nick triggle, bbc news. until now, only businesses with 50 or more employees have been able to get free lateral flow tests. now companies of all sizes are eligible. the tests will be free untiljune 30, and businesses have until the end of this month to register. the duke of edinburgh has spent his first night back at the private king edward vii hospitalfollowing his heart surgery at st bartholomew's on wednesday. he has spent 18 nights in hospital, his longest ever stay. buckingham palace says he will remain in hospital for a number of days. pakistan's prime minister, imran khan, has won a vote of confidence in parliament, days after suffering an unexpected political setback. mr khan himself called the vote in response to the failure of his finance minister, abdul hafeez shaikh, to win a seat in the senate. a victory for the populist leader had been expected, with opposition mps deciding to boycott the vote. our islamabad correspondent, secunder kermani, has more. imran khan's supporters have been celebratin

nick triggle, bbc news.esting programme in england. until now, only businesses with 50 or more employees have been able to get free lateral flow tests. now companies of all sizes are eligible. the tests will be free until the 30th ofjune and businesses have until the end of this month to register. a 50—year—old man has been arrested in dundee in connection with the disappearance of a woman and two children. 0fficers entered a property in troon avenue in the city yesterday afternoon as part of an enquiry into a missing 25—year—old woman, bennylyn burke, and two children, from south gloucestershire. the woman's next of kin has been informed and are being supported by colleagues in avon and somerset. police say they're increasingly concerned about the disappearance of a woman in south london. sarah everard, who is 33, spoke to her partner on the phone while walking from clapham junction to brixton on wednesday night, which was the last time anyone heard from her. a friend said it was extremely uncharacteristic

nick triggle, bbc news.warned that the guidelines on personal protective equipment for health workers in england are "fundamentally flawed". the study, commissioned by the nurses�* union, the royal college of nursing, says the guidance relies on research which is out of date, and does not acknowledge the full risk of airborne transmission of coronavirus. the department of health said staff safety was a top priority. pope francis is visiting parts of northern iraq that were once held by islamic state militants. it's the third day of his historic trip to the country, the first ever papal visit to iraq. let's take a look at these pictures coming to us from the village of qaraqosh, where he is visiting the church of immaculate conception, the village is home to iraq's largest christian community. the scene of violence during the occupation of the so called islamic state group. well, the scars of islamic state brutality are clear here at the church of the immaculate conception in qaraqosh, this place is riddled w

nick triggle, bbc news.ke to her partner on the phone while walking from clapham junction to brixton on wednesday night — which was the last time anyone heard from her. a friend said it was extremely uncharacteristic for her to go missing. the duke of edinburgh has spent his first night back at the private king edward vii's hospitalfollowing his heart surgery at st bartholomew's on wednesday. he has spent 18 nights in hospital, his longest ever stay. buckingham palace says he will remain in hospital for a number of days. spring is on the way here in the uk, which means it's daffodil season. britain produces 90% of the world's crop, but this year, millions of the flowers will rot in the field because of a shortage of seasonal workers to pick them. growers are blaming it on the government's post—brexit visa scheme. the bbc�*sjohn kay reports. it is a beautiful springtime site, but not for daffodil farmerjames walkers. it is heartbreaking, it is heartbreaking. it's just saddening to see flowers going to waste.

nick triggle, bbc news.its proposed pay offer of 1% for health workers in england, after it was claimed that a long—term plan had assumed an increase of double that. well, earlier, iasked saffron cordery, deputy chief executive of nhs providers — which represents acute, ambulance, community and mental health providers — their response to the 1% pay rise for nhs workers. what we know is that a 2.1% pay rise was baked into the funding settlement for the nhs, which is actually enshrined in an act of parliament. we have got a really strong legal basis here to say that that pay rise was there. obviously, that was all set out pre—pandemic, but actually the pandemic really only enhances the case for a pay rise for nhs staff. i think what we have got to remember is that the chancellor, in last year's budget, personally committed to give the nhs everything it needed to get through the pandemic. i think it is worth saying that the nhs is founded on its workforce, it is the backbone of the nhs, and we are not through t

nick triggle, bbc news.eiving from the government of the latest coronavirus figures. they have just come government of the latest coronavirus figures. they havejust come in in this second. they are reporting that 158 people's death was reported in the 24 158 people's death was reported in the 2a hours to saturday, this is people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus. they are in all 6040 coronavirus infections reported in the 24 hours to saturday. that is the number of cases, which we should just be getting up on screen for you shortly. i will wait until we have seen those before we move on to the number of infections. that is the number of infections. that is the number of infections. that is the number of cases, 6040. the number of people vaccinated, that has reached 21,000,796 278, so it is another million or so since last weekend, so the pace is being maintained. —— 21,000,700 people have started to receive second jobs and puts the country, so the momentum is there. that micros

nick triggle, bbc news.ting programme in england. until now, only businesses with 50 or more employees have been able to get free lateral flow tests. now companies of all sizes are eligible. the tests will be free until the 30th ofjune and businesses have until the end of this month to register. a soldier has died during a training exercise involving live ammunition in wales. the victim was a sergeant in the welsh guards and was fatally wounded at the castlemartin base in pembrokeshire on thursday night. the ministry of defence says his next of kin has been informed and a police investigation is under way. the duke of edinburgh has spent his first night back at the private king edward vii's hospitalfollowing his heart surgery at st bartholomew's on wednesday. he has spent 18 nights in hospital, his longest ever stay. buckingham palace says he will remain in hospital for a number of days. police say they're increasingly concerned about the disappearance of a woman in south london. sarah everard, who is 33, sp

thank you very much, nick triggle, our health _ nick triggle, our health correspondent.., ., number? first of all we are all delighted _ number? first of all we are all delighted that _ number? first of all we are all delighted that schools - number? first of all we are all delighted that schools are - number? first of all we are all| delighted that schools are back today, we know that lockdown has had a detrimental impact on the education and well—being of most children, and for that reason school is the very best place for them to be. we think the government could have done more ahead of schools returning today on safety in particular, it was somewhat bemusing to see some of the infographics in some newspapers over the weekend portraying pictures of classrooms with all sorts of safety measures that i don't think you will find in a single school across the country today. we have got to keep a close eye on those infections but i think the government has missed an important opportunity, not least the opportunity to vaccinate all school staff which we called for, as well a

nick triggle, bbc news.ts workplace testing programme in england. until now, only businesses with 50 or more employees have been able to get free lateral flow tests. now companies of all sizes are eligible. the tests will be free until the 30th ofjune, and businesses have until the end of this month to register. a large group of rangers fans have defied coronavirus lockdown rules to gather outside ibrox stadium with the team on the verge of winning the scottish premiership. supporters crowded the area around the glasgow ground as the side faced st mirren. some set off flares. the scottish government said it's "extremely disappointed" and condemned the group for what they said was "jeopardising" the safety of others. a 50—year—old man has been arrested in dundee in connection with the disappearance of a woman and two children. 0fficers entered a property in troon avenue in the city yesterday afternoon as part of an enquiry into a missing 25—year—old woman, bennylyn burke, and two children from south glouceste

our health correspondent nick triggle is with me. nick, bring us up to date.accinate millions of people, it is very much expected that some people will die or become ill after being vaccinated, but that does not mean that the vaccination caused that, it is just coincidence, that these things would happen naturally anyway. what the regulators do, both the eu regulator and the regulator in the uk have been looking at this, is to monitor the number of adverse events, to see if it is higher than normal levels, after vaccination. and as we have heard, the numbers of blood clots being seen generally are actually lower than you would expect. but there have been a number of rare cases of blood clots in the brain. there have been 18 of these across europe, five of them in the uk. but because they're so rare, it is hard to say whether they are above or below the normal expected thresholds. so, that means the regulators can't rule it out, and they have carried out detailed investigations into the individual cases, checking their medical history of the patients involved,

nick triggle, bbc news.ollege of nursing has said the government's guidance on personal protective equipment is "fundamentally flawed". the trade union has called for the recommendations to be updated, saying they were based on out—of—date evidence. the department of health said staff safety was a top priority. the most anticipated royal interview for years — the controversial oprah winfrey interview with the duke and duchess of sussex — airs in the us later tonight. just hours before the interview, the queen will address a uk television audience to share her annual commonwealth day message. 0ur royal correspondent, nicholas witchell, has more. it isa it is a sharp divergence within the royalfamily, and over the next 2a hours it will be sharply demonstrated by two very different broadcast. in the early hours of tomorrow, uk time, the duke and duchess of sussex will unburden themselves on us television. it will be a broad cast, whereas previous clips have shown, meghan will explain why she needed to escape fr

we can speak now to our health correspondent nick triggle, who has been listening to the statement.nfection rates falling, hospital admission rates falling, hospital admission rates falling and deaths falling. just the office of national statistics reported that in the most recent week the number of people dying with covid have fallen by a quarter. the health secretary in the house of commons at what was most interesting was that unlike last year, hospital admissions and deaths are falling faster than infection rates. he said thatis faster than infection rates. he said that is because of the effect of the vaccine. he referenced the report published by public health england yesterday, which showed that vaccines were reducing the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation is in the over 80s by over 80%. this is in the over 80s by over 80%. this is what he had to say. this morning, the office for— is what he had to say. this morning, the office for national— is what he had to say. this morning, the office for national statistics - the office for national statistics published the data

nick triggle, bbc news.e most powerful leaders in the shia muslim world, grand ayatollah ali al—sistani, when he continues his tour of iraq this morning. his landmark visit began yesterday, when he met the iraqi president barham salih, though some have criticised the lack of social distancing. still masked, but no longer grounded. pope francis' first trip since covid, his riskiest of all. a perilous pilgrimage to iraq, in the grip of a pandemic. 0n the first—ever papal visit here, he told me he was very happy, calling it special. beneath the pump is a significant message: dialogue between faiths, and support for persecuted christians. —— beneath the pomp. no open topped pope amabile here, in a country torn by conflict, and outstretched hand through an armoured car was almost forward c. —— all we'll see. but less protection from the other danger here, the pandemic. little social distancing and fuel asks what is worrying many. after a meeting with the president, the pope called for an end to extremism. transla

our health correspondent nick triggle is here. what will be crucial and what chris whitty said is what happens in terms of variants. we are already seeing the south african and brazilian variant can escape some of the immune response and that means vaccines don't work as well. they still work well, but not as well. if we see new variants enable it to escape more of the vaccine response, that where we may need a new vaccine to give people a booster ahead of the winter. talking to people, they suggest that maybe that would just be needed for the most vulnerable. because younger members of the population still have a fair degree of immunity that would protect them. so it may be needed for the older age groups. the so it may be needed for the older age grows-— so it may be needed for the older act-erous. ~ , , age groups. the prime minister being asked about people _ age groups. the prime minister being asked about people being _ age groups. the prime minister being asked about people being allowed i age groups. the prime minister bei

joininig me now is our health correspondent, nick triggle. point is the key point, isn't it? there are some incidents of blood clots but are they any more than you would normally expect to see at any sizeable number of the population, because millions of these vaccines have been given out. that's right and that's the crucial thing to focus on. and if what the health authorities are looking at. in the uk alone you would have around 3000 people suffering blood clots every month so the fact that 37 people from the 17 million vaccinated had a blood clot is actually lower than you would expect in the general population. so that in the general population. so that in itself suggest this is more coincidence then cause, but the european medicines agency is looking to the cases been reported. they are going to be on tuesday but i don't think will meet until thursday that they give their verdict on this. they said that european nations should still continue using the oxford astrazeneca vaccine, they say the better fit of the vaccine in preventing covid

jim reed, bbc news. 0ur health correspondent nick triggle is with me now.ned should we be about this variant? figs concerned should we be about this variant? �* , , concerned should we be about this variant? �* , g ., , concerned should we be about this variant? �* _ ., , , ., , variant? as jim was explaining, this brazilian variant _ variant? as jim was explaining, this brazilian variant has _ variant? as jim was explaining, this brazilian variant has a _ variant? as jim was explaining, this brazilian variant has a variant - brazilian variant has a variant which affects part of virus that vaccines target. the fear is it reduces the effectiveness of vaccines. they still work well, but as well as otherwise. that mutation has also been seen in the south african variant. also the uk, the virus in the uk there has been more than a hundred cases where the uk virus has got this mutation. so we have got to get used to these variants cropping up. we are heary stories every week about these mutations. it is important to take them seriously. but we have got to remembe

let's speak to our health correspondent, nick triggle.e vaccine numbers. the progress is continuing to be pretty impressive. yes, it is. there has been huge progress, and it should signify the worst of the pandemic is over, because those vaccinations are breaking the link between infections and people ending up in hospital. it means, as the uk is beginning to unlock and restrictions are lifting, there is a degree of cautious optimism that we will not return back to some of the worst days we've seen this winter and we saw in the first wave last spring. if we have a look at those figures, in the last 24 hours, 293,501st dose is given, and about i46,002nd doses. though second dose figures we will expect to keep going up, and during the course of april, more first doses being given. the course of april, more first doses being given-— course of april, more first doses bein: civen. ,., ., being given. the government have said to peeple. _ being given. the government have said to people, if— being given. the government have said to people, if yo

joininig me now is our health correspondent, nick triggle. side effects. ~ . ., , , talk us through some of the side effects. ~ . .,, , , talk us through some of the side effects. ~ . , , ., effects. what has been focused on currently is — effects. what has been focused on currently is blood _ effects. what has been focused on currently is blood clots. _ effects. what has been focused on currently is blood clots. when - effects. what has been focused on currently is blood clots. when we. currently is blood clots. when we look at the evidence there have been 17 million people vaccinated with the astrazeneca vaccine across europe and there has been fewer than 40 europe and there has been fewer than a0 instances of individuals having blood clots after they have had the vaccine. when authorities are looking at the safety of vaccinations,... they look for any vaccinations, . .. they look for any signalled vaccinations,... they look for any signalled that adverse events are being caused by the vaccine rather than coincidence. 0bviously when you vac

our health correspondent, nick triggle is with me. five cases out of a lot of doses. explain more.7 when you vaccinate so many and when you vaccinate so many people, millions of people, you will always get cases when people die or have an illness after the vaccination, that is natural and will be by coincidence, purely coincidence, and what regulators do, they keep a close eye on the numbers of these adverse events after vaccination to see if they are higher than normal. in face—macro questions were raised about blood clots and the mhra has looked at this and found that for blood clots generally there are no higher rates of blood clots following vaccination then you would expect to happen —— in europe questions were raised. but the focus has been on the rare blood clot which affects the brain and these five cases, people, all men, aged 19—59, and one of the individuals did die. but because this is so rare, the regulator cannot say whether this is higher than you would normally so than you would normally expect, so they are now carrying out more investigations into these individual

joininig me now is our health correspondent, nick triggle. we have a domino effect of one country aftergulator has said you can still continue using the astrazeneca vaccine mbr meeting tomorrow to discuss some of these reports as you mentioned and health organisation said there is no evidence and the uk junk regulator has also said there is no evidence and it will continue to be used in the uk. the is no evidence and it will continue to be used in the uk.— to be used in the uk. the issue is nartl to be used in the uk. the issue is partly reputational _ to be used in the uk. the issue is partly reputational damage - to be used in the uk. the issue is partly reputational damage for. to be used in the uk. the issue is| partly reputational damage for the oxford vaccine and its already had a bumpy ride and when they put people off having to vaccine? that bumpy ride and when they put people off having to vaccine?— off having to vaccine? that is the big concern- _ off having to vaccine? that is the big concern. so _ off having to vaccine? that is the big concern. so if _ off having to vaccine?