today at 6pm... the king's visit to france this weekend is postponed after french unions plan more street protests on pensions. this was to have been the royal couple's first trip abroad since charles became king, but domestic french politics have intervened. violent demonstrations this week in paris and elsewhere over president macron�*s plan to raise the pension age without a vote in parliament. translation: we'd have lacked common sense if we'd proposed the state - visit of his majesty the king and the queen consort in the midst of the protests. we'll be looking at how a visit that was meant to celebrate anglo—french relations has turned into a major embarrassment for france. also on the programme... school inspections in england

will continue, says the head of the watchdog ofsted, after a headteacher took her own life when her school was downgraded. how a russian child's drawing against the war in ukraine saw her taken from her father after her school complained she hasn't been seen since. and top gear is parked up for the foreseeable future. the bbc stops filming the series after presenter freddie flintoff had an accident in december. and coming up on sportsday later in the hour on the bbc news channel. we will look ahead to the sart of the women's six nations championships,

can anyone stop the reigning and some violence over the french government's proposals for pension reform. the trip was due to have been the new king's first visit abroad, but president macron said that, with more protests planned for tuesday, he felt it would be inappropriate for the royal couple to travel. mr macron�*s plan to raise the pension age from 62 to 64 has faced stiff opposition, but it was his decision on monday to force through the reforms, bypassing a vote in parliament, that has caused the storm. from paris, here's our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell. tear gas. riot police. this is paris at the moment. there are piles of uncollected rubbish in the streets and angry demonstrators on the streets furious with president macron over his plans to raise the state pension age to 64.

matters appear to be deteriorating and next week's state visit by king charles and the queen consort was clearly in the protesters' sights. so, from president macron, a change of plan. it wouldn't have been serious of us and we'd have lacked common sense if we'd proposed a state visit to his majesty the king and the queen consort in the midst of the protests, the president told journalists. the two men met several times when charles was prince of wales. after today's decision was taken, the president telephoned the king to explain that the first state visit of his reign would have to be postponed. so what should have been the glittering confirmation of a restored relationship with a ceremonial welcome here at the arc de triomphe will have to wait. paris, quite simply, is in no fit state to welcome the king and the queen consort. the entente cordiale between the two governments may be back on track after the post—brexit tensions,

but on the streets of france there is anger and that's the problem. this was the town hall in bordeaux last night, a building the king and the queen consort had been due to visit next tuesday. and this was the national assembly a few days ago as france's prime minister did her best to explain why members weren't being given a vote on the pension reforms coordination. the king had been due to address the french senate, and this very grand building is the palace of versailles, where the state banquet had been planned for monday evening. hardly the right backdrop in present circumstances. the state visit to france will be rearranged. the visit to germany will go ahead as planned. but paris hasn't been completely denied the sight of king charles. the local waxworks unveiled its version of a kilted king today. nicholas witchell, bbc news, paris.

let's speak to our paris correspondent, lucy williamson. this is highly embarrassing for president macron and he is in a big political fight president macron and he is in a big politicalfight as well. president macron and he is in a big political fight as well. yes. political fight as well. yes, he seems absolutely _ political fight as well. yes, he seems absolutely determined | political fight as well. yes, he i seems absolutely determined to political fight as well. yes, he - seems absolutely determined to push through these reforms and stand tough which is why it is striking, is admission today that the protests are bad enough that they might disrupt the royal visit. it should be said that the authorities here say it wasn't so much there was a security risk, more a risk to the image of either the british monarchy of france. but i think president macron might well have had something of an image problem even without any incidents at the protest yesterday there were placards showing him as a sort of old—style french king, and thatis sort of old—style french king, and that is the message of the protesters, that he is remote, undemocratic and out of touch. so meeting a real monarch, dining with

him in the gilded palace of versailles was unlikely to dampen that kind of mood.— versailles was unlikely to dampen that kind of mood. school inspections in england will continue, according to the chief inspector of schools, amanda spielman, despite some calls for them to be paused after a headteacher in reading took her own life. ruth perry's family says she'd found the pressure of an inspection in which her school was downgraded "intolerable". it's now emerged that amanda spielman went to her school for a pilot inspection in 2019 and that ruth perry had said the feedback then was "glowing". here's our education editor, branwen jeffreys. from an ofsted inspection at this primary and the suicide of the head teacher while waiting for the report, a national debate has been released. for ruth perry, this was her first inspection as head teacher. but the bbc has learned ofsted inspectors made an informal

visit in 2019. 0fsted inspectors made an informal visit in 2019. the chief inspector, amanda spielman, was an observer. in a newsletter to parents, perry said the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. after a formal inspection three years later, the school was rated inadequate. sophie greenaway is a head teacher at a nearby school. before that, she worked with ruth at caversham primary stop it would have been soul destroying, that word inadequate, that her school, that i know is fantastic, a wonderful place to be. to be defined in one word at inadequate, that would have, you know, destroyed her. it would have done.— it would have done. ofsted said in a statement earlier _ it would have done. ofsted said in a statement earlier inspections - it would have done. ofsted said in a statement earlier inspections are i it would have done. ofsted said in a statement earlier inspections are in | statement earlier inspections are in the best interest of children. 0ur the best interest of children. our aim is to raise standards so that all children get a great education. it's a name we share with every teacher in every school. inspection

plays an important part. 0fsted added, it includes checking that teachers know what to do if children are abused or harmed. it was on the basis of training and record—keeping on safeguarding that caversham primary went from the top rate of outstanding to the bottom, inadequate. 0fsted inspections look at many different aspects of what is going on in school. each one of thoseis going on in school. each one of those is given a grade. at the end of the whole process, the school itself is given one single great and, if there are failings in just one area, it can be marked down. the teachers unions are calling for a change in approach. it teachers unions are calling for a change in approach.— teachers unions are calling for a change in approach. it maybe you want to buy _ change in approach. it maybe you want to buy a _ change in approach. it maybe you want to buy a mug _ change in approach. it maybe you want to buy a mug of _ change in approach. it maybe you want to buy a mug of amazon - change in approach. it maybe you i want to buy a mug of amazon based change in approach. it maybe you - want to buy a mug of amazon based on a one—word review but if you are choosing a school for your child, i think you want a lot more content is a view of how that school its strengths and weaknesses are. do

parents in leeds rely on ofsted parents in leeds rely on 0fsted grades? it parents in leeds rely on ofsted arades? ., , �* , parents in leeds rely on ofsted arades? ., , �* ., parents in leeds rely on ofsted arades? ., ,�* ., ., grades? it doesn't play a part for me because _ grades? it doesn't play a part for me because i'd _ grades? it doesn't play a part for me because i'd rather— grades? it doesn't play a part for me because i'd rather go - grades? it doesn't play a part for me because i'd rather go into - grades? it doesn't play a part for. me because i'd rather go into school to see what kind of people we get. we use the 0fsted to see what kind of people we get. we use the ofsted report as an we use the 0fsted report as an indicator— we use the ofsted report as an indicator of what the area is like. change may be on the wave ofsted. change may be on the wave 0fsted. this debate will shape it. bradman jefferies, bbc news. the bbc has stopped filming the latest series of top gear after one of its presenters, freddie flintoff, was injured while filming in december. the corporation says it will decide later in the year on how best to continue. top gear is one of the bbc�*s most popular and widely exported programmes. the corporation hasn't commented on reports that the former england cricket captain has decided to leave the programme. 0ur entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba has the story. freddie flintoff has been a pivotal part of the top gear team since 2019.

it's a good one, pad. track specials. together with co—presenters paddy mcguinness and chris harris, he helped reverse the plunge in ratings that had followed the departure ofjeremy clarkson, richard hammond and james may four years earlier. his skill... oh, yeah. enthusiasm... unintelligible ..and taste for adventure. has made him a favourite with fans. three and a half months after the incident at top gear's test track, few confirmed details have emerged, only that after an accident flintoff was treated in hospital for unspecified injuries. in its latest statement, bbc studios says, "under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 3a of top gear at this time." so right now, there's certainly a degree of uncertainty over whether top gear, which is partly filmed here at television centre, will return

with or without freddie flintoff. but the bbc is likely to be unwilling to part ways with a show that, as well as having a strong uk audience is sold to dozens of countries across the globe. it's also the world's most watched factual entertainment programme currently shown in more than 200 territories. even so, one past member of the team, former stig, perry mccarthy, thinks this might be the time to alter the programme's format, whatever flintoff decides to do. moving forward, you know, if freddie wishes to leave the show, i guess, though, you will need another presenter — have anybody butjust limit how you go about it. there's enough components within top gear that many people enjoy that can be fun, you know, kind of engaging. you don't have to be 10/10 all the time in something to get that reaction. the top gear team emphasises that

health and safety procedures are followed at all times, and as far as the show�*s future is concerned, it says it will make a judgment about how best to continue later this year. lizo mzimba, bbc news. the prime minister has held talks with israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, in london. downing street says rishi sunak told israel's prime minister it was important to uphold "democratic values". the israeli leader is facing protests over plans to give his right—wing government greater control over the judiciary in israel, and its treatment of palestinians in the occupied west bank, gaza strip and eastjerusalem. bbc news has found some of the biggest companies providing freelance doctors, nurses and other staff to the nhs have seen their incomes rise by tens of millions of pounds since 2019. three companies alone saw their combined income rise by more than £200 million during that time. in december, it emerged that a hospital trust spent more than £5,000 for a single shift from an agency doctor.

0ur health editor, hugh pym, is here with more detail. the revelations come at a time of increasing scrutiny of agency costs, with health leaders saying workforce shortages leave them no choice than to spend more money on freelance staff. we looked at financial records of agency businesses providing workers to taxpayer—funded nhs organisations in the uk including three of the biggest. medacs healthcare — which describes itself as the largest supplier of locum doctors to the nhs — reported an 80% increase in turnover to almost £161 million between 2019 and 2021. id medical group — which says it's the largest uk provider of healthcare professionals to the nhs — had a turnover of £145 million in 2022,15% up on 2019. and independent clinical services — which trades as thornbury nursing group and scottish nursing guild —

had a turnover of nearly £273m in 2021, up 77.5% on 2019. it says the nhs accounts for less than half of turnover. in response to our enquiries medacs said "we are proud to partner with the nhs to provide them with a round the clock supply of healthcare workers". id medical — who paid one of its pounds last year — said "we continue our commitment to driving costs down further in partnership with the nhs ?. through our broad range of sustainable solutions". independent clinical services said "we recognise the strain the nhs and other care providers are under and proactively work with customers to support strategic workforce provision".

we asked one nhs leader to take a look at our data. sirjulian hartley has run hospitals in manchester and leeds. he's now chief executive of nhs providers representing trusts in england. well, i think these figures underlines the pressure that the nhs is under right now. it's the most operationally challenged time that i can remember in the service and certainly all trusts are desperate to reduce those costs and indeed reduce the reliance on agency. if we were to spend that money on permanent staff, that would go a long way to supporting the agenda that we've got. agencies say they're helping the nhs by providing staff at short notice when needed and it suits some of them to be freelance. many of the agency staff we speak to, they say that they do this because it's the only way they can get flexibility in their work. it helps them manage burn—out. it helps them manage their work life balance and all the other responsibilities they might have in their life. and they can't get that by being permanently employed by the nhs. the nhs has its own official staff bank, which offers extra shifts when employers have gaps to fill. the department of health and social care said spending was controlled by a cap on hourly

agency pay, and that a long—term workforce plan would be published soon for england. for health leaders, any plan which commits to more nurses and doctors and reduces the need for agency spending can't come a moment too soon. reeta. thank you. the time is just after a quarter past six. our top story this evening... king charles' first foreign trip to france is postponed amid protests over president mccrum's pension reforms. and still to come... and still to come... a chorus of approval as the bbc singers are told they will not be silenced by budget cuts. coming up on sportsdsay in the next 15 minutes on the bbc news channel. we'll have the latest from croatia where it's the start of a new era, wales embark on euro qualification without gareth bale. catch up with katie melua on her new album and new baby.

a child's simple picture against the war in ukraine has ripped a russian family apart. the 13—year—old schoolgirl who drew this has been removed from her father after her school objected to it and reported her to the police. herfather is being prosecuted for anti—war posts on social media and now risks losing his daughter. steve rosenberg reports from the town of yefremov. this is the last time masha moskaleva was seen in public. police had just detained herfather for anti—war social media posts. masha was taken to a children's home. it was on march 1st, but the story began last year with a picture. 12—year—old masha drew it at school. "glory to ukraine," it says.

"no to war," as russian missiles fly in. then the problem started. town counsellor 0lga podolski says masha's father, a single parent, contacted her to say the school, shocked by the drawing, had called the police. translation: her father alexei told me he was dumbfounded. l then the police began checking his social media. they told him he was bringing up his daughter in a bad way. the authorities want everyone to toe the line. no—one is allowed to have their own opinion. alexei is under house arrest and not allowed to talk to us. with discrediting the russian army. he could now be sent to prison. his lawyer says alexei is distraught without his child. translation: alike say is very worried about _ translation: alike say is very worried about his _ translation: alike say is very worried about his daughter. - worried about his daughter. —— alexi.

he doesn't know what's happening to her. the social services seem obsessed with this family. i think that's purely for political reasons. the family's problems only began after the girl drew that picture. we tried contacting masha's school to get its side of the story. school number 9 didn't respond to a written request for comment. so we went along there but were told, no, we couldn't come in. we tried calling. same result. just across town, supporters of the family gathered in court. return masha to her father, it says. the localjuvenile affairs commission is taking legal action to restrict alexei's parental rights. the commission has yet to respond to our request for comment. alexei moskalev had wanted to come here to court, but he wasn't allowed

to interrupt his house arrest to be here, even though what's at stake is whether his rights as a father are going to be restricted and whether his child will be taken away from him. local activists are doing what they can to help. buying food and supplies forfather and daughter. but when we ask the moskalevs' neighbors what they think, they're reluctant to say. i'm scared to, angelina says. i'm frightened to answer. sorry, she says. i won't express an opinion. and that, too, paints a picture of today's russia, of the level of fear. dissent is unacceptable, punishable. what those in power here expect is people's support, no matter what decisions are taken. steve rosenberg, bbc news, russia. the race to succeed nicola sturgeon as leader of the scottish national party

is entering its final weekend. the scottish health secretary humza yousaf, finance secretary kate forbes, and former cabinet minister ash regan are battling for the votes of around 70,000 party members. on a visit to a wind farm off the far north of scotland, the labour leader sir keir starmer told the bbc the snp was imploding. 0ur scotland editor james cook reports. keeping the faith as judgment day approaches for the snp. kate forbes, a devout christian, met muslim worshippers at this lanarkshire mosque in the first week of ramadan and the last weekend of the leadership campaign. my priorities are the people's priorities, and that includes tackling the cost of living crisis. it includes reforming our public services and dealing with poverty and obviously making the case for independence, setting out how scotland can be wealthier and fairer as an independent country. i can be quite robust. and there has been some interesting moments, i think it's fair to say... after friday prayers at his mosque,

humza yousaf was keen to play down the disruptive and divisive nature of the race. my message is a really simple one — if you want the next leader of the snp to continue to build on that progressive agenda, that's won us election after election, if you want us to have somebody who will build a team that will unite and deliver independence, then i'm the person that you should put as your number one choice. ash regan, by contrast, plays up her role as a disruptor, with this message for members. if they're in the snp because they want scottish independence, they really only have one candidate to choose from, and that's me. i'm the only one that's got a credible plan for independence. i'm committed to that and i want scotland to work towards being an independent country as soon as possible, because i see that as being the best way that we can get the scotland that we all want to live in. the twists and turns of this contest have been compelling viewing for voters in scotland, but it also matters throughout the uk. the snp currently hold 45 of the 59

scottish seats at westminster, which means their pain could be labour's gain. sir keir starmer knows that, of course. he's here to highlight labour's plans for renewable energy and green jobs, and also because he spies a political opportunity in the offing. the snp is imploding. i think everybody can see that. and you know, whatever you think of nicola sturgeon, she was a giant in scottish politics and i think there's a massive gulf between her and any of the candidates to replace her. and what that implosion has shown, i think, is that the snp has run out of road when it comes to the case for independence and that's shone a light on their record. why has labour done so badly in scotland for so long? well, we did well for a long time and then, obviously, we've not done so well recently. and i take that in all humility. and i think labour lost its way and got too far

from voters here in scotland. and that's why i've spent a lot of time in scotland listening, engaging, talking about the future. forward to labour government. forward to a labour government. maybe, maybe not. what is clear is scotland will be a key battleground in the next general election. james cook, bbc news. and there's more from james on the snp leadership race in the latest episode of the podcast 5 questions on, available on bbc sounds. earlier this month, if you'd walked down armada way in plymouth, this would have been the scene — more than 100 trees running down the middle. but in the early hours of march the 15th, this is what locals woke up to after contractors moved in and cut down them down as part

of redevelopment scheme. not all had been felled, though. campaigners secured a last minute court injunction to stop the felling. and today, a high courtjudge kept the order in place. 0ur south west england correspondent jenny kumah has been following the story. campaigners in plymouth celebrating the news from the high court. brilliant! 0verwhelmed by feelings ofjoy! lam i am relieved! lam relieved! look i am relieved! look at this apocalypse they have created here. but at _ apocalypse they have created here. but at least we have got a little bit of _ but at least we have got a little bit of a — but at least we have got a little bit of a stay, and we have managed to save _ bit of a stay, and we have managed to save a _ bit of a stay, and we have managed to save a few trees. that's a good thing _ thing. contractors thing. — contractors came late at night and wasted no time felling more than 100 trees in just a a few hours for the sake of regeneration. at around 1am, campaigners were able to get an injunction to stop the job. it campaigners were able to get an injunction to stop the job.- injunction to stop the 'ob. if you cut any more h injunction to stop the 'ob. if you cut any more trees _ injunction to stop the job. if you cut any more trees down, - injunction to stop the job. if you cut any more trees down, it - injunction to stop the job. if you cut any more trees down, it will| injunction to stop the job. if you i cut any more trees down, it will be a criminal— cut any more trees down, it will be a criminal offence. by— a criminal offence. by then, only a few trees remain. plymouth city council said the work

happened at night for public safety reasons. in the cold light of day, the site of the destruction left some feeling astounded and angry. today's ruling is a victory for campaigners, but the reality is, more than 100 trees have gone, and only around 19 remain. a final decision on theirfuture only around 19 remain. a final decision on their future will be made once a judicial review of the council's action has been carried out. thejudge out. the judge has ruled out. thejudge has ruled the out. the judge has ruled the council out. thejudge has ruled the council can i remove the letter of trunks and stamps subject to an expert report, but the remaining court order means the council's regeneration plans are in doubt. aiii." the council's regeneration plans are in doubt. . ., , ., ., , ., ., in doubt. our aim was to transform a tired and rundown _ in doubt. our aim was to transform a tired and rundown part _ in doubt. our aim was to transform a tired and rundown part of _ in doubt. our aim was to transform a tired and rundown part of the - in doubt. our aim was to transform a tired and rundown part of the city - tired and rundown part of the city centre and draw in further investment to support inner city living. whilst we acknowledge people's concerns about the loss of trees, others in our city are very clear they want this change. this is what the council aims for the city centre to look like as part of its £13 million revamp. the

scheme was paused in february following a campaign against it. today, thejudge said he has serious concerns about the council's use emergency powers to fell trees. the council leader who authorised it is expected to resign. for now, though, a new lease of life for these trees. in their future is still uncertain and continues to be an emotive and divisive issue. after a public outcry against its closure, the bbc singers choir has been given a reprieve. the corporation says it can continue performing while the corporation looks at other ways of funding the group, which is the uk's only full—time professional chamber choir. the singers were due to be axed just before their centenary because of bbc budget cuts, as our media correspondent david sillito reports. music. the bbc singers, a part of british musical life for nearly 100 years.

however, what began as the wireless chorus of 192a didn't look as if it was going to make it to its centenary year. the bbc said it had to make cuts and the choir would close in september. however, there has been a u—turn. in the queue for today's concert, there was a relief that britain's only full—time, salaried choir has been saved. it's something to aspire to. certainly for young singers coming up professionally. ijust read on my phone now that they have a reprieve and i'm delighted. the country doesn't respect, really, how good they are. l it is, though, a familiar story. the bbc�*s budget has dropped by around a0%, but each time it tries to cut something, protests. the conductor, sirjohn elliott gardner, said the planned closure was a scandal. 140,000 people signed a petition. what's changed is an offer from two as yet unnamed external organisations who've offered to help

pay for the singers. i don't see this as a u—turn at all, actually, what this is... is where still going to deliver our plans but were able to do it while keeping hold of the bbc singers. that's a really, a really good thing, i'm delighted to be able to say that. and we are now able to do it by working in partnership with external colleagues as well. discussions are still ongoing but hope are high that the singers future are secure. they will definitely be a part of this year's proms. david sillito, bbc news. let's ta ke let's take a look at the weekend weather now with louise. hi there. it certainly has been a day of dodging the downpours today, hasn't it? look at these mixed fortunes. this was run more common a little earlier on. beautiful day, sunshine coming out. just an hour later, look at this, threatening skies, and we have had some real torrential downpours today. you often hear is use the phrase bands

and organised showers, and what does that mean? this is the perfect example. look out those showers are driven along by winds in fairly organised bands of showers. they have been grouped together for longer spells of rain at times, some of them thundery. in the lighter winds, they have been slow moving as well. all that will drift its way steadily eastwards and hopefully improve a little as we go through the evening and overnight. temperatures will hold up, though. quite a lot of cloud around through the night, and through tomorrow morning, we start with some sunny spells and hopefully fewer showers. there could be more organised across northern ireland into northern england and down into east anglia. here, whetherfront england and down into east anglia. here, whether front sinks steadily south, but wales and south—west england will stay mild. we will keep some sunny spells, butjust a bit colder in scotland. a sign of what is to come. as that from perches steadily southward through saturday night, it will bring some rain but introduce cooler air. a northerly

air flow set to return for the second half of the weekend and into next week. we start