This is bbc news. The headlines the death toll from the coronavirus rises to 41 with authorities in china struggling to contain the outbreak, as millions travel for the Lunar New Year. There are now known cases of the virus in france and australia and a state of emergency has been declared in hong kong. Benita mehra, a newly appointed member of the Grenfell TowerInquiry Panel, resigns after being linked to the charitable arm of the firm which supplied the tower blocks cladding. Donald trumps lawyers have begun their defence of the president in his impeachment trial in the senate they say hes done nothing wrong. They are asking you to do something that no senate has ever done. And they are asking you to do it with no evidence. And that is wrong and i ask you to keep that in mind. The search for survivors continues after a powerful earthquake hit turkey at least 22 people have been killed and more than 1,200 injured. A charity Offering Mental Health support to military veterans says it cant take on any new cases due to a funding crisis. South africa end the second day of the fourth test on 88 6, after england posted a commanding total of 400. Chinas president has warned that the spread of a potentially deadly new virus is accelerating, with his country facing a grave situation. Coronavirus has killed at least 41 people and infected more than 1,300 since the outbreak began in the city of wuhan. Severe travel restrictions have been imposed in many areas. Here, the department of health says 31 people tested for the virus have been given the all clear. 0ur china correspondent Stephen Mcdonnell has been to the province of hubei much of which is under strict quarantine and sent this report. The approaches to hubei province, like scenes from an apocalyptic movie. Only after a temperature scan can you pass these checkpoints. The unwell are not allowed to travel. Whats more, the lockdown is spreading. Roads out of the infection zone are being closed. So, basically, thats the border that way. The police have told us that we can drive in but we cant drive out, so it seems that this whole province, where the coronavirus first broke out, is now going to be locked down. We cross the border and drive through ghost towns. Instead of Lunar New Year celebrations, people are in survival mode. 0n the first day of the year of the rat, all these shops are closed, theres pretty much nobody on the street here. This is just one of the towns you come across when you first enter the province, and peoplejust dont know for how long its going to be like this, for how long they have to stay indoors or risk being infected with this potentially deadly coronavirus, which causes pneumonia. Hospitals here have been flooded with patients. There are thousands who are unwell but are not sure if their symptoms mean its the coronavirus. One man inside this hospital speaks to us from his hospital bed. He said he hasnt been told if hes contracted the potentially deadly virus, but hes worried he could catch it anyway from others in his ward. I wish him a speedy recovery, and the police arrive, as if on cue. Plus local officials want us to leave. They will not confirm if a provincewide lockdown of 60 Million People is about to start. So, as night falls, they escort us back across the border. Stephen mcdonnell, bbc news, hubei. Lets talk now to professor steve tsang, director of the soas china institute. Thank you for being with us. A lot of comparison being made with the Chinese Governments handling of the sars epidemic. How do you assess how they are doing this time round . They have certainly learned some lessons from the sars crisis. In 2002 2003 they covered up the sars story for a very long time before they confronted it. This time it was more like wilful neglect for about a month and then they confronted it openly and directly. But i dont think they have fully learned all the lessons. If they had, they would have hit the nail on the head from the very beginning in december when the very beginning in december when the virus was discovered in the first case of transmission happened. In your view, still some unnecessary delay. We see now some quite drastic action in the shutting down of
numerous very large cities. Do you feel that is the right approach . Some restrictions of travel i think would be useful. But then for the restrictions to be useful, they need to do restrictions to be useful, they need todoa restrictions to be useful, they need to do a lot of other things in order to do a lot of other things in order to make it work. At the moment they are to make it work. At the moment they a re really to make it work. At the moment they are really just creating to make it work. At the moment they are reallyjust creating panic and therefore getting the situation in an even more difficult one. When you say they are creating panic, what is your impression about how people are responding to the directions they are being given . A lot of people are finding it very unhelpful because when they go to hospitals, they are being turned away simply because hospitals do not have the capacity to admit more people any longer. And if you are poorly and Public Transport is no longer available, then you are pretty much stuck. They are supposed to have put in place
taxis to take people around but they are taxis to take people around but they a re really not taxis to take people around but they are really not enough to help people. People are beginning to feel that they do not really know what to trust and what to do and are giving themselves things that make them panicky and that is not helpful in a situation like this. When it comes to passing on information, what do you know about the channels of communication that the Chinese Government is using . The Chinese Government is using . The Chinese Government have full control of all media and social media, so they have the most effective means to any government to transmit information and they do use that. The problem really is in terms of the credibility of the authorities that people are really not fully trusting what they are hearing. That again is not helpful. I know you had some misgivings as well because of the
system of government in china, perhaps there isnt there is not the impetus at lower levels to take direct action on this. Tell me more about what you mean. The problem really is at the very beginning, when the virus was discovered in the wuhan when the virus was discovered in the wu ha n wet when the virus was discovered in the wuhan wet market, they could have relatively easily contained the problem by culling all the livestock in that market, incinerating them, disinfecting the place and perhaps quarantining the disinfecting the place and perhaps quara ntining the people disinfecting the place and perhaps quarantining the people there. They didnt do that. Mainly because the system didnt do that. Mainly because the syste m d oes didnt do that. Mainly because the system does not encourage them to do so. If the official in charge did that it would have attracted negative media applauds and all officials in china know the president xijinping only officials in china know the president xi jinping only once a good image of china being projected, so they didnt do anything about that. Until xijinping so they didnt do anything about that. Until xi jinping himself so they didnt do anything about that. Until xijinping himself came out last monday saying that
something has to be done and we must fix the problem. Then they get into overdrive to take both initiatives which would make them appear to do the right things to xi jinping but they may not be the most effective things to be done in terms of Public Health in wuhan and beyond. We see diggers moving the soil and getting ready to build hospitals and very quick time, we talk of 1000 bed Quarantine Centre built in ten days, do you feel that is more than a gesture . Do you feel that is more than a gesture . Again i think that is really more a gesture than something truly effective. I am sure the chinese authorities would be able to build a hospital in ten days, they have demonstrated that ability to do that before but building a hospital doesnt solve the problem. Where are
the medical staff to man that hospital and to test all the equipment in the hospital that is being put in place . If they are trying to be helping the people, they could have easily employed hospitals of the Peoples Liberation army and set up those units very quickly in wuhan. They are focusing on doing the big pieces to show beijing what they are doing rather than trying to find a much more effective way of dealing with the problem. Professor, appreciate your time speaking to us here. Thank your time speaking to us here. Thank you very much. A newly appointed member of the Grenfell TowerInquiry Panel has resigned after she was linked to a charitable arm of the firm which supplied
the tower blocks cladding. Benita mehra tendered her resignation to the Prime Minister, borisjohnson, saying she recognised and respected the depth of feeling among some about her appointment. Grenfell survivors and bereaved family members had threatened to boycott the inquiry if benita mehra remained on the panel. In a statement the Prime Minister said he wanted to thank benita for her commitment and said he was very grateful for her sensitivity to the work of the inquiry. He said that as the inquirys phase 2 hearings begin, we remain completely committed to getting to the truth of what happened, learning lessons and delivering justice for the victims. President trumps lawers have been setting out his defence at his impeachment trial in the us senate. Mr trump is accused of abusing his power and obstructing congress. The president s attorney said his accusers had no evidence and their real motive was to undermine mr trumps re election campaign. From washington,
chris buckler reports. As the future of his presidency has been under debate, President Trump has been to davos to meet world leaders, to florida to speak to supporters, and ignored other events in washington to attend a pro life rally. Perhaps thats a sign that hes looking past this impeachment trial and already thinking about drumming up votes for this novembers president ial election. And certainly, inside congress, his legal team have been making a point of notjust defending their client but also using this deeply political trial to attack his opponents, the democrats. Theyre asking you to tear up all of the ballots across this country, on your own initiative, take that decision away from the american people. Democrats delivered a more than 28,000 page record of evidence and their argument, that donald trump abused his power. But the republican majority
inside the senate makes it inconceivable that President Trump could be removed from office. What i have learned through all my years in politics, and all my years in life if youre right and you keep fighting for the truth, you will prevail. We would be derelict in our responsibility if we didnt fight for the truth. On twitter, mr trump encouraged people to tune into americas news networks, who have covered every minute of this trial. Although the publicity awa re president is said to be upset that his defence team were given saturday to begin setting out their case. Mr trump calls it a death valley for tv ratings in the states. Chris buckler, bbc news, washington. With me in the studio is laurie laird an american politics commentator and economist and im alsojoined by politico reporter, Daniel Lippman who is in our washington studio. Daniel, after the marathon hearings we saw last week, this was a relatively short affair. It was. It provided the opportunity for senators to go back home or stay in washington where there is a fancy dinner tonight but if you watch the couple of hours of the defence, this was heavily focused on poking holes in the democratic arguments and previewing what we will hear on monday where we are expected to hear lots of attacks on joe monday where we are expected to hear lots of attacks onjoe and Hunter Bidens work in ukraine and making the point that trump has done nothing wrong and this would overturn an election. Interesting as well that attempt to stop to unpick the prosecution case. There was a wider message about the motivation of the democratic movement. The defence is not engaging with the facts here. The arguments we have heard today we have heard over and
over and over. Donald trump did release the aid for the ukraine so how could there have been quid pro quo . There are questions about the whistle blower, quo . There are questions about the whistle blower, was quo . There are questions about the whistle blower, was he biased . The Inspector General of the cia found there may be some bias about the concerns we re there may be some bias about the concerns were legitimate. We have had these arguments before but what we havent heard yet is donald trump did not do this. What we have heard is what donald trump did was fine. Daniel, the message seem to be this isnt about the details as much as the fact that we are denying the American Public their right to have a say on all of this come november. And also that we would be reversing the november 2016 election, but if you are watching those two hours this morning, you cant help yourself but think that they were ignoring facts of their own. 0ne
thing that the trump lawyer said is that the ukraine leader did not say, did not know there was any hold on his aid when in fact we have evidence that a number of ukrainian officials knew that day that there we re officials knew that day that there were problems with the aid. He also said that trump did not make this quid pro quo and he didnt say those words, i will only give you the aid if you give me those investigations. But i think that would not be in trumps m 0. He is not going, he knows people are listening on the call, he wasnt going to explicitly make a mobster like Statement Like that because he knew that would leak and if he said it in a more nuanced fashion, that would be less likely to get out there. Daniel, let me just stay with you, donald trump a p pa re ntly just stay with you, donald trump apparently making the point that he was cheesed off this happened on a
saturday because he wouldnt get the ratings that he wanted. How much interest has there been today . fairamount but interest has there been today . fair amount but not, it was mostly the professionals who were paid to watch it. Most americans they have regular lives, taking care of their kids, doing errands on saturday, they are not going to be watching this whole proceeding. They will see some of the coverage but there is plenty of time for the defence to make their case on monday with more eyes on this. I think what trump is saying makes the point that for him, optics are everything and so he is very carefully attuned to how this is playing on television, if there is playing on television, if there isa number of is playing on television, if there is a number of eyeballs that he wa nts. Is a number of eyeballs that he wants. He wants to make this a show for the defence. On the one hand this is a big spectacle, it is all about the detail but i know you are
making an interesting point that what the senators are locked in these long sessions each day, there are some key people who might wish there were not. Absolutely. There is an election going on. We had the Iowa Caucuses on the 3rd of february, this is right around the corner. Some of the front runners are locked on capitol hill, Elizabeth Warren was a front runner for so long, Bernie Sanders is leading the polls in iowa and new hampshire. That has opened the gap a little bit, open some campaigning space forjoe little bit, open some campaigning space for joe biden. Little bit, open some campaigning space forjoe biden. It is very interesting that the senators are locked on capitol hill, they are not able to campaign. Strange irony there. Thank you both very much indeed. More than a hundred people from all over britain are in birmingham today for the First Citizens assembly on Climate Change. Amongst those taking part were the naturalist and broadcaster, sir David Attenborough. The aim of the meeting is to give mps recommendations on how to meet the governments emissions target. 0n tackling pollution. Well, we can speak now to roger harrabin, whos are environment analyst, and is at the event in birmingham. Before we get to what exactly happened today, just to remind us what this assembly is. This assembly has been called by mps who really need to know what the public thinks about Climate Change, so they may read the newspapers, read opinion polls but they want to know what the public voice really is on Climate Change and in particular how the uk can reach its 2050 target of eliminating Carbon Emissions from the economy. Some people will find this expensive, some will find some measure is more unpalatable than others and the mps really want to know what the people here convene, 110 people, convened in birmingham,
what they really think about the best way ahead towards tackling emissions. As you also mention, David Attenborough was here, brought the house down as usual, what a star actually is. He was full of praise for the people who have given up for weekends to come to birmingham for this peoples assembly. The fact that you are here is extremely important because it shows that you can put pressure on your members of parliament to take this seriously, so your very existence here means that members of parliament are taking this seriously. That is point numberone. Point number taking this seriously. That is point number one. Point numbertwo taking this seriously. That is point number one. Point number two is i am perpetually asked by people, what is it that i can do to help with the problems . I suspect that one way or another during your deliberations, all kinds of solutions to that
particular question will occur to you and that they will be spreading through the community. Sol you and that they will be spreading through the community. So i truly think because i believe that the questions we are facing is of utmost importance, i truly think that the fa ct importance, i truly think that the fact that you have given up time to come here and take this seriously is of the greatest importance. And the re st of of the greatest importance. And the rest of the people in this country ought to be extremely grateful to you as indeed i am i. Mps will be hoping this will be something of a breakthrough in terms of their understanding of public opinion. I guess the people here will be considering things like should we may be tax aviation more, should we tax suvs more, perhaps put a tax on meat . We will be looking at all theseissues meat . We will be looking at all these issues and the trade offs involved in them and they will be reporting back to parliament at the end of april. Time for the sport now. Ben stokes has been fined 15 of his match fee and given a demerit point after swearing at a spectator during englands fourth test against south africa. But its not affected englands performance. At stumps on day two, south africa are 88 for 6 and trail by 312 in the final test. Patrick geary reports. Test crickets a delicate balancing act important to remember where you are in the wider picture, while keeping your mind clear. 0llie pope has that rare clarity. This is only his sixth test but already he seems to be on top of things 50. He and joe root mopped up the bowling. This was getting away from south africa, fast. Then, a fightback. First pope went, then root. This time hes got him sam curran lasted one ball. Three wickets for 11 runs. Were things starting to swing . Stuart broad certainly was. He batted the attack all around johannesburg. By the order, hes englands worst batsman. Partner mark wood, second worst. And yet, watch them go, enjoy the show england ended up on 400. Surely the series now beyond south africa. After all, the local battings not inspired too much confidence of late and england often bowl quicker. Around 90 miles an hour in mark woods case. Pieter malan was the first domino down. The others toppled behind him. These the shots of beaten men and tired minds. Six south africans came and went, three to wood. On a ground 6,000 feet above sea level, englands tour must surely finish on a high. Patrick gearey, bbc news. Englands mark wood hit 35 not out and took two wickets. Heres what he had to say at the close of play. I felt today was collectively really important and obviously, it was hard to get that there is a bracket, but i felt like we kept the pressure on them, even though they didnt look like getting out, but we didnt let them get away from us and we kept the pressure on that way. And then ijust tried to bring a bit of energy when i came on, maybe something a bit different to. And tried to create a atmosphere and a different feel to the game. West hams troubles continue after they were knocked out of the fa cup today by championship high fliers west brom. Conor townsend scored early on to send his side through to the fifth round. West ham put up little resistance even when the baggies went down to ten men with shemi ajayi being sent off with 18 minutes remaining. Manchester city are into the fifth round of the womens fa cup after beating neighbours united 3 2. England striker ellen white was on target twice as city became the first side to earn a place in round five. The remaining 15 ties from this round take place tomorrow afternoon. Rafa nadal is through to the fourth round of the Australian Open tennis. He beat fellow spaniard Pablo Carreno busta in straight sets. Hes still on course for a first title in melbourne since 2009. He will face nick kyrgios next. A couple of surprises
in the womens draw though as Karolina Pliskova the second seed went out. As did the fifth seed elina svitolina. She was beaten by the two time grand slam champion garbine muguruza. Wimbledon winner simona halep is through though. In rugby unions premiership, bristol came out on top in the west country derby against gloucester. A superb second half display at ashton gate from bristol after a try less first half for both sides secured their first premiership win since november. Elsewhere today tom homer scored both of baths tries as they edged past leicester 13 10. Sale sharks climbed to third in the premiership after surviving a late fightback to beat leaders exeter 22 19, while wasps hung on to claim a narrow 30 26 bonus point victory over worcester at sixways. 0nto netball and england are out of the nations cup after defeat to jamaica today. They lost by 70 66 at the copperbox in london to bring their tournament to an end. They trailed by eight goals at
half time and managed to reduce the arrears in the second half but not by enough. Jamaica will now play world champions new zealand in tomorrows final. Thats all the sport for now. A rescue operation is under way in eastern turkey where an earthquake has killed at least 22 people, with many more missing. More than a thousand people have been injured in elazig province. Teams are working in freezing temperatures to reach survivors buried under collapsed buildings. 0ur correspondent Richard Galpin reports. The powerful earthquake struck this Eastern Region of the country last night. Causing hundreds of casualties. In the darkness, people screaming for help as buildings collapsed. In the light this morning, the scale of destruction revealed
this, just one of 30 buildings to have been brought down. Already though, there are many rescue teams on the ground, working frantically to save those trapped under giant slabs of concrete and other rubble. And they are having some success. This elderly woman pulled out alive today, amongst a0 to have been saved. But there is much more to be done. This rescuer speaks on the phone to a family trapped under a collapsed building, telling them they must stay awake dont let anyone sleep, she says. Since last night, there have been hundreds of after shocks, adding to the fear. Many people now have no choice but to sleep outside, away from any of these buildings, in temperatures as low as minus eight degrees. Richard galpin, bbc news. A man and his ten year old daughter have died in a fire at a terraced house, on the outskirts of hull. Crews were called to the propertyjust before 8 oclock this morning. Humberside police said fire investigators are working to establish the cause of the blaze. A royal marine, who got into difficulty during a Training Exercise on the cornish coast earlier this week, has died. The recruit who hasnt been named had been critically ill in hospital since being found unconscious in the water at tregantle beach near plymouth on tuesday night. An investigation into his death is continuing. The uks leading Mental Health charity for military veterans, combat stress, has said it is unable to deal with new cases because of cuts in funding. The charity, which helps treat servicemen and women suffering from complex Mental Health problems, has lost millons of pounds of support from nhs england. 0ur correspondent Chi Chi Izundu reports. Theyre known as tough and resilient, but years on the front line can take its toll, with some military personnel like paul smith facing battles with their Mental Health. I was verbally abusive to my wife, my children. I alienated them. Id walk round and id be looking at escape routes, id be looking for people carrying weapons. At night, id go to our bedroom and hide behind the bed and cry my eyes out. Id have nightmares. Id have flashbacks. Paul says the leading charity for veterans Mental Health, combat stress, saved his life when he was referred to it but now, because of funding cuts, the charity says any new referrals from england and wales wont be taken on. It receives around 2,000 referrals for treatment every year, but its income has fallen from £16 million to £10 million in this current financial year. We have decided that we need to make sure we can meet the needs of everyone who is currently
in our system, and we are not going to take referrals in england and wales where we have the greatest risks of safety, if you like, for the near future. All new referrals will now be redirected to the nhs. In a statement, the nhs said providing the best care for veterans is its number one priority, but veterans ministerjohnny mercer said he would hold an urgent meeting with combat stress to discuss the situation. Chi chi izundu, bbc news. Lets get a look at the weather. The sun will reappear tomorrow after it has been quite some time. It comes it has been quite some time. It co m es after it has been quite some time. It comes after a spell of rain and that will overnight push into Northern Ireland and western scotland. Ahead of that plenty of cloud and some patchy light rain. The wind is picking up across the uk, there isnt any frost going into the
morning. This rain courtesy of