yogita limaye, bbc news, kolkata.ovid variant have more than doubled in the uk in the past week. more than 1,300 cases have been reported in england alone. most of the cases are in the north west of england and some in london. the prime minister says he is anxious about the rise in cases and says the government is ruling nothing out in tackling the situation. here's our correspondent dominic hughes. all right, sharp scratch. surge testing, and now an extra push on vaccinations is under way in bolton. this is a part of town that has seen a spike in infections. 553 new cases in a week, more than doubling the infection rate. we're doing just over 300 vaccines a day. the concerns are around the unknowns, how many cases are linked to the variant that originated in india, and how far has it spread? the variant from india seemed to appear around the time that our rates started to rise. what we haven't really got the full detail on is to what extent the rise is down to that — that's why we are doing all the surge testing in p

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh.nting has begun after a series of elections in england, scotland and wales. the �*super thursday�* polls could reshape the uk, as pro—independence forces in scotland bid to break away. an early result is expected from hartlepool in the north—east of england, where a new member of the uk parliament is being chosen. the industrial town has long been held by the opposition labour party, but the governing conservatives are hoping they can win the seatand boost their majority. let's cross live to hartlepool and speak to the bbc�*s richard moss, who's our north—east political editor. hartlepool has been synonymous with labour for so many hartlepool has been synonymous with labourfor so many years, richard, but an up it is possible? it richard, but an up it is possible?— richard, but an up it is ossible? . ., possible? it certainly looks like that _ possible? it certainly looks like that. labour _ possible? it certainly looks | like that. labour considered possible? it certainly looks i like

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh. pandemic is continuing to ravage india, but it's also continuing to spread across much of the developing world. now, there is growing pressure on richer countries to share their vaccine stockpiles with poorer nations, to bridge the scale of the vaccine gap. it's become a question of global concern: will countries waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines? the us president has backed a proposal to do so, and the european union is set to consider it too — but germany has now voiced opposition, as have some biotech firms, saying patent rules don't hinder production of the jabs. matthew kavanagh is an assistant professor from the o neill institute for national and global health law at georgetown university law center. firstly, thank you very much for being with us on bbc news. let me ask you the straightforward question first, if there is such a one, is the problem we are experiencing at the problem we are experiencing at the moment down to the protection of the mom

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh.s the pandemic continues to ravage india, there's growing pressure on richer countries to share their vaccine stockpiles with poorer nations. it's become a question of global concern. will countries waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines? the us has backed a proposal to do so, a move welcomed by the director—general of the world trade organization. ngozi 0konjo—iweala says vaccine inequality must be overcome. what wto members are trying to negotiate is an appropriate and pragmatic agreement that will allow access to people in developing countries and poor countries, because it's not right to have the inequity of access that we have now. it's not right that of the 1.17 billion doses that have been administered worldwide, 83% is in rich and upper—middle income countries. so, something needs to be done about that. but i would say that wto members are negotiating. they need to negotiate to be able to come to the right solution that would be pragmatic and would all

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh.he pandemic is continuing to ravage india, but it's also continuing to spread across much of the developing world. now, there's growing pressure on richer countries to share their vaccine stockpiles with poorer nations to bridge the scale of the vaccine gap. it's become a question of global concern — will countries waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines? the us has backed a proposal to do so, and the european union is set to consider it, too, but germany has now voiced opposition, as have some biotech firms, saying patent rules don't hinder production of the jabs. matthew kavanagh is from georgetown university law centre. i asked him if waiving patent rules can help. the thousands of people at this point are dying of covid because we have a production problem. wejust simply because we have a production problem. we just simply are not making enough vaccines to reach the people who are in need, and the people who are in need, and the problem there is multitaskin

yogita limaye, bbc news, kolkata.ed its coronavirus alert level until the end of may raising questions over whether people from the uk will be able to travel there from next week. portugal is one ofjust 12 countries on the uk's green list which means you don't have to quarantine on return. 0ur transport correspondent, caroline davies, has the latest. there are over 20 departures set to go from the uk to portugal on monday. the portuguese government hasn't announced either way whether it is going to let uk tourists into the country on monday the 17th, but bear in mind that is just over three days away. the green list was announced last week, only 12 countries and territories on there, including places like australia and new zealand, which are not allowing british tourists in at the moment so the industry has really staked its hopes on portugal. we heard that portugal has decided to extend the state of calamity, is he calls it, until the 30th of may. nonessential travel is not allowed into portugal and when the cabinet

yogita limaye, bbc news, kolkata.hts for some australian citizens stranded in india are due to begin shortly. it comes after a controversial ban on arrivals from india was put in place at the end of april due to spiralling covid infection rates in the country. the rules meant that for the first time australians were effectively banned from returning home and face criminal charges if they attempted to do so. lets speak to sarahjosephs, a professor of human rights law at griffith university in queensland, australia. thank you so much for being with us. let's start with the kind of legal side of this, what is the legal status of somebody if they are a citizen? do they have an automatic right to enter their country of which they are a citizen, or is it always something that is subject to the policy of the existing government in that particular state? well, the ban on an australian citizens returning from india it was actually challenged in a court this week. the argument was that to the minister for health had acted beyon

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh.the pandemic continues to ravage india, there's growing pressure on richer countries to share their vaccine stockpiles with poorer nations. it's become a question of global concern: will countries waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines? the us has backed a proposal to do just that — a move welcomed by the director—general of the world trade organisation. ngozi 0konjo—iweala says vaccine inequality must be overcome. what wto members are trying to negotiate is a pragmatic agreement. it will allow access to people in developing and poor countries, because it is not right to have an inequity of access that we have now. it's not right that of the 1.17 billion doses that have been administered, 83% is in rich countries. something needs to be done about that. but i would say wto members are negotiating. they need to negotiate to be able to come to the right solution that would be pragmatic and allow companies to work with their technology and know—how to help to boos

yogita limaye, bbc news, kolkata.the streets of glasgow, after the men were detained in a van by immigration officers. the first minister, nicola sturgeon, blamed the situation on the home office. 0ur scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie reports let them go! a glasgow community united. two men, believed to be indian sikhs, were taken from a flat and placed in this home office immigration van. for hours there was a peaceful but determined stand—off between police and protesters. 0ne under the van to stop it from moving. i think people are really standing in solidarity and they don't want to see their neighbours treated like this. because these are our neighbours. more police officers moved in as preparations were made for the two men to be released. today the glasgow community has united to basically say this is unacceptable. the two men are being released, they will not be arrested and they will not be detained and they will be released. cheering this moment followed conversations between the home office and the

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh.infections in the latest 24—hour period — meaning an average of 2,044 new cases per day in the last week. 13 deaths were reported in the latest 24—hour period. that's people who died within 28 days of a positive test. on average in the past week, 12 deaths were announced every day. the total number of uk deaths is now 127,583. as for vaccinations, almost 35 million people have had their first dose of the covid vaccine and now well over 16 million peope are fully vaccinated. the time is 6:18. our top story this evening: the fishing waters around jersey turning to the latest post—brexit flashpoint with dozens of french fishing boats surrounding the port of st helier. from farming, mining and waste, a new un report on why cutting methane gas will help reduce climate change. coming up on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on the bbc news channel... who's in and out of the lions squad? alun wynjones leads the 37—man touring party to face the world champions south africa. up to 48 million peop

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh.n the latest 24—hour period, meaning an average of 2,044 new cases per day in the last week. 13 deaths were reported in the latest 24 hour period, that's people who died within 28 days of a positive test. on average in the past week, 12 deaths were announced every day. the total number of uk deaths is now 127,583. and now a look at vaccinations — almost 35 million people have had their first dose of the covid vaccine and now well over 16 million peope are fully vaccinated. a united nations report is calling for swift action to cut emissions of methane — a greenhouse gas that's second only to carbon dioxide in driving global warming. the report says curbing methane emissions could deliver immediate and long—lasting benefits for the climate, because the gas only lingers in the atmosphere for a relatively short time. 0ur chief environment correspondent justin rowlatt reports. you are about to meet methane — the gas that fires your stove, seeps from rotting organic material, and bubbles fr

from the state s capital, kolkata, yogita limaye reports. 1000 miles from delhi, kolkata.o eat. and this is the cost. in the entrance of a public hospital nearby, people are already struggling to get basic care. all the beds here, hundreds, are already full. and it is circa keep coming. translation: i don't know how long _ keep coming. translation: i don't know how long we _ keep coming. translation: i don't know how long we can _ keep coming. translation: i don't know how long we can continue i keep coming. translation: i don't know how long we can continue like | know how long we can continue like this, says this doctor. essen know how long we can continue like this, says this doctor.— this, says this doctor. even a war comes to — this, says this doctor. even a war comes to an _ this, says this doctor. even a war comes to an end, _ this, says this doctor. even a war comes to an end, but _ this, says this doctor. even a war comes to an end, but here, i this, says this doctor. even a war comes to an end, but here, its i this, says this doctor. even a war i comes to an end,

in march — may be linked to the country�*s surge in cases and related deaths. 0ur correspondent yogita limayehis country. it is hinterland is where most of its people live. ms. lockdowns and big cities, masses are returning to their homes and small towns and villages. —— masses. the virus is spreading. rundown hospitals trying to cope with the crisis they�*ve never been equipped for postop conditions the government doesn�*t want people to see so we filmed conditions the government doesn�*t want pec covid see so we filmed conditions the government doesn�*t want pec covid patients re filmed conditions the government doesn�*t want pec covid patients being ed secretly. covid patients being treated amongst people with other illnesses. the sick being cared for by their own families for a lack of doctors. this is the intensive care unit. we start toilets overflowing. just outside we met this man. translation: she got the right medicines and treatment she might have survived. but medicines and treatment she might have survived-— have survived. but she didn't get it here. his wife _ have survived. but

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh.44 new cases per day in the last week. 13 deaths were reported in the latest 24 hour period. that's people who died within 28 days of a positive test. on average in the past week, 12 deaths were announced every day. the total number of uk deaths is now 127,583. and now a look at vaccinations — almost 35 million people have had their first dose of the covid vaccine, and now well over 16 million people are fully vaccinated. these are the latest figures. we will continue to bring them to you while they are relevant. breaking news now, a story we reported to you on sunday evening. an attack on a father, 34—year—old james gibbons, attacked in the street. mr gibbons had just returned from celebrating his daughter's birthdays. he was stabbed to death. what was reported to be an altercation involving a group of young people after he had gone to the aid of another man. at the time, we reported that five teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder and two had been bailed. we subsequently

yogita limaye, bbc news, uttar pradesh.ases have been found in the south—east. more transmissible they say than the original version of coronavirus first discovered in wuhan and as transmissible as that kent variant we have been talking about, now dominant in the uk. i should reassure you they are saying tonight that there is no evidence this version of the indian variant is resistant to current vaccines. so although it is spreading like the kent variant, the vaccine does cover it so we shouldn't be unduly concerned but it is spreading more than they would like. that concerned but it is spreading more than they would like.— concerned but it is spreading more than they would like. that is a very im iortant than they would like. that is a very important point. — than they would like. that is a very important point, though, _ than they would like. that is a very important point, though, that - than they would like. that is a very important point, though, that the l important point, though, that the vaccines do seem to be effec