what we could do to deter russia and any further steps being taken, and indeed what we would do if russia want to make the foolish mistake of invading a sovereign country that has expressed through

its own free will, a desire to be not only part of nato, but also to do things its way. what more we can do to make sure other peoples of europe still feel secure and indeed, to strengthen our nato partnership. as well as our bilateral partnership. in that spirit of solidarity and helping share each other�*s challenges of resilience, we will add it to those 100 engineers by sending a further 350 british troops to poland as a bilateral deployment to show that we can work together and send a strong signal that britain and pulling stand side by side. let�*s speak to our diplomatic correspondent paul adams paul adams who�*s in kyiv. poland and britain, of course, very strong allies and unlike other eu or nato part was, at one regarding ukraine. yes, ithink nato part was, at one regarding

ukraine. yes, i think what we are seeing today is a response to a request by the americans last month to support in what is called euro�*s eastern flank. i think that is very much a kind of gesture of solidarity at a time when there are an awful motive gestures of solidarity also to this place, ukraine. the german foreign minister is currently in turn. not one of the countries, germany, which ukraine has seen as a particularly powerful a strong ally. some frustration expressed here, for example, jeremy�*s and willingness to send anything but helmet in terms of military assistance to ukraine. —— germany�*s willingness. the solidarity is certainly welcome. the german foreign minister one of four foreign ministers in ukraine at the moment expressing support for ukraine at this time of extreme

tension. i think ukraine is basking in a pretty considerable and concerted amount of diplomatic goodwill and you get the sense, in a way, that foreign leaders and foreign officials are almost acting like a kind of diplomatic human shield trying to prevent russia from doing what everyone fears it might be thinking of doing. you doing what everyone fears it might be thinking of doing.— be thinking of doing. you have emmanuel _ be thinking of doing. you have emmanuel macron _ be thinking of doing. you have emmanuel macron i _ be thinking of doing. you have emmanuel macron i think i be thinking of doing. you have i emmanuel macron i think coming tomorrow as well. tonight he is in moscow with vladimir putin. is he presenting a unified approach to this as well? has there been any alarm expressed about him saying he recognised putin�*s fears about the need to encroachment? t recognised putin's fears about the need to encroachment?— recognised putin's fears about the need to encroachment? i think it is safe to say — need to encroachment? i think it is safe to say that _ need to encroachment? i think it is safe to say that no _ need to encroachment? i think it is safe to say that no one _ need to encroachment? i think it is safe to say that no one really i safe to say that no one really expects ever that the french will completely go along as a team player. they like to kind of do their own thing and a macron�*s visit

to moscow very much fits that bill. i am sure there will have been discussions among european partners about what message he was going to take their own what he was looking to achieve but your right to highlight that particular expression of saying that he kind of understand is where the russians are coming from and that russia has legitimate security concerns. and that those need to be addressed. even though that might sound somewhat alarming to some people here, who might be thinking, well, what are the europeans prepared to give away in terms to concessions to moscow overheads? but it�*s worth remembering that both nato and the united states have replied to the russians in the last ten days are so saying they are willing to have a conversation about european security with russia. they are all essentially saying at the same thing. it will be very interesting to see if, as mr macron says, that france�*s diplomatic contacts, which have involved the several

person—to—person phone calls between the two leaders in the last ten days or so, whether that french diplomatic effort can in some way unlock this crisis.— diplomatic effort can in some way unlock this crisis. paul adams with the very latest _ unlock this crisis. paul adams with the very latest in _ unlock this crisis. paul adams with the very latest in here, _ unlock this crisis. paul adams with the very latest in here, thank i unlock this crisis. paul adams with the very latest in here, thank you. | more now on the news that borisjohnson has insisted "tough targets" will be set to tackle nhs waiting lists in england, despite a delay in publishing the documents detailing the plans. they were expected to be announced today, but the prime minister said more information would be set out later this week. the latest waiting list figures from nhs england were released in november. they six million people were waiting for non—urgent treatment. one in twenty of those people were waiting more than a year for that help, and around 18,500 of those people were waiting more than two years to be seen. the health secretary had previously suggested that the waiting list

could grow to 13 million, but that was before extra investment was announced. he now says it�*s not clear how big the backlog could become. joining me now is dr chaand nagpaul, chair of the british medical association council. it seems that the tragedy is wanting more clarification in terms of targets and when it comes to value for money, that is reasonable, isn�*t it? for money, that is reasonable, isn't it? ~ 4' for money, that is reasonable, isn't it? . ~ ., it? well, i think we have to recognise _ it? well, i think we have to recognise that the scale of| it? well, i think we have to i recognise that the scale of the weight and suffering is at a level weight and suffering is at a level we have never experienced before. 307,000 people are waiting more than 12 months for operations. that compares to just about over 1000 in august 2019. these are people suffering with pain, if they are waiting for a hip replacement. people waiting for cataracts. and people also waiting for medical care. and this is 6 million does not include several million on top of that her waiting for nonsurgical treatment. we heard today that rates for cancer treatment is at an

all—time high. we have been waiting very well for the government to put in place notjust an action plan, but provide the funding that is needed so people can start to be treated and actually have the suffering alleviated and for us to get through this backlog. i think there is a no need to wait further. we need to see that action plan now. but i go back to my initial point, there is a lot of money being allocated, extra, £8 billion from the rising national insurance, the treasury wants to make sure every pound spent as wisely as it should be. and they really want the best value for money. do accept that? absolutely. and there is no why you can�*t commence that recovery plan now by providing the nhs with the resources to enable us to start to treat more patients. there are simple things that could be done. we know that, for example, many hospital trusts do not currently have the funding to even pay for additional errors, to pay for cover,

to pay for overtime that would allow us to start to treat patients —— for additional hours. thatjust means giving the resources to enable ellis to happen. it is as simple as that. in terms of many senior doctors, there are perverse pensioners that are preventing them from taking on extra work because it penalises them to work extra. we have been saying, get rid of those rules so we can have greater medical capacity. there are issues around the capacity of diagnostics. again, that capacity can increase so more people can have tests earlier. it does not require any value for money calculation. those i think that will make a difference in real—time. and that is why we believe the recovery planning to start now. we why we believe the recovery planning to start now-— to start now. we also have a huge staff shortage. — to start now. we also have a huge staff shortage, don't _ to start now. we also have a huge staff shortage, don't we, - to start now. we also have a huge staff shortage, don't we, in i to start now. we also have a huge staff shortage, don't we, in the i staff shortage, don�*t we, in the nhs? staff shortage, don't we, in the nhs? ' z: z: z: z: z: staff shortage, don't we, in the nhs?’:::11:, ,v staff shortage, don't we, in the 'hs":::: ::::::, , staff shortage, don't we, in the 's":::: ::::::, , nhs? 100,000 plus? absolutely. there is no doubt that — nhs? 100,000 plus? absolutely. there is no doubt that this _ nhs? 100,000 plus? absolutely. there is no doubt that this recovery plan i is no doubt that this recovery plan needs to be realistic. we do need to

have resources, we need to increase capacity, but at the same time, there are limits to how far we can, or how quickly we can clear this backlog. it is likely to take several years, and a crucial part of this is prioritisation. we need to make sure that the patients for whom a further delays may actually, weather conditions deteriorate eyes, they should be privatised. —— where there are conditions could deteriorate. some patients of any later stages of their lives where every single year and month accounts because it is taking away the quality of their lives in their last stages. you know, in the last stages of their life span so it is important to notjust look of their life span so it is important to not just look at this quickly, but to make sure that we have a prioritisation process. and what we have been saying is that also needs resources. i will give you a simple example— like we have about 30,000 retired doctors who offered to help during the pandemic.

we can draw upon their help as well to make sure patients receive at the right calls, the right information so that we can make sure those who are in greatest need are treated first. idr chaand nagpaul, thank you very much forjoining us again here on bbc news. when david em�*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. michelle was paralysed after a motorbike accident several years ago, his spinal cord was completely severed and he had no feeling in his

leg. he can work because of an electrical implant that was surgically implanted in his spine. using a remote control, he can send signals to his leg muscles, which enabled him to work. it is the first time that someone is injured can work like this. michelle, i can�*t believe you are paralysed ones. yes. believe you are paralysed ones. yes, i stand believe you are paralysed ones. yes, i stand up. — believe you are paralysed ones. yes, i stand up. i— believe you are paralysed ones. yes, i stand up, i walk— believe you are paralysed ones. yes, i stand up, i walk when i _ believe you are paralysed ones. te: i stand up, i walk when i want, i run, ican i stand up, i walk when i want, i run, i can do the stairs. ga. i stand up, i walk when i want, i run, i can do the stairs.- run, i can do the stairs. go, go, to, run, i can do the stairs. go, go, no, no! run, i can do the stairs. go, go, go. go! this _ run, i can do the stairs. go, go, go. go! this is _ run, i can do the stairs. go, go, go, go! this is michelle - run, i can do the stairs. go, go, go, go! this is michelle when i go, go! this is michelle when he first had as _ go, go! this is michelle when he first had as implant _ go, go! this is michelle when he first had as implant in _ go, go! this is michelle when he first had as implant in 2020. it gave him some small movement straightaway. nerves in the spinal cadre send signals from the brain to the likes. some people are paralysed when the nerves are damaged at injury. in michelle�*s case, there is no signal at all to the legs because the spinal cord is completely severed. about the implant send signals directly to his legs, enabling him to walk. tt

signals directly to his legs, enabling him to walk. it 'ust got stimulated. * enabling him to walk. it 'ust got stimulated. david i enabling him to walk. it 'ust got stimulated. david is i enabling him to walk. itjust got stimulated. david is another i enabling him to walk. itjust got - stimulated. david is another patient who is helping _ stimulated. david is another patient who is helping scientists. _ stimulated. david is another patient who is helping scientists. they - stimulated. david is another patient who is helping scientists. they do . who is helping scientists. they do not use it in their everyday lives, they practice walking. this is not a cure for spinal _ they practice walking. this is not a cure for spinal cord _ they practice walking. this is not a cure for spinal cord injury, - they practice walking. this is not a cure for spinal cord injury, but - they practice walking. this is not a cure for spinal cord injury, but it . cure for spinal cord injury, but it is a critical— cure for spinal cord injury, but it is a critical step to improve people's_ is a critical step to improve people's quality of life. we will empower them people's quality of life. we will empowerthem to people's quality of life. we will empower them to have the ability to stand. _ empower them to have the ability to stand, maybe make some steps. it is not enough, it is not a cure, but it is a significant improvement, i believe. — is a significant improvement, i believe, for the future.- is a significant improvement, i believe, for the future. david and michelle strolled _ believe, for the future. david and michelle strolled together - believe, for the future. david and michelle strolled together on - michelle strolled together on the banks of lake geneva. so far, nine people have been successfully treated with the implant. david was one of the first people to have the implant. michelle is the latest. both of them say that it's transform their lives, and the hope is the treatment can benefit many more

people. ready, set, go! at his home in zurich, david races with his one—year—old daughter, is away. when he had as accident 12 years ago, he wasjust 22. he he had as accident 12 years ago, he was just 22. he was paralysed, unable to walk and unable to have a child. a regular walking with the implant has improved his health to such an extent that he was able to father a child last year. it is ureat father a child last year. it is great fun- _ father a child last year. it is great fun. it _ father a child last year. it is great fun. it is _ father a child last year. it is great fun. it is the - father a child last year. it is great fun. it is the first - father a child last year. it 3 great fun. it is the first time i have been walking with her in that way, she with a baby walker, i with my worker. way, she with a baby walker, i with my worker-— 0h. i way, she with a baby walker, i with i my worker._ 0h, she my worker. she can beat you! oh, she can, she my worker. she can beat you! oh, she can. she even — my worker. she can beat you! oh, she can, she even beats _ my worker. she can beat you! oh, she can, she even beats me _ my worker. she can beat you! oh, she can, she even beats me without - can, she even beats me without the worker, so it's a bit embarrassing! it has also improved david's kite surfing. he can make slight movements with his feet to control the surf bird, even with his implant turned off. , , , ., , turned off. hey, guys, good to see ou. how turned off. hey, guys, good to see you. how are you? _ turned off. hey, guys, good to see you. how are you? the _ turned off. hey, guys, good to see you. how are you? the technology| turned off. hey, guys, good to see - you. how are you? the technology has heled you. how are you? the technology has helped david — you. how are you? the technology has helped david and _ you. how are you? the technology has helped david and michelle do - you. how are you? the technology has helped david and michelle do more - helped david and michelle do more than their lives. it will take many more years, though, before it can be used routinely to help paralysed

people walk again. but it is a new way forward for researchers. cheers! with me are professor gregoire courtine and drjocelyn bloch, who are both scientists and developed this spinal implant. it is the most wonderful story and a fantastic and reverent for david. as a david's condition going to improve further, dr bloch kamara is that it in terms of his capabilities no? so we in terms of his capabilities no? sr we are surprised every time we see him —— dr block, or is that it? there is really room for improvement. you are saying that this was — room for improvement. you are saying that this was not _ room for improvement. you are saying that this was not a _ room for improvement. you are saying that this was not a cure, _ room for improvement. you are saying that this was not a cure, but _ room for improvement. you are saying that this was not a cure, but work - that this was not a cure, but work at this lead now? so maybe people have been involved in shooting accidents are car crashes and things come out could this apply to many

thousands, millions of people maybe going forwards? this thousands, millions of people maybe going forwards?— going forwards? this is definitely our coal, going forwards? this is definitely our goal. this _ going forwards? this is definitely our goal, this is _ going forwards? this is definitely our goal, this is why _ going forwards? this is definitely our goal, this is why we - going forwards? this is definitely our goal, this is why we created l going forwards? this is definitely i our goal, this is why we created the company— our goal, this is why we created the company dedicated to technology to the retirement of paralysis. very early— the retirement of paralysis. very early after— the retirement of paralysis. very early after the spinal cord injury, we will_ early after the spinal cord injury, we will not — early after the spinal cord injury, we will not know the full intention of this intervention. so far, the spinal cord responded positively to stimulation. ., spinal cord responded positively to stimulation-— stimulation. how expensive and labour-intensive _ stimulation. how expensive and labour-intensive is this - stimulation. how expensive and . labour-intensive is this treatment? labour—intensive is this treatment? you know we are at the beginning of this new treatment. at the beginning, everything is a bit longer and what we saw in all these chronic patients, all of these patients where at least one a year after their injury, they were with as a year, six months of training, they came four times a week and they

had a lot of motivation to train. all at the time with us, whether a lot of energy, they did a lot, so it has a lot of energy consuming, i would say. but the more it will go, i think the better it will be and the earlier we start, the better it will be too. if the earlier we start, the better it will be too-— will be too. if you are able to get to a patient _ will be too. if you are able to get to a patient within _ will be too. if you are able to get to a patient within days - will be too. if you are able to get to a patient within days or - will be too. if you are able to get to a patient within days or weeks will be too. if you are able to get i to a patient within days or weeks of an accident. — to a patient within days or weeks of an accident, would that improve their_ an accident, would that improve their chances significantly? would ou be their chances significantly? would you be able _ their chances significantly? would you be able to _ their chances significantly? would you be able to do _ their chances significantly? would you be able to do that, _ their chances significantly? would you be able to do that, the - you be able to do that, the procedures you've done at that early stage? procedures you've done at that early sta . e? procedures you've done at that early stale? , .., procedures you've done at that early stale? , .. ., stage? the surgical intervention would be more _ stage? the surgical intervention would be more likely— stage? the surgical intervention would be more likely to - stage? the surgical intervention | would be more likely to respond. stage? the surgical intervention l would be more likely to respond. i think she is comfortable with applying the stimulation early on. we do not know yet in patients but we know in clinical models that when we know in clinical models that when we apply the simulation shortly after the injury, the extent of the recovery is remarkable compared to when we start in the chronic stage, as we did for our participants. if anything, the human spinal cord thus

far have responded more than the rodent spinal cords so let's hope that in the future we will be able to show the humans spinal cord when we start early respond remarkably. do you want to come back on that in terms of the surgical prevention, intervention? it’s terms of the surgical prevention, intervention?— intervention? it's not something new, it's something _ intervention? it's not something new, it's something we - intervention? it's not something new, it's something we are - intervention? it's not something | new, it's something we are doing intervention? it's not something - new, it's something we are doing to treat chronic— new, it's something we are doing to treat chronic rheumatic pain so it's an adaptive — treat chronic rheumatic pain so it's an adaptive surgery in which it is important — an adaptive surgery in which it is important to be very specific and to be able _ important to be very specific and to be able to— important to be very specific and to be able to target the different muscles — be able to target the different muscles to work. it's a surgery that is possible — muscles to work. it's a surgery that is possible for many neurosurgeons. not for— is possible for many neurosurgeons. not for everybody, but they could learn _ not for everybody, but they could learn to _ not for everybody, but they could learn to do it.— not for everybody, but they could learn to do it. when you see these developments _ learn to do it. when you see these developments and _ learn to do it. when you see these developments and people - learn to do it. when you see these developments and people you - learn to do it. when you see these developments and people you are | developments and people you are treating and how it has changed their lives, it must be a wonderful feeling for you both. i their lives, it must be a wonderful feeling for you both.— feeling for you both. i started in this field is _ feeling for you both. i started in this field is 20 _ feeling for you both. i started in this field is 20 years _ feeling for you both. i started in this field is 20 years ago - feeling for you both. i started in

this field is 20 years ago with i feeling for you both. i started in this field is 20 years ago with a | this field is 20 years ago with a dream, to restore walking and people with spinal cord injuries, to see the first step and i hope tomorrow when the clinical trial starts, this is the best we can have as a professor. is the best we can have as a professor-— is the best we can have as a professor. is the best we can have as a rofessor. , , professor. on my side, i met him ten ears aio professor. on my side, i met him ten years ago when _ professor. on my side, i met him ten years ago when he — professor. on my side, i met him ten years ago when he came _ professor. on my side, i met him ten years ago when he came with - professor. on my side, i met him ten years ago when he came with a - professor. on my side, i met him ten years ago when he came with a lot i professor. on my side, i met him ten years ago when he came with a lot of| years ago when he came with a lot of animal— years ago when he came with a lot of animal experience and together we decided _ animal experience and together we decided to go and treat patients with this — decided to go and treat patients with this impressive results but we know— with this impressive results but we know there — with this impressive results but we know there is a lot to do, we haven't— know there is a lot to do, we haven't finished our work and we hope _ haven't finished our work and we hope we — haven't finished our work and we hope we will have time to see everything with our own eyes. well done to both _ everything with our own eyes. well done to both of _ everything with our own eyes. -ii done to both of you, fantastic success. good luck with the future. thanks so much, good day. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. it was a very springlike day across

the uk today. there were some early sunshine and our temperatures have done pretty well, we've been sitting on relatively mild atlantic air but will it last? you can see for yourself, there goes the weekend, income comes the cold arctic air. by wednesday and thursday, cold for all of us with the chance of heavier snow showers across scotland on thursday. through this evening, some rain pushes across scotland to northern ireland and northern england through the night. colder air follows england through the night. colder airfollows behind england through the night. colder air follows behind that band of rain into scotland for early tuesday, temperatures are sliding to single figures, very mild to the south across england and wales, overnight lows of seven to 10 celsius. the weather front lingers across northern england through tuesday, perhaps pushing rain into north wales later in the afternoon. to the south of weatherfront, very springlike once again, temperatures of 13, 14 springlike once again, temperatures of 13, 1a celsius with some sunny spells but in contrast, colder was a notable westerly wind shaving down those temperatures that are in

single figures for scotland and northern ireland and as you saw, it's going to turn colder from the north is the week pans out. sport and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's hugh ferris. good afternoon. the football associations of the four home nations and the republic of ireland have decided against bidding to host the 2030 world cup. it follows a uk government feasibility study that digital culture media and sport select committee chairjulian knight said spent nearly three million pounds considering a "pipe dream" that was "doomed from the start". instead, the fas will focus on a joint bid for euro 2028. nesta mcgregor reports. on a joint bid for euro 2028. the on a joint bid for euro 2028. last and only time the been the last and only time there has been a football world cup in the uk, england, 1966. and we all know how that went. since then, there have been efforts to bring football home. we english love football. just

ima . ine we english love football. just imagine what _ we english love football. just imagine what we _ we english love football. just imagine what we could achieve together. imagine what we could achieve toiether. . . ., ., together. prince william and david beckham were _ together. prince william and david beckham were part _ together. prince william and david beckham were part of— together. prince william and david beckham were part of the - together. prince william and david beckham were part of the fa - together. prince william and david beckham were part of the fa was l together. prince william and david i beckham were part of the fa was my campaign to host the 2018 tournament but that went to russia. with a 2030 in mind, the hope was a joint uk bid may be seen by fifa as a more attractive proposal. however, after spending £11 million looking into the impact of hosting a world cup, the impact of hosting a world cup, the fa released the statement on behalf of the five associations. turning their attention to a joint bid for euro 2028, citing a smaller tournament would cost less to deliver and the benefits realised sooner. it deliver and the benefits realised sooner. ., , ., sooner. it would be great if we get it and backing _

sooner. it would be great if we get it and backing away _ sooner. it would be great if we get it and backing away from _ sooner. it would be great if we get it and backing away from the - sooner. it would be great if we get| it and backing away from the world cup makes it more possible for us to get the euros in 2028 and i shall be more than happy with that. the get the euros in 2028 and i shall be more than happy with that.- more than happy with that. the fa hasn't ruled _ more than happy with that. the fa hasn't ruled out _ more than happy with that. the fa hasn't ruled out bidding _ more than happy with that. the fa hasn't ruled out bidding for - more than happy with that. the fa hasn't ruled out bidding for future | hasn't ruled out bidding for future world cup tournaments but for now, the weight to host football's biggest prize goes on —— the wait. chelsea have agreed to pay damages to four former youth team players who alleged they were racially abused at the club in the 1990s with each understood to be receiving a six—figure sum. the players were suing the club and were due for a high court hearing next month after alleged abuse by former coaches gwyn williams and graham rix. but an out—of—court settlement was reached today after the club decided to take the case out of the hands of its insurers. the settlement will avoid what would have been a hugely embarrassing episode for the club. sportswear company nike say they no longer sponsor manchester united's mason greenwood after originally suspending their relationship with him following his arrest on suspicion of rape and assault of a woman. the player was also later arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill

and released on bail pending further investigations. his club previously said he would not return to training or matches until further notice. paul collingwood has been appointed the england men's cricket team interim head coach. he'll take charge for the three—match test series against west indies next month after chris silverwood left the role following england's 4—0 ashes defeat in australia. collingwood's been an assistant coach and led the team in their t20 series in the caribbean last month, which they also lost. the test squad will be announced tomorrow. team gb�*s mixed doubles curlers will have to settle for a bronze at best after losing their semi final at the winter olympics. bruce mouat and jen dodds started well in their match against norway but the lead they established was wiped out on end 6. norway scoring a crucial three points. they held on and won with the hammer on the eigth and final end, claiming a 6—5 victory with gb now heading

to a bronze medal playoff against sweden tomorrow morning. we we re we were in control for most of the game _ we were in control for most of the game i_ we were in control for most of the game ifeit— we were in control for most of the game. i felt that was the best game we played _ game. i felt that was the best game we played all week so i think that is even _ we played all week so i think that is even harder to take as well. we gave _ is even harder to take as well. we gave ourselves a chance at the end and that's— gave ourselves a chance at the end and that's all we could have asked for so _ and that's all we could have asked for so when — and that's all we could have asked for so when a team, lose a team, but that's— for so when a team, lose a team, but that's the _ for so when a team, lose a team, but that's the thing, we have to regroup for tomorrow, there's still a medal to be _ for tomorrow, there's still a medal to be one — for tomorrow, there's still a medal to be one -- _ for tomorrow, there's still a medal to be one. —— won. and history was made at the speed skating. ireen wust has become the first athlete to win an individual gold at five different olympics. it's a sixth gold and 12th medal overall at the games for wust. the dutch skater won the 1500 metres in beijing to retain the title she claimed four years ago. the 35—year—old has said these games will be her last before retiring. that's all the sport for now.

the chinese tennis star, peng shuai, has given her first western media interview since she accused a former a senior communist party official of sexual assault. there's been global concern for her safety since november, when she made the allegation and disappeared from the public eye for three weeks. she's now told a french newspaper, she didn't accuse anyone of sexual assault and that it was all a "huge misunderstanding". courtney bembridge has more. the story started on the second of november with a post on the chinese social media site, weibo, which was very quickly deleted. in it, peng shuai accused a former vice premier of the chinese communist party of sexual assault. she then disappeared from the public eye and by the middle of november several high—profile tennis players, including naomi osaka and serena williams, were tweeting about the situation using the hashtag #whereispengshuai. chinese state—run media then then posted an email which it said was written by peng shuai, saying, "i'm not missing nor am i unsafe. i've just been resting at home

and everything is fine." but it did little to quell concerns and the un and the white house called for an investigation and verifiable proof of her whereabouts. two days later, the international olympic committee president, thomas bach, said he held a video call with peng shuai and she said she was safe and well, but there were chinese officials on the call. then in december, the women's tennis association announced it was suspending all of its tournaments in china, including in hong kong, until there was a full and transparent investigation without censorship or coercion. now, peng shuai has confirmed her retirement from the sport in an interview with a french sport newspaper, on the sidelines of the beijing winter olympics. she said... she also said she had a dinner with the ioc president over

the weekend and they had a nice discussion. an ioc statement gave few details of the conversation. peng shuai was accompanied by the chinese olympic committee chief of staff during the interview, raising further questions about whether she was able to speak freely. courtney bembridge, bbc news. a 19—year—old man has admitted killing his 15—year—old sister at a welsh caravan park last summer. matthew selby from ashton—under—lyne, greater manchester, denied murdering his sister amanda in conwy county but admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. matthew richards reports from mold crown court. this was meant to be a family holiday at a busy holiday park last summer but onjuly 31, july, police were called to a report of a domestic disturbance in a caravan. ambulance crews also attended and it was quickly clear this was a very

serious incident which a shock to those who are spending time with their own families at the site. 15—year—old amanda selby died as a result of a sexier resulting from neck compression and airway obstruction at the holiday park in conwy county. in a statement released by her family at the time, she was described as a loving daughter, granddaughterwho she was described as a loving daughter, granddaughter who was caring, thoughtful and likes to help others and was very much loved. her brother, 19—year—old matthew selby from ashton—under—lyne in greater manchester, had denied her murder but appearing via video link at mold crown court this morning he admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. it was accepted by the prosecution barrister. that essentially means that at the time of the incident, his mentalfunctions that at the time of the incident, his mental functions were that at the time of the incident, his mentalfunctions were impaired due to a medical condition. he is due to a medical condition. he is due to a medical condition. he is due to be sentenced on the 18th of march once further psychiatric and legal reports including things like impact statements from other family

members are carried out. 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. its ambition was to be a vaccine for the world — 2.5 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 one 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 headlines on bbc news: exam boards say gcse and a—level students will be graded more generously this year to account for covid. hospital chiefs speak of their frustation at delays to a plan to tackle the nhs waiting list backlog in england. the 15—year—old killed at a holiday park on the north wales coast. amanda selby�*s19—year—old brother admits her manslaughter.

afghanistan is facing a grave humanitarian crisis due to sanctions accelerating economic collapse. the former head of britain's armed forces has called on countries to formally recognise the new taliban administration isjohn simpson administration is john simpson reports. just under six months after the taliban took power, afghanistan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. in cities like kabul, there's no actual shortage of food, but people don't have the cash to buy it. as a result, up to eight million people are facing starvation. the economy has simply collapsed. the west has frozen afghanistan's financial assets — nearly $10 billion worth. and because the taliban are still

classed as a terrorist organisation, sanctions have been imposed, which mean the country has run out of cash. it's a very difficult and challenging time for the people of afghanistan, but the core need is to help them revive their own economy, their own livelihood, and that is not possible without the state. nazir kabiri was a minister in the previous government, but he felt it was his duty to stay on and work with the country's new masters. one senior british military figure believes it's time to work with britain's former enemies in order to protect the afghan people. i think the west is going to end up recognising the taliban government. if that's the case, then we'd better get on with it sooner rather than later. there's a great phrase — "be magnanimous in victory". i think this is an occasion for us to be magnanimous in defeat.

this is kohsan, outside the city of herat. on top of everything else, over the past four years, afghanistan has suffered from a devastating drought. people here can't grow their own food any longer — now they have to queue for hand—outs. the uk government says it's providing £286 million in aid, but the situation is increasingly desperate — famine added to economic collapse. john simpson, bbc news, kohsan, afghanistan. 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 growninto broader challenges to covid

health restrictions. and againstjustin trudeau. former employees of instagram have warned that the way the social media platform is designed can lead vulnerable users to see more and more potentially harmful content. they make the claims in a new documentary — called the instagram effect — which is on bbc three tonight. the programme features abby, who says she was encouraged to self—harm on instagram, as cristina criddle reports. end of year 10, year 11, i started really wanting to hurt myself and i would, but i think apart from that, then, like, before i didn't really want to and i was just doing it because on instagram it's glamourised and it's meant to be like... people make it look good. like, everything on instagram's glamourised whether it's the positive life and going shopping and having loads of money or self—harm. 17—year—old abbyjoined

instagram in 2016. she became involved in what's known as the anti recovery community on instagram. groups of accounts that promote self—harm. you get added into groups and people would tell us to go and kill myself and they'd want to do it together, they would want to do a video call to self—harm together, which is just corrupt. instagram's algorithm — how it uses technology to order its content — can lead vulnerable users down dangerous paths. former facebook staff told the bbc... you might have a low day, a single low day and you might go and search for something on instagram that you might not otherwise search for. suddenly, the algorithm has a little seed it can start to grow. a little tiny glimmer and instagram will pull you in that direction. machine—learning models predict stuff. in particular, they predict behavior. like, think about the risk

of using prediction to rank things in terms of a physical, public square and when you come into the square, the first thing that happens is you're handed a particular leaflet and then how you react to that leaflet determines which leaflet you're handed next. once you start down a particular route through that square, the leaflets that you see are going to be more and more related to each other. and that might be a good thing. it might be that you get shown a cat leaflet and you really like that cat leaflet. so then you get shown more cat leaflets. but it might also be a dangerous thing. what that means is that you have to have the determination to give the ranking model the same signals consistently over time that you are not in fact interested in that thing that you were interested before, and it'll test to see if you're still not interested in them. so it takes real will and resolve to break the self—reinforcing dynamic of using prediction to rank things. it's not impossible, but it asks a real life test of human psychology.

abby was hospitalized for self—harm and had her phone taken off her. she remains in supervised accommodation. i think there must be a way that instagram can monitor things that are happening on there. they must know and possibly turn a blind eye. it's happening every day to everyday kids, and we are very lucky abby is still here. i think people need to take responsibility for what they're posting and acknowledge how it can impact others. instagram could try and monitor this a lot more closely and try and tackle this problem as soon as possible. meta, instagram's parent company, said, "while we do on the advice of experts, allow people to talk about their own experiences with these issues, we've never allowed people to promote or glorify suicide or self—harm. we've built sophisticated technology to help us find and remove this content more quickly, and we're in discussions with regulators about bringing this technology to the uk." cristina criddle, bbc news.

they're the awards no—one wants to receive a nomination for — the golden raspberry awards, better known as the razzies, are given to the worst films of the year. leading the way with nine nominations, including worst picture, is netflix's diana: the musical. the winners — or should that be losers? — will be announced on the 26th of march, the day before the oscars. the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations are continuing 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 the sixth, fired a 41—gun salute from london's green park. gun salutes were also fired in edinburgh and outside the tower of london. events will be held over the coming year in honour of the queen. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. it has been a glorious day for much of the uk, particularly in terms of the temperatures. the best of the sunshine was probably to be found in eastern areas as the wind on into the afternoon with more cloud pushing in from the west but the spring flowers are starting to put on a good show and the temperatures certainly help things because we've been slightly above things today with highs of nine or 10 celsius. mild airstreaming with highs of nine or 10 celsius. mild air streaming across the uk from the atlantic. how long will it last? we look to this carol appear to the northwest to answer that question. there is an area of low pressure with a cold front trailing behind it and the clue is in the

name, behind that cold front, colder air and we name, behind that cold front, colder airand we will name, behind that cold front, colder air and we will be watching this front making its way south across the uk, eventually taking away the springlike feel. this evening and overnight, mild for england and wales, temperatures through the small hours in double figures for some. the weatherfront small hours in double figures for some. the weather front will bring rain into northern england overnight clearing southern scotland, probably a little bit around at the end of the night across northern ireland and then the colder air will be into scotland as we start tuesday with wintry showers coming in on quite a cutting westerly wind. through tuesday, there is weatherfront still loafing around across northern england, quite persistent cloud here, rain for western slopes. my other than today for much of england and wales, temperatures of 12 to m celsius, a different feel across northern ireland and scotland, especially when we factor in the wind, temperatures in the lower end of single figures and wintry showers

towards the northwest. you get that wintry feel kicking and by wednesday, scherer is becoming increasingly white as the cold air surges into scotland and further south into england and wales so by wednesday we are clinging on across southern counties with the weather front, some thicker cloud under my other air, temperatures in double figures. elsewhere sliding down into single figures, a cold wind and i think it will feel increasingly cold it later on wednesday into thursday. the wind continues to intensify. we will be watching this area of low pressure. heavy one into the cold air through thursday, the chance of some quite frequent snow showers across scotland, maybe even some destructive snow and strong winds gusting in excess of gale—force. they could course some disruption as well. as for the feel of thursday, distinctly cold, especially in contrast to the start of this week, factor in the wind and it's going to feel closer to two or three celsius out there. the wind easing back a little bit for friday, there should be some pretty widespread sunshine

and actually feel staying with us to end the week.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines at 5pm: exam boards say gcse and a—level students will be graded more generously this year — to account for covid. we report on how a spinal implant is allowing paralysed a man is unable to walk again after his spinal cord was severed. —— is able to walk again. french president emmanuel macron is holding talks in moscow with vladimir putin amid ukraine tensions. here, the defence secretary ben wallace says a further 350 british troops will be sent to poland "in the spirit of solidarity" with neighbouring ukraine. hospital chiefs speak of their frustation at delays to a plan to tackle the nhs waiting list backlog in england. gun salutes take place across the uk to mark 70 years

for the queen's platinum jubilee.