Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world. In her Christmas Day message, Queen Elizabeth has praised the scientists and medical staff, to whom, she said, we owe a debt of gratitude this year. She said this christmas is tinged with sadness because of the distance between people, many of whom just want a simple hug or squeeze of the hand. Nicholas witchell reports. From windsor castle, on a Christmas Day without the customary companionship of families coming together, a christmas broadcast in which the queen reflected on a time of exceptional difficulty. For christians, jesus is the light of the world. But we cant celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way. The pandemic has disrupted so much for people of all faiths yet the queen said it has also brought us closer. In the United Kingdom and across the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year, and i am so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit. To our young people in par
Biden becomes president of the United States, to september when the European Unions longest serving leader Angela Merkel is replaced, and to november when nations agree, or are supposed to agree, how theyll make each other actually meet the promises theyve made hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world, and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. The uks largest Teaching Union is calling for all schools in england to close for two weeks, after the government ordered all primaries in london to remain shut when the new term begins. Pupils in some boroughs in the capital were due to return on monday. The government says the city wide closures were a last resort due to rising coronavirus infections. Heres our education correspondent dan johnson. Keeping children in school has always been the priority, with closures and more Home Learning a last resort. The government was forced to make that move, announcing on wednesday that Pri
Good morning. Its wednesday, the 30th of december. Our top story. Millions more people in england are expected to be moved into the highest level of coronavirus restrictions, after a record rise in infections. The Health Secretary, matt hancock, will make the announcement in the house of commons this afternoon. Anisa kadri has more. The centre of southampton empty, after the toughest coronavirus restrictions came in on boxing day. Today, the government is expected to announce more areas of england will enter tier 4. And theres also talk of whether four tiers is enough. Yesterday, the uk announced another 53,135 covid cases, a record daily figure. Its partly down to a christmas lag in reporting, but also reflects the fast spreading new variant of the virus. And nhs staff say theyre at risk of becoming overwhelmed. The peak is not going to come for maybe two weeks from now, three weeks from now . And the big thing for us will be weve had the christmas social mixing. People will do the sa
In war torn areas. Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world. In her Christmas Day message, Queen Elizabeth has praised the scientists and medical staff, to whom, she said, we owe a debt of gratitude this year. She said this christmas is tinged with sadness because of the distance between people, many of whom just want a simple hug or squeeze of the hand. Nicholas witchell reports. From windsor castle, on a Christmas Day without the customary companionship of families coming together, a christmas broadcast in which the queen reflected on a time of exceptional difficulty. For christians, jesus is the light of the world. But we cant celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way. The pandemic has disrupted so much for people of all faiths but the queen said it has also brought us closer. In the United Kingdom and across the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year, and i am so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit. To our
Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world. After an historic brexit trade deal, the European Unions chief negotiator, michel barnier, has been briefing ambassadors from the 27 member countries on the details. The document setting out the deal runs to over 1,200 pages. The Prime Minister who was in downing street yesterday when the deal was confirmed has also received a copy. Heres our Political Correspondent leila nathoo. I have a small present for anyone who may be looking for something to read in that sleepy post christmas lunch moment, and here it is. Tidings, glad tidings of greatjoy, because this is a deal. Some light reading. The post brexit deal agreed yesterday between britain and the eu runs to more than 1,200 pages. This morning, the man who negotiated it for the eu side, michel barnier, briefed ambassadors of eu Member States on its details. Mission accomplished. Whats in that blue folder sets out how the eu and uk will trade and co operate from the n