hotspots is expected to come into force on the 15th of february. hello and welcome whether you're watching in the uk or around the world. stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. we start in washington, where presidentjoe biden has made his first majorforeign policy speech as president. "diplomacy is back," he said. and america is back ready to work with others to solve global challenges once again. it was a huge shift in tone, and in direction from the last four years. the president said he was prepared to talk to america's adversaries and pointed to an early example: the extension of a treaty with russia to limit nuclear weapons stocks. but he also had a warning for moscow. at the same time, i made it clear to president putin in a manner very different from my predecessor that the days of the united states rolling over in the face of russia's aggressive actions interfering with our elections, cyber attacks, poisoning its citizens are over. we will not hesitate to raise the cost on russia and defend our vital interest and our people. we can speak to barbara plett usher, who's at the state department for us: he really did try to contrast himself as much as possible with his predecessor here. find himself as much as possible with his predecessor here.— predecessor here. and especially on russia he had _ predecessor here. and especially on russia he had very _ predecessor here. and especially on russia he had very strong _ predecessor here. and especially on | russia he had very strong statement about russia and she heard there, signalling that he would stand up to president putin and a way that mr trump very obviously did not. but he did also try to contrast himself in other ways broadly talked about restoring alliances and rebutting alliances that have been strained and the present. and rejoining international organisations, and putting diplomacy at the centre of things. he also talked about policy changes. here is their decision that president trump had made to withdraw a certain number of troops that are stationed in germany and he also said that he would raise the cap on the number of refugees that are allowed to come to the country by about eight times at the moment the number is 15,000. he wanted to write the 225,000. antonia policy he did try to send the signal that he was taking a very different approach. —— in tone and policy. taking a very different approach. -- in tone and policy.— in tone and policy. looking at the fact that he _ in tone and policy. looking at the fact that he wants _ in tone and policy. looking at the fact that he wants to _ in tone and policy. looking at the fact that he wants to bring - in tone and policy. looking at the i fact that he wants to bring america back to a place within diplomacy that i once enjoyed in his mind, how difficult do you think it will be to get there given the damage done over the past four years? weill. get there given the damage done over the past four years?— the past four years? well, i think there are a _ the past four years? well, i think there are a number _ the past four years? well, i think there are a number of _ the past four years? well, i think there are a number of aspects i the past four years? well, i think there are a number of aspects of| there are a number of aspects of that— one is i think that the america allies are eager to have the united states back at the table in full force. to work together with them on issues of common interest and if you are trying to deal with a problem and a multilateral way, it does make a difference to have the full weight of the united states at the table. having said that, i think american allies are very suspicious now about the staying power of american positions, wondering if after the next four years whether the elections will turn things over again and you will get another president, perhaps even mr trump, who will reverse course or take very different course or an executive order pull out of a agreement. so there is that kind of wariness i think so i don't think you can return to exactly what it was before. don't forget also you had the attack on capitol hill a couple of weeks ago. which has dented america approximate democratic credentials somewhat. so it is traditional, though he like to see itself as a promoter of democracy has been tarnished in mr biden has talked about that. he said we can fight for democracy internationally because we are fighting for that home. but that is an aspect as well. barbara, thank you very much. now let's turn to the war in yemen. iranian—backed houthi rebels have welcomed joe biden�*s plans to end us support for the saudi—led coalition�*s offensive operations. saudi arabia has reaffirmed support for a political solution in yemen. this is what president biden had to say on the conflict. i've asked my middle east team to ensure our support for the united nations led initiative to impose a cease—fire, open humanitarian challenge and restore long dormant peace talks. i'm joined by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet. it is often very easy to talk about the road to some sort of peace and diplomatic solution but do you think thatis diplomatic solution but do you think that is not more likely given america's change in stan's? i think what is different _ america's change in stan's? i think what is different in _ america's change in stan's? i think what is different in his _ america's change in stan's? i think what is different in his call - america's change in stan's? i think what is different in his call to - america's change in stan's? i think what is different in his call to end | what is different in his call to end the war is that he is taking specific steps to head in that direction but nobody has any allusions about how difficult it would be to and what is it very complicated war and to get those peace talks started and have them achieve something. but yes, ending any kind of your support for offensive operations in yemen, that means any support for military support to saudi arabia when it comes to your man, that is very important. appointing the first us envoy to the human conflict, that is how presidentjoe biden described it, it is also really important. giving support to the struggling joint efforts to get the peace talks under way, that is really important. but this is notjust a war between the outside parties, including saudi arabia, iran and the united states. this is also about human needs and the differences between the yemenis have widened considerably. they are of all duggan in their respective positions over six years of war so it will be even tougher now but i think the most supportive thing is to get started. —— they have all dug in. to get started. -- they have all dug in. ~ ., to get started. -- they have all dug in. ~ . . , to get started. -- they have all dug in. . to get started. -- they have all dug in. what has the impact of that war bent on yemen? _ in. what has the impact of that war bent on yemen? we _ in. what has the impact of that war bent on yemen? we have - in. what has the impact of that war bent on yemen? we have the - in. what has the impact of that war - bent on yemen? we have the shorthand hrases to bent on yemen? we have the shorthand phrases to describe _ bent on yemen? we have the shorthand phrases to describe a _ bent on yemen? we have the shorthand phrases to describe a conflict _ bent on yemen? we have the shorthand phrases to describe a conflict and - phrases to describe a conflict and give me for the last two years, and evenin give me for the last two years, and even in the midst of this global pandemic is described as the worlds worst military in crisis. —— the war in gimmick. you cannot exaggerate the extent of the crisis. i have never seen children so emaciated and so many emaciated skeletal children as you do and yemen. never seen so much suffering among the people in yemen. this is a country which more great percentage of yemenis depend to survive on hand—outs from the united nations, which is why there has been concern to him about what one of the last acts of the trump administration was, to designate the houthi organisation as a terrorist organisation which has complicated an ever more complex operation simply to feed yemenis. it is also a very destructive conflict in the sense that yemenis, many of them have died in this brutal war. many of them at the hands of the saudi led coalition but also at the hands of the houthi. this led coalition but also at the hands of the houthi.— led coalition but also at the hands of the houthi. as always, thank you very much- — let's get some of the day's other news. the global consulting firm mckinsey has agreed to pay almost 600—million dollars to us states to settle legal claims that it helped fuel america's opioid crisis. mckinsey was accused of heavily promoting sales of painkillers made by the pharmaceuticalfirm purdue pharma. mckinsey has not admitted guilt. hundreds of thousands of americans have died from overdoses of prescription opioids in the past two decades. the brazilian mining firm, vale, has agreed to pay seven billion dollars in compensation after the collapse of a dam two years ago. 270 people died, when the dam gave way, unleashing a torrent of toxic mud. vale has reached a settlement with the state — to pay compensation to survivors and relatives of the victims. a hotel quarantine scheme for uk residents returning from coronavirus hotspots is expected to come into force on the 15th of february. the government says that's the date it's aiming for. it's thought that hotels will be asked to provide accommodation for more than 1,000 people a day. it comes on the day the total death toll from coronavirus passed 110,000. here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg. even firefighters are on the streets at home in some parts of the country, helping to track the swift spreading south african variant of the virus. but the government has been under attack over how they've tried to stop it getting here from abroad. a plan for travellers to quarantine in hotels on arrival is not in action yet. when you set up a new system of hotel based quarantine, we want to make sure that we get this right so that when people go to those hotels, the hotels are in place, the transport is in place, but it really is important to remember it is already the case that everybody must quarantine for ten days. that is required by law. 0n the 18th of december, the south african authorities confirmed they had found a new variant. on christmas eve, visitors from south africa were banned. later, uk arrivals coming home were told they'd have to isolate when they got back but onjanuary the 27th, ministers promised those arriving home would have to go straight to quarantine in a hotel for ten days. yet tonight government sources confirmed that won't start until february the 15th. nearly two months after the new kind of coronavirus was first discovered. the hotel industry had complained they had been kept in the dark but documents seen tonight by the bbc show the government is looking for hotels in ten different locations by airports or ports to be ready to take more than 1000 arrivals a day across the country from the middle of february through to the end of march. ministers are adamant the rules in place are stringent but there have been tensions over travel quarantine from the very start of the pandemic and now isolation in hotels on arrival is on the way, it will still only cover those coming home from hotspots and still won't come in for another ten days. it is utterly shambolic that this has been brought into effect on the 15th of february. that's over 50 days since the south african strain was first discovered in this country and little wonder, frankly, that it reached our shores. it is nearly a year since hotel quarantining was introduced in other countries. and the gap between announcing the plan and bringing it in meant travellers likejessica gold who is in south africa for business, could race home. after several cancelled flights, she made it back. 0ur haste was to get back to the uk first of all because flights were being cancelled but also because of this hotel quarantining that they wanted to implement, so we wanted to make it home. in ten days or so, the hotel proposal should become a reality. perhaps along with bigger fines for those who break the rules at the border, clamping down on coronavirus has neverjust been a question of what happens here at home. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: there was a welcome forjoe biden in china when he was vice—president, but could relations be trickier in future? we'll look at where the president's foreign policy is heading. this is the moment that millions in iran have been waiting for. after his long years in exile, the first hesitant steps of ayatollah khomeini on iranian soil. south africa's white government has offered its black opponents concessions unparalleled in the history of apartheid. and the anc leader, nelson mandela, is to be set free unconditionally. three, two, one... a countdown to a critical moment. the world's most powerful rocket ignited all 27 - of its engines at once. and, apart from its power, - it's the recycling of the rocket, slashing the cost of a launch, l that makes this a breakthrough in the business of space travel. two americans have become the first humans to walk in space without any lifeline to their spaceship. one of them called it "a piece of cake". thousands of people have given the yachtswoman ellen macarthur a spectacular homecoming in the cornish port of falmouth, after she smashed the world record for sailing solo around the world nonstop. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. president biden has set out his administation�*s plans to restore american global leadership by promising to rebuild long—standing alliances, while confronting adversaries such as russia and china. in his first big foreign policy speech the us president also said he would end support for the saudi arabia war and given. —— would end support for the saudi arabia warand given. —— in would end support for the saudi arabia war and given. —— in yemen. there's been international condemnation of china after the bbc reported claims that women in so—called re—education camps for the uighur muslim minority are being raped and tortured. presidentjoe biden and the british government are now calling on beijing to allow independent investigators into the camps. china has denied the allegations and accused the bbc of making a "false report". matthew hill has spoken to several former detainees for his report — and you may find some of their accounts distressing. two days we broadcast of the story of this woman. two days ago, we broadcast the story of tursunay ziawudun. she described how she was held in this re—education camp in xinjiang for months and was the victim of repeated rape. translation: they were three men. not one, but three. they did whatever evil their mind could think of. and they didn't spare any part of my body, biting it to the extent that it was disgusting to look at. they didn't just rape. they were barbaric. they had bitten all over my body. we also heard from gulzira, now living in the relative safety of istanbul, having fled china. she's a kazakh who says she was forced to be complicit in the rape that goes on in the camps. translation: my job is to remove | their clothes completely and then | handcuff them on their beds so they cannot move. reaction to our story has been global. the australian foreign minister says the united nations should be given immediate access to the region. the uk foreign office minister told lawmakers in parliament that the bbc�*s report was chilling and said china needed to be open about what's happening in xinjiang province. the evidence of the scale - and the severity of these violations is now far—reaching. it paints a truly harrowing picture. if china wishes to dispute this evidence, then it must allow. unfettered access to the region forthe un high commissionerl for human rights or another. independent fact—finding body. and there's been this from the us state department... it's estimated that a million uighurs and other muslim minorities are held in camps in xinjiang. china has responded to our report insisting that its camps are vocational training centres, designed to stop muslims living in the region from turning to extremism. and it denounced the bbc report as lies and misinformation. translation: there is no so-called systemic sexual assault _ and abuse against women. china is a country ruled by law. 0ur constitution guarantees and protects human rights, and it is embodied in our legal system and the government's work. now we can show you new testimony. a former inmate who describes how regular rape was in the camp she was in and how it was used as punishment. translation: one day, they assembled many people in a large hall. _ then they brought a young girl, 20 or 21 years old. she was forced to confess a bogus crime in front of everyone. she pleaded guilty to the made—up crime in flood of tears in her speech, in which she was forced to confess. after that, in front of so many people, the police raped her in turns. despite the huge international outcry that these women's testimonies have provoked, it's unlikely that china will act and allow independent scrutiny of what's going on inside their re—education camps. matthew hill, bbc news. well in his speech at the state department, president biden said the us would confront china's economic abuses and push back on its attack on human rights. but he said washington would be ready to work with beijing when it's in america's interest to do so. i'm joined now byjames green, a former state department official at the us embassy in beijing. thank you forjoining us. first of all, but the you think president biden can do to persuade china at least to allow some sort of access and stop this oppression in that area? , ~ �* �* area? first, let me think the bbc for airin: area? first, let me think the bbc for airing that _ area? first, let me think the bbc for airing that very _ area? first, let me think the bbc for airing that very troubling - for airing that very troubling report. it is very important to the world to see what is happening. i think the biting team has three different options for how they look at changing. 0ne different options for how they look at changing. one is increasing public awareness, the second is diplomacy with allies and friends. —— xinjiang. the other when it sinks in. to your question about an independent observer, i have no doubt that the united states and allies will push that with beijing. i think the critical point will be try to get non—0ecd countries to agree to that. if it is seen as not something from the united states or western powers or anglo—saxon powers i think i'll have much more impact. why will that be difficult? i i think i'll have much more impact. why will that be difficult?— why will that be difficult? i think a lot of different _ why will that be difficult? i think a lot of different countries - why will that be difficult? i think a lot of different countries have l a lot of different countries have different interest with china. for a lot of them come a commercial interests are not going to be seen as interfering in chinese affairs as the chinese government puts it will trump other concerns they have. my hope is that muslim majority countries are countries that are concerned about the plight of weaker people will speak up and join the coalition. people will speak up and 'oin the coalition. ~ ., people will speak up and 'oin the coalition. ~ . ., , coalition. what about the broader oli on coalition. what about the broader policy on china — coalition. what about the broader policy on china for— coalition. what about the broader policy on china for president - coalition. what about the broader i policy on china for president biden? would he think the main challenges will be for him and his administration going forward? i think this rallying of allies as you point in your introduction piece at what president biden said when he visited the state department will be important. what we have seen us historically when the united states can operate in coordination with other countries, we can really get chinese policies to move mostly in international policies and sometimes an domestic policy. i think there's an domestic policy. i think there's a large basket of issues from technology to human rights policy and xinjiang and hong kong to this much brighter struggle i think dick sullivan pointed to. —— jake sullivan. the chinese model and tiny system, one that liberal democracy needs to be worried about globally. how much damage they think it's been done over the past four years? —— the chinese ideological system. for the chinese ideological system. for the us to have influence on china. china could say we had a very different administration forfour different administration for four years different administration forfour years and will different administration for four years and will have different administration forfour years and will have a different one now and who knows what will happen in the future. this now and who knows what will happen in the future. $5 i now and who knows what will happen in the future-— in the future. as i think president biden said in _ in the future. as i think president biden said in his _ in the future. as i think president biden said in his remarks, - in the future. as i think president biden said in his remarks, the - in the future. as i think president i biden said in his remarks, the state department, we will have too spent a lot of diplomatic elbow grease getting other countries with us. in talking to the chinese will have the same concern that is in four years maybe there will be another administration for symbolic essay is i think by having presidentjoe biden go first at the state department, placing emphasis on us diplomacy overseas and is close, but not in secretary of state i think should give companies to his friends and adversaries that when secretary blinking speaks come he speaks for the president. blinking speaks come he speaks for the president-— the president. what about north korea? are _ the president. what about north korea? are we _ the president. what about north korea? are we likely _ the president. what about north korea? are we likely to - the president. what about north korea? are we likely to see - the president. what about north korea? are we likely to see a . the president. what about north - korea? are we likely to see a return to the way things were before president trump? it is to the way things were before president trump?— president trump? it is a good question- _ president trump? it is a good question. pyongyang - president trump? it is a good question. pyongyang seems l president trump? it is a good | question. pyongyang seems to president trump? it is a good - question. pyongyang seems to to test new administrations when they come in. president 0bama and president trump have that happen. but i can say is the new state department and political appointees that came in with the joe political appointees that came in with thejoe biden and ministration are extremely experienced in dealing with north korea. they brought back the ambassador from indonesia. with north korea. they brought back the ambassadorfrom indonesia. these are people who have negotiated with north korea and dealt with our friends and allies in the region so i think the us is a pretty good position to handle surprises from north korea should they come up. james, thank you for coming on to get your point of view and analysis. lawmakers in washington are debating whether to remove the republican, marjorie taylor—greene, from two influential congressional committees. democrats say the newly—elected congresswoman is not fit to serve after incendiary remarks she made before being elected, including calling for the us speaker to be assassinated and saying september 11 was staged. at the start of the debate, marjorie taylor—greene said she had regretted her past comments but stopped short of apologising. let's go to washington and speak to our senior north america reporter anthony zurcher. i know voting is happening right now. you are trying to keep an eye on it and talk to me but what the think we are expecting? i on it and talk to me but what the think we are expecting?- on it and talk to me but what the think we are expecting? i think we are exaecting _ think we are expecting? i think we are expecting that _ think we are expecting? i think we are expecting that the _ think we are expecting? i think we are expecting that the democratic| are expecting that the democratic majority will vote to strip one of the first committee sees. looking at the first committee sees. looking at the numbers right now, looks like there have been too republican so far who have cross party aisles and but with the democrats although all the votes are not final until it is gaveled and they are still wrestling on over 100 votes. looking at the earlier votes and the debate that was conducted, it will be a narrow win for the democrats here and punishing her but not an overwhelming rebuke and the republicans have said this as a dangerous precedent and that seemed like a convincing argument at least for their own members. she like a convincing argument at least for their own members.— like a convincing argument at least for their own members. she has said some pretty — for their own members. she has said some pretty wild _ for their own members. she has said some pretty wild things, _ for their own members. she has said some pretty wild things, have - for their own members. she has said some pretty wild things, have the i some pretty wild things, have the she? ,, . , some pretty wild things, have the she? ,, ., , ,, some pretty wild things, have the she? ,, .,, ,, some pretty wild things, have the she? ,, ,, , she? she has. she did say she regretted _ she? she has. she did say she regretted them _ she? she has. she did say she regretted them and _ she? she has. she did say she regretted them and she - she? she has. she did say she j regretted them and she talked she? she has. she did say she - regretted them and she talked about the 9/11 attacks being staged, school shootings, several being false flag operations, where anti—gun activists staged try to get gun—control legislation passed in a space laser that started california forest fires but i think would hit particularly close to home for the members of the chamber and the democrats were those endorsements of threats against nancy pelosi and other democratic leaders. particularly after the january six unrest at the capital, that kind of call for violence i think was particularly painful for them and thatis particularly painful for them and that is why they felt like they needed to take action if the republicans would insects in their own member on their own. tail: republicans would insects in their own member on their own. talk me throu~h own member on their own. talk me through the — own member on their own. talk me through the latest _ own member on their own. talk me through the latest from _ own member on their own. talk me through the latest from president i through the latest from president trump lawyers, nbc has reported that president trump will not testify under oath as part of his impeachment. what more do we know? jamie raskin, the head of the impeachment prosecution essentially in the house of representatives, issued a letter earlier today kelly donald trump he was a divider to testify and be cross—examined during the impeachment proceedings in the senate and if that he declined, it would be used against him. donald trump and he later said no he will not do it and the whole process is unconstitutional.— unconstitutional. anthony, as alwa s, unconstitutional. anthony, as always, thank _ unconstitutional. anthony, as always, thank you _ unconstitutional. anthony, as always, thank you very - unconstitutional. anthony, as always, thank you very much | unconstitutional. anthony, as - always, thank you very much indeed. the vote is happening as we speak, but for now, thank you so much for watching us here on bbc news. goodbye. hello. cold and snow on the way. for now for many of us, it's just yet more rain with an ongoing risk of flooding. but as you know, in northern scotland, the snow has arrived. heavy snow, at that, where the met office an amber warning in force throughout friday. still snowing here, and even into the weekend within the amber zone — so significant disruption as a result, as those snow totals mount. now all the wet weather, snow or rain, is from this area of low pressure only very slowly moving away over the weekend. as it does so, rain turns to snow as an increasingly strong and bitterly cold easterly wind sets in across the uk. and as that continues into next week, we will continue to see some snow coming in, particularly but not exclusively to eastern parts of the uk. this is how we start off on friday morning — most of us are above freezing. most of us seeing rain rather than snow, but the snow very much still there across northern scotland. wet, too, in northern ireland, especially to the eastern parts of northeast england — both areas with the risk of flooding from the persistent rain. showers moving into wales, southwest england, the west midlands as we go through the afternoon. east midlands, east anglia, southeast england, and parts of northern england away from that rain towards the far northeast. drier and brighterfor a time, a few sunny spells, and still that big range of temperatures from north to south across the uk. now the overall pattern doesn't change very much as we go through friday night into saturday morning. still the showers or bands of rain circulating around an area of low pressure, and still very wet for some of us in northeast england, along the east coast of scotland with that snow further inland, and especially into the hills — still snowing, perhaps for some of us, even into the start of the weekend. for all this weekend, it turns much colder and that snow becomes more widespread. plenty of cloud around on saturday, showers or spells of rain especially in the east with the wind starting to pick up, as well. i think deeper on into saturday, more of that rain turning into snow in northern england initially on the hills. looks to be a drier day though in northern ireland. 0vernight and into sunday, the cold air really starts to dig in. rain turning to snow across eastern parts, could be a prolonged spell of snow across parts of east anglia and southeast england, then further snow showers in the east — some may push further west. regardless, though, for all of us, it is much colder by then. this is bbc news, the headlines... president biden has said global challenges can only be solved by nations working together, in his first major foreign policy speech. but he said he would impose costs on russia for its actions. he called for an end to the war in yemen, saying he will stop all us support for saudi—led offensive operations. but he said that the us would continue to help the saudis defend their sovereignty. republican member of the us house of representatives, marjorie taylor—greene, has expressed regret for past incendiary comments and support for conspiracy theories. her comments come as lawmakers vote on whether to strip her of committee assignments. a brazilian mining firm has agreed to pay $7 billion in damages over the collapse of a dam two years ago. 270 people were killed when the dam unleashed a torrent of toxic mud.