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 - 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 decide what they want to do. borisjohnson is facing more pressure over allegations of parties at downing street, as a new picture emerges of him at a gathering in december 2020. west ham fine kurt zouma two weeks wages after he was pictured filmed kicking one of his cats. the rspca say the animals are now in their care. ian stewart — who'd already been convicted of murdering his fiancee — is now also found guilty of murdering his first wife six years earlier. 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—i9.

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—i9 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—i9 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 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—i9 result. the health secretary has accepted her apology, so she isn't expected to resign. ending covid—i9 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—i9 restrictions should bring political rewards, but the timing is proving controversial. iain watson, bbc news, westminster. ijust want i just want to bring you ijust want to bring you some breaking news now about downing street parties than scotland yard have now said they are reviewing their assessment that the christmas quiz at number ten on december the 15th twenty20 did not meet the threshold for a criminal investigation, so they are reviewing that decision, that is after this picture surfaced of the prime minister near what looks like a bottle of champagne and that picture has emerged on the daily mirror and scotland yard are now seeing as a result of that they are reviewing their assessment that the christmas quiz at number ten back in 2020 just

before christmas, december the 15th, reviewing the assessment it did not meet the threshold of criminal investigation, so sounds like they are adding that to their list of parties that they are investigating. let's go straight to our political correspondent alex forsyth at westminster. that will be unwelcome news in downing street, the news that scotland yard are reviewing that scotland yard are reviewing that assessment. it that scotland yard are reviewing that assessment.— that scotland yard are reviewing that assessment. it definitely will. it is addin: that assessment. it definitely will. it is adding onto _ that assessment. it definitely will. it is adding onto the _ that assessment. it definitely will. it is adding onto the list _ that assessment. it definitely will. it is adding onto the list of - that assessment. it definitely will. it is adding onto the list of those l it is adding onto the list of those alleged gatherings and parties in downing street that the metropolitan police are already looking into. just a bit of context, we had the section of prime minister's questions today that you heard about in the report opening with the prime minister saying the covid regulations he hopes will be lifted a month earlier than expected. the hope from downing street as things are going to move on but midway through the session of prime minister's questions mp started to look at their phones as this latest

photograph of the event from the 15th of december emerged. it is a second photograph of this event and the event was previously known about an downing street said it was a virtual quiz and the prime minister dropped in and took part of only a part to thank the staff and during prime minister's questions raise this photograph with the prime minister which shows him, an open bottle of alcohol on the table, another official with tinsel around his neck and said, is this going to be passed to the police, and the prime minister said this is already part of what had been looked at by the metropolitan police who were previously investigating this specific event. now as you say we have had the statement from the metropolitan police showing they are reviewing this decision but above everything else that shows now that no matter how much downing street is trying to move on, they cannot escape this damaging saga which has plagued the prime ministerfor so long and cost so much damage. you mentioned what the prime minister

announced that prime minister's questions, that the last covid restrictions in england will be lifted a month early. some scientists are saying, that is a pretty na kedly scientists are saying, that is a pretty nakedly political decision pretty na kedly political decision rather than pretty nakedly political decision rather than a decision based on the science. �* ., ,., ., ., science. and labour have made the same point — science. and labour have made the same point so _ science. and labour have made the same point so i _ science. and labour have made the same point so i spoke _ science. and labour have made the same point so i spoke to _ science. and labour have made the same point so i spoke to wes - same point so i spoke to wes streeting, the labour shadow health secretary this afternoon, who said this is politicking, the prime minister trying to dig himself out of a political hole with an announcement that would no doubt please some of the conservative backbenchers. it is worth saying that within downing street they are saying this was always the direction of travel in the view of the prime minister and the health secretary, that they never wanted the restrictions to be in place any longer than necessary in saying this is a decision that was informed by the data which they have received on a regular basis and at the moment this is the plan from the prime minister, we are going to get the final details of what is expected when we returned from the parliamentary recess a week on monday when we expected prime minister to set out what life living

with covid looks like. the accusation is that the timing of today announcement was political because of course the prime minister has had so much turmoil within his party, he is trying to shore up support within his party, but what the prime minister is trying to do is move on from the story of so—called party gate and we come back to the point of the photograph emerging today ideally to statement from the metropolitan police makes it very difficult for him to do that. �* , . ~ . it very difficult for him to do that. �* , ., ~' ., , it very difficult for him to do that. �*, . ~ ., , ., ., that. let's talk a bit more now the remise that. let's talk a bit more now the premise of's _ that. let's talk a bit more now the premise of's announcement - that. let's talk a bit more now the premise of's announcement that l that. let's talk a bit more now the l premise of's announcement that the lateral remaining legal restrictions on covid in england should be lifted in weeks, a month earlier than had been expected, on march 24. 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 told my colleague tim willcox what he thought of the announcement by boris johnson. i think this is a 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. it is really a judgment about whether it's premature to do so at this stage. by saying as 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 vaccinated or infected 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 redouble our advice that everyone should make sure they are fully vaccinated at this stage. one of the scientists today saying that the payments are's decision to end the last covid restrictions in england a month earlier than expected as a political decision. our health correspondent naomi grimley is here. the prime minister when he made this announcement in the commons said as long as the encouraging data continues, but as the data are encouraging and is it likely to continue?— continue? let's start with hospitalisations. - continue? let's start with hospitalisations. in - continue? let's start with hospitalisations. in the i continue? let's start with i hospitalisations. in the last continue? let's start with - hospitalisations. in the last seven days a number of patients in hospital with covid have dropped by

10%. if you look at the numbers are in ventilated beds, the most seriously ill, it is now at around 440, much less than it was a couple of months ago, and a world away from the kind of numbers we saw last year. when it comes to infections, there is a slightly mixed picture but this afternoon we had the office for national statistics infections survey and i think you can see on the graph we will put up that infections do appear to be rising and all uk nations they are rising, and all uk nations they are rising, and they have risen for the second week in a row, so you can see on the graph they kicked up then fell very dramatically but now there is this kind of nikkei tech which is them edging back up, so northern ireland won in 13 the virus, one and 19 in scotland and one in 25, so some experts say that is still too high

to think about restrictions lifting. let me just ask you, whether the idea of ending the last restriction than england, does that put us out of step with other countries dealing with covid? , ~ of step with other countries dealing with covid? , ,, ., , . with covid? yes, i think it does. we would be the _ with covid? yes, i think it does. we would be the first _ with covid? yes, i think it does. we would be the first developed - with covid? yes, i think it does. we | would be the first developed country to be going down that route and the only others i can think of is in denmark at the moment you don't have to self—isolate if you are asymptomatic, you only have to self—isolate bylaw if you are displaying symptoms. the same in south africa, that changes come in recently. sajid javid has said previously in the house of commons that he wants the uk to lead the world showing how to live with covid. as we were saying there might be an element of politics mixed in as well. the west ham footballer kurt zouma has had his two cats taken away from and has been fined a fortnight�*s wages after footage emerged of him kicking and hitting one of the pets. the rspca is looking after the cats

and they'll remain in its care while an investigation is carried out. zouma was booed by both sets of supporters when he played in his team's match against watford last night. natalie pirks reports. it baffles me, the decision to play him. this is such a serious case of animal cruelty. it was a man kicking and slapping a defenceless, fragile animal. - the chorus of condemnation grows ever louder for west ham. fans in the london stadium made their feelings known from the moment kurt zouma touched the ball last night. booing. but with the defender playing, west ham won the match and kept a clean sheet. i'm a human being and i'm also a great animal lover, so i understand how people feel. but again, as i said, i'm the football manager here, and i have to find a way of getting the results here. and kurt zouma is one of the key players to us. the video, which we've decided not

to fully show, is upsetting. zouma can be seen kicking his cat across the kitchen while his brotherfilms, laughing. zouma also slaps the cat in the face in front of one of his children. in a statement, zouma apologised, saying, "there are no excuses for my behaviour, which i sincerely regret. i also want to say how deeply sorry i am to anyone who was upset by the video." he added that his two cats "are loved and cherished by our entire family and this behaviour is an isolated incident that will never happen again." everyone expected him not to be in the team, in the squad at the stadium for last night's game. and when the starting xi was announced an hour before the game and he was there, there was a lot of shock. itjust brings the club into more disrepute. the outcry on social media was swift. former footballer ian wright called zouma "a coward." gary lineker called west ham's decision to play him "tone deaf." and wildlife presenter chris packham said, "animal abuse must never be sidelined

at the expense of entertainment." as a cat owner myself, i was completely appalled to see the video, the sheer level of violence that kurt zouma was showing towards his cat is completely disgraceful. i think whilst he has apologised, ultimately at blue cross we would like to see him prosecuted. natalie pirks, bbc news. and just a follow—up to that story, in the last few seconds we have heard that adidas have dropped kurt zouma. they have said in a statement that mike "we have concluded our investigation and can confirm kurt zouma is no longer an adidas contracted athlete." thatis that is another big blow to kurt zouma, already fined two weeks wages, his two cats taken off him and put into our spca care, he has

been booed by his own fans, west ham united fans and watford fans at that game last night and now he has been dropped by adidas who are his boots sponsor. they have concluded an investigation into what happened, the footage emerging of him kicking one of his cats, and they are saying they can confirm, adidas, can confirm that kurt zouma is no longer one of their contracted athletes. joining me now is nigel currie, a sponsorship and marketing consultant. i suppose it's not a huge surprise that a sponsor like i did this would drop kurt zouma. it is that a sponsor like i did this would drop kurt zouma.— drop kurt zouma. it is not a surprise _ drop kurt zouma. it is not a surprise me _ drop kurt zouma. it is not a surprise me to _ drop kurt zouma. it is not a surprise me to disarming i drop kurt zouma. it is not a - surprise me to disarming pretty quickly. sponsors tend to take their time with these things but i think the story is moving quickly and i think adidas have moved very quickly indeed. find think adidas have moved very quickly indeed. �* . think adidas have moved very quickly indeed. . . , , ., indeed. and what will be they are thinkin: ? indeed. and what will be they are thinking? they — indeed. and what will be they are thinking? theyjust _ indeed. and what will be they are thinking? theyjust don't - indeed. and what will be they are thinking? theyjust don't want . indeed. and what will be they are thinking? theyjust don't want to | indeed. and what will be they are i thinking? theyjust don't want to be associated with somebody who has

been seen, and the footage has gone completely viral, kicking a cat? yes, he has been proven to be guilty straightaway. the evidence is there, he has done something terribly wrong. the club have not really reacted and certainly the sponsors are beginning to react now. let’s are beginning to react now. let's talk about _ are beginning to react now. let's talk about sponsors _ are beginning to react now. let's talk about sponsors of _ are beginning to react now. let's talk about sponsors of west ham united as well, i think vitality, one of the club's sponsors, have distanced themselves from west ham and that follows the decision by west ham to select him to play in that game last night. gary lineker was saying, that was a tone deaf decision, but it has huge implications notjust for kurt decision, but it has huge implications not just for kurt zouma the player but for west ham the club. it the player but for west ham the club. . , the player but for west ham the club. .,, ., , the player but for west ham the club. ., ., , ,., ., ,, the player but for west ham the club. ., ., , ., ,, ., club. it was absolute madness for the club to _ club. it was absolute madness for the club to select _ club. it was absolute madness for the club to select him _ club. it was absolute madness for the club to select him last - club. it was absolute madness for the club to select him last night. | the club to select him last night. the story was brewing. it is just going to get bigger and bigger now. west ham have suffered as well because one of their sponsors,

vitality, has taken a similar stance. sponsors don't want to be associated with controversy and this is a big controversy now. the wait has been handled has been so bad, the situation is only going to get worse. and as it your experienced at sponsors, and are usually lots of sponsors, and are usually lots of sponsors for players and clubs, they fall like dominoes as it were. {lime fall like dominoes as it were. once one they all _ fall like dominoes as it were. once one they all go? — fall like dominoes as it were. once one they all go? exactly, - fall like dominoes as it were. once one they all go? exactly, they - fall like dominoes as it were. once | one they all go? exactly, they don't like bein: one they all go? exactly, they don't like being associated _ one they all go? exactly, they don't like being associated with _ one they all go? exactly, they don't like being associated with things i like being associated with things like being associated with things like this, it is a bad news story for the player, bad news story for west ham, and sponsors are running for the exit. west ham, and sponsors are running for the exit-— for the exit. they run for the exit but it is your _ for the exit. they run for the exit but it is your experience - for the exit. they run for the exit but it is your experience that - for the exit. they run for the exit| but it is your experience that they eventually come back for once there has been some tarnished reputations they don't want to come back? that is u- to they don't want to come back? that is up to them- _ they don't want to come back? trust is up to them. sometimes they do come back but very often there are plenty of other options for them, so it is a serious situation west ham have got themselves into and it is one they needn't have got into. is

one they needn't have got into. is there anything that they as a club and him as a player can do now is to try to make good some of the reputational damage that has already been done in? thea;r reputational damage that has already been done in?— been done in? they are running to catch u- been done in? they are running to catch up now _ been done in? they are running to catch up now because _ been done in? they are running to catch up now because what - been done in? they are running to catch up now because what they i catch up now because what they should have done last night was banned him, not picked him for a couple of matches, let the situation dry down. what they have done is find him and all that has done is highlight how much the player gets paid and everybody is reacting to that equally badly.— that equally badly. good to talk to ou, thank that equally badly. good to talk to you. thank you — that equally badly. good to talk to you, thank you very _ that equally badly. good to talk to you, thank you very much - that equally badly. good to talk to you, thank you very much indeed, j that equally badly. good to talk to i you, thank you very much indeed, a sponsorship and marketing consultant, and reaction to the news that adidas, kurt zouma's sponsor, have dropped him in the last couple of minutes. a man who murdered his fiancee has now been convicted of killing his wife six years earlier. in 2017 ian stewart was found guilty of murdering the children's author helen bailey. well, this afternoon, he's also been convicted of killing 47—year—old diane stewart at their home in cambridgeshire — and given a whole—life sentence.

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. tell me what has happened? my wife's had a fit, i think... she's 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. more breaking political news in the last few seconds, just hearing that downing street has announced more changes, part of the shake—up promised by the prime minister and

we heard from the cabinet secretary the immediate appointment of samantha jones as interim permanent secretary. currently prime minister's expert advisor on nhs transformation and social care, samantha jones willjoin the new chief of staff steve barclay, the new director of communications go to harry and the new head of the policy unit. just coming into us from westminster. let's get some reaction to that. we can talk now to neil hudson who is the conservative mp for penrith and the border, thank you forjoining us. first of all, can i get your reaction to that, we have just heard that news that there has been more changes announced, the interim permanent secretary samantha jones. as all of these sorts of

appointments announced by the government in the last few days, in terms of the government shake—up at downing street, does that help the prime minister move on, do you think? i prime minister move on, do you think? ~' prime minister move on, do you think? ~ , .., ., think? i think it is encouraging ro . ress think? i think it is encouraging progress is — think? i think it is encouraging progress is being made - think? i think it is encouraging progress is being made in - think? i think it is encouraging i progress is being made in terms think? i think it is encouraging - progress is being made in terms of sorting things out in downing street, that was one of the clear recommendations from the grey report so i am encouraged that is happening but unfortunately there are parallel events going on through this, that the democratic process and democracy in general still being paralysed well the whole downing street party issueis well the whole downing street party issue is being investigated. so we are moving forward but still we have are moving forward but still we have a frustrating period because we haven't got closure on what has happened. haven't got closure on what has happened-— haven't got closure on what has hauened. . . , , happened. and we are 'ust seeing that picture * happened. and we are 'ust seeing that picture released _ happened. and we are just seeing that picture released by _ happened. and we are just seeing that picture released by the - happened. and we are just seeing| that picture released by the mirror today, from december 2020, christmas quiz december the 15th 2020, with the prime minister in very close proximity to what looks like a bottle of champagne. how disturbed are you by an image like that adding

to everything else we know about downing street parties and gatherings?— downing street parties and ttatherins? ., ., ., gatherings? the more and more evidence and _ gatherings? the more and more evidence and photographs - gatherings? the more and more evidence and photographs and i gatherings? the more and more - evidence and photographs and reports that come out, the more upsetting it is. i have been shocked and appalled by what has gone on in downing street. people up and down the land were obeying the public health rules in good faith and doing the right thing and often in very personally tragic circumstances where they couldn't visit friends and relatives in hospital, and in awful situations, and the concept that the people making the rules at the heart of government were potentially breaking those rules, that concept is completely abhorrent and i think we need to get closure on this and move forward. find we need to get closure on this and move forward-— move forward. and how do we get closure on — move forward. and how do we get closure on this? _ move forward. and how do we get closure on this? and _ move forward. and how do we get closure on this? and what - move forward. and how do we get closure on this? and what should | move forward. and how do we get i closure on this? and what should the prime minister du? are you one of those tory mps who are thinking of sending a letter to graham brady, chairman of the 1922 committee, a letter of no confidence? i am

chairman of the 1922 committee, a letter of no confidence?— letter of no confidence? i am a veterinary _ letter of no confidence? i am a veterinary surgeon _ letter of no confidence? i am a veterinary surgeon and - letter of no confidence? i am a veterinary surgeon and i - letter of no confidence? i am a veterinary surgeon and i am i letter of no confidence? i am a i veterinary surgeon and i am trying to look at things in an evidence—based fashion and i've tried to do that as i moved into the political sphere and unfortunately we do not have the full evidence before us. i was incredibly frustrated that these are grey report could not be published in full. i do understand that the metropolitan police wanted to do their investigation but what i am really calling for is for that full report to be published in full and the metropolitan police investigation to be done quickly, thoroughly so we can get the full evidence out there and at that point we can make the evidence—based decisions and make judgments. we can make the evidence—based decisions and makejudgments. if we can make the evidence—based decisions and make judgments. if the decisions and make 'udgments. if the prime minister — decisions and make 'udgments. if the prime minister gets— decisions and make judgments. if the prime minister gets a _ decisions and make judgments. if the prime minister gets a fine, a fixed penalty notice, will he have to resign? i penalty notice, will he have to resitn? . , , . ., resign? i have been very clear, if rules have _ resign? i have been very clear, if rules have been _ resign? i have been very clear, if rules have been broken - resign? i have been very clear, if rules have been broken and - resign? i have been very clear, if rules have been broken and if. resign? i have been very clear, if| rules have been broken and if the law has been broken, it doesn't matter who you are or how senior you are there has to be serious consequences, so let's look at the evidence. that is what i have really been wanting to get to that stage, where we can get closure and make the decisions from there.— where we can get closure and make

the decisions from there. thank you very much. — the decisions from there. thank you very much. many — the decisions from there. thank you very much, many thanks. _ the high court has heard that private whatsapp messages from rebekah vardy to her former press agent were used selectively in a speech yesterday by the barrister for coleen rooney during the latest hearing in so called wagatha christie case. mrs vardy�*s own barrister said some messages had been misinterpreted. sanchia berg has been following the case. so, yes, what happened today was that mrs barbet�*s barrister said that mrs barbet�*s barrister said that some of those whatsapp messages were being used in a rather selective way and didn't quite mean what they had been said to mean. for example, one message where she was said to have referred to someone as a nasty pitch, her barrister said she wasn't referring to coleen rooney in that message so she said,

you had to see the messages in their entirety to understand the best picture. i'mjust entirety to understand the best picture. i'm just remind people, entirety to understand the best picture. i'mjust remind people, but this is the latest instalment of a long—running battle between these two women which began three years ago when coleen rooney is thought that somebody who had access to her private instagram posts was using it as a source of stories for the tabloid papers and she set up what she called a sting operation where she called a sting operation where she posted some fake stories, where she posted some fake stories, where she gradually reduce the number of people who had access to demand that we identify the person she believed the culprit. she named the culprit as rebecca barbet�*s instagram accounts, something rebekah vardy absolutely denied and this has led ultimately to the libel case and it is scheduled for may but may very well get delayed because of the complexity of hearings gone through now. currently they are about disclosure and what was quite interesting, it emerged today that quite a lot of those messages that

were read out in court yesterday had been obtained through disclosure by mrs rooney's legal team. rebekah vardy�*s legal team hadn't intended to disclose those at all and try to redact them but there had been a problem with the computer software and so the entirety of the messages had been sent over and was published and read out in court in the way that it was and both sides are still asking for more material to be released but there is a long way to go it seems before the trial itself. thank you very much for that update. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. -- matt —— matt taylor. there is worse to come as we go through tonight and into tomorrow, let me just show you the pressure charts because we are focusing on this area of low pressure swing and overnight with strengthening winds as we go through

into tomorrow morning. winds picking up into tomorrow morning. winds picking up tonight with more still to come, wintry showers in northern ireland and north—west england. cloud and outbreaks of rain becoming confined to the channel islands but the wind strengthening and into the morning gales across the western isles, 50-60 gales across the western isles, 50—60 mph through the morning rush hour. stop the temperature dropping too much about the risk of some ice around with the temperature a few degrees above but tomorrow morning, rain, sleet and snow still blowing around scotland, to gale force winds pushing his words. blustery with sunshine and showers for northern ireland, northern england and north and west wales. sunny conditions for the afternoon here and he went picking up but through the afternoon the wind is transferred into eastern scotland and making it feel sub—0 across the northern half of the country. hello this is bbc news. the headlines.

the met police are reviewing its assement of a new picture that has emerged of the christmas quiz that took part in downing street in december 2020. the police have previously agreed it did not meet the threshold for investigation. 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. ian stewart — who'd already been convicted of mudrering his fiancee — is now also found guilty of murdering his wife six years earlier. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's 0lly foster. more on the follower of the kurt zouma affair. west ham have fined kurt zouma two weeks wages, an estimated £250,000, after the french defender was filmed

hitting and kicking his pet cat, the fine will be donated to animal welfare charities. 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 criticised for not dropping zouma from the side that beat watford last night. a number of sponsors have threatened to cut ties with the club. adidas have ended their own association with zouma, saying he is no longer a contracted athlete. the manager david moyes said zouma 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 proceed in 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. chelsea are playing their first match at the club world cup in abu dhabi, the uefa champions league winners are facing saudi side, al hilal, the asian champions. romelu lukaku has given them the lead 1—0 brazilians palmeiras are waiting in saturday's final. 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 was the biggest battle we were going to have, and just wanted to give it my best today, but itjust 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 semi—final in beijing, but two 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 finsihing 9th of 10 starters. koreas 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. 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 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. red bull have been showing off the car that they hope will help max verse tappan retained the title. the team launched the car on social

media. lots of new regulations committed to f1 this season. they also announced a new title sponsorship with the us technology giant oracle said to be among the most lucrative in history. an estimated £74 million a year for the next five season. looks very smart. looks very smart. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. that's bbc. c0. uk/sport gold medals have been won, no metals from team gb. we are still waiting for those. chairs always, 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 powerfor 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 you'll see commercial fusion in your lifetime? yes, i do think we will see commercial fusion in my lifetime. you are confident we will? yes, i am confident — i want to believe in it. so 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 mean we have got to keep working on it. justin rowlatt, bbc news, 0xfordshire. let's speak to professor tony donne, chief executive of the eurofusion consortium which comprises thousands of science and engineering experts from across the eu, united kingdom, switzerland and ukraine. they're the ones who made this all happen. thank you very much for being with us. you must be very pleased. hoop us. you must be very pleased. how bit a us. you must be very pleased. firm big a breakthrough is us. you must be very pleased. timer big a breakthrough is this? is really a result of which is the end of 15 preparation period. it sounds

very simple to do the experiments. but we had to change the complete inside of the machine from carbon, which we had before to a metal wall. you can see behind me. it was completely done by robotics. we started planning the experiment in 2004. we did a complete upgrade in 2011. but then to operate such a machine with the metal wall is not that easy. so we need to learn again the tricks how to make the very hot plasma, that's how we cool the hot gas of 150 million degrees was up is a number of years to get back to the situation we had before rebuild. then we were ready to try with the ultimate fusion fuel, we did that last year, we did on the 21st of december. but we really want to be sure that all the current were

right, check results 100 time before we went out to the press and announced it. this is really i would say the culmination of a long period of work by a big international team of work by a big international team of people from all over europe. there still is a long way to go. i think today there was fusion for five seconds, enough to boil 60 kettles, we were told. so we are still in the very early stages of this. , , ., . ~ still in the very early stages of this. , y., ., . ., this. yes, you are right. we are in early stage- _ this. yes, you are right. we are in early stage- lt's — this. yes, you are right. we are in early stage. it's important - this. yes, you are right. we are in early stage. it's important to - early stage. it's important to realise that the 60 kettles we could basically heat with only 200 micrograms of heavy hydrogen. so we need only minor amount of fuel. five secondsis need only minor amount of fuel. five seconds is the limit we can do. if we operate here at high power than five seconds is basically the time we can operate our magnetic fields because otherwise the cover oils get too hot. we need now to do for the

experiments which will be internationally, which is being built in southern france. just explained — built in southern france. just explained to _ built in southern france. just explained to us, _ built in southern france. just explained to us, the - built in southern france. just explained to us, the long—term significance of all of this in terms of climate change and how it can be part of the fight for the exact against climate change on the planet. against climate change on the lanet. ,., ., ., ,., planet. the important thing about fusion is it doesn't _ planet. the important thing about fusion is it doesn't release - planet. the important thing about fusion is it doesn't release any i fusion is it doesn't release any c02, so it's climate friendly. the difficult thing is it's very hard to create peace on earth. we need time for that. create peace on earth. we need time forthat. personally, ithink create peace on earth. we need time for that. personally, i think fusion forthat. personally, ithink fusion comes for that. personally, i think fusion comes out little bit late for the transition if you have 2050 deadline. but even after 2050 fusion will be there when we needed. so the advantage of fusion is it gives really stationary power, typically

fusion plant would deliver you to gigawatt electric and you don't depend on the sun, you don't depend on the win. this is the kind of energy we need in big cities, which needin energy we need in big cities, which need in industrialised areas. so there is certainly a need for fusion energy in the future.— energy in the future. many thanks for our energy in the future. many thanks for yourtime- _ energy in the future. many thanks for your time. a _ energy in the future. many thanks for your time. a very _ energy in the future. many thanks for your time. a very exciting - energy in the future. many thanks j for your time. a very exciting day. always a pleasure, thank you very much. let's return to our top story and the news that the prime minister says the last remaining legal restrictions on covid 19 in england should be lifted within weeks — a month earlier than expected. dr simon clarke is an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the university of reading. thanks very much for being with us. do you think this is a timely announcement by the government or is

this premature in your view? std this premature in your view? ad reall this premature in your view? if. really quite like to know why it now. right throughout the state government have never told us what metrics they want to see in order to change things in either direction. usually they make restrictions more stringent, more tight when the numbers are shooting up. but they never tell us where they need to be in order to reduce them. it does kind of feel that this is a bit finger in the air, this is done without a proper cogent explanation or reason. i note of course the scientist and the medics aren't out on the airwaves to get a an explanation, government scientists like witty and vallance to give us the explanation and show us the graphs of white now is the right time to do it. it feels a bit political. time to do it. it feels a bit political-— time to do it. it feels a bit political. you're saying it's olitical political. you're saying it's political rather _ political. you're saying it's political rather than - political. you're saying it's i political rather than scientific because of course the government is always that they follow the science.

well, they said that about two years ago. i haven't heard that one in a while. it does feel at the moment that they are not really following science and haven't done so for a while. so i do think that while they may, this gamble, and it is a gamble, my payoff. it might not and if it doesn't the decision is going to look rather silly. {iii if it doesn't the decision is going to look rather silly.— if it doesn't the decision is going to look rather silly. of course the government _ to look rather silly. of course the government would _ to look rather silly. of course the government would say _ to look rather silly. of course the government would say they - to look rather silly. of course the government would say they we i to look rather silly. of course the i government would say they we need to look rather silly. of course the - government would say they we need to learn to live with covid. is this not part of that process, that we learn to accept that covid is going to become an illness we have to live with much like flu and things like self isolation are going to end? film self isolation are going to end? oh es, self isolation are going to end? qt yes, and a sense. it would self isolation are going to end? oi yes, and a sense. it would be quite good if they told us what living with it actually looks like. for a lot of people of a certain inclination, living with her it seems to me doing absolutely nothing

and letting it do whatever it wants to do. it would be good if the government told us what living with it looks like. what are the acceptable number of infection, what is the pressure that they will accept on the health service? latte accept on the health service? we hear none _ accept on the health service? we hear none of that. i'd like to know. prime minister said in the commons today the current data is encouraging, that's what he said. and he said of the encouraging data continues then the last covid restrictions can be lifted in a couple of weeks. he restrictions can be lifted in a couple of weeks.— restrictions can be lifted in a couple of weeks. restrictions can be lifted in a coule of weeks. , ., ., couple of weeks. he says that now, eah. couple of weeks. he says that now, yeah- why did _ couple of weeks. he says that now, yeah- why did we — couple of weeks. he says that now, yeah. why did we hear _ couple of weeks. he says that now, yeah. why did we hear about - couple of weeks. he says that now, yeah. why did we hear about that a j yeah. why did we hear about that a couple of months ago or a couple of weeks ago? you could say at any point, yeah, it's the right time. we don't know why he thinks now is the right time either. i do really think there should be an explanation. the decision might be right but we don't know, we can't really say. good decision might be right but we don't know, we can't really say.— know, we can't really say. good to talk to you — know, we can't really say. good to talk to you for _ know, we can't really say. good to talk to you for your _ know, we can't really say. good to talk to you for your reaction - know, we can't really say. good to talk to you for your reaction on - talk to you for your reaction on that announcement today.

figures show that captain tom foundation gave out grants of a to four charities and paid out more than £162,000 in management cause. in its first year. captain sir tom you may remember walked 100 laps of his garden at the start of lockdown raising some £33 million. the nhs foundation says it welcomes the charity commissions input. from friday, fully vaccinated holidaymakers 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 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 first of feb in case anything changed. but 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 their 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. 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 1000 million euros if we do not take the tough 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—to—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. 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 - 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 they cannot come as they want to the schools. �* ., they cannot come as they want to the schools. . ., , ., , , ., schools. and now the protests are attractint schools. and now the protests are attracting global _ schools. and now the protests 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. vinyl record sales in the uk are at the highest point for 30 years — but with only a handful of vinyl manufacturing plants, demand is outstripping supply. a team of entrepreneurs noticed this gap in the market and launched a new site in middlesbrough, which aims to produce fifty—thousand records a month. leejohnson reports. for many music lovers vinyl can become an obsession. but for the team at press on it's also a chance to fill the big gap in the market. want to put it but delete that compilation out on vinyl in the lead times are really big back then and even we can get it done within five months which means it wouldn't of been done in time for christmas.

that got our brains going which how come it's so hard to get records manufactured and delivered to you? making records is a complex process. first a mastercard, grooves and all is produced. that's then copied and moulded before it's pressed and set aside to be packaged. there are only aside to be packaged. there are only a handful of plants like this in the uk. most records are manufactured in europe. but the band is outstripping supply. vinyl is enjoying an incredible revival. last year more than 5 million lps were sold, that's an increase of 8% on the previous year. and one and four album sold last year it was on the format, that's its highest sales for more than 30 years. fitting then that this new teesside plant is also a nod to the northeast heritage of making records. 40 years ago rca records in washington produced lps by artists including elvis presley and david bowie. but presson

managing director there was only one place that they wanted to be based. we all care passionately about the area. it's important that it's here, we got a rich history of manufacturing whether it be industry or chemicals or pottery and now computer game manufacturers as received. we are proud to be a part of it. �* . �* , received. we are proud to be a part of it. . ., �*, , ., of it. and that's good news for local bands — of it. and that's good news for local bands like _ of it. and that's good news for local bands like teesside - of it. and that's good news for| local bands like teesside group comparison whose debut ep was the first of the production line. it’s first of the production line. it's cra , first of the production line. it's crazy. to _ first of the production line. it's crazy. to be — first of the production line. it's crazy, to be honest. to see a physically— crazy, to be honest. to see a physically happening it sets in stone — physically happening it sets in stone how lucky we all are to have this opportunity. the stone how lucky we all are to have this opportunity-— this opportunity. the vinyl revival shows no signs _ this opportunity. the vinyl revival shows no signs of _ this opportunity. the vinyl revival shows no signs of slowing. - this opportunity. the vinyl revival| shows no signs of slowing. sophie this opportunity. the vinyl revival i shows no signs of slowing. sophie is next with the bbc news at six. good evening matt. but a cloud

behind me in scotland this afternoon. head of what can be quite afternoon. head of what can be quite a wild spell of weather for some of you during the next 24 hours. all due to this beautiful swirl of clout here. south of iceland it's a deepening area of low pressure which is going to push southwards towards us for the affecting mainly scotland as we go through the day and the latter stages of tonight and tomorrow morning. winds will be rick can appear, lots of snow to come across the mountains, could be quite icy and places for that wintry showers tonight in northern ireland and for some in northern england for the soft market conditions across southern counties. clow, patty ran confined to the likes of the channel islands. but i'm would go into the morning. forthe islands. but i'm would go into the morning. for the morning rush—hour focus on scotland's first of all, there's an area of low pressure swirling around her, bands of rain, sleet and snow, snow two winds gusting 60, 70 mph for the light ones for the morning, plenty of cloud, debits across the channel island but brightening up to the date with the bulk of the afternoon dry and sunny. scattered showers are towards west of the strongest of the winds of the afternoon transferred

to eastern scotland where more snow blowing around still touching gale force here. that doesn't add to what could be a cold orfailing day. even in the south temperatures will drop around five or 6 degrees but it will feel subzero across parts of northeast england and eastern scotland as we go through the second half of the afternoon. cloud outbreaks of rainbow push just clipping eastern coast as we go to the first stage of thursday night. clearing skies behind, friday morning is going to be the coldest morning is going to be the coldest morning of the week. could get down to -10 morning of the week. could get down to —10 through sheltered valleys in scotland, —6 on the outskirts of glasgow. cold, crisp start friday for the lots of sunny weather around couple wanted to showers in the west initially and more cloud on friday as we go through into the afternoon and western areas. most dry and bright day. temperatures are a degree or so down we we would be it the stage in february. back to slightly milder weather this weekend, with a common struggle winds and a bit more in the way of heavy rain. try us on saturday down

towards east anglia, the southeast but we will see rain become more persistent across western area spreading in particular into wells in northern england through the afternoon, temperatures lifting just afternoon, temperatures lifting just a little bit. a milder night or saturday into sunday. heavy rain sweeping across the southeastern corner for a time for a time. sweeping across the southeastern cornerfor a time for a time. for the big uncertainty on sunday is just what happens with this area of low pressure as it gets close to the south of england. monday could be a case of splitting the country into two, northern avenue, sunny spells, scattering of showers, little on the cool side, scattering of showers, little on the coolside, could scattering of showers, little on the cool side, could see persistent rain into the south. we will keep you updated for the enjoy your evening.

at six — the self—isolation rules for anyone with covid could be scrapped completely in england by the end of this month. the current law says anyone who tests positive must quarantine for at least five days until they're negative. 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. but as the latest data suggests the number of people with covid is rising, we'll be asking if it's too soon. also tonight... a new photo emerges from a downing street from a downing street christmas quiz in 2020 — the met police say they're reviewing their decision not to investigate the gathering during covid restrictions. a man serving life for murdering his

fiancee in 2016 has just been found