this is bbc news, i'm tim willcox. the headlines at 2. the last covid restrictions in england — including the legal rule to self—isolate — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected. provided the current encouraging trend in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate, if you test positive, a full month early. the mayor of london tells the head of the met she has just days and weeks to show she can restore public trust in her police force. how's brexit going? the government's performance in delivering it is criticised by mps saying the only detectable impact so far for business are increased costs, paperwork and border delays. booed by his own supporters —

kurt zouma, the footballer filmed kicking his cat. and getting a reaction: british scientists break the record for creating energy from nuclearfusion. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the prime minister says the last remaining legal restrictions on covid—19 in england should be lifted within weeks — a month earlier than expected. borisjohnson told the commons that, as long as the data continues to be encouraging, england's rules requiring people with covid to self—isolate will come to an end. it will be just under two years since the first restrictions were imposed at the start of the pandemic.

our political correspondent iain watson reports. there's been big changes behind the black door in downing street. but here's the question. have you done enough to save your leadership, prime minister? in an attempt to stave off further criticism from some of his own mps, borisjohnson has changed some of his ministers and some of his staff. today, he also changed some of his policies. mr speaker, i can tell the house today that it is my intention to return on the first day after the half—time recess to present our strategy for living with covid—19. provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate if you test positive, a full month early. from the 24th of february, in england, you won't have to self—isolate for covid—19 any more than you would if you had a flu or severe cold, just as long as the data of infection rates doesn't get any worse. this is likely to reduce staff

shortages, but it may also have done something for the prime minister's ownjob prospects. some of borisjohnson�*s own mps have called on him to go, and many more are considering whether tojoin them. the covid—19 restrictions were very unpopular with a section of his party, sweeping them away early will help his campaign to remain in downing street, but labour say that perhaps the announcement today isn't entirely driven by the science. we would want to see what the scientific advice is on this and obviously, i only heard what the prime minister said today and we know that he's got motivation which is nothing to do with the science, but all to do with protecting his political position, to get some red meat his backbenchers. at the end of self isolation has come a little late for this health minister — gillian keegan said on social media she said she made an error ofjudgment by staying in a meeting after receiving a positive covid—19 result. the health secretary has accepted her apology, so she isn't expected to resign. ending covid—19 restrictions will be popular with many conservative mps,

but what about the experts? this was news they want expecting. ——they weren't ecpecting. i think i was quite surprised this morning when i heard that news, certainly, we have seen infections drop quite noticeably in recent days, especially in children where case numbers are dropping really quickly. so, at some point, we will be wanting to remove the need to self—isolate, but i think we need a few more days of data, yet, to be sure that recent decline is continuing. emerging from the pandemic and shedding covid—i9 restrictions should bring political rewards, but the timing is proving controversial. iain watson, bbc news, westminster. our political correspondent iain watson is at westminster — ian, how political is this? the olitics ian, how political is this? the politics to _ ian, how political is this? the politics to some _ ian, how political is this? tie: politics to some extent, clearly, the data gives us some leeway to the

premise of fewer patients in hospital, seeing fewer infections being recorded, so he can say, if this directory continues, there be comeback after the half term, for many schools, and for parliament, we can lift the reigning restrictions. equally, this is against the backdrop of where his onlyjob is on the line. we know various mps in his party have called for him to go, and some others are considering whether to call for him to go. there has been a section of the party's been very, very sceptical to say the least about the restrictions that were imposed, notjust a plan b restriction, but then also the line restrictions, thinking is bad for the economy. a group of conservative mps called the covid—i9 recovery group that have been pressing the prime minister and the logic behind keeping these going to be my construction is going. some others have been quite critical of how the premise to's handled the so—called partygate. if you can say to them,

my goodness, luck and moving these restrictions forward a whole month, that might be something that boy's them up. also by telling people what he intends to do, after the half—time break, he mightjust stave off any more of those letters of no confidence going on before half term break, so gives his premiership even more breathing space. as i say, sometimes the politics and the signs are difficult to disentangle but is something that is very politically convenient for him to announce it today. convenient for him to announce it toda . ., ., ., , ., ., today. you mention partygate, that was of course _ today. you mention partygate, that was of course raised _ today. you mention partygate, that was of course raised in _ today. you mention partygate, that was of course raised in a _ today. you mention partygate, that was of course raised in a pm - today. you mention partygate, that was of course raised in a pm to - today. you mention partygate, that was of course raised in a pm to use| was of course raised in a pm to use as well. the daily mirror has got hold of a photograph as well. yes. hold of a photograph as well. yes, there was already _ hold of a photograph as well. yes, there was already a _ hold of a photograph as well. 1&1: there was already a photograph of this event and what the downing street press office calls a virtual quiz. —— pmqs. decemberthe 152020, held under lockdown quiz. —— pmqs. decemberthe152020, held under lockdown restrictions, but this, although the prime minister participated, there were a few rounds of a quiz, so what shows

are now, is an open bottle of alcohol on the table and some it looks like some half eating crisps as well, perhaps not the most salubrious of celebrations, but nonetheless, this bottle of alcohol. —— resembles champagne or foseco, and this would suggest, we will say that this was an event that was largely so cruel in nature which would have been against the restrictions of the time. sue gray the senior civil servant has taken a look at this event. police have taken a look as well, they did not think it was worth investigating. that is one of the ones that they are not going any further with at this stage. but what they did is this stage. but what they did is this perhaps shows that they should take a look at. standing back from this a little bit, when it is politically is that even when boris johnson's able to do the kind of things, the silly things that should bring political rewards, like coming out the pandemic, getting rid of

these restrictions, he's still plagued by partygate, it is difficult to change that heritage and the straight narrative and it is that that will play in the minds of some mps have not yet decided to submit those motions of no confidence. they mightjust be thinking, when it is going to end? are one photograph away from a political crisis in downing street? might like ian, with the latest, thank you very much. 0ur health correspondent nick triggle is here. the latest figures would support the fact that these covid—19 infections are going down? fact that these covid-19 infections are going down?— are going down? there is lots of ositive are going down? there is lots of positive data — are going down? there is lots of positive data and _ are going down? there is lots of positive data and the _ are going down? there is lots of positive data and the trend - are going down? there is lots of positive data and the trend is i positive data and the trend is overall positive. hospital cases are going down, and despite the huge surge in infections we have seen because of the 0micron variant, the overall numbers of deaths are drawing on what you would only in the winter. some surprise among experts about bringing this date

forward. it was march 2a, that self isolation was going to end. and that isolation was going to end. and that is because infection levels remain pretty high. we havejust got is because infection levels remain pretty high. we have just got from the office of national statistics, that this is the's monitoring programme to see the effect on the population. the latest data for the last week shows that one in a 19 people in england has a covid—19. that's actually up very slightly from one in 20 the previous week. and that is why there is some concern because we don't know what, in terms of spread of the virus, lifting self isolation requirements will mean. i think it was like my pointing out that not everyone was isolating. the testing system is only picking up about half of the infections out there, so at the peak, we were probably messing around 200,000 infections per day. people that would be asked to self—isolate by the test and traced

system. on top of that, even though you even those asked isolate, one in five don't adhere to it, so it remains to be seen exactly what this impact will have on transmission. but what it does mean is the uk well... sorry, because this supplies —— applies to england, this will be the first country to lift all restrictions. where we are treating covid—19 like any other respiratory infection, where you are ill, you stay at home until your symptoms resolve and you feel better and you can go back to your life. like resolve and you feel better and you can go back to your life.— can go back to your life. like lots of us now. _ can go back to your life. like lots of us now. we — can go back to your life. like lots of us now, we know _ can go back to your life. like lots of us now, we know people - can go back to your life. like lots of us now, we know people who l can go back to your life. like lots - of us now, we know people who have had it in the last few weeks and months, people feel pretty rotten, but the capitalisation rate is not nearly as high as before. —— hospitalisation. what does that mean for immunity as well? we hospitalisation. what does that mean for immunity as well?— hospitalisation. what does that mean for immunity as well? we have seen a hue for immunity as well? we have seen a huge amount — for immunity as well? we have seen a huge amount of— for immunity as well? we have seen a huge amount of infection _ for immunity as well? we have seen a huge amount of infection in _ for immunity as well? we have seen a huge amount of infection in the - huge amount of infection in the population this winter. combined with the high levels of vaccination,

this amenity that has been built up and i think it was mcneely now at 98% of people test positive, adult, four antibodies, so the system that knows this virus, knows how to fight it. that is why, because of the reason why we are seeing illness, but it is clear that protection against infection does ways... we are going to this virus circulating forever. but what we are not seeing is it causing significant amounts of serious illness. even with this winter, like i said earlier, we have not seen more people dying across the whole of the population that we would have in other winters. it shows that, in terms of protection, herd immunity of serious illness, we have got really good protection. we are going to see this infection spread. mil are going to see this infection sread. �* . ., are going to see this infection sread. �* ., ., are going to see this infection sread. �* ., ~ _, mps have criticised the government's performance on delivering brexit, saying the only detectable impact so far has been an extra burden on businesses in terms of increased costs,

paperwork and border delays. the cross party public accounts committee says a lot more work needs to be done to prevent further disruption. the government says it is ensuring businesses get the help they need to trade with europe and elsewhere. 0ur global trade correspondent chris morris reports. 0ur cows graze freely on pastures rich in nutrients... in the fields of devon, it all looks beautifully serene. this british cheese—maker used to export without any bureaucracy or delays to other countries in europe, but outside the eu things have become far more difficult. every shipment now needs a vet's certificate, a vet costs money. 0ur shipments tend to be quite small, you know, less than a pallet. and so that's quite a cost. the paperwork takes a lot of time. the person who's doing the paperwork has got 15 other things to do. and that's why the focus

on britain's borders continues. the public accounts committee says trade volumes have fallen, partly because of the impact of covid, but the exit from the eu has clearly had an impact, and new border arrangements have added costs to business. smaller firms with fewer resources have been hit the hardest. between the delays at the border, the extra costs and all the extra paperwork, a lot of businesses are saying that it's been a real struggle for them. so we've said to the government repeatedly, before brexit and again in this report, you need to step up and support the smaller businesses. they've concentrated on the volume businesses, the bigger ones that are doing the most trade with europe, but that's no consolation for those many people whose livelihoods, and sometimes jobs of other people, depend on their being able to do this trade with europe. the committee notes that a brexit support fund worth £20 million was initially created to help small businesses, but only 6.7 million was ever paid out, because it was so hard to access the money. and the government says it is continuing to help businesses trade with europe,

including free advice from its export support service, but the committee wants more transparency and more focus on the practical problems firms are facing. 0utside dover, long queues of lorries have become the norm, part of a plan to make sure the town itself doesn't clog up. but the committee warns it could get worse. it says there is potential for further disruption, as more people start travelling again, and passenger volumes at key ports like dover return to normal. there's also concern about extra delays later this year, when the eu introduces new passport controls and the uk starts physical checks on the import of food products. the government is taking a longer view. it talks enthusiastically about new trade deals elsewhere in the world, and says it plans to create the most effective border in the world by 2025. the committee calls that a noteworthy ambition, but optimistic, given where things stand today.

chris morris, bbc news. let's speak to greg wixted, the founder of britain loves baking, a business which delivers boxes of baking ingredients to home cooks. thank you forjoining us. it is only a few days since the government published their 108 report, the benefits of brexit. has it been beneficial to you?— benefits of brexit. has it been beneficial to you? beneficialto you? sorry, i missed that? has brexit _ beneficialto you? sorry, i missed that? has brexit been _ beneficialto you? sorry, i missed that? has brexit been beneficial i beneficial to you? sorry, i missedl that? has brexit been beneficial to ou? no, that? has brexit been beneficial to you? no. not— that? has brexit been beneficial to you? no. not at— that? has brexit been beneficial to you? no, not at all, _ that? has brexit been beneficial to you? no, not at all, the _ that? has brexit been beneficial to you? no, not at all, the opposite. | you? no, not at all, the opposite. costs have — you? no, not at all, the opposite. costs have gone _ you? no, not at all, the opposite. costs have gone out _ you? no, not at all, the opposite. costs have gone out of _ you? no, not at all, the opposite. costs have gone out of control- you? no, not at all, the opposite. | costs have gone out of control and an export and on imports, wejust went through ingredients all the time. it was two or three days to begin with, now it can be a week, ten days, two weeks, sometimes we have had to cancel them or take some products off the scale because we can't get something green it's book we are taking —— or we are waiting for too long. 50 we are taking -- or we are waiting fortoo long-— we are taking -- or we are waiting for too long. so what is the problem lie in sourcing _ for too long. so what is the problem lie in sourcing ingredients? - for too long. so what is the problem lie in sourcing ingredients? you - lie in sourcing ingredients? you can't physically get hold of them. where'd you get them from. france or

italy or elsewhere?— italy or elsewhere? mainly france, ital , italy or elsewhere? mainly france, italy. belgium. — italy or elsewhere? mainly france, italy, belgium, the _ italy or elsewhere? mainly france, italy, belgium, the chocolate - italy or elsewhere? mainly france, italy, belgium, the chocolate and l italy or elsewhere? mainly france, | italy, belgium, the chocolate and it was like not getting a hold of the greenies, a's bring them into the country, sometimes ijust sitting there waiting to be cleared in customs. and again, the same in exports. we sent 400 parcels to ireland. and they let us on the 8th of december and they cleared customs on the 20th which is all a bit late for people. {iii on the 20th which is all a bit late for people-— on the 20th which is all a bit late for eole. , ~ for people. of course. and there was friction free — for people. of course. and there was friction free trade, _ for people. of course. and there was friction free trade, this _ for people. of course. and there was friction free trade, this was - for people. of course. and there was friction free trade, this was just - friction free trade, this was just an osmotic process, was it? you put your all in an osmotic process, was it? you put yourall in and an osmotic process, was it? you put your all in and you would receive it a day later or two days later? yes. a day later or two days later? yes, i aet a day later or two days later? yes, i get parcels _ a day later or two days later? yes, i get parcels that _ a day later or two days later? yes, i get parcels that leave _ a day later or two days later? yes, i get parcels that leave here - a day later or two days later? yes i get parcels that leave here and leave doesn't get to the us in 16 hours, and understand how we can get something from france to the uk, for example, it'sjust crippling example, it's just crippling people's example, it'sjust crippling people's businesses, day in, day

out, hit the same from loads of food manufacturers and is the same story over and over again. what manufacturers and is the same story over and over again.— over and over again. what impact is it havin: over and over again. what impact is it having financially _ over and over again. what impact is it having financially on _ over and over again. what impact is it having financially on your- it having financially on your business? a, it having financially on your business?— it having financially on your business? �* . . it having financially on your business? �* . ~ ., it having financially on your business? �* ~ ., ., business? a huge impact. we are now decidin: business? a huge impact. we are now deciding whether _ business? a huge impact. we are now deciding whether to _ business? a huge impact. we are now deciding whether to keep _ business? a huge impact. we are now deciding whether to keep our - business? a huge impact. we are now deciding whether to keep our irish - deciding whether to keep our irish operation going and potentially close it down. just because of the cost. it was booming, right up until the 31st of december. after that, soon as we hit the 1st of december ten we shut it down for three months because we can ship anything anyway, there was no shipping. do you think it wasn't going to improve, and i appreciate... did you vote remain or vote brexit? and irish —— irish originally, so i voted to stay. i'm european through and through. do you think thins european through and through. do you think things will _ european through and through. do you think things will improve? _ european through and through. do you think things will improve? there - european through and through. do you think things will improve? there are i think things will improve? there are further checks coming through and i think injuly, aren't they? for foodstuffs? i

think in july, aren't they? for foodstuffs?— think in july, aren't they? for foodstuffs? , , ., ., foodstuffs? i believe it is going to net worse foodstuffs? i believe it is going to get worse and _ foodstuffs? i believe it is going to get worse and so _ foodstuffs? i believe it is going to get worse and so do _ foodstuffs? i believe it is going to get worse and so do lots - foodstuffs? i believe it is going to get worse and so do lots of - foodstuffs? i believe it is going to get worse and so do lots of other| get worse and so do lots of other people. that is going to hamper our business even more. so we are looking at setting up operations in countries, instead of shipping, it was supposed to be seamless and easy, but it was ten times harder. the amount paid paperwork is ridiculous.— the amount paid paperwork is ridiculous. ., , ., ., �* ridiculous. people who voted brexit, and even the — ridiculous. people who voted brexit, and even the prime _ ridiculous. people who voted brexit, and even the prime instead - ridiculous. people who voted brexit, and even the prime instead today, i ridiculous. people who voted brexit, | and even the prime instead today, in prime minister's questions, this was europe, actually, gold—plating the agreements, and making this deliberately much more capital that be. do you buy any of that? trio. deliberately much more capital that be. do you buy any of that? no, not a sinale be. do you buy any of that? no, not a single word- _ be. do you buy any of that? no, not a single word. to _ be. do you buy any of that? no, not a single word. to ship _ be. do you buy any of that? no, not a single word. to ship to _ a single word. to ship to northern ireland, it costs an extra £5, there is a brexit feel top of it. i'm not buying a piece of it i don't think else's either. like matt kelly got a

shipment going out today? yes, about 150 packets going out, 90 boxes going to denmark which will take about a week to get there. i've got five going to the us which will be there by tomorrow.— five going to the us which will be there by tomorrow. thank you very much for your— there by tomorrow. thank you very much for your time. _ while we were speaking to greg, some news on the zouma cats and the video that has been produced about the west ham defender, zuma. if you have seen the pictures, 80,000 people have been a petition —— signed a petition asking for the police to investigate this. we havejust petition asking for the police to investigate this. we have just heard from the rspca that the cats, plural, are in their protection now. we have been dealing with this since the clip went viral online, and we need to follow the proper legal process and not discuss, due to uk gdp our laws. so the cats are now in

the care of the rspca. —— gdpr. the mayor of london says the metropolitan police commissioner has �*days or weeks' to restore public trust in her leadership. sadiq khan told the bbc he wants to see an urgent plan from dame cressida dick on how to deal with cultural problems within britain's biggest police force. it comes after the publication last week of a series of racist, mysoginist and homophobic messages exchanged by a group of her officers at charing cross station. my expectation is, the next time i see her, i want to see what her response is to the examples, not of one officer, of 14 officers being involved in racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, anti—semitic, islamophobic and the like behaviour, nine of whom are still serving. and secondly, what her plans are to win back the trust and confidence that has been both knocked and shattered as a consequence of these cases.

and i make this point, in the words of the iopc, the independent office for police conduct, these cases are not historic, they are not isolated, and that is why it is important for the commissioner, when i next see her, to answer me those two big questions. 0ur correspondent greg mckenzie has more on this story. 0h, oh, just to be clear, the mayor doesn't appoint her, but his involvement in her selection of continuation is key?— involvement in her selection of continuation is key? yes, it is. he will consult _ continuation is key? yes, it is. he will consult with _ continuation is key? yes, it is. he will consult with the _ continuation is key? yes, it is. he will consult with the home - will consult with the home secretary, priti patel, and his view is really looked upon as an endorsement, really, of the commissioner. back in 2017, the commissioner came to power, she got the position, one of the biggest jobs in the country, leaving a force of 43,000 officers, but it was actually last year in the —— in november that she actually got an extension to our contract. it was due to come to an end in april this

year, in two months, but it was extended by two years. as for sadik khan and those comments you had this morning, he is calling for immediate action, following the media released last week, because a commission is constantly apologising on behalf of her sizes and this isn'tjust one or two incidents, we are talking serious, serious breaches, within the met police. and the goings on, really, and the shenanigans that are happening behind closed doors, that the lad culture, if you like, the bullying, the sexism, misogyny, racism, homophobia, all of that is now coming to a head because of this i opc now coming to a head because of this i 0pc report that was released last week and the details were pretty shocking. meaning you will have seen some of the comments but in terms of racism, we know that if you are black in london, you are nine times more likely to be stopped and searched the net search by a metropolitan police officer. in

terms of going forward, the mayor has simply said today, he has ultimately given her an ultimatum, saying that, show me the proof, the plan. what are you going to do to change this false? we know he's already met with her last week, so he's due to meet her again this week and one is expected that she will have the chance of behind closed doors, i guess? have the chance of behind closed doors, iguess? i5 have the chance of behind closed doors, i guess? is a have the chance of behind closed doors. i guess?— have the chance of behind closed doors, i guess? is a tipping point for him is this _ doors, i guess? is a tipping point for him is this socialistic - for him is this socialistic homophobic culture or is it really the communication does make accumulation of other question marks of leadership, sarah everard, when cousins... ? of leadership, sarah everard, when cousins... ., cousins... ? those three are the main ones- _ cousins... ? those three are the main ones. the _ cousins... ? those three are the main ones. the beeb _ cousins... ? those three are the| main ones. the beeb assistance. cousins... ? those three are the - main ones. the beeb assistance. the whatsapped pictures that were shared in a group. of their bodies when these officers were meant to be protecting the site where they were found. the criticism of the families that went to the metropolitan police

to report them missing and what taking it seriously. that is not just that case, that has miss e missing people,, for example the young quy missing people,, for example the young guy who ended up committing suicide in a forestjust out of london. his mum had gone to the police and she was ignored. for the first two days. and so, it is cases like that and lots of questions to answer, but she constantly... probably more known now for apologising than anything else so in terms of his warning today, the mayor of london, he is simply saying to cressida, the commissioner, that she now has to prove that she can regain the public�*s trust and confidence in the metropolitan police at this time. just confidence in the metropolitan police at this time.— confidence in the metropolitan police at this time. just going back a bit, it police at this time. just going back a bit. it was _ police at this time. just going back a bit, it was interesting. _ police at this time. just going back a bit, it was interesting. ian - a bit, it was interesting. ian blair, when he was home secretary in 2008, he was not supported then. and both johnson 2008, he was not supported then. and bothjohnson or he did not continue. it is an in dortmund does make

endorsement. mayor does not have control of the day—to—day running of the match was in police, but he is quite influential in terms of what happens in london, in terms of policing. he does put some money into some wards that budget the police, but in terms of the wider picture, ultimately, this position of higher and fire... is ultimately down to priti patel.— of higher and fire... is ultimately down to priti patel. thank you very much. scientists at a british laboratory have smashed the record for generating energy from a nuclearfusion reaction. the breakthrough marks a big step towards harnessing the energy source of the stars. nuclear fusion is the holy grail of energy production because it holds out the prospect of a virtually unlimited source of low carbon power. 0ur climate editor, justin rowlatt has been to the research centre in 0xfordshire where the reaction took place. two, one, zero. this is the record—breaking reaction. it is more than 150 million degrees centigrade.

ten times hotter than the heart of the sun. and it happened here, the world's most powerful fusion plant, jet fusion, in culham in 0xfordshire. it is, say the team here, a landmark for this kind of technology. these results are really significant, because what we have managed to demonstrate insidejet is we can create a mini sun, the right kind of mini sun, hold it for a sustained period and get really good performance levels, which is a major step forward, in terms of our quest to get to fusion power plants. most nuclear reactions use fission. that's when big unstable atoms, like uranium, are split in two, releasing lots of energy and radiation. fusion is different. it involves forcing atoms of hydrogen together, fusing them to create helium, as well as lots of energy and just a tiny bit of short—lived radiation. creating mini stars inside reactors like this is one of the greatest technological challenges humanity

has ever faced. get it right and it holds out the potential for producing almost unlimited supplies of energy, pretty much forever. the key part of this reaction only lasts for five seconds, and only generated enough power for 60 kettles, but it is an important proof of the principles of fusion, but it means there is still lots of work to do. do you think we'll see commercial fusion in your lifetime? yes, i do think we will seek commercial fusion in my lifetime. you are confident we will? yes, i am confident, i want to believe in it! so answer me this, why is it taking so long? it is hard, it is really hard, very complex but it's worth it and we just have to do it for the future. fusion energy is carbon—free, but it is not going to be ready in time to get us out of the climate crisis. that shouldn't stop this research, say supporters. the enormous promise fusion holds means we have got to keep working on it.

justin rowlatt, bbc news, 0xfordshire. let's get more now from doctor amy gandy, senior lecturer in nuclear materials engineering at the university of sheffield. while! it sounds incurably exciting. i think some of the hottest temperatures ever produced on earth, are there any downside to tour? this are there any downside to tour? is you had in the report, it is a very, very challenging, so it is a very difficult technology to harness, so we're not going to be able to connect fusion power to the grade any time soon, but the uk government have committed a lot of funding for their own energy production programme which hopes to demonstrate that we can get electricity from fusion by 2040, so a very ambitious target. so there are still an awful lot of challenges, but it's very different to fishing as we had before, in terms of you can't have a runaway chain reaction. the fusion process is inherently different, so instead of forcing athens parts, you

have to force together. lots of energy required for that. one of the biggest challenges we have at the moment is to get more energy out is that we put in. these experiments, results that we have just seen an answer today go a significant way forward for us to actually be able to achieve that. it is forward for us to actually be able to achieve that.— to achieve that. it is clean, i don't think— to achieve that. it is clean, i don't think it _ to achieve that. it is clean, i don't think it is _ to achieve that. it is clean, i don't think it is that - to achieve that. it is clean, i i don't think it is that expensive, they're's not much radiation can understand. is it safe?- understand. is it safe? yes, absolutely- _ understand. is it safe? yes, absolutely. there's - understand. is it safe? yes, absolutely. there's no - understand. is it safe? yes, absolutely. there's no way l understand. is it safe? yes, | absolutely. there's no way of understand. is it safe? yes absolutely. there's no way of having absolutely. there's no way of having a runaway chain reaction that we have with current nuclear reactors. the only radiation you have in the reactor is one source of the fuel, so to the fuel that needs very light particles of a gas, so it may be an of paper or something one that has a very short half—life, and what we are trying to do is develop materials so that that feel can't get stuck inside the actual fusion device itself, so it can all be used up device itself, so it can all be used up in the fusion reaction, so one of

the other challenges is that during the other challenges is that during the fusion reaction, the energy is created by the generation of these small particles, called neutrons, so a fly out of the core of the fusion device, they are going to collide with materials that are comprised in the inner wall of the device, and thatis the inner wall of the device, and that is what we are going to use to generate electricity, by boiling water to produce steam. what they can also do is make those materials radioactive, so what we're trying to do at the moment is develop materials that are not going to be radioactive because of the interactions of the neutrons with the first ball of the fusion device. it is inherent despite inherently safe. —— fusion more. has it is inherent despite inherently safe. -- fusion more.— it is inherent despite inherently safe. -- fusion more. has this been done elsewhere? _ safe. -- fusion more. has this been done elsewhere? so _ safe. -- fusion more. has this been done elsewhere? so jet _ safe. -- fusion more. has this been done elsewhere? so jet what - safe. -- fusion more. has this been done elsewhere? so jet what we'rel done elsewhere? so 'et what we're talkin: done elsewhere? so 'et what we're tatktng that _ done elsewhere? so 'et what we're talking that there _ done elsewhere? so 'et what we're talking that there is — done elsewhere? so jet what we're talking that there is the _ done elsewhere? so jet what we're talking that there is the only - talking that there is the only fusion device in the world that allows us to mix the actual fuel that we are going to use, the future for the future fusion reactors. they did a similar experiment in 1987,

but the inside of that fusion device is very different to what it looks like now. they have graded jet so it looks like a fusion reactor of the future, —— jet. looks like a fusion reactor of the future, ——jet. so this has looks like a fusion reactor of the future, —— jet. so this has allowed us to test real—life conditions for these future fusion reactors. also, as we said in the report, they have doubled the amount of energy that is produced back in 1907. so in terms of producing conditions are going to be like the future fusion reactors, this is a world first. —— 1997. this is very exciting. this is a world first. -- 1997. this is very exciting-— is very exciting. thank you very much for _ is very exciting. thank you very much forjoining _ is very exciting. thank you very much forjoining us. _ now it's time for a look at the weather with susan. hello. some glorious sunshine across the uk this wednesday afternoon, but quite a chilly feel to proceedings for the majority as arctic air continues to seep its way southwards. we've still got a weather front hanging on to the south of the uk that will produce some drizzly rain for the evening and overnight, helping to keep the temperatures up a little more here, though. elsewhere, this area of low pressure swinging towards scotland looks

like it could be particularly troublesome towards the end of the night and through thursday morning. a frost across northern britain, temperature getting close to freezing further south. generally a fine start for the lion's share of the uk on thursday, aside from scotland, where that low will bring some snowfall, potentially blizzard conditions for a time, winds gusting 50—60mph. there will also be some ice early on. below, though, away into the north sea by the afternoon. blustery day across the board, temperatures as you would read them on the thermometer sliding down the single figure scale. factor in the wind across scotland, it will feel subzero. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: the last covid restrictions in england — including the legal rule to self—isolate — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected.

provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate, if you test positive, a full month early. the mayor of london tells the head of the met she has just days and weeks to show she can restore public trust in her police force. how's brexit going? the government's performance in delivering it is criticised — by mps saying the only detectable impact so far for business are increased costs, paperwork and border delays. booed by his own supporters — kurt zouma, the footballer filmed kicking his cat. the rspca says they are now in their stone safekeeping. some breaking news, the terror

threat has been reduced from severe to substantial in the next few minutes, that means an attack is likely rather than highly likely. that statement by priti patel in the last few minutes. sport now, and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's 0lie. good afternoon. after five full days of competition there still no british medals at the winter olympics in beijing. there was a lot of expectation that charlotte bankes could make it onto the podium, but the reigning world champion in snowboard cross was knocked out in the quarterfinals. joe lynskey reports. snowboard cross is knock out racing through the ramps. even for the best riders, there is jeopardy. that was brutal! so to start as favourite comes with conditions. britain's charlotte bankes is the world champion. since being in gb, she has accelerated. look at this speed! she was born in hemel hempstead and

move to france when she was four. battle hardened in the alps, she said the french team lacked good support. so with a move to gb, she became a nation's hopes for gold, but predicting the spot comes with risk. i don't know if she is going to do this! her quarterfinal had bunched up through the corners and came down to the line. the top two go through and she was just in third. just to come away like this is tough and we will bounce back, but we came here really helping to do a good race and... few would begrudge the day's smile for gold. she has waited 16 years for redemption. drama!

she is down! look at her! up to now, that trick had cost her olympic gold. now at 36, she made the most of her last chance. in one of these games most breathless spot, a clean run can't mean so much. team gb's farrell treacy was a surprise finalist in the 1500 metres short track speed skating. he could only finish fifth in his semifinal in beijing, but 2 other skaters were disqualified and that saw him promoted to the final, a first for him at his second 0lympics. he was way off the pace though and dropped to the back of the field eventually finishing 9th of 10 starters. korea's hwang dehon took gold, butjust reaching the final is a huge bonus for treacy who receives no lottery funding and was a late arrival in china after battling coronavirus.

to make an olympic final, you know, it's an achievement for me, you know, i probably didn't think it was going to happen, i didn't think i was going to be here at one point, four weeks ago, so to make an olympic final, you know, i guess, 0lympic final, you know, i guess, you know, it makes these games extra sweet, especially with how bad the first day was. west ham have been heavily criticized for not dropping kurt zouma for their victory over watford last night despite the club condemning the french defender for hitting and kicking his pet cat zouma apologised for what he called an isolated incident that was videoed by his brother and ended up on social media. essex police are investigating as are the rspca who have taken both of zouma's cats into their care. he was booed and jeered by both sets of fans throughout the game last night and his involvement has been widely criticised. he should be prosecuted, sacked. i am absolutely amazed that west ham paid him last night. it is basically condoning

what he is done and saying, we will let you off, that is fine. if he assaulted someone in the street, he would not have played, so why is he playing just because it is an an animal? i am amazed at west ham, i thought they had a chance to make a stand and it is irrelevant that he is a footballer, this is about a human being and for him to play at last night in front of people, it is shocking. formula one driver lando norris has signed a new deal that will see him stay at mclaren until the end of 2025. the 22—year—old brit finished sixth in last seasons standings with four podium finishes and he also claimed his first pole position as the team finished fourth in the constructors championship. norris said that his new contract was a "a very strong message" about his faith in mclaren despite approaches from other teams.

new f1 season starts next month. that's all the sport for now. guernsey is to become the first place in the british isles to end all covid restrictions. from next thursday, the 17th february, compulsory self—isolation for positive cases will end, as will all border restrictions. the civil contingencies authority says the rules were "no longer proportionate or necessary" free lateral flow and pcr tests will still be avaliable, alongside continued school testing. here with me is our political reporter for guernsey, john fernandez. it's been quite a long road for guernsey, hasn't it?- guernsey, hasn't it? yeah, absolutely. _ guernsey, hasn't it? yeah, absolutely. it's _ guernsey, hasn't it? yeah, absolutely. it's been - guernsey, hasn't it? yeah, absolutely. it's been a - guernsey, hasn't it? yeah, | absolutely. it's been a long guernsey, hasn't it? yeah, - absolutely. it's been a long journey in and out of to lock downs, much like in the uk, but as you said, next week guernsey's emergency powers will end in guernsey will become the first place in the british isles to stop the law that

means you need to isolate if you have got coronavirus. alongside that all travel restrictions will be going away, and i've been speaking to tourism businesses in guernsey today who say they are delighted with this news, that there is some kind of light at the end of the tunnel after what has been a really difficult 22, 23 months in guernsey. politicians say that while the law about self isolation is going next week, they are now relying on people to be responsible. if you are ill, stay at home the message is guernsey moves into the endgame of this pandemic. moves into the endgame of this tandemic. , , moves into the endgame of this pandemic-— pandemic. just thinking back, because it — pandemic. just thinking back, because it was _ pandemic. just thinking back, because it was june _ pandemic. just thinking back, because it was june 2020, . pandemic. just thinking back, because it was june 2020, i l pandemic. just thinking back, - because it was june 2020, i think it because it wasjune 2020, i think it is 2020, one there were zero cases, then there was this outbreak. what then there was this outbreak. what hat-ened then there was this outbreak. what happened there? _ then there was this outbreak. twat happened there? yeah, it's been quite a fluctuation. 0bviously guernsey's borders were very tight at the start, so you needed to week isolation, there have been minor

outbreaks, we saw one at the start of january 2021, around that time, that meant we had to go into a second lockdown was the uk was in the lockdown in winter about a year ago, and it's been that kind of fluctuations reluctance, because of these border restrictions that have meant that most of the time guernsey's case numbers are relatively low, there have been very low debts on the island, as well, that has led to a lot of praise for the state of guernsey of how they have handled the pandemic when it comes down to those type of border restrictions. as i said, hospitality businesses have really struggled, so there have been a lot of people around here who have been really keen to see things go back to normal, but there is that warning today from politicians that emergency powers could come back if there is another outbreak. the chief minister said that is not something he wants to see any time soon. right, thank you much indeed. more

news on kert zouma's cats, from the rspca, zouma, of course, the west ham defender, the club are cooperating, including delivering the two cats to the rspca, kurt is extremely remorseful, and separates the investigation and pending further sanctions, once the outcome of the process goes through, they can confirm that kurt zouma has been fined the maximum amount possible following his actions, the player has immediately accepted the fine, which will be donated to animal welfare charities. west ham would like to reiterate their condemnation

of his actions and make it clear the matter continues to be handled with them utmost seriousness. we believe it is now important that the rspca to conduct their investigation. a lot of criticism about zouma being able to play against watford last night, he was of course acquired by the club for i think it was £30 million recently, 80,000 signatures on a petition causing the remote calling for him to be dropped, i think is a drop—kick and some pushing and some shopping of the animals. as i say, filmed by his brother, which then went online. from friday, fully vaccinated holiday—makers will no longer need to take a covid test when they arrive back in the uk. but britons travelling abroad will still need to follow the rules that apply at their destination. some british families are cancelling half term trips to spain because children aged 12 and over have to be double jabbed to get in, and many are not. here's our transport correspondent katy austin.

ben and his family have great memories of the canary islands. they were looking forward to making more last year, but restrictions forced them to postpone to this february. now, children over 12 need two jabs to enter spain, so the holiday is off. unfortunately, the 12—year—old has onlyjust turned 12, so doesn't have his second vaccination yet. so we cancelled, only cancelled a few days ago, we thought we'd hold out until the 1st of feb, in case anything changed. but, yeah, unfortunately we had to pull the plug. ben is far from alone. travel agents say lots of people want to go away at the moment, but they're having to keep their customers informed of an ever—changing international patchwork of covid rules. spain, including the canaries, is usually a half—term hit. you can get a little bit of heat, wear your shorts, sit outside and eat. the rule barring over—12s with only one or no vaccinations is having a big impact.

50% of our bookings were moved, because actually, it's all families. they'll move destinations or move dates and plan for easter. it's a headache for tourism businesses in the canaries. they want the spanish government to relax the restrictions, because many brits are heading for places like turkey or mexico instead. in tenerife, we have 2.5 million . british citizens every normal year. so, when we talk about christmas, when we talk about february, - we are talking about nearly 30% of the business. _ so that means this loss could be nearly 1,000 million _ euros if we do not take those measures out. . from friday, it will get a lot easier to come into the uk. fully—vaccinated travellers no longer to have to take any covid tests to enter this country, but people planning trips overseas still really need to know what the rules are at their destination, because every country has its own requirements. and notjust for entry.

in france, over—16s need a pass showing proof of vaccination to access certain activities, including getting a ski pass. unvaccinated 12—15—year—olds can take daily tests. tour operators still expect a bumper easter and summer, but many families who hoped for winter sun are having to wait a little longer. katy austin, bbc news. joining me is dame irene hays, chair of hays travel, the largest independent travel agency in the uk. thank you forjoining us. it is still very confusing, isn't it? how has it affected your clients? i have to be honest. _ has it affected your clients? i have to be honest, since _ has it affected your clients? i have to be honest, since the _ has it affected your clients? i have - to be honest, since the announcement made by government on the 24th of january, we have seen huge spike in bookings, and 50% of those of the summer of this year, and about a quarter after this season, so whilst there is some confusion out there, definitely the public are much more

confident because of the changes, particularly around the testing regime. particularly around the testing re t ime. ., �* , particularly around the testing retime. . �*, ., , , particularly around the testing retime. . �*, . , , regime. that's great news, but as ou sa , regime. that's great news, but as you say. that _ regime. that's great news, but as you say. that is — regime. that's great news, but as you say, that is looking _ regime. that's great news, but as you say, that is looking ahead - regime. that's great news, but as you say, that is looking ahead a i regime. that's great news, but as l you say, that is looking ahead a few months. what about the immediate holiday on the brakes, half terms, will people be cancelling those because of the extra boosters and jabs required?— because of the extra boosters and jabs required? summer, but we are transferring an _ jabs required? summer, but we are transferring an awful— jabs required? summer, but we are transferring an awful lot _ jabs required? summer, but we are transferring an awful lot of - jabs required? summer, but we are transferring an awful lot of them i jabs required? summer, but we are transferring an awful lot of them to | transferring an awful lot of them to turkey, and those countries that accept them, and it's fair to say that the rules for each country are changing by the day, and we still know that there is a huge amount of appetite to actually go on holiday for this winter, but only 25% of bookings are for this winter, and the bookings that we made in the last week of january, after the announcement, had gone back to the levels of january 2020 in terms of sale, mg rover core that immediately after we acquired the thomas cook

shops, serve the business comes back there are some countries where the regulations are a barrier to people travelling through travel agents across the country are doing their very best to try and make sure that those bookings, where folk are not able to travel, are transferred to another country where they can't. what conversations are you having with other travel agencies around europe and indeed internationally, and with government, to and get some harmonisation here? it would be so much easier, wouldn't, if you've got to got to go to one side, and i think people are finding it incredibly complicated at the moment, trying find out what you need to do when you land somewhere. absolutely. which is why it's really important to have a good travel agent that you get to know, because they look after you before you travel and give you that advice, they will look after you when you are away on holiday, and when you come home, but most importantly, because as i say, the regulations for each individual country are

changing day by day, it's to look on their website and just make sure you check before you go so it is not crystal clear yet, check before you go so it is not crystal clearyet, but check before you go so it is not crystal clear yet, but it is vastly better than it was the beginning of january, and i have a feeling that it's going to be a gradual process that all countries, we know how important the tourism industry is to spain, and they are desperate, desperate to actually make sure that holiday—makers can return. desperate to actually make sure that holiday-makers can return.— holiday-makers can return. yeah, 'ust on holiday-makers can return. yeah, just on spain. _ holiday-makers can return. yeah, just on spain. i — holiday-makers can return. yeah, just on spain, i think _ holiday-makers can return. yeah, just on spain, i think france - holiday-makers can return. yeah, just on spain, i think france and l just on spain, i think france and from memory, there are extra restrictions are, can you do is help us on that?— us on that? well, obviously, you have heard _ us on that? well, obviously, you have heard about _ us on that? well, obviously, you have heard about the _ us on that? well, obviously, you have heard about the france - have heard about the france situation, but those countries are actually using tests quite sensitively, so in the areas where you've just described the situation in relation to skiing, providing they have had a test, they will be

able to use their ski pass and get on the slopes, so it's a very mixed picture, you are quite right. find on the slopes, so it's a very mixed picture, you are quite right. and! picture, you are quite right. and i think it's boosters _ picture, you are quite right. and i think it's boosters which - picture, you are quite right. and i think it's boosters which is - picture, you are quite right. and i think it's boosters which is the issue in spain and france and denmark? it issue in spain and france and denmark?_ issue in spain and france and denmark?— issue in spain and france and denmark? it is, but it's really important _ denmark? it is, but it's really important to _ denmark? it is, but it's really important to check _ denmark? it is, but it's really important to check on - denmark? it is, but it's really important to check on a - denmark? it is, but it's really important to check on a daily| denmark? it is, but it's really - important to check on a daily basis, because as recently as yesterday, portugal change their rules, so in a day by day basis. those regulations are changing. day by day basis. those regulations are changing-— day by day basis. those regulations are changing. forgive me, but if you are changing. forgive me, but if you are to be are changing. forgive me, but if you are to he might— are changing. forgive me, but if you are to be might have _ are changing. forgive me, but if you are to be might have booked - are changing. forgive me, but if you are to be might have booked a - are to be might have booked a holiday with your one, two, three children, and then you having to do this is on the council of the last minute, that will cause a lot of heartache to people, won't it? it does if they have to cancel, but if you have a good travel agent, they will generally find you somewhere else to stay, so at the minute, i think it's really important that people are flexible about the destination, we can generally find a match for the type of holiday that they were looking for and get them transferred across to another country where they can still get away and enjoy their february half term. away and en'oy their february half term. ., ., , , ., ,, ., i. term. 0k, great to speak to you. thank you — term. 0k, great to speak to you. thank you very —

term. 0k, great to speak to you. thank you very much. _ 15 people have been arrested in india following protests against a ban on wearing the islamic headscarf in college. the controversy began when hijab wearing students were denied entry to their schools in the state of karnataka. the state has now shut down all high schools and colleges for three days. the chief minister for the state has called for peace and harmony. anbarasan ethirajan reports. an act of defiance amid heckling by a group of young hindu men. the video of this muslim student standing against a crowd taunting herfor support on a ban on the hijab has gone viral. muslim women in parts of karnataka state say they are not being allowed to attend classes because of the hijab. they argue the headscarves are part of the religious faith. it's not a part of a uniform, but it is part of our culture. we have been following this since a very long period of time. it was a college known for respecting all of the cultures, but now they do this, it's as if they are telling

against our culture. we are not against any of the religions. we are not protesting against anyone. it's just for our own rights. here hindu students arrive at schools with saffron hats and shawls. this colour is seen as a hindu symbol. they oppose their student colleagues for wearing the headscarf. there are concerns that outside organisations may be instigating the protests. a place of learning has now become a battleground for the communities. the hindu nationalist bjp government insists that all schools should follow the dress code, and that there is no place for religious slogans in schools. we will get parity from the honourable court, then the government will decide later. but until that happens, the pre—university course, high school and degree colleges will remain closed for three days. and now, the protests in karnataka state are attracting global attention.

the education activist malala yousafzai says... the karnataka high court is considering petitions from students challenging moves by some colleges to ban the headscarves. 0pposition parties allege the policies of the governing hindu nationalists bjp are discriminating against religious minorities. but the government denies allegations of suppression of muslims. muslim students say they don't want to be stigmatised because of their religion. anbarasan ethirajan, bbc news. adele was the big winner at the brit awards last night, taking three of the top prizes — best artist, best album and song of the year. this year's awards were gender neutral after the traditional male and female categories were scrapped, though adele said she loves being a woman and a female artist. our music correspondent mark savage watched the show. adele, easy on me!

it was almost inevitable. adele swept the board at the brits, winning three of the four categories she was nominated for, including artist of the year and best album for her so—called divorce record 30. i'd like to dedicate this award to my son. cheering. and to simon, to his dad. this album was all of our journey, notjust mine. and i'm very proud of myself for sticking to my guns and putting out an album that was about something so personal to me. the star also gave a laid—back performance of i drink wine, on a set that echoed the las vegas shows she so recently postponed. # how come we both become a version of the person we don't even like?# meanwhile, ed sheeran opened the show, playing his number one hit bad habits with the sheffield rock band bring me the horizon. # bad habits lead to late nights endin' alone...# i ed was also named songwriter of the year, while billie eilish won

best international artist. billie eilish! thank you, guys, so much. i am so honoured and feel so lucky to be awarded this — again. thank you so much. best new artist went to rapper little simz and her mum. mum...look at what you've done, mum. she loved it, man. this is her night as well, you know what i mean? i she's worked so tirelessly- and so hard, and she's raised me to be the person i am. so it felt amazing just to be able to share this moment with her. i best rap act went to dave. and rolling stone ronnie wood gave sam fender the award for best rock act. my favourite, sam fender! cheering. but the person who appreciated winning the most was becky hill, who picked up best dance artist. i was always somebody that nobody really knew who i was and there will still be to this day people who sit

on their sofa and go, "becky who?" and this, for me, is proper recognition that i'm doing the right thing and i'm not necessarily wasting my life. in the first year without male and female categories, women prizewinners outnumbered men by three to one, and adele had something to say about it. i understand why the name of this award has changed, but i really love being a woman and being a female artist. i do. mark savage, bbc news. i'm really proud of us, i really am. just before we go to the weather another update about west ham, kurt zuma, the wellness partnerfor another update about west ham, kurt zuma, the wellness partner for west ham vitality has said it suspending its sponsorship of the club, saying their hugely disappointed about the response to the incident, they have suspended their support of the club

with immediate effect, they will now be further engaging with the club to understand what actions they will be taken. interesting, the last statement from the rspca and the club did not talk about suspending kurt zouma. we'll get similar and that in a moment. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. hello. lots of sunshine across the uk this wednesday afternoon, but quite a cold feel to proceedings, as the majority of the uk is now sitting arctic air. this line of cloud you see here on the satellite picture is a boundary between the arctic air and the milder air still clinging on across southernmost counties of the uk. that front will continue to drift southwards overnight. this area of low pressure, we will be watching it closely in the hours ahead, as it is going to glance a blow into scotland. strong winds, widespread gales and some heavier snow for a time. ice also likely to be an issue first thing on thursday, as we see a frost developing across scotland. also, for northern ireland and northern england. a little patchy at further south, but quite a chilly night nonetheless. this low still in place for thursday

morning's rush hour. some typical conditions early on across scotland. perhaps the heaviest of the snow, as you expect, confined to the high ground, but at lower levels a difficult wintry mix, some ice and the strength of the winds gusting up to 60 mph, perhaps even more. the low dose pull out into the north sea in the afternoon, so things will become a little quieter. it is a blustery day to come right the way across the uk. early cloud clears to the south. a lot of sunshine through the afternoon. so showers coming in to the north—west. these are the temperatures that you would read on a thermometer. you have to factor in the strength of the wind through thursday, and for somewhere like aberdeen, it will feel close at 2—4. 0vernight thursday into friday at the wind will actually fall light, because a ridge of high pressure built at that low finally pulled away towards scandinavia. light winds, still conditions setting up for a hard frost to take us into friday, perhaps temperatures down as low as —10 in parts of rural

scotland, especially where we have a lying snow. a risk of some freezing fog as well in a few places early on friday. a lot of early sunshine turning hazier as the day goes on, as this area of low pressure closes in from the west. a little milder on friday. temperatures don'tjump up, but with a lighter wind i think it certainly will be more noticeable. a little milder again for the weekend, but certainly not feeling warm. it is going to be quite stormy, if anything. a deep area of low pressure set to bring in some spells of very heavy rain, and we will have some strong winds to contend with yet again.

this is bbc news, i'm tim willcox. the headlines at 3: the last covid restrictions in england — including the legal rule to self—isolate — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected. provided the current encouraging trend in the data continue, trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate, if you test positive, a full month early. borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street, after a new picture emerged of him at a gathering in december 2020. the mayor of london tells the head of the met she has just days and weeks to show she can restore public trust in her police force west ham fine kurt zouma after he was pictured

filmed kicking his cat. the rspca say the animals are now in their care. three, two, one, zero... and getting a reaction: british scientists break the record for creating energy from nuclearfusion. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the prime minister says the last remaining legal restrictions on covid—19 in england should be lifted within weeks — a month earlier than expected. borisjohnson told the commons that, as long as the data continues to be encouraging, england's rules requiring people with covid to self—isolate will come to an end. currently, anyone who tests positive must self—isolate

for at least five days. it will be just under two years since the first restrictions were imposed at the start of the pandemic. mrjohnson made the announcement during prime minister's questions: provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate, if you test positive, a full month early. mr speaker, this morning, i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later today. i asked our health correspondent nick triggle if the current covid data supported this move. there is lots of positive data and the trend is overall positive. hospital cases are going down, and despite the huge surge in infections we have seen because of the 0micron variant, the overall numbers of deaths that

have happened this winter aren't above what you would normally see in the winter. some surprise among experts about bringing this date forward. it was march 24th that self—isolation was going to end. and that is because infection levels remain pretty high. peter 0penshaw is professor of experimental medicine at imperial college london, and a member of nervtag — the group that advises the british government on new and emerging threats from respiratory viruses. do support this? i think this is a tolitical do support this? i think this is a political decision, _ do support this? i think this is a political decision, i— do support this? i think this is a political decision, i think - do support this? i think this is a political decision, i think what i do support this? i think this is a i political decision, i think what the scientists advising government have done is to present a number of different scenarios, but i quite appreciate that our elected representatives are those who actually have to decide what they want to do, based on pressures, not only from those of us who are very

concerned about the continued high rates of infections, and hospital admissions, and indeed deaths, those who are pressing for us to get back to normal. we all want to get back to normal. we all want to get back to normal. we all want to get back to normal. it is really a judgment about whether a's of a chore to do so at this stage. br; about whether a's of a chore to do so at this stage.— so at this stage. by singing as a tolitical so at this stage. by singing as a political decision, _ so at this stage. by singing as a political decision, it's _ so at this stage. by singing as a political decision, it's not - so at this stage. by singing as a political decision, it's not a - political decision, it's not a scientific decision? you like this is a scientific decision, —— i don't think this is a scientific decision. particularly with some parts of the community, society, children rates, for example, still very high, parents and teachers, though most people do have antibodies now, the vast majority of people who have antibodies because they have been if vaccines are in fact, that does not mean to say they are quickly resistant to infection and cannot transmit it to those who have not been vaccinated or can't respond to the vaccines. so i would absolutely

be double our advice that everyone should make sure they are fully vaccinated at this stage. 50 should make sure they are fully vaccinated at this stage. so what are the risks _ vaccinated at this stage. so what are the risks going _ vaccinated at this stage. so what are the risks going forward - vaccinated at this stage. so what are the risks going forward in - vaccinated at this stage. so what are the risks going forward in it | are the risks going forward in it the short to medium—term? this was always going to be scrapped, i think, next month, but nowjust brought forward three weeks? yes. brought forward three weeks? yes, contin t ent brought forward three weeks? yes, contingent on _ brought forward three weeks? yes, contingent on continue _ brought forward three weeks? yes contingent on continue to decline on the statistics, and i would say it is very encouraging to see the number of people testing positive declining, but then the number of people testing is declining as well. we do see a fall in the number of people admitted to hospital and that is a very encouraging as well. we are still seeing about 300 deaths per day and every single death, every single person admitted to hospital is a personal tragedy for somebody. {iii hospital is a personal tragedy for somebod . , hospital is a personal tragedy for somebody-— hospital is a personal tragedy for somebod. , , ., ., somebody. of course, but the age-old debate, or somebody. of course, but the age-old debate. orfor— somebody. of course, but the age-old debate, or for the _ somebody. of course, but the age-old debate, or for the debate _ somebody. of course, but the age-old debate, or for the debate of _ somebody. of course, but the age-old debate, or for the debate of the - debate, or for the debate of the past two years, with or along with, or of covid—19, do we have that breakdown of figures yet?

or of covid-19, do we have that breakdown of figures yet? there has been various — breakdown of figures yet? there has been various estimates _ breakdown of figures yet? there has been various estimates made - breakdown of figures yet? there has been various estimates made as - breakdown of figures yet? there has been various estimates made as a i been various estimates made as a proportion of people who have so—called incidental covid—19. what i would emphasise, speaking as a clinician, is that you often see people who have a disease like diabetes or perhaps someone who has borderline dementia who has an infection and they are completely knocked off their perch, so they are destabilised. the admission may be recorded for diabetes or heart failure, say, or dying death like dementia, but the reason they are being admitted is they have picked up being admitted is they have picked up covid and it has destabilised their condition. —— diabetes or heart failure or dementia. it is very complicated so i would not say the incidental covid—19 is a very important contributory to the solar assist defects to the success we now see them. we assist defects to the success we now see them. . ., , ., ., ., see them. we now stand at the moment in terms of herd — see them. we now stand at the moment in terms of herd immunity? _ see them. we now stand at the moment in terms of herd immunity? -- - in terms of herd immunity? -- statistics? _ in terms of herd immunity? » statistics? herd immunity is a rather slippery concept. the

question of whether there is enough community around to prevent onward transmission is really the question. at the moment, as long as a lot of people are testing for antibodies in the blood, but that does not necessarily mean they cannot get a local infection in their nose or long and therefore become sick and transmit it. it does mean that people are very, very unlikely to get very sedate —— severe disease, particularly with the relatively miles on a covariance and the said variants as well. —— relatively mild covid—19 variants. —— 0micron variant. we do want to remain cautious and we do not people going back to work if they are sick. whether it is influenza or covid—19, people should not be going round infecting people at work, people need to behave responsibly and to do all they can to not infect other people. all they can to not infect other

tteole. ., ~' all they can to not infect other tteole. ., ~ people. you, like so many scientists, _ people. you, like so many scientists, are _ people. you, like so many| scientists, are encouraging people. you, like so many - scientists, are encouraging people to get the vaccine if they have not done so already. just help us with this as well, because if vaccination not only protect people in wider society, but does it prevent other mutations or slow other mutations are from developing? that mutations or slow other mutations are from developing?— are from developing? that is absolutely — are from developing? that is absolutely at _ are from developing? that is absolutely at the _ are from developing? that is| absolutely at the expectation. are from developing? that is - absolutely at the expectation. the more cases that there are around in the world, the more likely it is that new mutations will develop. i think all of us are rather waiting with some trepidation for what's round the corner. we did not really anticipate these variants that have emerged and we do not want death what we do not know what the next variant is going to be like but we all hoped it would be a relatively mild variant in terms of this and the disease it causes, but there is no given rule that is going to tell you that that must be the case. it could be the next variant to hit us is going to be one which can both escape immunity and also cause severe disease for all we know.

thank you very much for your time and forjoining us, doctor peter 0penshaw. borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street after a new picture emerged of him at a gathering in december 2020. published by the daily mirror, the prime minister is pictured behind two staff, who are wearing tinsel and a santa hat, and near some food and an open bottle of champagne at what appears to be a christmas event. downing street is not saying what the bottle was. 0ur political correspondent iain watson has more on this latest development. a photograph emerged, there was already one, what the downing street press office has called a virtual quiz. 0f press office has called a virtual quiz. of the 152020, held under lockdown restrictions but the said, effectively, although the prime minister participated, there were a few rounds of the quiz. what they need has now is a photo showing an opened bottle of alcohol, and

eating crisps as well. perhaps not the most salubrious of celebrations, set nevertheless, a bottle of alcohol resembles per cycle, champagne, a bottle of bubbly, and this would suggest that this was an event that was largely social in nature which would have been against restrictions at the time. —— prosecco. the senior civil servant sue gray has looked at this event, the police as well, they did not think it was worth investigating. that is one of the ones they are not going and it make any further with at this stage, but what the have been suggesting is that this picture shows more evidence of perhaps looking at it. standing back from this, what it says politically is that even when borisjohnson's able to do the kinds of things, the certain kinds of things that should bring political rewards, getting rid of restrictions, coming out of the pandemic, he is still gay —— is

still plagued by partygate, and then is to me that is going to be playing in the minds of so mps, those who have not yet decided to submit the motions of no confidence. they may just be thinking, when it is going to end quiz maker with just one photograph away from a political crisis in downing street? the west ham footballer kurt zouma has had his two cats taken off him and has been fined two weeks wages afterfootage emerged of him kicking and hitting one of the animals. the rspca says the cats have been taken for a check—up at the vets and will remain in their care while an investigation is carried out. the footballer was booed when he played in his team's match against watford last night. let's speak to our sports correspondent 0lly foster. this is building. 80,000 signatures, now a sponsor pulling out. at, this is building. 80,000 signatures, now a sponsor pulling out.- now a sponsor pulling out. a hugely distressint now a sponsor pulling out. a hugely distressing video _ now a sponsor pulling out. a hugely distressing video when _ now a sponsor pulling out. a hugely distressing video when it _ now a sponsor pulling out. a hugely distressing video when it came - now a sponsor pulling out. a hugely distressing video when it came to i distressing video when it came to light, and west ham have been roundly criticised for his response

to it, they condemned their defender puzzling actions, and they will deal with it internally. that was yesterday, that did not stretch to them dropping their player for the last night's match against watford. what did not help with the look of this was that the manager, david moyes, said, why did he pick an? he was one of their best players, and it wasn't for him to decide to drop him. that has accelerated, you're right. a couple of the clubs' sponsors have threatened to sever ties with the clubs, vitalty, the wildest partner, said they are hugely disappointed by the club is myjudgment in response to the incident. they have suspended their sponsorship, so maybe that new maccas shop at west ham's thinking in the last set somewhat. we have had a fuller statement in the last hour, they say that kurt is extremely remorseful, devil in the

club understand the depth of feeling... some of the fans were even booing him during that match. separate to the rspca's investigation, they say, impending that sanction, once the outcome of that sanction, once the outcome of that process is determined, west ham can confirm that zuma has been fined the maximum amount possible following his actions, and that maximum amount is two weeks wages. —— zouma. that runs into a couple of hundred thousand pounds. that they say will donated definite will be donated to alpha animal welfare charities. they also went on to say to him that it is important to allow the rspca to conduct their own investigation. we know that essex police have also been involved. so the club could still pick him and we head forfuture games? the club could still pick him and we head for future games? was repeating or remembering, actually, what an expensive valuable player he is. yes, he is one of the best players,

central to their rise in the premier league, pushing for a place in the top four. that victory last night, he played all 90 minutes of the game against watford, they won 1—0, moving into the top four. no suggestion from the statement whether it will affect his playing career, they go to leicester on sunday. that is their next match, theyjust sunday. that is their next match, they just want to see how this separate investigation that plays out between the essex police and the rspca. as you were saying, his two cats have been taken into care, we have had a study the ongoing statement from the rspca this afternoon as well. they say they have been taken for checkups at a vet's and they will remain in the care while the investigation continues. they are grateful for everyone who expressed their concern for the cats, dealing with that issue before the video went viral online, they were dealing with it, and are leading the investigation. the are continuing to investigate, so will not comment further at this time. it is worth saying under the animal welfare act, it is a criminal

offence, cruelty to animals, but we will see how this plays out. briefly, how did this emerge online because kurt films at? it briefly, how did this emerge online because kurt films at?— because kurt films at? it was filled because kurt films at? it was filled b his because kurt films at? it was filled by his brother— because kurt films at? it was filled by his brotherjohann. _ because kurt films at? it was filled by his brotherjohann. he - because kurt films at? it was filled by his brotherjohann. he also - because kurt films at? it was filled by his brotherjohann. he also said he was very sorry for the incident. johann is a non—league player. in dagenham. it somehow surfaced on snapchat and that was where it was spotted and picked up by major publications. it was filmed at kurt zouma's house. and it is now the police and rspca investigation, and one of west ham's players has been fined somewhere in the region of £200,000. the mayor of london says the metropolitan police commissioner has 'days or weeks' to restore public trust in her leadership. sadiq khan told the bbc he wants

to see an urgent plan from dame cressida dick on how to deal with cultural problems within britain's biggest police force. it comes after the publication last week of a series of racist, mysoginist and homophobic messages exchanged by a group of her officers. my expectation is, the next time i see her, i want to see what her response is to the examples, not of one officer, of 14 officers being involved in racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, anti—semitic, islamophobic and the like behaviour, nine of whom are still serving. and secondly, what her plans are to win back the trust and confidence that has been both knocked and shattered as a consequence of these cases. and i make this point, in the words of the iopc, the independent office for police conduct, these cases are not historic, they are not isolated, and that is why it is important for the commissioner, when i next see her, to answer me those two big questions. earlier our correspondent greg mckenzie told me that though

the mayor didn't appoint the head of the met, his involvement was key. he will consult with the home secretary, priti patel, and his view is really looks upon as an endorsement, really, of the commissioner. now, back in 2017, the commissioner came to power, she got the position, one of the biggest jobs in the country, leaving a force of 43,000 officers, but it was actually last year, november, that she got an extension to her contract. her contract was due to come to an end in two months' time, april this year, but it was extended by two years. as for sadiq khan, and those comments you heard this morning, he is calling for media action, following that report was released last week. what we're finding is that commissioner is constantly apologising on behalf of her officers. these aren'tjust one or two incidents, we're talking serious, serious within the met

police and the goings on it, really, and the shenanigans happening behind closed doors, that the lad culture, if you like, the bullying, the sexism, the misogyny, the racism, homophobia, all of that coming to a head because of this iopc report that was released last week. the details were pretty shocking. you will have seen, some of those comments, but in terms of racism, we know that if you are black in london, you are nine times more likely to be stopped and searched by a metropolitan police officer. in terms of going forward, the mayor has simply said today, ultimately, giving her an ultimatum. has simply said today, ultimately, giving heran ultimatum. he has simply said today, ultimately, giving her an ultimatum. he has said, look, show the proof, the plan, what are you going do to change this force? we know he has already met with her last week, so he's due to meet her again this week, and one is expected that she will have the chat behind closed doors, i guess. you're watching bbc news.

the headlines on bbc news... the last covid restrictions in england — including the legal rule to self—isolate — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected. borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street, after a new picture emerged of him at a gathering in december 2020. as we just heard, the mayor of london tells the head of britain's biggest police force she has just days and weeks to show she can restore public trust in the force. mps have criticised the government's performance on delivering brexit, saying the only detectable impact so far has been an extra burden on businesses in terms of increased costs, paperwork and border delays. the cross party public accounts committee says a lot more work needs to be done to prevent further disruption. the government says it is ensuring businesses get the help they need to trade with europe and elsewhere. 0ur global trade correspondent chris morris reports.

0ur cows graze freely on pastures rich in nutrients... in the fields of devon, it all looks beautifully serene. this british cheese—maker used to export without any bureaucracy or delays to other countries in europe, but outside the eu things have become far more difficult. every shipment now needs a vet's certificate, a vet costs money. 0ur shipments tend to be quite small, you know, less than a pallet. and so that's quite a cost. the paperwork takes a lot of time. the person who's doing the paperwork has got 15 other things to do. and that's why the focus on britain's borders continues. the public accounts committee says trade volumes have fallen, partly because of the impact of covid, but the exit from the eu has clearly had an impact, and new border arrangements have added costs to business. smaller firms with fewer resources have been hit the hardest.

between the delays at the border, the extra costs and all the extra paperwork, a lot of businesses are saying that it's been a real struggle for them. so we've said to the government repeatedly, before brexit and again in this report, you need to step up and support the smaller businesses. they've concentrated on the volume businesses, the bigger ones that are doing the most trade with europe, but that's no consolation for those many people whose livelihoods, and sometimes jobs of other people, depend on their being able to do this trade with europe. the committee announced that a brexit support fund worth £20 million was initially created to help small businesses, but only 6.7 million was ever paid out, because it was so hard to access the money. and the government says it is continuing to help businesses trade with europe, including free advice from its export support service, but the committee wants more transparency and more focus on the practical problems firms are facing. 0utside dover, long queues of lorries have become the norm, part of a plan to make sure the town itself doesn't clog up. but the committee warns

it could get worse. it says there is potential for further disruption, as more people start travelling again, and passenger volumes at key ports like dover return to normal. there's also concern about extra delays later this year, when the eu introduces new passport controls and the uk starts physical checks on the import of food products. the government is taking a longer view. it talks enthusiastically about new trade deals elsewhere in the world, and says it plans to create the most effective border in the world by 2025. the committee calls that a noteworthy ambition, but optimistic, given where things stand today. chris morris, bbc news. joining me now is philip rycroft, who served as the permanent secretary at the department for exiting the european union from 2017 to 2019. did you price all of this in? it was all triced did you price all of this in? it was all priced in- _ did you price all of this in? it was all priced in. the _ did you price all of this in? it was

all priced in. the only _ did you price all of this in? it was all priced in. the only surprise i did you price all of this in? it was all priced in. the only surprise in | all priced in. the only surprise in my mind of this report is anybody who's surprised by it. it is a super —— an important report from an important committee, but what the committee is describing are the inevitable consequences of creating a new trade border with our major trading partner. 50 a new trade border with our ma'or trading mend a new trade border with our ma'or trading partner-d a new trade border with our ma'or trading partner. so are things going to improve? — trading partner. so are things going to improve? that _ trading partner. so are things going to improve? that is _ trading partner. so are things going to improve? that is a _ trading partner. so are things going to improve? that is a good - trading partner. so are things going. to improve? that is a good question, so inevitably — to improve? that is a good question, so inevitably teething _ to improve? that is a good question, so inevitably teething problems. i so inevitably teething problems. there are lots of businesses, in the region of 90,000, who are exporting businesses, who had never exported to anywhere other than the eu, to all of this is new to them, as well as for businesses importing from the eu. of course there are teething problems, but it is important to understand that there are long—term cost impacts of this. hmrc, the government's and agency estimated those impacts at £15 billion per

year. that's because of all of this new red tape, new proxy, customs forms, export health certificates, meeting rules of origin requirements and all the rest of it, that businesses have to wade through. this is expensive for them, it is difficult, some businesses will now be exporting or importing less, some will give up altogether, but the net effect is a drag on the uk economy. somebody has to pay all of those costs and ultimately, that's you and me, this consumer. bud costs and ultimately, that's you and me, this consumer.— me, this consumer. and the uk has two negotiate _ me, this consumer. and the uk has two negotiate with _ me, this consumer. and the uk has two negotiate with the _ me, this consumer. and the uk has two negotiate with the european i two negotiate with the european bloc. i wasjust looking two negotiate with the european bloc. i was just looking at some of the manufacturing figures, the car industry, for example, 80% of cars made here i think, are exported and 55% sent to the eu. what sort of discussions are taking place to try and make those deliveries and import easier? .,, and make those deliveries and import easier? ,. ,, ., , and make those deliveries and import

easier? ,. ,, .,, ., ,, easier? those discussions happen, that's the consequence _ easier? those discussions happen, that's the consequence we - easier? those discussions happen, that's the consequence we are i easier? those discussions happen, j that's the consequence we are now facing, as you say, a hugely important sector, like the auto industry, but many other sectors as well, having heard from that dairy farmer in devon. all of this was negotiated in the trade and cooperation agreement, this is the deal with got... cooperation agreement, this is the deal with got. . ._ cooperation agreement, this is the deal with got... dealwith got... forgive me, so the deal dealwith got... forgive me, so the deal. now — dealwith got... forgive me, so the deal, now signed _ dealwith got... forgive me, so the deal, now signed off, _ dealwith got... forgive me, so the deal, now signed off, obviously, i dealwith got... forgive me, so the deal, now signed off, obviously, so everyone knew when that deal was signed, everyone knew what this was going to involve?— going to involve? exactly. when i was working _ going to involve? exactly. when i was working in — going to involve? exactly. when i was working in the _ going to involve? exactly. when i was working in the department i going to involve? exactly. when i| was working in the department for exiting the eu, the economists i was working with that and estimate that was published of the impact of various sorts of brexit on the uk economy, and we estimated the brexit that we've got now would hit uk gp dp —— gdp over time by five or 6%. the office for budget responsibility has said that they reckon more recently the impact will be around 4%, so in the same ballpark. we have

known for a long time that sort of brexit we have got would cause these sorts of barriers to put in place between us and our major trading partner and that has benefits on the uk,. it makes uk business is less competitive than their counterparts in the eu, when they are trying to trade with the eu and that will have a knock—on effect and that's knock—on effects will continue. this is an expensive business. the key point here, this is new red tape and the government has an ambition of course, to use so—called brexit freedoms to reduce red tape and bureaucracy, and taking out a £15 billion worth of red tape, i can tell you, having worked in the better regulation, the government is an enormous challenge... 50 better regulation, the government is an enormous challenge. . ._ better regulation, the government is an enormous challenge... so what do ou think an enormous challenge... so what do you think about _ an enormous challenge... so what do you think about some _ an enormous challenge... so what do you think about some of _ an enormous challenge... so what do you think about some of those i you think about some of those political promises, and statements to this day about how trade, will we have a golden age of trade? the government _ have a golden age of trade? the government is _ have a golden age of trade? tie: government is promising all have a golden age of trade? ti2

government is promising all sorts of trade, and it has signed a couple, but let's put this into perspective, 4% down because of the new trade border with the eu, the deal we have done with australia is probably worth 0.08% of gdp. if, and it is a big if, if we did a deal with the us, that might be worth 0.16% of gdp. need an awful lot of united states of america to make up the loss we get for the new trade border in the eu, last i looked, there was only one us!— only one us! yes, and the new zealand trade, _ only one us! yes, and the new zealand trade, is _ only one us! yes, and the new zealand trade, is a _ only one us! yes, and the new zealand trade, is a trade i only one us! yes, and the new zealand trade, is a trade deal. only one us! yes, and the new| zealand trade, is a trade deal in principle. zealand trade, is a trade deal in atrincile. , zealand trade, is a trade deal in ttrincile. , zealand trade, is a trade deal in trtincile. , ., principle. yes, indeed, that new zealand's deal— principle. yes, indeed, that new zealand's deal is _ principle. yes, indeed, that new zealand's deal is probably i principle. yes, indeed, that new zealand's deal is probably net i zealand's deal is probably net negative for the uk. it will be very beneficial to new zealand and australia, both they think they're getting really, really good deals, which should give us pause for thought of why they think that is so wants to put that right by the think is so wonderful. the uk farmers do not think it is so great because of the threat to their ability to produce and sell particularly large

stock products. tats produce and sell particularly large stock products.— stock products. as we are finding recentl , stock products. as we are finding recently, there _ stock products. as we are finding recently, there are _ stock products. as we are finding recently, there are some - stock products. as we are finding j recently, there are some farmers stock products. as we are finding i recently, there are some farmers who have benefited, but most they would say they haven't. when you are in that department, what with the upsides of brexit, as far as you are concerned?— concerned? there is a very good question- _ concerned? there is a very good question. there _ concerned? there is a very good question. there wasn't - concerned? there is a very good question. there wasn't a - concerned? there is a very good question. there wasn't a whole l question. there wasn't a whole platter of them. if there had been, we would have known about that before now. the government published a report the other day about the benefits of brexit and i think most commentators are saying it's a pretty thing, a document, it doesn't take account of the downside is that i have been describing. but of course, there are some regulations that we have to put up with that came from the eu, that aren't great, for uk conditions, same as our sovereignty, and the chp itself, the common agricultural —— common agricultural policy, nor want to make that afresh. there are some domains of regulation, where we could do better. 0n the whole, all

of that is overshadowed by this bigger impact of the loss of competitive advantage we've got from coming out of the single market and having this new trade border put in place with our most important trade partner. place with our most important trade tartner. ., ., place with our most important trade tartner. ., ~' , ., place with our most important trade tartner. ., «i i. ., place with our most important trade tartner. ., «i ., ., , partner. thank you for 'oining us, philit partner. thank you for 'oining us, iniiip rycroft. * partner. thank you for 'oining us, philip rycroft. we i partner. thank you for 'oining us, philip rycroft. we just i partner. thank you forjoining us, philip rycroft. we just bring i partner. thank you forjoining us, philip rycroft. we just bring you i philip rycroft. we just bring you some breaking news for a court case. ian stuart has been found guilty of murdering his wife diane stuart who died at their home in batting point in cambridgeshire back in 20 ten. —— 2010. detectives announced they were reinvestigating her death after stewart was convicted of the murder of his fiancee jo black reports. ian stuart murdered his fiancee ellen bailey and dumped her body any cesspit. we now know he killed before. —— ellen bailey. six years earlier at 2010 and 1010 he murdered

his wife diane stuart and full medical professionals to professionals by suggesting she died by epileptic fit. in stuart said he went to the supermarket and when he returned to the family home here, said he found his wife had collapsed in the garden. tell! said he found his wife had collapsed in the garden-— in the garden. tell me what has happened? _ in the garden. tell me what has happened? my _ in the garden. tell me what has happened? my wife _ in the garden. tell me what has happened? my wife has - in the garden. tell me what has i happened? my wife has collapsed. in the garden. tell me what has - happened? my wife has collapsed. she is in the garden. _ happened? my wife has collapsed. she is in the garden. in _ happened? my wife has collapsed. she is in the garden. in this _ happened? my wife has collapsed. she is in the garden. in this 999 _ happened? my wife has collapsed. she is in the garden. in this 999 call, i is in the garden. in this 999 call, he describes _ is in the garden. in this 999 call, he describes finding _ is in the garden. in this 999 call, he describes finding his - is in the garden. in this 999 call, he describes finding his wife i he describes finding his wife unresponsive and not breathing. he is told to try and resuscitate her. he said he was trying to save her. although she took magic three make regular medication had not had a fit

for years, regular medication had not had a fit foryears, her death regular medication had not had a fit for years, her death was recorded as sudden unexplained death and epilepsy. her body was cremated, but she donated her brain to medical research. it would become crucial evidence in her child. her death is most likely caused by restriction of her breathing from an outside source. ~ ., her breathing from an outside source. . ., ., ., ., source. without that we would not been able to _ source. without that we would not been able to secure _ source. without that we would not been able to secure a _ source. without that we would not been able to secure a conviction, l been able to secure a conviction, and yes i was very pleased that we were able to take that away and do further examination, and also is important to remember that you know if she had died of natural causes, we would be able to tell family that their concerns and suspicions were unfounded. tbs, their concerns and suspicions were unfounded-— unfounded. a couple of years after diane's death, _ unfounded. a couple of years after diane's death, stuart _ unfounded. a couple of years after diane's death, stuart met - unfounded. a couple of years after diane's death, stuart met the i unfounded. a couple of years after i diane's death, stuart met the author helen bailey. they plan to get married, but in 2016 he secretly drugged her, suffocated her and dumped her body under the garage and

a plot to inherit a fortune. the main thing _ a plot to inherit a fortune. the main thing that _ a plot to inherit a fortune. the main thing that makes me really angry— main thing that makes me really angry as — main thing that makes me really angry as to think that had moore been _ angry as to think that had moore been done to find out what happened to her— been done to find out what happened to her then _ been done to find out what happened to her then my friend helen would still be _ to her then my friend helen would still be here. ian to her then my friend helen would still be here.— to her then my friend helen would still be here. ian stewart has been described as _ still be here. ian stewart has been described as manipulating, - described as manipulating, controlling and a narcissist, a man we now know is a danger to women he formed relationships with. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan. hello. some glorious sunshine across the uk this wednesday afternoon, but quite a chilly feel to proceedings for the majority as arctic air continues to seep its way southwards. we've still got a weather front hanging on to the south of the uk helping to keep the temperatures up a little more here, though. elsewhere, this area of low pressure swinging towards scotland looks like it could be particularly troublesome towards the end of the night and through thursday morning. a frost across northern britain, temperatures getting close to freezing further south.

generally a fine start for the lion's share of the uk on thursday, aside from scotland, where that low will bring some snowfall, potentially blizzard conditions for a time, winds gusting 50—60mph. there will also be some ice early on. below, though, away into the north sea by the afternoon. blustery day across the board, temperatures as you would read them on the thermometer sliding down the single figure scale. factor in the wind across scotland, it will feel subzero. hello this is bbc news. the headlines: the last covid restrictions in england — including the legal rule to self—isolate — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected. provided the current encouraging trend in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate, if you test

positive, a full month early. borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street, after a new picture emerged of him at a gathering in december 2020. the mayor of london tells the head of the met she has just days and weeks to show she can restore public trust in her police force and getting a reaction — british scientists break the record for creating energy from nuclearfusion. sport, and a full round up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. west ham have fined kurt zouma 2 weeks wages after the french defender was filmed hitting and kicking his pet cat , the fine will be donated to animal welfare charities. zouma apologised for what he called an isolated incident

that was videoed by his brother and ended up on social media. essex police are investigating as are the rspca who have taken both of zouma's cats into their care. the hammers say they will support any investigation but have been heavily criticized for allowing zouma to play in last night's win over watford he should be prosecuted, sacked. i am absolutely amazed that west ham paid him last night. it is basically condoning what he is done and saying, we will let you off, that is fine. if he assaulted someone in the street, he would not have played, so why is he playing just because it is an an animal? i am amazed at west ham, i thought they had a chance to make a stand and it is irrelevant that he is a footballer, this is about a human being and for him to play at last night in front of people, it is shocking. chelsea are playing

their first match at the club world cup in abu dhabi. the champions league winners come straight in at the semifinal stage and face saudi side, al hilal, the asian champions league winners. it's a 4.30 kick—off. the brazilians palmeiras are waiting in saturdays final. chelsea's captain cesar azpilicueta played in the 2012 final when they lost to corinthians. losing that one in 2012, it hurt a lot, and this is the only competition that the club didn't win, not myself. i think that winning for the first time for a club is huge, we have to make everything that we have to put it out on the pitch, it has a great meaning for everybody, for the fans, we represented europe. team gb's best hope of a medal on day 5 at the winter olympics was the reigning world champion charlotte bankes she was the favourite in the snowboard cross but was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

after a shaky start, bankes looked to have taken control of her race, but she was edged out in closing stages, finishing third with only the top two qualifying for the next round. it's every four years and we are on the big scene, and it's trying to, yeah, put our sport up there, and, yeah, everybody that's been supporting us, and this year hasn't been easy. covid has made it a bit more difficult, and, yeah, last month has been tough, trying to just get here. we knew it was a battle, and then kind of i thought that that was the biggest battle we were going to have, and just wanted to give it my best today, but it just didn't go my way. yeah, it's tough. team gb's farrell treacy was a surprise finalist in the 1500 metres short track speed skating. he could only finish fifth in his semifinal in beijing, but 2 other skaters were disqualified and that saw him promoted to the final, a first for him at his second 0lympics.

he was way off the pace though and dropped to the back of the field eventually finishing 9th of 10 starters. korea's hwang dehon took gold, butjust reaching the final is a huge bonus for treacy who receives no lottery funding and was a late arrival in china after battling coronavirus. to make an olympic final, you know, it's an achievement for me, you know, i probably didn't think it was going to happen, i didn't think i was going to be here at one point, four weeks ago, so to make an 0lympic final, you know, i guess, you know, it makes these games extra sweet, especially with how bad the first day was. the british formula one driver lando norris has signed a new deal that will see him stay at mclaren until the end of 2025. the 22—year—old finished sixth in last seasons standings with four podium finishes and he also claimed his first pole position as the team finished fourth in the constructors championship.

norris said that his new contract was a "a very strong message" about his faith in mclaren despite approaches from other teams. i have good confidence in the team and they have confidence in me, we want to achieve this together, want to win as mclaren in the championship with mclaren, and win races, release, and that is our goal, notjust my goal, our goal, and i'm happy to be saying if much longer, spending much time with the boys and girls here and old mclaren. new f1 season will be upon us before we know it. that's all the sport for now. more now on our breaking news: ian stewart has been found guilty of murdering his wife diane stewart who died at their home in bassingbourn, cambridgeshire in 2010. 0ur correspondentjo black is at huntingdon crown court for us. just talk us through what the scenes were like in court when this news

broke. , ., , were like in court when this news broke. , . , , broke. yes, in the last ten minutes, 15 minutes — broke. yes, in the last ten minutes, 15 minutes or _ broke. yes, in the last ten minutes, 15 minutes or so, _ broke. yes, in the last ten minutes, 15 minutes or so, we _ broke. yes, in the last ten minutes, 15 minutes or so, we have _ broke. yes, in the last ten minutes, 15 minutes or so, we have had i broke. yes, in the last ten minutes, 15 minutes or so, we have had a i 15 minutes or so, we have had a verdict here at huntingdon crown court, ian stewart guilty of the murder of his wife, diane stewart, backin murder of his wife, diane stewart, back in 2010, thejury had deliberated here at huntingdon for nearly ten hours, then he was asked to stand up in court and deliver the verdict of guilty. he did look over to his two sons who have been here throughout this trial, and those who might remember this case, serving life for the murder of the author helen bailey, he was his fiancee, he murdered her in 2016 and buried her and her pet dog in a cesspit under the garage at their hertfordshire

home he said he direct they would investigate the murder of his wife and 2010, the time ian stewart had fooled medical professionals into believing that she had died they wanted to re—examine that after the murder, and the investigation happened after the arrest, and the charge and he faced charge here at huntington court. she had a exam and her brain. she was cremated but she donated the brain to medical research. it showed her breathing had been restricted. as i say, in

the last 15 minutes or so we have had a verdict of guilty, and we are expecting some sort of reaction from the detectives who investigated the case and possibly from diane stewart's family. st case and possibly from diane stewart's family.— case and possibly from diane stewart's family. case and possibly from diane stewart's famil . �* ., , stewart's family. at the time of his wife's -- back _ stewart's family. at the time of his wife's -- back in _ stewart's family. at the time of his wife's -- back in 2010, _ stewart's family. at the time of his wife's -- back in 2010, which i stewart's family. at the time of his wife's -- back in 2010, which she i wife's —— back in 2010, which she called in for questioning and indeed arrested by police at the time, or not? it arrested by police at the time, or not? ., , arrested by police at the time, or not? . , . ., , ., arrested by police at the time, or not? . , _, , ., . not? it was considered to get death from natural _ not? it was considered to get death from natural causes. _ not? it was considered to get death from natural causes. most - not? it was considered to get death from natural causes. most of i not? it was considered to get death from natural causes. most of us i not? it was considered to get death from natural causes. most of us diej from natural causes. most of us die from natural causes. most of us die from natural causes. most of us die from natural causes, and honestly there was this narrative that she had epilepsy and she died suddenly. people were shocked, her neighbours were shocked, herfriends people were shocked, her neighbours were shocked, her friends were shocked, people had suspicions but it is treated as natural causes. there is a postmortem and everyone thought she died rather tragically from epilepsy. i'm just being told that sentencing is happening now, so when we know what is happening as a result of that will bring it to you.

scientists at a british laboratory have smashed the record for generating energy from a nuclearfusion reaction. the breakthrough marks a big step towards harnessing the energy source of the stars. nuclear fusion is the holy grail of energy production because it holds out the prospect of a virtually unlimited source of low carbon power. 0ur climate editor, justin rowlatt has been to the research centre in 0xfordshire where the reaction took place. two, one, zero. this is the record—breaking reaction. it is more than 150 million degrees centigrade. ten times hotter than the heart of the sun. and it happened here, the world's most powerful fusion plant, jet fusion, in culham in 0xfordshire. it is, say the team here, a landmark for this kind of technology. these results are really significant, because what we have managed to demonstrate insidejet is we can create a mini sun, the right kind of mini sun, hold it for a sustained period and get really good performance levels, which is a major step

forward, in terms of our quest to get to fusion power plants. most nuclear reactions use fission. that's when big unstable atoms, like uranium, are split in two, releasing lots of energy and radiation. fusion is different. it involves forcing atoms of hydrogen together, fusing them to create helium, as well as lots of energy and just a tiny bit of short—lived radiation. creating mini stars inside reactors like this is one of the greatest technological challenges humanity has ever faced. get it right and it holds out the potential for producing almost unlimited supplies of energy, pretty much forever. the key part of this reaction only lasts for five seconds, and only generated enough power for 60 kettles, but it is an important proof of the principles of fusion, but it means there is still lots of work to do. do you think we'll see commercial fusion in your lifetime? yes, i do think we will seek

commercial fusion in my lifetime. you are confident we will? yes, i am confident, i want to believe in it! so answer me this, why is it taking so long? it is hard, it is really hard, very complex but it's worth it and we just have to do it for the future. fusion energy is carbon—free, but it is not going to be ready in time to get us out of the climate crisis. that shouldn't stop this research, say supporters. the enormous promise fusion holds means we have got to keep working on it. justin rowlatt, bbc news, 0xfordshire. let's speak to our science correspondentjonathan amos. this sounds, i mean, truly amazing, doesn't it? clean and inexpensive. yeah, i mean, the thing about this, there is a joke about fusion, which is that it is 50 years away, and

it's been that way for 50 years. it is this long promise, as we heard there injust an's report, it is difficult, technically very challenging, what you're trying to do in essence is creative star on earth. in the core of the sun, which is what we're trying to replicate here, these reactions that occur inside our star, it is done at the tremendous pressures and temperatures of about 10 million degrees. we cannot achieve those pressures on us, but we can get a very high temperatures, over 100 million degrees, and that has also is the challenge is to go with it, any material on earth that will come into contact with that will immediately vaporise, so they have come up with this remarkable idea of basically building the reactions and holding them inside a magnetic field, it is shaped like a doughnut,

if you can imagine that, and you put this plasma, discharged gas and heat it and squeeze it inside this magnetic field, and that keeps it away from the walls of the reactor, and they do not melt, and they've been working on this technology for years and years and years, the critical thing here today is that they have managed to get a sustained reaction going for five seconds, and that really validates a lot of the assumptions, the idea is that they have, and that means now that they can take that next step to building something that is even bigger and better. �* ., something that is even bigger and better. . . ., , better. and a underworld first? yeah, better. and a underworld first? yeah. well. _ better. and a underworld first? yeah, well, there _ better. and a underworld first? yeah, well, there are - better. and a underworld first? yeah, well, there are other- better. and a underworld first? i yeah, well, there are other ways of doing fusion, they put little pellets of fuel in front of over 100 lasers and fire those lasers, squeeze everything down and try and make the fuel there fused together. this is kind of the way that we have

been doing it, certainly in this country and across europe, since the 19505, country and across europe, since the 1950s, the russians came up with this idea festival, but this is the largest energy outputs, sustained energy output, the anybody has ever been able to produce in a fusion device, and it is double the record, more than double the record, that this laboratory did way back in 1997, they are already building the next reactors, they are being built in the south of france, and all world governments, all the major world governments, all the major world governments, all the major world governments, government that represent 80% of the world's population, this includes the united states, china, russia, korea, and obviously eu member the united kingdom, they are all involved now in this big next—generation reactor that hopefully, in the next 20—30 years, will take us to the goal that we want to get to, which is to

extract useful energy out of these reactions. �* ., , reactions. brilliantly explain, thanks. it's emerged that many of the whatsapp messages, disclosed to the high court yesterday, which showed the reality television star rebekah vardy discussed leaking stories about coleen rooney to the press — shouldn't have been made public. the news came as the court hearing continues this afternoon. our correspondent sanchia berg is there for us. just talk us through what has been said in court. just talk us through what has been said in court-— said in court. well, it's not quite ritht to said in court. well, it's not quite right to say _ said in court. well, it's not quite right to say they _ said in court. well, it's not quite right to say they should - said in court. well, it's not quite right to say they should not i said in court. well, it's not quite| right to say they should not have been made public. what has emerged is that the lawyers for rebekah vardy did not intend for them to be disclosed to her opponents, to coleen rooney's legal team, but what happened if there is a software glitch that meant that when coleen rooney's team received all the whatsapp messages, they were able to read absolutely all of them, and i did notjust read them, but intense

you some of them in evidence, that is what they are arguing before the judge today. this is all about disclosure, which means that one party can get material about the other party, and what rebekah vardy�*s other party, and what rebekah va rdy�*s lawyers other party, and what rebekah vardy�*s lawyers are saying is that while they have been quite thorough, very thorough, in their disclosure to coleen rooney's team, they say that has not been reciprocated, and they're asking for much more information from that side. there is a is a bit of a to—and—fro with this kind of material, disclosure before a case like this, and certainly looks likely to go on for some time. the trial is currently scheduled for may, but there is a possibility that this could be delayed. what i would say is that the private messages which were released yesterday, which, as i say, could be released, because they were disclosed, although they were not intended to be disclosed, though there has been no mother to major revelation like that today, it has been much quieter, arguing about the legal

points. quieter, arguing about the legal toints. ., , , points. that sounds very confused. for those that _ points. that sounds very confused. for those that have _ points. that sounds very confused. for those that have not _ points. that sounds very confused. for those that have not been i for those that have not been following the story, how confused is the dispute between them? i following the story, how confused is the dispute between them?- the dispute between them? i didn't mean to make _ the dispute between them? i didn't mean to make it _ the dispute between them? i didn't mean to make it confusing. - the dispute between them? i didn't mean to make it confusing. this i the dispute between them? i didn't mean to make it confusing. this is| the dispute between them? i didn't| mean to make it confusing. this is a dispute that began three years ago... t dispute that began three years ato. .. ., , �* dispute that began three years ato... .,�* dispute that began three years ago... i wasn't saying that! i'm sor , ago... i wasn't saying that! i'm sorry. the _ ago... i wasn't saying that! i'm sorry, the to-and-fro, - ago... i wasn't saying that! i'm sorry, the to-and-fro, the i sorry, the to—and—fro, the legal debate. i wasn't accusing you of being confusing. trio. debate. i wasn't accusing you of being confusing.— debate. i wasn't accusing you of being confusing. no, ithink it is tuite being confusing. no, ithink it is quite confusing, _ being confusing. no, ithink it is quite confusing, in _ being confusing. no, ithink it is quite confusing, in the - being confusing. no, ithink it is quite confusing, in the sense i being confusing. no, i think it is. quite confusing, in the sense that if something is read out in", people might say to themselves, well, how come that shouldn't have been disclosed? it is to do with the process and what happens to be back happened was the lawyers are arguing it should have been allowed in the full trial, and as part of that they've been presenting it as evidence. it is part of the process, but obviously the nature of these messages, personal messages, described by many outlets as explosive, it is quite understandable why they were picked up, but i would like to go back and remind people where this began,

which was when coleen rooney believed that somebody was leaking messages based on her personal instagram posts, and she set out, as she put it, to find out who it was, to do her own investigation, so she restricted access to her post, she posted some fake messages, and by late 2019 she believed that she had found the culprit, rebekah vardy. she said it was rebekah vardy�*s account. rebekah vardy has denied this very strongly, that is how we have ended up at the high court with a big libel case, which, as i say, is due to be heard currently in may. it all sounds very expensive, as well. thank you very much. friday fully vaccinated holiday—makers will no longer need to be taking a covid test. some british

families are cancelling trips to spain because children six and never have to be double vaccinated to get in. here's our transport correspondent katy austin. ben and his family have great memories of the canary islands. they were looking forward to making more last year, but restrictions forced them to postpone to this february. now, children over 12 need two jabs to enter spain, so the holiday is off. unfortunately, the 12—year—old has onlyjust turned 12, so doesn't have his second vaccination yet. so we cancelled, only cancelled a few days ago, we thought we'd hold out until the 1st of feb, in case anything changed. but, yeah, unfortunately we had to pull the plug. ben is far from alone. travel agents say lots of people want to go away at the moment, but they're having to keep their customers informed of an ever—changing international patchwork of covid rules. spain, including the canaries, is usually a half—term hit. you can get a little bit of heat, wear your shorts, sit outside and eat. the rule barring over—12s with only

one or no vaccinations is having a big impact. 50% of our bookings were moved, because actually, it's all families. they'll move destinations or move dates and plan for easter. it's a headache for tourism businesses in the canaries. they want the spanish government to relax the restrictions, because many brits are heading for places like turkey or mexico instead. in tenerife, we have 2.5 million i british citizens every normal year. so, when we talk about christmas, when we talk about february, i we are talking about nearly 30% of the business. _ so that means this loss could be nearly 1,000 million _ euros if we do not take those measures out. i from friday, it will get a lot easier to come into the uk. fully—vaccinated travellers no longer to have to take any covid tests to enter this country, but people planning trips overseas still really need to know what the rules are at their destination, because every country has its own requirements.

and notjust for entry. in france, over—16s need a pass showing proof of vaccination to access certain activities, including getting a ski pass. unvaccinated 12—15—year—olds can take daily tests. tour operators still expect a bumper easter and summer, but many families who hoped for winter sun are having to wait a little longer. katy austin, bbc news. a new exhibition by a british asian photographer documenting a journey with her mother has opened in birmingham. maryam wahid visited pakistan to see where her mother grew up and to discover what her own life could have looked like. pria rai reports. it's titled zaibunnisa, her mum's maiden name before she came to the uk. it connected me with all those stories that i was told as a young girl about lahore and about her birthplace. somewhere maryam wanted to know more about. since i was six, seven years old, and i started to see another

world outside birmingham, you know, the family have only been able to see lahore in pictures. i couldn't help but really think about what my alternative life could have looked like when i visited lahore. and so in 2019 maryam made herfirst ever trip to pakistan and took her mum who hadn't been to herfamily home for more than 20 years. to be able to get that close to where they lived and the bed they slept on, the room that they ate in, was an amazing feeling, to go as far as going to pakistan and going to the border of india and pakistan, taking my mum with me, she swore she would never go back to pakistan, was as close as i was ever going to get to really recording my own story. it's not always easy to have a conversation about your past. maryam's parents came to this country. that can mean escaping conflict and leaving family behind, and that's not always easy to hear or share. but for maryam it was important to find out. we come from a very complex land. for my nan, when i learned

that she had migrated from srinagar to amritsar years before partition, that really fascinated me that as a woman she migrated with her mother at a really young age, and she then had to flee the country when the 1947 partition happened. having had a glimpse of life in lahore, back home in the midlands, maryam wanted to share her story, one lots of migrant communities would relate to and one of the gallery felt was important to share. the mac is absolutely driven to make sure that, particularly the fantastic diversity of the communities of birmingham, are seen on the screen, on the stage and on the walls of mac, and maryam was a huge example of that. we make a polaroid picture and look at also how vague those memories are. it definitely resonated with so many of my friends to have hardly been back to pakistan. i'll never be like people in pakistan. my cousins that are my age. but i'm so proud of my

pakistani origins. i have always celebrated my british and pakistani identity but i feel like it's so much more defined now. pria rai, bbc news, birmingham. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan. hello. some glorious sunshine across the uk this wednesday afternoon, but quite a chilly feel to proceedings for the majority as arctic air continues to seep its way southwards. we've still got a weather front hanging on to the south of the uk that will produce some drizzly rain for the evening and overnight, helping to keep the temperatures up a little more here, though. elsewhere, this area of low pressure swinging towards scotland looks like it could be particularly troublesome towards the end of the night and through thursday morning. a frost across northern britain, temperatures getting close to freezing further south. generally a fine start for the lion's share of the uk on thursday, aside from scotland, where that low will bring some snowfall, potentially blizzard conditions for a time, winds gusting 50—60mph. there will also be

some ice early on. below, though, away into the north sea by the afternoon. blustery day across the board, temperatures as you would read them on the thermometer sliding down the single figure scale. factor in the wind across scotland, it will feel subzero.

this is bbc news, i'm tim willcox. the headlines at 4: the last covid restrictions in england — including the legal rule to self—isolate — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected. provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate, if you test positive, a full month early. i think this is a political decision. i think what the scientist advising _ decision. i think what the scientist advising government have done is to present— advising government have done is to present a _ advising government have done is to present a number of different scenarios. but i quite appreciate that our— scenarios. but i quite appreciate that our elective wrecked —— elective _ that our elective wrecked —— elective to make elected representatives of those who decide what they— representatives of those who decide what they want to do.

borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street, after a new picture emerged of him at a gathering in december 2020. west ham fine kurt zouma after he was pictured filmed kicking his cat. the rspca say two cats are now in their care. a man serving a life sentence for the murder of his partner in 2017 is found guilty again — this time ian stewart is convicted for the murder of his wife diane stewart in 2010. the mayor of london tells the head of the met she has just days and weeks to show she can restore public trust in her police force. and getting a reaction: british scientists break the record for creating energy from nuclearfusion.

good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the prime minister says the last remaining legal restrictions on covid—19 in england should be lifted within weeks — a month earlier than expected. borisjohnson told the commons that — as long as the data continues to be encouraging — england's rules requiring people with covid to self—isolate will come to an end. it will be just under two years since the first restrictions were imposed at the start of the pandemic. 0ur political correspondent iain watson reports. there's been big changes behind the black door in downing street. but here's the question. have you done enough to save your leadership, prime minister? in an attempt to stave off further criticism from some of his own mps, borisjohnson has changed some of his ministers and some of his staff. today, he also changed some of his policies. mr speaker, i can tell the house today that it is my intention to return on the first day

after the half—time recess to present our strategy for living with covid—19. provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate if you test positive, a full month early. from the 24th of february, in england, you won't have to self—isolate for covid—19 any more than you would if you had a flu or severe cold, just as long as the data of infection rates doesn't get any worse. this is likely to reduce staff shortages, but it may also have done something for the prime minister's ownjob prospects. some of borisjohnson's own mps have called on him to go, and many more are considering whether tojoin them. the covid—19 restrictions were very unpopular with a section of his party, sweeping them away early will help his campaign to remain in downing street, but labour say that perhaps the announcement today isn't entirely driven by the science.

we would want to see what the scientific advice is on this. obviously, i only heard what is on this ——what the prime minister said today and we know that he's got motivation which is nothing to do with the science, but all to do with protecting his political position, to get some red meat his backbenchers. at the end of self isolation has come a little late for this health minister — gillian keegan said on social media she said she made an error ofjudgment by staying in a meeting after receiving a positive covid—19 result. the health secretary has accepted her apology, so she isn't expected to resign. ending covid—19 restrictions will be popular with many conservative mps, but what about the experts? this was news they weren't expecting. i think i was quite surprised this morning when i heard that news, certainly, we have seen infections drop quite noticeably in recent days, especially in children where case numbers are dropping really quickly. so, at some point, we will be wanting to remove the need to self—isolate, but i think we need

a few more days of data, yet, to be sure that recent decline is continuing. emerging from the pandemic and shedding covid—19 restrictions should bring political rewards, but the timing is proving controversial. iain watson, bbc news, westminster. earlier, i asked our health correspondent nick triggle if the current covid data supported this move. there is lots of positive data and the trend is overall positive. hospital cases are going down, and despite the huge surge in infections we have seen because of the 0micron variant, the overall numbers of deaths that have happened this winter aren't above what you would normally see in the winter. some surprise among experts about bringing this date forward. it was march 24th that self—isolation was going to end. and that is because infection

levels remain pretty high. let's take a look at the latest covid figuresthe number of recorded cases in the past 24 hours was 68,214 with 276 deaths within 28 days of a covid test. and 37,617,763 people have now received a boosterjab — that's 65.4 % of those aged 12 and over. the mayor of london says the metropolitan police commissioner has 'days or weeks' to restore public trust in her leadership. sadiq khan told the bbc he wants to see an urgent plan from dame cressida dick on how to deal with cultural problems within britain's biggest police force. it comes after the publication last week of a series of racist, mysoginist and homophobic messages

exchanged by a group of her officers. —— misogynists. my expectation is, the next time i see her, i want to see what her response is to the examples, not of one officer, of 14 officers being involved in racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, anti—semitic, islamophobic and the like behaviour, nine of whom are still serving. and secondly, what her plans are to win back the trust and confidence that has been both knocked and shattered as a consequence of these cases. and i make this point, in the words of the iopc, the independent office for police conduct, these cases are not historic, they are not isolated, and that is why it is important for the commissioner, when i next see her, to answer me those two big questions. we can speak now to susan hall, leader of the gla conservatives and chair of the police and crime committee in london. do you support the mayo's increased

pressure on cressida dick? {iii do you support the mayo's increased pressure on cressida dick? of course we all want — pressure on cressida dick? of course we all want to _ pressure on cressida dick? of course we all want to hear— pressure on cressida dick? of course we all want to hear what _ pressure on cressida dick? of course we all want to hear what she's i pressure on cressida dick? of course we all want to hear what she's got i we all want to hear what she's got to say about the 0pc report on what she is doing about it. i had today, i have seen a transcript, i didn't hear the mayor, but nine of the offices are still actually working for the mets, serving, and that to have been promoted, which obviously we would like answers to why that has happened. she we would like answers to why that has happened-— we would like answers to why that has happened. we would like answers to why that has hattened. . ., , �* , ., , has happened. she doesn't seem to be makint has happened. she doesn't seem to be making more — has happened. she doesn't seem to be making more apologies _ has happened. she doesn't seem to be making more apologies than _ has happened. she doesn't seem to be making more apologies than anything i making more apologies than anything else in statements over the past months and year. how much support for her is there within the gla? let me tut it for her is there within the gla? l2t me put it this way, changing the met commissioner is not going to magically solve the problems of policing, quite frankly. i'm appalled by the mayor because all he ever does is blame at somebody else when anything else goes wrong. what he should be doing, because it does make his responsibility, just make

it's his responsibility, to sit down with her, and see how they can make a difference. all he does is blame anybody when anything goes wrong. the buck shouldn't stop also with him, and he should be looking at her to work with her about how they can sort out some of these issues. did ou sort out some of these issues. did you support the met commissioner's stance for example on the sarah everard vigil?— stance for example on the sarah everard vigil? that was a difficult one. everard vigil? that was a difficult one- there _ everard vigil? that was a difficult one. there was _ everard vigil? that was a difficult one. there was lots _ everard vigil? that was a difficult one. there was lots of _ everard vigil? that was a difficult one. there was lots of different i one. there was lots of different aspects to that. i do not think to make the media show a certain size of it, the met commissioner at the time did come and talk to us about it. it was a very difficult situation. for her to find that one of her offices had done something like that was appalling for her. —— officers. we talked to her about it. but do you think the mayer�*s, today were unjustified because there was a political motivation for this, in

terms of his own position? but the jury terms of his own position? but the jury is still out on the met commissioner toshi's reacted in a detailed way to that report? welcome he renewed her— detailed way to that report? welcome he renewed her contract _ detailed way to that report? welcome he renewed her contract in _ detailed way to that report? welcome | he renewed her contract in september when we knew quite a few of the issues that were going on. so he must have had a confidence then it because of the eye 0pc report, so, he was maximally gone berserk over it. —— eye 0pc. removing her won't sort these problems now. we really have to see where these issues are within the met and come up with a solution. == within the met and come up with a solution. ~' solution. -- iopc. do you think he was wrong. _ solution. -- iopc. do you think he was wrong. in _ solution. -- iopc. do you think he was wrong, in your— solution. -- iopc. do you think he was wrong, in your words, - solution. -- iopc. do you think he was wrong, in your words, to i solution. -- iopc. do you think he was wrong, in your words, to go i was wrong, in your words, to go berserk over some of the whatsapped messages? tia. berserk over some of the whatsapped messa t es? ., ., berserk over some of the whatsapped messates? ., ., �* _ , messages? no, what i'm saying is if he thinks he — messages? no, what i'm saying is if he thinks he is _ messages? no, what i'm saying is if he thinks he is in _ messages? no, what i'm saying is if he thinks he is in trouble, _ messages? no, what i'm saying is if he thinks he is in trouble, he - messages? no, what i'm saying is if he thinks he is in trouble, he will i he thinks he is in trouble, he will lash out at anybody else instead of trying to help to look to the ways of solving issues, he will always look to how he can blame the nearest one available, so that the mud does not stick on him. i think he should

be being more proactive on how he can assist because at the end of the day, it is his response billeted to keep london say. he is a police and crime commissioner, he should be working with the met commissioner and the london police. iii working with the met commissioner and the london police.— and the london police. if you are in charte, and the london police. if you are in charge. would _ and the london police. if you are in charge, would you _ and the london police. if you are in charge, would you keep _ and the london police. if you are in charge, would you keep her? in - and the london police. if you are in charge, would you keep her? in a l and the london police. if you are in i charge, would you keep her? in a mac if i was in charge, i would be working with her, notjust throwing stones at anybody so that the most did not the uk's national terror threat level has been reduced but an attack remains likely. security and intelligence experts downgraded the threat from "severe" — where an attack is deemed to be highly likely — to "substantial" where an attack is deemed to be likely. home secretary priti patel said the assessment was based on the latest intelligence available. borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street after a new picture emerged of him at a gathering in december 2020.

published by the daily mirror, the prime minister is pictured behind two staff, who are wearing tinsel and a santa perhaps prosecco, at what appears to be a christmas event. our political correspondent iain watson has more on this latest development. another photograph's emerged, there was already one from this event, what the downing street press office has called a virtual quiz. december 15th 2020, held under lockdown restrictions but they said, effectively, although the prime minister participated, it was a few rounds of a quiz. what the mirror has now is a photo showing an opened bottle of alcohol, and something that looks like half—eaten crisps as well. perhaps not the most salubrious of celebrations! nonetheless, the bottle of alcohol resembles prosecco, champagne, a bottle of bubbly, and this

would suggest that this was an event that was largely social in nature which would have been against restrictions at the time. the senior civil servant sue gray has looked at this event, the police as well, they did not think it was worth investigating. that is one of the ones they are not going any further with at this stage, but what the have been suggesting is that this picture shows more evidence of perhaps looking at it. standing back from this a little, what it says politically is that even when borisjohnson's able to do the kinds of things, the certain kinds of things that should bring political rewards, coming out of the pandemic, getting rid of restrictions, he is still plagued by partygate, it is difficult to change that narrative. it is that that's going to be playing in the minds of so mps, ——some mps, those who have not yet decided whether to submit those motions of no confidence. they mayjust be thinking, "when it is going to end? arer we just one photograph away from a political crisis in downing street?"

we get more on the west ham footballer kurt zouma. he has had his two cats taken off him and has been fined two weeks wages afterfootage emerged of him kicking and hitting one of the animals. eight bengal cat. —— eight bengal cats. the rspca says the cats have been taken for a check—up at the vets and will remain in their care while an investigation is carried out. the footballer was booed when he played in his team's match against watford last night. let's speak to our sports correspondent olly foster. this is building, isn't it? yes, two weeks wages. _ this is building, isn't it? yes, two weeks wages. we _ this is building, isn't it? yes, two weeks wages, we have _ this is building, isn't it? yes, two weeks wages, we have learnt - this is building, isn't it? yes, two| weeks wages, we have learnt that this is building, isn't it? yes, two i weeks wages, we have learnt that in the last couple of hours, there is no small amounts, over £200,000. that will be donated to the street to animal welfare charities. but west ham have been roundly criticised with just how they have responded to this incidence since this video came to light, filled filmed by kurt zouma's brother in

his house, in which he was seen to be abusing one of his own pets, like you say, both his pet cats have been taken into care. but you mention that zuma played in that match last night, kamalwith that zuma played in that match last night, kamal with their win against watford, and that was hugely criticised. many people expected zouma to be dropped. yes, west ham had said they were going to be disciplining him internally, and that they condemn their player, but before and after the match, west ham's manager david moyes said that he picked his player, zouma, because he picked his player, zouma, because he was one of their better players and it gave them a better chance of winning the match. that was heavily criticised and he was booed and jeered. by both sets of supporters. that was at the london stadium, by both sets of supporters. we have had a fuller response from west ham, they say that they can confirm that they say that they can confirm that the club is supporting an rspca investigation, confirming that two—week fine in wages for zouma.

they say that, separate to the rspca's investigation, pending further sanction, the player has immediately accepted that fine and they would like to reiterate their combination of kurt's actions and they make it clear that the matter continues to be handled with the utmost seriousness. they are going to support an rspca investigation and essex police investigation. what might have sharpened their mind, you know, is that a number of club sponsors have threatened to sever ties with the club, over their handling of this. and a number of whom despite high—profile figures as well, have waded in, gary lineker of this parish, saying that it was a tone deaf decision for west ham are tone deaf decision for west ham are to play him last night. but tone deaf decision for west ham are to play him last night.— to play him last night. but as it sounds, to play him last night. but as it sounds. he _ to play him last night. but as it sounds, he can _ to play him last night. but as it sounds, he can still— to play him last night. but as it sounds, he can still play, - to play him last night. but as it. sounds, he can still play, conte? ollie, for now, thank you. —— can't he? a man who murdered his fiance has just been convicted of killing his wife six years earlier. in 2017, ian stewart was found

guilty of murdering the children's author helen bailey. in the last hour, he was convicted of killing 47—year—old diane stewart at their home in cambridgeshire and handed a whole—life order. jo black reports. ian stewart murdered his fiancee helen bailey and dumped her body in a cesspit. but we now know he had killed before. six years earlier in 2010, he murdered his wife diane stewart and fooled medical professionals by suggesting she died by epileptic fit. ian stewart said he went to the supermarket and when he returned to the family home here, said he found his wife had collapsed in the garden. in this 999 call, he describes finding his wife unresponsive and not breathing. he is told to try and resuscitate her.

he said he was trying to save her. the court heard stewart inherited £96,000 from his wife's bank accounts and life insurance. although she took regular medication and hadn't had a fit for years, her death was recorded as sudden, unexplained death in epilepsy. diane stewart's body was cremated, but she donated her brain to medical research. years later, that brain tissue would become crucial evidence in this trial, with some scientists suggesting her death was most likely caused by a prolonged restriction of her breathing from an outside source. without that, we would not have been able to secure a conviction, and yes, i was very pleased that we were able to take that away and do further examination. and also, it was important to remember that if she had died of natural causes,

we wanted to be able to tell family that their concerns and suspicions were unfounded. a couple of years after diane's death, stewart met the author helen bailey on a bereavement website. they planned to get married, but in 2016 he secretly drugged her, suffocated her and dumped her body in a pit below their garage in a plot to inherit her £4 million fortune. helen's friend margaret says stewart's latest trial has sickened her. the main thing that makes me really angry is to think that had more been done to find out what happened to her, then my friend helen would still be here. ian stewart has been described as manipulating, controlling and a narcissist, a man who we now know was a danger to the women he formed relationships with. jo black, bbc news. as we have just reported, he has been sentenced to a whole life tariff in the past few minutes.

mps have criticised the government's performance on delivering brexit, saying the only detectable impact so far has been an extra burden on businesses in terms of increased costs, paperwork and border delays. the cross party public accounts committee says a lot more work needs to be done to prevent further disruption. the government says it is ensuring businesses get the help they need to trade with europe and elsewhere. our global trade correspondent chris morris reports. our cows graze freely on pastures rich in nutrients... in the fields of devon, it all looks beautifully serene. this british cheese—maker used to export without any bureaucracy or delays to other countries in europe, but outside the eu things have become far more difficult. every shipment now needs a vet's certificate, a vet costs money. our shipments tend to be quite small, you know, less than a pallet. and so that's quite a cost. the paperwork takes a lot of time.

the person who's doing the paperwork has got 15 other things to do. and that's why the focus on britain's borders continues. the public accounts committee says trade volumes have fallen, partly because of the impact of covid, but the exit from the eu has clearly had an impact, and new border arrangements have added costs to business. smaller firms with fewer resources have been hit the hardest. between the delays at the border, the extra costs and all the extra paperwork, a lot of businesses are saying that it's been a real struggle for them. so we've said to the government repeatedly, before brexit and again in this report, you need to step up and support the smaller businesses. they've concentrated on the volume businesses, the bigger ones that are doing the most trade with europe, but that's no consolation for those many people whose livelihoods, and sometimes jobs of other people, depend on their being able to do this trade with europe. the committee announced that a brexit support fund worth £20 million

was initially created to help small businesses, but only 6.7 million was ever paid out, because it was so hard to access the money. and the government says it is continuing to help businesses trade with europe, including free advice from its export support service, but the committee wants more transparency and more focus on the practical problems firms are facing. outside dover, long queues of lorries have become the norm, part of a plan to make sure the town itself doesn't clog up. but the committee warns it could get worse. it says there is potential for further disruption, as more people start travelling again, and passenger volumes at key ports like dover return to normal. there's also concern about extra delays later this year, when the eu introduces new passport controls and the uk starts physical checks on the import of food products. the government is taking a longer view. it talks enthusiastically about new trade deals elsewhere in the world, and says it plans to create the most effective border

in the world by 2025. the committee calls that a noteworthy ambition, but optimistic, given where things stand today. chris morris, bbc news. scientists at a british laboratory have smashed the record for generating energy from a nuclearfusion reaction. the breakthrough marks a big step towards harnessing the energy source of the stars. nuclear fusion is the holy grail of energy production because it holds out the prospect of a virtually unlimited source of low carbon power. our climate editor, justin rowlatt has been to the research centre in oxfordshire where the reaction took place. two, one, zero. this is the record—breaking reaction. it is more than 150 million degrees centigrade. ten times hotter than the heart of the sun. and it happened here, the world's most powerful fusion plant, jet fusion, in culham in oxfordshire.

it is, say the team here, a landmark for this kind of technology. these results are really significant, because what we have managed to demonstrate insidejet is we can create a mini sun, the right kind of mini sun, hold it for a sustained period and get really good performance levels, which is a major step forward, in terms of our quest to get to fusion power plants. most nuclear reactions use fission. that's when big unstable atoms, like uranium, are split in two, releasing lots of energy and radiation. fusion is different. it involves forcing atoms of hydrogen together, fusing them to create helium, as well as lots of energy and just a tiny bit of short—lived radiation. creating mini stars inside reactors like this is one of the greatest technological challenges humanity has ever faced. get it right and it holds out the potential for producing almost unlimited supplies of energy, pretty much forever. the key part of this reaction only

lasts for five seconds, and only generated enough power for 60 kettles, but it is an important proof of the principles of fusion, but it means there is still lots of work to do. do you think we'll see commercial fusion in your lifetime? yes, i do think we will seek commercial fusion in my lifetime. you are confident we will? yes, i am confident, i want to believe in it! so answer me this, why is it taking so long? it is hard, it is really hard, very complex but it's worth it and we just have to do it for the future. fusion energy is carbon—free, but it is not going to be ready in time to get us out of the climate crisis. that shouldn't stop this research, say supporters. the enormous promise fusion holds means we have got to keep working on it. justin rowlatt, bbc news, 0xfordshire. doctor amy gandy, senior lecturer in nuclear materials engineering at the university of sheffield explained what this development means for the future

of our energy supply. as you heard in a report there, it is very, very challenging, so it does make a very difficult technology to harness. we are not going to be able to connect fusion power to the grid any time soon, but the uk government have committed a lot of funding for their own energy production programme, which hopes to demonstrate that we can get electricity from fusion by 201i0, ambitious target. so there are an awful lot of challenges, but is very efficient as we had before, in that you can't have a runaway chain reaction. the fusion process is inherently different, so rather than splitting up on the part we had to force them together. an awful lot of energy is required to do that. —— splitting the atom is a part. we are to get more energy out to be put in. these results that we were seeing an answer today, show a significant way forward for us to actually be able to achieve that. ms

forward for us to actually be able to achieve that.— forward for us to actually be able to achieve that. is this wild new or has this been _ to achieve that. is this wild new or has this been done _ to achieve that. is this wild new or has this been done elsewhere? i to achieve that. is this wild new or has this been done elsewhere? so to achieve that. is this wild new or i has this been done elsewhere? so the device were talking _ has this been done elsewhere? so the device were talking about _ has this been done elsewhere? so the device were talking about jet, - has this been done elsewhere? so the device were talking about jet, is i device were talking aboutjet, is the only fusion device in the world that allows us to mix the actual fuel that we are going to use for future fusion reactors. they did a similar experiment in 1987, but the inside of that fusion device was very different to what it looks like now. —— 1997. very different to what it looks like now. “1997. the upgraded jets so it looks like it is the fusion of the future. allowing us to test real—life conditions, and also, as we said in the reports, they have doubled the amount of energy that is produced back in 1987, so in terms of producing conditions that are going to be like the future fusion reactors, this is a world first. this is really exciting. the foreign secretary liz truss is flying to moscow today to urge the kremlin to reduce tensions over ukraine.

more than 100,000 russian troops are massed on the ukrainian border, with fears that an invasion could be imminent. the russian ambassador to the eu has told the bbc russia may implement counter sanctions if nato and western allies impose new punitive measures on moscow. from ukraine, our diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports. russian air defence missiles on the ground in belarus close to ukraine, brought here all the way from the far east of russia, for vast military exercises due to begin tomorrow. the west fears this could all be part of preparation for an invasion. russia says the exercises are nothing to fear. they had been preannounced since last year and of course, after they are finished, the troops will return to their own permanent stations. the troops, perhaps, but no word on the equipment, unless that leaves too, the sense ofjeopardy remains. but in the meantime, russia says

it is interested in talking. we certainly believe there is still room for diplomacy. the french leader, emanuel macron, visiting the ukrainian president yesterday said russia had indicated a willingness not to escalate further. a kremlin spokesman said no guarantees had been given. by holding a gun to the head of this country, ukraine, russia has forced the west into a debate which it says it wants into wider european security. it has onlyjust begun, but it is still not clear if it is enough to avert a crisis. and while the doubt and the anxiety linger, the west contintues to take precautions. hundreds of american troops have now arrived in south—eastern poland, a visible show of support from a nervous nato ally. nato says it will not fight in ukraine but more american weapons arrived in kyiv this morning. across the border, russian long—range bombers patrol the skies over belarus. the kremlin says the exercises

will be larger than usual. nato calls them the biggest since the cold war. pauladams, bbc news, kyiv. the way things feel it is changing. cold arctic wearers and working its way across the uk throughout the week so far. it is sitting behind this band of cloud is currently to the south of the uk, a weather front would drop a little rain around southern counties in the next few hours, our story really refers to say friday's what the conductor cable to across the uk, and you'll see an area of low pressure across scotland, through this small hours of thursday, will see some tricky conditions here in terms of ice, just about staying above across

southern and potentially blizzards across the high ground, there will be snow in the wind is a definite feature, gusts of 50—60 miles an hour. elsewhere breezy, but fine, lots of sunshine, stray showers of the north wales, you must brace itself for the way temperatures will feel, as cross got to appeal subzero. hello this is bbc news. the headlines: the last covid restrictions in england — including the legal rule to self—isolate — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected. borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street, after a new picture emerged of him at a gathering in december 2020. west ham fine kurt zouma after he was pictured filmed kicking his cat. the rspca say the animals are now in their care.

ian stewart has been found guilty of murdering his wife diane stewart who died at their home in bassingbourn, cambridgeshire in 2010. the mayor of london tells the head of the met she has just days and weeks to show she can restore public trust in her police force. sport, and a full round up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. west ham have fined kurt zouma two weeks wages after the french defender was filmed hitting and kicking his pet cat, the fine will be donated to animal welfare charities. zouma apologised for what he called an isolated incident that was videoed by his brother and ended up on social media. essex police are investigating as are the rspca who have taken both of zouma's cats into their care. a number of sponsors have threatened to cut ties with the club. the hammers say they will support

any investigation but have been heavily criticised for not dropping zouma from the side that beat watford last night. the manager david moyes said he played because he is one of their best players. it makes it hard, because footballers are not commodities that can be bought and sold, therefore it has to be taken into consideration, and also if a footballer is good and there is no doubting that kurt zouma is a good footballer, the rewards they can bring to a football club, west ham are trying hard to qualify for the champions league. if they do that, it is worth a minimum of £30 million, if they persist the tournaments it could be worth up to £400 million, so there is something they owners of the club and the senior management have to take into

consideration. cheslea are playing their first match at the club world cup in abyu no goals yet, i know thomas tuchel who is self isolating with covid. the brazilians are waiting. team gb�*s best hope of a medal on day 5 at the winter olympics was the reigning world champion charlotte bankes she was the favourite in the snowboard cross but was knocked out in the quarterfinals. after a shaky start, bankes looked to have taken control of her race, but she was edged out in closing stages, finishing third with only the top two qualifying for the next round. it's every four years and we are on the big scene, and it's trying to, yeah, put our sport up there, and, yeah, everybody that's been supporting us, and this year hasn't been easy. covid has made it a bit more difficult, and, yeah, last month has been tough, trying to just get here. we knew it was a battle, and then

kind of i thought that that was the biggest battle we were going to have, and just wanted to give it my best today, but it just didn't go my way. yeah, it's tough. team gb�*s farrell treacy was a surprise finalist in the 1500 metres short track speed skating. he could only finish fifth in his semifinal in beijing, but 2 other skaters were disqualified and that saw him promoted to the final, a first for him at his second olympics. he was way off the pace though and dropped to the back of the field eventually finishing 9th of 10 starters. korea's hwang dae—heon took gold, butjust reaching the final is a huge bonus for treacy who receives no lottery funding and was a late arrival in china after battling coronavirus. to make an olympic final, you know, it's an achievement for me, you know, i probably didn't think it was going to happen, i didn't think i

was going to be here at one point, four weeks ago, so to make an olympic final, you know, i guess, you know, it makes these games extra sweet, especially with how bad the first day was. the british formula one driver lando norris has signed a new deal that will see him stay at mclaren until the end of 2025. the 22—year—old finished sixth in last seasons standings with four podium finishes and he also claimed his first pole position as the team finished fourth in the constructors championship. i have good confidence in the team and they have confidence in me, we want to achieve this together, want to win as mclaren in the championship with mclaren, and win races, release, and that is our goal, notjust my goal, our goal, and i'm happy to be saying if much longer, spending much time with the boys and girls here and old mclaren. still goalless in the club world cup semi final between chelsea and al

hillard. we'll have updates on that an excel file. let's return to our top story and the news that the prime minister says the last remaining legal restrictions on covid—i9 in england should be lifted within weeks — a month earlier than expected. peter openshaw is professor of experimental medicine at imperial college london, and a member of nervtag — the group that advises the british government on new and emerging threats from respiratory viruses. he said the decision by the prime minister was political. i think this is a political decision, i think what i think the rates among children, particularly, although most people have antibodies now, the mass majority has them because they hope

then activated, then a resistance to infection, and can't respond sponsor the vaccines. i would absolutely redouble our advice to make sure they are fully vaccinated at this stage. so what are the risks going forward in the short to medium—term? this was always going to be scrapped, i think, next month, but nowjust brought forward by three weeks? yes, i tihnk contingent on continued decline in the statistics, and i would say it is very encouraging to see the number of people testing positive declining, but then the number of people testing is declining as well. we do see a fall in the number of people admitted to hospital and that is a very encouraging as well. i'm concerned we are still seeing about 300 deaths per day and every single death, every single person admitted to hospital is a personal tragedy for somebody. of course it is, but the age—old

debate, or debate of the past two years, with or along with, or of covid—i9, do we have that breakdown of figures yet? there have been various estimates made as a proportion of people who have so—called incidental covid. what i would emphasise, speaking as a clinician, is that you often see people who have a disease like diabetes or perhaps someone who has borderline dementia, they get an infection and they are completely knocked off their perch, as you might say so they are destabilised. the admission may be recorded for diabetes or heart failure, or dementia, but actually the reason they are being admitted is they have picked up covid and it has destabilised their condition. it is very complicated, so i would not say that incidental covid is a very important contributor to the statistics as we now see them. where do we now stand at the moment in terms of herd immunity?

herd immunity is a rather slippery concept. the question of whether there is enough infection or, rather, immunity around to prevent onward transmission is really the question. at the moment, as long as a lot of people are testing for antibodies in the blood, but that does not necessarily mean they cannot get a local infection in their nose or long and therefore become sick and transmit it. it does mean that people are very, very unlikely to get very severe disease, particularly with the relatively mild omicron and the ba variants as well. we do want to remain cautious and we do not people going back to work if they are sick, whether it is influenza or covid—i9, people should not be going round infecting people at work, people need to behave

responsibly and to do all they can to not infect other people. you, like so many scientists, are encouraging people to get the vaccine if they have not done so already. just help us with this as well, because if vaccination not only protects people in wider society, but does it prevent other mutations or slow other mutations are from developing? that is absolutely at the expectation. the more cases that there are around in the world, the more likely it is that new mutations will develop. i think all of us are rather waiting with some trepidation for what's round the corner. we did not really anticipate these variants that have emerged and we do not want death what we do not know what the next variant is going to be like but we all hoped it would be a relatively mild variant in terms of this and the disease it causes, but there is no given rule that is going to tell you that that must be the case.

it could be the next variant to hit us is going to be one which can both escape immunity and also cause severe disease for all we know. 15 people have been arrested in india following protests against a ban on wearing the islamic headscarf in college. the controversy began when hijab wearing students were denied entry to their schools in the state of karnataka. the state has now shut down all high schools and colleges for three days. the chief minister for the state has called for peace and harmony. anbarasan ethirajan reports. an act of defiance amid heckling by a group of young hindu men. the video of this muslim student standing against a crowd taunting her, as support on a ban on the hijab has gone viral. translation: india is a unified country so everyone is free i to practice their religion. they are following their culture and i am following mine.

they should allow us to follow our culture and not put obstacles. muslim women in parts of karnataka state say they are not being allowed to attend classes because of the hijab. they argue that the headscarves are part of the religious faith. here, hindu students arrive at schools with saffron hats and shawls. this colour is seen as a hindu symbol. they oppose their student colleagues for wearing the headscarf. there are concerns that outside organisations may be instigating the protests. a place of learning has now become a battleground for the two communities. translation: we asked them not| to wear the hijab when they attend. they knew what we had told them, and today they came wearing the hijab. we are not allowed inside the college now, and that is unfair. the hindu nationalist bjp government insist that all schools should follow the dress code, and that there is no place for religious slogans in schools.

and now, the protest in karnataka state are attracting global attention. the education activist malala yousafzai says... opposition parties allege the policies of the governing hindu nationalist bjp are discriminating against religious minorities. but the government denies the allegations. muslim students say they don't want to be stigmatised because of their religion. anbarasan ethirajan, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news: the last covid restrictions in england — including the legal rule to self—isolate — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected. borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street, after a new picture emerged of him at a gathering in december 2020. west ham fine kurt zouma after he was pictured

filmed kicking his cat. the rspca say the animals are now in their care. the charity carers trust is calling for greater support and recognition from the government for the millions of unpaid carers in the uk, who provide vital help for loved ones in need. the charity says many unpaid carers often have to juggle their responsibilities with work, and need access to respite breaks and a carer�*s allowance. tim muffett reports. mark has kennedy's disease. a type of motor neurone dizzying that is making his muscles weaker and weaker. he was diagnosed eight years ago and is totally reliant on his wife katie. it is really intrinsic support, coming to terms with it is a step in the right direction. if i'm left alone, which i am sometimes, i can't do anything

because if i fall over, or i get stuck on the toilet or something like that, i'm stuck and i have to phone someone to come and get me. katie had to give up herjob as a geography teacher to care for mark. she now gets a carer's allowance of £67 per week. it starts from the moment that mark wakes up to the moment that he goes to bed and then even then, i am still worrying he might wake up in the night or need me or something like that. so you are never off duty. i haven't had any respite, so any breaks from mark at all for eight, nine years since he has been diagnosed. i haven't gone off and had a weekend with friends or anything like that. it doesn't happen. you know, not even half an afternoon or something like that. there are an estimated 7 million

unpaid carers like katy in the uk. it is thought around three in five people will be in this position at some point in their lifetime. some are spending an average of 50 hours or more per week caring for a relative. many are struggling financially. almost half of unpaid carers told us they had to give up work or cut down their hours because of their caring responsibilities. many struggle to pay their bills, they struggle to make ends meet. three in ten unpaid carers told us they had to skip meals, they had to go without food. there are now renewed calls for carer's allowance to increase and for more respite and support. the government says it recognises the vital role carers play and that it is investing up to £25 million to improve the existing measures designed to help them. tim muffett, bbc news. from friday, fully vaccinated holiday—makers will no longer need to take a covid test when they arrive back in the uk. but britons travelling abroad will still need to follow the rules

that apply at their destination. some british families are cancelling half term trips to spain because teenagers over 12 have to be double jabbed to get in, and many are not. here's our transport correspondent katy austin. ben and his family have great memories of the canary islands. they were looking forward to making more last year, but restrictions forced them to postpone to this february. now, children over 12 need two jabs to enter spain, so the holiday is off. unfortunately, the i2—year—old has onlyjust turned 12, so doesn't have his second vaccination yet. so we cancelled, only cancelled a few days ago, we thought we'd hold out until the 1st of feb, in case anything changed. but, yeah, unfortunately we had to pull the plug. ben is far from alone. travel agents say lots of people want to go away at the moment, but they're having to keep their customers informed of an ever—changing international patchwork of covid rules.

spain, including the canaries, is usually a half—term hit. you can get a little bit of heat, wear your shorts, sit outside and eat. the rule barring over—12s with only one or no vaccinations is having a big impact. 50% of our bookings were moved, because actually, it's all families. they'll move destinations or move dates and plan for easter. it's a headache for tourism businesses in the canaries. they want the spanish government to relax the restrictions, because many brits are heading for places like turkey or mexico instead. in tenerife, we have 2.5 million i british citizens every normal year. so, when we talk about christmas, when we talk about february, i we are talking about nearly 30% of the business. _ so that means this loss could be nearly 1,000 million _ euros if we do not take those measures out. . from friday, it will get a lot easier to come into the uk. fully—vaccinated travellers no longer to have to take any covid tests to enter this country, but people planning trips

overseas still really need to know what the rules are at their destination, because every country has its own requirements. and notjust for entry. in france, over—16s need a pass showing proof of vaccination to access certain activities, including getting a ski pass. unvaccinated i2—15—year—olds can take daily tests. tour operators still expect a bumper easter and summer, but many families who hoped for winter sun are having to wait a little longer. katy austin, bbc news. are rising prices a present to the so called gifting economy? as the cost of living soars in america, so has the use of gifting platforms such as the buy—nothing project. buy—nothing is one of a number of social media driven schemes to help people give away things they don't need. it also enables people to pick up many essential items for free. michelle fleury reports from the local buy—nothing group in her neighbourhood of brooklyn.

these cushions were all from buy nothing. that end table, this chair. this man moved into his new apartment last month. i got a book about gothic cathedrals, which i love, which i was able to scrap and start turning into an art installation piece. when he saw how much it would cost to furnish it, he joined his local buy nothing group on facebook, where people offer unwanted items for free. being a part of this group has been incredible because all the basic necessities are there and then some. he saved a lot. inflation in the us has soared and the price of living room, kitchen and dining room furniture like you hope to buy has jumped more than i7%. you got a lot. i did get a lot. huge savings. when i did some calculations, it ended up being about $2000 worth of stuff. full disclosure, i belong to one of those groups where members give things away for free. maybe like me you have tonnes of stuff you are not necessarily using any more that could be useful

to somebody else. and with inflation in america at levels not seen in nearly 40 years, these groups are seeing a surge in popularity. the buy nothing project certainly acts as a social safety net for families and entire communities. the buy nothing project has seen its membership double over the last two years to more than 5.3 million. it added an app to cope with demand. people are getting much more comfortable with it. it is becoming a behavioural change we are seeing within communities. a lot of people are saying, i don't know how i survived without this. with soaring inflation and the stresses of the pandemic, gift—giving services like these have become a financial and emotional lifeline for some. we probably have seen about a 15% increase in posts every day. deron bealfounded freecycle, where members offer some 20,000 items each day. freecycle and the sort of community spirit that you have for freecycle

is a good alternative for folks to save a little bit of money and also may be re—gift items instead of throwing them away, to help others out who might be in need. a real wood frame and real glass in, it's a painting. as a protection from inflation, finding free items online has its limits. there is no guarantee that what you want is available when you need it. but that hasn't stopped this man being amazed by what people are offering. there is another dining table set. michelle fleury, bbc news, new york. if you've been to cornwall recently, did you overhear anyone speaking the cornish language or notice any cornish street signs? the language is enjoying something of a resurgence with nearly 6000 school children getting a taste of it in their lessons. martha dixon takes a look at why cornish is becoming so popular. cornwall, the stunning peninsula at the far west of england, largely spoke the celtic language

of cornish until around 500 years ago. across this land, the cornish language slowly disappeared as the anglo—saxons spread west and english took over. up until ten years ago, the un said cornish was extinct. but that's now changing. cornish schools are now part of a new big push to increase the number of speakers. nearly 6000 pupils are now signed up to a new programme mixing cornish into lessons and everyday life. if you want to say hello to someone you can say "dydh da". and if you want to say "how are they" you can say "fatla genes". it's cool because you can tune into the cornish language. fatla genes. the number of adults learning cornish has also gone up dramatically. going online has led to hundreds of people accessing classes,

and more than 20001earners are now registered on apps. it has just gone crazy. we have had so many more learners. this massive surge as opened up opportunities for more people to be employed, be actually working towards something that has a real value to it now. many new learners are from cornwall�*s diaspora population. i live in boston but my dad's side of the family is from cornwall and, a few years ago, we had to go to cornwall and we really started to plug in after that with facebook. after the pandemic, everything went online and i have been able to take several cornish language courses every week. so now we use cornish every day in my house. so how do you bring back a dead language? street signs in cornish raise awareness. it is all part of a plan by cornwall council to bring cornish into people's lives.

the council's head of cornish language also wants more technology. he is testing another new app with a cornish speaker. we were asked by other endangered languages in europe to take part, like basque and like sami, because they were interested in the impact an app could have on small, critically endangered language like cornish with a small number of speakers. we don't have any teachers, people don't hear the language, and an app means people can practise at home in their own time. he sings in cornish. and local musicians are also embracing the cornish language. will keating, who has a globalfollowing, now sings with cornish words. so i find singing in the cornish language is really expressive. and the feedback i've got from all over the world is so positive. those cornish communities around the world that speak the cornish language, but also from visitors to cornwall who have never heard the cornish language before, they really take to it and they are

really pleased to hear it. martha dixon, bbc news, cornwall. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. it's been positively balmy across counties of the uk in recent days, temperatures 12 and i3 counties of the uk in recent days, temperatures 12 and 13 degrees best of the sunshine sitting to the north of the sunshine sitting to the north of this weather front, but with the sunshine we have been pulling in colder arctic air, so there has been a price to pay. that's well you saw there on the satellite picture is what is going to get really interesting overnight tonight and into thursday morning, for scotland it's a little area of low pressure thatis it's a little area of low pressure that is going to kick up some strong winds and feeding some quite frequent snow showers. to the sales we've still got some miles are rare, just clinging on into the small hours, i think it will stop us

getting a frost across the sudden most reaches of the uk, temperatures close to freezing, below freezing across scotland, plenty of showers there, risk of ice first thing thursday, then the slow to move its way through, and it will do so. probably some of the worst of it coming through in line with the morning rush hour, snow i think mostly confined to the highest ground, but nonetheless a lot of driving rain, blizzard conditions for higher rates, pity scuttling 50-60 for higher rates, pity scuttling 50—60 miles an hour, elsewhere across the uk, is the front pulls away from the south, we are left with a lot of sunshine, but it will be up blustery day, a few showers been carrying of the irish sea to the north—west of england, north wales, perhaps you're in for the midlands. we have to think about the strength of the window we look at the temperatures, this is how you would read them on a thermometer, low in the south, then they have been today, factoring in the wind it's going to feel so much colder, and across scotland i think widely will feel subzero. that little logo clear off to towards scandinavia

overnight thursday and friday, then it is very quiet indeed thanks to a ridge of high pressure. the wind dies out, and temperatures fall like a stone into the early hours of friday. very widespread and hard frost to start the day. blue skies and sunshine, a beautiful looking start to the day, could just be the chance of patches of freezing fog developing for a while early on, hazy sunshine in the west later as research assistant cloud drifting in. a chilly a little more than friday, the combination of temperatures edging up to the touch, but title wind which i think will be critical. we are not done with the wind as we look to saturday and sunday, it will strengthen up again, quite a complicated area of low pressure set to roll across the uk through saturday and sunday, wettest i think towards the north—west on saturday, then some heavy rain for the the south—east on sunday.

this is bbc news, i'm ben brown. our headlines at five. the last covid legal restrictions in england — including the rule on self—isolating — are set to end within weeks, and a month earlier than had been expected. provided the current encouraging trends _ provided the current encouraging trends in — provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation we will be able to end the _ my expectation we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including _ end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self—isolate if you test positive, a full month — self—isolate if you test positive, a full month early. i self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early.— full month early. i think this is a olitical full month early. i think this is a political decision. _ full month early. i think this is a political decision. what - full month early. i think this is a political decision. what the i political decision. what the scientists advising the government has done is to present a number of different scenarios but i appreciate

our elected representatives are those who have to