our scotland correspondent lorna gordon is in glasgow. lorna, was this expected?as this expected? yes, a couple of interesting things came out of the briefing, the first was about a judge led inquiry to be established by the end of the gay. almost 10,500 people have died in scotland with a mention of covid—i9 on the death certificate, that has happened since the beginning of the pandemic. nicola sturgeon says they want to scrutinise all aspects of how the pandemic was handled, at least all aspects down to the devolved administration. four particular areas are the direct health impacts of covid—i9 including cases and jebb sinclair homes, what the governor care calls all other non—covid impacts, impacts on area like education and economic impacts. a prominent solicitor in scotland acting on behalf of members of what is known as the covid bereaved families forjustice group has welcomed the inquiry but says it must be an independent panel and leave no stone unturned. he also said families must be at the heart of the inquiry process if it is to be effective and meaning

here's lorna gordon, a warning, her report contains flashing images.k on stage at the edinburgh fringe, and ready to welcome bigger crowds. it's a big day for the cast here, and the country, as nearly all of scotland's covid restrictions are lifted. this show expanding its audience overnight. if we were going to keep to the 200 audience we would, it would be very tough for us. when we heard the announcement we could increase the numbers to 400 it was amazing, because the cast, all the cast, we had tears from the cast, 400 is still reduced, but we think it will keep our audience and ourselves covid compliant. venues, bars, restaurants, are no longer having to limit their numbers, but many are choosing to hang back. this restaurant and bar saying some of the new rules aren't clear. i know a lot of people much prefer the safety of table service, masks when moving round the building, not being crammed in with a0 people round you like sardines. but you could in theory serve people at the bar. we can serve people at the bar, it is whether or not they can sta

lorna gordon, bbc news, edinburgh.ke hit haiti there are still some remote areas that haven't received any aid. more than 2,000 people have died, with the epicentre of the quake in the south—west of the country. at least 12,200 have been injured, and several hundred people are still missing. an estimated 135,000 families have been displaced. 0ur correspondent james clayton reports now from the small town of les anglais, where an entire parish is in mourning. to get to the small town of les anglais, you have to take the coastal road. the town is two hours from les cayes, and the road snakes through earthquake—scarred villages and even through a river. this is what's left of the town's church. a mass christening was about to begin just before the earthquake struck. the church had been filling up with people. dafica had woken up excited. her daughter was one of the dozens of children to be christened that day. translation: the church already had a lot of people inside, _ so i was looking for a good place to sit. i put my

lorna gordon, bbc news, paisley.ffreys in newcastle tonight. with so many students achieving top grades — the pressure is really on for university places. what does it mean for them? an increase in the highest grades but is the greatest pressure on the most competitive courses and universities which require the highest grades to get in, like newcastle. but we have seen an indication to date have some attempts to manage it, a scheme in england backed by the government, in which students are being offered £10,000 in cash to move from a medical school which is oversubscribed to one which has capacity for extra places, and i understand at least half a dozen medical schools may have more students with the grades than they really have capacity for, but we also saw a very stern warning from the office for students, the regulator in england, telling universities they can offer incentives but they must not put pressure on students to wait for a year to take pressure on students to wait for a yearto take up pressure on student

thank you, lorna gordon, in edinburgh.ancies across the uk, long—term youth unemployment is actually at a five—year high. more than 200,000 under 25s have been out of work for more than six months. there has also been a significant rise in people moving back into full—time education, and away from the world of work. sarah corker has been speaking to some young people about how they see theirjobs and career prospects, now that many covid restrictions have eased. careful. everyone's going for the same jobs. it's difficult. if you do really want work, there is work out there now. it took me around nine months- from starting to then getting a job. history shows that, when there is an economic shock, it's young people whose incomes and career prospects are often hardest hit. when i met megan and dan a year ago in hull, both were out of work. they were skipping meals so their three children didn't go without. i'll do anything, you know what i mean? because, at the end of the day, we need that money to live. we've had to get food

lorna gordon, bbc news.w airport today to a hero's welcome. great britain claimed 65 medals at the games — including 22 golds — making it one of the team's most successful olympics in history. the queen has congratulated the nation's athletes, saying their hard work has been "an inspiration to us all". this report from our correspondent eleanor roper contains flashing images. touchdown from tokyo. after a games like no other, it's a welcome home like no other, too. cheering. britain's most successful couple ever are first off the plane, jason and laura kenny. with family and friends unable to travel to japan, today, the first day that many athletes have been reunited with their loved ones. how does it feel to be home? oh, it's... it's the best feeling in the world, honestly. i've missed these lot so much. i went there, you know, with dreams. i've come back and this is what it's all about, these lot here. oh, it wasjust absolutely, like, amazing, like, unbelievable. i didn't expect there to be such a huge rec

she couldn't rule out the reintroduction of some covid restrictions. 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordonng vaccinated, told today it's making a big difference. but there's also a warning — cases are on the rise again, concern is growing, and new controls are not off the table. if this surge continues, and if it accelerates, and if we start to see evidence of a substantial increase in serious illnesses as a result, we cannot completely rule out having to re—impose some restrictions. half of scotland's new covid cases are in the under—25s, while around a third are people who have been double—dosed. numbers were predicted to go up, but this is being described as a fragile and pivotal moment. we expected case numbers to rise, we expected there to be a sharp rise when things like schools returned and testing increased. but there's an underlying trend upwards in case numbers in scotland, and we've seen that for the past two to three weeks. by law, you still have to wear a mask in scotland in indoor public settings, such as shops or public transport. but aside from that, most legal restrictions

our scotland correspondent lorna gordon reports.vaccinated. until today it is making a big difference but also a warning that cases are on the rise again and concern is growing that new controls are not being ruled out. if new controls are not being ruled out. , , ., . _, , new controls are not being ruled out. ,, .,. ,., out. if this search continues and accelerates _ out. if this search continues and accelerates and _ out. if this search continues and accelerates and if _ out. if this search continues and accelerates and if we _ out. if this search continues and accelerates and if we start - out. if this search continues and accelerates and if we start to i accelerates and if we start to see evidence of a substantial increase in serious illness as a result we cannot completely rule out having to impose some restrictions. haiti impose some restrictions. half of scotland's new _ impose some restrictions. half of scotland's new covered _ impose some restrictions. half of scotland's new covered cases - scotland's new covered cases are

to pass legislation — including a new independence referendum bill. 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordoninburgh. explain the significance of this. well, at some point in the next hour we expect the co—leaders of the green party to arrive at beach house ware alongside nicola sturgeon they will give more details of this power—sharing partnership. we've never seen anything like this before. it stopped short of a formal coalition but goes further than the confidence and supply issue by issue support that the scottish greens have given to the snp during previous snp administration. it means there will be areas where support has been formally agreed but worth looking out for those areas where there is still disagreement, where there is still disagreement, where there is still disagreement, where the greens remain outside and effectively in opposition. it will be the first time the greens have beenin be the first time the greens have been in power anywhere in the uk. we expect them also to have ministerial appointments. the snp, it perhaps gives them more stability, it means they will have an o

lorna gordon, bbc news, paisley.ief executive of the fair education alliance. welcome. what have the exam results this year exposed in terms of disparity in attainment? i this year exposed in terms of disparity in attainment? i think the first thing to _ disparity in attainment? i think the first thing to say _ disparity in attainment? i think the first thing to say is _ disparity in attainment? i think the first thing to say is that _ disparity in attainment? i think the first thing to say is that the - disparity in attainment? i think the first thing to say is that the most l first thing to say is that the most important message here is to celebrate the achievements of young people in these challenging times and also gratitude for all the amazing teachers and workforce staff who have supported young people in this roller coaster 18 months, and no chat about disparities or education quality should take away from that. and then the other thing is as if you people of mentioned this comparison of year on year and grade

in spring, providing public health advice allows them to take place. 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordonxams are back, but the scottish government is being upfront in saying that contingency plans are in saying that contingency plans are in place should covid create difficulties over the coming academic year. the first back—up plan is to further modify courses that have already been modified, while the second is if covid creates difficulties that mean it is not easy or reasonable for exams to take place, that they will be scrapped again for the third year running, and replaced with teacher assessed grades. well, across the uk, ministers and qualifications regulators have been clear that they expect exams to take place next year, so scotland is the first place to announce these contingency plans, but the main teaching union here says they want to focus over the next year to be on teaching and learning, not gathering evidence for assessments and for these contingency purposes, while the scottish conservatives say it is a dereliction of duty for the snp to announce this before all schools h

lorna gordon has more. her report contains some flashing images.owds. it is a big day for the cast here, and the country. as nearly all of scotland's covid restrictions are lifted. this show expanding its audience overnight. if show expanding its audience overnight-— show expanding its audience overniaht. ., ., ~ , overnight. if we were going to keep to the 200 audience _ overnight. if we were going to keep to the 200 audience we _ overnight. if we were going to keep to the 200 audience we would, it i to the 200 audience we would, it would be very tough for us, when we heard the announcement we could increase the numbers to 400 it was amazing because the cast, all the cast we had tears from the cast. 400 is still reduced but we think it will keep our audience and ourselves covid compliant.— covid compliant. venues, bars, restaurants _ covid compliant. venues, bars, restaurants are _ covid compliant. venues, bars, restaurants are no _ covid compliant. venues, bars, restaurants are no longer - covid compliant. venues, bars, | restaurants are no longe

though it's still significantly higher than before the pandemic. 0ur scotland correspondent, lorna gordonare rehearsing a show about heading to university. the pandemic meant no final exams for students this year but for those here it did not mean less work. in a normal year — here it did not mean less work. in a normal year i _ here it did not mean less work. in —. normal year i would have sat five or six exams and that your eyesight i9. i feel has been i feel that the year has been year as well. i feel that the year has been - year as well.— i feel that the year has been - year as well. last year as well. results were based on _ last year as well. results were based on - assessment. i last year as well. results were l based on - assessment. a based on teacher assessment. a fairer system to be students who like many others across scotland have been awarded a grades. normally the pressure — have been awarded a grades. normally the pressure is — have been awarded a grades. normally the pressure is on _ have been awarded a grades. normally the pressure is on monday _ have been awarded a gra

lorna gordon has more — a warning her report contains flashing images. the cast here, and the country. as nearly all of scotland's covid restrictions are lifted. this show expanding its audience overnight. if we were going to keep to the 200 audience we would, it would be very tough for us, when we heard the announcement we could increase the numbers to 400 it was amazing because the cast, all the cast we had tears from the cast. 400 is still reduced but we think it will keep our audience and ourselves covid compliant. venues, bars, restaurants are no longer having to limit their number, but many are choosing to hang back. this restaurant and bar saying some of the new rules aren't clear. i know a lot of people much prefer the safety of table service, masks when moving round the building, not being crammed in with 40 people round you like sardines. but you could serve people at the bar. we can, it is whether or not they can stand there and drink for an hour, two hours, four hours, we are not certain about that. so we are not going to bother. life in scot

a warning, lorna gordon's report does contain flashing images. year —— make since march last year but they are not going to the day, they say it's far too early to save your new virus. life in scotland will feel more normal than at any time since march last year but the scottish government isn't calling it freedom day, they say it is far too early to say we are free from the virus. so some restrictions will remain. masks are still mandatory here on public transport and in shops and office workers in scotland are being told where possible they should still work from home. we know lifting restrictions gives the virus more opportunity to spread, so there is a degree of nervousness but i know we can't keep legal restrictions on people's lives forever, so we have to try to do these things at the right moments and as carefully as possible. at a minute past midnight, clubbers celebrated as their favourite nightclubs re—opened after more than a year being closed. it had to spend my 20th in st andrew's at home. it is a bit irresponsible that everything is

in spring providing public health advice allows them to take place. 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordon first back—up plan is to further modify crisis that have already been modified. while, the second is that if covid creates difficulties that mean it's not easy are reasonable for exams to take place, that they will be scrapped again for the third year running and replaced with teacher assessed grades. the main teaching union here says they want to focus over the next year to be in teaching and learning, not gathering evidence for assessments and for these contingency purposes while the scottish conservatives say it's a dereliction of duty for the snp to announce this only once schools have returned. to announce this only once schools have returned. ., , , ., ,., announce this only once schools have returned. ., , , ., h, ., , returned. to bring you some latest breakin: returned. to bring you some latest breaking news _ returned. to bring you some latest breaking news that _ returned. to bring you some latest breaking news that we _ returned. to bring you some latest breaking news that

lorna gordon in glasgow. the headlines on bbc news.... the nspcc says online grooming crimes in england and wales have reached a record high. let's return to the news that a person from afghanistan on the uk's no—fly watchlist was flown into birmingham as part of the evacuation of kabul, government officials have confirmed. the no—fly watchlist is used to stop people coming to the uk who are thought to be a security threat. joining me now is victoria rietig, who's head of the migration programme at the german council on foreign relations and an expert on migration and asylum issues. thank you for being with us. i suppose this is the part of the problem of the chaos in kabul at the moment and all along, governments have been saying they do need to vet all the people leading despite the chaos to make sure this kind of thing does not happen.- chaos to make sure this kind of thing does not happen. yes, for sure, thing does not happen. yes, for sure. but _ thing does not happen. yes, for sure. but the — thing does not happen. yes, for sure, b

lorna gordon reports.hose here, they did not mean less work. and a normal ear, we did not mean less work. and a normal year, we would've _ did not mean less work. and a normal year, we would've had _ did not mean less work. and a normal year, we would've had five _ did not mean less work. and a normal year, we would've had five or - did not mean less work. and a normal year, we would've had five or six - year, we would've had five or six exams and in this when i sat 19. i really feel like the year has been so incredibly difficult this year than last year as well. results are based on teacher— than last year as well. results are based on teacher assessment, - than last year as well. results are based on teacher assessment, a l based on teacher assessment, a ferry system since the students who like many others across scotland have been awarded a grades. donna 2020 but upon previous years, the percentage of pupils achieving a great reached a record high. at 2019, less than a third of the candidates were award

today, surpassing the previous highest level which was in earlyjuly. 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordong difference but also a warning that cases are on the rise again and concern is growing that new controls are not being ruled out. if this search continues and accelerates and if we start to see evidence of a substantial increase in serious illness as a result we cannot completely rule out having to re—impose some restrictions. half of scotland's new covered cases are nearly 25 is. around a third are in people who have been double dosed. in numbers was predicted but this is being described as a fragile and pivotal moment in the pandemic. we expected case numbers to rise and we expected a sharp rise when things like schools returned and testing increased. but there is an underlying trend upwards in case numbers in scotland and we've seen that in the past two or three weeks. by law you still have to wear a mask here in scotland in indoor public settings such as shops on public transport. but aside from that most legal restrictions have now been lifted. and all of us, nicola sturgeon said

more details are expected this afternoon, as our scotland correspondent, lorna gordon, explains.l coalition, but it goes further than the confidence and the supply issue by issue support that the scottish greens have given to the snp during previous snp administrations. it means there will be areas where support has been formally agreed. but worth watching out for this afternoon are those areas where there's still some disagreement, where the scottish greens remain outside the government tent, in effect, in opposition. what's in it for both sides? well, it's significant in that it will be the first time the greens have been in power anywhere in the uk, they will be able to influence policy. we expect them also to have ministerial appointments. for the snp, i think it does give perhaps more stability in government. it means they will have an outright majority in some areas of their programme, although not all of course. i think it also perhaps sends a message ahead of cop26 about where they stand on environmental issues. as you mentioned, making the scottish greens part of governm