Another add in some sunshine, another please nt add in some sunshine, another pleasant september day. This is bbc news the september surge, the World Health Organization warns coronavirus is spreading across europe at an alarming rate. The continent set a new record last week, with 5a,000 cases recorded in just 2a hours. The figures do reflect more comprehensive testing but weekly cases are now exceeding those reported when the pandemic first peaked in march. Some 10 Million People in britain are living under tighter, local restrictions, 2 million of them live in the north east where new measures will come into play at midnight tonight. Also in the programme. The fbi warns the russians are at it again. Director chris wray says theres been a concerted effort by russian proxies to undermine joe bidens campaign. More floods are forecast on the Us Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm sally leaves devastation in her wake. Hello im Christian Fraser in london and Laura Trevelyan is in washington. Coronavirus cases are on the rise across europe the who says it is speading at an alarming rate. A number of countries have reported a surge in cases in recent weeks. Spain recorded almost 5,000 new infections in 2a hours, up from just over 3,000 the previous day. Almost two thousand were in the madrid region which is planning targeted lockdowns. In the netherlands, the number of new cases has hit a record high for the third consecutive day at 1,753. And in the uk the government announced almost 3,400 new infections on thursday. The World Health Organisation says the situation is very serious as europe has seen the number of cases double in the last two weeks. We know what has to be done. And its tricky. We saw in the first place some countries the best peoples of the class have a very tough time. In that sense, the key issue is to stand together. Amplify a collective effort of implement what we know is working. The uk is no exception to this uptick in cases and because of that almost two Million People in the north east of england will be living under tougher restrictions from midnight. The measures will affect people in newcastle, gateshead, north and south tyneside, sunderland. And the area encompasses all of northumberland and County Durham. The Health Secretary matt hancock told mps the government did not take these decisions lightly, but the data said they must act now. I know the whole house knows that these decisions have a real impact
oii these decisions have a real impact on families, on businesses and local communities. And i can tell everyone affected that we do not take these decisions lightly. We agree with the local councils that we must follow the data and act. In the data says that we must act now. So we have just a few hours before those new measures come into force, from newcastle we are joined by Kim Mcguinness the Northumbria Police and crime commissioner. Thank you very much for being with us. Thank you very much for being with us. Do you fully understand the Government Strategy . us. Do you fully understand the Government Strategy . I understand that local councils have asked the government to set these local measures because they are seeing a rise in cases here. And because of that, people are being asked to follow stricter guidelines. This is to avoid a greater lockdown. And i think the idea here is that the local areas are acting quickly and acting. The reason i ask that is because theyve locked out most of the northeast but theyve left out
to side which was one of the hotspots. Im just wondering if i lived at millers borrow, what is to stop me wandering into County Durham into settling, and do newcastle . Obviously people will move around and of course for the local area it isa and of course for the local area it is a case of asking people to follow these guidelines and to be sensible and say. Effectively they are all there to keep people safe. But it is there to keep people safe. But it is the local Authority Areas in North Newcastle and south tyneside, durham, sunderland and gateshead who have asked government to intervene here. Ithink have asked government to intervene here. I think what happens in the teaseis here. I think what happens in the tease is for them to decide. And what will be penalties be if people break these restrictions . So, we will be back to fines again. A fine of £100 for breaking restrictions. The guidelines for enforcement were released a couple of hours ago and still need to be looked at for the
police to be able to enforce them. This is about people making sensible decisions and abiding by the rules. Its the last thing we really want is for police to be enforcing them. And just briefly, are you concerned about the reaction you might see here . I think its been a really difficult time for people. I think that everybody has behave so incredibly well, have come together to fight this deadly virus. And so its a big ask for them to go back into local restrictions now. But the data speaks for itself. Cases are on the rise and we are doing this now so we can avoid a stricter locked out later. If people can just come together again, out later. If people can just come togetheragain, consider out later. If people can just come together again, consider protecting themselves, protecting each other than hopefully we will be back to normal sooner. Thank you so much forjoining us. Here in the United States over 6 and a half Million People have been infected and were fast approaching 200,000 deaths. The president believes the infection rates will be significantly lower by election day. Theres no hard evidence to support that. But there is evidence that Wearing Masks reduces the spread. Heres dr. Robert redfield, the director of the centers for Disease Control and prevention, speaking under oath in front of lawmakers on wednesday. Facemasks, these facemasks, are the most important powerful Public Health tool we have, and i will continue to appeal for all americans, all individuals in our country, to embrace these face coverings. I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against covid than when i take a covid vaccine, because the immunogenicity may be ito i to the ito thejob ito the job by donald trump. But that is still not an opinion shared by the president who continues to contradict the science. Numberone number one its not more than the effective vaccine by any means. Those with the two things i discussed with him. I believe that if you ask him, he would probably
say that he didnt understand the question. Today his democratic opponent joe biden said if elected president he would have the Legal Authority to implement a nationwide mask mandate. Were joined now from ann arbour michigan by Infectious Disease specialist dr payal patel. Do you think a nationwide mask mandate will get coronavirus finally under control in this country as the cdc director says . I have to say that making mast mandatory would decrease the spread of the virus. And weve seen internationally where there is higher adherence to people Wearing Masks there is less infection spread. So the more that you have individuals at an individual level state, National Level wearing nasty keeping distance, you would see improvement in covid 19 rates. Distance, you would see improvement in covid19 rates. The president is contradicting the head of the cdc on
mast. Are the politics and the science colliding here in a way that is very unhelpful for the public . Yes, in terms of science there is nothing new about how infections spread and how Public Health works. And so we are sticking to our guns from the Infectious Disease standpoint. And we are recommending what we know works. We know that masks help when people are asymptomatic or symptomatic. Thats the best way to protect yourself from infecting others or getting infected. It really comes down to a consistent message, doesnt it . And this has been the problem with the president s message. Hes flip flopped on mouse, worn it sometimes when hes been into hospitals or hes being into factories. In other times he ridicules people who are Wearing Masks. I think youre exactly right. Public health much is being is very, very important. We want to see others modelling what you want to do. What i would say is like we are
doing in the hospital, we are Wearing Masks all the time. And you see less and less infection transmitted in hospitals. We are actually seeing much more infection in the community. Sol actually seeing much more infection in the community. So i would say if Public Health messaging is really important we want leaders and people who are role models to be reflecting that with their mask use. Because at the end of the day, this comes down to trust, doesnt a . You can have the best vaccine in the world but if there is no trust that its effective or you think youre not hearing the right things from the cdc, people arent going to take the vaccine. Thats right. There is a lot about trust in messaging. I would say sticking to what we know, sticking to the science, thats whats important at the end of the day. Thank you very much for coming on. We had a republican on from new mexico earlier in the week. Which is a state in which the democrats have done pretty well in 2018. They flipped a number of the seats there. They are involved in a number of tight races at the time. When you
look at the polling it is tightening because of covid. So, the democratic governor has imposed a mask mandate in the state what you think the democrats might be rewarded for. Because when you compare their infection rates to arizona and to taxes, neighbouring states, they are pretty low. You would think there would be some reward for the democrats and yet the reverse is true. Well, you know why that is christian, i was just in true. Well, you know why that is christian, i wasjust in North Carolina with the same thing is happening. Its because the economy is affected, people can open the businesses and so they are angry and republicans are trying to exploit that. Even though the directives are coming from washington and present it trump is in charge. So the mask mandate that hes come out with today, does not play well for him or not . Well, its a tricky want, isnt it . For a rule following democrat they like the mask mandate but President Trump, he has been very equivocal on mass. He only recently started to wear once hes trying to haveit started to wear once hes trying to have it both ways and steer the pot. The director of the fbi Christopher Wray says russia has been very active in its efforts to influence the upcoming us elections. Before a congressional committee, mr wray said russia was using social media, proxies, state media and online journals to sow divisiveness and discord primarily, he said, to undermine joe bidens campaign. It echoes concerns weve heard before from former director of National Intelligence dan coats. But in recent weeks President Trump and other Top Administration officials have been playing up the theory that its china meddling, to getjoe biden elected, while downplaying reports that russia is trying to help donald trump win again, as it did in 2016. We certainly have seen very active, very active efforts by the russians to influence our election in 2020 through what i will call more malign foreign inference we not influence side of things without social media, use of proxies, state media, online
journals, etc. In an effort to so divisiveness and discord and i think the Intelligence Community has assessed this publicly, to primarily to denigrate Vice President biden and what the russian see as kind of and what the russian see as kind of an anti russian establishment. Republican strategists formally of the george w. Bush white house was good to see you ron. Looking at well recovered from your travails with covid. Let me ask you about this, a lot of people will point fingers at the president. Congress has had for yea rs the president. Congress has had for years put things in place to stop this happening. Do they carry the count for this . Good evening to you. Its great to be back in the fight and its great to see you. So thank you for your kind words. This goes beyond the Trump Administration in the last four years. I dare say this goes back to the obama obama biden
contract as well as a congressional leadership heading into the 2016 leadership heading into the 2016 leadership for that we know that the Russian Federation wants to influence the outcome of our elections. What am dumbfounded is republicans and democrats alike have not found a bipartisan consensus to try to stop this, do try to thwart this and to preserve the integrity of our elections. Unlike a plane trump, im not democrats, i can blame everybody in the selected leadership that they have not put a stop to this. I think youre right in that. Obviously, people will look to the top because direction does come from the top. And weve heard two or three people very close to the administration to the white housejohn bolton, the administration to the white house john bolton, dan the administration to the white housejohn bolton, dan coats, two people spring to mind, who say they cant understand why the president go soft on russia all the time. Cant understand why the president go soft on russia all the timelj can either or. To be perfectly honest with you. I honestly cant think of the time that the president has said anything derogatory about vladimir putin. The president of the Russian Federation or the actions of
his cronies in russia that are really trying to undermine our democracy here. This is where the president needs to stand up and set a tone and set an example and say we will not let any foreign actor influence our elections. Russia, china, anyone and if you try to, if you do youre going to be met with the most severe of circumstances and consequences. The most severe of circumstances and consequences. T0 the most severe of circumstances and consequences. To your earlier point, the former director of National Intelligence dan coats is calling on congress to form a Bipartisan Commission to oversee the integrity of the election. Any chance of that happening . Good afternoon to you laura. Nice to see her. Dan coats to someone who has known for over 20 years. A man of impeccable integrity. If hes come out and said that Congress Need to do so in a bipartisan fashion, this is something that i would listen to. But sadly, i think that between the leader of the democrats and the senate and nancy pelosi the spectre
of the house and Kevin Mcconnell at their respective current leadership, i think there are so hell bent on either taking the house of republicans are taking the senate from the democrats that bipartisan consensus seems to be an ocean an mile away. Ron, the president said in 2019 here take it if russia offered help again. Presumably, he doesnt mind. Well, i think its a foolish statement. Write . Doesnt mind. Well, i think its a foolish statement. Write . If i were running for president , if i was running for president , if i was running for president , if i was running for dog catcher in the district of columbia i wouldnt want outside influence bearing on my election. I want my fellow constituents and citizens voting be into that position. So the notion that the president would welcome such interference i think is a frivolous statement. What needs to be done regardless of who occupies the oval office, you must take every step to preserve our democracy and our elections. Unfortunately, what were hearing here in washington, dc
todayis were hearing here in washington, dc today is more politics rather than focusing on the issue at hand. Today is more politics rather than focusing on the issue at handm you are running ron i think i might, i need to hear your vote first before i give you my vote. Ill give you my pitch in the background off the air. Ill definitely let you and laura know when i run for something. Let s get some of the day s other news supporters of the russian Opposition LeaderAlexei Navalny say they found traces of the novichok nerve agent were found on a bottle in his hotel room. It was previously thought that he may have been targeted at the airport. Mr navalny is russia most high profile opposition figure he is currently receiving treatment in germany. After a month of protests in belarus, the Worlds LargestRegional Security organisation says it will investigate last months disputed president ial election. Seventeen countries of the osce voted to trigger the probe into allegations of intimidation, election fraud, abductions and other crimes. Its unclear if belarus, an osce member, will cooperate it did not invite the osce to monitor the election. More than five thousand migrants left without shelter after fire gutted the moria camp in greece last week have been moved to a new, temporary encampment nearby. All had first received coronovirus tests. Officials said the operation to move all Twelve Thousand people left homeless was likely to take several days. For those watching on bbc world news well be right back. As the travel industry tries to recover from the damage caused by coronavirus restrictions, the search is on to find ways to allow people to travel safely. One solution is being tested in italy, where at rome airport theyre trialling new compulsory covid testing. Our rome correspondent mark lowen reports. Tickets, passports and compulsory negative test results. Welcome aboard europes first covid free flight. All aboard europes first covid free flight. All these passengers from rome to milan have been tested either at the airport before the flight either at the airport before the flight or within the previous 72 hours before being allowed to travel. These are the guinea pigs of europe for a scheme to sign out only to reassure passengers but also help air travel to recover. Its successful this could be rolled out to other domestic and international routes. New restrictions there at the airports. New restrictions there at the airports. Mark lowen there in rome reporting on the tests at the airport. Weve all been hearing about those terrible fires on the west coast of the United States well there are wildfires which are burning out of control in the vast russian region of siberia. Unusually hot and dry weather has
left the forests highly vulnerable to flames even in the arctic. Our correspondent Steve Rosenberg and his production crew are the first foreign team to be allowed into the yaku shee a region take a look at his report. In siberia, they call their forests the lungs of the planet. If thats true, our planet is in big trouble. We were given a Birds Eye View of a climate emergency. From the air, siberias forest fires looked like armageddon. A heatwave has been fuelling them and they re releasing record amounts of carbon. And because of the vastness of siberia, fighting them is incredibly difficult. This region alone, yakutia,
is 13 times the size of britain. Whats happening here in siberia has consequences for the whole world. Scientists believe that these forest fires are producing huge amounts of Greenhouse Gases that are changing the climate of the planet. Russia has one fifth of the worlds forests. If theyre burning, the fallout is global. For a closer look, we switch transport and head into the siberian taiga with the forest rangers. Its slow going. This is a real siberian forest path. Not easy to get down, and it will take us a while to get to the fire. But were on the right track. It soon becomes clear that fire
has swept through here, destroying larch and silver birch and turning parts of this fairy tale forest into a wasteland. When we catch up with the flames, the forest rangers do their best with what theyve got. But no sooner is one fire out, another sparks. It is siberias equivalent of david versus goliath. Siberia is trapped in a vicious circle of Climate Change. Prior forest m ea ns circle of Climate Change. Prior forest means more fires and more fires means more carbon emission being pumped into the atmosphere. And more Climate Change. Tinder dry
there in siberia. Under in florida. Under in florida. A massive cleanup is underway after a powerful and slow moving storm lashed americas gulf coast sally caused significant flooding despite being downgraded from a hurricane to a Tropical Storm. Pensacola in florida was among the areas worst affected by sally, with reports of up to one point five metres of flooding. The citys fire chief said the storm had brought four months of rain to the city in four hours. Its been a busy Hurricane Season so far sally is the eighth named storm to make landfall in the continental us this year, which is the most in recorded history. And theres still two months to go, with more storms jen carfango is a meteorologist at the weather channel. It is Climate Change affecting the dell streams so that hurricanes ike and sally dont move as quickly as they used to . There are certainly some interactions with Climate Change with the amount of hurricanes weve seen. And certainly the way they been reacting for some it
doesnt mean there be more every season but a couple things like hurricane slowing down, dropping tremendous amount of rain, you can link that to Climate Change. And why is it that we are seeing these storms gather strength when they get closer to the land . Storms gather strength when they get closer to the land . Thats something weve seen with every single landfall in tropical system this yearin landfall in tropical system this year in the United States. Theyre all eight that have made landfall had an increase in strength as they approach the coastline. Really its just unlucky. But if you think back to and try to link it to whats happening and the environment, the sea surface temperatures are warmer sea surface temperatures are warmer and thats across the board in the gulf of mexico, the atlantic and it gives these storms the energy that they need. Its like giving sugar to a kid. It gives them a lot of energy to ramp up. And when theres a lot of warm water and deep warm water gives these storms the potential to keep on aggressively gaining strength. Isnt that not even as they are approaching land. Im really interested in this idea of
the gulf stream slowing down. Principally because it when i come back to two from america i get home quicker because its blowing to the uk. What does it actually mean for us over here in europe if it is slowing down . Actually lets talk about the jet stream to at the winds in the high level of the atmosphere. Thats a fact that your flight across thats a fact that your flight across the ocean. When there is not as much of a temperature difference between the arctic and further south, when the arctic is warming you are going to have not as strong ofa you are going to have not as strong of a jetstream. You need more of a temperature difference to really have a very strong jetstream. And so a slower jet stream have a very strong jetstream. And so a slowerjet stream is going to mean a slowerjet stream is going to mean a slowerjet stream is going to mean a Slower Movement a slowerjet stream is going to mean a Slower Movement of these tropical systems. In the case of sally for example, it didnt have anything to do with the jet stream it was stuck ina do with the jet stream it was stuck in a place where there was no jetstream. There was no steering current and it had nothing to sort of nudge it in line. And so it lumbers on. And theyre all backing up lumbers on. And theyre all backing up there in the gulf and across the atla ntic up there in the gulf and across the atlantic what if we got for our five in the next week or so . We actually going to get into the greek
alphabet . I dont see how we cant. I dont see how we can escape it there is no chill in 2020. As weve been saying. The next one up is wilford. That is the last name we have after that we are going great. And there are a couple of prospect right now for wilford. One in the gulf of mexico in one of the atlantic. Weve all wanted to go greek this summer to no avail. Maybe we can change the alphabet. Thank you very much indeed for that. Extraordinary. What was it a seasons load of rain in four hours . extraordinary. What was it a seasons load of rain in four hours . I saw that when i covered Hurricane Florence in wilmington two years ago. When i covered Hurricane Harvey three years ago. Just the devastating flooding and flooding ruins peoples homes, smell is so awful, its terrifying, people are homeless. The implications of all of this really quite devastating. And thousands without electricity down there in florida at the moment. We are going to be right back. Plenty
more still to come. Stay with us. Hello. It looks like our weather will turn more unsettled, windier, cooler. So, if you are enjoying the sunshine, do make the most of it as it continues into tomorrow and for many into the weekend as well. Heres a lovely view from the east coast of scotland today. Its High Pressure, wont be surprised to see that, keeping it sunny and settled. Just on the southern flank of that area of High Pressure, there is a strengthening easterly breeze overnight. That will stop the temperature falling too far. It will bring some areas of low cloud that push into parts of especially eastern england. And theres a weak weather front close to the north of scotland also keeping temperatures up here with a chance of seeing a little bit of light rain, especially in the northern and western isles. And temperatures probably at their lowest across south east scotland and north east england, li s degrees for some spots here. Into tomorrow then, and there will be some areas of high
cloud around in places making the sunshine hazy. Still a chance of seeing that little bit of light rain in the north of scotland, especially into the northern and western isles. Wont amount to very much. And it will be a bit breezier into england and wales. These are average wind speeds, but some gusts may be approaching 30 mph, maybe closer to a0 in the most exposed spots here. In the breeze and in the sunshine, it will feel very pleasant indeed. These temperatures are just actually a bit above average in some spots, 21 degrees in glasgow. Just looking into friday evening, no great change here so still looking dry and then into the weekend, things do start to change the further south you are. An area of low pressure coming north out of iberia mayjust start to push a weather front close to southern england. Dont know yet how far any showers will go, so keep watching the forecast if that is something that interests you. But its southern england, south wales with a greater potential for catching a shower that could be heavy and thundery in that
brisk easterly wind. Elsewhere, it may be hazy in places and theres more cloud towards the northern and western isles, but most of the uk will have a dry saturday and sunny at that. Just a bit cooler into scotland and Northern Ireland, with temperatures in the mid teens here, and some areas of cloud starting sunday, the sun will eventually come through. Still some cloud into the north west of scotland. Cloud and showers possibly early on sunday towards the south. It looks like that potentially retreats during the day, bringing some sunshine, and for many, it will be a very pleasant sunday. Bye bye. Youre watching bbc news with me Laura Trevelyan in washington. Christian fraser is in london. Our top stories. From midnight up to 2 Million People in most of the northeast of england will face new lockdown restrictions due to a rise in coronavirus cases. For some, the us election is already a sealed deal. The first ballots cast are already on their way in from the voters in North Carolina. Also in the programme. The queen arriving in barbados on her last visit as head of state. The island now says it wants to choose its own. And, when the pandemic hit many started jogging or took to baking, well look at how long those habits
have stuck around. The state of pennsylvania delivered Hillary Clinton a humiliating defeat on Election Night in 2016. Donald trump won it narrowly, despite polls suggesting hed lose there. So, its no wonder bothjoe biden and Kamala Harris are keeping an eye on the keystone state and they are there again today. The democratic president ial nominee is doing a televised town hall meeting in scranton and his running mate will be in philadelphia. Pennsylvania is worth 20 votes in the all important Electoral College and according to pollsters is the most evenly divided state in the union when it comes to voting this year. Which is why both the biden and trump campaigns consider it so crucial. Lets speak to the states former governor from 2003 to 2011 ed rendell, a democrat and long time supporter ofjoe biden. Governor it is really good to have you on the programme. Do you think isa you on the programme. Do you think is a close friend ofjoe biden that he needs a higher gear . No, i think the campaign has done a very, very good job. I think that the focus on the coronavirus and President Trumps abysmal response. I think they made the points they had to make andi they made the points they had to make and i think they have defended well and but while i was worried that the chump campaign puzzling law and order message was getting through butjoe made terrific speech in pittsburgh ten days ago and then followed at the next day by encapsulated that speech in atv at that was the most highly purchased add in the entire campaign. But since that time, we have seen no movement by donald trump either nationally or in the swing states. But there are concerns when you look back to 2016 it came down to three counties. Hillary clinton did quite well in the suburbs but she lost three counties. When they looked back on that one of the problems was that the democrats werent doing enough door to door knocking, they we re enough door to door knocking, they were not on the doorstep face to face and i wonder if this sort of Virtual Campaign thatjoe biden is running whether that is enough when the stakes are so high in those counties that will make all the difference. Remember, the candidates dont go out and doorknocking in a president ial election and i think we have learned our lesson even though we are very conscious of the spread of the first, i think there is doorknocking going on, a lot of phone banking going on, a lot of phone banking going on. People are getting the message. I think this will be a record turnout, and the last 20 yea rs i record turnout, and the last 20 years i think thisll be the highest turnout for the president ial election ever. And how is joe biden
going to win back those three of erie, and northampton . He doesnt have to win them back, he has to cut President Trumps margin whereas hillary couldnt lost the one county 3941, hillary couldnt lost the one county 39 41, ifjoe was is it 54 46, that is good enough because he would do better than hillary in the suburbs. The philadelphia suburbs which are heavily populated and a big voting areas, Hillary Clinton was winning the suburbs in polls by 2a points beforejim the suburbs in polls by 2a points before jim comeys announcement. The suburbs in polls by 2a points beforejim comeys announcement. The next day afterjim comeys another, every started to lose votes in the suburbs and she only carried them by 1296 suburbs and she only carried them by 12 of 180000 and she carried them by the original 24 , she would have carried them by 350,000 which would have been more than enough to win the state company. To win the
state co m es the state company. To win the state comes with us at there will be no james comey this time. And is that why we are seen donald trump make this massive pitch of the suburban housewife . Right, but the suburban housewife . Right, but the suburban housewife . Right, but the suburban housewife as he puts it is a lot smarter than donald trump gives them credit for. They have seen is a scare tactics. The democrats want African Americans to move into the suburbs, they wanted criminals to move into the suburbs, they will spoil your suburban life. Because what thats been the rhetoric since Richard Nixon ran for president. They know that is not true, it is a bunch of baloney, and it is falling flat. Governor ed rendell thank you for joining it is falling flat. Governor ed rendell thank you forjoining us. Thank you guys, have a good day. Lets take a quick look at how the two candidates are faring in those crucial rust belt states. Biden still maintains a healthy seven point lead
in the national run off. But as we know from the result in 2016 the popular vote doesn not get you into the white house. Does not count for much. It doesnt get you to the white house. Its all about the Electoral College. Win the state of wisconsin, youd be well on your way. But any bounce in that state that mr trump was hoping for, after all the unrest in kenosha, has not materialised. You can see that Bidens National lead more or less replicated at state level. The race appears to be tighter in pennsylvania. Its the largest rust belt state in terms of Electoral College votes, and there mr biden is sitll leading but byjust over li in the poll of polls. Pretty much the margin of error. Because of the coronavirus pandemic more americans are planning to vote by post than ever before. We have talked about it a lot on the programme in the last few weeks. So although its still 47 days until the official election millions of americans are already able to cast their vote in the president ial election. In three states, wisconsin, North Carolina and kentucky,
Election Officials have already sent postal ballots to voters. And by this weekend, 20 more states are expected to have mailed out their ballots. Ive been in North Carolina where the first ballots were sent to voters nearly two weeks ago making people there the first in the nation to vote. Welcome to New Hanover County in wilmington. In this affluent suburb which typifies the American Dream voting by mail is the new front line in the battle for the white house. This election is under way and Kathryn Hedgepeth of the league of women voters already has her ballot paper. I have asthma, so i am somewhat physically compromised. Knowing that i have a way to vote without being in a crowded place that makes me uncomfortable is very, very encouraging. These mail trucks in wilmington are going to be working overtime this election season. North carolina is one of Many American states that have expanded early voting because of coronavirus. And here in the swing state, hundreds of thousands of people have already requested absentee ballots. The mailbox is becoming a ballot box, and its democrats who are asking for the most absentee ballots over 12,000 so far in this key swing county of new hanover compared to about 4000 republicans. Democratic party chair Richard Allen poole says its a lot to do with President Trump. Republicans see him discouraging people from voting by mail and theyre not doing it. I think there may be certainly the opposite thing with democrats. If he thinks that he doesnt want us to do it then well, gosh, maybe we should do you have any concerns about whether the Us Postal Service will be able to cope with the volume of mail given the worries there have been about this Postal Service . At christmas time every year, they deliver 1 billion christmas cards. You think they cant handle a couple hundred million ballots . I think they can do that. How many would you like . Id like five, please. Republicans here are banking on enthusiasm for the president leading to record numbers voting in person hoping their traditional approach to campaigning will overcome the democrats early advantage in voting by mail. If you look at the numbers, really, democrats and independents have been the people that have gotten the most absentee ballot requests. So, republicans are trying to put a dent in their but they havent really caught up. Is it making it hard for you to push republicans to vote early by mail because the president is suggesting there could be a lot of electoral fraud . So, you do get some of that. All this interest in the election delights Kathryn Hedgepeth, a long time advocate for voters rights. Shes Still Deciding when to cast her vote. I feel like this is an important election for us. I have some issues that im really concerned about climate being one of them. Response to the virus being another. Those are key issues for me that i want to hear clearly,
from candidates, what theyre going to do about it. The immense interest in voting by mail raises many questions, like, will we even know the result on Election Night . But when so much right now is clouded, one things crystal clear. Voters on both sides are engaged and ready to be heard. Lets speak now to michael mcdonald, a university of florida professor who tracks early voting. Thanks so much forjoining us. With all of this voting by mail, are you expecting a record turnout . Absolutely, even going into the election before the pandemic hits, we we re election before the pandemic hits, we were expecting to have record turnout and really the motivating factor here is donald trump. We have just seen the highest turnout rate election for a Midterm Election since 1914 and the 2018 election. And going in, people were already voting. There was a lot of interest
expressed in surveys. Im thinking that were looking at perhaps 150 main people in the United States voting which will be the highest turnout rate since 1908. 150 Million People voting. But the president tweeted today that because of the new and unprecedented massive amount of unsolicited ballots which will be sent to voters or wherever, this year at the november three election result may never be accurately determined. Is he right . Hes wrong. Male balloting is a secure method of voting, and states that do all mail ballot questions run the cleanest and was fraudulent elections in the country. I suspect things are be fine but i there are always going to be isight incidents of people legally voting when you have over 150 main people voting for support widespread fraud that may affect the outcome is not in cards. With the exit poll results
be of any use to us on Election Night . I consult with the exit poll organisation. And i know them really well and we dont really use the exit polls to forecast election outcomes. We use actual results and we will monitor them as they come in for some if we feel confident a call can be made we would do so. I think we would know who the president is on Election Night. There is fast reporting states that require other male bows to be back to Election Officials by Election Night and florida is one of them and forward it will record very quickly. They know how to handle their mail ballots here in ford and we should get a result florida. If the polls are correct that biden has a smoke weed, about 2 4 Percentage Points in florida and that shows up in the Election Results was a and if biden does have a small lead. Conversely if donald trump has a big upset like he did in 2016 adam looks like he is going to win florida, then we might think that its going to bea then we might think that its going to be a bad night for biden and the size of that victory in florida will become more of the key. Although some have said we are not thinking of Election Night, more of an election week because we will be counting all these mail in ballots, you are saying these critical swing states and their voting systems are quite rigorous and speedy and we should get some inclination of where the Electoral College is going. Absolutely. It would only be in the scenario where we have a recount situation like the 2004 do election where we dont know how forward is going to go yet and we look at these sewer reporting states like michigan, pennsylvania or wisconsin. That is the scenario where we could see this election drawn out for a week or more. 2000 florida election. Michael mcdonnell we will be coming back to you a lot more
often before the election. Thank you. Democrat House Speaker nancy pelosi has repeated her warning that congress would only approve a us uk trade deal if brexit doesnt result in a hard border on the island of ireland. It comes after democratic candidate joe biden yesterday tweeted the same a signal of what the uk could expect if he wins in november. Yesterday, nancy pelosi met with uk foreign secretary dominic raab where they discussed the possibility of a deal. The speaker of the house today repeated her view that that the uk had breached its international obligations, heres what she had to say about striking a quick trade deal. Not so fast. Thats an act of congress, the chairman of the committee ofjurisdiction is richie neal the co chair of the friends of ireland, and there is bipartisan, bicameral resistance to any such bilateral. So, im not going into whose word is trusted. Itjust was a departure from what was said in the agreement, and well see where it goes from here. A couple of lines to bring you on this, the uk government spokesman has been talking about the toast with the eu that have gone on this week and if there is idea than what is being discussed in the new here in westminster will become irrelevant. They said they covered a broad range of issues and some limited progress was made but significant gaps still remain in key areas including fisheries and subsidies which have been the sticking points throughout. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come. We speak to the Prime Minister of barbados about her desire to make the island nation a republic removing the queen as head of state. For days now, at the Manchester Bombing inquiry, weve been hearing emotional tributes from the families and friends of those who were killed that day in may 2017. Today, the families of liam curry and Chloe Rutherford came together to talk of the teenage couple and the life they had planned together. Our north of england correspondent Judith Moritz reports. Chloe and liam were teenage sweethearts. They dated for three years and planned to marry and have children their families deprived of all that. Simon callander is another parent whos grieving and angry. Shes my daughter. She was someone. His daughter, georgina, another teenager who was ticking off milestones, with a Bright Future all mapped out. Philip trons mum and uncle brought his photo with them as they played their tribute to the court. Philip was a family loving guy who had a huge personality. Philip had a bit of a swagger about him and, having a good sense of humour, he was also a bit of a joker. His mum, june, was in a bad place for many months after the bombing. She believed that she was living in a parallel world or existence that she would wake up from and phil would be there. Each of those who died has a story to be told. The tributes are known as pen portraits, and more families will make the journey to give them next week. The government of barbados has announced it will become a republic and replace the queen as its head of state, in time for the 55th Independence Anniversary next year. The speech was delivered the countrys governor general, the queens representative in barbados, and in it, the government quotes barbados first Prime Minister, errol walton barrow, who had warned against loitering on colonial premises. The speech also outlines plans to introduce civil union between homosexuals, and a referendum on full gay marriage. Barbados currently has some of the strictest anti gay laws in ther world. Under the the 1992 sexual offenses act sex between two men could still potentially be punished with lifetime imprisonment. I have been speaking to the barbadian Prime Minister mia mottley. And we started with that decision to replace the queen. The time is right. I believe that i have a duty towards young barbadian so that they can grow up and believe that they can aspire to be head of state of their country. I think that is the most natural aspiration for those countries that dont have a
monarchy. And we have been talking about it for over 20 years and we just believe that the time is right for us to bring together these things so that we can literally com plete things so that we can literally complete the process of independence. Is this a decision that you wanted to take as a government before charles became king . Absolutely not, this has nothing to do with Prince Charles or her majesty. Let me put it in context for you. We have an absolute high regard for her majesty and i have a very warm relationship with Prince Charles, i think he has been a man who has been ahead of his time with respect to the environment, with respect to the environment, with respect to his respect for architecture and urban renewal, with respect to his excellent work with young people including in our own country and i put on record that we are working with the princes trusts here with our young people and that has nothing to do with whether we become a republican have a barbadian head of state. I think all of us
agreed that children leave. And when children leave households, that does not dissipate the 12 or familial bonds. What is significant about the statement you made is to cast the decision as leaving a colonial past in the technician are behind for some in the context of black lives matter and the movement around the world, do you think there will be whiter put the pressure on european governments to go the same wake was on governments to go the same wake was on whiter to put a pressure in caribbean governments respect i think this is a wider decision for country. The most natural thing think this is a wider decision for country. The most naturalthing is for you to have a head of state from your own country. One last issue, your own country. One last issue, you think you you said you would hold the referendum on gay marriage. Should they be allowed to be gay and barbados . Should people in barbados be allowed to be gay, to be homosexual . Is that a question you would ask the United Kingdom . We have was on gay marriage and youre having a referendum on gay marriage
so that is pertinent i think that is the most inappropriate question at as to whether prison should be allowed to begin. I think it was and is should we be discriminating against gay people and we should not. Barbados was the First Black Slave Society and a country that has known what it is to discriminate against citizens for centuries cannot in todays world be discriminated against any human being for any reason whatsoever. Homosexuality will be legal and barbados as well gay marriage . said that a country that discriminate against people will not do it. That has discriminate against people in the past but what is more, the government is resolute that marriage is a function of the church and to that extent, a referendum will be held allowing all parties to determine whether they will speak on the church are not on the marriage or not, but with respect to civil unions, we believe that is a
function of civil rights and to that extent, there shall be no discrimination against any person weathered gay, straight, black, white, short, tall, for any reason in this country and that is the position of our government. Prime minister it is been a real pleasure to talk to you so much for your time. This is a really big deal isnt it. How many other countries have actually done what barbados is going to do and parted company with the queen as head of state . It is quite unusual. There are only four countries that have done before, mauritius in 1992 and there were three in the 1970s so danny, trinidad and tobago and one other. For support there are 15 of the countries that have the queen as their head of state and australia is one that stands out. They have toyed with the queen as their head of state and australia is one that stands out. They have toyed with her before but somehow the politics or timing has never been right but the
question i was thats what i think will be begging the question at the moment of how many other countries will be looking at it, particularly jamaica which has escorted with it in the past. It will be one to watch i think. Fascinating. Lockdown has been pretty miserable for most people. But one Silver Lining was having the chance to indulge in some of lifes simpler pleasures. Like baking and gardening. And all the other good habits that people have fostered over the past six months. But the problem is were now more than six months into the global pandemic. And people are starting to give up. Were seeing a rising number of cakes being burnt and ruined. Precious lawns are turning fallow as people give up on their new found love for gardening. And of course those home work out routines, laura, i mention you for no reason. They are on the wain which is largely because there is no incentive to hone the six pack you cant go on holiday. If you do get to a beach you are socially distancing. What is the point . I brought some of those kind of funny divider he band thing is because i read in the newspaper it was better than going to the gym. I did all this stretching and other broken and in the bin. did all this stretching and other broken and in the bin. I did a lot of gardening, i did win a prize for being keen gardener in barnes but i have let the side down. These are my chilis. Oh my god i am really best to save the vicar gave me these and i have been needing to look at his babies but look at them, im going to get help. Hopefully he is on holiday and not watching this. That reminds me of when i took the school gerbils home and my cat it then. That is pretty bad facet there is no way around that, or unless you buy another gerbil. That looks like the
gerbil you lost thanks for being with us today, we will see you seem time next week, dojoin us for with us today, we will see you seem time next week, do join us for that, we will see you monday. Hello. We are over two weeks now into meteorological autumn, but the weather is very much still in summer mode. Your weather watcher pictures from thursday showing a huge amount of sunshine across the uk, just a bit more cloud at times into parts of Northern Ireland and northern scotland. And the reason why things are so sunny and settled, you wont be surprised to find High Pressure on the big picture here. But as we go into the weekend, low pressure close to iberia will start to feed a weather front closer to southernmost areas of the uk, so an increasing chance of seeing some showers as the weekend gets under way. But for friday, still very much looking dry, with the exception of the very far north of scotland. Were talking the northern and western isles, with cloudy skies here, and you could see a bit of rain at times. That easterly wind, though,
across england and wales, getting very noticeable now, getting stronger as well. These are average speeds during friday. May well find some gusts around 30, some exposed spots getting close to 40 mph. But for temperatures, 21 in glasgow, so were at or above normal for the time of year. Just some north sea coasts with the onshore Breeze Holding on towards the mid teens. Big picture again, and going into the weekend, heres the system feeding up from the south. Theres a lot of uncertainty, though, and we dont really know how far north any showers are going to get, so keep watching the forecast. The greater chance is through southern england, perhaps into south wales. If you catch a shower, could be heavy and possibly thundery, and those brisk easterly winds as well. But with the exception of some thicker cloud hanging around the far north of scotland, across much of the uk, itll be another sunny day, with temperatures generally towards the high teens and a few spots into the low 20s. Looks like this system, by sunday, begins to retreat southwards, as High Pressure holds on. There will be some areas of low cloud to start the day, but the sun will eventually come through. Still more cloud in the far north and northwest of scotland. In the far south of england, though, any early showers will tend to retreat and more of us will see the drier weather. And temperatures, if anything, maybe just creeping up a couple of degrees. That takes us into monday. Dont need to focus on this system as it fizzles away. This area of low pressure, though, beginning to feed a weather front closer to northern scotland as we go on through monday, so most of the uk again will have another dry and sunny day, we will see, i think, some rainjust pushing in towards at least the northwest of scotland, may be quite late on, reaching to the west of Northern Ireland. And temperatures may be a degree or so higher towards southeast england in the sunshine. Things in the sunshine. Are starting to get more active things are starting to get more active here going into tuesday because this with the fund could bring heavier rain into parts of scotla nd bring heavier rain into parts of scotland and Northern Ireland and then with some degree of uncertainty about timing begin to push for the south and tuesday marks the start of
astronomical autumn, it is the equinox and clearly things are begin to head in that direction. It is also starting to turn over as it moves south as well. As we look at the jet stream, we will find a more amplified wavy pattern as we look into midweek next week, a rich coming out of north america but then this big dip in thejet stream, this trough in the jet stream for us and we find nestled within that an area of low pressure caused by that during the second half of next week it looks to be moving across the uk with winter and winter and cooler weather, too. So if you are enjoying the late summer sunshine, make the most of it. If you want a taste of autumn, you dont have long to wait. Thats your forecast. Tonight at 10 tough new restrictions are about to come into force across most of the north east of england amid a sharp rise in coronavirus infections. From midnight almost two Million People will be unable to socialise with other households. Pubs, bars and restaurants will have to shut at 10pm. Its spreading, really, isnt it, so if it saves it getting worse. Because people cant come out with their friends, only people from their household, pubs wont survive. Tonight we are just two hours to go until these new restrictions come into place. We will hear from those affected right across the north east of