0:00:05 > 0:00:08Hundreds of people in Salisbury, are being advised to wash
0:00:08 > 0:00:10their clothes and possessions, after last week's nerve agent attack
0:00:10 > 0:00:16on a former Russian spy.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18As police continue their investigations, it's confirmed
0:00:18 > 0:00:20traces of the poison, have been found in a local
0:00:20 > 0:00:22pub and restaurant.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25I think I've been more worried as the week's gone
0:00:25 > 0:00:28on and the gravity of the event that took place in our small
0:00:28 > 0:00:32city has unravelled.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35But England's Chief Medical Officer says the risk is extremely low,
0:00:35 > 0:00:38and no one should be alarmed.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Also on the programme.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42The water regulator is to investigate, why
0:00:42 > 0:00:47thousands suffered shortages, following the recent cold weather.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49China's Parliament gives President Xi Jinping
0:00:49 > 0:00:57the right to rule, for life.
0:00:59 > 0:01:04Brats wild and Millie Knight, medallists again.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06And at the Winter Paralympics, Millie Knight and Brett Wild
0:01:06 > 0:01:09win their second silver medal, in the women's downhill super-G
0:01:09 > 0:01:13for the visually impaired...
0:01:13 > 0:01:19-- Brett wild.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Good evening.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Hundreds of people in Salisbury, who went to the same restaurant
0:01:29 > 0:01:32and pub visited by a poisoned former Russian spy, have been advised to
0:01:32 > 0:01:35wash their clothes and possessions.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38England's Chief Medical officer says anyone who spent time
0:01:38 > 0:01:42at the Zizzi Italian restaurant, or the Mill Pub last Sunday
0:01:42 > 0:01:44or Monday, should take precautions, but she stressed the risk
0:01:44 > 0:01:49is extremely low and no one should be alarmed.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53The BBC has learnt that the table where Sergei and Yulia Skripal
0:01:53 > 0:01:54ate in the restaurant, has been destroyed.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59Our Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford reports.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Wearing gas masks and protective clothing, military personnel
0:02:02 > 0:02:05were spending Mother's Day in Salisbury, loading potentially
0:02:05 > 0:02:09contaminated cars onto trucks.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12The two Vauxhall vehicles had been parked behind a church,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16not far from the city centre.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Bizarre and extraordinary scenes once again, this time in a pay
0:02:19 > 0:02:24and display car park in this historic cathedral city.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27It was the attack on Yulia and Sergei Skripal, with a rare
0:02:27 > 0:02:34and lethal nerve agent last Sunday that led to this huge operation.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Today, police confirmed that traces of the nerve agent
0:02:36 > 0:02:39were found in The Mill pub, as well as the Zizzi restaurant,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42where the BBC understands, the table used by the Skripals
0:02:42 > 0:02:46was so contaminated, it had to be destroyed.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Today, the Chief Medical Officer gave this advice to people
0:02:48 > 0:02:54who were in the pub and restaurant on Sunday afternoon and Monday.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55Wash clothing, you haven't already.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Ideally, in the washing machine.
0:02:57 > 0:03:05Any items which cannot be washed and would normally be dry cleaned,
0:03:05 > 0:03:06should be double bagged in plastic until further information
0:03:06 > 0:03:08is available.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Wipe personal items such as phones, handbags and other electronic items,
0:03:11 > 0:03:15with baby wipes and dispose of them in plastic bags in the bin.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Wash hard items, such as jewellery and spectacles,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19which cannot go into the washing machine, with warm
0:03:19 > 0:03:24water and detergent.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Steve Cooper was in the pub on Sunday at exactly the same time
0:03:26 > 0:03:32as the Skripals and told me that he is now getting worried.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Certainly, because they have not revealed what the nerve agent
0:03:35 > 0:03:37was and exactly what the effect, long-term on anyone's
0:03:37 > 0:03:40health could be.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43I would like to know more about that, what measures
0:03:43 > 0:03:48I can personally take, rather than just washing my clothes,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50if I have already been exposed, what are the long-term implications
0:03:50 > 0:03:55for me and my wife.
0:03:55 > 0:04:01Using baby wipes to wash my phone and my watch, I do not really think
0:04:01 > 0:04:02will get rid of a nerve agent.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05So, did the police and other emergency services respond fast
0:04:05 > 0:04:06enough to last Sunday's events?
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Are you satisfied that you escalated this incident quickly enough
0:04:09 > 0:04:17at the beginning of last week?
0:04:17 > 0:04:22The machinery, the support, the national advice, the capability and
0:04:22 > 0:04:26expertise of local and national partners was mobilised.For this
0:04:26 > 0:04:31ancient medieval city, it has been a surreal and at times frightening
0:04:31 > 0:04:34seven days. But if the suspicions proved right, what happened here,
0:04:34 > 0:04:40the use of a chemical weapon, a nerve agent, to attack two people,
0:04:40 > 0:04:45is likely to have huge implications for Britain's relationship with
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Russia.
0:04:46 > 0:04:52Daniel is in Salisbury - are the community reassured?
0:04:52 > 0:04:56People have been on a journey. First of all, they were frightened and
0:04:56 > 0:05:00upset by what had happened, what the Bishop of Salisbury called a
0:05:00 > 0:05:04shocking attack and a violation of their community and then they had
0:05:04 > 0:05:07become a bit more reassured, they have got used to the police cordons
0:05:07 > 0:05:11and the men and women in strange protective clothing and those large
0:05:11 > 0:05:16military vehicles. What happened today came as a bit of a fresh,
0:05:16 > 0:05:22especially to those people
0:05:22 > 0:05:24especially to those people who had in the Zizzi restaurant and The Mill
0:05:24 > 0:05:26pub. They had been told there was little risk to the public and
0:05:26 > 0:05:29suddenly they are being told that those items they cannot watch, it
0:05:29 > 0:05:32should be sealed in plastic bags and stored safely away from people. That
0:05:32 > 0:05:38has been a bit of a surprise, Clive. Daniel, thank you.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40The Chancellor Philip Hammond, has rejected calls to announce
0:05:40 > 0:05:42the end of austerity.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Speaking two days before he delivers his Spring Economic Statement,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47he said the country was still heavily in debt, but there was
0:05:47 > 0:05:48"light at the end of the tunnel".
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Labour has accused the government, of holding back growth.
0:05:51 > 0:05:57Our Political Correspondent Jonathan Blake has more.
0:05:57 > 0:05:58Morning Chancellor!
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Morning.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05There was little disguising...
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Phillip Hammond's smile this morning and perhaps there was even a spring
0:06:07 > 0:06:10in his step as he arrived to deliver his message
0:06:10 > 0:06:11that the economy is looking up.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14There is light at the end of the tunnel, because what we are
0:06:14 > 0:06:17about to see is debt starting to fall, after it has been growing
0:06:17 > 0:06:19for 17 continuous years.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21That is a very important moment for us.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24But we are still in the tunnel at the moment.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26We have to get debt down.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30That debt the Chancellor talked about looks like this.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Big, by historic standards.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35But, forecasts suggest the amount the UK owes,
0:06:35 > 0:06:41relative to the size of the economy, could have peaked.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Labour, gathering this weekend in Dundee for their Scottish
0:06:43 > 0:06:46conference, claim there is little to celebrate.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49They want to turn on the spending taps.
0:06:49 > 0:06:57Lives have been destroyed and millions have been left in despair.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00And it is thanks to the failed economic policy of neo-
0:07:00 > 0:07:01liberalism and austerity.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Austerity was a political choice, it was not an economic necessity.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05We choose socialism.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07On Thursday, a report highlighted the pressure on many councils
0:07:07 > 0:07:09in England with squeezed budgets and reduced services,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11after cuts in central government funding and Phillip Hammond
0:07:11 > 0:07:13is already under pressure for extra spending on defence
0:07:13 > 0:07:20and the health service.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24But, Tuesday's Spring Statement will be a low-key affair.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26He will not appear on the step there, for instance,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29brandishing his red box.
0:07:29 > 0:07:30Significant changes will instead be reserved
0:07:30 > 0:07:32for the Budget, in the autumn.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36But, today's political skirmishes serve as a reminder of just how
0:07:36 > 0:07:39different the instincts are between Conservatives
0:07:39 > 0:07:40and Labour over the economy.
0:07:40 > 0:07:46Chris Mason, BBC News, in Downing Street.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48The Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, says too many older
0:07:48 > 0:07:51people who voted for Brexit, were "driven by nostalgia" for
0:07:51 > 0:07:53a world where "faces were white." Speaking at his party's spring
0:07:53 > 0:07:56conference in Southport, he said the voting of the older
0:07:56 > 0:07:58generation, had "crushed the hopes and aspirations of young people,
0:07:58 > 0:08:06for years to come."
0:08:06 > 0:08:08The water regulator, Ofwat, is to investigate why thousands
0:08:08 > 0:08:10of people suffered water shortages, after the recent cold weather.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Homes and businesses faced days without running water,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14when pipes burst during the thaw, which followed freezing
0:08:14 > 0:08:15weather conditions.
0:08:15 > 0:08:23Our Business Correspondent Joe Lynam reports.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27Jonathan Lewis in Balham had no water at all for
0:08:27 > 0:08:31three days last week.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33He couldn't wash either himself or his clothes.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36To make matters worse, he heard nothing from his water
0:08:36 > 0:08:39provider, Thames Water.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41There was very very little information coming
0:08:41 > 0:08:43in from the water company.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Total inconvenience, you know, you are so used
0:08:45 > 0:08:47to just turning on a tap, but not having any water
0:08:47 > 0:08:54to flush the toilet, have a shower, do your washing...
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Jonathan was one of at least 20,000 homes in London that
0:08:56 > 0:08:58had no water last week.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03Thames Water apologised and provided many customers with bottled water.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07After The Beast from the East had burst many pipes.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10The water watchdog, Ofwat, says its review will examine
0:09:10 > 0:09:12what caused the water shortages and whether water firms
0:09:12 > 0:09:18have the proper contingency plans for such eventualities.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22After all, the icy blast had been forecast well in advance.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23Finally, how well did water companies communicate
0:09:23 > 0:09:27with their customers?
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Water UK which represents water providers said that only 1%
0:09:29 > 0:09:32of customers had lost supply and that special teams had worked
0:09:32 > 0:09:35around the clock to make sure that people had water
0:09:35 > 0:09:39as soon as possible.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41If the review finds that water suppliers had
0:09:41 > 0:09:44breached their license, they could be fined up to 10%
0:09:44 > 0:09:46of their annual turnover.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48That is cold comfort, though, for Jonathan and many others
0:09:48 > 0:09:50who had no water for days.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Despite living in a country with no shortage of rain.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Joe Lynam, BBC News.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58A charity co-founded by the U2 singer Bono,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02has apologised, after bullying, harassment and abuse
0:10:02 > 0:10:04claims, made by staff.
0:10:04 > 0:10:05The ONE organisation,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07says employees in South Africa, have alleged they were belittled
0:10:07 > 0:10:09and subjected to sexist comments.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11In a statement, the charity admitted to "institutional failures,"
0:10:11 > 0:10:19and promised to improve its systems.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26China's parliament, has voted to abolish the two-term limit
0:10:26 > 0:10:27for the country's president.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29The move allows Xi Jinping, to stay in office beyond the end
0:10:29 > 0:10:31of his second term in 2023, possibly indefinitely.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36Our China Correspondent John Sudworth reports.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Xi Jinping was the first to cast his vote for a change
0:10:39 > 0:10:47that could, if he wants, make him President for life.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49The applause proof if any were needed that the result
0:10:49 > 0:10:55was a foregone conclusion.
0:10:55 > 0:11:03Out of almost 3000 delegates, only two voted against.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Passed, the announcer says and this man's hold on power is now both
0:11:05 > 0:11:12complete and indefinite.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17The cost of opposition to the rule of Xi Jinping can be high.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20This woman shows me the papers left behind by her husband, a lawyer,
0:11:20 > 0:11:27who recently wrote an open letter calling for democratic elections.
0:11:27 > 0:11:32He has now been detained on subversion charges.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35TRANSLATION: He did everything within the boundaries of the law,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37yet it is not allowed here.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42Now, many people are afraid of speaking up.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44As China enacts its most profound political change in decades,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46all public discussion is being tightly
0:11:46 > 0:11:52controlled and censored.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55The two term limit solved a problem facing all undemocratic,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58authoritarian states.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03It helped China ensure orderly and regular leadership successions.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06What has happened here today, then, is highly significant.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08A choreographed, compliant rubber-stamped Parliament has
0:12:08 > 0:12:10removed the last limitation on Xi Jinping's power.
0:12:10 > 0:12:18John Sudworth, BBC News, Beijing.
0:12:20 > 0:12:21With all the sport, here's Olly Foster at
0:12:21 > 0:12:27the BBC Sport Centre...
0:12:27 > 0:12:33We saw one of the great old firm matches today, Celtic came from
0:12:33 > 0:12:37behind twice against Rangers and they also had a man sent off by
0:12:37 > 0:12:43winning 3-2 to stretch their Premiership lead to nine points. A
0:12:43 > 0:12:49familiar noise and the usual colour but for the first time in years, a
0:12:49 > 0:12:52resurgent Rangers fancied their chances. With fewer than three
0:12:52 > 0:13:01minutes gone, they showed why. 1-0, cue mayhem. When the equaliser came,
0:13:01 > 0:13:06it was special. The reminder of Celtic's quality. Rangers came
0:13:06 > 0:13:13again. 2-1, but Dembele cancelled it out to round off a breathless first
0:13:13 > 0:13:18half. Was this a red card? The assistant thought so and Celtic were
0:13:18 > 0:13:23down to ten men. The fighting spirit remained. On came the champions in
0:13:23 > 0:13:27what was a titanic struggle and they got their reward. A delightful
0:13:27 > 0:13:33finish, deserving of a double fist pump. There was drama to come, a
0:13:33 > 0:13:38great save lead to a terrible miss. It was not to be for the home side
0:13:38 > 0:13:46and Celtic edge closer to seven in a row. There were two games in the
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Premier League, Spurs are up to third after they came from behind to
0:13:50 > 0:13:57beat Bournemouth 4-1 away. After three league defeats in a row,
0:13:57 > 0:14:05Arsenal beat Watford 3-0. They are still 12 points off the top four and
0:14:05 > 0:14:10the Champions League places. There have been more British medals in the
0:14:10 > 0:14:16Paralympics including a second silver medal for Millie Knight. No
0:14:16 > 0:14:21time to celebrate yesterday's silver medal, Millie Knight and her guide
0:14:21 > 0:14:26Brett Wild were first on the slopes today, this time in the super G. A
0:14:26 > 0:14:31more technical course, but it did not slow them down. Brimming with
0:14:31 > 0:14:34confidence, the standard was set. Could their team-mates do any
0:14:34 > 0:14:40better? They crashed out of the downhill yesterday but there were no
0:14:40 > 0:14:45signs of holding back in their favourite event. Already super G
0:14:45 > 0:14:49World Cup champions, this was their best medal chance and they
0:14:49 > 0:14:53delivered, not quite enough to beat Millie Knight and Brett Wild, but a
0:14:53 > 0:14:57podium finish. The winner of the race yesterday followed them down
0:14:57 > 0:15:00and she outperformed the British competitors, so it was a silver
0:15:00 > 0:15:05medal and a bronze medal.A massive dream come true for us both. I am so
0:15:05 > 0:15:12glad we have done it together. Elsewhere, Britain's first
0:15:12 > 0:15:14representative in Nordic ski for 20 years went in the 15 kilometre
0:15:14 > 0:15:19cross-country. A gruelling course and he finished a long way down the
0:15:19 > 0:15:24field in 17th place. But the second day done and dusted, the attention
0:15:24 > 0:15:27turns to snowboarding and for the first time ever, Great Britain have
0:15:27 > 0:15:31athletes taking part, all three going for gold. Kate Grey, the BC
0:15:31 > 0:15:38news. Our labour the 6 Nations yesterday but Wales are up to second
0:15:38 > 0:15:44in the table after a bonus point win in Cardiff. George North scored two
0:15:44 > 0:15:49tries. They face France in the final weekend. The Italians defeat means
0:15:49 > 0:15:53they will claim the wooden spoon for a third year in a row. The sports
0:15:53 > 0:15:57website have highlights of all the 6 Nations rugby but that is all the
0:15:57 > 0:15:59sport for now.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00That's it.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02There's more throughout the evening on the BBC News Channel,
0:16:02 > 0:16:18and I'll be back with the late news at Ten.