alexandra mackenzie reports.mon sight in the uk, but now limited to areas like here in barhill wood in dumfries and galloway. how many red squirrels would you have in this wood? in november last year, we had over 30 — which is an exceptional amount. you know, there's not many places in scotland where you'd find that level. so what makes this the ideal habitat for the red squirrel? principally it's the age of the trees, that they are now producing cones regularly — and that enables food to be available at different times of the year. the larch produces cones in the summertime, the scots pine in the winter. so it gives the squirrels a good, wide feeding pattern. but of course, they're in competition with the grey squirrels. wherever you get the grey squirrels, the reds are going to disappear, unfortunately. for some, the red squirrel project is vital. well, they're beautiful creatures and they're native to the uk so i do believe that, since the grey squirrels are introduced and have wiped them out, or almost wiped

alexandra mackenzie, bbc news.ngs into parties at downing street and other parts of whitehall during lockdown. the full report has been held back while the police investigate. conservative mps, especially in areas of the north of england won from labour last time, have a marked interest in who leads the party into the next election. our special correspondent ed thomas has been speaking to people in leigh in greater manchester. hundreds of miles from westminster, but the shadow of number 10 and lockdown parties looms large. and now the truth is coming out. and for many, it hurts. he was a bus driver. he worked all through the pandemic. and it's the third time he had covid. he'd already had it twice before and then he got it again. philip's brother died three weeks ago. anotherfamily suffering during the pandemic. a lot of people, family, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, have died on their own with total strangers, and they're having parties. something's seriously going wrong in this country. you voted for borisjo

alexandra mackenzie, bbc news, kirkcudbright.e and all the team, see you soon. hello, there. saturday was a rather cloudy day across much of the country. sunday looks brighter once we lose this weather front which is spreading southwards across the country, being a band of cloud and showers. and you'll also notice it will be a breezy day pretty much across the board, but certainly in the north, where we'll have gales across northern scotland. you can see why on the pressure chart, quite a few isobars here. this is the weather front spreading its way southwards across the country — this one brought some showers to southern areas overnight, that will eventually clear away and take any showers for the far south east of england. this weather front in the north will continue to sink southward through the day — barely anything on it by the time it reaches england and wales, in fact, and to be fragmenting to allow for quite a bit of sunshine to develop. and there'll be lots of sunshine across the northern half of the country. a breezy d

alexandra mackenzie in glas . ow.ures show there were almost 74,800 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period, but that figure doesn't include scotland. 75 deaths were reported — that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test, though there will be some who died of other causes. on vaccinations, almost 36.9 million people have had a boosterjab, which means just over 64% of those aged 12 and over have now had three vaccine doses. it's two years since china locked down the 10 million inhabitants of the city of wuhan, where covid first emerged. the move helped keep the national death toll low — according to official figures, just under 6,000. but as beijing prepares to host the winter olympic games next month, fighting the virus has become a major priority. here's our china correspondent, robin brant. 27 days into lockdown, confined to her apartment. this woman is one of millions in china still subject to the ultimate covid control. translation: when covid hit wuhan, the country didn't

here's alexandra mackenzie.ershadowed by coronavirus, as some children in scotland returned to the classroom. i thought they would put another lockdown on school, i did think that, and i was hoping that was going to happen. i actually feel 0k about it because we've had coronavirus a few months ago. up to a quarter of the staff were off at the glasgow gaelic school because of covid. it is going to cause some challenges. i we are going to have to think about reorganising classes i and having teachers cover i for their absent colleagues. at a virtual session of the scottish parliament, the first minister said isolation rules would be relaxed from ten days to seven for those with covid — dependent on negative tests, and household contacts can take lateral flow tests from midnight tonight instead of isolating. these changes are significant and they are not completely without risk. however, at this stage of the pandemic, they do strike an appropriate balance. this comes after weeks of pressure from opposition parties.

alexandra mackenzie, bbc news.nger need to have a pcr test as well. the rules are being relaxed to try to ease pressure on supplies. it comes as the government considers whether to shorten the quarantine time for those infected from seven to five days. 0ur health editor hugh pym has the latest. pcr testing has become part of everyday life, but now in england, it's not required as confirmation after a positive lateral flow test for those without symptoms. scotland, wales and northern ireland have made the change, which is because cases are spreading so fast. and because of high infection numbers, the welsh government has opted not at this stage to follow scotland and relax restrictions, including strict spectator limits at sporting events. we are in a situation where the pandemic is very much still with us. we are keeping a very close eye on the statistics that are coming in at the moment. we're hoping that we're seeing a stabilisation in those numbers. clearly, i think it will be difficult for us to dismantle thing

alexandra mackenzie, bbc news, glasgow.e just under 195,000 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. on average there were over 183,000 new cases reported per day in the last week. there were 17,276 people in hospital being treated for coronavirus yesterday. 334 deaths were reported in the latest 24—hour period, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid test, but that figure does include a backlog of hospital deaths reported overnight by nhs england, covering the period from the 1st to the 4th of january. on average in the past week, 171 deaths were announced every day. on vaccinations, more than 34.5 million people have had a boosterjab, which means, over 60% of people aged 12 and over have now had three vaccine doses. rules requiring travellers to take a test before they arrive in england will be scrapped from 4am on friday. they also won't have to isolate while waiting for a negative pcr result. from sunday, travellers can take a lateral flow test on day two after they arrive,

alexandra mackenzie, bbc news, glasgow.ave suggested they will delay opening until monday due to staff shortages. in northern ireland, vulnerable primary school children are expected to be offered a low—dose covid—i9 vaccine in the coming weeks, in line with the rest of the uk. last month, the government's vaccine advisors said 5 to ii—year—olds with an underlying health condition — or who live with someone who is immuno—suppressed — should receive two doses eight weeks apart. a decision on vaccinating all children in this age range has not yet been made. and with pressure on hospitals growing, the bbc has launched a special nhs tracker, which will let you find out how your local services are coping. the tracker will run throughout winter and shows you the latest data on local waiting times for emergency treatment where you live. across europe, governments are struggling to contain the rising number of cases of the omicron variant. in france, president macron has used controversial language to say he wants to make life more

alexandra mackenzie reports. the clear—up is under way.grassy verge. thousands are without electricity, including the town of stonehaven. help has been given to those in need. we didn't have any electricity for six days in november, so this is us again. it six days in november, so this is us aaain. , ., ., ., , again. it is more for older people that i again. it is more for older people that i think _ again. it is more for older people that l think it — again. it is more for older people that l think it has _ again. it is more for older people that i think it has been _ again. it is more for older people that i think it has been worse - that i think it has been worse fault~ — that i think it has been worse fault~ and _ that i think it has been worse fault. and we have got a lot of older— fault. and we have got a lot of older customers, so they have obviously _ older customers, so they have obviously been stuck inside today and not _ obviously been stuck inside today and not got out, yes. without power, most shops remain closed. the town ce

alexandra mackenzie has that story. the native red squirrel.squirrels would you have in this wood? in november last year we had over 30, which is an exceptional amount. you know, there's not many places in scotland where you'd find that level. so what makes this the ideal habitat for the red squirrel? principally it's the age of the treesm that they are now producing cones regularly and that enables food to be available at different times of the year. the larch produces cones in the summertime, the scots pine in the winter, so it gives the squirrels a good wide feeding pattern. but of course, they are in competition with the grey squirrels. wherever you get the grey squirrels, the reds are going to disappear, unfortunately. the scottish wildlife trust said having a predator, the pine marten, helps to control the grey squirrel population. but that is not enough. grey squirrel control is going to be necessary for a long time yet. so that will be the key thing that needs to keep continuing in a targeted and landscape—scale approach, you know, whic

alexandra mackenzie, bbc news.est, if they have been double vaccinated. let's talk to our business correspondent theo leggett tell us more. this is the first of a number of revisions to current travel restrictions, we are expecting the transport secretary to announce this afternoon. as you know, at the moment, if you come to the uk you're supposed to take a covid test within 2a hours of arrival, eithera covid test within 2a hours of arrival, either a quick lateral flow test or a laboratory pcr test. that is a little bit expensive, even a lateral flow test when you do it privately costs money. and obviously it's an inconvenience for travellers. the travel industry has been arguing quite forcefully that it is time to end restrictions altogether. because they have been shown to inconvenience passengers, because economic harm but the travel industry argues they do little to hold the omicron wave. at the moment we don't know what will happen for non—vaccinated passengers, they currently have to isolate on arrival, we do

our scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie is at celtic park in glasgow for us.ll, celtic will be playing hymns here - give us the details? well, celtic will be playing hymns here laterj will be playing hymns here later this evening. —— they will be playing hibs. because restrictions have been eased, there will be at full capacity crowd inside. that is around 60,000 people, and also some changes with the vaccine passport will be in place here later today and more people than normal will have their vaccine status checked. that will now be around 50%. for the first time from today, fully vaccinated will include having had the booster. those details will be on the phone if that is how you are showing your vaccine status. but you can also show evidence of a negative lateral flow test, but you must have taken that test within the last 24 hours was that the government and the club is also advising anyone who comes here tonight to have taken a negative lateral flow test. the advice is also to wear masks and also to turn up early. the gates here will be open two hours be

day after storm malik brought down trees which killed two people. 0ur scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie previous storm but on our way to dundee last night we saw lots of trees on the roads surrounding dundee and lots of damage. the worst affected area has been aberdeenshire over the weekend. it may look brighter and quite calm here this morning but scotland was pummelled by both storms over the weekend, storm malikfirst pummelled by both storms over the weekend, storm malik first of all on saturday and then storm corrie overnight last night. now winds of “p overnight last night. now winds of up to 92 miles an hour were recorded at stornoway airport in the western isles last night. winds of up to 120 miles an hour in the cairngorms. and also a 60—year—old woman lost her life in the storm in aberdeen on saturday. as you mentioned, thousands of people have been without electricity, i think at one point over the weekend it was up to 98,000 people. that has improved because work has been going on tirelessly over the weekend to get people back on the grid as quickly as possible. but we unders

our scotland reporter alexandra mackenzie gave us this update from outside celtic park in glasgow.cher ashling murphy. the 23—year—old was attacked and killed on the banks of the grand canal in tullamore, co offaly in ireland last wednesday. police have identified a person of interest in the investigation, who is currently in hospital. from tullamore, here's our ireland correspondent emma vardy. there is an atmosphere of deep sadness in this town in rural ireland. ashling murphy not only was a local primary school teacher, she was also a talented musician, played violin in traditional irish groups and she was an irish speaker and very involved in this community and it is the brutal nature of what happened to her that people are struggling to comprehend. she had been for a run after school that day in broad daylight along the banks of the canal here which is a very popular vote and police believe it was a random attack, that she had been strangled and that she had struggled with her chiller —— popular vote, struggled with her killer. support has been ongoing and that has been our ow

our scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie has more.round 7000 from the first storm and 30,000 last night. work has been ongoing over the weekend to try and get as many people back on as quickly as possible. but we do understand that some people could be without electricity until tuesday evening. now, for some people in aberdeenshire, which was the worst affected area, they were also impacted by storm are when back in november. this is a second time some people are having to go several days without electricity. —— max tarmac. there going to be available for people who cannot cook at home and some centres where people can get a shower or get warm rather electricity is being fixed. schools this morning, particularly in aberdeenshire, will be closed because many schools do not have electricity this morning. definitely worth checking that. transport as well. as covid restrictions are eased slightly, and people are going back to work this morning, transport has been impacted. trains were off last night. fairies were also impacted. the clear

our scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie has spent the morning in hamilton, south lanarkshire,e because of the new variant has now eased. this cafe struggled because of the physical distancing rule for indoor public places. it feels great, it feels great, it feels great, it feels great, it feels as we are back to normal a little bit. we have still got facemasks, though. but we are able to have another two tables in. this is one of the areas of scotland most affected by the pandemic. i think it has been worthwhile if it is kept _ think it has been worthwhile if it is kept covid numbers down, and keeping — is kept covid numbers down, and keeping us — is kept covid numbers down, and keeping us all safe, really, is the best thing — keeping us all safe, really, is the best thing for it, isn't it? i best thing for it, isn't it? i don't _ best thing for it, isn't it? i don't know how effective they have been really — i don't know how effective they have been really i'm _ i don't know how effective they have been really. i'm not _ i don't know how effective they have been really. i'm n

our scotland reporter alexandra mackenzie gave us this update from outside celtic park in glasgow.to take a lateral flow test before coming here tonight. obviously a negative lateralflow tonight. obviously a negative lateral flow test. and the advice is obviously for everyone to wear a mask. even though it is outside, it is obviously a large event, so the advice is for everyone to wear a mask. the advice is also for everyone to arrive early. the grounds will open around two hours before the match begins. a big night for all fans tonight, before the match begins. a big night forall fans tonight, hibs before the match begins. a big night for all fans tonight, hibs and celtic fans here at celtic park. the chinese government is drawing up contingency plans to control the spread of covid, as millions begin their chinese new year holiday. there are fears the 40—day travel season could see omicron spread throughout the country. meanwhile, restrictions remain in place in parts of europe as the number of infections remains high. russell trott reports. with chinese new year and the winter ol

our reporter alexandra mackenzie is in dundee for us this morning. we can see damage.across many of the roads here. . ~ of debris across many of the roads here. . ,, i. of debris across many of the roads here. . ~' ,, , of debris across many of the roads here. . ,, i. , . some breaking news for you this morning. a name you will recognise, christian eriksen, who became very well—known over the summer. he collapsed on the pitch playing for denmark. he hasjust signed a deal with brentford in a premier league. he has signed a six—month deal and it could go on for a couple of years. brentford havejust posted the announcement and five minutes later christian eriksen has reacted to that, obviously expressing his delight. we know he was desperately keen to get back into football. there has been a huge amount of debate as to whether he would be able to. brentford have signed him. what a brilliant story! can you imagine the reception? everyone knew a lot about their story. he was playing football at inter milan. last month they released him. you are not allowed to play football