nicola sturgeon's statement at holyrood is likely to focus on pandemic recovery but she has also madein the nearfuture. 0pposition parties will also have a chance to set out their proposals for the year to come, with two days of debate scheduled. here to tell us more is our scotland political correspondent, david wallace lockhart. good morning, david. 0bviously good morning, david. obviously we are expecting lots of green elements to this announcement today now that the snp obviously is in power with the snp obviously is in power with the greens. the snp obviously is in power with the green— the greens. that's right, this is the greens. that's right, this is the programme _ the greens. that's right, this is the programme for _ the greens. that's right, this is. the programme for government, the greens. that's right, this is - the programme for government, an annual event at holyrood, the equivalent of the queen's speech at westminster and nicola sturgeon last week brought in to green party ministers to her government as part of a power—sharing agreement. that probably gives us a hint

nicola sturgeon's statement at holyrood is likely to focus on pandemic recovery but she has also made referendum. 0pposition parties will also have a chance to set out their proposals for the year to come, with two days of debate scheduled. let's get more on this with our scotland correspondent, james shaw. james, what are we going to be hearing? it james, what are we going to be hearin: ? , . . , james, what are we going to be hearin? _, ., ,~ .., james, what are we going to be hearin? ,., ., ,~ .., hearing? it is a really crucial day for the scottish _ hearing? it is a really crucial day for the scottish government. - hearing? it is a really crucial day. for the scottish government. this hearing? it is a really crucial day - for the scottish government. this is a key date in the political calendar in scotland when we hear what their plans are, they're spending, their legislative programme for the coming 12 months. as you suggested, anita, there are things that are important, one is covid recovery. as far as nicola sturgeon is concerned, the pandemic is very much still happening. cas

let's hear some of what she said at holyrood.— said at holyrood.at the climate emergency in a way that captures maximum economic benefit and to get as far as we can the damaging consequences of brexit, while offering a better alternative. in detail it sets out plans to invest in and reform our public services, establish a national care service, extent and increase the scottish child payment, build more affordable houses, guarantee opportunities for young people, build an economy fit for the future and show real leadership on the climate crisis. it also reaffirms the scottish government's commitment to an independence referendum. a democratic mandate to allow people to decide the country's future is beyond question. at thisjuncture in history it is essential that we consider the kind of country we want to be and how best to secure it. as we emerge from the pandemic, choices will be made that will shape our economy and society for decades to come. which parliament, westminster or holyrood should make these choices? was nicola sturgeon unveiling her g

holyrood will debate it later.government insists that vaccination certification is a limited, targeted and proportionate response to a very difficult situation. lorna gordon, bbc news. 0ur scotland correspondent james shaw is at the scottish parliament this afternoon. uses how the the numbers looking in terms of getting this through uses how the the numbers looking in terms of getting this throuthames? well, it looks as though the scottish government will get it through and the reason for that simply is they have just gone into a power—sharing arrange westminster the scottish green, thatjust gives them the edge in this debate. i suppose the only question there is what the attitude of the scottish greens will be, in the past they have expressed concerns about the idea of vaccine stiff kates, but as a result of this power—sharing agreement it is probably the case that they will fall into line, and when the vote happens at 5.30, this measure will then be in a position to be put into law, over a pretty short period of

fawziyah javed who was 31 and from west yorkshire died shortly after falling from the landmark in holyroodly at risk because of overfishing. but tuna populations are beginning to recover following the introduction of strict fishing quotas. great britain have won four gold medals on the penultimate day of the tokyo paralympics. in the athletics, hannah cockroft triumphed in the t34 800 metres to claim the seventh paralympic title of her career and aled sion davies retained his title in the f63 shot put. meanwhile, charlotte henshaw and laura sugar won their events in the para—canoeing. our sports correspondent, andy swiss, reports. domination at its most dazzling. hannah cockroft has never lost a race at the paralympics and in the 800 metres her supremacy was starker than ever. she was almost in a different postcode as she crossed the line more than ten seconds clear... commentator: it's a new paralympic record! ..and all that, remarkably, after injuring her hand in the warm—up. i just didn't really think about it. and then i came off and i was like, "my hand really hurts!" yeah, i'm not su

scotland's first minister told holyrood that there are early signs that cases are starting to fall slightlystart of august. from monday, 12 to is—year—olds will be able to get vaccinated here, initially in drop—in centres rather than at school, which nicola sturgeon said would allow parents to ask questions. the booster programme will start at the same time. the first minister told msps that masks will remain in secondary schools until at least the start of the october holidays. they're still mandatory in indoor public settings. and covid passports for nightclubs and other large events will come into force on the 1st of october. nicola sturgeon said this wasn't a magic wand but would help reduce transmission of the virus. in wales, covid case rates this month have been the highest of the year, and they're not expected to peak until the end of september. but the strain is already showing. the number of covid patients in welsh hospitals went up by a quarter in the last week. some health boards have already cancelled operations and are barring visitors. ministers aren't poised to push the lock

holyrood will debate it later.te response to a very difficult situation. lorna gordon, bbc news. the time is 13.19. our top story this lunchtime: hospital waiting lists in england are now the worst since records began, with more than five and a half million people waiting for routine treatments. coming up... what could be the cause of the mysterious illness affecting america's spies? they call it the havana sydrome. coming up on the bbc news channel... at the us open, novak djokovic continues his bid for the calendar grand slam — winning all four majors in the year. he's into the semifinals where he'll play alexander zverev. emma raducanu was so sure she'd be knocked out of the us open that she booked her flight back to the uk a fortnight ago. now the teenager, who's only recently got her a level results, is into the semi finals at flushing meadows after a straight sets win against over belinda bencic of switzerland. emma becomes the first british woman to reach a us open semi final for almost 40 years. laura trott

we will have to wait to hear from nicola sturgeon speaking at holyrood this afternoon. a jobs recovery plan and they are warning on any announcements on as they see it breaking up the country and i warning against a second independence referendum. nicola sturgeon paused planning on independence when the pandemic hit, probably too early for concrete plans on that at the moment. scotland still seeing very high covid cases at the moment but possibly we will hear plans to take that forward. possibly we will hear plans to take that forward-— possibly we will hear plans to take that forward. thank you very much. seak to that forward. thank you very much. speak to you _ that forward. thank you very much. speak to you later _ that forward. thank you very much. speak to you later this _ that forward. thank you very much. speak to you later this morning. . actor michael k williams, best known for starring in drama series "the wire", has been found dead in his new york apartment, aged 5a. mr williams played popular character omar little across all five seasons of the wire, with fo

scotland's first minister will update holyrood this afternoon on her plans.expected for northern ireland too. in wales the health minister confirmed it will go ahead with the booster programme. our nhs is ready to deliver this, and we will start next week. the message today is that the pandemic is far from over, and while vaccines are working, there's still more to do. nick eardleyjoins me now from westminster. let us pick up on what labour were asking in the commons there. what would trigger plan b? that would be one — what would trigger plan b? that would be one of— what would trigger plan b? twat would be one of the key question is the prime minister will face this afternoon in his press conference, because at the moment, it is not completely clear. we know there will be metrics, as the government puts it, to make that decision, but it is not as if there is a point at which you tip over, at the moment, anyway, from plan a, the vaccine is helping get through the winter, those booster jabs, get through the winter, those boosterjabs, the jabs for over get thr

holyrood will debate it later. lorna gordon, bbc news. leon thompson is scotland executive director of ukhospitality, which represents more than 730 companies operating about 85,000 venues. we will also talk to zoe daniel, a student and freelance journalist. leon thomson, what do you think of this idea? ~ ., ., ., ~ this idea? well, good morning. we have a number— this idea? well, good morning. we have a number of— this idea? well, good morning. we have a number of issues _ this idea? well, good morning. we have a number of issues with - this idea? well, good morning. we have a number of issues with the i have a number of issues with the idea in terms of the approach the scottish government is taking. first of all, this was announced without any consultation with hospitality sector. which is a problem. we have no information on the practicalities as to how the scheme will actually run, and we have a vote taking place this afternoon and really no information available just now. we have asked the scottish government

at holyrood, nicola sturgeon has confirmed her government will introduce legislation this year for ath her partner for three days. and the rise of a new star in british tennis as 18—year—old emma raducanu smashes her way through the us open. sport and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. george russell will partner lewis hamilton at mercedes next season, forming an all—british driver line—up. the 23—year—old replaces valtteri bottas, who hasjoined alfa romeo. russell has spent three years at williams and has impressed this season, including a second placed finish at the belgian grand prix. russell said he was "absolutely buzzing", but was aware of �*the scale of the challenge.�* hamilton said on social media that russell had �*rightly earned his spot.�* scotland's footballers resume their world cup qualifying campaign tonight with a tough trip to austria. at the halfway stage in the group, scotland sit third, and a win tonight would put them right in contention to qualify for qatar next year — but manager steve clarke says his squad must take it one game at a

holyrood will debate it later.cine certification is a limited, targeted and proportionate response to a very difficult situation. lorna gordon, bbc news. later on breakfast we'll discuss this further with linda bauld, professor of public health at the university of edinburgh. it could become compulsory for nhs staff in england to be vaccinated against both covid and flu. 0ur chief political correspondent adam fleming is here. good adam fleming is here. morning. consultation now it good morning. consultation now but it has definitely been spoken about for some time.— it has definitely been spoken about for some time. morning. this is the government — for some time. morning. this is the government pushing _ for some time. morning. this is the government pushing ahead - for some time. morning. this is the government pushing ahead with - government pushing ahead with something they had already announced before, this idea that all health care workers in the nhs in england have to get their covid vaccination. something l

holyrood will debate it later.but their condition is not believed to be life threatening. the headlines on bbc news... new tactics to deal with people crossing the english channel in boats. the uk border force is told that it can order boats to turn back to france. the government looks at whether it should be compulsory for frontline health service staff in england to be vaccinated against covid—i9. the number of people in england waiting to start routine nhs treatment rises to a new record high. the former afghan president ashraf ghani has apologised to the people of afghanistan after fleeing to take refuge in the united arab emirates. in a statement on twitter he said, leaving kabul was the most difficult decision of my life, adding that he was sorry he could not make it end differently. more demonstrations have been reported on the streets of the kabul and other cities, despite a warning from the taliban that no protests should take place without their permission. our correspondent danjohnson who's in delhi has

with those two parties, there is a strong independence majority now in holyrood and nicola sturgeon has falls within the devolved powers or not. without an agreement from the uk government. and, you know, the understanding of some people have said this could end up in the supreme court, because the constitution is a reserved matter and, as you say, the uk government has set many times that it will not agree to a referendum, especially in these covid times, everyone's attention should be on getting over this pandemic and rebuilding the economy and the nhs after that. find economy and the nhs after that. and what sort of — economy and the nhs after that. and what sort of details that the snp given about the practicalities of an independence referendum? actually, i am told nicola sturgeon isjust about to start speaking and here she is. a gathering of the snp since the election victory in may, so let me begin with a big heart felt thank you. firstly, and most importantly, to the people of scotland, thank you for again putting your trust in me as first minister and in the snp as your governme