this is bbc news with the latest headlines the queen has tested positive for covid—19. buckingham palace says she is experiencing mild cold—like symptoms, but does expect to continue light duties at windsor this week. britain warns russia is planning the biggest conflict in europe since world war two. it's as russia and belarus take part in huge military exercises, just 160 kilometres from ukraine's border the legal requirement to self—isolate after catching covid in england is expected to be dropped from next week — the shadow health secretary says the move would be premature the key thing is that people have access to free testing, they know their status and they do the right thing by staying at home.

which means they also need access to the right level of sick pay to do the right thing and frankly, it's negligent that the government haven't acted already. borisjohnson refuses to say whether he will resign if police find he broke lockdown laws over parties and gatherings in downing street any answer would be interpreted as a point of commentary about the process. it's a matter of principle surely, it's not a point of commentary? you must forgive me. i cannot comment about a process that is currently under way. great britain finally wins gold in the women's curling on the last day of the winter olympics. the closing ceremony of the games is now underway in beijing

good afternoon. buckingham palace have confirmed that the queen has today tested positive for covid. the monarch is experiencing mild cold—like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at windsor over the coming week. she will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all appropriate guidelines. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell has this update. yes, buckingham palace has confirmed that the queen has today tested positive for covid. but they say she is experiencing mild cold like symptoms and expects to continue with light duties at windsor over the coming week. so she will continue to receive medical attention according to buckingham palace and will follow all

appropriate guidelines and i understand that there have been other covid outbreaks within windsor castle within the household, presumably, so that would explain why she has now tested positive. there were of course rimmer is just a couple of weeks ago after the prince of wales tested positive and it was disclosed he had met her at windsor where the prince of wales had been carrying out an investiture. but she clearly did not contract covid on that occasion, we saw her a few days ago at the palace meeting two senior defence officials one of them handing over to the other. and apart from remarking that she could not move, suggesting there was still some mobility issues with health and general well—being, clearly, at that point, she was not covid positive. at this morning she has tested positive but i think the thing to stress before everyone gets concerned about this, i think the thing to stress is the palace is

saying these are mild, cold like symptoms but of course in everybody �*s mind, in a matter of weeks she will be 96. she of course will be receiving medical attention. and according to buckingham palace, she is continuing with what they describe as light duties. we understand, _ describe as light duties. we understand, i— describe as light duties. we understand, i don't know if it has ever been confirmed, that she is triple vaccinated? that is the assumption, at least.- triple vaccinated? that is the assumption, at least. yes, that is the assumption _ assumption, at least. yes, that is the assumption and _ assumption, at least. yes, that is the assumption and i _ assumption, at least. yes, that is the assumption and i think - assumption, at least. yes, that is the assumption and i think it - assumption, at least. yes, that is the assumption and i think it is i assumption, at least. yes, that is the assumption and i think it is al the assumption and i think it is a very safe assumption. it would be completely bizarre if she were not, it was confirmed when she had the initial vaccinations and i think yes, we can take it as absolutely certain she has been fully vaccinated. and so is in as resilient a position as anybody can be, from a medical point of view, the concerning area, of course, is her vulnerability simply because of her vulnerability simply because of her age. her vulnerability simply because of herage. but her vulnerability simply because of her age. but apart from these mobility issues, she has been in good health, though she was of

course advised by her doctors to rest last october. at that, i think, because of what everybody has sort of use are mystically referred to as mobility issues, it has certainly been suggested that she may have had a fall, but it has not been confirmed. there was never any suggestion the reason for the doctors advising her to rest and to undertake only light duties was in any way covid related and indeed that was ruled out by buckingham palace at the time. that that was ruled out by buckingham palace at the time.— palace at the time. that was nicholas witchell. _ palace at the time. that was nicholas witchell. just - palace at the time. that wasl nicholas witchell. just seeing palace at the time. that was i nicholas witchell. just seeing a tweet coming in from the prime minister. who is saying... that message just that messagejust in that message just in from the prime minister who has been in munich for that security conference, talking a lot about ukraine this weekend. sending good wishes to the queen. after she tested positive and also, we have heard from the labour leader

sir keir starmer. he also has been on twitter buckingham palace confirmed the queen had received a vaccination against covid early last year, as our health correspondentjim reed explains, it's very likely she has now received all three vaccinations. we must assume she's also fairly recently had her booster dose. it's worth saying that three doses of a vaccine are incredibly effective at reducing the chances of a serious covid infection, of going into hospital, reduce that chance by 80%. despite the fact the queen is 95 years old, she will be offered a lot

of protection from the vaccine. one thing that professor hunter was talking about were the new anti—viral medications. these have only really recently started to be used in the last month, six weeks in the uk. there are two pills. one's called paxlovid, one's called mulnupiravir. the idea is you get them to people soon after they have tested positive, so within three to five days. both pills you take over the course of five days. it is a course of pills every evening you would take. both in trials have shown to be very effective at, again reducing the risk of someone who is more at risk of covid from needing hospital treatment. so in the case of paxlovid, which is made by pfizer, it reduced the risk of a highly—vulnerable person needing to go into hospital by about 90%. we don't know if the queen's been offered these medications. is that still experimental? are those being regularly prescribed at the moment? they're just starting to be regularly prescribed. paxlovid was approved for use by the medicines watchdog

at the end of last year. i think on new year's eve, in fact, on the 31st of december. it only started to be used publicly last week, the first patients to receive that in the uk. the queen could very well be one of the first people to receive these new treatments. around 1.3 million people in the uk have been sent extra pcr tests because they are at higher risk of a severe infection. the idea is to speed up the diagnosis process. as soon as you have the symptoms of covid, have a pcr test at home, fill it out, send it off straightaway, so they can get these medicines delivered to your door quickly. the key thing with the antivirals is for them to reach people and for people to take them within five days. it is a fair enough assumption that the queen with all the medical care around her would be at least offered the opportunity. we talk all the time about vaccinations and how important the vaccinations are.

we talk less about the revolution in the treatment of covid when people do get it. that is something the prime minister was talking about when he was talking about the living with covid plan being announced tomorrow. treatments are being seen as one of the key ways of people going into hospital. that is what we have been talking about since the beginning of the pandemic — relieving the pressure on the nhs and stopping people falling very sick with the disease. that was our health correspondent speaking in the wake of buckingham palace confirming that her majesty the queen has tested positive for covid—i9 today. on two other news now... borisjohnson has warned that evidence from russia and ukraine points to vladimir putin planning what could be the biggest conflict in europe since the second world war. in a bbc interview,

the prime minister also repeatedly refused to comment on downing street parties currently being investigated by the police . our political correspondent, peter saull reports borisjohnson has spent the weekend with other world leaders in munich. his attention firmly focused on ukraine. and this morning, a stark prediction about what might unfold on this man's territory. the plan that we are seeing is for something that could be really the biggest war in europe since 1945 in terms of sheer scale. you are looking at notjust an invasion through the east, through the donbas, but, according to intelligence we are seeing, coming down from the north, down from belarus and encircling kyiv itself. russian forces are continuing to carry out exercises, but moscow describes talk of an invasion as western hysteria. if it does happen, an incursion would prompt what the prime minister calls the toughest possible sanctions.

we will stop russian companies raising money on uk markets. and with our american friends, we are even going to stop them trading in pounds and dollars. that will hit very, very hard. while borisjohnson tackles matters of global importance, there is no escaping problems back home. a questionnaire about his attendance at parties on downing street has been returned to the metropolitan police. so, if he is fined, will he resign? you are just going to have to wait until the process is complete. there is literally not a bean i can tell you about that, as much as i would like to. time and again the prime minister refused to go there. do you not think you are just burying your head in the sand? i am fortunate to live in a democracy. be the prime minister of a free, independent, democratic country where people can take that sort of decision, where i do face that kind of pressure.

that is a wonderful thing. the growing tensions in eastern europe have given borisjohnson a chance to show leadership. but the fight for his own political future is far from over. peter saull, bbc news. the crisis in ukraine is being discussed at a security conference in munich. our correspondent is there for us and we will touch base with her later. the legal requirement for people in england who test positive for covid to isolate is due to end in the coming days. the government will outline its "living with covid" plan tomorrow, saying that a combination of vaccines, treatments and testing are now enough to keep people safe. our health correspondent jim reed reports living with covid has meant living with some strict life—changing restrictions, but with vaccines keeping people out of hospital, the government says those last remaining laws will

be lifted in england. the legal requirement to self—isolate if you have the virus will be replaced by guidance. i'm not saying you can totally throw caution to the winds. covid remains dangerous if you are vulnerable and if you are not vaccinated. but we need people to be much more confident and get back to work. the move is part of the government's living with covid plan published tomorrow. there is also speculation that free access to pcr and rapid lateral flow tests could start to be scaled back — something that has worried labour. the key thing is that people have access to free testing, they know their status and do the right thing by staying at home, which means they also need access to the right level of sick pay to do the right thing. the world health organisation and groups representing doctors have described the move as premature. and for people like piers rankin, a cancer patient, there is danger still in lifting the last remaining restrictions.

taking a step into the unknown. i am a high—risk individual to covid and my family have to make sacrifices to keep me safe. how much risk can we bear without essentially shielding again for an indefinite period of time? the changes expected this week will apply to england only. other parts of the uk are moving at their own speed as the latest omicron wave of this virus passes. jim reed, bbc news. let's return now to politics, and the prime minister is facing a big week ahead, with accusations by labour that the government are dropping self isolation regulations in england too soon, and those partygate allegations still unresolved. i'm joined by ben glaze, deputy political editor at the daily mirror.

good to have you with us. some of the papers today rather speculating that the prime minister is quite glad of the ukraine crisis because it's taking the partygate headlines of the pages of the newspapers? that's right, if you remember before parliament went into recess about ten days ago now, the prime minister was under an extraordinary amount of pressure from the opposition parties and also his own backbenchers about those partygate allegations and their elevations that the met police was now investigating. the ukraine crisis came at a good time for the prime minister. he has spent a week on the phone and travelling abroad, playing the statesman, if you like and has managed to turn the agenda over this past week away from the partygate allegations and onto the ukraine crisis so it has helped him in that respect. he ukraine crisis so it has helped him in that respect.— in that respect. he was being ressed in that respect. he was being

pressed by — in that respect. he was being pressed by sophie _ in that respect. he was being pressed by sophie raworth . in that respect. he was being l pressed by sophie raworth this morning again and again on partygate and whether he would resign if he gets a fine from the police. but being very tight—lipped indeed about all of that. being very tight-lipped indeed about all of that. . �* , being very tight-lipped indeed about all of that. ., �*, ., , . all of that. that's right, forensic questioning _ all of that. that's right, forensic questioning from _ all of that. that's right, forensic questioning from sophie - all of that. that's right, forensic questioning from sophie in - all of that. that's right, forensic questioning from sophie in that| questioning from sophie in that interview but borisjohnson stonewalled throughout, it was ten minutes of elegant no comment, really. what he did say is that he was looking forward to discussing it in due course. we know on friday he completed his questionnaire and returned to scotland yard, that was the questionnaire asking about his attendance at about half a dozen of these downing street parties. the police will be going over those responses and deciding in the next few days and possibly weeks, what action, if any, few days and possibly weeks, what action, ifany, to few days and possibly weeks, what action, if any, to take against the prime minister. when that comes back and with parliament returning tomorrow, from that february half term recess, ithink tomorrow, from that february half term recess, i think we could see the pressure switch back onto the prime minister over partygate. and

he will have to spend more time in westminster, obviously, particularly on wednesday at pmqs but also we are expecting him to give a statement to the house tomorrow about the living with covid strategy. being back in westminster will switch the focus back onto partygate for number ten. although that living with covid strategy is popular with conservative mps. and backbenchers. we think it is now time to end the restrictions in england? that we think it is now time to end the restrictions in england?— restrictions in england? that is ri . ht. restrictions in england? that is right- about — restrictions in england? that is right. about three _ restrictions in england? that is right. about three weeks - restrictions in england? that is right. about three weeks ago l restrictions in england? that is| right. about three weeks ago it restrictions in england? that is- right. about three weeks ago it was suggested that there may be some sort of new target on this, the red meat borisjohnson would throw to his backbenchers, many of whom oppose covid restrictions and wanted everything lifted as soon as possible and he hinted at the last pmqs before the recess that on monday, tomorrow, he would announce the living with covid plan which we expect to contain some details about

how free tests will be scaled back and also the ending of the law that says people who test positive must self—isolate. so although the advice will be we understand, to continue self isolation it will no longer be a legal requirement.— returning to the crisis in ukraine. as many as 190,000 russian troops now said to be gathered at the borders of ukraine, the threat of invasion still very much imminent according to many western leaders. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet is in munich. ukraine is the subject of debate and whether the west can do anything to stop a russian invasion if indeed thatis stop a russian invasion if indeed that is what vladimir putin is planning and we still do not know. because we cannot get inside his

head and in the end, probably he is the only person that really does know. . , the only person that really does know. ., , .,. , the only person that really does know. ., , , know. that is exactly the case. over the last three _ know. that is exactly the case. over the last three days, _ know. that is exactly the case. over the last three days, at _ know. that is exactly the case. over the last three days, at this - know. that is exactly the case. over the last three days, at this grand . the last three days, at this grand hotel behind me, defence and foreign ministers from europe, the united states, canada and beyond, had been discussing this question, that was the only buzz in the corridors stop do you think president putin plans to invade ukraine, could he circle the capital kyiv and take it over? everyone has been looking at the same intelligence, it was commented to us that the united states sharing more intelligence than they have another crisis and notjust sharing the intelligence with their allies, they are sharing it with all of us. and also drawing their conclusions as we have heard from president biden repeatedly, saying i am convinced president putin is going to invade. everyone else here including borisjohnson yesterday have been much more circumspect saying there is a chance that he

will pull back from this decision and that perhaps this is the logic of what the americans are trying to do, trying to say the president putin is going to do this or that, they hope to stop him from doing this are that. the russians, of course, have been mocking the united states saying all of your predictions turned out to be wrong, you are creating this hysteria but it is fascinating to see and of course jarring to see for the ukrainians, the way this is all unfolding in real time before all of our eyes. unfolding in realtime before all of our e es. , unfolding in realtime before all of oure es. , ., our eyes. president zelensky of ukraine was — our eyes. president zelensky of ukraine was there _ our eyes. president zelensky of ukraine was there and - our eyes. president zelensky of ukraine was there and made i our eyes. president zelensky of ukraine was there and made a l our eyes. president zelensky of - ukraine was there and made a speech, a powerful speech, sort of saying really the west has not done enough ukraine. i know you're talking to the canadian minister, putting that point to her and saying have you stepped up, have you done enough to protect ukraine? yes. stepped up, have you done enough to protect ukraine?— protect ukraine? yes, president zelensky had — protect ukraine? yes, president zelensky had been _ protect ukraine? yes, president zelensky had been advised i protect ukraine? yes, president zelensky had been advised by i protect ukraine? yes, president| zelensky had been advised by us officials, even president biden

telling him that it may not be wise to leave your country right now but he was insistent that he had to come here, even for a few hours, first of all to send a signal that his country is under his control but also he is a man who feels he is very much needing nato to have his back but he came here in this grand hall in front of all the defence and foreign ministers and prime ministers and said, do not expect us to be your shield. separating russia and nato for many more years. we want a detailed plan for when we are going tojoin the want a detailed plan for when we are going to join the nato alliance. and he knows very well indeed that that is exactly what president putin does not want and that is a red line for putin. president zelensky repeated what we heard him say in kyiv which is calm down, the more you talk about an is calm down, the more you talk aboutan imminent is calm down, the more you talk about an imminent invasion of ukraine, the more in fact you may make it possible. that was certainly

one of the most dramatic moments of this three three—day security conference. this three three-day security conference.— this three three-day security conference. i, . ., ,, this three three-day security conference. , , . ., ,, sport and time for a full round up from the bbc sport centre. holly hamilton is with us. great news from the winter olympics in beijing? good afternoon. the closing ceremony of the winter olympics is taking place in beijing as the games draw to a close on the final day of action. the event is taking place at the city's bird's nest stadium, where athletes waving flags have processed through the venue. eve muirhead and her gold medal winning team there. it's norway who top the medal table, winning a record 16 golds over the past two weeks. the hosts china also won their highest ever winter olympic medal tally.

we caught a glimpse of them there — the most successful british athletes at these games after team gb won gold on the final day in the women's curling. skip eve muirhead, who won bronze in 2014, now at her fourth games, is an olympic champion. with vicky wright, jen dodds, and hailey duff winning gold at their first attempt. ben croucher was watching. it took until the final day, but good things come to those who wait. that's it! it's a gold medal! great britain have won the olympic title! eve muirhead and her team on the biggest of stages, as cool as ice. this was the olympic final, absent of tension and drama. from the moment muirhead put britain two up at the very first end, the rest went rather smoothly. this could be the most important stone of the match. the team underwent an overhaul last year, but in finding

the winning formula left no stone unturned. the game forjapan was all but up after the seventh end. it's four for great britain! two more followed. the golden moment. it's curling gold! eve muirhead has finally done it at the fourth time of asking! for muirhead, twice a losing semifinalist and a bronze in sochi, finally on top of the world. it is a dream come true for myself and for the rest of the girls as well. it's been a journey to get here. and here we are, we're olympic champions and what a five we are! yeah, it's such a special, special moment. not since 2002, when rhona howie, then rhona martin, and her team won gold in salt lake city have great britain been olympic champions. less than a year ago - at the world championships, eve finished eighth. they went through a whole squad system to try and rejig the team, j get the dynamic right, i and oh my goodness, look what they have achieved

in less than a year. i it's phenomenal. in 2022, great britain has its new ice queens. the final day maybe, but this one was worth the wait in gold. ben croucher, bbc news. we were treated to a brilliant day of premier league football yesterday. and we have another two games to bring you today. first up, leeds welcome old rivals manchester united to elland road. leeds are just five points above the relegation zone, united will be hoping to improve their grip on fourth spot. wolves then take on leicester in the late game. rangers can go top of the scottish premiership this afternoon for a few hours at least if they beat dundee united. but they are 1—0 down — dundee united defender ross graham heading in from six yards on his 21st birthday.

leaders celtic host dundee at 3 o'clock. a great night of british boxing last night. natasha jonas becoming world champion with a second—round knockout win over christian namus for the wbo super—welterweight title. then, in a fight that was around 17 years in the making, kell brook sensationally beat amir khan. the two former world champions finally fought in front of a packed out manchester arena and it was brook who got the victory in the sixth round, with the referee stopping the contest, to settle one of the most bitter and long—running feuds in british boxing with brookjubilant at the end and khan battered and bruised having given it all he had. and there always has to be a loser! that's all the sport for now. more from the bbc sports centre

throughout the day. thank you. thousands of people are still without power following storm eunice. today, there are weather warnings for wind covering much of the uk and heavy rain in northern england. and forecasters have just announced another storm on the way tonight — storm franklin — that's expected to bring more rain and gale force winds across the uk with an amber warning for northern ireland. i'm nowjoined by ross easton, director of public affairs for the energy networks association — they look after power across the uk and ireland. good to have you with this, what is the latest situation?— good to have you with this, what is the latest situation? 83,000 homes as i seak the latest situation? 83,000 homes as i speak to — the latest situation? 83,000 homes as i speak to you — the latest situation? 83,000 homes as i speak to you now _ the latest situation? 83,000 homes as i speak to you now without i the latest situation? 83,000 homes| as i speak to you now without power, we have reconnected 1.3 million properties, a heck of a storm that has come in! we have seen two very rare red warnings and that is what has caused such disruption, we saw the pictures on our screens of houses being crushed and that sort

of damage is what we see on the electricity network. i of damage is what we see on the electricity network.— of damage is what we see on the electricity network. i know people sometimes _ electricity network. i know people sometimes get — electricity network. i know people sometimes get agitated _ electricity network. i know people sometimes get agitated that i electricity network. i know people sometimes get agitated that their power has not been restored very quickly. but there are practical difficulties always, aren't there? we have 8000 people outjust now working to reconnect supplies as quickly as they safely can but safety is the key because we do not want and family out there in such weather conditions and our colleagues are having to work in those conditions and having to be very careful about that so we could not quite get out at the very start of the storm because of the amount of the storm because of the amount of damage and danger that was posed to our engineers but we are out there now, being slightly hampered by storm franklin coming in. that is about the last _ by storm franklin coming in. that is about the last thing _ by storm franklin coming in. that is about the last thing you _ by storm franklin coming in. that is about the last thing you need, i about the last thing you need, another storm!— about the last thing you need, another storm! and the last thing that those customers _ another storm! and the last thing that those customers need i another storm! and the last thing that those customers need who i another storm! and the last thing i that those customers need who are without power but we are working flat out to connect people as quickly and safely as we can. the fact that these _ quickly and safely as we can. the fact that these storms are so accurately predicted and we know almost to the hour when and where

and how they will hit but does that help you with planning? it and how they will hit but does that help you with planning?— and how they will hit but does that help you with planning? it does and when the storms _ help you with planning? it does and when the storms were _ two hours of that, the announcement from the met office, we were on operational calls and we worked together as all the different network companies across the uk and ireland, to look at our resources, staff routers, equipment, stock levels of different replacement parts that might be needed. we make sure we have people in the right places as best we possibly can early on. t places as best we possibly can early on, , , , ., , places as best we possibly can early on. , , , places as best we possibly can early on. i suppose it can be 'ust one tree coming * on. i suppose it can be 'ust one tree coming down i on. i suppose it can be 'ust one tree coming down on i on. i suppose it can be 'ust one tree coming down on a i on. i suppose it can be just one tree coming down on a power l on. i suppose it can be just one i tree coming down on a power line that could knock out power for an awful lot of people? it that could knock out power for an awful lot of people?— that could knock out power for an awful lot of people? it can and with technolo: awful lot of people? it can and with technology we _ awful lot of people? it can and with technology we can _ awful lot of people? it can and with technology we can do _ awful lot of people? it can and with technology we can do a _ awful lot of people? it can and with technology we can do a lot - awful lot of people? it can and with technology we can do a lot of- awful lot of people? it can and with technology we can do a lot of work| technology we can do a lot of work remotely so we can do reconnecting remotely so we can do reconnecting remotely but if you are really close to sites of damage and we have seen over 1000 different sites of damage across the networks, then clearly we need to send people out to make the repairs to get you reconnected and thatis repairs to get you reconnected and that is what takes the time. thea;r that is what takes the time. they were very. _ that is what takes the time. they were very. very _ that is what takes the time. they were very, very strong _ that is what takes the time. they were very, very strong winds. but i suppose the saving grace was there

was not with storm eunice, huge rainfall, flooding, that kind of thing? rainfall, flooding, that kind of thin? . ~ , rainfall, flooding, that kind of thin? ., ~ , ., thing? thankfully, it was not the sort of extreme _ thing? thankfully, it was not the sort of extreme in _ thing? thankfully, it was not the sort of extreme in terms - thing? thankfully, it was not the sort of extreme in terms of- thing? thankfully, it was not the sort of extreme in terms of the l sort of extreme in terms of the flooding side of things that was a concern. but 122 miles an hour winds in some locations, pretty strong, all the same. in some locations, pretty strong, all the same-— in some locations, pretty strong, all the same. , , , ,., ., all the same. very, very windy. good to see you. — all the same. very, very windy. good to see you, thank— all the same. very, very windy. good to see you, thank you _ all the same. very, very windy. good to see you, thank you and _ all the same. very, very windy. good to see you, thank you and good i all the same. very, very windy. good to see you, thank you and good luck| to see you, thank you and good luck with all of your efforts. we can go back to the closing ceremony for the winter olympics, which is under way. let's talk to our china correspondent, stephen mcdonell. an important moment. is it going? here we are out on the streets, quite close to the bird's nest stadium. the police had stopped residents from getting closer to the

action.