novak djokovic tells the bbc he'd rather miss out on tennis trophies than have a covid—19 vaccine. the world men's number one says he's not anti—vaccine, but he believes in personal choice. decision—making on my body are more important than any title — or anything else. i'm trying to be in tune with my body as much as i possibly can. we'll talk more about djokovic�*s views on vaccination with our health correspondent. also this lunchtime: as russia says it's pulling back some of its troops from the border with ukraine, germany's chancellor is meeting president putin at the moment.

the cost of living — new figures show wages are going up, but aren't keeping pace with price rises. all remaining legal covid regulations are being lifted in northern ireland — they are now only guidance. and, still no medals for team gb at the winter olympics — though there are more british athletes in competition today. coming up in the sport later in the hour on the bbc news channel: the champions league returns this evening. last season's beaten finalists manchester city are in portugalfacing sporting. good afternoon and welcome

to the bbc news at one. the world men's number one tennis player novak djokovic has told the bbc that he's prepared to sacrifice playing in competitions like wimbledon and the french open rather than have a covid—19 vaccine. in an exclusive interview after losing his legal attempt to compete at the australian open, the 34—year—old says he's not part of the anti—vaccine movement — but supports people's right to choose. the bbc�*s amol rajan sat down with him in belgrade. he is widely held to be the greatest player of his time, in an era already blessed with legends. but now he is the most controversial, too. have you received any vaccination against covid? i too. have you received any vaccination against covid? i have not. vaccination against covid? i have not- why? _ vaccination against covid? i have not- why? i _ vaccination against covid? i have not. why? i understand - vaccination against covid? i have not. why? i understand and - vaccination against covid? i have . not. why? i understand and support full the not. why? i understand and support fully the freedom _ not. why? i understand and support fully the freedom to _ not. why? i understand and support fully the freedom to choose whether you want to get vaccinated or not. i

have not spoken about this before and i have not disclosed my medical record and my vaccination status because i had the right to keep that private and discreet. but as i see there is a lot of wrong conclusions and assumptions out there, i think it's important to speak up about that and justify certain things. fin that and justify certain things. on december 16, that and justify certain things. on december16, djokovic tested december 16, djokovic tested positive for covid but only found out, he said, after mixing with young tennis players the following day. when he arrived in australia on january the fed he was held at the border. onjanuary january the fed he was held at the border. on january the january the fed he was held at the border. onjanuary the 6th, his visa was cancelled and he was detained. four days later onjanuary was cancelled and he was detained. four days later on january the 10th, a judge overturned that decision, releasing him to compete. but four days after that on the 14th of january, australia's immigration minister again cancelled his visa on grounds of public safety. djokovic

appealed but lost and left australia on the 16th of january. i appealed but lost and left australia on the 16th ofjanuary._ on the 16th ofjanuary. i was never auainst on the 16th ofjanuary. i was never against vaccination. _ on the 16th ofjanuary. i was never against vaccination. me _ on the 16th ofjanuary. i was never against vaccination. me as - on the 16th ofjanuary. i was never against vaccination. me as an - on the 16th ofjanuary. i was never against vaccination. me as an elite professional athlete have always carefully reviewed, assessed everything that comes in from the supplements, food, water that i drink, sports drinks, anything really that comes into my body as a fuel. ~ ., ., ,, really that comes into my body as a fuel. ~ ., ., i. really that comes into my body as a fuel. ., . , ., fuel. what do you say directly to anti-vaccination _ fuel. what do you say directly to anti-vaccination campaign - fuel. what do you say directly to anti-vaccination campaign is - fuel. what do you say directly to . anti-vaccination campaign is around anti—vaccination campaign is around the world who proudly declare novak djokovic is one of us? i so? the world who proudly declare novak djokovic is one of us?— djokovic is one of us? i say that everyone _ djokovic is one of us? i say that everyone has — djokovic is one of us? i say that everyone has the _ djokovic is one of us? i say that everyone has the right - djokovic is one of us? i say that everyone has the right to - djokovic is one of us? i say that | everyone has the right to choose djokovic is one of us? i say that - everyone has the right to choose to act or say whatever they feel is appropriate for them. and i have never said that i am part of that movement. based on all the information that i got, i decided not to take the vaccine as of today. so do you have... as of today? yes. i keep my — so do you have... as of today? yes. i keep my mind _ so do you have... as of today? yes. i keep my mind open _ so do you have... as of today? yes i keep my mind open because we so do you have... as of today? i123 i keep my mind open because we are all trying to find collectively a

best possible solution to end covid. what would you say to the ordinary australian listening to you now and says, based on what they see in the news, this guy thinks he's above the law, that he doesn't have to abide by the same rules as everybody else? australia has been through one of the most severe lockdowns we had since the beginning of the pandemic so i can only imagine how hard it was for australians and i sympathise and empathise with all the people and empathise with all the people and i understand there has been lots of frustrations from australian people towards me and towards the entire situation and the way it was dealt with. i would like to say that i always follow the rules. the world number one — i always follow the rules. the world number one insists _ i always follow the rules. the world number one insists that _ i always follow the rules. the world number one insists that he - i always follow the rules. the world number one insists that he did - i always follow the rules. the world | number one insists that he did obey the rules in trying to enter australia and distanced himself from the anti—vax movement. as things stand, if this means you miss the

french open, is that a price you would be willing to pay? yes. french open, is that a price you would be willing to pay? yes, that is the price _ would be willing to pay? yes, that is the price i _ would be willing to pay? yes, that is the price i am _ would be willing to pay? yes, that is the price i am willing _ would be willing to pay? yes, that is the price i am willing to - would be willing to pay? yes, that is the price i am willing to pay. . is the price i am willing to pay. and if it means you miss wimbledon, that supplies are willing to pay? yes. . , that supplies are willing to pay? yes. ., , , ., that supplies are willing to pay? yes. ., , , that supplies are willing to pay? yes. ., , i. , ., yes. ultimately, you prepared to forero yes. ultimately, you prepared to forego the _ yes. ultimately, you prepared to forego the chance _ yes. ultimately, you prepared to forego the chance to _ yes. ultimately, you prepared to forego the chance to be - yes. ultimately, you prepared to forego the chance to be the - yes. ultimately, you prepared to - forego the chance to be the greatest player that ever picked up a racket statistically because you feel so strongly about this jab? yes. statistically because you feel so strongly about this jab?- statistically because you feel so strongly about this jab? strongly about this 'ab? yes. i do. wh , strongly about this 'ab? yes. i do. why. novak. _ strongly about this 'ab? yes. i do. why. novak. why?— strongly about this jab? yes. i do. why, novak, why? because - strongly about this jab? yes. i do. why, novak, why? because the i why, novak, why? because the --rinciles why, novak, why? because the principles of _ why, novak, why? because the principles of decision-making . why, novak, why? because the| principles of decision-making on why, novak, why? because the - principles of decision-making on my principles of decision—making on my body are more important than any title, or anything else. body are more important than any title, oranything else. i body are more important than any title, or anything else. i am trying to be in tune with my body as much as i possibly can. to be in tune with my body as much as i possibly can-— as i possibly can. because a lot of --eole as i possibly can. because a lot of people around _ as i possibly can. because a lot of people around the _ as i possibly can. because a lot of people around the world - as i possibly can. because a lot of people around the world would i as i possibly can. because a lot of| people around the world would see the experience you've had and see the experience you've had and see the public outcry, the headlines, the public outcry, the headlines, the detention, the legal dispute and they mightjust say, novak, mate,

just take the damn jab. it doesn't hurt, it means you can play anywhere, it keeps you safe, it keeps everyone else safe, too. we'll do things that we don't want to do and are hesitant about, what's so hard about a bit of medicine? i respect everybody's decision to get vaccinated or do anything that they really think is correct for them. i hope that people will respect my decision not to get vaccinated. and as i mentioned before, i have to repeat it again, i have to accept and i take all the consequences of my decision and i will probably not be able to play a lot of tournaments.- be able to play a lot of tournaments. . , , , , tournaments. d'okovic insists he is kee - in . tournaments. d'okovic insists he is keein: an tournaments. djokovic insists he is keeping an open — tournaments. djokovic insists he is keeping an open mind _ tournaments. djokovic insists he is keeping an open mind but - tournaments. djokovic insists he is keeping an open mind but for - tournaments. djokovic insists he is keeping an open mind but for now| keeping an open mind but for now shows no sign of changing it. amol rajan, bbc news, belgrade. our health correspondent jim reed is with me. one of the many things novak djokovic said as he would like more information. but there is a lot of

data out there already about vaccines, isn't there? i data out there already about vaccines, isn't there?- data out there already about vaccines, isn't there? i think novak d'okovic vaccines, isn't there? i think novak djokovic picking _ vaccines, isn't there? i think novak djokovic picking his _ vaccines, isn't there? i think novak djokovic picking his words - vaccines, isn't there? i think novak djokovic picking his words very, - djokovic picking his words very, very carefully in that interview. saying he's not anti—vaccine back for him it is about this personal choice about what he puts in his body. the key reason he appears to be giving the not taking the covid vaccine is as you say he doesn't feel he has enough information about it, at least not yet. that does beg the question, as you said, how much information does he really want or need? if you take one vaccine, the pfizerjab, need? if you take one vaccine, the pfizer jab, successfully completed clinical trials involving 114,000 people, they have now been more than 20, 25 vaccines, different vaccines approved by medical regulators around the world. they have been shown to be safe and effective and if you look in total, 62% now of the world's population has at least one dose of the back then, 5 billion people. research published last

november suggests in europe alone at least 470,000 lives have been saved by those jabs and that is a very conservative estimate i am showing you there. professor finn is a medical doctor and sits on thejcvi. these vaccines have now been used very widely around the world, in very large numbers of people. so we've got lots of information we didn't have a year ago about their safety. we're seeing rare severe side effects are extremely unusual and we're consistently seeing that these vaccines prevent serious disease caused by covid in the people that receive them. asa as a professional athlete, of course, novak djokovic is at very low risk of covid but that risk is not zero and he confirmed in that interview with the bbc, he's already had the virus itself twice. that is likely to give him some form of immunity but all the research suggests three doses of a vaccine would lift that protection even

further. . .. would lift that protection even further. ., ,, , ., would lift that protection even further. ., ~' , ., , would lift that protection even further. ., ,, , ., , . further. 0k, thank you very much. jim reed. — further. 0k, thank you very much. jim reed. our— further. 0k, thank you very much. jim reed, our health _ further. 0k, thank you very much. i jim reed, our health correspondent. and just to tell you... you can see amol rajan's full interview with novak djokovic in a special programme tonight at 8:30 on bbc one, or catch up with it on iplayer and bbc sounds. germany's chancellor has been holding talks with president putin in moscow as part of diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions about ukraine. russia says it's pulling back some of its troops from its border with ukraine — after their build—up prompted fears of an invasion. the prime minister borisjohnson said this morning there were signs of a "diplomatic opening" to resolve the crisis, but that the intelligence is not encouraging and there are "mixed signals" from russia. more than 100,000 russian troops have massed at ukraine's border, although russia has always denied it is planning an attack. caroline davies reports from moscow.

is this de—escalation or a distraction? russia says these tanks are returning to their bases now that some of the military drills are finished. exactly, they say, as they had planned. the west is uncertain about whether this makes any difference to russia's ability to invade and for weeks, it has warned of a gap between what russia says and what it does. the intelligence we are seeing today is still not encouraging. we've got russian field hospitals being constructed near the border with ukraine, in belarus, that only can be construed as a preparation for invasion. you have got more battalion tactical groups being brought closer to the border with ukraine. according to the intelligence that we are seeing. so mixed signals, i think, at the moment. despite suspicions and tensions, both sides have said that discussions are not over. there are signs from moscow that

diplomacy should continue. this gives grounds for cautious optimism. but, so far, we have not seen any sign of de—escalation on the ground. after warnings over the weekend, many will hope this means both sides are feeling more positive about diplomacy, but there are still big questions about what a diplomatic deal might look like. the german chancellor was in moscow to meet president putin. the two countries are closely linked by trade, by history and by gas supply. translation: undoubtedly today | we will devote a significant portion of our time to discuss the relations to the situation in europe and to the security of those discussions that are now unfolding around it, including things happening around ukraine. translation: it's clear|

that we now have to talk about the difficult situation regarding security in europe. i have spoken about it with my french colleague. i'm glad that it is possible to talk about it. the most important thing is that states talk to each other to solve it. but in a different part of moscow, russia's state duma voted to ask putin to recognise the separatist held areas in ukraine as people's republics. if he does, relations would sour even further. in moscow's cold sunshine, signs of warmth can be deceptive, and a resolution is still out of reach. let's speak to our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, who's in the ukrainian capital kyiv. what is being said where you are about the russian assertion that some troops are being pulled back? not surprisingly, it's more scepticism. there was a statement from the foreign minister this

morning. he said that we hear different statements from russia all the time, that's why we have the rule not to believe when we hear it but to believe when we see it. it was also clear that they haven't actually yet seen anything very tangible. we think that's what the russian statement was referring to related to troops, russian troops on the eastern border of ukraine, that is the area facing the separatist areas that caroline was just talking about in the donbas region. in fact, in that area, the ukrainians are saying they are still seeing russian military inspectors as they call them, moving around, discussing the defences and organisation of forces, so no sign of a russian pull—out from that area. what we are not seeing as any talk about what is going on north of ukraine up in belarus, where the rashers have been

conducting exercises with the belarusian army for the last few days. those exercises are due to go on for another five days and yesterday we heard from western intelligence official saying russian troops are there and had moved closer to the belarusian border. so i think it's a lot too early to draw any definitive conclusions about what kind of movements we are seeing. people will want to see those troops and that equipment moving far away and notjust relocating to another part of the border. yen stoltenberg said we have seen these sorts of movements before and quite often the troops and equipment end up coming back going somewhere else equally dangerous. thank you very much. paul adams in ukraine. wages in the uk are growing, but are still not keeping up with the rising cost of living. figures from the office for national statistics for october to december show that people's pay fell in real terms by 0.8%. job vacancies are at a record high,

with unemployment now at 4.1%. but as our economics correspondent andrew verity reports there are some signs of pay rises accelerating. it's the tightestjobs market the current workforce has ever seen. it is true that household incomes are being squeezed by the fastest price inflation in 30 years, and this year that squeeze will get tighter, but it's not true that you can't do anything about it. i like to get into a warehouse with a company like yourself. samuel robinson is one of the record numbers of people quitting their old job to find a new one. a dad at 19—years—old, he need something steadier than working in a bar. within ten minutes of coming to this job fair, he got an offer. it's ideal really, come in, get a job, wait for a phone call and start work immediately. when you are going through shops and stuff like that, you tend to see a lot of places that have vacancies in the stores and everything. at this covid secure

recruitment fair, it is not the job—seekers that are anxious, it's more the employers who cannot get the staff they need to cater for surging demand from customers. you tend to see a lot more people are applying for a large number ofjobs, so we struggle to have people showing up for interviews. we could invite 15 people to an interview and only five would show up. i'm not saying the quality of people that we do have come through the door, that's not decreased at all. if anything, we are seeing stronger candidates. we're just struggling to get people to show up. average earnings were up in 2021 by 3.7%. not enough to keep up with price inflation. but more up—to—date figures from employers' payrolls indicate pay was up by 6.3% in january compared to a year before. those figures say earnings were 10.3% higher than they were before the pandemic. job—seekers are now playing a much stronger hand to boost their pay then they have been able to in decades. if you look at the so—called quits rate, resignation

rate, whether it is people leaving theirjob for anotherjob or leaving the job market entirely, that is now at a rate we have not seen since the global financial crisis and it is clear firms are desperately looking to fill vacancies, with a number of surveys telling us they are finding it difficult to get workers. the tightjobs market also slows business down, because employers don't have the staff to make —— meet all the orders coming in. that puts the brakes on economic activity, even as inflation is taking off. in the city, traders now anticipate the bank of england will raise interest rates again next month, this time by half a percentage point to the highest level they have seen since 2009. the time is 1.18. our top story this lunchtime. novak djokovic tells the bbc he'd rather miss out on tennis trophies than have a covid—19 vaccine. and still to come, we're in scarborough with the sea swimmers who've spent a lifetime protesting about water quality.

coming up in the sport in the next 15 minutes, on the bbc news channel, it is going to be a busy summer of cricket for england's women, including a first test against south africa for 20 years. helpless, ignored and isolated — these are some of the common feelings reported by partners during and after miscarriage. a review of pregnancy loss services is england is currently in england is currently investigating the lack of support for the partners of women who miscarry. it's expected to make recommendations later this year. our global health correspondent, tulip mazumdar, has been to meet dads in essex. i felt completely alone and i was the only one in the world going through this. people acted as if because my baby didn't arrive, she didn't die, and we didn't actually lose a baby, but we very much did.

the best thing that people did after we lost our sons, reuben and henry, was acknowledging that they existed. these men share more than just a love of football, they have all lost babies. some died early on in pregnancy, others within days of being born. during and after a loss, the focus is quite rightly on the woman. support for women across the uk is patchy but support for men is practically nonexistent. matt and his wife lauren have suffered four miscarriages, including two late losses. it absolutely crushed me. i would go and do some shopping and i would cry in the car- on the way to the shops, - or i would cry in the shower, or i'd cry sitting on the toilet. because that was the only time i could get to be alone. i don't think people think that miscarriage affects i men as much as it does. miscarriages can range from a loss with bleeding over many weeks

to women losing a lot of blood very quickly and becoming extremely unwell. during a late miscarriage, mothers may give birth to their tiny babies with their partners watching on. with regards to the team, as much as we don't all sit around and discuss our losses, it is just that absolute knowledge that everyone has experienced what you're going through. there is no pressure to grieve. us playing football and us doing the training is us grieving. what are partners, particularly men, up against when it comes to dealing with this kind of loss? this toxic masculinity. big boys don't cry. man up. it is a stereotype of being strong for your partner, isn't it? - you are listening to the dads still standing podcast and we are about miscarriage, about stillbirth, about baby loss... after meeting at the football club, matt and liam came up with the idea of a podcast aimed at grieving dads.

hearing us tell each other everything allowed other dads to feel like they can tell people what they are going through. it is rough and it is awful, but, actually, that thing you are really scared about is going to be all right. tulip mazumdar, bbc news, essex. there's more about the dad still standing podcast, and the football team, on the bbc website. next week, we'll be focusing on the impact of miscarriage on women's mental health, and how technology is being trialled as one way of helping. the inquest into the death of the footballer emiliano sala has begun at bournemouth coroner's court. emiliano sala died in a plane crash in the english channel injanuary 2019, after being bought by cardiff city from nantes in a £15 million transfer deal. the footballer�*s brother, dario sala, has flown over from argentina to be at the inquest.

in northern ireland, all the remaining legal covid regulations are being lifted — from today they become guidance only. stormont ministers say the omicron variant isn't putting significant pressure on hospitals — though they've warned that covid hasn't gone away. our ireland correspondent, chris page, joins me from stormont. yes, this is something of a landmark day in northern ireland after almost two years of legal regulations while the covid rules are gone from the law. the political leaders at stormont and medics have warned it does not mean coronavirus has gone away and that people should still take sensible precautions. let me talk you through what has changed. from today, it is no longer a legal requirement for people to wear face coverings. previously it had been

compulsory in most indoor public places such as shops. also in the past weeks, if you have been to a nightclub or concert indoors with a standing audience, you have been asked to produce proof of vaccination and a negative test result or proof you have had the virus in the past six months. from today, it is no longer mandatory for venues to carry out those checks for so—called covid passports. hospitality might still carry out those checks on customers because these regulations are being put into guidance, in other words they are not legally enforceable but it is recommended people should follow the public health measures where they can. the health minister robin swann said he made the decision because in particular the omicron variant is not putting pressure on hospital intensive care units. he said if something happens in the future that means it would be a good idea to re—impose restrictions, he is not

sure he would have the power to do that because the power—sharing of the devolved government is limited because of the resignation of the first minister earlier this month. thank you. day 11 of the winter olympics and there are still no medals for team gb, after kirsty muir and katie summerhayes finished in eighth and ninth places in the freeski slopestyle final. there are more british athletes in action today — and the 15—year—old russian figure skater, kamila valieva , will shortly begin her attempt to win her second gold medal. andy swiss has the latest from the games. it was another day when british medal hopes came crashing down. commentator: 0h! a bruising start to the slopestyle final for 17—year—old kirsty muir, and although she soon found herfeet... huge! ..she couldn't quite find her best. in the end, she had to settle for eighth. for team gb's youngest member, a mix of pride and frustration. i made the final and then, you know,

you wouldn't want to go to a comp and just cruise. i really wanted to go for it. not that i am not definitely a bit disappointed. her team—mate katie summerhayes meanwhile finished ninth, with gold going to switzerland's mathilde gremaud. solid run and, i tell you what, that is it. well amid all the thrills and spills, it wasn't to be for kirsty muir and for katie summerhayes here. what that means, of course, is britain's long wait for their first medal of these games goes on. she once again picked up three for great britain. so what hopes are left? britain's curlers are going well. the women's team reviving their chances with a crucial win over japan. advantage japan. indeed it wasn't japan's day. just seconds from gold in the speed skating when... oh, it has all gone wrong forjapan. that tumble on the very last bend

gifting victory to canada. rarely has gold slipped away quite so dramatically. what a turnaround in that final lap! this is the final spin. meanwhile, the women's figure skating is under way. britain's natasha mckay recovering from an early fall to complete her routine. and soon the spotlight once again will fall on kamila valieva. the 15—year—old russian has been cleared to compete despite failing a drugs test. it has now emerged she has claimed it was due to contamination with her grandfather's medicine. she will shortly begin her bid for individual gold under the sternest scrutiny. in the next half hour all eyes will be on kamila valieva and it will be fascinating to see how she copes after everything that has gone on over the past week. team gb still have some medal hopes to come not least tomorrow when dave ryding goes in the slalom skiing. the curlers have high hopes in their

competition, but team gb's target of 3-7 competition, but team gb's target of 3—7 medals is looking increasingly distant. thanks. andy swiss at the winter olympics. they've been villified, arrested and denounced for their long campaign to stop sewage being dumped into the sea — but now the story of a group of swimmers from scarborough is going to hit the big screen. the group, known as the sons of neptune, fought a furious battle to clean up their local waterways in the 19805 and �*90s. our arts correspondent, david sillito, has been to meet them. do you ever worry about what's in that water? no, i don't, but my son does. he tells me not to. why? he says it's dangerous. that question, "is it safe to swim?", is what it's all about. back in the �*80s, scarborough was the scene of a long and furious battle over sewage. the sons of neptune, a group of local sea swimmers,

said the waters weren't safe. the council, yorkshire water and local businesses disagreed. the sons' campaigning antics became national news and, 40 years on, it's all being turned into a film, and so i got the old gang back together. well, we live in an absolutely beautiful town. there's nowhere better than scarborough. we've got two fantastic bays. and then someone comes along and wants to poison our waters. their stunts and protests went on for years. they even managed to get arrested when they took to the thames, but their arguments won the day. they and other protest groups helped encourage a new european bathing water directive that led to the building of a treatment plant. the water quality now is excellent. thank you. excellent, excellent. so victory? yes, yes, yes. it took a long time and it took a big fight. but not everyone in the town thought they were heroes — far from it. many thought they were a bit barmy and, even worse, bad for business.

would it be fair to say that some people in the town have hated you? oh, yes. probably an understatement, really. many felt they were exaggerating the problems. 30 years on, i met one of the councillors who'd had his own tussles with the sons. many people in the town thought they were barmy and bad for business, didn't they? well, yes, yes, they did do. and they were characters. but, there again, i suppose i was a character. and, you know, this is democracy. they were right, weren't they? let's say 90%. and now, it's all going to be turned into a film and it would be fair to say they're rather pleased. they want to spread a message. we want other people to do what we did and, believe me, it works, it works. the sons of neptune — the happy victors of scarborough's sewage war. david sillito, bbc news, scarborough.

time for the weather.