iain watson, bbc news.in its plans to strengthen laws protecting people from harmful and illegal content online. the 0nline safety bill would force social media firms to take down such material without waiting for it to be reported by users. but campaigners say mandatory age verification is also needed to protect children. here's katie prescott. frankie was 15 when she took her own life in 2018. afterwards, her parents had her laptop forensically checked. and realised that, back earlier in the year, january, february, march of 2018, she had been accessing sites about self—harm, suicide. just appalling stuff. and we had no idea and the school had absolutely no idea. stories like these are behind plans to toughen up regulations online. tech companies will face fines of up to 10% of their turnover if they don't take down material relating to... those sending threatening messages, like the racist abuse of england's footballers last year, will face prosecution, as will people at the companies themselves. the org

iain watson, thank you from westminster. we can _ 1st. iain watson, thank you from westminster.g and some of it is welcome. the big area that we haven't really had any good information on is what we will do about more vulnerable citizens because there is still a great deal of uncertainty around that. it is very good that we are going to be offering booster vaccines in the coming weeks to people over 75 and people who are immune suppressed. they are the people who had their booster vaccines first in september and october, so you can expect the protection from that to have waned somewhat. so the boosterfor that age group is very welcome at the moment and follows the jcvi age group is very welcome at the moment and follows thejcvi advice. but beyond that, clearly there are a number of issues surrounding more vulnerable people that we haven't heard about. we have heard a little bit about an anti—viral task force but the question is, when will we be able to offer anti—virals to particularly vulnerable people? already we have a set of people we can give anti—virals to but it is quite

iain watson, thank you very much. - advice, they said. iain watson, thank you very much.m the west and as it pushes across england and wales it will slowly fizzle out, so the rain will not be quite as heavy across england and wales, and you can see it fizzling out as it moves south and east, eventually clearing from the south—east into the afternoon, with a brighter day for many, with sunshine and blustery showers mostly to the north and west, wintry on the hills, but a windy day, not quite as windy as we have seen of the past few days. still quite gusty, chilly in the north and fairly mild in the south. goodbye for now. this north and fairly mild in the south. goodbye for now.— north and fairly mild in the south. goodbye for now. this is bbc news, the headlines _ goodbye for now. this is bbc news, the headlines at _ goodbye for now. this is bbc news, the headlines at apm. _ living with covid — the prime minister sets out his plan for england, scrapping the legal requirement to self isolate from thursday. let us learn to live with this virus and continue protecting oursel

thank you, iain watson.is week to shore up household finances in the face of a sharp rise in energy bills was a major intervention — adding up to help of £350 a year for the majority of families. but what difference will that sum make to people struggling with the rise in the cost of living — and will it get to those who need help the most? our business editor simonjack reports. george is one of many for whom a 54% rise in the energy cap will force choices they've never had to make before. i'm going to have to start pulling back on certain things, so i might have to shut down my business or, at least, reduce some of the costs that i have on it. i might have to stop using some of the things that i use to help myself mentally like socialising with friends or going to the gym, and also food — it's going to be difficult to even eat what i want to eat. i'm going to have to randomly select stuff that's cheap. the impact is broad and, for some, it is very deep. you could say we're all in the same store, all in the

iain watson, bbc news. this is bbc news — a reminder of the main headlines...— and says she'd like her daughter—in law, camilla, to become queen consort. moroccan officials say a five year old boy who spent four days trapped down a well, has died. military coups were a regular occurrence in africa in the decades that followed independence in the 1960s, and there is concern they are starting to become more frequent again. this year has already seen two attempts: six people were killed in a failed attempt to topple president umaro sissoco embaloa in guinea bissau just last week. and injanuary the military took over in burkina faso. i asked naunihal singh — a professor at the us naval war college, if he thinks coups are making a comeback. it is also probably true that coups never fully left. between 2015 and 2020 there were two successful coups a year and now there have been six successful coups, nine attempts in just the past 12 months alone so that's definitely an upswing. at the same time, these were never countries where the threat of civil military challenges

our political correspondent, iain watson, has more details.staff and some of his own mps openly calling for him to go, tonight borisjohnson was attempting to get on the front foot. he has appointed the former bbc journalist guto hari as his director of communications. he worked for borisjohnson when he was london mayor and here he was just over a week ago setting out what the prime minister had to do. boris has always underestimated how critical it is to have a fantastic team around him and i don't think, even if he can pull this back, he will be allowed to do it unless he promises to his party that he is going to overhaul that machinery. and as part of that overhaul, unusually the new chief of staff in downing street won't be a civil servant but a politician, the former brexit secretary steve barclay. his job will be to ensure that the cabinet and mps feel more involved in decision—making, although tony blair's former chief of staff jonathan powell questioned whether a demanding full—time role as a government official really can be combined w

let's speak to our politcal correspondent, iain watson at westminster.sian advance here. how is that going to be playing out at westminster over the weekend and what are the concerns where you are? i'm afraid i have to say that downing street sources are saying tonight we should brace ourselves for some sickening scenes in the next few days. they have heard what is described as ominous assessments from defence and intelligence services and quite independently officials have been telling me that if russian forces continue to face severe and robust resistance then there is significant concerns that vladimir putin will try to win victory by any means necessary. that includes the use of heavy artillery and all the loss of civilian life that would entail. against that backdrop, many mps in westminster have been calling for more equipment to be sent to ukrainian forces. they have called for a further ratcheting up have called for a further ratcheting up of sanctions. tonight boris johnson couldn't get enough allies to agree to exclude russia from the swift fin

iain watson, bbc news.forcing global social media companies, to take down illegal content, without having to wait for users to report it. it's an issue politicans across the world have been trying to deal with. last year g7 leaders agreed a set of internet safety principles to improve online safety. here in the uk the new legislation, would compel the removal of material under a wide range of categories, including drugs and arms dealing, and forums that encourage suicide. here's katie prescott. frankie was 15 when she took her own life in 2018. afterwards, her parents had her laptop forensically checked. and realised that, back earlier in the year, january, february, march of 2018, she had been accessing sites about self—harm, suicide. just appalling stuff. and we had no idea and the school had absolutely no idea. stories like these are behind plans to toughen up regulations online. tech companies will face fines of up to 10% of their turnover if they don't take down material relating to... those sending th

iain watson, bbc news. forjournalists. but even by its standards, it's been one of the deadliest months in years. in total, fourjournalists were murdered in the country over the past few weeks — several of those killed were even part of the country's journalist protection scheme when they were murdered, as our mexico correspondent, will grant, reports from tijuana. translation: ifear for my life. tijuana—based radio journalist lourdes maldonado told the president live on television 2019. unfortunately, she was right to be worried. last week, ms maldonado was murdered by a gunman outside her home. the third journalist of four killed in mexico this year, she was embroiled in a legal dispute with the ex governor of her state jaime bonilla who has denied any involvement in her killing. when she was killed, lourdes maldonado had a bodyguard and a panic button as part of the state's journalist protection scheme. it made no difference. the thing is journalists like lourdes maldonado are generally covering stories

iain watson reporting there.ing are now officially under way, with 3,000 athletes from 91 nations taking part — 50 of them competing for team gb. beijing is the first city to hold both a summer and winter games but they're being staged against a backdrop of covid, and tensions over claims of human rights abuses. 0ur sports correspondent laura scott reports from beijing. after a contentious build—up, the opening to a games that will carve out a new chapter in sporting history. back in the bird's nest, beijing tonight celebrating becoming the first city to host the summer games and winter games. this was a far cry from the summer of 2008. sub—0 tipped accompanying snow and ice which appear to crystallise on the stadium floor. covid meant a capacity crowd was not possible. but the selected spectators were captivated by impactful moments. despite the frosty theme, there was a warm greeting from international olympic committee president thomas bach and president xi, keen to promote the theme of one world, one family,

iain watson, bbc news.rt of a new deployment to bolster nato forces as tensions with russia remain high. the soldiers from the eighty—second airborne division of the us army, landed in the south—east of the country not far from the ukrainian border. the biden administration announced this week it will send three thousand additional american soldiers to eastern europe. russia has massed more than a hundred thousand troops on its border with ukraine, but the kremlin denies it's planning to invade. adam easton has the latest. well, what we've seen so far is the first elements — actually, mostly equipment — for this deployment has arrived in poland, and that's come from germany, from us bases in germany. the 82nd airborne division, which you mentioned, is based in north carolina, and 1,700 troops from that division will be arriving in poland over the coming hours and days. and this deployment, while that number, 1,700, is not particularly large if you compare it to the 100,000 russian troops that have massed on

iain watson, bbc news. well in morocco since tuesday, has ended in tragedy. rescue workers managed to reach rayan awram after digging a 30 metre tunnel — but officials say he'd already died before they brought him back up to the surface. his death was confirmed in a statement by the king of morocco. simonjones reports. voices clamour. as huge crowds watched on, initially relief that rayan had been found, carried by his rescuers to a waiting ambulance, but that quickly turned to despair and grief. despite painstaking efforts to save him, the little boy didn't survive. rayan's parents had been hoping and praying for good news. instead, they received a call of condolence from king mohammed — the boy's family now trying to come to terms with their loss. translation: i can't describe how it feels | that my cousin is gone. what can i say? now my heart is aching for him too much. my nephew, my heart aches for him. may god be with him, just like how god stood with us. rayan had fallen down the well on tuesday eveni

iain watson, bbc news.versary of her accession to the throne — and says she'd like her daughter—in law, camilla, to become queen consort. moroccan officials say a five year old boy who spent four days trapped down a well, has died. let's get more on our main story — today in the uk marks 70 years since queen elizabeth ascended the throne. here's nicholas witchell at sandringham with the latest. it is highly significant, i think. in indicates not least that the queen is thinking about what happens after the end of her reign and settles one of the big unresolved issues about charles�*s reign. what will camilla be known as? her choice of words, "my sincere wish", for the prime minister of the day to advise her on things like this but who will argue now that the queen has said this. charles will be delighted, he has wanted this ever since he and camilla married. the queen mindful of public opinion, aware of the hostility there has been towards camilla over the years from certain quarters, but mindful too and sh

our political correspondent iain watson reports.g changes behind the black door in downing street but here is the question... in an attempt to stave off further criticism from his own mps boris johnson has trained some ministers and staff and today he also changed some of his policies. it is and staff and today he also changed some of his policies.— some of his policies. it is my intention _ some of his policies. it is my intention to _ some of his policies. it is my intention to return _ some of his policies. it is my intention to return on - some of his policies. it is my intention to return on the - some of his policies. it is my. intention to return on the first some of his policies. it is my - intention to return on the first day after the half term recess to present our strategy for living with covid. provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions including the legal requirement to self—isolate if you test positive a full month early

iain watson, bbc news. new infections recorded, in the latest 24—hour period. on average, more than 85,000 cases were reported per day in the last week. just over 1a,500 people are in hospital with covid, and that number is falling. 259 deaths have been reported, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test, though some will have died of other causes. on average in the past week, 247 deaths were announced every day. 0n vaccinations, nearly 37.5 million people have now had a boosterjab, which means that more than 65% of those aged 12 and over, have had three vaccine doses. a five—year—old boy who was trapped for four days after falling 32 metres down a well in morocco, has died. rayan awram's body was recovered, after a huge rescue effort, that had been hampered by fears of a landslide. he fell through the well�*s narrow opening while out playing on tuesday. the government wants tougher laws forcing social media companies, to take down illegal content, without having to wait for users to repor

we can talk now to our political correspondent iain watson.ing on restrictions? well, it is certainly the case that government ministers did not expect this delay, they were going through the black door of downing street, fully expecting to talk about the government's covid plan, living with covid. the delivery downing street said that the prime minister needed a security briefing on further meetings on covid. it seems from other sore tomato sauces that the core of this was a dispute between the treasury on the department of health had not been settled at that stage. we were told that last week the health secretary, sajid javid, was asking for an extra £5 billion from the treasury to ensure more people could continue to get access to free testing, even if they were a symptom at a commerce something which the treasury was reluctant to do. the demands, the cash demands came down increasingly over the subsequent days, but still had not been settled until this morning. it now looks as though it has been agreed is that the department of health will

iain watson, bbc news, westminster.at westminster — ian, how political is this? the olitics ian, how political is this? the politics to _ ian, how political is this? the politics to some _ ian, how political is this? tie: politics to some extent, clearly, the data gives us some leeway to the premise of fewer patients in hospital, seeing fewer infections being recorded, so he can say, if this directory continues, there be comeback after the half term, for many schools, and for parliament, we can lift the reigning restrictions. equally, this is against the backdrop of where his onlyjob is on the line. we know various mps in his party have called for him to go, and some others are considering whether to call for him to go. there has been a section of the party's been very, very sceptical to say the least about the restrictions that were imposed, notjust a plan b restriction, but then also the line restrictions, thinking is bad for the economy. a group of conservative mps called the covid—i9 recovery group that have been pr

iain watson, thank you ve much afterwards. iain watson, thank you very much for— afterwards.ancel half—term trips to spain, because of a rule change which means children over 12 must now be double vaccinated to enter the country. hoteliers in the islands say the restrictions have lost them millions of pounds�* worth of trade. katy austin reports. ben and his family have great memories of the canary islands. they were looking forward to making more last year, but restrictions forced them to postpone to this february. now, children over 12 need two jabs to enter spain, so the holiday is off. unfortunately, the 12—year—old has onlyjust turned 12, so doesn't have his second vaccination yet. so we cancelled, only cancelled a few days ago, we thought we would hold out until 1st feb in case anything changed. but unfortunately we had to pull the plug. ben is far from alone. travel agents say lots of people want to go away at the moment, but they're having to keep their customers informed of an ever—changing international patchwork of covid rules. spain, including the canaries, is usu

our political correspondent iain watson reports.—seat majorityjust two years ago. but now some of borisjohnson�*s own mps want him out of number 10. they say he's lost voters' trust and that he's losing his grip. she's a fighter and a quitter. elena narozanski has represented england at boxing. today she dealt the prime minister a blow by resigning from his policy unit. she's a close ally of munira mirza, the number 10 policy chief who was one of four stuff to resign yesterday. her departure was seen as the most significant, as she had been one of boris johnson's closest aides. she said she resigned when he refused to apologise for his false claims about keir starmer when he was director of public prosecutions. and today, you couldn't mask the difference in tone between the prime minister and the health secretary. keir starmer, when he was running the dpp, did a good job and he should be respected for it. it's a tough job, and he deserves absolute respect for that. but the prime minister has also come out and clarified those remarks

our political correspondent iain watson reports.at majority yet some of his own mps are openly talking about whether he should be leaving downing street for good. she�*s a fighter and a quitter — elena narozanski has represented england at boxing. today she dealt the prime a blow by resigning from his policy unit. she is a close ally of mirza, the number ten policy chief who left yesterday, one boris johnson�*s closest aides who had worked for him for a decade. both resignations were unforeseen in government and ministers had to put a brave face on the downing street departures. the people going are distinguished public servants but the prime minister wanted change and he said there would be change, and we are seeing that change now. the chief of staff at number 10 dan rosenfield, seen on the left, communications directorjack doyle and senior civil martin reynolds are also leaving number ten. they were expected to go in response to the initial report from sue gray on lockdown gatherings. the remaining staff in downing street attende

here's our political correspondent, iain watson — and a warning this film contains flash photography.ll be hoping that the next week will be better than the last. he's lost some of his trusted advisers and an increasing number of his own mps have openly called for him to follow them out of the downing street door. but he believes changes at number 10 will limit the calls for a change of prime minister. and today, this cabinet minister reminded restless colleagues that borisjohnson had been an election winner and appealed for — at the very least — a political stay of execution. he had a very clear message ahead of the 2019 election. we won a majority by 80, which nobody anticipated. he's got a clear mandate and we've got to give him time and space to deliver on that mandate. my message is simple and stark. unite ordie. we go and plunge ourselves into a leadership election, vote of confidence, which in the end always damages leaders, even if they win it. and then maybe into a leadership election, internecine warfare. but perhaps internecine warfare is already upon us. the prime minister

iain watson, bbc news, westminster.to bring you some breaking news now about downing street parties than scotland yard have now said they are reviewing their assessment that the christmas quiz at number ten on december the 15th twenty20 did not meet the threshold for a criminal investigation, so they are reviewing that decision, that is after this picture surfaced of the prime minister near what looks like a bottle of champagne and that picture has emerged on the daily mirror and scotland yard are now seeing as a result of that they are reviewing their assessment that the christmas quiz at number ten back in 2020 just before christmas, december the 15th, reviewing the assessment it did not meet the threshold of criminal investigation, so sounds like they are adding that to their list of parties that they are investigating. let's go straight to our political correspondent alex forsyth at westminster. that will be unwelcome news in downing street, the news that scotland yard are reviewing that scotland yard are reviewing

our political correspondent iain watson is in westminster.h for a senior police officer at a very complicated time in politics. officer at a very complicated time in olitics. , ~ ., , in politics. yes, i think that is fair to in politics. yes, i think that is fairto say- — in politics. yes, i think that is fair to say. those _ in politics. yes, i think that is fair to say. those close - in politics. yes, i think that is fair to say. those close to - in politics. yes, i think that is | fair to say. those close to priti patel have declared themselves astounded at the manner of cressida dick's resignation. they feel blindsided by the mayor of london. but despite those tensions, sadiq khan and priti patel seem in principle to what the same thing. she says as we heard from daniel that she wants strong new leadership and also the culture of policing to be scrutinised. sadiq khan would agree with that. but the process of finding a replacement is politically charged because although it is technically a home office appointment because the met has nati

our political correspondent iain watson reports. and 86 majority just two years ago. but now, some of borisjohnson�*s own mps want him out of number ten. they say he has lost photo's trust and that he is losing his grip —— 80—seat majority. trust and that he is losing his grip -- 80—seat majority. she is a fighter and a quitter, how women ski has represented england at boxing and today she dealt the prime minister a blow by resigning from his policy unit. she is a close ally of union mezzo, the number ten policy chief who is one of four staff to resign yesterday, a departure seen as the most significant though she had been one of borisjohnson�*s closest aides. she said she resigned when he refused to apologise for false claims made about keir starmer when he was director of public prosecutions. and today, you could not mask the difference in tone between the prime minister and the health secretary. minister and the health secretary-— minister and the health secretary. minister and the health secreta . ,, ., secretary. keir starmer,

last week — and more mps submitting letters of no confidence in him. 0ur political correspondent iain watsonent helen catt explained what the latest staffing moves in downing street mean for the prime minister. this is about borisjohnson, how he is trying to reshape downing street after all the things that have gone on over recent months. south last week three very senior people from his team resigned in planned resignations and another two went in unplanned resignations. so this is about filling some of those jobs, and the two ears filled overnight is the director of communications and he has picked someone who he has worked with before go to harry, a former bbcjournalist worked with before go to harry, a former bbc journalist who worked with before go to harry, a former bbcjournalist who has a safe pair of hands. but his other appointment is raising some questions because the new chief of staff is steve backley, an mp and cabinet minister. he is seen as another person who is a pair of safe hands and is well liked.— hands and is well liked. steve is a friend of mine _ hands and is well like

iain watson _ taking place. thanks for that, ian.gs and self—isolation — could be scrapped by the end of march. the welsh government also says covid pass rules will be axed from february 18th. our wales correspondent hywel griffith has the full details. the welsh government is sticking to its ultra—cautious approach in terms of relaxing restrictions, certainly not in any rush regardless of what happens in other parts of the uk. so the covid pass scheme will stay in place for one more week which means people going to tomorrow�*s big rugby international will still need to show their covid pass. at the end of february, the facemask rules will relax but it won�*t be until the end of march that you know longer need a face covering to go into a shop or on public transport. regardless of what boris johnson on public transport. regardless of what borisjohnson may or may not do in england, the welsh government says that for now is a rule that needs to remain in place so someone who tests positive in wales will keep having to self—isolate for

iain watson.er testing positive for covid. ms keegan said she found out as she was listening to three fathers who had lost their daughters to suicide. she says that after getting their consent, she stayed on for a short period, but admitted it had been an error ofjudgment. but admitted it had been an error ofjudgement. in a tweet she said: "i should have immediately ended the meeting and on reflection this was an error of judgement on my part. i fully recognise the importance of following the letter and spirit of the policies, so want to be upfront about what happened and to apologise for the mistake i made." uk health secretary sajid javid says he's accepted gillian keegan's apology and "continues to support her in her role". the manager of the english premier league side, west ham, david moyes, has defended his decision to select kurt zouma against watford last night — while police are investigating footage of the player kicking his pet cat. the french international was booed by fans at the lond

let's go to iain watson. what can you tell us?eded to receive a briefing, there's a lot going on at home and abroad at the moment. that's perfectly credible. but other sources in government suggest there is ongoing tensions with the department of health because today was a day that living with covid strategy was to be unveiled, we asked expecting the prime minister to give a statement to that effect later today in parliament. we are still expecting a press conference take place, but the underlying tensions, i'm told, are around the cost of testing. for example, we knew because the prime minister previewed this himself a couple of weeks ago at prime minister's questions, he is going to get rid of the legal requirement to self—isolate if you test positive for covid in england. however, the question was when and wherever testing would be route risdon, who would be eligible for free testing and how many people would have to pay for tests in the future. this has been something of a political hot potato inside government and with the op

iain watson, bbc news, westminster. trapped in a well in morocco since tuesday has ended in tragedy. emergency workers were able to reach five—year—old rayan yesterday evening, but sadly he had died. the rescue effort had generated huge public interest in morocco and around the world. russia is stepping up preparations for a large—scale invasion of ukraine, with 70% of the forces it would need now in place — according to reports from the united states. nearly 3,000 additional american troops have been deployed to the polish—ukrainian border, as us security officials warn a russian invasion could cause as many as 50,000 civilian deaths. moscow has repeatedly denied planning to invade. lata mangeshkar, one of india's most venerated singers who sang tens india has declared two days of national mourning following the death of a veteran hollywood star. lata mangeshkar, known as the nightingale of leawood, died in hospital in mumbai after testing positive for covid—i9 last month. her career spanned more than half a century an

we can talk now to our political correspondent iain watson.elay to the cabinet meeting. it's not, you know, unusual that meetings get rescheduled but this was very late in the day, wasn't it? it rescheduled but this was very late in the day, wasn't it?— in the day, wasn't it? it was, so much so — in the day, wasn't it? it was, so much so that — in the day, wasn't it? it was, so much so that some _ in the day, wasn't it? it was, so much so that some cabinet - in the day, wasn't it? it was, so - much so that some cabinet ministers had actually arrived through the back door of downing street, fully expecting the meeting to take place, and then it didn't. downing street, this may well be usual, but they say lots of things, they also said it was delayed because the prime ministers having security briefing and had other meetings about covid but others have suggested that at the core of this delay was an ongoing disagreement between the treasury and the department of health over the funding of three tests, as we've been hearing these costs about £2 b

we're joined now by political correspondent iain watson.i have asked a few times. how damaging is this for the prime minister?— few times. how damaging is this for the prime minister? those questions come fast and _ the prime minister? those questions come fast and furious _ the prime minister? those questions come fast and furious over— the prime minister? those questions come fast and furious over the - the prime minister? those questions come fast and furious over the past l come fast and furious over the past weeks and this is another. it is damaging. john armitage has deep pockets. he contributed £3 million to the conservative party and under boris johnson's to the conservative party and under borisjohnson�*s leadership half a million. he said he is not giving financial support at this stage there that will be damaging but equally, a lot of conservative mps are worried about where boris johnson's leadership is going and some considering putting in letters of no confidence. if they see there is an electoral consequences to his leadershi