A mothers agony as her daughters murderer is released from jail, while still refusing to reveal where he buried her remains. Im spartacus kirk douglas dies at the age of 103, after a film career spanning seven decades. And coming up, back on the buses. £170 million to reverse a decline in englands bus network, with plans for more frequent services, and the first all electric bus town. Good morning. Welcome to bbc newsroom live. Scotlands finance secretary has resigned after a newspaper revealed he had been sending messages to a 16 year old boy. Derek mackay was due to present the Scottish Governments budget at holyrood this afternoon. The scottish sun printed a series of message he sent the boy on social media over a six month period, inviting him to dinner and to attend a rugby event. Derek mackay has issued a statement, he says i spoke last night with the first minister our correspondent in glasgow, james shaw, explained more about the background to the resignation. Essentially what the scottish edition of the Sun Newspaper is recounting is a story over six months whereby derek mackay was in contact, apparently he contacted the 16 year old boy out of the blue around about six months ago and spoke to him, sent messages, they had conversations on instagram and facebook, and it seems derek mackay was, in some way, trying to establish a relationship with the boy. He invited him to dinner, as you have said, he invited him to a rugby event, and now, whatever his thinking was then, he accepts that his behaviour was foolish, as he puts it, and he has apologised unreservedly to the boy and his family. But clearly it is hugely damaging for him and for the Scottish Government as well, coming as it does come on the day of the scottish budget. Has there been any reaction from the family or people around them . Not that we have heard as yet. We do know from the suns account of the story that his mother was extremely angry when she discovered these conversations had been taking place. Derek mackay 42 years old, a divorced father of two. This boy is 16 years old and the Sun Newspaper says he knew, mr mackay new, this boy was only 16. The newspaper says that the mother was furious that these conversations were going on. In their account of the story, she called for derek mackay to resign and, of course, that is what has now happened. What is the wider political impact of this likely to be . It certainly looks damaging at this point in the new cycle, as it were. It couldnt have come at a more awkward time for scotlands finance secretary, the day, the most important day of the year, when he is supposed to deliver his budget. Scottish Government Spending amounting to about £115 million a year. He was due to announce that spending plan for 2020, 2021. That will now not happen. He will be replaced by the Public Finance minister kate forbes, stepping in at the last minute. Whether it has wider repercussions for the snp, for the Scottish Government, it is probably too early to tell. They are at the stage of damage limitation, i guess, trying to manage this extremely embarrassing and awkward situation as effectively and as carefully as they can to ensure that the Scottish Government can carry on doing itsjob. The Scottish Government can carry on doing its job. James shaw. The government wants emergency legislation ending the automatic release of convicted terrorists rushed through parliament in less than three weeks. Ministers are said to be concerned about a shopkeeper from sunderland who is due to be freed at the end of the month, after being jailed for posting messages supporting the Islamic State group, and calling for shia muslims to be burnt alive. Its understood that there are five other convicted terrorists due for release before the end of march. Our Home Affairs Correspondent danny shaw is here. Danny, people are going to be really alarmed that this question has not been sorted out already and worried about these individuals being mentioned now. It has been a long standing principle of sentencing policy that, unless you are convicted of a very serious crime, you serve a portion of your sentence in prison and the rest of it in the community with licence conditions attached. The idea is you dont go from present one minute to com plete dont go from present one minute to complete release without any conditions without any supervision. That is the sort of principle behind it. This has become hugely controversial because what it means for many offenders is that they serve half of their sentence in prison and then they are released automatically, automatic halfway release is how it is described. The problem the government has got after these three attacks in london, cambridgeshire and streatham, the problem the government has got is that you have more prisoners coming out similar to those who carried out those attacks, released at the Halfway Point and the danger is that they could be copycat attacks or other similar incidents. That is what they are trying to stop by introducing new laws that would apply even to prisoners who have already been convicted and sentenced and told you are coming out at the Halfway Point. That will no longer apply to them. We will hopefully get more on this in the coming. We want to ta ke more on this in the coming. We want to take you live now to oppress briefing. Liu xiaoming, is giving a press conference from the Chinese Embassy in Central London on the coronavirus outbreak. Lets hear what he has to say. To prevent the further spread of the disease. More than 6000 medical professionals from all over the country have arrived in the province, including wuhan. Medical supplies such as masks, hazmat suits, medicines and necessities such as meat and vegetables have been transported to the affected areas. Without delay. Two specialised hospitals were built in ten days and have started to receive and treat the critically ill. I want to emphasise that although the large number of people have been infected with the virus, the mortality rate in china, which stands at 2. 1 is very low. This is much lower than a bowler, ebola. And other outbreaks in previous years. More than 90 Million People have fallen ill with the flu so far this season. With a death toll being 10,000. This is more serious than coronavirus. Currently in china is the number of cured patients is rising and we are fully confident in beating the virus. China is also honouring its obligation, the director general of World Health Organization has expressed his full confidence, expressed his full confidence, expressed full recognition of chinas prevention and control effo rts chinas prevention and control efforts and spoken highly of tremendous contribution that china has made to the world in fighting the disease. He said that china is setting a new standard for outbreak response. There is great porters and containing the spread of the virus to other countries and regions. China has strengthened management and control and overseas travelling of chinese citizens and called on chinese citizens to take on their social responsibilities to prevent further spread of the disease. As of february three, there are 153 cases outside china which accounted for less tha n outside china which accounted for less than 1 of all cases. This is a testa m e nt to less than 1 of all cases. This is a testament to the effectiveness of their measures that china has taken and its important contribution to preventing the spread of disease and protecting the health and safety of people of china and of the whole world. Third, the Chinese Government has attached great importance to enhancing International Cooperation. China is open, transparent and responsible in this cooperation with the world. First, china has shared with who and the relevant countries and regions the information about epidemic, including genetic sequence of the virus. This is highly appreciated by who and many countries and regions. China has also kept in close touch with many countries on the prevention and control of the disease. Second, china has attached great importance to the safety of foreign nationals living in china and tried its best to address the difficulties they face keeping them informed about epidemic through various channels, including through foreign representative institutions. Foreign nationals in china have been tested positive of the disease, of which two have been cured and 1a and under quarantine and treatment, and are all in stable conditions. China has also offered some countries, including the uk, assistance in evacuation of their nationals. Third, the chinese enhancing cooperation in research, working together to safeguard the safety of Public Health around the world. In face of the epidemic, people have shown great love to each other. Government officials and people from all walks of life in many countries have expressed their sympathy, trust and support for china. Many governments and International Organisations have donated supplies for Epidemic Prevention and control. Here in the uk, the business community, chinese associations, Chinese Students, have donated money and supplies through various channels. A few days ago, right here at the Chinese Embassy, a donation ceremony was held, attended by more than 20 Chinese Community and student associations in the uk. We have been deeply moved and greatly encouraged. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all those in the uk who have shown their love, their support, and their kindness. Ladies and gentlemen, the Chinese Government has the firm resolve and has taken serious, vigorous measures to prevent the spread of the disease. This will continue to be the most important work. First, we will try our best to treat the infected. Every life counts. The right to survival and health is the most basic and important human right. Medical institutions all over china i doing their very best to increase the hospitalisation rate, the cure rate, and reduce the infection rate and mortality rate. Second, we will strengthen the Epidemic Prevention and control effo rts Epidemic Prevention and control efforts in key areas. By key areas we mean especially wuhan city. Measures are being improved and strengthened in this province and city. Patients are diagnosed, reported isolated and treated in the most timely manner. Monitoring of the epidemic is strengthened. The affected a re the epidemic is strengthened. The affected are treated in specialised hospitals. People have Close Encounters with patients are under close medical observations. All of this is aimed at preventing further spread of the disease. Third, we are enhancing International Cooperation on Epidemic Prevention and control and on scientific research. China will continue working closely with who, countries and regions. A few days ago, china published a multi language version of the guide for the general public to prevent pneumonia caused by the coronavirus which has been shared with all countries in the world through social media and other channels at top speed. This demonstrates chinas sincerity to work with International Communities to fight the disease. This also shows chinas determination to pick up its responsibility as a reliable, global player. As i understand, researchers from china and the uk and other countries are working around the clock to trace the origin and transmission route of the virus, followed closely as revolution, share relevant data and case information, design prevention and strategies and measures and develop new vaccines. Ladies and gentlemen, it is understandable that there are concerns in the uk and the rest of the world about the epidemic. Some people are worried that it might have an effect on chinas economy or even the worlds economy. There are also reactions by individual countries, panic among the public, and even insulting and discriminatory remarks and behaviour targeting the overseas Chinese Community. With regard to these issues, i want to stress the following four points. First, the impact on chinas economy should be seen from a comprehensive perspective. At the moment, the epidemic is having a relatively severe impact on the service sector, including transport, tourism, hospitality, catering, films and entertainment. But the impact will be short term and temporary. It will not change the fundamentals of chinas economy which will maintain sound growth in the long run. Chinese economy is highly resilient and has enormous potentialfor growth in mid to long term. China has the capability and confidence to minimise the Economic Impact of the epidemic. The world bank and the economist have all agreed the impact of the epidemic in chinas economy is temporary. They have full confidence in the future of chinas economy. Second, understanding the epidemic should be objective and reasonable. The who has reiterated that it disapproves of, and is even against, travel and trade restrictions in china. In recent days, the uk on a bilateral level, has fully recognised chinas tremendous methods infighting the virus. And also expressed willingness to enhance cooperation with china and do its best to assist china in its efforts. It is our hope that the governments of all countries, including the uk, should understand and support chinas efforts, respect the professional advice of the who, avoid overreaction, avoid creating panic, and ensure the normal cooperation and ensure the normal cooperation and exchanges between countries. Third, media reports of the epidemic should be objective and fair. Coronavirus have been hitting the headlines in many countries, including here in the uk. Many of the port speaks highly of chinas hantavirus the port speaks highly of chinas ha ntavirus efforts and the port speaks highly of chinas hantavirus efforts and offer objective and reasonable advice. We appreciate all of this. However, some reports are biased and even maintain malicious slander and misinformation. Rumours and panic are more frightening than the virus itself. Confidence and determination are of vital importance in overcoming the epidemic. Public health goes beyond National Borders and requires the joint efforts of all sides, including the media, who should take up their due social risk social responsibility. We should join hands to oppose any insulting or disc discriminatory remarks. This is a time forfacts, not discriminatory remarks. This is a time for facts, not fear. This discriminatory remarks. This is a time forfacts, not fear. This is discriminatory remarks. This is a time for facts, not fear. This is a time for facts, not fear. This is a time for facts, not fear. This is a time for science, not rumours. This isa time time for science, not rumours. This is a time for solidarity, not a stigma. I believe this is a time for reason and call headedness. This is a time for scientific approach and reasonable response. It is my hope that people from all portions of society will stand up against this challenge and pull together. Ladies and gentlemen, as the chinese saying goes, one people of one mind, they can move you mountain terrain. It is the highest mountain in china. If we are of one mind, we can move this mountain. Iam are of one mind, we can move this mountain. I am confident under the struggling district of the communist party of china and with the strength of their chinese characteristics and the solidarity and perseverance of the solidarity and perseverance of the chinese people, and broad support from the International Community, we will beat the virus. That was the Chinese Ambassador to the uk with a clear message theyre asking for solidarity and support to beat the virus, urging people not to panic, not to exaggerate and talking about the International Cooperation that china is involved in. Also saying that there had been many deaths just from normal saying that there had been many deathsjust from normalflu, for example, in the us and therefore asking for a degree of perspective in the coverage of what is going on and the reactions. Let speak to robin brant in shanghai. You heard some of that, i think. What did you think of it . I think what you have just heard from the man who i think is chinas longest serving foreign diplomat is a highly objective and highly optimistic version of what is going on here. Lets out with that point about comparing it to flu in the us and how many people are affected and killed by that. This version of coronavirus here is not as deadly as the outbreak we saw 18 yea rs as deadly as the outbreak we saw 18 years ago but it is infecting far more people. That means that although the mortality rate may be low in terms of 2 , if we can trust the figures, it is affecting far more people, far more people might in the future be killed. Lets talk about other elements of the things he said. There tends to be a vaccine, inoculation, on a yearly basis for flu, available to most people around the world. There is no vaccine or inoculation as yet for this type of coronavirus, so there is another side to those constant comparisons that we keep hearing. Lets talk about the fact that there are very few lets talk about the fact that there are very few cases lets talk about the fact that there are very few cases breaking out in people abroad. That is true, the number is very small, it is centred in hubei. Injapan, on that ship, they have discovered another ten people positive for the virus. The numbers are taking up both domestically and abroad. He talks about love from people in the uk, Chinese Students associations, cooperation with the uk governm