Lockdown restrictions are getting looser but there's nerves about the Indian variant. Millions of us can now socialise indoors (in small groups), hug loved ones (cautiously) and go inside a pub again. Our Chris Mason is in his socially-distanced booth of news to chat lockdown-politics, flights to Portugal and BINGO with Adam! Meanwhile, with more calls for a ceasefire in Israel, we hear from a former foreign affairs adviser to three British prime ministers about how the conflict could end.

Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Daniel Wittenberg, Georgia Coan and Ben Cooper. Emma Crowe was the Studio Director and Dino Sofos is the Editor.