10/03/2018 BBC Weekend News

Good evening.

Police have identified

more than 200 witnesses,

and are examining around 240 pieces

of evidence, in the investigation

into the attempted murder,

of a former Russian spy

and his daughter.

The Home Secretary, Amber Rudd,

chaired a meeting of

the Government's emergency committee

Cobra today, and says

investigators are being given

all the resources they need.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter

Yulia are still in a critical

condition, and the officer who tried

to help them after the nerve

agent attack, Nick Bailey,

remains in hospital.

Dominic Casciani reports.

A vehicle designed to save lives,

now posing a grave risk to the

public. This was the scene at

Salisbury and blends station this

evening as chemical warfare

specialists began the latest phase

of this investigation. More than 180

military personnel now helping at

counter-terrorism investigation that

already includes more than 250

detectives. This is the second major

military operation in Salisbury in

24 hours. Last night we saw them

take away a police car from the

hospital. Today they have taken away

ambulances which were potentially

contaminated last Sunday. Everybody

is watching and waiting to see when

this emergency will end. The nation

is watching and waiting to find out

who is behind this crime. Today, the

second meeting any week for the

government's emergency committee,

Cobra.

This investigation is focused

on making sure we keep people safe

as a priority. That is what the

Cobra meeting was about. And also

making sure that we collect all the

evidence, so when it comes to

attribution we will be absolutely

clear where it Lee.

The pizzeria

where Sergei and Yulia Skripal dined

is now quarantined. Today, the

city's main cemetery was also closed

to the public as officers examined

the graves of Mr Skripal's wife and

son. Today there was no change in

his condition or that of his

daughter. Still critical, still in

intensive care. Wiltshire police

released a statement on behalf of

the third victim of the nerve agent,

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. He

said he and his family are hugely

grateful for all the messages of

support from the public, and

colleagues from the police family.

He was part of a group of officers

and other emergency service

colleagues who dealt with the

initial incident. He doesn't

consider himself a hero, he was

really doing his job, a job he loves

and is immensely proud of. Salisbury

is a proud city. And trying to get

on with normal life. Shoppers in the

market and officials drawing up plan

to help businesses affected by the

police operation. But with more

barriers going up tonight at the

park with the emergency began, it

may be weeks yet before it is all

over.

Those barriers I talked about have

gone away again. It looks like

police found it a bit of a struggle

to fit them tonight. Let's see what

happens. That shows how intensive

this operation is. An awful lot of

activity, a lot of painstaking work.

At some point this city will be free

of this investigation. At that point

it will go behind the scenes as

counterterrorism specialists pick up

this evidential thread. Ultimately

they will have two provide some

answers as to who was behind this

crime.

Dominic, thank you.

Dominic Oceania.

The Education Secretary says

he wants to resolve a recruitment

crisis in England's schools,

by cutting the work

load of teachers.

Damian Hinds told a conference

of head teachers that the government

would "strip away" pointless tasks,

so their staff can "focus

on what actually matters".

Here's Elaine Dunkley.

This is Passmores Academy in Essex.

Like so many schools,

it's struggling to recruit teachers.

Classrooms around the country

are now relying

on agency supply teachers

to cover permanent vacancies.

The government keeps missing targets

about recruitment into the

possession -- profession. We have

4000 less teachers than we need,

especially in the key subjects,

English, maths, science.

The issue

is not just about recruiting new

staff but stopping existing teachers

from leaving the profession. In the

next five years, pupil numbers are

expected to increase in England,

along with pressures and demands on

teachers.

Planning, marking, assessments. The

actual teaching part of it took of

the least time. That was one major

factor. I got out of the education

system thinking and feeling the

whole thing needed to be turned on

its head.

Today at a conference for

headteachers, the government

promised to address these issues.

For the rest of this parliament they

will be no new additional statutory

tests for assessment for primary

schools, no further changes to the

national curriculum. And no more

reform of GCSEs and A-levels.

Stability in schools was the

message. The government accepting it

needed to work harder to relieve

pressures in the classroom.

Elaine Dunkley, BBC News.

Monitoring groups in Syria say more

than a thousand people have been

killed since government forces

stepped up their bombardment

of Eastern Ghouta three weeks ago.

Soldiers loyal to President Assad

are reported to have made

significant advances,

and are believed to have cut off

the biggest town in the area, Douma,

as well as isolating another.

Talks have been taking place

in Brussels between European Union

and US trade representatives,

over President Trump's plans

to impose higher tariffs on steel

and aluminium imports.

The EU described the discussions

as "frank", but said it wasn't clear

whether Europe would be exempt

from the proposals.

Further talks are

planned next week.

With news of Ireland being crowned

Six Nations champions,

and all the sport, here's

Olly Foster at the BBC Sport Centre.

Many things, Clive.

Ireland have won the Six Nations

Championship with a game to spare.

That's after their bonus point win

against Scotland that England failed

to match, despite beating France

in the last few minutes.

They lost 22-16 to France.

From Dublin, here's our sports

correspondent, Joe Wilson.

This afternoon we didn't know how it

would stop, only where it would

start. The Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

Scotland waiting. This way.

Scotland's style fast and loose.

When it fails, it can and tries to

the opposition. Jacob Stockdale for

Ireland. They give to safely

delivered. Then came his sixth of

this Six Nations. Earlier in the

second have a Scotland move finally

worked, Blair Kinghorn scoring. But

Sean Cronin's dive over the line for

Ireland was more significant, their

fourth try, which not only ensured

victory, Ireland had a bonus point

as well. 28, eight in Dublin. After

Paris. Elliot Daly's monster penalty

was impressive but England needed

more. They needed to match Ireland's

result. They needed for tries.

England were defending desperately.

A high tackle from Anthony Watson,

sin bin for him, France awarded a

penalty try. Things were not going

to plan. Understatement. A try came.

A good one. Not enough. France won,

sordid Ireland.

Just to confirm, England can't

catcher Ireland. Nobody can catch

Ireland. There is intense

satisfaction in Dublin this evening.

But also anticipation because next

weekend they could win the grand

slam by beating England at

Twickenham. I think some hasty

travel plans are being made all

around me right now.

I'd imagine there will be.

Joe Wilson, many thanks. West Ham

are investigating the pitch

invasions and crowd disturbances

that marred their defeat to Burnley.

Elsewhere in the Premier League,

Marcus Rashford scored both

Manchester United goals as they beat

Liverpool at Old Trafford. They

remain second, 13 points behind

Manchester City, who don't play

until Monday night.

Patrick Geary reports. From the age

of industry to the age of the

selfie, Manchester and Liverpool

have quarrelled. The row started

about trade. These days these teams

rely on imports. Jose Mourinho opted

for some local produce. Marcus

Rashford of Wythenshawe. Look what

it meant for him to score. Rashford

is England's great hope but hadn't

started a league game for his club

this year. He can consider this a

chance taken. After the break,

Liverpool started to fight back and

felt they should have been given a

hand. No penalty though. They did

get some luck. An own goal macro. A

mix-up to set off a big finish. The

pressure mounted. Liverpool corner.

Mo Salah over the bar. United know

the title is heading across town to

Manchester City. This was a day for

their bit of Manchester.

Patrick Geary, BBC News.

Great Britain have their first medal

at the Winter Paralympics in

South Korea.

Teenager Millie Knight

with her guide, Brett Wild, took

silver on the opening day

of competition in the visually

impaired downhill

skiing in Pyeongchang.

Slovakia won gold, but Knight

described their second place

as "the best feeling in the world".

Lots more on the BBC sport website,

including all the Winter Paralympic

results, and also details of the one

day series win for England's

cricketers against New Zealand.

That's all for now. Clive. Ollie

Foster there.

That's it.

There's more throughout the evening

on the BBC News Channel,

and I'll be back with the late

News at Ten.