today at six. the conservative mp chris pincher is suspended from the party over allegations of sexual assault. he stepped down from his government role yesterday after becoming the latest tory mp to be embroiled in accusations of sexual misconduct. also on the programme tonight — the number of people catching covid in the uk is on the rise — hospital admissions are too. the number of new cases has jumped by half a million in a week — we'll be looking at the latest figures. calls for more protection for women using abortion clinics in northern ireland as the supreme court prepares to rule on whether protests should be banned. a man's been remanded in custody

for the murder and attempted rape of zara aleena in east london — her family say she was fearless and independent. and a bit of tennis history for britain's heather watson at wimbledon, as she makes it through to the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time. it means everything, playing here at home, in front all of you guys. the atmosphere is, is everything and coming up on the bbc news channel. it was cancelled because of covid last september, but finally the test series decider between england and india got under way at edgbaston, with the hosts bowling first. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six.

he quit his post yesterday, saying in a resignation letter he drop, far too much. two seniorfemale conservative mps, caroline noakes and karen bradleyjoined labour in calling for hiss is spend snrun the party and said there should be a new code of conduct for mps, with the latest from westminster. here is our correspondent nick eardley. this is chris pincher. until yesterday, correspondent nick eardley. this is chris pincher. untilyesterday, his job was to enforce discipline among conservative mps. but last fight he resigned his government role, after allegations that he had groped two men. he had been drinking here, a private member's club in london with other conservative politicians. he admitted drinking too much and said he had embarrassed himself. we take all of these things _ he had embarrassed himself. we take all of these things seriously, - all of these things seriously, nobody, this, these, my first reaction to when i heard this was one of sadness and frustration that

here we are again, in this position, it is absolutely beholden on us to make sure that we do these things properly, from the point of view of the victims. the properly, from the point of view of the victim-— properly, from the point of view of the victims. ~ , ., , the victims. the prime minister was back in downing _ the victims. the prime minister was back in downing street _ the victims. the prime minister was back in downing street today, - back in downing street today, meeting new zealand's premier. imilli meeting new zealand's premier. will ou meeting new zealand's premier. ll you suspend chris pincher? meeting new zealand's premier. will you suspend chris pincher? numberl you suspend chris pincher? number ten insisted — you suspend chris pincher? number ten insisted boris _ you suspend chris pincher? number ten insisted boris johnson - you suspend chris pincher? number ten insisted boris johnson had - you suspend chris pincher? number ten insisted boris johnson had not l ten insisted borisjohnson had not been wear of specific allegations about chris pincher. but a conservative mp said concerns had been raised with downing street. chris pincher was one of the conservative mps who helped boris johnson keep hisjob earlier this year. it was one of the reasons he was promoted to government. but after the allegations of groping emerged last night. there was considerable pressure from senior tories, for a zero tolerance approach, and tonight it was confirmed that chris pincher would be suspended from the tory party in parliament. a spokeswoman for the chief whip said having heard that a

formal complaint has been made, the prime minister has agreed that the whip should be suspended from chris pincher, while the investigation is ongoing. but some parliamentary staff have raised concerns about general allegation, not being taken seriously enough. henry and angus work for mps. . as staff in parliament we know about these rumours and we know who these people are, and we seem them walking round and if we know they have been doing these thing, how do we know it is a safe place to work?— these thing, how do we know it is a safe place to work? no-one wants to work in a workplace _ safe place to work? no-one wants to work in a workplace where _ safe place to work? no-one wants to work in a workplace where those - work in a workplace where those round _ work in a workplace where those round you. — work in a workplace where those round you, especially more senior than _ round you, especially more senior than you _ round you, especially more senior than you are — round you, especially more senior than you are accused of quite serious — than you are accused of quite serious misconduct. after— serious misconduct. after having the whip suspended chris pincher is now sitting as an independent mp. and the behaviour of elected representatives is in the spotlight again. there has been criticism tonight of how long it took for chris pincher to be suspended from the

conservative party in parliament. labour say that the prime minister was dragged kicking and screaming, to that decision, now number ten says today they took their cue from the alleged victim, that they waited for an official complaint to be made, to the independent parliamentary system, and that after that was done, they acted swiftly. chris pincher himself has not commented apart from that brief resignation letter last night. thank you nick. the number of people catching covid is on the rise again in the uk. with little testing going on, the most reliable way to find out how many people have coronavirus is from the weekly survey by the office for national statistics. and the latest estimates today suggest the numbers havejumped by almost a third in a week, to 2.3 million. our health editor hugh pym is here. there are further sharp increases in covid infections, driven by variants of omicron known as baa and ba5 which spread more rapidly.

case rates rose in all the uk's nations, with scotland still the highest. but if you look back at previous covid numbers, the latest level of infections is still less than half what it was in march, and lower than january. so where will it go from here? portugal had a big rise in many fencingion, that is coming down, the second feature may be to do with our behaviour and interrank aion, many schools are about to break up, they have done so in scotland, and we will see that elsewhere in the uk, and we have seen when schools are on holiday, just because of the interactions we have, that over that holiday period the infection rates may go down. total numbers have gone up, the most up—to—date figures are for england, there are currentlyjust under 9,000 covid patient, some are there

because of another health issue, thatis because of another health issue, that is still below april's number of over 16,500. nhs staff say the virus is making life more difficult at a time of high pressure. health care workers are vulnerable to pick up covid because of the environment they work in, because they do a lot of work which is people facing, so you then create this workforce problem, where what we are seeing is lots of staff are off. that is creating problems that we don't have enough beds to look after patients coming through. vaccine are continuing including at this centre at bath racecourse. health officials are urging those who qualified for a second booster to come forward. in the autumn, those aged 65 and over are set to get a fourth dose, they have been calls for that to be reduced to 50. 0fficials calls for that to be reduced to 50. officials want to stress that covid hasn't gone away, and their message is it is sensible to use hand gel,

and wear a face covering, in crowded indoor spaces. abortion in northern ireland was decriminalised more than two years ago, but services are still limited, and last year more than 160 women still flew to england for terminations. many who choose to have abortions in northern ireland have to contend with protestors as they arrive at clinics. later this month, the uk's supreme court will decide whether or not to ban such protests, amid calls for more protection for staff and women who use abortion clinics. here's our ireland correspondent, emma vardy. have mercy on us and on the whole world. a prayer and a protest. this has become a regular sight outside some of northern ireland's main hospitals. they're here because daisy hill hospital in newry provides a clinic for women to access abortion services. what we have found, and what people have told us, is that it's really intimidating

coming up to these gates. fiona and cara have started a voluntary service to chaperone women in. if you were going in there to access any sort of treatment — this is a multiuse site, it's intimidating and harassing. people who are going in for counselling after having miscarriages and stillbirths, and then are met by graphic images. more than 100 women a year from northern ireland still fly to england to access abortions. despite the change in the law here, only limited services have been set up. those that do access clinics often encounter protesters. you don't want to be confronted by men, some women, but mostly men, who are pushing placards in yourface, who are praying at you. the anti—abortion protests also take place at ashleigh topley�*s local hospital in craigavon. she was denied an abortion after being told here her baby wouldn't survive.

those appointments, when i was here, some of them were very very difficult any way, and had i had to run the gauntlet of protesters just prior to that appointment, it would have made them even worse. because abortion had not yet been decriminalised, ashleigh had to continue with the pregnancy. having to go through the trauma of waiting and waiting and waiting, like that was just hardship, unnecessary hardship on top of the most awful period of our lives. so many times i feel like marching down there to say, listen, this is what happened to me, for those people that need to have abortions. it is just so cruel. so cruel. the supreme court ruling in america, which overturned women's right to an abortion, has re—energised campaigns on both sides of the argument here. northern ireland's new law to create safe spaces, so—called exclusion zones, outside clinics and hospitals has been referred to the uk's supreme court. if the exclusion zone

legislation goes through, groups like this would be required to move some 100 metres or so away from the entrance to a hospital or a clinic. but there is also questions over whether this conflicts with legislation around human rights and the right to free speech. what do you think this actually achieves? we are informing the public. john mitchel place in newry ran an abortion clinic there. it's closed, because we were there. but do you think about how women feel, who walk in through these doors? yes. they may have already been dealing with the fact their baby is not going to survive. a sign like "abortion is murder", how does that help them? because it is murder. it is a living part of life. the women that are coming here are already in trauma. doesn't this make it worse? no, no, because they have a decision to make — do they have their baby, or do they murder their baby? that is the question. is this compassion? it is compassion. it's compassion for the baby,

the baby doesn't have a say, it can't shout out "i don't want to be aborted." but northern ireland's health service is expected to be compelled to provide more abortion services in future. what's now in the hands of british judges is what kind of experience women will face when they come through these gates. emma vardy, bbc news. hong kong is marking the 25th anniversary of its handover to china. for more than 150 years, it was a british colony which became a global financial powerhouse, with free speech and some democratic elections, in stark contrast to china's communist government. injuly 1997, hong kong was given back to china under a "one country, two systems" arrangement, allowing it to keep its freedoms for 50 years. but 2014 saw the umbrella movement, mass protests for weeks, with protestors shielding themselves with umbrellas, after china used its powers to control who could be elected in hong kong. in 2019 there were even bigger demonstrations over

an extradition bill, as china moved to allow criminal suspects to potentially be extradited to mainland china. and then a year later, a sweeping new national security law effectively banning dissent in hong kong. here's our world affairs editorjohn simpson. hong kong still seems to make the chinese leadership nervous. when president xi jinping arrived by train from the mainland yesterday, he wasn't planning to stay long. he soon retreated back into china proper to spend the night, then came back again this morning. mr xi told the hong kong people that after reuniting with the motherland they'd become masters of their own city. hong kong's true democracy started from there, he said. 25 years ago, when britain handed hong kong back to the chinese,

it was richer per capita than britain and was the most transparent economy in the world. the approach which china promised to follow was "one country, two systems", meaning hong kong would be part of china but would keep its freedoms. what do you feel when you think back 25 years ago on leaving hong kong? i was incredibly sad. i was quite proud of the way we left hong kong, but maybe slightly... a little bit deluded in thinking that the chinese would behave properly. because they haven't? i think they've behaved appallingly badly. the chinese leadership was worried that the waves of protest in hong kong might spread to the mainland. under hong kong's draconian national security law,

more than 200 politicians, journalists and lawyers are now injail. nathan law, a leading opposition figure, is in exile in britain. we're talking about a whole civil society being demolished in one and a half years, the speed of which was incredible and people were so upset about it. now hong kong is changing right in front of our eyes. the famous skyline may look the same but hundreds of thousands of people have left and they are often the best and brightest. china doesn't mind. it would much rather have a quiet, obedient hong kong than the exciting, vibrant place it used to be. john simpson, bbc news. the time is 6:15pm. our top story this evening:

the conservative mp chris pincher is suspended from the party over allegations of sexual assault. and coming up, i am at silverstone where the build—up to the british grand prix has been dominated not by record crowds here but by a racial slur is aimed at lewis hamilton. coming up in sport: on day five here at wimbledon, there is still no stopping the defending champion, novak djokovic, who eases into the last 16. this weekend tens of thousands of people will be marching at pride events in many parts of the uk to celebrate the lgbt plus community. it's 50 years since the gay liberation front organised the uk's first ever pride parade in london — paving the way for the gay rights movement. 0ur lgbt correspondent lauren moss has been speaking to some it's an explosion of culture,

celebration and protest. pride is back where it began with those who started it 50 years ago. the gay liberation front was formed in the early 1970s by a group of students and young activists in london demanding equality and a change in society. i was here on the first march. i was a 16—year—old who had just been thrown out of school for being gay. it was something new, it had never been done before. we were incredibly nervous, we feared arrest and gay bashing but we march defiantly. we are still here today- and in the interim we had gay marriage, civil partnerships, legal protection, and - a real change in the public's- attitude towards lgbt people and most importantly a sense of dignity we have known for ourselves. - glf lit a spark that would burn for the next five decades,

but those years also saw huge trials. like the aids crisis in the 1980s. so don't die of ignorance. and monumental milestones reached like equal marriage. the gay liberation front will lead tomorrow's parade in london. it was pride as a process that brought them together 50 years ago and that that unites them today, a fight for a quality they say it has still yet to be won and that flags are passed down to the next generation. i wanted to come as a protest. down to the next generation. i i wanted to come as a protest. my first pride but i think it's important to pay our respects to them — important to pay our respects to them because pride has become like a

bil them because pride has become like a big party— them because pride has become like a big party which i understand, we have _ big party which i understand, we have a _ big party which i understand, we have a lot — big party which i understand, we have a lot to celebrate but we still have a lot to celebrate but we still have a _ have a lot to celebrate but we still have a lot — have a lot to celebrate but we still have a lot to celebrate but we still have a lot to fight for. we have a lot to celebrate but we still have a lot to fight for.— have a lot to fight for. we are here, have a lot to fight for. we are here. we _ have a lot to fight for. we are here. we are _ have a lot to fight for. we are here, we are comfortable, . have a lot to fight for. we are i here, we are comfortable, trans people — here, we are comfortable, trans people and _ here, we are comfortable, trans people and people _ here, we are comfortable, trans people and people of— here, we are comfortable, trans people and people of colour- people and people of colour should be able _ people and people of colour should be able to — people and people of colour should be able to walk _ people and people of colour should be able to walk around _ people and people of colour should be able to walk around comfortably and that _ be able to walk around comfortably and that is — be able to walk around comfortably and that is the _ be able to walk around comfortably and that is the rights— be able to walk around comfortably and that is the rights we _ and that is the rights we deserve wherever— and that is the rights we deserve wherever we _ and that is the rights we deserve wherever we are. _ and that is the rights we deserve wherever we are.— and that is the rights we deserve wherever we are. pride has become a ulobal wherever we are. pride has become a global movement _ wherever we are. pride has become a global movement with _ wherever we are. pride has become a global movement with millions - wherever we are. pride has become a global movement with millions of - global movement with millions of people taking part every year, continuing the campaign for lgbt voices to be heard. you can hear more from the original gay liberation front members on the bbc�*s five minutes 0n podcast, looking at 50 years of pride in the uk, available on bbc sounds. the man accused of the murder, attempted rape and robbery of zara aleena in east london has been remanded in custody after appearing at the old bailey. jordan mcsweeney allegedly killed the 35—year—old as she walked home from a night out in the early hours of sunday morning. today the family of the newly trained solicitor spoke

of her "fearless" and "independent" spirit asjune kelly reports. zara aleena, her mother's only child and described today by her aunt as part of a family of strong women. the one word that would describe zara, if i had to use one word, i would say independent. that was what she valued more than anything, her independence. and so, you know, she was encouraged by all of us to pursue her dreams. and at five years old, she said, i want to be a lawyer. last weekend, the life of this young woman at the start of her legal career was suddenly ended when she was attacked close to where she lived in ilford in east london, on her way home from a night out. zara was already using her legal training to help people. she worked with resettling refugees, fleeing violence.

she had a really big heart. tomorrow, in the neighbourhood zara knew so well and where her life was taken, her family and friends will lead a walk to remember her, to be a silent, somber walk. and we will hold her in our hearts. and we walk, as a woman should be allowed to, as a woman should have the entitlement to, and we walk her home. zahra's and ending that report by jean kelly. now a look at some other stories making the news today. ukraine has accused russia of waging a war on civilians, after at least 19 people were killed by russian missile strikes near the black sea port of 0desa. more than 30 others were injured in the attacks, which severely damaged a block of flats

and a recreation centre. there are now more than 1200 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the uk, the uk health security agency says. that figure is the highest in the world — and today the world health organization says cases have tripled across europe and called for urgent action. steve wright in the afternoon is coming to an end. the dj told his listeners he would be leaving his show in the autumn. david sillito reports. leaving wogan house today it was a moment for steve wright. what had begunin moment for steve wright. what had begun in 1981 on radio1 moment for steve wright. what had begun in 1981 on radio 1 and had been part of radio two was being dropped. steve wright in the afternoon is finally coming to an end. ., �* , afternoon is finally coming to an end. . �* , ._ afternoon is finally coming to an end. . �*, ., , end. that's the way it goes, sometimes _ end. that's the way it goes, sometimes people - end. that's the way it goes, sometimes people want -

end. that's the way it goes, sometimes people want to l end. that's the way it goes, - sometimes people want to come they don't, sometimes they give you another offer and i understand that. # steve wright! the another offer and i understand that. # steve wright!— # steve wright! the sound he developed _ # steve wright! the sound he developed in _ # steve wright! the sound he developed in the _ # steve wright! the sound he developed in the 1980s - # steve wright! the sound he developed in the 1980s was i # steve wright! the sound he developed in the 1980s was a | # steve wright! the sound he . developed in the 1980s was a mix # steve wright! the sound he - developed in the 1980s was a mix of comedy characters and a cheering posse. comedy characters and a cheering osse. , , ' z: ., , posse. the bride is 107. it was something _ posse. the bride is 107. it was something different, - posse. the bride is 107. it was something different, slightly l something different, slightly subversive, a bit of satire and it wasn't like that is the great sound of. it wasn't like that is the great sound of. ., , wasn't like that is the great sound of. . , . , wasn't like that is the great sound of. ., , , wasn't like that is the great sound of. it was at its peak reaching 7 million listeners _ of. it was at its peak reaching 7 million listeners a _ of. it was at its peak reaching 7 million listeners a day. - of. it was at its peak reaching 7 million listeners a day. steve i million listeners a day. steve wright will keep keep his sunday morning show and scott mills will take over the afternoon slot but it will be in september at the end of a little bit of radio history. it's the british grand prix this weekend with sir lewis hamilton, britain's seven—time formula one

world champion, calling for a change of tone at the top of formula one with what he calls "older voices" not being given a platform in the media. it follows former driver nelson piquet, who's 69, using a racially offensive term to refer to hamilton during a podcast. our sports correspondenet natalie pirks is at silverstone. here in the paddock we would normally have been talking about racing but lewis hamilton is talking about racism after that audio emerged of nelson pk using a homophobic and racial slur against him. he was told to brush aside those comments by the former f1 boss bernie ecclestone. nelson piquet has apologised but for lewis hamilton this is about a wider shed. austria 2020, at lewis hamilton and 13 others took the knee on the grid in the protest against racism but six years on he is still facing

negativity —— two years on. i six years on he is still facing negativity -- two years on. i don't know why — negativity -- two years on. i don't know why we _ negativity -- two years on. i don't know why we are _ negativity -- two years on. i don't know why we are continuing - negativity -- two years on. i don't know why we are continuing to - negativity -- two years on. i don't. know why we are continuing to give these older voices are platform because we are looking to go somewhere different and that is not representative of who we are as a sport now, it's notjust about one individual or want use of that term, it's the bigger picture.— it's the bigger picture. hamilton has been a _ it's the bigger picture. hamilton has been a driving _ it's the bigger picture. hamilton has been a driving force - it's the bigger picture. hamilton has been a driving force for- it's the bigger picture. hamilton i has been a driving force for change in formula 1, working with his team to increase diversity in the sport but mercedes need others to do more. i think showing support is great and i think showing support is great and iwoutd _ i think showing support is great and i would rather have that than nothing — i would rather have that than nothing but commit. hamilton is the most successful driver at silverstone, eight race wins including last year but mercedes have fallen behind their rivals and of hamilton fails to win on sunday it will be the first time in his career he has gone 11 races

without a victory. his new team—mate is flying, in spite of his car george russell is the only driver to have scored points in every race this year. last year here the crowd how come whelp helped him serenade his dad and brother for how come whelp helped him serenade his dad and brotherfor their birthdays, an experience that summed up birthdays, an experience that summed up the experience of being a british driver at silverstone. irate up the experience of being a british driver at silverstone.— driver at silverstone. we have this crazy existence — driver at silverstone. we have this crazy existence but _ driver at silverstone. we have this crazy existence but sometimes - driver at silverstone. we have this| crazy existence but sometimes you lose sight of the little things that life is about and a moment like that was special. but life is about and a moment like that was special-— was special. but in the race to the title it's red _ was special. but in the race to the title it's red bull _ was special. but in the race to the title it's red bull who _ was special. but in the race to the title it's red bull who are - was special. but in the race to the title it's red bull who are really i title it's red bull who are really enjoying themselves.— title it's red bull who are really enjoying themselves. great to see the fans getting — enjoying themselves. great to see the fans getting back— enjoying themselves. great to see the fans getting back behind - enjoying themselves. great to see l the fans getting back behind drivers and the _ the fans getting back behind drivers and the sport and hopefully we can put and the sport and hopefully we can out a _ and the sport and hopefully we can out a great — and the sport and hopefully we can put a great race on on sunday. you must be put a great race on on sunday. gm. must be confident. put a great race on on sunday. you must be confident. you _ put a great race on on sunday. you must be confident. you can - put a great race on on sunday. you must be confident. you can never. put a great race on on sunday. you i must be confident. you can never be confident, ferrari _ must be confident. you can never be confident, ferrari looked _ must be confident. you can never be confident, ferrari looked great - must be confident. you can never be confident, ferrari looked great and l confident, ferrari looked great and there _ confident, ferrari looked great and there is— confident, ferrari looked great and there is an — confident, ferrari looked great and there is an english summer to deal with _

there is an english summer to deal with h_ there is an english summer to deal with. �* . ., there is an english summer to deal with. �* .., . ., there is an english summer to deal with. . _, , there is an english summer to deal with. , ,. with. a record crowd is expected with. a record crowd is expected with vociferous _ with. a record crowd is expected with vociferous british _ with. a record crowd is expected with vociferous british support. | with vociferous british support. hamilton will hope to find solace on the track after a turbulent build—up. britain's heather watson has made through to the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time today at wimbledon. the 30—year—old — who made her debut at wimbledon more than a decade ago — fell to her knees after her victory on centre court. joe wilson is there. spot the british tennis player heading to wimbledon. is hat cameron norrie? we'll see you later on centre, however you do it. heather watson was a junior grand slam winner. ups and downs inevitably followed, but here she was at 30. striving, delivering. her greatest strength was her experience, against an up and coming slovenian opponent watson often was stretched

but produced shotsjuvan could not quite believe. she's made that. the first set was a tie break. the second, a celebration eventually. six—two. heather, for the first time ever, you're in the fourth round. playing here at home in front of all of you guys, the atmosphere is... is everything. i love you too. so please, can all of you come back for my fourth round? oh, they'll be there. nearest the camera here is the woman plenty believe could become the champion. tunisia's annjabeur into round four without dropping a set. beautiful line. at 5:23, cameron norrie was walking onto center court. he's taken influences from many countries in his life. he's won four tournaments on the world tour. he was playing a very experienced american, and stevejohnson appeared to be beatable. alonso it's proving. cameron norrie

won the first set and is going well in the second. he has ranked seventh in the second. he has ranked seventh in the second. he has ranked seventh in the world but not doing much in the grand slams but if you do well at wimbledon eb camp news and if you are wondering what heather watson is doing right now, she is about 50 metres away from me playing doubles. never ending. joe, thank you very much. time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. june it left off with some heavy downpours widely, this was one affecting joni of arc who may have wished she had an arc and today's heavy showers have been across scotland and the east of england, thunderstorms mixed in whereas further west we are seeing a weather front moving across northern ireland and overnight that will push across northern england and scotland so there will be further rain, south east anglia and south—east england that have the best chance of staying

dry and temperatures similar to recent nights, 11—13 . looking at the forecast for wimbledon tomorrow it should be a dry day although the cloud will build up, you could be the odd shower late in the day and that shower risk comes from this band of rain working in across england, behind that a familiar mix of sunshine and showers, some heavy and thundery, this time the greatest chance of seeing thunderstorms across north—west areas of scotland, some 50 downpours here. temperatures not changing much day by day, still a bit disappointing in the west, high teens, 21 in the best sunshine further east. in the second half of the weekend the weather will try to improve, fewer showers here but otherwise sunny spells, passing showers, quite windy across north—west areas and temperatures high teens across the north and west, 21 and 22 across east anglia, then next week there is temperatures

high teens across the north and west, 21 and