i'm martine croxall.esidentjoe biden has urged the us senate to approve his $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid bill after it was passed by the house of representatives. the republicans said the plan was too expensive and voted against it. but the democrats�* slim majority pushed the bill through. it's the third major us spending package during the pandemic, slightly smaller than the $2 trillion package introduced last march by donald trump. this was mr biden�*s reaction. we have no time to waste. if we act now decisively, quickly and boldly, we can finally get ahead of this virus. we can finally get our economy moving again. the people of this country have suffered far too much for too long. we need to relieve that suffering. the american rescue plan doesjust that — it relieves the suffering. and it's time to act. well, the president there alluded to some of what's in the aid bill. but in summary, each person will receive a cheque for $1,400. payments will be phased out for those on higher incomes. the bill ex

this is bbc news with martine croxall. we'll be taking a look at tomorrow morning's papers in a moment withjo phillips and nigel nelson. first, the headlines: the chancellor plans new measures to help people buy their own homes as he prepares his budget for next week. anas sarwar has been announced as the new scottish labour leader. he takes charge of the party ahead of the scottish parliament election on the sixth of may. tributes are paid to captain sir tom moore at his funeral — family members say his spirit will live on. ministers in england launch a campaign to reassure parents it's safe for children to return to the classroom. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are the political commentatorjo phillips and the political editor at the sunday mirror and the sunday people, nigel nelson. what are you drinking? nothing at the moment! _ many of the papers are looking ahead to wednesday's budget. the observer says the chancellor will offer grants of up to £18,000

i'm martine croxall. the headlines at 5. the coronavirus reproduction number — or r value — falls below 1 for the first time sincejuly — suggesting the spread of the disease is slowing across the uk. the number of infections is also falling. the uk economy shrank by nearly 10% last year — the biggest drop ever recorded. whilst there were some signs of resilience overwinter, what is clear is right now many families and businesses are experiencing hardship. this is live and capitol hill in washington where lawyers acting behalf of donald trump in his second impeachment trial are about to address the senate. the government insists new rules for travellers and quarantine hotels that start on monday will be in line with restrictions in other countries. a serial sex offender who raped and murdered university student libby squire is jailed for at least 27 years at sheffield crown court. and coming up at 5:45 mark kermode takes a look at the newest releases — including tom hanks�*s latest feature, �*news of the world' good afternoon

i martine croxall. the headline that 5 7 almost 11 million people have already had their firstjab. already had their first jab. the health secretary says as long as supplies hold — many more will soon be protected. my goal is i want us to be able to offer a vaccine to all over 50s that priority groups one to nine by may. clear signs of a fall in covid cases. the uk r numberfalls to between 0.7 and i, with infection numbers also dropping throughout most of the uk, but doctors warn we mustn't be complacent. we would like to see a really safe level before we take our foot off the gas. we don't want to be in this position again and we want our hospitals in some sort of state that they can cope with what used to be normal if we're going to head back towards that. three people who died in series of linked incidents last night in kilmarnock have been named. they include a mother and daughter. to counsellors illegally may now elect _ to counsellors illegally may now elect a _ to counsellors illegally may now el

this is bbc news, i'm martine croxall. will be in line with restrictions in other countries. a serial sex offender who raped and murdered university student libby squire is jailed for at least 27 years at sheffield crown court. a five—day lockdown is being imposed in the australian state of victoria, barring spectators for the next few days of the australian open tennis tournament. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the coronavirus reproduction number, or r value, across the uk has fallen below 1 for the first time since july last year. government experts say it is now estimated to be between 0.7 and 0.9 — meaning the spread of the disease is slowing. it's further welcome news on the same day figures show coronavirus infections are continuing to go down in almost all parts of the country. in england, ministers have announced that people over the age of 65 will be invited to a vaccine appointment from next week. our health correspondent katherine da costa reports. despite concerns of a fast spreading a new variant, loc

i'm martine croxall. the headlines. the duchess of sussex describes her high court victory against the mail on sunday as a "comprehensive win" for her privacy, and says the damage the paper has done "continues to run deep". a man is found guilty of the rape and murder of 21—year—old university student libby squire. a major reorganisation of the nhs in england — with a promise that health and social care will work more closely together. myjob as health secretary is to make the system work for those who work in the system, to free up, to empower, to harness the mission driven capability of team health and care. over 220,000 people in england have been waiting more than a year for routine surgery — the highest number since 2008. in an interview with the bbc, the irish prime minister urges a climb down in post—brexit border tensions between the uk and the eu. —— a cooling down. hello, welcome to bbc news. the duchess of sussex has won a high court privacy claim against the mail on sunday over the publication of a letter to

i martine croxall.n cope with what used to be normal if we're going to head back towards that. three people who died in series of linked incidents last night

i'm martine croxall. and training about how to submit those grades, how to form thatjudgment based on the evidence that they've got before them. princess latifa, the captive daughter of dubai's ruler, asks british police to re—investigate the disappearance of her sister 20 years ago. asda warns 3,000 jobs could be at risk as part of a major re—organisation of the business. the company behind the computer chips which are in many of our smartphones is accused of overcharging — 29 million people in the uk could be due compensation. the elephant "selfies" which are being used to help protect endangered species in the wild. and a superb performance from captainjoe root — he takes five wickets to rescue england in the third test against india. good morning, welcome to bbc news. the government has unveiled how pupils in england will receive their exam grades after this summer's gcses, a—levels and written vocational exams were cancelled. the new arrangements will be set out in detail by the education secretary,

i�*m martine croxall. the headlines.