that was hugh schofield. polish officials - terrible trend. that was hugh schofield.say a three—week is needed. schofield. polish officials say a three-week is needed.- schofield. polish officials say a three-week is needed. poland is seeinu three-week is needed. poland is seeing the _ three-week is needed. poland is seeing the infection _ three-week is needed. poland is seeing the infection rate - seeing the infection rate accelerate, cases which have reached levels that have not been seen since the peak of the second wave. i think there is acceptance in society that there should be some restrictions, deviously we have had regional restrictions. now something nationwide. it's partly because of this prevalence of the british variant, which is rampant in poland at the moment. it is responsible for more than 60% of all cases, and soon will be responsible for 80% of cases. there is a feeling in society that we should have some restrictions, but at the same time, the health ministry is warning that there is also a feeling that the restrictions are not being adhered to, a

hugh schofield, bbc news, in northern france.ory of the grammys. she won her 28th grammy for best r&b performance for her song, black parade — which was released following worldwide anti—racism protests sparked by the death of george floyd. our north america correspondent, peter bowes is in los angeles. that is the headline out of these grammys, beyonce? it certainly is the headline. a triumphant night for women across the board but especially for beyonce, reaching 28 wins, more than any other female artist in the history of the grammys. as you say, two of those went to this song, black parade, the civil rights anthem that came out of the events of last summer following the killing of george floyd and the uprising against police brutality that we saw across the united states, and that was to some extent the theme of the evening at the grammys, with the song of the year, i can't breathe, by her, which came out of the events of last year as well. that song was actually written using the across the internet, it was written in the be

hugh schofield there.and is also back in a form of lockdown as adam easton in warsaw now explains. poland, is seeing its third coronavirus wave and it is seeing the infection rate accelerate. we are seeing places at each level that hasn't been seen since november, the peak of the second way acceptance and society that there should be some restrictions, we have had regional restrictions and from today they are now nationwide. and its partly because of this prevalence of this british variant which is rampant in poland at the moment and is responsible for more than 60% of all cases and soon will be responsible for 80% of cases, so i think there is a feeling in society that we should have some restrictions but at the same time, the health ministry is warning that there is also a feeling that the restrictions are not being adhered to. there is a feeling amongst some people that covid has been tamed, to some extent, that people have come accustomed to it. the sharp rise in infections across europe has coincided

you schofield in paris there. in poland, health officials say a three—week lockdown is necessary.nd, in terms of the numbers, is seeing its third coronavirus wave, and it is seeing the infection rate accelerate. we are seeing cases that have reached levels that haven't been seen since novemebr, the peak of the second wave, so i think there is acceptance in society there should be some restrictions. previously we have had regional restrictions and from today they are nationwide. and it is partly because of the prevalence of the british variant, which is rampant in poland at the moment and is responsible for more than 60% of all cases and soon will be responsible for 80% of cases, so i think there is a feeling among society that we should have some restrictions. at the same time, the health industry is warning that there is also a feeling that restrictions are not being adhered to. there is a feeling amongst some people that covid has been tamed to some extent, and people have become accustomed to it, so you have this double phenomenon going on where people expect to be restrictions

emily schofield is a british expat who is living in the town of port macquarie. shejoins us now. hit so hard. what is it like where you are? we been hit so hard. what is it like where you are?— been hit so hard. what is it like where you are? been hit so hard. what is it like where ou are? . ., ., ., ., where you are? we have had a lot of accident -- — where you are? we have had a lot of accident -- evacuations. _ where you are? we have had a lot of accident -- evacuations. on - where you are? we have had a lot of accident -- evacuations. on friday i accident —— evacuations. on friday night we all had messages to come through to our phones saying if we were in low—lying areas we needed to a banquet by eight p:m.. i'm very fortunate as i live upon a hill. so i'm not at risk of that. but the devastation has been huge, even with the highest streets in the middle of town flooded. just the highest streets in the middle of town flooded.— town flooded. just describe what it's like in town _ town flooded. just describe what it's like in town then. _ town flooded. just describe what it's

hugh schofield is in paris. a , new variants. hugh schofield is in paris. , ., ., , new variants.bad news for paris and the surrounding _ paris. bad news for paris and the surrounding areas. _ paris. bad news for paris and the surrounding areas. the _ paris. bad news for paris and the surrounding areas. the region... | surrounding areas. the region... because in these two regions, we are going to be back to november and the second confinement. not quite the same level of intensity as the first confinement because it schools will remain open and there a greater degree of freedom to move about in the days. but essentially, it's another lockdown. it will kick in on midnight tomorrow, friday, and be in for two months over the easter holiday. clearly the clinical evidence is so strong now, particularly in the paris region, where numbers are over a00 per hundred thousand. the where numbers are over 400 per hundred thousand.— where numbers are over 400 per hundred thousand. the world health oruanization hundred thousand. the world health organization has _ hundred thousand. the world hea

our correspondent hugh schofield has taken a look at the place. >> these words had a terrible secret.ce a busy german mind to the long-lost entrance to the tunnel of death. as we arrived, is clear there something wrong. there has been a visit by bounty hunters who try to dig into the tunnel above in search of stuff to sell. already, the looters have been here and it's a great shame. it is very important the place gets police protection as soon as possible because it is a very special place. one of the last unexplored, untold secrets of the first world war. the tunnel stretches for 300 million -- the soldiers died in horrific circumstances. in may 1917, the french forged a new offensive to take the hills. the tunnel was part of -- part of the german defenses. there was massive french shelling and on the fifth of may, guns targeted the two ends of the tunnel. a huge explosion here trapped the men inside. over the next few days, as oxygen ran out, one by one, they died. many asked comrades to shoot them. the struggle for life and death was show and dreadful. death laughed at its harvest.

let's hear from hugh schofield. hugh: the judge was damning.d that he and his lawyer had colluded with a senior judge to pass on secret information with a promise of a promotion for that judge to have a post in monaco. the defense said throughout the case that whatever compensation they had--whatever conversation they had was anecdotal and did not have a matter of conspiracy, and the judge did not get his preferential post in monaco. nothing happened which worked sarkozys way, he did not get anything out of the conspiracy. in order for that to be a conspiracy, to pedal influence, it does not have to end with success. it can still be a conspiracy. the judge in her summing up was quite damning, that he knew, sarkozy and his lawyer, they knew what they were doing with these conversations, that they were trying to subvert and sell influence to a senior figure in the stice system, and therefore they were guilty. ros: one thing we should emphasize his we wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for prior investigation into sarkozy 's campaign fund

our correspondent hugh schofield has the latest from the paris courthouse.rong defence and the trial but the judge summing up and the trial but the judge summing up was damning, she said that he and his lawyer had colluded with a seniorjudge to pass on six at information with the promise of a promotion for thatjudge to a post in monaco. the defence had said throughout the case that whatever conversations had been taken with anecdotal and were not a conspiracy and nothing happened, thejudge did not get the preferential post and monaco, nothing happened at the court which worked and nicolas sarkozy�*s away, he did not get anything out the conspiracy but the case rested on the fact that in order for there to be a conspiracy that has not have to be a result, it does not have to end with success, it can still be a conspiracy. the judge summing up was quite damning that they knew perfectly well what they were doing when they had these conversations, they knew they were trying to subvert and sell influence to a seniorfigure in trying to subvert and sell influence t

lockdowns, as both countries battle a sharp rise in infections in recent weeks. 0ur correspondent, hugh schofieldgovernment and president macron in particular has been loath to reimpose a lockdown. he's put it off for as long as he could, faced a lot of criticism from doctors who have said there should have been a lockdown way back injanuary when the british variant first started appearing, but macron has said over and again that they are not there just to administer medicine, or the medical aspect of this, but the political social aspect of it as well, and that is very important because there are breakdowns, there are people suffering severe psychological problems, there are economic consequences as well. he is seeing death and things in the round and has reluctantly moved to a lockdown and made sure it is a lighter lockdown because of just that, because people do need, he would say, some sort of outlet. that means that, if you go out in paris today, as i have been, it doesn't look or feel that different. the park near me has plenty of people in it, we're all wearing masks and so on, but people

one of those affected is our correspondent, hugh schofield.out today, as i did, it didn't feel that different on the streets of paris. the markets were open, the parks were full of playing children and families. it didn't feel that different from yesterday or the day before, and partly of course that is because this is a lockdown—light. we are allowed to leave our homes for as long as we like, within a radius of 10 kilometres, and that means that life apparently is going on as normal. but i think beneath the surface there's a big psychological partly it's because we can't leave paris, that's one of the big rules, you can't travel outside of the area that's in lockdown now, and partly there's this bureaucratic element too, which means again that if you leave your home you have to have this piece of paper or a web document to show, to justify why you are out. so there's this feeling that every time you go out you might be accosted by a policeman or policewoman and told to show why you are out of the house, and that weighs on people, i think. abo

not until then that it learned it could cause serious heart problems. 0ur paris correspondent hugh schofieldtor was a drug which was administered for many, many years from the 70s up to 2010, 2009, in france. originally developed for diabetes, it became apparent that it also helped in weight loss and many, many people, mainly women and women who were struggling with weight, were prescribed it over the years. the scandal came because it became apparent to some, and the argument is over when, that there were side—effects, that this was causing heart problems, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension in some, and that people were dying of it. now, it was stopped, commercialisation was suspended in 2009. the true scandal came out in 2010 when a book was launched by a pioneering doctor in brittany who discovered the link with the deaths that she had found and then we had the court case today which has resulted in mediator and servier, the lab, the pharmaceutical company, being found guilty of deception, of wilfully deceiving people, but not of fraud. so it is a slightly lesser charge than what the pr

here's our correspondent hugh schofield.mit didn't feel that different in the streets of paris. the park near me has plenty of people in it, we're all wearing masks and so on, but people bring their children out for walks and so on, because there is actually no limit to the amount of time you can spend outside as long as you are taking exercise. what you can't do is go and have a picnic with loads of people on the grass, but you can exercise. i think beneath the surface, there is a big psychological burden nonetheless in all of this, partly because we can't leave paris, people can't travel outside of the area thatis can't travel outside of the area that is in lockdown now. partly come there is this bureaucratic which, means, again, if you leave the home, you have to have this of paper or a web document to justify why you are out. it's the sort of feeling that every time you go out for me might be accosted by a police officer and told to, or asked why you are out of the house. that weighs on people, i think, but above all, th

our correspondent, hugh schofield, has been taken to the place.ce a busy german line to the long lost entrance to the tunnel of death. but as we arrive it's clear something is wrong. there's been a visit by bounty hunters. they've tried to dig into the tunnel from above in search of stuff to sell. already the looters have been here and it's a great, great shame. it's very important that this place gets police protection as soon as possible because it's a very special place here. one of the last unexplored, untold secrets of the first world war. in the tunnel that stretches for 300 metres are the remains of more than 270 german soldiers who died in horrific circumstances. in may 1917, the french launched a doomed offensive to take these hills. the winterberg tunnel was part of the german defences at the crest. there was massive french shelling and on the 5th of may, guns targeted the two ends of the tunnel. a huge explosion here trapped the men inside and over the next few days as oxygen ran out, one by one, they died. many asked comrades to shoot

here's our correspondent hugh schofield on the judges verdict.ed with a seniorjudge to pass on secret information with a promise of promotion for thatjudge to a post in monaco. the defence had said throughout this case that whatever conversations had been had between the two were anecdotal, they were not a matter of conspiracy and, in any case, nothing ever happened. thejudge did not get his in any case, nothing ever happened. the judge did not get his preferred post in monaco, nothing happened which worked in his favour. but the case against him rests in the fact that in orderfor there case against him rests in the fact that in order for there to be a conspiracy, there does not have to be a result, it doesn't have to end with success. there could still be a conspiracy, and thejudge in her summing up was quite damning that they knew perfectly well but they were doing when they were having these judges to micro—conversations, they knew they were trying to subvert and sell influence to a seniorfigure in the subvert and sell influence to a senior fi

for more on the situation in france and germany, hugh schofield in paris. in berlin. well, experts here say that germany is now in a situation where case numbers are rising exponentially, they're extremely concerned. there was a real surge of infection here over christmas, which took intensive care capacity to its limits. some experts say, actually, if cases continue to rise, as they're doing now, and we could see a similar surge of infection happening again at around easter, it's quite clear that germany, like so many other of its neighbours, is now in the grip of what appears to be a very vicious third wave of infection. and that's of particular concern here, because as you've seen in that report, just 8% of the german population has had a first dose of vaccine. so far, a very slow national roll—out of the vaccination programme. and so experts are extremely worried about what will happen next. all of this is compounded, i think, by the fact that germany had started to actually ease some lockdown restrictions. the easter holidays are coming up. the governm

here's our paris correspondent hugh schofield. macron is mindful of the fact that in the race between vaccinations on the one hand and contagion is on the other, the contagion is our winning. hence the fact that in france we are in lockdown again. lockdown is not the right word because we are being encouraged, told we can leave the home but we mustn't gather inside buildings with friends or contacts and so on. we can leave home if we have this piece of paper showing that we left nearby. originally this document famously was an absolutely ridiculous bureaucratic mess. two sides of a4 with 15 different options as to why you might be on the street. the government realised that it was a communications blunder and now all you need to show the police is a proof of residence. that's something that had to be changed because it turned out to be a bureaucratic nightmare. while that's going on, other countries in europe are easing their restrictions. denmark has announced its timetable out of lockdown. the prime minister has said: "we can op

hugh schofield joins us now from paris. i ineffective, he clearly got that wrong, according to all the latest data. and that mistake has had real consequences, hasn't it?— consequences, hasn't it? well, i mean, i consequences, hasn't it? well, i mean. ithink— consequences, hasn't it? well, i mean, i think we _ consequences, hasn't it? well, i mean, i think we should - consequences, hasn't it? well, i mean, i think we should be - consequences, hasn't it? well, i mean, i think we should be a . consequences, hasn't it? well, i mean, i think we should be a bit careful about drawing a direct link between what the president said and the slow roll—out. it think there probably is a connection in the sense that he set a tone and it has created a kind of feeling across the country that the astrazeneca vaccine is not as good as the other ones. we've made it quite clear, the pfizer vaccine or myjournal, but on astrazeneca, there is no doubt that the take—up is much lower than the other vaccines. the take—up is much lower than the other

here's hugh schofield in paris on the reasons it has given for going ahead with its suspension of the reasons, really other than that it's a _ no reasons, really other than that it's a precautionary measure taken in coordination with other european countries _ and i'm sure what she was saying about germany is echoed here in france as well. it's not a step that they would want to take, because there vaccination programme is proving to be very slow and labourious. and it's only yesterday that the prime minister was adding his voice to the several forces that have been out there in the last week or two saying that astrazeneca is a good vaccine, and there's actually no reason not to take it. this, because there was already a kind of prejudice against it which had sort of settled in much of the population. encouraged, it has to be said, by the government's on pronouncements earlier on about whether it was reliable or as effective as the other ones. be that as it may, it's now very much part of government policy to get astrazeneca into people's arms. and so this is not helpful at all. they

our correspondent hugh schofield has the latest from the paris courthouse.g up was damning. she said that he and his lawyer had colluded with seniorjudge to pass on secret information and with the promise of a promotion for thatjudge to a post in monaco. the defence had said throughout this case that whatever conversations had been had they were antidotal, did not amount to conspiracy. in any case nothing ever happened. the judge did not this preferential post in monaco. nothing happened at the court which particularly was in his way. he didn't get anything out of this conspiracy. but the case against him in order for them to be a conspiracy to corrupt or peddling influence, there does not have to be a result, it doesn't have to end with success. it could still be conspiracy. thejudge and her summing up was quite damning that they knew sarkozy he and his lawyer, they knew that they were trying to subvert and to sell influence to a secure early next senior figure in the justice system and therefore they were guilty. the guilty verdict is notjust that, comes w

our correspondent hugh schofield is in paris. an awful lot of detail here.the most significant filled impact on lives in france?— significant filled impact on lives in france? . ., ,. , in france? the closing of schools. the next four— in france? the closing of schools. the next four weeks, _ in france? the closing of schools. the next four weeks, it _ in france? the closing of schools. the next four weeks, it is - in france? the closing of schools. the next four weeks, it is slightly| the next four weeks, it is slightly nuanced, because we are actually about to enter the spring holiday period, so what he is doing is unifying that the holidays for everyone, because normally air staggered across the country, and that the week before the holidays actually technically kick into say, for that week, you will be home—schooling if you're in a middle or senior school. home—schooling if you're in a middle orseniorschool. in home—schooling if you're in a middle or senior school. in effect what it means is that children are going to be at home for the next three, and i

gerken schofields younger sister, makayla, finished 13th in the women�*s dual moguls. cases anything from 10—50%. that gives you an idea of the impact of that stage on its own. professor whitty looked ahead to may the 17th, so a couple of stages down the road where people can meet indoors with groups of up to six, theatres, cinemas, restaurants conserve people cinemas, restaurants can serve people indoors and he said that that it is a very significant block with a lot of stuff happening indoors for the first time. that point is where we will really see some very significant risks accumulating, potentially, so i think preparing people there for, unquestionably, an increase in cases, potentially more than that in terms but of the impact of coronavirus in general and he had this morning for people who are thinking about it now restrictions are easing that the end is in sight. those who are thinking it's all over i would encourage them to look at what's happening in europe at the moment where a lot of countries are going back into rates going up and having to close things

hugh schofield joins us now.caveats? they are starting that today and as - reusing it, with caveats? they are starting that today and as you - reusing it, with caveats? they are| starting that today and as you say, jean castex will take the astrazeneca jab this afternoon. he's not in the age group, he's 54, but he isjumping the queue for good reasons, to show that it's fit for everyone and fit for use in the scepticism which is undoubtedly there towards this drug is unfounded. there has been a breaking story in the last few minutes on the wires that the french medical authorities are saying they recommend astrazeneca for only over 55 is. i don't know how to interpret that, because earlier the missing notes for over 65 is and then there was an upper age limits, now there are saying a lower age limit. i don't know whether that is on a medical reason that or they want to keep it for older people, i don't quite understand. interestingly, himself, jean castex is 54, so underneath the age limit, if they are saying 55 a

our paris correspondent hugh schofield explained the implications of this verdict. but not of fraud. so it is a slightly lesser charge of what the prosecutors were looking for, but still it is a guilty verdict and the judge said in her verdict that the company had ignored advice that it should have heeded as early as the 1990s that there was a dangerous link with these deaths and other conditions in people that were getting this drug. huge demonstrations have also been taking place across france to pressure lawmakers into stepping up the fight against climate change. new legislation goes before parliament today, but activists say it isn't ambitious enough. the law aims to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by the end of this decade. tim allman reports. springtime in paris and the future of the planet is at stake — at least, that is what these protesters fervently believe. despite a pandemic, despite a lockdown, thousands turned out to voice their concerns. the world is in peril. and they say their president is not doing enough to help. "macron is out of time", this man

our paris correspondent hugh schofield has more on the possibility of more measures being introduced.ys. the government has been walking this tight rope. it doesn't want general lockdowns any more. we've got this regional approach, as we reported. and the next bit of france in the firing line is definitely the paris area. the critical bed situation is getting very serious. they are having to move critical patients for other illnesses out of the paris region and the pressure, therefore, is on for measures here which might be comparable to those in nice. i wouldn't say we are waiting expectantly but we wouldn't be surprised if later this week there is either a weekend lockdown here in paris or maybe an earlier curfew, that's what people are talking about. but i don't think we are on the verge of a national lockdown, and that's not what they want. the government's policy is to walk this very fine crest between imposing measures on the one hand and bringing up vaccinations on the other, in the hope that in a month or so we will start moving into a downward phase of the virus. one of the c

let's speak to our paris correspondent hugh schofield. morning to you.hings down when they do not need to be slowed down. there are no signs of any side effects being reported in any side effects being reported in any number here in france. there have been it seems in other countries but not here in france. as part of a european group action, and in coordination therefore with other countries, in particular germany, france has gone ahead with this suspension of the drug. a lot of people will be saying, it is just france doing what it was doing earlier on with astrazeneca, sour grapes and all of that post—brexit, trying to diss the uk vaccine. i do not think it is that in this case. astrazeneca, the vaccine from astrazeneca, the vaccine from astrazeneca is very much part of french strategy now. the french programme is not going well and it needs all the drugs it can get. astrazeneca was filling a very important hole in the market may be directed towards the wider community, people are about 50 with how morbidity is. it can be delivered easily by doctors a