This is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. The number of covid 19 cases in the United States passes 25 million with the number of deaths soaring to nearly 418,000. More than 70 cases of the south african variant of covid are identified in the uk, amid concerns the vaccine may be less effective against it. Ministers say numbers are being closely monitored. We have an enhanced Contact Tracing, to do everything we possibly can to stop them from spreading. Israel announces it will ban incoming flights from monday evening until the end ofjanuary in order to try and contain the spread of coronavirus. Some enjoy the wintry conditions, as snow and ice sweep across the uk, but Severe Weather warnings
are in place for many areas. And celebrations in china, as eleven gold miners whod been trapped underground for two weeks are rescued. Hello, welcome to the programme. We begin in the United States, which has now recorded more than 25 million coronavirus
Careful well sue the arse off them. Can you explain why you wrote that given win tech were giving entirely accurate advice to their customers . It was totally unprofessional at that time and with. On reflection i wouldnt have said that. I think it was just frustration that we were going round in circles with them. He still works for kingspan, which still sells the k15 insulation. The company insists there are situations where it can be used safely. Tonight we asked cladding Campaign Groups for examples of buildings with concerns about the safety of cladding systems, including flammable k15 insulation. Their members pictures flooded in. Kingspan is definitely a household names in these households for all the wrong reasons. Tom symons, bbc news. The english countryside will change radically under new government plans announced today to replace the eu system which paid farmers according to how much land they farmed. Now in a post brexit world farmers are meant to earn subsidies by protect
Tonight at six a whole new level of restrictions for parts of the north east of england. For the first time, you could be fined for meeting other households anywhere indoors. Newcastle, county durham, northumberland some of the places where itll now be illegal to mix with people you dont live with whether at home or in a pub or restaurant. We do not take these steps lightly, but we must take them and take them now, because we know that swift action is more likely to bring the virus under control. Its the first time mixing with other households in any indoor setting has been made illegal. Has been made illegal in england. Also tonight. The new 10pm curfew in england and scotland sees crowds pouring onto the streets at the same time and prompts calls for an urgent review. Feeding the students who cant leave their halls of residence thousands are now self isolating at around a0 universities across the uk. Im live in port talbot, the latest pa rt im live in port talbot, the latest part of
Given written evidence to this committee two months ago, it has not been published, that is not down to me, i have not been invited to give evidence to the committee and yet i am somehow being accused of not being prepared to answer questions. Alex salmond was acquitted in march of 13 charges of sexual assault. The parliamentary enquiry at the heart of this row is looking into where the Scottish Government went wrong when it was investigating claims of Sexual Harassment against alex salmond, a process that was found to have been procedurally flawed. The convener of the salmond enquiry turned up the heat this week when she said she was completely frustrated with the obstruction she was experiencing. Tory msp Oliver Mundell was ejected from the Holyrood Chamber yesterday after refusing to withdraw a claim that miss sturgeon had lied to parliament. Nicola sturgeon has volunteered to give oral evidence any time the salmond enquiry
invites her to do so. Both the Scottish Government and mr s
live from london, this is bbc news. joe biden s son, hunter, is found guilty of lying about his drug use to buy a gun. hamas says it wants a complete halt to war in response to us backed peace plans. scottish political leaders clash over the cost of living and independence in a bbc debate. and, how long could you last without your smartphone? we meet the teens going cold turkey for five whole days. hello. i m sally bundock. the son of the us president joe biden is facing up to 25 years in jail after being found guilty of lying about his drug use in order to purchase a firearm. a federaljury found hunter biden guilty on all three felony charges brought against him forfailing to disclose his drug use when buying a gun in 2018. it s the first criminal prosecution of the child of a sitting us president. hunter biden s lawyers say they are disappointed by the verdict and will pursue legal challenges. president biden said he would respect the result, and said he and his wife, jill,