lorna gordon _ elsewhere. all right lorna, thank you. lorna gordon there. - lorna gordon there.uce energy use. painting a roof white is a way of keeping buildings cool and reduces the need for air conditioning. the team behind the new paint says its purity will reflect 98% of sunlight, helping to drive down carbon emissions. victoria gill reports. cool, heat—reflecting white rooms are already an urban climate saving solution embraced in cities around the world. in new york, more than ten million square feet of roofs have been coated with white, heat—reflecting paint. but these scientists say their ultra—white paint could make these roofs even cooler. while the whitest currently available paints reflect between 80—90% of sunlight, these researchers say theirs reflects more than 98%. covering a 1,000 square foot roof with this paint, they estimate, would provide more cooling power than a typical central air—conditioner. every 1% of reflectants you get will translate to ten watts per metre square less heating from the sun. so basically it provides the equivalent 18 kilowatts, and t

lorna gordon, bbc news, edinburgh.so been lifted in wales — groups of six people from six different households can meet outside at pubs, cafes a nd restau ra nts. theme parks are also welcoming visitors again. a maximum of 30 people can take part in organised sports and the same number can attend outdoor receptions for weddings and funerals. our wales correspondent hywel griffith report from aberdare, in south wales. in three, two, one... launching out of lockdown and into business. this new zip wire in aberdare welcomed its first ever customers this morning after what's been a bumpy ride — having to change their opening date several times. colin was one of the first down the line. absolutely awesome! oh, it was fabulous. i thought it might have been a bit faster than it was, but it was brilliant. built on the site of an old coal mine, this zip wire was originally meant to open injuly last year, but the pandemic kept pushing plans further and further into the future, until today finally arrived. they are now fully book

lorna gordon, bbc news, edinburgh.s — allowing up to six people from six different households to sit outside. attractions such as zoos and theme parks have also opened. and a maximum of 30 people can attend outdoor receptions for weddings and funerals, and take part in organised sports. 0ur wales correspondent hywel griffith has the latest. in three, two, one. launching out of lockdown and into business. this new zip wire in aberdare welcomed its first ever customers this morning, after what's been a bumpy ride. having to change their opening date several times. colin was one of the first down the line. absolutely awesome! oh, it was fabulous. i thought it might have been a bit faster than it was, but it was brilliant. built on the site of an old coal mine, this zip wire was eventually —— originally meant to open injuly last year, but the pandemic kept pushing plans further and further into the future, until today finally arrived. they are now fully booked for the next three weeks. i really, really think that people ar

lorna gordon there. . do we have much need in this country for that bright white paint? it is still a little bit too cool for that, we want the warmth but it is going to be a very bright weekend, so it is good news i think on the weather front for most of us. the mornings will be on the chilly side but i think the temperatures will rise by a few degrees during the afternoons. the settled weather is thanks to high pressure which has extended from scandinavia. it is stopping the weather fronts from moving in. this is the satellite picture with a weather frontjust to the west of us, i have added the wind speeds, the average wind speeds, we are only talking about s—iomph worth of wind which is a slow wind overall. and despite the temperatures being say round 10 degrees it feels pleasant enough. we would like the temperatures to be a bit higher, but it psi what it is. through the course of this evening, and overnight. not much changes on the weather front, we and overnight. not much changes on the weatherfront, we have and overnight. not much changes on the weather front, we

lorna gordon, bbc news, edinburgh.sit outside. attractions, such as zoos and theme parks, have also opened. and a maximum of 30 people can attend outdoor receptions for weddings and funerals — and take part in organised sports. 0ur wales correspondent hywel griffith has the latest. in three, two, one. launching out of lockdown and into business. this new zip wire in aberdare welcomed its first ever customers this morning, after what's been a bumpy ride. having to change their opening date several times. colin was one of the first down the line. absolutely awesome! oh, it was fabulous. i thought it might have been a bit faster than it was, but it was brilliant. built on the site of an old coal mine, this zip wire was eventually , originally meant to open injuly last year, but the pandemic kept pushing plans further and further into the future, until today finally arrived. they are now fully booked for the next three weeks. i really, really think that people are going to enjoy this. that's welcome news for caitlin, who's

lorna gordon is at loch lomond for us this morning.water. do you think that people are ready to get out into the great outdoors and grab the opportunity to do so a little earlier than planned? i think the reall little earlier than planned? i think they really are. — little earlier than planned? i think they really are, a _ little earlier than planned? i think they really are, a collective - little earlier than planned? i think they really are, a collective sigh l they really are, a collective sigh of relief. for many people, the last time they saw their families was on christmas day, restrictions came in again after that brief interlude, and now, ten days earlier than planned, the stay local restriction has been lifted because there has been good progress on the vaccination programme on the number of people testing positive for covid has been coming down. we have been down on loch lomond since the sun started rising. some brave swimmers have been raving the water. the temperature is 80 degrees, pretty chilly. most of them are heading o

forward the easing of some covid restrictions — ten days earlier than expected. 0ur correspondent, lorna gordonus more. victoria, nicola sturgeon said - lorna, tell us more. victoria, nicola sturgeon said the - lorna, tell us more. victoria, nicola sturgeon said the data lorna, tell us more. victoria, - nicola sturgeon said the data here is encouraging, we've gone from upwards of 2000 people testing positive for covid every single day backin positive for covid every single day back in early january to fewer than 300 positive cases every day now. she says it's at the lowest level since late september and significantly, there has been a 40% drop in positive cases in the last two weeks. so that means a big, significant change here in scotland is on the way. earlier than expected. and the state local restriction is being lifted from friday. meaning at that point, friends and families across scotland will be able to meet again outdoors. from friday, that it's friday this week, the 16th of april, we will all be able to travel anywhere within scotland for the purposes of outdoor socialising, recreatio

our scotland correspondent lorna gordon is in glasgow. i think it has _ cautious, is this a surprise? yes, i think it has come _ cautious, is this a surprise? yes, i think it has come as _ cautious, is this a surprise? yes, i think it has come as a _ cautious, is this a surprise? yes, i think it has come as a surprise - cautious, is this a surprise? yes, i think it has come as a surprise but the first minister said that good progress in the vaccination programme in suppressing the virus meant that this key restriction could be lifted again and that from friday, people can travel anywhere across mainland scotland to visit friends and family, to socialise, to exercise, as long as the groups don't exceed six adults from six different households and don't involve any overnight stays. but there is still cautioning the rest of the route mapped out. we have to wait until the 26th of april for the big expansion in the restrictions to do with the economy. at that point, all remaining shops can reopen, travel between scotland and england can resume

our scotland correspondent lorna gordon has more from glasgow.s suppressing the virus meant that this key restriction could be lifted early. and that on friday people can travel anywhere across mainland of scotland to visit friends and family, to socialise, to exercise. as long as the groups don't exceed six adults from six different households and don't involve any overnight stays. but there is still caution in the rest of the road map out. you have to way to the 26th of april for the big expansion in the restrictions to do with the economy. at that point all remaining shops can travel between scotland can resume. gyms can reopen and hospitality can resume with some restrictions particularly indoors. on that hospitality trade parties are concerned they say it doesn't go far enough and fall short of what is required to make a licensed premises viable. and we'll find out how many of the latest developments in the fight against coronavirus — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30 this evening in the papers — our guestsjoining me t

lorna gordon has been at loch lomond for us this morning.e heading out in wet suits. there was also plenty of canoeists out this morning, some who had travelled from glasgow, which is about half an hour away. of course, in a different council area, one lady i was speaking to said this is the first time she has been out here since last summer. gordon watson, the chief executive of loch lomond and the trossachs national park said they are gearing up for people to return. we know that people are desperate to get out after such a long winter lockdown, so we're looking forward to welcoming a lot of people this weekend. the message is plan ahead. we're not back to normal yet. a few things are still closed — hospitality, businesses, no overnight stays yet. there are toilets open, we have extra toilets out, loads of rangers here to welcome people. plan ahead, check our car park website to see what is available, stay away from busy places, but enjoy yourselves and look after the place. i think it's fair to assume there will be extra police in areas l

our correspondent, lorna gordon, is in glasgow.xpected and it's all to do with that stay local restriction here in scotland that was meant to stay in place until april 26, so a little under two week's time, it would have been a week's time, it would have been a week on monday it was lifted, but nicola sturgeon today announcing that because the data, the number of cases were moving in the right direction, the case numbers are falling and falling quite fast and dramatically, in part because of that vaccination programme, she says they're bringing forward, accelerating the route map out as lockdown and the stay local restriction will be lifted on friday. at that point family and friends can travel across scotland for recreation, to see each other, as long as they stay outside. one other key change that comes in on friday, the four people from two different households allowed to meet up different households allowed to meet up outdoors was changed to —— will change to six people from six households being allowed to meet outdoors, that o

our correspondent lorna gordon says nicola sturgeon's announcement will be welcomed by many.celerating the route map out of lockdown and that the stay local restriction will be lifted on friday. at that point, family and friends can travel across scotland for recreation, to see each other, as long as they stay outside. one other key change that comes in on friday, the four people from two different households that are allowed to meet up outdoors will change to six people from six households being allowed to meet outdoors, and that of course doesn't include children under 12, they are in addition to any limited group numbers that are meeting. but the stay local restriction is being lifted on friday, a lot of people will be very pleased to hear that they can meet family and friends who live outside of their council area again. the organisers of the edinburgh festival say it will go on this year. details of the programme will be announced. they are hoping to stage live performances to socially distance is audiences across the city as well as streaming them on line. here is the a

lorna gordon has more.eed six adults from six different households and don't involve any overnight stays. but there is still caution in the rest of the road map out. you have to way to the 26th of april for the big expansion in the restrictions to do with the economy. at that point all remaining shops can reopen, travel between scotland can resume. gyms can reopen and hospitality can resume with some restrictions particularly indoors. on that hospitality trade bodies are concerned they say it doesn't go far enough and fall short of what is required to make it. president biden has announced today he is delaying the withdrawal of us troops from afghanistan — missing the may 1st deadline that donald trumps had agreed with the taleban. us troops — around 3,000 of them — will now return home 5 months later, by september 11th. that date is of course significant, becuase it will be exactly twenty years after the terror attacks on the world trade centre and the pentagon. it is americas longest war. some of those no

let's speak to our scotland correspondent lorna gordon.as well. what a day for the stay local restriction to be eased after months of people being confined to their own council areas. they can now travel across mainland scotland to see family and friends, for recreation, for socialising, and for exercise, and to come to places like loch lomond. we have already seen some wild swimmers this morning, canoeists, all of them taking precautions because the water here is very cold. it's about 80 degrees so they have had wet suits on and safety boys as well. the park has put on extra staff, they have got extra toilet in place and extra parking, but there is no overnight camping yet. the campsites are not open. the next wave of restrictions he's on april 26, a week on monday, thatis he's on april 26, a week on monday, that is when tourism reopens, the campsites reopen, when most shops reopen, and also hospitality open is more widely as well. for now, some cafes will be serving takeaways and self—service stuff, and people are being told to be cautio

lorna gordon is in holyrood. a significant moment? yes, parliament is recalled very rarely.e of prince philip, and to the contributions he made to society, most notably here in scotland. of course, the first minister said this was a country that prince philip love from a very early age. she said she got to witness the strength of the partnership between her majesty the queen and the duke of edinburgh annually during the first minister's stays at barra moral. she said she found it's full of a thoughtful, deeply interesting, intelligent man, and they shared a great love of books. he was present at key moments in scottish history, including the opening of this parliament. it was then the turn of ruth davidson, who was leading for the scottish conservatives here. she recalled the words of the queen, grief is the price we pay for love. she noted, as did nicola sturgeon, that prince philip was supportive of a powerful woman in an era perhaps when that was far less common. she drew attention to the contributions he made in particular supporting the patronage is of organisations her