Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News With Katty And Christian 20201216

Yes, you heard me right deputy dog. Hello, im katty kay in washington. Christian fraser is in london. Its been snowing here today in americas capital. A bit blustery. You can feel winter in the air, and perhaps just a hint of a shift in the political winds. Thats because for a second day running, the repulblican leader in the senate has signalled a willingness to find Common Ground with his staunch rivals on the democratic side of the aisle. On tuesday, Mitch Mcconnell acknowleged joe biden as the official president elect. No big deal, you may say, biden won. Sure, except donald trump has not conceded that fact. Nor have many other republicans. And today, mcconnelljoined democrats in striking a conciliatory, perhaps hopeful tone on a massive covid relief measure, that would help millions of americans. We made major headway towards hammering outa we made major headway towards hammering out a targeted pandemic relief package that would be able to pass all chambers with bipartisan majorities. We commended to canute to neck or continuing these discussions until we have an agreement. And we agree we will not leave town until weve made a law. Our final discussion stretches late into the evening. And as we race the clock to reach a final court before the end of the year, we are close to an agreement. Its not a done deal yet, but we are very close. It looks like theyre very, very close. Im working to get it done. Thank you all very much, have a good day. Without a deal, a whole series of benefits will disappear for those left destitute by the pandemic. The benefits to freelancers and the self employed. And weekly Unemployment Benefits they both expire the day after christmas. A National Moratorium on evictions would run out on 31 december. And the breaks on repaying Student Loans will expire at the end of the year. For more on this, lets bring in our north america reporter anthony zurcher. Americans will clearly take a really bad hit if there is not some kind of stimulus deal agreed before congress brea ks stimulus deal agreed before congress breaks for the holiday recess. But theyve been hurting all year and democrats and republicans havent been able to come to a deal recently. Whats changed in the last few days . I think part of it is the fa ct few days . I think part of it is the fact that there is a bipartisan middle ground thats been hammered out by moderate senators on both sides of the aisle. They gave a framework that it seems like Mitch Mcconnell, among republicans and democrats, nancy pelosi on the left, have been able to come around. Nancy pelosi and the democrats have essentially given up any kind of aid to state local governments, mccall has given up his calls for Liability Protections for businesses that open during covid i9. Once those were shown to the side, there was a reflection of the economy is not doing very well right now and something needs to be done about these Unemployment Insurance as an aid to small businesses. They focused on that and it looks like they will be able to pass something in the coming days, if theyjust stick to that framework. Is there also a feeling on the republican side, for Mitch Mcconnell in particular, that it didnt help those two senate races in georgia if there was no stimulus deal . Mcconnell really wants to win those two georgia seats for the republicans. Not having a deal perhaps didnt look so great for those republican candidates down there. Those republican candidates we re there. Those republican candidates were definitely getting hit on that, criticised by that dust on that by the democratic. They were getting hammered on this issue and they needed some sort of cover to vote for here. I think definitely because those senate seats will decide who controls the senate Going Forward over the next couple years, it is looming large over these negotiations. And it was a motivation for both sides. I think democrats are afraid if they lose those two senate seats, they wont get any kind of stimulus done in the new year. And republicans on the other side think if they lose those seats, the democrats will control everything and joe biden will get whatever stimulus he wants when the democrats take power when hes inaugurated injanuary. Democrats take power when hes inaugurated in january. So democrats take power when hes inaugurated injanuary. So that kind ofa inaugurated injanuary. So that kind of a lined up to motivate both sides to strike a deal now. What about mcconnell himself, anthony, and the way hes played this . Yesterday he gets on the phone with his senate collea g u es gets on the phone with his Senate Colleagues and says lets not have any of the funny business we are seeing at the house. In the way hes managed the president , because it seems to me he said, look, we need to play the long game with the president here. Lets keep getting along with him, lets get him to signa along with him, lets get him to sign a relief bill if he had picked a fight, it would not work out well for him. Playing the long game is what Mitch Mcconnell appears to be the best at. Hes the one republican whos managed to navigate Donald Trumppresidency and emerged with more power on the other end. He was able to successfully avoid big losses in the midterm elections, picking up some seats, avoiding losses during the president ial election that would give majority to the democrats. Hes got hisjudicial appointments, and when donald trump moves from the scene on 20 january, he will be the most powerful republican officeholder left. So i think he knows what the fate of the Republican Party is, and it rests on his shoulders Going Forward for the next few years, and he needs to plan accordingly. Anthony, thank you. By the way, it didnt take donald trump very long to show that he wasnt happy with Mitch Mcconnell. There was a tweet went out saying republicans in the senate needed to learn how to fight. Since Mitch Mcconnell has really been his most sta lwa rt mcconnell has really been his most stalwart supporter over the last four years, that might have felt a little bit rich. But i suspect the kentucky senator can handle that one. Perhaps no Christmas Card this time around. By the way, donald trump is losing people very fast in these last few weeks of his presidency, people hes not happy with and is making it clear hes not happy with them. The year has been extremely hard on Airline Workers. 32,000 from American Airlines and united have been furloughed. Allie mallis is a furloughed American Airlines flight attendant, and a representative of the association of professional flight attendants union. Thanks very much forjoining us. When you watch what is happening in capitol hill, are you feeling a bit more optimistic that there might be some relief for people working in the Airline Industry coming down the pipe . Absolutely. Optimistic, very hopeful, but we know the job is not done, and weve been in this position before to the point where weve been furloughed. So we cant ta ke weve been furloughed. So we cant take it for granted until we are cioss take it for granted until we are cross the finish line. How hard have you and your colleagues been hit . How bad is it for you . Its been very tough. Financially, emotionally, not having a job and not knowing what comes next, do we wait around to be recalled . 0r not knowing what comes next, do we wait around to be recalled . Or do we say goodbye to the Airline Industry and find something more stable . Weve made some big life changing decisions and sacrifices, but were hopeful that we are on the mend here. Weve just been talking about the politics of all this. When you see the infighting and divisive nature of the debate in washington, how does it make you feel . These are the representatives weve elected, and we expect them to act in our best interests and serve the people. So its disheartening and makes you jaded about politics to see people suffering and not get anything done, especially where there is incredible bipartisan support to help the aviation industry, specifically Airline Workers like myself and my colleagues. Because we could be at a point in 2a hours time when they all go off for a very nice christmas, these congressmen and women, everybody on the hill, and millions are left destitute, facing eviction from their houses. Are you watching this literally our to hour filled with anxiety that maybe they walk away from it . Yes, monitoring all the time on twitter, on the news, making sure this is staying on track, that we can get this done. But we know things can fall apart at the last minute, as well, so we are very hopeful that this time, we get the much needed relief that so Many Americans need at this moment. Tell us americans need at this moment. Tell usa americans need at this moment. Tell us a little bit about your personal situation. Youve been furloughed now for a few months. How will you manage if there isnt a deal or some kind of help for you . What are your plans . It is very important that we pass at this time, and i speak for myself and many others that weve had a small period of severance pay thats kept us going, but for many of us, its about to expire, our health care is connected to our employment, and we are in the middle ofa employment, and we are in the middle of a global pandemic. So its very important to have access to health ca re important to have access to health care at this point. As ive said, many of us have made life changing decisions and have relocated to new cities and taken a huge financial burdenjust to cities and taken a huge financial burden just to ride cities and taken a huge financial burdenjust to ride this out. Cities and taken a huge financial burden just to ride this out. Best of luck, we hope this deal comes through for you and your colleagues. I know how desperately its needed. Thank you for talking to us. Thank you. Democrats have been calling for the stimulus bill to include a financial lifeline to states who have had been hard hit by the pandemic. Republicans refused. Mark levine is a state legislator in new york, and is the chair of the States Health committee and joins us now. Good to talk to. How desperate is the situation for your local authority . The new york state and City Government are facing multibillion dollar deficits, this has been a severe economic shock. And unlike the federal government, we have to pass balanced budgets. So we have to pass balanced budgets. So we need the federal government to step up with direct aid. They can borrow, and thats what you want the National Government to do during a crisis. Honestly im relieved to see a package appearing to be heading for passage which will help individual workers. But the failure to include direct aid to the new york City Government and State Government isjust york City Government and State Government is just reprehensible, and it could mean a real severe cuts to services here. And why do you think that is happening . Doesnt come back to the red state, blue state issue that donald trump often talks about . Honestly we dont even have to speculate, because Mitch Mcconnell has said in public that he doesnt want a bailout for blue states. This isjust despotic behaviour to deny emergency aid to a region of your country because they voted for the other party. Its hard to comprehend this could happen, let alone that a leader would brazenly owfi alone that a leader would brazenly own up to it. But its true, its leaving us in a desperate condition. And lets be clear about the implications this could mean cuts to our Public Hospitals, we have a very large Public Hospital system in new york city, cuts to medicaid in the midst of a pandemic, the fact that this is possible is stunning. But thats whats at stake unless we get direct aid. Mark, spell it out for us a little bit, because i think some washing around the world wont understand what it means that states are not getting this finances, but has a real impact on the people that the state employee. Who gets hurt by this . Because we have to pass a balanced budget, we cant run up a deficit like the federal government. So weve had a real hit to our revenue , so weve had a real hit to our revenue, and that will mean severe cuts to services. And itll impact the most vulnerable new yorkers. It will be in the area of health care, it could be in the area of education, potentially cuts to emergency responders. Nothing that youd want to entertain in the middle of a pandemic. But we will have no other choice. We also need to raise revenue, in my opinion, we need to increase taxes on millionaires and billionaires. Thatll be necessary no matter what, but the gap is so cute, projected to be 15 billion, that theres just but the gap is so cute, projected to be 15 billion, that theresjust no way out of this hole unless we get direct aid from the federal government. So kids could lose out, pa rents government. So kids could lose out, parents could government. So kids could lose out, pa rents could lose government. So kids could lose out, parents could lose out, people who are sick could lose out, potentially, i imagine, Firefighting Services everything, right . All people you employ are vulnerable . Absolutely, there could be cuts to teachers, cuts to social services, food banks, the kinds of social safety net that we need now more than ever in a city which is vulnerable and hurting economically. We cannot sustain these cuts, and we need federal assistance to avoid it. Mark, thanks very much forjoining us. Mark, thanks very much forjoining us. Thank you. High stakes, isnt it . Highstakes, isnt it . I think thats why its really worth spelling out, you keep hearing about this debate about it shouldnt be money to states, and it keeps getting put in terms of red states and blue states. But what we are talking about are the people that the states employer, like the firemen, policemen, teachers, people who work in social services and homeless shelters. All those people could be impacted if there isnt money to pay them, they could lose theirjobs money to pay them, they could lose their jobs potentially, and money to pay them, they could lose theirjobs potentially, and the people that they serve could also be impacted by that. So this phrase of services and states its people, lots and lots of people. And people use those services. And theres allie checking social media and twitter hour to hour because she knows how important this is. Amazing. And a lot of people watching this one. A democratic senator says a classified briefing on a massive cyber attack left him deeply alarmed, and downright scared. Donald Trumps National security adviser has cut short a holiday with his wife in europe, as the administration tries to work out exactly what secrets were stolen during the months long hack of top government agencies. It could be weeks before we know the damage. It is a big deal and the scope of it is growing, as more and more logs are reviewed. Security was breached at the departments of state, commerce, treasury, Homeland Security, and the National Institutes of health. And all of it points squarely at moscow. And yet, we have heard very little from the white house. Were joined now by Elizabeth Neumann she was formerly the department for Homeland Security assistant secretary for Threat Prevention and security policy. Elizabeth, good to have you with us. I want to pull up a line or two from the New York Times today, because theyve been leading on this investigation, saying that hed been talking to analysts, he says, it was hard to know which was worse, that the federal government was blindsided again by russian intelligence agencies, or when it was evident what was happening, white house official said nothing. It is likely to go down as one of the most significant attacks that we faced in years, it may be a decade, maybe longer. Its hard to say on this side of the defence, just reading the price, hes doing a greatjob of reading the price, hes doing a great job of collecting pieces for us on great job of collecting pieces for us on the outside. But by all indications, this looks to be pretty widespread. It was going on for quite some time before it was detected, highly sophisticated, and it shows how vulnerable our systems are. If you read any of the cyber experts in the last 20 years, theyve been warning about our vulnerabilities, theyve been warning that we are under investing talent, that weve been under investing in our Defence Systems and, although there have been shifts in recent years that more money has been invested and hiring is getting better, its still very slow until we build the capabilities we need in the federal government to be able to protect not only the networks associated with federal government systems, but also make sure our private sector partners are secure. So theres been progress made in the la st so theres been progress made in the last few years, but everybody has been warning that we were vulnerable, and sure enough, sadly this was somewhat predictable, but its devastating. In the week that its devastating. In the week that it breaks, Robert A Brian is in europe with his wife, but he has to come back. Today, ronjohnson, the senate chair of the Homeland Security committee, is having a hearing. But not this, but about the irregularities of the election. Hearing. But not this, but about the irregularities of the electionm very telling, isnt it, that we are distracted as a country on the polarised political nature of our life these days will stop i think its not irrelevant that this hack started reportedly between march and june when we were all focused on the pandemic. Thats deserved, we rightly needed to be focused on the pandemic, but we were all the more distracted by our divisions and how to respond to the pandemic, which made it more difficult to keep our eyes on all the other threats. I dont want to imply that the men and women in Law Enforcement and National Security community they ke pt National Security community they kept their eye on the ball, its just the leadership level at the top, dealing with the constant chaos of donald trump and his unwillingness to name threats. He was unwilling to call out the white supremacist domestic terrorism threat, he is unwilling to call out russia for many, many problems over the last four years, almost giving safe haven to their threats and their hostile actions towards us. Im so relieved the Biden Administration will be coming on the seat to start cleaning up some of this mess. Elizabeth, you mentioned russia, and the early assessments point towards russia. Have the russians got much better at this in recent yea rs, russians got much better at this in recent years, and the fact they were able to go in undetected and sit there for so long . From what you see in open reporting, there are several nation states with advanced capabilities and certainly russia is one that the Us Government keeps their ion. Elizabeth, thank you very much forjoining us. For those watching on bbc world news, well be right back. The four nations of the uk have agreed not to abandon relaxed covid rules planned for christmas week, but theyve strengthened their guidance about how people should behave. The Welsh Government says only two households, rather than three, should gather over the five Day Christmas period. Heres our Political Editor laura kuenssberg. So the big headline from all these different politicians talking about this today is that the easing up of the rules at christmas is still going ahead. But please, theyre urging everybody, to think very carefully about exactly what they plan to do. Its clear from hearing senior medics and scientists today and in the last few days that the risk of people getting together is very serious indeed. So you might wonder tonight why politicians arent going further and just calling the whole thing off . Well, i think there was concern about whether that was practical, many people wouldve made their plans. A real realisation, as well, that people might do this anyway, and it was better, politicians decided, to give safe structure and a set of guidelines to allow people to get together in a limited way. The mayor of paris, anne hidalgo, has spoken of her joy at being fined for being as she put it too feminist. The paris authorities are being fined 90,000 euros thats 109,000 for promoting too many women to senior posts. 11 women and five men were promoted in 2018, breaking a 2013 rule that stipulated one sex should not account for more than 60 of nominations to management positions. Ms hidalgo said shed take the cheque for the fine to the government in person, along with all the women working with her. Lets speak to the french political journalist, marie le conte. Thank you so much forjoining us. How much of a political story is this in france . To be fair, its not been massive in the grand scheme of things. But i do think its been this massive thing, its certainly been entertaining if anything. Shes really ta ken it been entertaining if anything. Shes really taken it quite lightly, as you can take it. So we dont really have big groups of men complaining about whats happened under her leadership . Not that ive seen, i dont think frenchmen are about to raise up and take to the streets, demanding similar jobs working raise up and take to the streets, demanding similarjobs working for the city of paris. I think we are fine on that front. That obviously makes it 25 of directors and Department Heads of france are women. Thats a huge disparity, the pendulum needs to swing. Let me put forth the other side is there an argument of generation of younger men who are paying for the sins of the older generation . Because you have 11 men here promoted in only five man. Maybe theyre all in the same floor, and that might breed some resentment . Not really sure what to say. I suppose men in the past what to say. I suppose men in the pa st we re what to say. I suppose men in the past were luckier in that they did not have to reckon with women in the workplace, really, so i wouldnt say that these men are having to fight as hard to getjobs as that these men are having to fight as hard to get jobs as women that these men are having to fight as hard to getjobs as women have to, i wouldnt call that unlucky per se. Ithink to, i wouldnt call that unlucky per se. I think itsjust about redressing the balance. Welcome, man, to what weve had to deal with. Arguing against my own point, its ha rd to arguing against my own point, its hard to know how you address the balance if you dont do things. So it is positive discrimination, but maybe that has to be the way to balance it out . Im not even certain it is, because 11 men appointed and five women nobody wouldve batted an eye. They mightve been the best 11 women, the most talented. An eye. They mightve been the best 11 women, the most talentedlj an eye. They mightve been the best 11 women, the most talented. I think these are just the best people for these are just the best people for the job. We dont ask these questions when men get hired more than women, so in this case, theres 11 women, they were the best people for the job. There we go. Thank you very much forjoining us. It is true that we are covering the story which is one incident of women being hired more than men, but there are cou ntless more than men, but there are countless stories of more men being higher than women and it doesnt make news. Viewers of our programme might remember a story we brought you a few weeks ago regarding gunner the five month old spaniel puppy that found itself in the jaws of a florida alligator. His owner, richard, waded in and prized open the alligators mouth, setting gunner free. He escaped with a small puncture wound. And not only is gunner making a speedy recovery, he has been hired as a Deputy Deputy dog working for the lee county sheriffs office. And hisjob though i am not sure he is entirely qualified is to educate children about safety. The local sherriff said that gunners tenacity will serve as an important lesson for local schoolchildren. Tenacity . He wandered into an alligator infested pond how is that a lesson for schoolchildren . I think that is positive discrimination for spaniels. Hiring men who are underqualified. Follows very neatly. We are very happy hes safe and well and has a position. Well done, deputy. Emma is a single mum of two. Shes out of work and relying on food banks to help feed herfamily. Her building has such serious fire safety faults, it needs fire wardens on site 2a hours a day known as waking watch. Im angry, im actually furious at it. After the Grenfell Tower fire, waking watches were introduced by the National Fire Chiefs Council to keep residents safe. Its supposed to be a temporary measure while fire safety faults are fixed. But its become controversial. At this block in ipswich, a warden was filmed asleep under a desk in the middle of the afternoon. The company said he was on a break. And here in northwest london, residents say wardens removed wall sensors that were supposed to be checked as part of their patrol. And here in manchester, the cost of this buildings waking watch has just tripled to more than £20,000 a month. Stephen lives on the 14th floor. Who do you think should pay for this . The original developers have got a huge part to play in this. And i think that the government are the only people that can actually make the developers pay. The government says its reviewing the use of waking watch and whether it offers value for money. The Building Management companies for the blocks in this report say costs are only passed on to leaseholders as a last resort. But for those spending christmas in unsafe homes, that brings little comfort. Sarah corker, bbc news. Youre watching bbc news with me, katty kay, in washington. Christian fraser is in london. Our top stories signs that us congressional leaders are getting closer to agreeing vital covid relief. The existing measures expire in the days and weeks ahead. In the uk, a tougher message for the christmas holidays, with everyone being told to excercise extreme caution. Exercise extreme caution. Also in the programme charities around the world are counting the cost of covid. Well be talking to two groups who face less funding, but they provided huge help to me and christian. No chimney is required for this santa in peru, police got in the festive spirit fora drug raid. Just when you thought you had your Christmas Plans all sorted, the speculation began that christmas was going to be cancelled after all. Fear not, borisjohnson is sticking to his gun but urging people exercise extreme caution. Throughout the uk, people are allowed to travel to form bubbles over a five day festive period, though in wales, it is now limited to only two households rather than three as it is in england. And in scotland, people are being asked to only meet on one of the five days. The us is entering into a similarily precarious situation just before christmas. At a time when the country is still struggling with the surge in cases following thanksgiving, perhaps thats why the british Prime Minister offered this advice ahead of christmas. Weve decided that the overall situation is, alas, worse, more challenging than wed hoped when we first set the rules. So while it would not be right, we think, to criminalise people who have made plans and simply want to spend time with their loved ones, were collectively, across the uk, governments at every level, asking you to think hard and in detail about the days ahead and whether you can do more to protect yourself and others. It leaves families with difficult decisionsjust nine days from christmas. Werejoined now byjamie corner, who will be driving the length of the uk to collect his dad and brother in scotland and bring them to london for family christmas, and caroline pepek, who is on day nine of a 14 day quarantine, so she can form a bubble with herfiance and his parents this Holiday Season. I think it is pepek, sorry for that, caroline. Youre in this lockdown at the moment. Why are you doing it and where are you heading to . It is the Holiday Season and it is really difficult to go through such a challenging year, disconnected from loved ones and not have something bright at the end of the tunnel, so we really wanted to salvage something this year and we talked about it and we agreed it would be worth the risks if we all minimised the risk as much as possible, so we have got three separate bubbles delving and we are going to make one big bubble in about a week and we are going to go to my fiances parents farm in upstate new york. That his commitment. Youre going to do 1a days quarantined the site of the holiday and, what, on the other side, you will do it again . Yes. We have a tonne of canned goods, or apartment of psychic cosco right now, but we are ourapartment looks like a costco. We will be back in boston, where we are now come in 14 days. That is some commitment. Here in the us, we have guidelines but it is not so strict as the rules that you have in the uk. What are you doing over christmas and are you following the rules . Hi there. I have looked at the rules quite carefully and i believe i am following the rules. My father and my brother live in scotland, and so the plan is that, on midnight on the 23rd, i the plan is that, on midnight on the 23rd, lam the plan is that, on midnight on the 23rd, i am going to get in the car with my thermos flask and sandwiches and driving to scotland, pick them up and driving to scotland, pick them up and back to london, and then spent three days here before the repeat journey the other side. And then you will take them back up again by caras then you will take them back up again by car as well . Yes, thats right, on the sunday, the last day of the moratorium on the rules, i will be driving back to scotland. And when you get there to scotland, what sort of precautions are you going to have to take . Have you had afamily going to have to take . Have you had a family conference to discuss all this . Yes, we have, and we are all very keen to follow the rules and guidance. It is there for a reason and we fully understand that, so the plan is that i simply parked up by the side, have a few hours sleep in the side, have a few hours sleep in the carand then the side, have a few hours sleep in the car and then theyjoined me in the car and then theyjoined me in the car and then theyjoined me in the carand the car and then theyjoined me in the car and drive me, the car and then theyjoined me in the carand drive me, and i drive them back down, it is typically christmas for us. My mother died this year and we are very keen to haveit this year and we are very keen to have it together and were willing to take the risk a particular christmas for us. I am sorry to hear that. I know it is difficult at christmas time. You have two school age daughters, the same boat as me. Of course, they are mixing with other schoolchildren. Are they going to isolate for a few days to protect your father . Yeah, absolute evil to my father is in his 70s, absolutely. But so my father. We are fully aware of him being in a vulnerable category, so they are going to finish School Tomorrow and we are going to hunker down until i drive on the 23rd. Caroline, youre doing, by estimate, about 28 days of quarantine, so that six of you can get together for quarantine, so that six of you can get togetherfor a quarantine, so that six of you can get together for a family christmas, what you think is worth doing. What would you really be doing over christmas normally . Every other year, my family has a three generation deep family party at one of our grandparents houses, or in their neighbourhood, actually, so it is about 40 of us and a very small house in connecticut, filled with love, and it isjust so fun to get everyone together, and i think everyone together, and i think everyone is really missing that this yearin everyone is really missing that this year in particular, so think we are compensating with some zoom because a good christmas cheer across the internet. Is part of you tempted just to say, you know what, this year, it is too much hassle, the 28 days of quarantine is not worth it, it is going to be me and my fiance and that is just fine . It is going to be me and my fiance and that isjust fine . Maybe i am walking into Clark Griswolds Worst Nightmare i dont think so, i love my in laws. No, i do not think that thought never crossed her mind. We are in the place with a quarantine, if something were to happen, if our car we re if something were to happen, if our car were to break down, we would turn right around. We are fine with that and we are comfortable with that and we are comfortable with that decision at this point, but i think it is worth the effort this year, and we are. We are being externally safe. We have the privilege to work from home, so were not out too much anyway, lots to movies to watch on tv. Did i hear youre getting married . |j to movies to watch on tv. Did i hear youre getting married . I am, next year. You spend the entire lockdown with your fiance and your stuff together . Yes, and it is the best premarital counselling you can buy congratulations good luck, all of you, on your christmas. You are all putting a lot of effort, both of you, and making this sunken Holiday Season. You, and making this sunken Holiday Season. We hope it works out well. We hope is a safe one and a merry one. Lets get some of the days other news. Countries all over europe are tightening restrictions as the numbers of covid cases rise steeply. Germany has started a Christmas Lockdown today. Festivities are limited to the smallest of family gatherings and schools and non essential shops are closed. Slovakia is also back into lockdown as the virus spreads uncontrollably. Denmarks Prime Minister has closed shops over the holidays, and announced a full lockdown from december 25th to january 3rd. 14 people have been convicted in connection with terrorist attacks on charlie hebdo, a satirical magazine, and a jewish supermarket in paris five years ago. The trial led to six convictions for terrorist association and two for complicity. The men who carried out the islamist assaults five years ago were all killed by police at the time. British pets such as dogs, cats or even peacocks will lose their Current European Union passports after december 31st and will have to have a special Animal Health certificate to travel. However, more stringent checks will not be needed following an agreement with brussels. The former wife ofjeff bezos the richest man in the world has given away 4. 2 billion to food banks and charities. In a blog post, Mackenzie Scott said she wanted to help americans who were struggling because of the pandemic. Ms scott is the worlds 18th richest person, with much of her fortune coming from her divorce from mr bezos. A nine Year Old Girl who died following an asthma attack has become the first person in the uk to have air pollution listed as a cause of death. Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah died in 2013. She lived near the south circular in south east london, one of the capitals busiest roads. In the three years before her death, she had multiple seizures and was admitted to hospital 27 times. Today, in a landmark ruling, a second inquest into her death found that air pollution made a material contribution to her death. Our environment correspondent Claire Marshall has this report. Ella was a healthy child before suddenly starting to suffer asthma attacks so severe she would be put on a ventilator. Ella coughs this cough, an early sign of the damage being done to her lungs. We know now, without doubt, by air pollution. Todays decision was the result her mother has been campaigning for four years. Weve got the justice for her, which she so deserved. But also, its about other children still, as we walk around our city, with high levels of air pollution. The coroner found that levels of the toxic gases and pollutants and exhausts were way above levels set by the world health organization, and without doubt they contributed to her death. I wanted justice for her. I wanted the real reason why she went through what she went through. I hope through this, her legacy may be a new clean air act. I think the only bit i got a little bit angry was, in court, when it turned out that lots of people knew about it, and yet the response has been so slow. These were the roads she walked along to school. Despite going to five different hospitals during the three years she suffered, air pollution was never mentioned as a possible cause. Now we know it was behind her illness. She was drowning in her secretions, each time she had one of these there dreadful attacks. And the fact that they clustered together and these were in the winter and autumn months, when the air pollution was worse in london, putting all that together, it suddenly started to make sense. This isntjust about london, this is about the whole of the uk. One Expert Witness said that for children, breathing in these fumes should be treated as seriously as if they are breathing in second hand smoke. Perhaps parents should be advised to take a different route to school. The experts are now calling for lessons to be learned from ellas death. It will mean that we can protect Childrens Health Going Forward. What we do need to do is develop the education and the tools needed to talk about air pollution and, hopefully, the government will take air pollution reduction as a national priority. She would be very proud that her name is being used to do something really positive. Because ive always said to you, she was incredibly kind. So this is the sort of thing she would approve of. The government says that it is spending almost £4 billion on trying to clean up air pollution, and it is setting new ambitious targets. But todays decision will dramatically increase the pressure. We now know beyond doubt that air pollution can kill. Claire marshall, bbc news. Another legal first and more on climate change. Stay with us on bbc news. Still to come christmas is normally the busiest time of year for charities, but 2020 has forced them to rethink the way they operate. Well be speaking to two Charities Close to our hearts on how theyre coping. More than 130,000 people have now been given their first dose of the new Covid Vaccine in the uk. However, Research Suggests that people from minority ethnic backgrounds are less likely to take the vaccine. A new survey found that 79 of white respondents would take the vaccine against 57 of people from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. From black, asian and minority Adina Campbell reports. From black, asian and minority the impact of coronavirus on people from black, asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds has caused a great deal of anxiety and distress over the last few months. But with a vaccine now in sight, many of us are now starting to breathe a sigh of relief. Some, though, are still fearful. The pandemic has thrown up so many questions about our health and caused a huge amount of uncertainty. But whats clear from a number of reports and studies over the last few months is that black, asian and other ethnic minority groups are twice as likely to be infected with coronavirus compared with white people and are more at risk of dying. So, why is there so much scepticism about the vaccine in these communities . In my minority of people, we have our natural remedies. If we have a cough or a cold, then we do our own thing with garlic, ginger, honey, lemon. So far, it is god that is protecting me. Im under his divine protection. I will never catch any disease. The vaccine does not contain a chip and the government says we should be cautious of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Even with my two kids, people sort of send whatsapp videos and all sorts of messages. If you dont know where thats coming from, then it is very likely to be inaccurate. This is an incredibly well developed, scientific endeavour. And therefore i would urge everyone take the information, read it, look at it and then make your mind up. Scientists insist getting vaccinated is the safest way to help end the pandemic. Adina campbell, bbc news. 2020 has not been a good year. I think we can all agree on that. And christian and i, like so many others on Christmas Day, will be faced with an empty chair at the table. By awful coincidence, we both lost our mothers in the past few months. My mum, shirley, died of cancer last month, and christians mum, heather, there on the right, died of Motor Neurone Disease in september. And both of us, through the tough times, got a lot of kind support from charities. But with the economic recession, this has been a tough year for the nonprofit sector. Fundraising has been difficult. Reaching people in need has been difficult. And raising awareness, when everyones mind is fixed on the pandemic, not that easy. So we thought tonight, given that this is our last programme together before the christmas break, we would bring two Charities Together that mean something to us. From the mnd association, chris james in north london, and from Cancer Research, philip almond, whos in hertfordshire. Welcome to you both. Chris, let me start with you, since i had so much help from the mnd association. My mom was really well looked after by her partner. We only got a diagnosis at the beginning of the year and your charity was very helpful to her, but one of the things that surprised me was that although she was isolating, she was not deemed to be extremely vulnerable, and that made a big difference to what sort of help we could get. Yes, there was a huge a price to us that people with Motor Neurone Disease were not put on the extreme the vulnerable list, and we campaigned with the government over a number of months to ensure that people with mnd would get on that list and encourage the Health Professionals to get people onto that list. We campaigned, unfortunately unsuccessfully except in Northern Ireland, the good people with mnd on the externally vulnerable list and we think that would have given them more protection and certainly put their minds at rest, because they were feeling isolated and under a huge amount of pressure. As i say, i now amount of pressure. As i say, i now am deeply invested and i watch the things youre doing, you just hum amazing fundraising, but i know it has been difficult this year. Tell us has been difficult this year. Tell us what has meant to your finances. It has been difficult on our finances. We are fortunate in a sense that we are a medium sized charity and have an enormous Wonderful Group of supporters who support the charity through this period, we found ourselves in a difficult position at a time when people were in need of our support and one of the things we did was to refocus our efforts to make contact with everybody with mnd who we were in contact with, and i was over thousand people that was over 4000 people. And made sure they got the help and support they needed, and we have been able to do that, but it has been a really challenging year for us financially and also in trying to focus our services where they are needed in a completely different environment. Philip, my mom died of colon cancer. She was in cyprus and we were very keen she should not do to hospital, and we we re should not do to hospital, and we were able to keep her home because ofa were able to keep her home because of a local charity there that does hospice at home for cancer patients, and when i was talking to the nurses at the time, they did say to me, this is a hard time to raise money, people do not have money like normally and you cannot get out into the community to raise money. How much impact as covid had on your ability at Cancer Research to raise funds . It has had a major impact. Roughly a third of our income cub and we are a very large charity, is what we will lose this year, but we should have raised, that is for a numberof should have raised, that is for a number of causes. We have 600 shops around the uk, and those have all been closed, like other shops, during lockdowns. We have big events where people get together and race, walk or crawl a 5k, dressed in pink, in orderto walk or crawl a 5k, dressed in pink, in order to raise money in memory of loved ones or people who have survived, and all those were cancelled, so that adds up to around £160 million that we will not have going to life saving research. £160 million that we will not have going to lifesaving research. What is the impact of losing those funds . Ultimately, one in two of us, born since 1960, are likely to get cancer in our lifetime, since 1960, are likely to get cancer in ourlifetime, and since 1960, are likely to get cancer in our lifetime, and so that last week, we announced another £45 million cut to our research, know that research is there to provide life saving services, so over time, it will have an impact on survival rates. We are very lucky over the la st rates. We are very lucky over the last 30 years. It used to be one in four people use to survive cancer. Now that is two and four and we are heading for three and four, and the whole aim is to make cancer a survival disease, and with that research not happening, we find about 50 of the publican funded Cancer Research the uk. 50 . That will have a impact. Such a huge hit. Chris, have you had to get more ingenious about the way you raise this money . Are you more inventive these days . Absolutely. One of the areas that has been hit is community fundraising, because we cannot run event like the london marathon, so we have had to be very creative. We created a new Fundraising Campaign called mission 5000, which raised a large sum of money, so we have had to get creative, online, we have had to get creative, online, we have had to work really closely with people in making sure that we can work with all the new technology. And i think there have been some upsides. I think some of their fundraising techniques that we have developed over this period have been really inventive and i think will stand us in good stead for the future. Yeah, this is the bit where i rattle the ten to all our viewers. Has there been enough christmas goodwill, chris . I think there has come and i think it is tough time for people. We must recognise that. Everybody has had a hugely difficult nine months, both in terms of their Mental Health but also in terms of their finances, but we have seen extraordinary. Only the other week, the Rugby League Player ran seven week, the Rugby League Player ran seven marathons with support from the public, so i think the goodwill is out there but charities have had a very different year and we need peoples support. Ok, chris james and philip almond, thank you. And christian and i will be thinking of our mums this christmas. We will. Now, santa claus is usually known for making his way into your house through the chimney. But in peru, father christmas prefers a more direct approach through the front door with a sledgehammer. Laughter the santa youre seeing is actually an Undercover Police officer arresting a suspected drug dealer and his little helpers are actually Undercover Police officers arresting a suspected. I dont know. Oh, there he is and after the suspect had been restrained, some handcuffs were quickly unwrapped to complete the arrest and in place of the carrot and a mince pie, they discovered cannabis, cocaine and a handgun. I love the fact that he was dressed as an elf. As an elf it is hard enough to carry out a drug bust, but if youre dressed like that, good for them. As we have mentioned, this is our last programme together for 2020. And sadly tonight, we are saying goodbye to a friend and a special member of our team. This is our editor anna tatton browns final show. You wont have seen anna in front of the camera, but she is the one in the gallery, but for the last three years, she has been the driving force behind this programme through brexit, the midterms, the election. She has been there pulling it all together. And there is one thing for which she is best known, an element of this programme that will be all too familiar to regular viewers. And that is the almost criminal obsession with animal related stories the emotional support animals, the dog in the mouth of an alligator, the moose in a house story such that we appealed for clemency to the only person that can grant it. And im very pleased to say he has come through. It has been a busy few weeks for president trump, but today, anna tatton brown, you get a president ial pardon for years of unfunny enders. We will miss you. Hello. Wednesday saw another dose of wet and windy weather come in from the atlantic, and this is where our weather is coming from over next few days, so it remains very unsettled, but at least it should be on the mild side. That was the area of low pressure and weather front that brought the wet and windy weather earlier. We are in between two weather fronts for a while, before we see more coming in from the atlantic. So, some sunshine, a cooler start on thursday, a few showers in the west. Those should become fewer as cloud increases and we start to see some rain arriving in Northern Ireland during the afternoon. Not a bad day, though, for eastern scotland, down the eastern side of england. It should be dry, sunshine may be turning hazy eventually, and temperatures 9 to 12 degrees, so another mild day. That wetter weather continues to affect Northern Ireland into the evening, pushing into scotland, into wales, into Western Areas of england, still dry as you head further east. We may not get an awful lot of rain across eastern parts of england, because that first weather front is going to be weakening. The next one, though, is going to bring some heavier rain, probably for a bit longer. Pretty cloudy out there for many i think on friday. It is going to be Western Areas during the day that see this more persistent rain, particularly wet over the hills in the south west of england, south wales, maybe leading to some localised flooding. Windy as well. Weve got a southerly wind why we have got such high temperatures, and we could possibly make 15 degrees in the north east of wales. That weather front takes that rain eastwards gradually on friday night into saturday morning, and then showers start to follow on behind. Weve still got rain to clear away from Eastern England first thing. I think by nine, ten oclock, it should have gone, and then it is sunshine and showers, breezy day again on saturday, the bulk of the showers in the west, and some of those will be heavy as well. Those temperatures, though, still looking at around 10 to 13 degrees on saturday. Things start to cool off a little bit more probably during sunday. Weve still got low pressure towards the north west of the uk, and around it we are feeding in showers, perhaps some bands of more organised rain coming in around that area of low pressure as well. Most of the showers again will be out towards Western Areas of the uk, a few will get blown further east, but here, weve probably got the best of the dry weather and the sunshine as well, and those temperatures are back down to around 8 or 9 in scotland and Northern Ireland. That is the weekend, then, as we head into the beginning of next week, the start of christmas week. We see some weather fronts coming in from the atlantic. Starts dry in most areas i think on monday, but a few wintry showers, perhaps, across scotland. It is a bit colder here. Then we will start to see some wetter weather again coming into the south west, into wales. That will spill its way across many parts of the country. 9,10 degrees. But the air is colder in scotland, so over the Higher Ground you can see there is still a little bit more sleet and snow. So, what is happening, then, as we head towards christmas . Well, for a start, the jet stream is a little bit further south, and that steers and picks up areas of low pressure, so we are seeing those early next week pushing further south across the uk, so primarily affecting england and wales, but as we head towards Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the wind direction starts to change. Those areas of low pressure move away to the south, and we draw down air from the north or north east, so we start to pick up a north or north easterly wind as we head towards Christmas Day itself. That of course means temperatures will be lower and there could be some showers as well, and the potential, perhaps, for those showers to be wintry, particularly in the north. Tonight at 10pm. Despite pressure from doctors and scientists, the four nations of the uk have broadly agreed to allow the easing of restrictions over christmas. But, with the number of infections rising sharply, its decided that people should be urged to show extreme caution over the five day period. We all want to send the same message. A smaller christmas is going to be a safer christmas, and a shorter christmas is a safer christmas. But, in cardiff, the Welsh Government announces tougher restrictions, as parts of the country experience a very sharp rise in cases. This has been such a long and difficult year, but that cannot lift the responsibility from us to act now