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Under tight security this time he faces slander charges. In a major reset of us Foreign Policy, President Biden says america will end support for the war in yemen and rebuild its alliances. America is back. Diplomacy is back at the centre of our Foreign Policy. I take charge, id take charge read the Standing Orders and coming up this hour. Certainly not on mute how one Parish Council in the north of england has gone viral after a zoom meeting got a little out of hand. Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world. From a week on monday uk residents returning from Coronavirus Hotspots abroad will have to quarantine in hotels for ten nights. Theres been mounting pressure for ministers to set out details of the scheme, which was first announced last week. The uk government has been accused of being too slow to act. Simonjones reports. A new destination for new arrivals from the most high risk countries. British nationals returning home from more than 30 covid hot spots will have to check into designated hotels at their own expense for ten days. It is to try to stop the spread of new variants of the virus which emerged in south africa and brazil. But labour says because Quarantine Hotels wont be introduced for another ten days, lives will be put at risk. It is utterly shambolic that this has been brought into effect on the 15th Of February. Thats 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. We are in a race against time. Quarantine hotels are expected to be set up in ten locations near ports and airports. Hotel owners will be asked to provide rooms for more than 1000 new people every day with guests expected to pay around £80 per night. If anyone wants to leave their room for fresh air, they will be accompanied by security. The government insists it is working at pace. 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 that it is already the case that everybody must quarantine for ten days. That is required by law. Discussions have already taken place with more than 60 companies in the hotel and travel industries. But some hotel owners say theyve been kept in the dark. The government says the uk has one of the toughest Border Regimes in the world but thousands of passengers will continue to arrive from hotspots before the new policy becomes a reality. Simon jones, bbc news. And i spoke to simonjones earlier a little outside heathrow airport. There are Numerous Hotels and the government is going to need to sign up government is going to need to sign up a lot of them if its to provide around 1000 hotel rooms each day, Tens Of Thousands of rooms needed over the next few months people arriving back here at airports like heathrow who have come from covid hotspots. Now some in the industry see this as a great opportunity because its not been a good time for Anyone Running a hotel because of the coronavirus pandemic. At other hotel owners have expressed their frustration, other hotel owners have expressed theirfrustration, they other hotel owners have expressed their frustration, they say theyve been trying to talk to the government for a number of days and even weeks about how this will work and theyve heard absolutely nothing back, until that was, they received a document yesterday outlining some of the requirements government will need if hotels are to sign to this. The government said today it still in the early stages of this, its got ten days to sort it out, its confident it will be a success but they tell us its early days. The announcement they tell us its early days. The announcement only they tell us its early days. The announcement only came out at one minute announcement only came out at one minute past announcement only came out at one minute past midnight this morning so its unsurprising that no one has formally its unsurprising that no one has formally signed up to this but the whole formally signed up to this but the whole point of this is that we give the hotels whole point of this is that we give the hotels notice because they will need to the hotels notice because they will need to change the way they operate, we are need to change the way they operate, we are asking them to do something very different, we are giving them time to very different, we are giving them time to make those adjustments and we are time to make those adjustments and we are also time to make those adjustments and we are also giving ourselves time to ensure we are also giving ourselves time to ensure that we are also giving ourselves time to ensure that this policy is effective by working with International Partners by working with International Partners and giving our Border Enforcement Officials the time they need to Enforcement Officials the time they need to prepare to make this work. Simon. Need to prepare to make this work. Simon. What need to prepare to make this work. Simon, what more do you know about who will be involved in ensuring that travellers coming in are in the hotels, they stay in the hotels unless they are accompanied outside for a bit of fresh air because its been interesting, talking to people involved in this game is in australia recently and theyve said the weak link in that where there have been problems has been to do with private Security Contractors not necessarily having all the training they required to run this. This is how we understand it will work. When passengers arrive at heathrow and they need to be taken to a hotel, they will be escorted there by Security Officers and then, when they are at the hotel, that will be overseen by Security Officers who are going to be organised by the government, rather than by the hotel so likely to be private security firms involved. People going to hotels will need to spend most of the ten nights in their rooms. They will only be allowed out if they are accompanied, we are told, by a security officer, if they need to go out for some fresh air or perhaps a cigarette so security is going to play a big role in this so that is going to be another challenge for the government, Notjust Finding the hotel beds that they need, but also finding enough staff to be able to run this efficiently and properly, and Security Staff as well who will ensure that no one can enter the hotel who should not be able to enter the hotel. In terms of how it will work, people come off and they are in their rooms, will get served three meals a day, they will have access to fruit and tea and coffee, they will get a knock at the door with their food, they will get a knock at the door with theirfood, it they will get a knock at the door with their food, it will be provided by room service so they dont have to go out and do any sort of mingling, they will also get a couple of coronavirus tests during their ten day stay. The government is in some criticism about how long its taken to implement this but also some concern that although its ten days away, its a lot for hotels to get their heads round in a short space of time. To get their heads round in a short space of time space of time. Simon jones at heathrow simon calder, the travel editor of the independent, is in central london. Simon, hello to you. Are you expecting a rush of people trying to get back to the uk ahead of this deadline . I get back to the uk ahead of this deadhne . ~ get back to the uk ahead of this deadline . ~. , deadline . I think the government most certainly deadline . I think the government most certainly is. Deadline . I think the government most certainly is. Because deadline . I think the government. Most certainly is. Because otherwise they would not have given such a long warning, you will recall that when countries have been put on the no go list you had anything from four hours to 35 hours warning, however people have been given ten days, the word from a number of Senior Travel Industry Sources is that effectively, the government is saying to people in these so called red list countries, remember the uae, portugal, much of Southern Africa and also south america, they are saying if you do not make it backin are saying if you do not make it back in the next ten days, then you are going to be staying in a hotel like this, i stress i have no idea if this hotel is one of those being considered but its 15 minutes from eurostar, half an hourfrom london city airport, 45 minutes from heathrow, so it might be, if you want to avoid having to pay 800 or thousand pounds, get back in quickly. Bear in mind, there are no direct flights from any of these places, there havent been for the last couple of weeks. 50 places, there havent been for the last couple of weeks. Places, there havent been for the last couple of weeks. So simon, in that case, last couple of weeks. So simon, in that case, because last couple of weeks. So simon, in that case, because there last couple of weeks. So simon, in that case, because there are last couple of weeks. So simon, in that case, because there are no i that case, because there are no direct flights from these red list locations and passengers are coming in via other routes, how are they going to be identified as people who need to be in Hotel Quarantine . Because theyve filled in a Passenger Locator form, this because theyve filled in a Passenger Locatorform, this is something everybody coming to do and it will ask you which countries have you been in in the past ten days and if it is any of those red list countries, well, at the moment, of course, you have to go straight home and self isolate, along with members of your household and from the 15th of your household and from the 15th of every comic you will have to self isolate, you will be put into a hotel like this. Of course, everybody is supposed to do everything right. If you are coming in from say, portugal, of course, you will be expected to declare that and many other countries, it will be perfectly obvious from the stamps on your passport, where you have been. Briefly, what more do we know about how this will actually work . If you arrive at one of these hotels, when we know which ones they are, how will the following ten days unfold . Well, it will be pretty dull, staying in your hotel room, you can always learn a language or make lots of skype because if you want to, keeping in touch with people. You will be able to go out and smoke, if you are accompanied by a Security Guard but thats about the only fresh air opportunity you will get and drinking, we still dont know, the australians basically say, mini bar only, the New Zealanders say you can have two litres of beer and a bottle of Wine Delivered to you everyday bottle of Wine Delivered to you eve da ,. ,. , i. Everyday 0k simon, thank you. Calder there. Energy prices will rise for millions of people across the uk in april, after the regulator 0fgem said the cap for default Domestic Energy deals would be raised to cover suppliers extra costs. 0fgem defended the decision, saying its in the interest of customers to start allowing Energy Companies to recover some of the costs of unpaid bills and avoid larger price hikes in the future. The price cap was introduced in 2019 and was designed to protect customers from being over charged. But this is the first rise in the cap so how will the decision affect customers . The price cap affects 11 million households who have never switched suppliers, or whose discounted deals have expired thats about half of all uk households. The typical gas and Electricity Customer on a standard or default tariff is likely to see their bill go up by £96 to £1,138 a year. The remainder are on so called fixed deals, which will not be affected. But there are warnings this could plunge more people into energy debt. Citizens advice said 2. 1 Million People are currently behind on their energy bills with 600,000 of those households getting into debt since the start of the pandemic. The change will also take effect at a time when the Furlough Scheme and the universal credit uplift is due to end, and people are spending more time at home. The ceo of 0fgem, Jonathan Brearly, said although it was a difficult time for households, they change was being implemented in april rather than october to spread out the increase across the year, while customers were using less energy. There are Companies Fighting for your business, my advice is to get into the market, you should save around £150 but equally, if you cannot do that, call up your supplier, not only ask about the best tariff but make sure you get the help you are entitled to. We appreciate this is a difficult time for customers and we want to make sure people have all the support they need to get through the coming months. Share they need to get through the coming months. �. , they need to get through the coming months. , , months. Are all Energy Companies offerina months. Are all Energy Companies offering customers months. Are all Energy Companies offering customers dead months. Are all Energy Companies | offering customers dead Repayment Plans if that is what they need . We set the plans if that is what they need . Set the rules and reset said to those companies you need to put someone struggling with their bills on affordable Repayment Plans and a Million People around the plans today but we know the problem make it bigger so we want people to get in touch with their suppliers and get the support they are entitled to and if you dont, complain to the company, go to the Energy Ombudsman but let us know and we will pursue those companies and enforce against them if necessary. Audrey gallagher from energy uk, which represents some of the big Energy Suppliers, said very few of the Companies Make a profit and it was the right decision for the long term. There is never going to be a good time to put bills up, obviously, this is particularly bad because we know its a difficult time for people, notjust increases in consumption youve already mentioned but the fact that we are seeing job losses, Everybody Knows somebody struggling as a result of the pandemic. But i think, i would hope people could be reassured that this is being done because its necessary, the regulator sets the price, its a fair price for customers. It also ensures companies can recoup their costs which allows them to keep operating so lets be clear, this is not about making profits and making more money, this is about allowing companies to continue to operate and supply us with gas and electricity. Very, very few Companies Make any profit at all, its down quite considerably, particularly since the price cap came in but the way the cap is set, its about a fair price, set at a level that allows companies to make very, very little profit and thats Efficient Companies, so if youre not an Efficient Company you will make a loss. If, like 0ctopus, you are a very Efficient Company you can price cheaper and thats a good thing for customers because it forces everybody in the market to become more efficient and offer cheaper prices so its good for competition. This cap, its set by the regulator and its set at a level that allows companies to recover costs but crucially, is a fair price for customers. Richard neudegg is head of regulation and compliance at the uks Price Comparison and switching website, uswitch. Richard, thank you very much for talking to us today at bbc news. Do you first of all accept that view that this is the right decision for the long term and that if prices did not go up now, they might go up more next winter . Next winter . Yes, there is no den int next winter . Yes, there is no denying that next winter . Yes, there is no denying that from next winter . Yes, there is no denying that from a next winter . Yes, there is no| denying that from a consumer perspective, to hear your bill is going up from april may be £100 if youre on a variable tariff is very difficult to swallow at an appallingly difficult time with everything thats happening with families and the financial crisis and the pandemic and Everything Else but unfortunately its inevitable that we are going to have a price cap, the cap has to reflect genuine costs incurred by Energy Suppliers and two big things have happened in wholesale costs, after the first lockdown, and this increase in bad debt. Those things have happened and are true. So itjust has to happen. But it does not make it any easier for those that are going to be impacted by it if they stay on expensive tariffs. Pare impacted by it if they stay on expensive tariffs. Impacted by it if they stay on expensive tariffs. Are there better deals out there expensive tariffs. Are there better deals out there if expensive tariffs. Are there better deals out there if people expensive tariffs. Are there better deals out there if people want expensive tariffs. Are there better deals out there if people want to i deals out there if people want to switch because some research has suggested that some suppliers have been putting up the price of their better tariffs in anticipation of the fact that people might want to switch to supposedly cheaper deals . Weve had this cap since the start of 2019 and the entirety of that time there have always been fixed plans that are much cheaper than the price cap and that continues to be true now. Look at the cheapest deals on the market, its approaching £200 cheaper than the price cap we are going to have from april so customers moving to that will avoid all of the increase but also save almost the same amount again. That doesnt mean every individual supplier is going to do that with their own tariffs offering so it means you need to compare a wide view of the market, run a comparison and find out which suppliers competing and offering the best deals and if you do that its definitely possible to escape this rise and make sure not only that, but you avoid the volatility of every six months the price cap creates by fixing a deal that locks in a price for a decent period of time. � ,. ,. , in a price for a decent period of time. � ,. , , time. But if people have built up ener time. But if people have built up energy debt time. But if people have built up energy debt with time. But if people have built up energy debt with one time. But if people have built up energy debt with one supplier i time. But if people have built up| energy debt with one supplier can they switch . It energy debt with one supplier can they switch . Energy debt with one supplier can the switch . ,. , they switch . It depends on the level of debt that they switch . It depends on the level of debt that you they switch . It depends on the level of debt that you have they switch . It depends on the level of debt that you have so they switch . It depends on the level of debt that you have so most of debt that you have so most customers still will be able to do that but there will be some customers that have a particularly high level of debt, where there may be some restrictions so i would put the consumer advice here into two pockets, for most people to avoid the increase, switching tariffs on supplier is the right thing to do. If you are one of those families in a really difficult situation, you have a large amount of energy debt and you might not be able to pay your bill the advice ofjim gave this morning is right, reach out to your supplier as soon as possible, there are different Support Mechanisms available, there will be things suppliers might be able to do for you, at the very least put you on a repayment plan but there are other Support Measures there. The messages if you are worried about this, take some form of action. 0fgem. There are ways of avoiding making this difficult decision even worse. Making this difficult decision even worse. ,. ,. ,. , ~ worse. Richard, great advice, thank ou. The headlines on bbc news. Ten days in a hotel for anyone returning from coronavirus hotspot, the government says the new rules will come a bigger monday. Energy prices rising for millions of people in the uk from april, the price cap going up by £96 a year. The main russian Opposition Figure Alexei Navalny is back in court under tight security, this time facing slander charges. The race to vaccinate the worlds population is continuing, with eyes being closely kept on how effective the vaccines will be on an increasing number of emerging variants. The European Centre for disease prevention and control is today launching a vaccine tracking tool, providing an overview of countries efforts in the roll out of inoculations across europe. Lets speak to dr andrea ammon, director of European Centre for disease. Very good to have you with this year on bbc news today. Tell us about the striker which i believe will give us close to real time tracking on how vaccinations are rolling out across the eu. ,. ,. ~. , the eu. This track. Good morning, this is the purpose the eu. This track. Good morning, this is the purpose of the eu. This track. Good morning, this is the purpose of the the eu. This track. Good morning, this is the purpose of the tracker,. This is the purpose of the tracker, that basically, almost in real time, everybody cant follow how many doses are distributed to countries and how many are administered. We will further develop this tracker so that we also cant make distinctions between first and second dose and may be also between which kind of vaccine it is. And also Vaccine Uptake . Yes, but the uptake is part of the administered doses so that means how many doses have been given to persons. fik. Means how many doses have been given to ersons. ,. , to persons. 0k. Given the tensions weve already to persons. 0k. Given the tensions weve already seen to persons. 0k. Given the tensions weve already seen between to persons. 0k. Given the tensions weve already seen between the i to persons. 0k. Given the tensions| weve already seen between the eu and uk over Vaccine Supplies do you think this live dashboard showing latest data provided by eu countries could promote similar tensions if, for example, when countries seem to be doing better than another, in the effort to get its population vaccinated . I effort to get its population vaccinated . Effort to get its population vaccinated . ,. ,. , vaccinated . I mean, the effort of the countries vaccinated . I mean, the effort of the countries is vaccinated . I mean, the effort of the countries is something. The countries is something. Loss of sound and we come effort of a country, of course, have an element how well the country logistically cant distribute the vaccines. But of course, distribute the vaccines. But of course. It distribute the vaccines. But of course, it also distribute the vaccines. But of course, it also has distribute the vaccines. But of course, it also has an distribute the vaccines. But of| course, it also has an element distribute the vaccines. But of course, it also has an element how many doses they get. And to this part of the situation, we do not have an influence, we can only monitor what is happening and we can support the countries and we do support the countries and we do support the countries and we do support the countries and how well they can actually roll out what they have. ,. , they can actually roll out what they have. ,. , i. They can actually roll out what they have. ,. , have. Ok, so you may be able to rovide have. Ok, so you may be able to provide advice have. Ok, so you may be able to provide advice and have. Ok, so you may be able to provide advice and vaccination i provide advice and vaccination strategy or suggest changes to it . Exactly. We have been doing that already in the last part of last year. We have proposed groups for prioritisation, countries have now published all their priority plans. And we are rolling out now and Effectiveness Monitoring to advise countries also if any prioritisation is needed to be changed. The countries also if any prioritisation is needed to be changed. Is needed to be changed. The uk Health Secretary is needed to be changed. The uk Health Secretary said is needed to be changed. The uk Health Secretary said earlier is needed to be changed. The uk Health Secretary said earlier this| Health Secretary said earlier this week he very much hoped for a Great British summer, where people could behave relatively normally. What hope do you have for the summer across the eu, depending on help the vaccine roll out goes . In across the eu, depending on help the vaccine rollout goes . Vaccine rollout goes . In terms of ho es, vaccine rollout goes . In terms of bones. Of vaccine rollout goes . In terms of hopes, of course, vaccine rollout goes . In terms of hopes, of course, loss vaccine rollout goes . In terms of hopes, of course, loss of vaccine rollout goes . In terms of| hopes, of course, loss of sound in terms of realistic, im not so sure. ~. ,. ,. ,. , sure. We have to see how now, reall , sure. We have to see how now, really. After sure. We have to see how now, really, after this sure. We have to see how now, really, after this first sure. We have to see how now, really, after this first phase sure. We have to see how now, really, after this first phase of. Really, after this first phase of bit bumpy roll out, we have to see how quickly this can get smoother, how quickly this can get smoother, how quickly this can get smoother, how quickly countries can administer and how effective the vaccines actually are in real life as compared to the trial data that we have. � compared to the trial data that we have. , compared to the trial data that we have. �. ,. , compared to the trial data that we have. ,. , . Have. And of course how effective the are have. And of course how effective they are against have. And of course how effective they are against emerging have. And of course how effective | they are against emerging variants of the virus. So, would you say that the key challenge at the moment is Vaccine Supply . Its the key challenge at the moment is vaccine smartly . Vaccine supply . Its both, its the su l Vaccine Supply . Its both, its the sunply and Vaccine Supply . Its both, its the sunply and the Vaccine Supply . Its both, its the supply and the administration. I Vaccine Supply . Its both, its thel supply and the administration. We have done stress tests with countries and they have reported challenges. For instance, in the equipment they need, the communication, you know, Like Fighting disinformation and establishing a good trust also with the target groups for vaccination. Really interesting to talk to you today, doctor. Thank you for your time. This tight security around in courts in russia for a trial involving Alexei Navalny. Alexei navalny has appeared in court and dismissed all the charges he is facing as politically motivated. Earlier this week he was jailed for three and half years for violating the conditions of a suspended sentence even though he was being treated in germany for poisoning at the time. With the latest, here is our correspondent in moscow, sarah rainsford. This is all linked to a video that was released back injune to promote some constitutional amendments which are very controversial at the time. Essentially, allow Vladimir Putin if he so chooses to extend his time at the kremlin by another two terms as of this video clip which is produced by the Russia Today Channel featured a whole number of public figures but also a war veteran and they were essentially reading Bits Of The Constitution and then calling on people to vote for the changes. Alexei navalny tweeted about that video and tickle people involved in it the shame of the country, he said they were corrupt lackeys and he used the word traders as well and after that, the case was opened, a complaint was made to the Investigative Committee who then have accused Alexei Navalny of defaming specifically the war veteran in that clip. Interestingly, Alexei Navalny never singled out the war veteran and he says this is a politically motivated case, meant to portray him in the most possible light as Alexei Navalny against the war veteran of the Great Patriotic War as its known here, in russia. He is in court today, appearing in court, the veteran himself appearing via video link, dressed in his Military Uniform with all his medals on his chest. And the court is just in recess because Alexei Navalny says he has not had time to acquaint himself with the materials of the case, thejudge has said why himself with the materials of the case, the judge has said why not, youve had them since august, Alexei Navalny says he was busy in august and that is when he was poisoned with a nerve agent and spent 18 unconscious. Donald trump has said he will not testify at his Senate Impeachment trial next week. A statement from his lawyers described the proceedings as unconstitutional and said he would not voluntarily give evidence. Democrats accuse the former president of inciting insurrection over the attack on the Capitol Building last month. International condemnation of china continues after the bbc reported claims that women in so called Re Education Camps for the uighur Muslim Minority are being raped and tortured. The british and us governments 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. The corporation has defended its reporting of events in china as accurate and fair. Im nowjoined by rahima mahmut, the uk project director of the world uighurs congress. You are able to help with that bbc report and i understand you were involved in helping with translating, and otherjobs as well, as the bbc put that report together . Yes, that is correct and it has been extremely difficult, it has been absolutely difficult. Psychological trauma, i would absolutely difficult. Psychological trauma, i would imagine, absolutely difficult. Psychological| trauma, i would imagine, almost, absolutely difficult. Psychological i trauma, i would imagine, almost, to trauma, iwould imagine, almost, to have to look at the details of whats happening there in close detail, to read these accounts . Yes. Detail, to read these accounts . Yes, exactl. Detail, to read these accounts . Yes, exactly each detail, to read these accounts . Yes, exactly. Each person detail, to read these accounts . Yes, exactly. Each person s detail, to read these accounts . Is exactly. Each person 5 account exactly. Each person � s account lasting over one hour, even though we only take several lines, but the details, itsjust we only take several lines, but the details, its just absolutely horrific. Although i know this has been happening for a long, long time, even before i left china, i heard some x prisoners told me and it is the first time that someone like Tursunay Bravely came forward and waived her anonymity and that makes it very different. We and waived her anonymity and that makes it very different. Makes it very different. We heard the government makes it very different. We heard the government here makes it very different. We heard the government here in makes it very different. We heard the government here in the i makes it very different. We heard the government here in the uk i makes it very different. We heard the government here in the uk in j the government here in the uk in response to an urgent question in Parliament Yesterday say if china wishes to dispute the evidence contained in this report must allow unfettered access to the Un High Commission or another independent fact finding body. What is the main focus of your campaign at the moment . fist focus of your campaign at the moment . Focus of your campaign at the moment . �. , ,. , moment . At the moment, this is one ofthe moment . At the moment, this is one of the things moment . At the moment, this is one of the things that moment . At the moment, this is one of the things that we moment . At the moment, this is one of the things that we have moment . At the moment, this is one of the things that we have been i of the things that we have been calling on as well. The most urgent one at the moment is the genocide amendment to the trade bill, it has passed the House Of Lords and it will be voted on the ninth in the House Of Commons and we really hope the mps vote for this amendment because we feel for uighur muslims, there is no international court, the International Code is impossible, so if the amendment passes, then it will give us a day in court. Also, we are calling for targeted Magnitsky Act sanctions, against those individuals who are perpetrating these crimes and the entities and the us has already done it. � ,. , y entities and the us has already done it. � ,. , entities and the us has already done it. Im sorry to interrupt you, i ust it. Im sorry to interrupt you, i just wanted it. Im sorry to interrupt you, i just wanted to it. Im sorry to interrupt you, i just wanted to ask it. Im sorry to interrupt you, i just wanted to ask you it. Im sorry to interrupt you, i i just wanted to ask you specifically about the us, weve been reporting on President Biden � s keynote speech yesterday where he said america is back but do you feel this new administration will be able to help and will be prepared to take the steps needed to bring about some justice . Brute steps needed to bring about some ustice . ~. ,. ,. , justice . We do hope, we have help but action, justice . We do hope, we have help but action. We justice . We do hope, we have help but action, we dont justice . We do hope, we have help but action, we dont know. Justice . We do hope, we have help but action, we dont know. But i justice . We do hope, we have help but action, we dont know. But so. But action, we dont know. But so far, the us has already acknowledged and determined there is genocide happening and already, sanctioned the officials targeting those who are behind these crimes and the entity, blacklisting countries, blacklisting products, tomato paste, for example. But our country, we are still waiting for those actions. Thank you very much for talking to us and hopefully we can keep in touch and find out how your campaign is going the headlines on bbc news ten days in a hotel for anyone returning to the uk from Coronavirus Hotspots, the new rules will come into force a week on monday. Energy prices will rise for millions across the uk in april with the price cap going up by £96 per year. The reason we are not delaying going up by £96 per year. The reason we are not delaying this going up by £96 per year. The reason we are not delaying this change i going up by £96 per year. The reason we are not delaying this change is i we are not delaying this change is to make sure we dont have an even bigger change in october next year when people get into winter, when we know bills are under most pressure. The main Opposition Figure in russia, Alexei Navalny, is back in court, this time facing slander charges. In a major reset of us Foreign Policy, President Biden says america will end support for the war in yemen and to rebuild its alliances. I in yemen and to rebuild its alliances. In yemen and to rebuild its l alliances. Also alliances. I take charge also comint alliances. I take charge also coming up alliances. I take charge also coming up this alliances. I take charge also coming up this hour, alliances. I take charge also| coming up this hour, certainly alliances. I take charge also i coming up this hour, certainly not on mute, how one Parish Council in the north of england has gone viral after a zoom meeting got out of hand. A hospital in ayrshire was placed in lockdown last night as police dealt with what they described as three serious incidents. Ambulances were diverted during the three hour lockdown of University Hospital Crosshouse In Kilmarnock. The incidents are not being treated as Terror Related. Our correspondent Catriona Renton gave us this update from kilmarnock. You will see the hospital here is obviously open this morning, and police have reassured staff and patients that it is safe to come here, but what we know happened last night was this place was locked down for around three hours. Police were called here at around 7 45pm yesterday evening, called to a serious incident. There are unconfirmed reports that there may have been stabbings involved in this in an area in the hospital grounds, and an area remains cordoned off. We understand 20 minutes later police were called to another incident in the centre of kilmarnock, on a road called portland street, and they arrived there and then they were called to another incident, a car crash on the a76 which runs south of the town here. They say these incidents may well be linked, they say they are not Terror Related and of course, they are reassuring people that it is safe to come here. Inquiries are at an early stage, but they are saying people in the Wider Community can be reassured its not going to affect them. The uk government has confirmed that local elections in england and wales will go ahead on the 6th of may. The votes were postponed last year because of the pandemic. There have been some concerns about campaigning and keeping Polling Stations covid safe if they go ahead. Helen catt is our Political Correspondent. Helen, lets break this down and talk about the campaigning first of all, what is being said about how that can be done in a covid secure way . That can be done in a covid secure wa . ,. , that can be done in a covid secure wa 2 ,. ,. ,. , that can be done in a covid secure wa . ,. ,. , way . Quite a number of elections are lanned for way . Quite a number of elections are planned for may way . Quite a number of elections are planned for may the way . Quite a number of elections are planned for may the 6th, way . Quite a number of elections are planned for may the 6th, so way . Quite a number of elections are planned for may the 6th, so as i way . Quite a number of elections are planned for may the 6th, so as you i planned for may the 6th, so as you said, somewhere postpone from last year, some of those quite large councils. Some were postpone. It also includes some large mayoral contest, like london and the west midlands. But there are also, in england and wales, elections for police and Crime Commissioners, and those will also go ahead. As you said, there have been concerns about how you can campaign safely. We are expecting the government might give further advice on that, one of the main ways that Activist Campaign by knocking on your door, dropping a letter through the letterbox. Under the current lockdown rules, the government does not believe that is activity which is allowed under lockdown rules, so there is some concern, given that these elections are on the 6th of may, as to how they will be able to campaign effectively, particularly among smaller parties are very much rely on this method of campaigning. At the moment it is not resolved, but we are expecting to get guidance from government on that. There are other practical issues to address, like for example when you stand to be a police and Crime Commissioner, you need to collect a certain number of signatures of registered voters, so the Cabinet Office has said that there will be some changes made to there will be some changes made to the amount of travel that is necessary to do that, to take in mind the covid restrictions. 50 a mind the covid restrictions. So a lot of detail mind the covid restrictions. So a lot of detail to mind the covid restrictions. So a lot of detail to be mind the covid restrictions. So a lot of detail to be worked out, probably a very different sort of campaign. When it comes to actual voting, bring your own buy row is the line i have been hearing, how is that going to work . fine the line i have been hearing, how is that going to work . That going to work . One of the best Loved Features that going to work . One of the best Loved Features of that going to work . One of the best Loved Features of elections that going to work . One of the best Loved Features of elections in i that going to work . One of the best Loved Features of elections in the i Loved Features of elections in the uk tends to be the pencil on a string when you go to a Polling Booth, but what we mean by that is that there will be a number of measures taken in the Polling Booth itself to make them more covid secure, so the sort of things we have seen in shops and hospitality, so compulsory to wear a mask, you will have to bring your own pen or pencil, ratherthan will have to bring your own pen or pencil, rather than using one that is there, there will be screens and Hand Sanitiser, all the measures that we have got used to seeing. The Cabinet Office, in its formal announcement of this, has said that because they expect the top nine Priority Groups to be vaccinated by may, that should provide confidence to people to go and vote, and they will also extend some of the measures that allow you to nominate a proxy, someone else to bout in your place. They will extend the amount of time you can do that up until 5pm on polling day, so if you are told to self isolate, you want to miss out on you will not miss out on voting. The electoral commission, the watchdog in the uk, says it believes it is an important democratic principle that elections should continue as scheduled wherever possible. Should continue as scheduled wherever possible. Should continue as scheduled wherever ossible. ,. , wherever possible. Helen catt, thank ou. The us president , joe biden, has promised to rebuild americas global alliances. In his first majorForeign Policy speech, he said america would no longer back saudi arabia in the conflict in yemen and said washington would clamp down on russian activities which harmed american interests. The kremlin has described his words as very aggressive. Our washington correspondent lebo diseko reports. This wasjoe bidens First Official visit to a Government Department as president. That he chose the agency which is home to the nations diplomats is significant. The president had a clear message about his countrys role in the world stage. America is back. Diplomacy is back at the centre of our Foreign Policy. This is a return to multilateralism after four years of america first. American alliances are our greatest asset, and leading with diplomacy means Standing Shoulder to shoulder with our allies and key partners once again. By leading with diplomacy, we must also mean engaging our adversaries and our competitors diplomatically. The most serious of those competitors, said President Biden, is china. He said it poses a direct threat to americas prosperity, security, and democratic values, and he promised to push back on what he called beijings attack on human rights, intellectual property, and global governance. Russia too was singled out for undermining democracy both at home and abroad. Mr biden criticised the jailing of Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny. He said he would work with moscow where it was in us interests, but where it wasnt, he would take a tougher approach. 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 russias aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyber attacks, poisoning its citizens, are over. On the conflict that has led to what the un because the Worlds Largest humanitarian crisis, a Key Announcement the us will end its support for saudi arabias Military Offensive in yemen. Its a sharp change from the policy of donald trump, who had increased its backing of the saudi led coalition. President biden says he will hold the withdrawal of us troops stationed in germany. Donald trump had repeatedly accused germany of not paying enough for its own defence. He ordered the withdrawal last year, although it had not yet begun. Again and again, joe biden stressed that america is ready to resume its Leadership Role on the world stage. No doubt us allies will be pleased about the re engagement, but equally doubts are likely to remain over whether they can trust that america is back to stay. Lebo diseko, bbc news, washington. The us House Of Representatives has voted to remove the controversial republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor greene from two influential committees. Democrats argued that she wasnt fit to serve because of remarks she made before she was elected. Those include calling for the us House Speaker to be assassinated and saying 9 11 was faked. At the start of the debate, Marjorie Taylor greene said she regretted her past comments but stopped short of apologising. You see, School Shootings are absolutely real. I also want to tell you that absolutely real. I also want to tell you that 9 11 absolutely happened, i remember crying all day long. These were words remember crying all day long. These were words of the past, and these things were words of the past, and these things do were words of the past, and these things do not represent me, they do not represent my district, and they do not not represent my district, and they do not represent my values. With his thoughts on what this will mean, heres our senior north america reporter anthony zurcher. Colour committees are where the nuts and bolts of policy making takes place, and where legislators have input on the shape of legislation before it gets to a full vote in the House Of Representatives, so by stripping Marjorie Taylor greene of how committee seats, essentially taking away her ability to have any influence in Committee Hearings and influence in Committee Hearings and in the mark up of bells, that is significant, even for a relatively Junior Member of the House Of Representatives. The democrats have been outspoken in their criticism of her, in earlier procedural votes there was an indication they were sticking together. I think that because of what happened on capitol hill with the insurrection on january the 6th, i think your comments and likes on social media, threatening democratic politicians, that really hit home with them, and i felt like they had to do something if the House Republicans didnt police their own, essentially. House republicans are saying, well, if we go back and look over past comments on this particular member of congress, what is to stop us doing this with democrats who may have said controversial things before they joined said controversial things before theyjoined the House Of Representatives, going back over their previous career . So they say it is a dangerous precedent, as well as where a simple majority can tell the Minority Party tells them who they can have on committees. The Chief Executive of barclays has said that in the wake of brexit, the Uk Financial Services industry should focus on competing with the us and asia rather than the eu. Jes staley said brexit gave the uk a chance to define its own agenda. Hes been speaking to our business editor, simonjack. I think what london needs to be focused on is not frankfurt or not paris. It needs to be focused on new york and singapore. And if london can stay competitive with new york and singapore, you know, think of equivalence across the atlantic, as opposed to across the channel, i think thats how you want to drive the financial industry in the uk. Almost 12 Million People in the uk are vulnerable to future heatwaves and flooding caused by global warming, thats according to a report from a group of more than 140 organisations. Campaigners say the elderly and those with Underlying Health conditions such as Heart Disease are particularly at risk as Charlotte Wright reports. Myanmar� s military has arrested another senior figure from Aung San Suu Kyis National League for democracy party. Win tyne was taken from his home in yangon early on friday. He told the bbc he was arrested under sedition laws. Several leading civilian politicians including Aung San Suu Kyi have already been detained their whereabouts are unknown. More than three years after the devastating battle to reclaim mosulfrom so called Islamic State, its old city still lies in ruins. A unesco led project called Reviving The Spirit Of Mosul has hired locals of all faiths to Work Together to rebuild historic mosques and churches in the city. Pope francis plans to visit all three sites during his much anticipated visit to iraq in march. Nawal al maghafi reports. This is what is left of the old city in mosul. For centuries, the church and mosque stood as a testament to religious tolerance in the city. Destroyed three years ago when they battle for mosul. Today the citys people, christians and muslims, have returned together to rebuild and reclaim their ancient history. Amongst the efforts, a Project Hiring locals of all faiths to start the restoration. Hiring locals of all faiths to start the restoration. There are seven la ers of the restoration. There are seven layers of decorations, the restoration. There are seven layers of decorations, this i the restoration. There are seven layers of decorations, this is i the restoration. There are seven | layers of decorations, this is one layers of decorations, this is one layer only. It layers of decorations, this is one layer only layers of decorations, this is one layer only. It was a scene of total devastation. Layer only. It was a scene of total devastation. The layer only. It was a scene of total devastation. The old layer only. It was a scene of total devastation. The old city layer only. It was a scene of total devastation. The old city was i layer only. It was a scene of total. Devastation. The old city was turned to dust. Its people were displaced. Entire livelihoods were destroyed. These pictures from 2017 show the extent of the damage caused during the battle to reclaim the city from the battle to reclaim the city from the Group Calling itself the Islamic State. It was from this mosque that Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi declared the caliphate. In 2017, when is were retreating, they destroyed the mosques ancient minaret. Once a symbol of mosul. Brute mosques ancient minaret. Once a symbol of mosul. Mosques ancient minaret. Once a symbol of mosul. We removed about 5600 tonnes symbol of mosul. We removed about 5600 tonnes of symbol of mosul. We removed about 5600 tonnes of rubble symbol of mosul. We removed about 5600 tonnes of rubble and symbol of mosul. We removed about 5600 tonnes of rubble and about i symbol of mosul. We removed about 5600 tonnes of rubble and about 20 | 5600 tonnes of rubble and about 20 ieds, some of them put inside the wall of the mosque. It is ieds, some of them put inside the wall of the mosque. Wall of the mosque. It is not ust the physicarfi wall of the mosque. It is not ust the physical challenges i wall of the mosque. It is not ust the physical challenges that i wall of the mosque. It is notjust. The physical challenges that locals have to deal with. Is used this ministry as a base during their occupation. The writing they left on its walls a constant reminder of the trauma of the people here have endured. , endured. You can see here some ro es. Endured. You can see here some repes we endured. You can see here some ropes. We heard endured. You can see here some ropes. We heard they endured. You can see here some ropes. We heard they were i endured. You can see here some i ropes. We heard they were hanging people from here. Now mosul is going back to normal, life is coming back as it was before. In back to normal, life is coming back as it was before. As it was before. In 2014, this church was as it was before. In 2014, this church was taken as it was before. In 2014, this church was taken over as it was before. In 2014, this church was taken over by is. L as it was before. In 2014, this i church was taken over by is. As as it was before. In 2014, this church was taken over by is. As soon as the fighting ended, he returned to start rebuilding. Now that the restoration of the church is complete, he welcomes guests of all faiths something that was unthinkable for so long. Translation unthinkable for so long. Tuna mom unthinkable for so long. Translation ,,. ,. , translation sunni, shia, yazidi christians, this translation sunni, shia, yazidi christians, this place translation sunni, shia, yazidi christians, this place is translation sunni, shia, yazidi christians, this place is welcome l translation sunni, shia, yazidi| christians, this place is welcome to everyone, and we will welcome everyone, and we will welcome everyone with joy and peace. Polite for the people here, it is notjust about restoring buildings, like that were destroyed but healing an entire community wounded by war. They had lines on bbc news ten days in a hotel for anyone returning to the uk from Coronavirus Hotspots, the uk from Coronavirus Hotspots, the government says the new rules will come into force a week on monday. Energy prices will rise for millions of people across the uk in april with the price cap going up by £96 per year. The main ross russian Opposition Leader is back in court, this time on slander charges. Roma communities are already some of the most marginalised in europe. They often live in overcrowded, segregated settlements and face wide spread discrimination. But the pandemic has left many communities ravaged, completely cut off from society, with people unable to get work and many struggling to access any government support. Our europe correspondent Jean Mackenzie has spent time in one settlement in bulgaria. Segregated and shunned. Surrounded by squalor. Now devastated by the pandemic. When we talk about our problems, other people think we are over exaggerating things. But, no, we really live in the jungle. This man is taking us deep into the settlement where he has lived all his life. Home to 25,000 people, its severely overcrowded, warding off a virus is nearly impossible. People cannot keep themselves safe. If you need an ambulance, an ambulance cannot enter here. Roma communities have long been discriminated against. But the pandemic has cut them off from society completely. At one point, the people here were blamed for the outbreak of the virus, meaning no one will hire them any more, and without formal contracts, they are struggling to access government support. Surviving is now a slog. The Bulgarian Government says it is working with communities to identify and support to those in need, providing them with food parcels and additional teaching. But here, help is hard to come by, and as the rain pours, problems amount. It must be tough getting through the pandemic without water. Its. Awful. The state is not considering us like citizens. I believe that the state is like a mother for us. She should think about us, should help us when we are in need. And its not happening. It was difficult to see how life could get much harder here. But this community that is used to being ignored now feels totally abandoned. Jean mackenzie, bbc news, bulgaria. Days of torrential rain have caused some areas of france to be flooded, with many areas on high load. Areas in the south west are worst affected, as Sylvia Leonard spends reports. Southwestern france submerged. River banks breached. Vast swathes under up to ten metres of water. Translation the fact i that the water has risen so high up on the trees like that, you dont realise it. But its really something. Translation in 34 years, ive never seen anything like this. This is really exceptional. This towns deputy mayor surveys the damage the only way he can. Some have nowhere to go. A shop front now a waterfront. This tomato producing town normally hosts an internationally renowned pop festival. Now it welcomes in rescuers to help overcome this road to nowhere. Translation noone i is missing or hurt, and the residents expect this kind of event. But this flood is actually exceptional. As we havent had one of this magnitude since 1981. It caught many people off guard as they evacuated their homes. Storm justine sent rivers in this area between bordeaux and toulouse to levels not seen since the 1870s. Paris was affected too. The river seine burst its banks, proving quite an eyeful for even regular river waters. Sylvia lennan spence, bbc news. For all Tennis Players and officials who were tested for covid 19 after a coronavirus care ahead of the Australian Open have returned negative results. They had been forced into isolation after a worker at a Quarantine Hotel tested positive. Up to 30,000 spectators a day are expected. Shaimaa khalil is in melbourne and says anticipation is building at the tournament venue. I dont know if you can hear, but we are looking at the big screen, and you can already hear the umpires, the warm up games have resumed, much to the delight and relief of the organisers. Players are back on court, getting much needed practice ahead of the opening on monday. And of course none of that was happening yesterday, everything was cancelled because of that covid positive case in a hotel connected to the tournament. The 26 year old man is now confirmed to have contracted the uk strain of the virus, but no other cases connected to him, and as you say, more than 500 players, officials and coaches have now tested negative and are back. So things are looking quite positive, they are looking like they are back on track for The Main Event on monday, where we are expecting up to 30,000 spectators here in melbourne park. ,. ,. ,. , 30,000 spectators here in melbourne park. ,. ,. , now Parish Councils may been viewed by some as the smallest, least powerful parts of britains system of government. But it turns out their meetings can be just as dramatic as anything in a national parliament. Take, for example, the Parish Council in the town of handforth in cheshire. The Zoom Gathering of its planning and Environment Committee has gone viral and its members are on their way to becoming unlikley internet stars. Mark lobel reports. Recent frosty conditions in the small town of handforth spilled over into a heated meeting of the Environment Committee one comedian says was worthy of a golden globe. Its this one. Handforth Parish Council chair brian tolver begins by questioning the legitimacy of the meeting. Well start the meeting, and i want to repeat what i said at the beginning of the last meeting, that this meeting has not been called according to the law. The law has been broken. The correct titles and procedures are all important here. Are you here as the proper officer . I am here offering support to handforth Parish Council in the conduct of this meeting this evening. Youre not the proper officer. Is that as a clerk or proper officer . There is no difference between clerk and proper officer. Of course there is yes, there is. You must know the basic law. But self proclaimed monitoring officerJackie Weaver, apparently brought in as clerk to calm the tensions in previous meetings by other members present, stands her ground. Bedlam soon ensues. The law has been broken. It has been properly. Will you please let the chairman. . mrs weaver, please if you disrupt this meeting, i will have to remove you from it. You cant its only the chairman who can remove people from the meeting. You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver. No authority at all shesjust kicked him out. No, shes kicked him out dont. Shes kicked him out this is a meeting called by two councillors. Illegally they may now elect a chairman. No, they cant, the vice chair is here, i take charge read the Standing Orders. Read them and understand them she gasps. Stop it appalling behaviour with both the chair and vice chair now consigned to a virtual waiting room, Jackie Weaver asks whether they should be let back in, but the other members arent in forgiving mood. Im afraid that i would be loath for that to happen, because weve got work to get through, and i can only see everything being. Even more disrupted. Hundreds of thousands of views of the lively scenes have awakened what would normally be a sleepy Parish Council meeting into an internet sensation, with one Presenter Tweeting out loud, but what happens next . mark lobel, bbc news. You are watching bbc news. Reeta chakrabarti will be here with you next to take you through until one oclock. Before that, a look at the weather with matt taylor. A hint of spring today, but winter is back with a vengeance this weekend, icily cold for all, and for some there will be snow. Low pressure established at the south east, opening the door to Easterly Winds, bringing ever colder air from Easterly Winds, bringing ever colder airfrom scandinavia, and with Easterly Winds, bringing ever colder air from scandinavia, and with that air from scandinavia, and with that a noticeable chill into next week. It is going to feel like temperatures are well below freezing by monday. Eastern areas, and easterly wind, most prone to snow, but the northern half of scotland has already had problems on roads and rail surfaces, as well as power supply. An Amber Warning remains in place for grampians and East Highlands into tonight. Elsewhere across scotland, rain across lower levels, central and eastern parts, the rain could cause a few Flooding Issues as it persists. Heaviest of the rain in Northern Ireland eases off, sunshine and showers through england and wales, quite pleasant when you get sunshine, up to 12 degrees for one or two. Into tonight, milder conditions continue, but when you get a clear skies for long enough there could be a touch of frost. Feeling cold across scotland, Northern Ireland and eventually Northern England into tomorrow, easterly wind developing, snow to lower levels developing across the pennines through saturday, outbreaks of heavy, maybe thundery rain across england and wales, sunshine in between, and notice the temperatures, 2 4 across parts of scotland now, 8 10 in the south of england. As we go through saturday night into sunday, snow flurries just about anywhere, but the main focus will be eastern parts of the uk, more especially east anglia and the south east where we could see some significant and disruptive amounts of snow being blown around by strong and gusty winds, making it feel ever colder as we go through the day. Some Western Areas stay dry and bright, we will firm up how much snow will fall over the next few days. The race continues into monday with Easterly Winds, frequent snow showers pushing in off the north sea. Pinpointing exactly where they will be at this stage is a little bit difficult, but it could cause further problems. By west, dry and bright, but for all, west, dry and bright, but forall, temperatures west, dry and bright, but for all, temperatures on the thermometer is onlyjust temperatures on the thermometer is only just a temperatures on the thermometer is onlyjust a degree or so above freezing, and it will feel much colder uk wide as we go monday afternoon. This is bbc news. Im reeta chakrabarti. The headlines at 11. 00am. Energy prices will rise for millions of people across the uk in april with the price cap going up by £96 a year. With the price cap going up by £96 a ear. ,. ,. ,. ,. , year. The reason we are doing it now and not the year. The reason we are doing it now and not the length year. The reason we are doing it now and not the length as year. The reason we are doing it now and not the length as changes i year. The reason we are doing it now and not the length as changes to i and not the length as changes to make sure we dont have an even bigger change in october next year when people get into winter when we know girls are under most pressure. Ten days in a hotel for anyone returning to the uk from Coronavirus Hotspots. The new rules will come into force a week on monday. Data published in the uk Prospect Medicine Regulator confirms that approved vaccines to meet strict safety standards. Lockdown at a hospital in ayrshire after reports of stabbings. Police described as three serious incidents but it is not being treated as Terror Related. I but it is not being treated as Terror Related. But it is not being treated as Terror Related. ,. ,. , Terror Related. I take charge. Read the standing Terror Related. I take charge. Read the Standing Orders. Terror related. I take charge. Read the Standing Orders. Read Terror Related. I take charge. Read the Standing Orders. Read them i Terror Related. I take charge. Read| the Standing Orders. Read them and understand them the Standing Orders. Read them and understand them certainly the Standing Orders. Read them and understand them certainly not i the Standing Orders. Read them and understand them certainly not on l understand them certainly not on good, how one paris console in the north of england has gone viral after resume meeting got out of hand. Energy prices will rise for millions of people across the uk in april after the regulator 0fgem said the cap for default Domestic Energy deals would be raised to cover suppliers extra costs. 0fgem defended the decision, saying its in the interest of customers to start allowing Energy Companies to recover some of the costs of unpaid bills and avoid larger price hikes in the future. The price cap was introduced in 2019 and was designed to protect customers from being over charged. But this is the first rise in the cap, so how will the decision affect customers . The price cap affects 11 million households who have never switched suppliers or whose discounted deals have expired thats about half of all uk households. The typical gas and Electricity Customer on a standard or default tariff is likely to see their bill go up by £96 to £1,138 a year. The remainder are on so called fixed deals, which will not be affected. But there are warnings this could plunge more people into energy debt. Citizens advice said 2. 1 Million People are curently behind on their energy bills, with 600,000 of those households getting into debt since the start of the pandemic. The change will also take effect at a time when the Furlough Scheme and the universal credit uplift is due to end and people are spending more time at home. The ceo of 0fgem Jonathan Brearly said although it is a difficult time for households, customers are entitled to support from suppliers if they are struggling. There if they are struggling. Are Companies Fighting for your there are Companies Fighting for your business and there is a big competition between them to get your business, so my advice is to get into that market. If you cant do that, then to call up your supplier, ask if you have got the best tariff and ask for the help youre entitled to. We appreciate this is a difficult time for customers and we want to make sure that people have all the support they need. We said to those companies you need to put somebody struggling with their bills on affordable Repayment Plans. We know the problem may get bigger so we want people to get in touch with their suppliers and get the support they are entitled to you. If they dont, complained to the company, let us know and we will pursue those companies is in force against them if necessary. There is never going to be a good time to put builds up, obviously, this is particularly bad because we know it is a difficult time for people, notjust increases in consumption as you have mentioned, but the fact we are seeing job losses, Everybody Knows somebody who is struggling because of the pandemic. I would is struggling because of the pandemic. Iwould hope is struggling because of the pandemic. I would hope that people could be reassured that this is being done because it is necessary and the regulator sets the price. It is a fair price for customers. It also ensures that companies can recoup their lots. This is not about making profits are making more money, it is about allowing companies to continue to operate and supply us with gas and electricity is. Very few Companies Make any profit at all, and it is not particularly since the price tag came in. The way the cap is set, it is a fair price, its allows companies to be very, very little profit, and that is Efficient Companies. If you are a very Efficient Companies you can price cheaper. Tap forces everybody in the market to become more efficient and offer cheaper prices, so it is good for competition. This cap is set at a level that allows companies to recover costs, but crucially is a fair price for customers. Fair price for customers. Ruth lantton fair price for customers. Ruth langton is fair price for customers. Ruth langton is from fair price for customers. Ruth langton is from the fair price for customers. Ruth j langton is from the Campaign Fair price for customers. Ruth langton is from the Campaign Group fuel Poverty Action and she joins us now. What are your concerns about this news . ,. , now. What are your concerns about this news . This news . You can call it a fair rice, this news . You can call it a fair price. But this news . You can call it a fair price, but people this news . You can call it a fair price, but people cant this news . You can call it a fair price, but people cant afford l this news . You can call it a fair| price, but people cant afford to heat their homes. In this country we are seeing a level of poverty now that we havent seen for generations. People are really hungry and cold and people are trapped in debt because they cant get up because their flat is too cold. Pensionersjust to get up because their flat is too cold. Pensioners just to go out to a library with the flask of tea to keep warm but you can do that now. How are you going to hold home school your children when they are cold and they might be hungry as well . Then all the people working from home who used to be in a warm place, but theyre not now. There are people of sick and isolating and paying more for their energy. Our view is that if prices have to go up, then incomes have to go up immediately to cover it, and that means benefits, had been universal credits, disability benefits, pensions, wages, the low wages that people are on now, furlough payments. We need the money to cover any extra costs. If the Energy Companies cant manage to survive, then some of them are going to the wall. The whole system is set up in a way that completely disadvantages customers and it should be taken over, put back into public hands and run in a way that takes account of peoples needs to live. So run in a way that takes account of peoples needs to live. Run in a way that takes account of peoples needs to live. So we know that around peoples needs to live. So we know that around 11 peoples needs to live. So we know that around 11 Million Peoples needs to live. So we know that around 11 million households l that around 11 million households are going to be affected by this, about half of all uk households. These are people who have never switched suppliers or whose discounted deals have expired. This rise to the price cap has been passed by the regulator and i suppose the advice would be to people to try and switch suppliers to find a better deal. Yes. People to try and switch suppliers to find a better deal. To find a better deal. Yes, they alwa s to find a better deal. Yes, they always say to find a better deal. Yes, they always say that to find a better deal. Yes, they always say that as to find a better deal. Yes, they always say that as if to find a better deal. Yes, they always say that as if it to find a better deal. Yes, they always say that as if it is i to find a better deal. Yes, they always say that as if it is a i to find a better deal. Yes, they always say that as if it is a big l always say that as if it is a big solution. And it can make things better, but a lot of people rejected that as a solution. They dont want to scurry from one supplier to another. They are worried as soon as they switch the prices will go up again, the comparison will change. It is not a solution to a System Thatis it is not a solution to a system that is rotten at the core. We are still using fossil fuels is the main means of heating. That has to change. Climate change is an imperative that is destroying so many lives. We are still living in very, very bad housing which is not well insulated. Some people have even had their insulation taken off with a cladding in tower blocks and they can get whatever they do. People whose installation or the repair to their house, the Window Frames or so one is not good, they will pay much more than this extra £96. The £96 is on average. If you are needing more heating and your landlord wont fix it, in that situation you are hitting the streets. There are bigger things he did now. ,. ,. ,. ,. , did now. You are wasting a whole because tip did now. You are wasting a whole because tip issues did now. You are wasting a whole because tip issues which did now. You are wasting a whole because tip issues which are i because tip issues which are interconnected, but this is about a very specific thing which is about a price rise from april. The regulator is also saying it is better to bring this in now. They say it is better to bring it in now and april when temperatures rise, when people are less reliant on heating than to wait until the autumn. Less reliant on heating than to wait until the autumn. They are trying to s uare a until the autumn. They are trying to square a circle. Until the autumn. They are trying to square a circle. They until the autumn. They are trying to square a circle. They are until the autumn. They are trying to square a circle. They are trying i until the autumn. They are trying to square a circle. They are trying to l square a circle. They are trying to make the best of something that is set up to fail in the first place. With covid we have seen that is happening all the time. What we have in place now, a lot of safety net has gone and a lot of structures are just not set up to prioritise the things that people know are important, and have said since this beginning of the pandemic that we need a reset. We need to start over and think with the priorities are, and think with the priorities are, and the priorities for most people are protecting life and life for people here at the bottom, who are most vulnerable. If you cant heat your home you are more vulnerable to illness and god help you if url. If you have covid in a cold, damp flats, people are really worried that there will be extra deaths because of Rising Energy prices when the protections really arent there. We need to do something much more fundamental than telling people to switch. People dont have faith and competition is the answer for them. Thank you very much indeed. Some due to bring you from Police Scotland, who say that there has been an ongoing incident in kilmarnock. We just learned that two women and one man have died in a series of incidents in kilmarnock. This happened on thursday night. It happened on thursday night. It happened last night. We know that there were three serious incidents in east ayrshire. What you are seeing their is the police area that has been cordoned off at Crosshouse In Kilmarnock last night. I am also going to be able to bring you some other pictures. The University Hospital in Crosshouse In Kilmarnock was placed on lockdown yesterday evening and ambulances were diverse as diverted to the University Hospital in ayr. This is a statement from Police Scotland. The Chief Superintendent said a number of locations remain cordoned off as officers continue to conduct enquiries. We are working to confirm the full circumstances of what has happened. If anyone has any information which could assist our enquiries, please do contact us. Understandably, people will be sharper what has happened. We are still in the process of establishing the full circumstances. He wants to reassure people that there is no wider threat to the community. That news there from Police Scotland three people, two women and one man, have died in that incident in kilmarnock last night. From a week on monday, uk residents returning from Coronavirus Hotspots abroad will have to quarantine in hotels for ten nights. There has been mounting pressure for ministers to set out details of the scheme, which was first announced last week. The government has been accused of being too slow to act. Simonjones reports. A new destination for new arrivals from the most high risk countries. British nationals returning home from more than 30 covid hot spots will have to check into designated hotels at their own expense for ten days. It is to try to stop the spread of new variants of the virus which emerged in south africa and brazil. But labour says because Quarantine Hotels wont be introduced for another ten days, lives will be put at risk. It is utterly shambolic that this has been brought into effect on the 15th Of February. Thats 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. We are in a race against time. Quarantine hotels are expected to be set up in ten locations near ports and airports. Hotel owners will be asked to provide rooms for more than 1000 new people every day with guests expected to pay around £80 per night. If anyone wants to leave their room for fresh air, they will be accompanied by security. The government insists it is working at pace. 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 that it is already the case that everybody must quarantine for ten days. That is required by law. Discussions have already taken place with more than 60 companies in the hotel and travel industries. But some hotel owners say theyve been kept in the dark. The government says the uk has one of the toughest Border Regimes in the world but thousands of passengers will continue to arrive from hotspots before the new policy becomes a reality. Simon jones, bbc news. Our Correspondent Simonjones is outside heathrow airport. Where i am at the moment, very close to heathrow airport, there are Numerous Hotels and the government is going to need to sign up a lot of them, if it is going to provide around 1,000 hotel rooms each day, Tens Of Thousands of rooms needed over the next few months. People arriving back here at airports like heathrow who have come from covid 19 hotspots. Some in the industry see this as a great opportunity because it is not a good time at the moment for Anyone Running a hotel because of the coronavirus pandemic about other hotel owners have expressed their frustration, they say they have been trying to talk to the government for a number of days and even weeks about how this will work. They have heard absolute he nothing back. Until that was, they received a document yesterday outlining some of the requirements that the government will need if hotels are to sign up to this. The government has said today that it is still in the early stages of this, it has got ten days to sort it out. It is confident that it will be a success, but they tell us, it is early days. The announcement only came out at one minute past midnight this morning, so, it is unsurprising that no one has formally signed up to this, but the whole point of this is that we give the hotels notice because they will need to change the way they operate, they may need to do something very different, we need to give them time to give those adjustments and we also giving ourselves time to ensure that this policy is effective by working with International Partners, and giving the Border Enforcement Officials the time they need to prepare to make this work. This is how we understand it will work, when passengers arrive at heathrow and they need to be taken to a hotel, they will be escorted there by Security Officers and then, when they are at the hotel, that will also be overseen by Security Officers who are going to be organised by the government, rather than by the hotels. It is likely to be private security firms involved. People going to hotels will need to spend most of the ten nights in their rooms, they will only be allowed out if they are accompanied, we are told, by a security officer, if they need to go out for a bit of fresh air or perhaps for a cigarette. Security is going to play a big role in this. So that is going to be another challenge for the government, Notjust Finding the hotel beds that they need, but also finding enough staff to be able to run this efficiently. And properly, as well. Security staff who will ensure that no one can enter the hotel, who should not be able to enter the hotel. In terms of how it will work, people, when they are in their rooms, will get served three meals a day, they will have access to fruit and tea and coffee. They will get a knock on the door with their food that will be provided by room service, so that they do not have to go out and do any sort of mingling. They will also get a couple of coronavirus tests during their ten days. But the government are facing some criticism as to how long it has taken them to implement this, but also some concern that although it is ten days away, it is a lot for hotels to get their heads round in a short space of time. Simon calder is the Travel Reporter for the independent. The passengers will have builtin for the independent. The passengers will have builtin passenger for the independent. The passengers will have builtin Passenger Locator | will have built in Passenger Locator form. Every visitor to the uk is required to do this. It asked you which countries you have been on in the last ten days and if it is a reckless country, at the moment you have to go straight home and self isolates along with members of your household, and the 15th Of February you will have to to be put into a hotel like this. Of course, everybody is supposed to do everything right. If you are coming in from portugal you dont get a stamp that you would be expected to declare that and for many other countries it would be perfectly obvious from the stamps on your passport where you have been. Data on the two Coronavirus Vaccine cheesed in the uk have been published, saying that they are safe. The vast majority of side effects reported by those who have had the vaccine are sure answer the vaccine has been given, and mild cold and flu like symptoms that last for a couple of days. With me now is our health correspondentjim reed. Over 10 Million People have been vaccinated already. They will think, well, this isjust as vaccinated already. They will think, well, this is just as well, vaccinated already. They will think, well, this isjust as well, but vaccinated already. They will think, well, this is just as well, but why are we being focused now . Thats ritht. Are we being focused now . Thats right there are we being focused now . Thats right. There are are we being focused now . Thats right. There are a are we being focused now . Thats right. There are a large are we being focused now . Thats right. There are a large group i are we being focused now . Thats right. There are a large group of l right. There are a large group of people who have received the vaccine either from astrazeneca or pfizer biontech. The regulator in the uk has not looked at real world data. It is good that the 7 billion at the time that they worked out this data. People who had received the dose to look at side effects to see if there was anything that was being thrown up in the stated that we should be worried about. The answer is no, this data is very reassuring. The regulator said both vaccines are extremely safe, the benefits far outweigh the risks. I will go over some of the figures. They found 20,000 reports of side effects so far, but that is out of 7 million doses. Although it seems like quite a large number, the proportion is fairly small, about three in every 1,000 people who took the Pfizer Vaccine reported an adverse reaction. The oxford vaccine about the same, four and every 1,000. Those reactions were very mild. The regulator saying the same sort of adverse effects you would see with the flu vaccine, so no more than bad. They said the key message from this today as they are not saying unexpected serious reactions, so nothing is being thrown about the stated that they werent expecting from the clinical trials. We have just had a Press Release from the government confirming that they intend to vaccinate everybody in the uk over the age of 50, as well as the clinically vulnerable by may. This is a target that has not yet been clear, but that has just been released. I wanted to ask you, we know that the eu has suggested that the uk has somehow compromised safety on vaccines. We have not had this information from the regulator, has been a reaction . The this information from the regulator, has been a reaction . Has been a reaction . The regulator was asked about has been a reaction . The regulator was asked about that has been a reaction . The regulator was asked about that about has been a reaction . The regulator was asked about that about an i has been a reaction . The regulator| was asked about that about an hour ago. The European Commission president suggested earlier this week that the uk had got some sort of head start in the Vaccination Programme because it had compromised safety and efficacy standards. The regulator to date pushed back strongly against this, saying they pursue rigorous science of this, have not cut any corners and saying there has been no compromising on safety whatsoever. The government has revealed its intention to vaccinate everybody in the uk over the age of 50 by may. We canjoin our political the uk over the age of 50 by may. We can join our Political Correspondent Helen Kaci Is At Westminster for us. The government has always said it is the end of spring that they would have hoped to vaccinate people in the nine priority cohorts. They havent given a date date. This may date is in line for the official release from the Cabinet Office in about local elections. Within that release it says that the uk Vaccination Programme is planned to reach all of the nine cohorts by may. That is the first time that we have heard this idea that may might be the target that they are moving towards for vaccinating. Ihlihe towards for vaccinating. Nine riori towards for vaccinating. Nine priority grouos towards for vaccinating. Nine Priority Groups. As towards for vaccinating. Nine Priority Groups. As you i towards for vaccinating. Nine Priority Groups. As you mentioned there, this came out other statements about the local elections in may in england, which we are told will go ahead. The in may in england, which we are told will go ahead in may in england, which we are told will go ahead. The pressure has been on the government will go ahead. The pressure has been on the government to will go ahead. The pressure has been on the government to make will go ahead. The pressure has been on the government to make a will go ahead. The pressure has been | on the government to make a decision about these polls from local authorities and Political Parties for quite a few weeks, concerns about how they may be able to run them safely. Today, the government has formally said that the Council Elections that were scheduled for the 6th of may and the police and Crime Commissioner elections will go ahead as planned. Some of those had already been postponed for a year. The 2020 elections were postponed because of the pandemic. The government fears that other countries have managed to hold elections safely and it can be done. It will putting £15 million extra for councils to help fund the costs of making the Council Covid secure. For example, when you go to the Polling Station you will have to wear a mask, there will be dividers screens, Hand Sanitiser is. There will be an extra £16 million added to the funds to fund the police and Crime Commissioner elections. Political activists have been complaining about how they will campaign safely during these elections. Doorto campaign safely during these elections. Door to door leafleting, currently government advice is that is not compatible with the current lockdown restrictions. There will be a lot of questions about this, but there is to stem from the government that those elections will go ahead on the 6th of may. The that those elections will go ahead on the 6th of may. That those elections will go ahead on the 6th of may. The families of some of the on the 6th of may. The families of some of the hundreds on the 6th of may. The families of some of the hundreds of on the 6th of may. The families of some of the hundreds of patients| on the 6th of may. The families of some of the hundreds of patients who died in the Hampshire Hospital after being given Dangerous Levels powerful painkillers want an enquiry into the deaths. It follows an inquiry two years ago which found more than 450 patients at the gosport War Memorial Hospital had their lives shortened by the drugs. No charges have ever been brought. Lawyers for the families have lodged official requests in the hope of setting up a wide ranging inquest to investigate all the individuals and agencies involved, and to consider the causes of death, which could include anything from Natural Causes to unlawful killing. Duncan kennedy reports. For 23 years, charles farthing and his wife anne and have asked questions about the gosport War Memorial Hospital. Charless stepfather brian died after being given powerful opiate drugs there. Which charles says has never been explained. Harrowing, quite frankly. Feeling the system is not there to help. Its been actually obstructing the progress towards justice. In the 1990s, hundreds of patients at the hospital were put on the powerful painkillers. Two years ago, a bishop led inquiry found that 456 patients had their lives shortened by the drugs. Now lawyers for some of the families say its time for a hillsborough style inquest to reveal what went on. What were eventually hoping to trigger is that the chief coroner will agree that inquest should be held. That they should be held together, that they should be judge led, and there should be a jury. Doctorjane barton oversaw the administration of drugs at the hospital. She said she had been a hard working doctor doing her best for patients. Relatives are also waiting for a Police Inquiry to conclude. Detectives are looking into the cases of around 700 patients who were at this hospital and to see whether any criminal charges would be brought in this case. It may take months for families to hear if they will get a newjudge led inquest. They say this is the last hope forjustice. Duncan kennedy, bbc news, in gosport. Now its time for a look at the weather. Hello, there. Some of the coldest conditions of the winter so far under way into the end of the weekend and next week. Out there today, the risk is mainly across the ground plains and eastern highlands, we have already had a few problems today. Met Office Amber Warning already remains in place through the rest of today. Outbreaks of rain through central, eastern scotland and into north east england, that could cause some flooding, but some heavy rain is mostly seen in Northern Ireland, it is easy off a little bit. Showers towards wales and the south west become a bit more widespread, but pushing towards the midlands. Some sunshine in between those, a few staying completely dry and hints of spring in the air. 11 12 degrees towards the south, compared to 2 5 c in the north. Into this evening and overnight, and Easterly Winds become more established, snow falls to lower levels in eastern scotland, outbreaks of rain across england, wales, Northern Ireland, but some clear skies in between, which could lead to a frost in one or two spots. As the colder air works south, easterly wind becomes established through saturday, into sunday, but ijust want to draw your attention to these main risk areas for some heavy snow into this weekend, particularly on sunday in east anglia and the south east. I will keep you updated. Hello this is bbc news the headlines. Energy prices will rise and millions of people across the uk with the price cap going up by £96 per year. The with the price cap going up by £96 er ear. ,. ,. ,. , per year. The reason we are doing it now and not per year. The reason we are doing it now and not delaying per year. The reason we are doing it now and not delaying this per year. The reason we are doing it now and not delaying this change i per year. The reason we are doing it now and not delaying this change is | now and not delaying this change is to make sure we do not have an even bigger change in october next year when people get. Will be bill is under most pressure. When people get. Will be bill is under most pressure. Three people have died in under most pressure. Three people have died in what under most pressure. Three people have died in what police under most pressure. Three people have died in what police are under most pressure. Three people have died in what police are calling| have died in what police are calling a series of incidents and come out last night. Ten days in a hotel for anyone returning to the uk from Coronavirus Hotspots. Govett says the new rules will come into force a week on monday. Data published from the uks made medicine regulator confirms the vaccines do meet strict regulations if you vaccines add us. And in the last two minutes, the government has said it plans to vaccinate all over 50s by may. Redd vaccinate all over50s by may. Read the standing vaccinate all over50s by may. Read the Standing Orders. Vaccinate all over 505 by may. Lie n the Standing Orders. Read and understand the net and coming up this hour, certainly not on mute, how one Parish Council in the north of england has gone viral after a meeting got a little out of hand. Lets have a look at all the sports now from the bbc sport centre. Good morning. Its been a brilliant morning for the england captainjoe root. Hes scored a century in his 100th test match for england. He did it on the first day of the first test against india in chennai, and becomes the third englishman to score a hundred in their 100th test. England are now well in control of the first test, having lost rory burns and dan lawrence relatively cheaply, root and dom sibley built a good total. Sibley was nearing his century, hes just gone, lbw off the bowling ofjasprit bumrah, gone for 87. England are 263 for 3 at close of play. Jose mourinho remains optimistic that tottenham can turn theirform around, after their Third Premier League defeat in a row. They lost at home to his old side chelsea last night. The only goal of the game coming from a penalty scored by georgino. Believe it or not this is the first time injose mourinhos entire career that hes lost consecutive home games as a manager. The way we finished the game, it gives me positive feelings. It is not bad, that stops them is that of the defensive mistakes, its not bad to be a team with solid bases to try and play differently. These feelings dont give us back, but the give us eight difficult smile in the face because we lost, but give us optimism to go tomorrow, to work again and fora optimism to go tomorrow, to work again and for a run to stick together. Some positive news ahead of the Australian Open. More than 500 players, support staff and officials, who were told to self isolate ahead of the tournament have all tested negative for coronavirus. Our tennis correspondent russell fuller, told mike bushell its now all systems go for the start of the open on monday. Things are looking good for the austrian open and also for the completion over the weekend. The 160 players who spent much of thursday on self isolation, we are waiting to see if their test results will come back negative after having been had the casual contact at the hotel who tested positive, we got the all clear. The other very good piece of news from melbourne overnight is that in the last 24 hour period, there were no locally acquired cases of covid 19. It does not mean that melbourne and the Australian Open if out of the woods, but it is encouraging news. That out of the woods, but it is encouraging news. Out of the woods, but it is encourattin news. ,. , encouraging news. At least now we can talk about encouraging news. At least now we can talk about the encouraging news. At least now we can talk about the tennis, encouraging news. At least now we can talk about the tennis, then i can talk about the tennis, then which is good news. And also the draw being made which is good news. And also the draw being made amazing when you think there are draw being made amazing when you think there are only draw being made amazing when you think there are only two draw being made amazing when you think there are only two british i draw being made amazing when you think there are only two british menl think there are only two british men in the singles draw that they should come up against each other in the very first round. Dan evans and karen norrie will meet at store level for the first time in their careers. The four british women have all found out their fate as well. The 13 seats will start against the slovenian qualifier kyo van and the good draw i think for the other three players in the draw as well, none of them will come against seeds. Franjones was making her grand slam main draw debut, having come through qualifying, will start against the american shelby rogers, Heather Watson plays christina plex, just as she did in the first round of the Australian Open last year, and katie bolted up against russias player. Is and katie bolted up against russias la er. ,. ,. , and katie bolted up against russias. La er. ,. ,. , player. Is that we could before that, so news player. Is that we could before that, so news unassuming i player. Is that we could before that, so news unassuming williams. Yes, she had main makes serena williams. Yes but she had pulled out citing a right shoulder injury. It means that she does not play the world number one ashley batty in the semifinals on saturday, but he gets a bite through to the final, but i wouldnt worry too much from Serena Williamss perspective, she has played and won three matches this week in the warm up event and i think, properly, given herage, 39, the fact that the grand slams starts on monday, she is not desperately keen to be playing another couple of matches over the weekend. Keen to be playing another couple of matches over the weekend. Staying in australia. The former England Rugby league captain sam burgess has been found guilty of an intimidation charge in australia. A court in sydney has ruled that burgess intimindated his former father in law mitchell hooke, with the intention of causing physical or mental harm. Hes been given a conviction and placed on a two year good behaviour bond. Burgess says hell appeal the decision. Her royal highness, the princess royal, says she hopes the tokyo olympics, can still go ahead in some way, shape or form. Organisers insist the re scheduled games will take place, despite the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Princess anne has been talking to the bbc as president of the riding for the disabled association. I think for those who debate about whether, you know, if it is not done and has no spectators, why bother . I think the Olympic Games structure and ethos was about the athletes themselves, so the opportunity for athletes to come together from all over the world and that will be manageable. Then, from the olympic charter� s perspective, that is what you ought to try and do. Fifty years ago this week astronaut alan shepard stood on the surface of the moon, pulled out a golf club, and whacked a couple of golf balls. He joked that one went miles and miles, and now an imaging specialist thinks hes found the golf balls, and has figured out exactly how far they went. Here is shepard on the moon in 1971. He had smuggled a makeshift club into his sock on apollo iii. You can just make it out here. He made a mess of his first attempt, but claimed greater success with his second. It must be difficult on what is like a giant unraked rocky bunker, no gravity either. Well, imageing specialist Andy Saunders has been working with the Us Golf Association to mark the anniversary, and hes digitally enhanced the original photographs. Hes located that second ball and he says it went about a0 yards. Not bad thats all the sport for now. More from us throughout the day. Donald trump has said he will not testify at his senate we begin in the us, where President Biden has pledged to rebuild americas alliances and re engage with the world in his first major Foreign Policy speech. Mr biden said solutions to problems such as Armed Conflicts and climate the presence of us troops there has been a cornerstone of nato security since the start of the cold war. President biden also pledged to keep up President Biden also pledged to keep up a trumper� s hard stance on china, but he made it clear that he would take a much tougher line than his predecessor when dealing with the russian predator russian president , but it to ten. Correspondent reports. This wasjoe biden� s First Official visit to a Government Department as president. That he chose the agency which is home to the nations diplomats is significant. The president had a clear message about his countrys role on the world stage. America is back. Diplomacy is back at the centre of our Foreign Policy. This is a return to multilateralism after four years of america first. American alliances are our greatest asset, and leading with diplomacy means Standing Shoulder to shoulder with our allies and key partners once again. By leading with diplomacy, we must also mean engaging our adversaries and our competitors diplomatically. The most serious of those competitors, said President Biden, is china. He says it poses a direct threat to americas prosperity, security, and democratic values, and he promised to push back on what he called beijings attack on human rights, intellectual property, and global governance. Russia too was singled out for undermining democracy both at home and abroad. Mr biden criticised the jailing of Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny. He said he would work with moscow where it was in us interests, but where it wasnt, he would take a tougher approach. 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 russias aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyber attacks, poisoning its citizens, are over. On the conflict that has led to what the un called the Worlds Largest humanitarian crisis, a Key Announcement the us will end its support for saudi arabias Military Offensive in yemen. Its a sharp change from the policy of donald trump, who had increased its backing of the saudi led coalition. Millions of yemenis are thought to have died in the war that began six years ago. President biden says he will halt the withdrawal of us troops stationed in germany. Donald trump had repeatedly accused germany of not paying enough for its own defence. He ordered the withdrawal last year, although it had not yet begun. Again and again, joe biden stressed that america is ready to resume its Leadership Role on the world stage. No doubt us allies will be pleased about the re engagement, but equally, doubts are likely to remain over whether they can trust that america is back to stay. Lebo diseko, bbc news, washington. Lets speak to our security correspondent frank gardner. Frank, i wonder if we can focus on one of those specific policy changes. About the us ending support for saudi arabia in the war in yemen. What is this like to mean what is it likely to mean for the conflict there . I what is it likely to mean for the conflict there . What is it likely to mean for the conflict there . I think in the short term it will conflict there . I think in the short term it will mean conflict there . I think in the short term it will mean a conflict there . I think in the short term it will mean a reduction conflict there . I think in the short term it will mean a reduction in l conflict there . I think in the short i term it will mean a reduction in the violence and the cattle is. So we necessarily mean an end to the war, because it does not solve the fundamental problem which is the who the� s, that represent less than 15 of the population, have taken over the ledge just met government, and add to the legitimate government, this saudis have been trying for the last six years to try and reverse that take over and they have done it with airpower which come in many cases, has gone horribly wrong. With their air strikes have hit schools, hospitals, residential areas, as well as the miniature tigers they were after. It will probably help the aid agencies, because yemen is in terms that make it in a of money money traction, many People Living very close to starvation, so on a humanitarian basis, it will be, i think, welcomed byjust about everybody, especially yemenis. It does, though, leave the huthis still in charge of most of the country and saudi arabia has always said that this is a red line for them, they cannot have a reigning backed armed militia on the doorstep. If the war ends, that is exactly what they have got, unless they can reach a political solution, which six years of shuttle diplomacy, by the un and others has failed to produce. Mike shuttle diplomacy. It is going to leave a bit of a stalemate. The extrication from the war for the last three years on the part of the yemenis has not had any success. figs yemenis has not had any success. As a bench any reaction from saudi arabia, and if not, how do you expect this move by that to be going now . , expect this move by that to be going now . ,. ,. , expect this move by that to be going now . ,. ,. , now . The saudis certainly did not welcome joe now . The saudis certainly did not welcome joe bidens now . The saudis certainly did not welcome joe bidens election, now . The saudis certainly did not welcome joe bidens election, it i welcomejoe bidens election, it took them several days, because they backtrack. Trap mike trump was the huge saudi ally. I was in the place when prison trump chose that visit, they had a very close relationship with nds, the saudi crown prince, his son in law, jared kushner. But the saudis have welcomed his response, and that america is still prepared to work with its allies, but at the moment, the us is not necessarily dont like it is not going to stop helping the saudis to defend themselves, it is stopping the provision of weapons for offensive operations in yemen. The huthis have got a number of and ballistic missiles, armed drones which people will suspect have been helped to be supplied by iran, and these have been flown over the border come into saudi arabia, targeting cities like riyadh, jeddah and other cities in saudi arabia. The americans are going to carry on helping them to stop that. They are going to carry on doing their own missions against alanda, but what they were not to do is provide saudi arabians with the kind of weapons it has been able to use in its air war. The big question is, is britain going to follow suit . So far, the reaction is that this has been a decision for the us and britain is not necessarily affected by it. Of course, it is. Britain tries to follow us policy in most places and i would be surprised if there was not an effect on british arms to saudi arabia. Not an effect on british arms to saudi arabia. Really interesting. Many thanks. Saudi arabia. Really interesting. Many thanks. I saudi arabia. Really interesting. Many thanks, i was saudi arabia. Really interesting. Many thanks, i was security many thanks, i was security correspondent there. Make our security to correspond it. Some breaking news coming in relation to that incident is that we have been reporting on enke malik in east esher will be no three people have died after a series of incidents. They started last night. In maxi. Nicola sturgeon has been tweeting about this, and i think we can show what she says about this in maxi. Let me start reading anyway, there we go, as you see, georgia for news, i are with the bereaved. Thinking of everyone at crosshouse hospital, already dealing with the test of covid i9. She also goes on that she is gratefulfor covid i9. She also goes on that she is grateful for the Emergency Services and advises people to continue to follow Police Scotland advice. As i was saying a little while ago, Police Scotland have said that there is no indication that these attacks are thought to be Terror Related. The appeal is for people to stay calm and to reassure that there is no threat to the Wider Community. But as the latest news from kilmarnock. The old city still lies in ruins, after the unesco led project, called more than three years after the devastating battle to reclaim mosulfrom so called Islamic State, its old city still lies in ruins. A unesco led project called Reviving The Spirit Of Mosul� has hired locals of all faiths to Work Together to rebuild historic mosques and churches in the city. Pope francis plans to visit all three sites during his much anticipated visit to iraq in march. Nawal al mag hafi reports. This is what is left of mosul� s old city. For centuries, the mosques and churches stood as a testament to religious tolerance in the city. Destroyed three years ago in the battle for mosul. Today, this citys people, christians and muslims, have returned to rebuild and reclaim their ancient history. Amongst the efforts, a Project Hiring locals of all faiths to start the restoration. This is one minute decorations. The seven layers this is one minute decorations. The seven layers of this is one minute decorations. The seven layers of decorations. This this is one minute decorations. Tt9 seven layers of decorations. This is one layer only. It was a scene of total devastation. Mosul� s old city was turned to dust. Its people were displaced. Entire livelihoods were destroyed. These pictures from 2017 show the extent of the damage caused during the battle to reclaim the city from the Group Calling itself the Islamic State. It was from the Al Nuri Mosque that Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi declared the Islamic States caliphate. In 2017, when Islamic State was retreating, they destroyed the mosques ancient leaning minaret. It was once a symbol of mosul. We removed about 5,600 tonnes of rubble and about 20 iuds, ieds and some of them were inside the walls of the mosque. As restoration begins, its notjust the physical challenges that locals have to deal with. Islamic state used this monastery as a base during their occupation. The writing they left on its walls are a constant reminder of the trauma the people here have endured. You can see here some ropes. We heard they had been hanging people from here. Mosul now is healing. Now, life is going back to normal, as it was before. In 2014, this priests church was taken over by the Islamic State. As soon as the fighting ended, he returned to start rebuilding. Now that the restoration of the church is complete, he welcomes guests of all faiths, something that was unthinkable for so long. Translation this place is available to everyone l and we would welcome everyone with joy and peace. For the people here, its notjust about restoring buildings that were destroyed. But healing an entire community, wounded by war. The headlines on bbc news Energy Prices will rise for millions of people across the uk in april with the price cap going up by £96 per year. Three people have died in what police are calling a series of incidents that make incidents in kilmarnock last night. In maxi last night. Ten days in a hotel for anyone returning to the uk from Coronavirus Hotspots. The government says the new rules will come into force on the 15th Of February. Now Parish Councils may been viewed by some as the smallest, least powerful parts of the governments system, but their meetings can be just as dramatic as anything in a national parliament. Take, for example, the Zoom Gathering of the planning and Environment Committee of handforth Parish Council in the north west of england in december. The meeting has turned up on social media and now its gone viral. Mark lobel explains why. Recent frosty conditions in the small town of handforth spilled over into a heated meeting of their Environment Committee one comedian says was worthy of a golden globe. Its this woman. Handforth Parish Council chair brian tolver begins by questioning the legitimacy of the meeting. Well start the meeting, and i want to repeat what i said at the beginning of the last meeting, that this meeting has not been called according to the law. The law has been broken. The correct titles and procedures appear all important here. Are you here as the proper officer . I am here offering support to handforth Parish Council in the conduct of this meeting this evening. Youre not the proper officer. Is that as a clerk or proper officer . There is no difference between clerk and proper officer. Of course there is yes, there is. You must know the basic law. But self proclaimed monitoring officerJackie Weaver, apparently brought in as clerk to calm the tensions in previous meetings by other members present, stands her ground. Bedlam soon ensues. The law has been broken. It has been properly. Will you please let the chairman. . mrs weaver, please if you disrupt this meeting, i will have to remove you from it. You cant its only the chairman who can remove people from the meeting. You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver. No authority at all shesjust kicked him out. No, shes kicked him out dont. Shes kicked him out this is a meeting called by two councillors. Illegally they may now elect a chairman. No, they cant, the vice chair is here, i take charge read the Standing Orders. Read them and understand them she gasps. Stop it appalling behaviour with both the chair and vice chair now consigned to a virtual waiting room, Jackie Weaver asks whether they should be let back in, but the other members arent in forgiving mood. Im afraid that i would be loath for that to happen, because weve got work to get through, and i can only see everything being. Even more disrupted. Hundreds of thousands of views of the lively scenes have awakened what would normally be a sleepy Parish Council meeting into an internet sensation, with one Presenter Tweeting out loud, but what happens next . mark lobel, bbc news. Democracy in action with more snow forecast this weekend, lets take you to somewhere in the uk that has had snow every day since 24th december. If lockdown is going to force us all to stay at home, perhaps this is one of the most idyllic ways to do it. As these pictures show, the pearson family, who live in the scottish highlands, have made the most of their enforced lockdown and they even managed a night in an igloo, despite the plunging temperatures. Earlier, dad, gordon pearson, along with seven year old struan and three year old brodie, told my colleague Annita Mcveigh more about it. We had snow since the start of december on and off, but this is the first one that has property stage, for the duration. find first one that has property stage, for the duration. First one that has property stage, for the duration. And did you help daddy build for the duration. And did you help daddy build this . For the duration. And did you help daddy build this . Yes. For the duration. And did you help daddy build this . Yes. Fantastic. | daddy build this . Yes. Fantastic. 0k, was daddy build this . Yes. Fantastic. 0k. Was it daddy build this . Yes. Fantastic. 0k, was it really daddy build this . 1913 fantastic. 0k, was it really hard daddy build this . T9; fantastic. 0k, was it really hard work to ok, was it really hard work to build . 0k, was it really hard work to build . , 0k, was it really hard work to build . ,. , 0k, was it really hard work to build . , ,. , 0k, was it really hard work to build . , ,. ,. , in build . Yeah and it was about. It took about build . Yeah and it was about. It took about six build . Yeah and it was about. It took about six weeks build . Yeah and it was about. It took about six weeks to build . Yeah and it was about. It took about six weeks to make build . Yeah and it was about. It took about six weeks to make it. | build . Yeah and it was about. It i took about six weeks to make it. He is going to show you. It is quite windy here, so he will show you a few things. Yes please. It has got a slight. figs few things. Yes please. It has got a sliuht. , few things. Yes please. It has got a sliuht. A , ,. , slight. As every igloo should have come a slight slight. As every igloo should have come a slight amazing slight. As every igloo should have come a slight amazing and slight. As every igloo should have come a slight amazing and as slight. As every igloo should have i come a slight amazing and as brady inside or is he outside brady is outside, but strew and will show you inside. ~ , , , , inside. When you go, through the entrance. That inside. When you go, through the entrance. That is inside. When you go, through the entrance. That is amazing inside. When you go, through the entrance. That is amazing and i entrance. That is amazing and struan, entrance. That is amazing and struan. You entrance. That is amazing and struan, you spent entrance. That is amazing and struan, you spent a entrance. That is amazing and struan, you spent a night entrance. That is amazing and struan, you spent a night in. Entrance. That is amazing and| struan, you spent a night in this ably with your dad and your little brother, that right . Yes. Ably with your dad and your little brother, that right . Ably with your dad and your little brother, that right . Yes. What was it like . When brother, that right . Yes. What was it like . When i brother, that right . Yes. What was it like . When i thought brother, that right . Yes. What was it like . When | thought it brother, that right . Yes. What was it like . When i thought it was brother, that right . Yes. What was| it like . When i thought it was going to be it like . When i thought it was going to be colder, but it was actually quite to be colder, but it was actually quite warm. We had mats and a blanket quite warm. We had mats and a blanket and a onesie. You quite warm. We had mats and a blanket and a onesie. You answer but i was blanket and a onesie. You answer but iwas auoin blanket and a onesie. You answer but i was going to blanket and a onesie. You answer but i was going to ask blanket and a onesie. You answer but i was going to ask very blanket and a onesie. You answer but i was going to ask very good i was going to ask very good prediction of my question, how you managed to keep warm was its the best sleepover ever . Yes gordon, did you best sleepover ever . Yes gordon, did you did best sleepover ever . Yes gordon, did you. Did you best sleepover ever . Yes gordon, did you. Did you just make this up as he went along or did you look for any videos or advice online . Yes. Any videos or advice online . Yes, actuall , any videos or advice online . Yes, actually. It any videos or advice online . Yes, actually. It is any videos or advice online . Yes, actually, it is not any videos or advice online . Yes, actually, it is not really any videos or advice online . Yes, actually, it is not really an any videos or advice online . T9 actually, it is not really an igloo, it is more like a snow hole, but ive got them before, not to this extent before though. This is a luxury snow hole. Extent before though. This is a luxury snow hole. What was it like to sleep in . Luxury snow hole. What was it like to sleep in . Is luxury snow hole. What was it like to sleep in . Is surprisingly luxury snow hole. What was it like to sleep in . Is surprisingly fine. I to sleep in . Is surprisingly fine. Struan had to sleep in . Is surprisingly fine. Struan had made to sleep in . Is surprisingly fine. Struan had made a to sleep in . Is surprisingly fine. Struan had made a hole to sleep in . Is surprisingly fine. Struan had made a hole in to sleep in . Is surprisingly fine. Struan had made a hole in the l to sleep in . Is surprisingly fine. Struan had made a hole in the roof, so i was getting snow die, but apart from that, it was a good night sleep. It was properly actually One Of The Best nights of sleep that i have had for a very long time the are workers up at seven oclock make the hour woke us up at seven oclock. Make the hour woke us up. Before we go, german scientists have found what could be the worlds smallest reptile, so small it can fit on yourfingertip. Discovered in madagascar, the nano chameleon is less than 30 millimetres long, making it the smallest of all the roughly 11,500 known species of its kind. Scientists say the nano chameleons natural habitat is under threat due to deforestation, but have now placed the area under protection in the hope that the species will survive. Extraordinary when she was back with a vengeance into this week and next weekend. It is going to be icy cold for some and there will be snow. Low pressure becomes established to the south east of us, opening the door to Easterly Winds, bringing ever colder air from scandinavia and with that, will come a noticeable chill into next week in the air. It is going to feel like temperatures at well below freezing by monday. Eastern areas of course, the Eastern Areas most prone to snow, but today it is still the northern half of scotland. Already some problems on the road and rails some problems on the road and rails so plies, and the Amber Warning from the met Office Remains in place. Elsewhere across scotland, some rain across lower levels, Central Eastern parts and from the south and north east of england, the rain could cause a few Flooding Issues as it persists. Heavy rain in Northern Ireland, eases off, and into pleasant sunshine perhaps one or two of us. It is a night, the overall mido conditions continue across england and wales, a few clear skies and heavy showers, but by the clear skies are for longer, it could be fussy. Northern ireland, eventually Northern England, into tomorrow, easterly wind is redeveloping, snow lower levels are starting to develop across the pennines as well as we go through saturday, but as outbreaks of heavy may be thundery rain across england and wales, some sunshine in between and notice the temperatures, 24 between and notice the temperatures, 2 4 across parts of scotland, 8 10 in the south of england. Saturday night into sunday, we could see snow flurries just about anywhere, covering as possible, but the main focus into sunday, is a part of the uk, east anglia and the south east. This is where we could see some significant and disruptive amounts of snow being blown around by strong and gusty winds, making it feel ever colder as we go through the day. Some Western Areas as they dry and bright, but they will firm up exactly how much we will have over the next few days. There is really continuing into next week, frequent snow showers can be pushing in from the north sea, we are going to pinpoint where those showers of snow are later on, but it could cause some further problems. The further west you are, the dry and brighter it is. Temperatures in thermometers onlyjust a bit it is. Temperatures in thermometers only just a bit above freezing. They will feel much colder than that uk wide as we go through monday afternoon. This is bbc news. Im reeta chakrabarti. The headlines at 12. 00pm Energy Prices will rise for millions of people across the uk in april, with the price cap going up by £96 pounds a year the reason we are doing it now and not delaying this change is to make sure we dont have an even bigger change in october next year when people get into winter when we know bills are under most pressure. Three people have died in a series of incidents in kilmarnock last night. Ten days in a hotel for anyone returning to the uk from Coronavirus Hotspots. The government says the new rules will come into force a week on monday. Read the Standing Orders, read them and understand them. And understand them. Certainly not tom newt. And understand them. Certainly not tom newt. How and understand them. Certainly not tom newt, how one and understand them. Certainly not tom newt, how one parish and understand them. Certainly not tom newt, how one Parish Council| and understand them. Certainly not. Tom newt, how one Parish Council in the north of england has gone viral after an zoom meeting got out of hand. Energy prices will rise for millions of people across the uk in april after the regulator 0fgem said the cap for default Domestic Energy deals would be raised to cover suppliers extra costs. 0fgem defended the decision, saying its in the interest of customers to start allowing Energy Companies to recover some of the costs of unpaid bills and avoid larger price hikes in the future. The price cap was introduced in 2019 and was designed to protect customers from being over charged. But this is the first rise in the cap, so how will the decision affect customers . The price cap affects 11 million households who have never switched suppliers or whose discounted deals have expired thats about half of all uk households. The typical gas and Electricity Customer on a standard or default tariff is likely to see their bill go up by £96 to £1,138 a year. The remainder are on so called fixed deals, which will not be affected. But there are warnings this could plunge more people into energy debt. Citizens advice said 2. 1 Million People are curently behind on their energy bills, with 600,000 of those households getting into debt since the start of the pandemic. The change will also take effect at a time when the Furlough Scheme and the universal credit uplift is due to end and people are spending more time at home. The ceo of 0fgem, Jonathan Brearly, said although it is a difficult time for households, customers are entitled to support from suppliers if they are struggling. There are Companies Fighting for your business and there is a big competition between them to get your business, so my advice is to get into that market. If you cant do that, then call up your supplier, ask if you have got the best tariff and ask for the help youre entitled to. We appreciate this is a difficult time for customers and we want to make sure that people have all the support they need. We said to those companies you need to put somebody struggling with their bills on affordable Repayment Plans. We know the problem may get bigger so we want people to get in touch with their suppliers the support they are entitled to. If they dont, complain to the company, let us know and we will pursue those companies and enforce against them if necessary. Audrey gallagher from energy uk which represents some of the big Energy Suppliers said very few of the Companies Make a profit and it was the right decision for the long term. There are going to be a good. The regulator sets the price. It is a fair price for customers, but also ensures that companies can recoup their costs. This is not about making profits, making more money, it is about allowing companies to continue to operate and supply us with gas and electricity. Very few Companies Make any profit at all and it is not quite considerably, particularly since the price cap came in. The way the cap is set, it is a fair price, it is set at a level that allows companies to make very little profit. If you are not an Efficient Company you will make a loss. That is a good thing for customers because it forces everybody in the market to become more efficient and offer cheaper prices, so it is good for competition. This cap is set by the regulator and it is set at a level that allows companies to recover their costs, level that allows companies to recovertheir costs, but level that allows companies to recover their costs, but crucially is a fair price for customers. Three people have died after incidents in kilmarnock last night. At 24 year old woman was stabbed and died from her wounds. A little later, a man died after the car he was driving crashed. Police said the incident appeared to be linked but are not being treated as Terror Related and officers are not looking at anyone else as part of their investigation. The first minister has called the incident is dreadful and her thoughts are with the bereaved. Everybody in the uk should be vaccinated by may. Data on the safety of the two covid 19 vaccines being used in the uk has been published which the medicines regulator says shows both jabs are safe and the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks. The vast majority of side effects reported by those who have had the vaccine include sore arms where the injection was given, muscle pain and mild cold and flu like symptoms that could last for a couple of days. We can speak now to a professor from the Imperial College london. Some people will be wondering about the timing of this. 10 Million People about this chap already, but our correspondent was saying this is partly the vaccines had been deemed to be safe, but this is looking at the side effects. The side effects. Yes, there had already been the side effects. Yes, there had already been approved the side effects. Yes, there had already been approved as the side effects. Yes, there had already been approved as safe i the side effects. Yes, there had| already been approved as safe in the side effects. Yes, there had already been approved as safe in the clinical efficacy trials that were done earlier last year, but now they are looking at safety as they rolled out, so they have data from 10 Million People, and they look as safe as they were reported in the earlier studies, so that is really encouraging. That is a huge amount of data showing that essentially the side effects are different to most vaccines that we get. I hope that will be very reassuring to the general public. Will be very reassuring to the general public. Effectively, the sideeffects general public. Effectively, the sideeffects are general public. Effectively, the sideeffects are quite general public. Effectively, the| sideeffects are quite minimal . General public. Effectively, the sideeffects are quite minimal . Yes, minimal. Sideeffects are quite minimal . Yes, minimal sore sideeffects are quite minimal . Yes, minimal. Sore arm, sideeffects are quite minimal . Yes, minimal. Sore arm, muscle side effects are quite minimal . T9 minimal. Sore arm, muscle pain, flu like symptoms for a day or two, but all the people call mild, and relatively infrequent, about three in every 1,000 doses. This information in every 1,000 doses. This information relates in every 1,000 doses. This information relates to in every 1,000 doses. This information relates to the | in every 1,000 doses. This information relates to the two vaccines that have been given out, the fighter and the oxford astrazeneca. Can we expect the same process to happen when the others come on stream, too . Process to happen when the others come on stream, too . Yes, this is a rocess come on stream, too . Yes, this is a process that come on stream, too . Yes, this is a process that will come on stream, too . Yes, this is a process that will happen. Come on stream, too . Yes, this is a process that will happen. We come on stream, too . Yes, this is a process that will happen. We will. Process that will happen. We will continue to monitor all the vaccines. They have a yellow card system where if anyone had this has a side effect they want to report they can e mail that into the regulators, also their clinical doctors can do that, so that there is an ongoing assessment of the safety of these vaccines as they are used on more and more people. That is aood for used on more and more people. That is good for members of the public to know. They should do that if they feel they are getting anything on top of what is being reported here. Absolutely. If people want to do that they just have to absolutely. If people want to do that theyjust have to look up coronavirus yellow card and they will find the right place to submit their information. We will find the right place to submit their information. Will find the right place to submit their information. We have ust had some information their information. We have ust had some information from their information. We have ust had some information from the their information. We have just had some information from the office i their information. We have just had| some information from the office of National Statistics which estimate that around one in 65 people in england had coronavirus in the past week and that has come down from one in 55 in the previous set of data. Reflecting on that and thinking overall that hospital numbers are down, overall cases are down, what is your assessment of the current state of where we are . It is encouraging state of where we are . It is encouraging that state of where we are . It is encouraging that we state of where we are . It is encouraging that we are state of where we are . Tt 3 encouraging that we are going in a negative direction, less hospitalisations, less infections, but we probably need to go much, much further before we start thinking about rolling back the lockdown. I think it is better to define the criteria that allows us to take steps rather than to finding a date we will get there because that could be very variable. Trier . That could be very variable. Very aood to that could be very variable. Very good to talk that could be very variable. Very good to talk to that could be very variable. Very good to talk to you. That could be very variable. Very good to talk to you. Thank you so much. I brought you the news there that they estimate the rate of people having coronavirus in england has gone down to around one in 65. We have information for the other nations, so in wales the estimate is one in 70 people has not got coronavirus. That is the same as the previous week. In Northern Ireland, it is gone down from one in 50 down to one in 65. In scotland it has gone from one in 110 down to one in 115. Those figures cover the week to the 30th of january. I want to go back to the story about energy bills and the fact that the cap has been lifted and it will cost on average another £96 to people on certain contracts. Martin lewis, what is your assessment of this news of the price cap going up . It is assessment of this news of the price cap going up . Cap going up . It is not a surprise. We know how cap going up . It is not a surprise. We know how the cap going up . It is not a surprise. We know how the price cap going up . It is not a surprise. We know how the price cap cap going up . It is not a surprise. We know how the price cap is we know how the price cap is calculated, it is based on wholesale prices between august and january. On my tv show last night i was predicting a rise between £70 and £90. From april, that will be. This is a rate cap, there is no cap on the amount you pay. Your particular cap depends on how much you use. We are going back to where we were before the pandemic. The price cap has been artificially low because of the low energy use and the pandemic. Structurally, i am because of the low energy use and the pandemic. Structurally, iam not a fan of the price cap. It likes what is really happening in the market. From april to october we were put on this much higher level of price cap, and even air. Prices come down as they probably will during that period, most people will be paying more because the price cap is based on what happened six months ago. The most important thing to say to people, i heard the doom and gloom and quite rightly, to 90 quid extra on people post not built as the last thing anybody needs right now, but the real message is you dont have to pay this. The cheapest tariffs on the market are £100 a year cheaper than today . Price cap and once it goes up it looks like £190 a year cheaper. That means you can lock in on that cheaper rates. You accessed to by doing a comparison. Most comparison sites, most cheap tariffs are only available on the comparison sites. Make sure you use a comparison that is whole of market. They hide tariffs, some of the big suppliers. Get off your backside today. Dont think price cap is a fair price. It is not a good price, it is over the odds. You are paying too much. Go and do a comparison and switch. One warning about switching that Everybody Needs to understand, we now know the price at price cap is going up in april and the Big Companies will follow it, but because they havent announced a new prices yet, when you go on to a comparison site, including mine, it will give you a saving if you are on a standard tariff compared to the current price cap. It might save you will save £100 a year. In reality it is underestimating to savour because it should be compared to that new price cap. It will be 190 a year. If you are on a standard tariff you will save more than it is telling you. It is not how i would choose to regulate the market myself, but that is how it works. The biggest message out there is the price cap is a fair price, but not a good price. Ditch and switch. I will ask you question that always gets asked at these times, if people can buy energy more cheaply, why dont the Energy Companies make that clear to them in the first place . Because then they would lose money. As simple as of course Energy Companies are there to make money for their shareholders, not to look after us. Thejob of shareholders, not to look after us. The job of regulators, politicians and people like me who tried to help save as much money as possibly can, if we didnt want Energy Companies to work like that we shouldnt have privatised them. There are two ways to deal need to deal with an energy market. Either you say, states should set all the prices, thatis states should set all the prices, that is one philosophy. The other one is we need to have a market out there where we want people to switch. If we want people to switch you need to have differential pricing. Some companies have to be cheaper than another or there is no incentive for people to switch. At the moment we are in a Halfway House between the two. We have a price cap, so that is some form of regulated pricing, that perverts the marketplace so that differential is moving due to a time lag and doesnt really work. We have to go one way or another. Really work. We have to go one way oranother. If really work. We have to go one way or another. If i was in charge of energy i would get rid of this price cap and say if we are going to have a competitive market, we need big differentials. There are legitimate and illegitimate victims of competition. If you choose not to switch, that is your problem. When the fact is there are a struggling 90 year old grannies out there who pay more to boil a kettle than i do because they are on the price cap tariff and i bought the cheapest tariff. I would have a price cap only for the vulnerable that is much cheaper than this price cap, put near the bottom of the market and for everybody else if you want competition, if you dont get off your backside you will pay more. We dont, we have a Halfway House that doesnt quite work, therefore you get complaints like this on days like this. All i would say to people is you need to dig, switch and compare. It is you need to dig, switch and compare is you need to dig, switch and comare. , , , compare. It puts the onus on the customer to compare. It puts the onus on the customer to find compare. It puts the onus on the customer to find the compare. It puts the onus on the customer to find the fair compare. It puts the onus on the customer to find the fair deal. If| customer to find the fair deal. Tt we didnt have the cap price it would be higher right now for some. What we do is we squeezed the competition, the incentive by switching and those in the middle who may. Someone, some loose, some are unaffected by this. It looks like people who dont bother to switch or who are vulnerable who are on the price cap, i would say if we have Vulnerable People who are not able to switch than the price cap is too high, if we have people who cant be bothered to switch, then the price cap is not needed for them. ,. The price cap is not needed for them. , ~ i. The price cap is not needed for them. , ~. Them. Thank you so much. Martin lewis. Them. Thank you so much. Martin lewis thank them. Thank you so much. Martin lewis. Thank you. Them. Thank you so much. Martin lewis. Thank you. Lets them. Thank you so much. Martin lewis. Thank you. Lets go them. Thank you so much. Martin lewis. Thank you. Lets go to lewis. Thank you. Lets go to edinburgh wherejohn swinney is holding a government briefing on coronavirus. He started speaking about the three deaths in, nick sang that Police Scotland says they are connected. ,. , , , connected. Again, i want to send my dee est connected. Again, i want to send my deepest condolences connected. Again, i want to send my deepest condolences to connected. Again, i want to send my deepest condolences to the connected. Again, i want to send my deepest condolences to the families | deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have been killed. Let me now turn to the familiar update on the covid statistics. I confirm that the total number of positive cases reported yesterday was 895. That represents 4. 9 of yesterday was 895. That represents li. 9 of the total number of tests and takes the total number of confirmed cases in scotland to 184,313. This is the second day in succession in which the Positivity Rate has been below 5 , which is the World Health Organization definition of a pandemic under control. This is very encouraging news. We also had yesterday that the r number is between 0. 7 and 0. 9, comfortably indicating that the r number is now below one. Representing further the progress that is being made. 1794 people are currently in hospital, 18 fewer than yesterday. 123 patients are in icg, forfewer than yesterday. Im sorry to report that 61 additional deaths have been registered in the last 24 hours, of patient he first first tested positive over the previous 28 days. That takes the total number of deaths to 6383. Every death from this virus is a source of grief and heartache and i want to send my condolences once again to all of those who have lost a loved one during the pandemic. I am joined today by Mike National clinical director, doctorjason leech, who will help me answering questions in a few moments. There are three issues upon which i would like to provide updates. The first is about the progress of the Vaccination Programme. I can confirm that as of 8 30am today, 742,512 people have received the first dose of the vaccine. That is an increase of 48,165 from the number that we reported yesterday. That is a further Record Number of vaccinations in one day and is in fact doubled the number of vaccinations that were reported last friday. We have vaccinated 99 of residents in care homes and 93 of all care home residents. 92 of over 80 year olds living in the community have not received their first dose of the vaccine. Work is under way to ensure we increase this number as far as possible and to complete the complex task of reaching those who are housebound. I can also report that 47 of 7579 are housebound. I can also report that 47 of 75 79 year old living in the community have been vaccinated with the first dose, and 16 of the 7074 with the first dose, and 16 of the 70 74 Year Olds have also received the vaccine. It means that we are well on track to ensure that all over 70s and all adults who are clinically vulnerable will be vaccinated with the first dose by the middle of this month. That is very Good Progress. The update figures are especially encouraging. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in administering the vaccines. I also want to thank everyone who has received the vaccine so far. We are continuing to look at ways in which we can speed up the Vaccination Programme and we are also trying to find ways in which we can make it easierfor people in find ways in which we can make it easier for people in all parts of scotland to get vaccinated. As part of that, the Scottish Ambulance service has been trialling a new scheme this week in tayside involving the use of a modified coach which has basically been transformed into a mobile vaccination clinic. Her team have been travelling with the coach to remote and rural parts of perthshire and they have been delivering the vaccine at home to over 70 year olds and clinically Vulnerable People who are unable to leave the house. The feedback that we have had from the people who have had the vaccine in this way has been hugely positive. We are working with the Scottish Ambulance service and other Health Boards to see if this model can be rolled out in other rural areas. Some of these schemes wont boost the headline numbers by march, certainly not in the way that our max Vaccination Centres well, but they are important ways of ensuring that we make vaccination as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. It will further ensure that Vulnerable People wherever they live can get the vaccine as quickly as possible. There is another point in relation to the vaccinations i want to cover, and that is specifically about the current weather conditions affecting parts of scotland. The met office are put out certain Amber Warning for snow in parts of central and northern scotland today and tomorrow. The potential disruption that this could cause has implications for the Vaccination Programme. For example, could make it very difficult for people to travel to their appointments or prevent staff we are administering the vaccine from getting to their work. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with local resilience partnerships, transport scotland and other partners to mitigate any potential disruption so far as is possible. As part of that, we are prioritising the clearance of routes in and around Vaccination Centres. That is Standard Practice around nhs facilities whenever there is snow or ice, so we are entering the vaccination sites are being given that selfsame priority. These measures should should help to ensure that people should be able to reach their destinations. It is important to remember that if you are due to be vaccinated and are unable to travel because of the conditions, it is possible to reschedule your appointment. The appointment letter you received contains advice on how to do this, but if you are not sure you can also check the nhs inform website, or call the vaccination helpline by calling 0800. That helpline will be able to give you advice on how to rearrange your appointment if you are unable to make it because of the conditions. If you need to find out more about that, call oh 8000308 013. The weather conditions are likely to create challenges for the Vaccination Programme over the next day or so but we are used to dealing with these kind of conditions in scotland and are working hard to minimise any disruption so we can continue the Good Progress that is already being made. Finally, iwant to say a few words about testing. On tuesday the first minister set out her plans to expand regular testing of people who do not have symptoms. This follows on from the Community Trials conducted at the end of last year. In recent weeks, local authorities had been submitting proposals on how asymptomatic testing to be deployed in their area. Eight local Authority Schemes have been approved so far. We expect a further 11 schemes will be agreed today and more will be confirmed next week. Today i can announce that the first of the new schemes will launch next wednesday in fife. On that day, and new Community Testing centre will open in cowdenbeath. It will be open from 8am until apm on weekdays, and initially from 11am to 5pm on saturdays and sundays. Over the coming weeks, for additional testing sites will open in different parts of fife. It means that if you live in fife he will be able to get tested at these sites even if you do not have symptoms of covid and you will not have to book in advance. The site will use lateral flow tests. Those tests allow people to see the result very quickly, within 45 minutes of the test being administered, but they are less sensitive than standard pcr tests. For that reason, any positive cases will then be confirmed by the pcr test that it is that other testing sites. More information about the scheme is on the nhs fife website. There will be similar schemes launching in other parts of scotland in the coming weeks. The targeted expansion of testing in these communities will help more people find out if they have covid, even if they dont have symptoms. It will help them to know if they or their contacts need to self isolate and will therefore play an important part in helping us to stop the spread of the virus. Those were the main issues i wanted to cover today. I want to remind everyone once again of the current rules and guidelines. The most important rule at the moment is clear, you should stay at home. In any level for area, which is almost all of scotland including all of the mainland, you must only leave the house for essential purposes. Those include caring responsibilities, essential shopping and exercise. If you meet up with someone outdoors, you can only meet with one other person from one of our household. You must work from home if you possibly can, employers have a legal duty to support their employees in that respect. On an occasion when you delete the house, remember to wear face coverings, avoid any were busy, clean hands and surfaces, used to metre distance distancing if youre talking to someone from another household, and self isolate and book a test if you have symptoms. Above all else, please stay at home as much as is possible. That continues to be our best way of protecting ourselves, our loved ones and our communities and it is how we skew the virus time further as the Vaccination Programme accelerates. So please, stay at home, protect the National Health service and save lives. Thank you, once again, to everyone who is doing exactly that. No questions. Professorjason leitch will assist me in responding. The first question is from stv. {lin me in responding. The first question is from sn is from stv. On the vaccination tar ets is from stv. On the vaccination targets you is from stv. On the vaccination targets you have is from stv. On the vaccination targets you have set, is from stv. On the vaccination targets you have set, as is from stv. On the vaccination targets you have set, as the i targets you have set, as the roll out continues g are in a position, or do you expect to be in a position soon where you can potentially revise those targets. A quick one on the Quarantine Hotels. We still havent got the full details of how that is intended to work. Is it a case of it is simply too little too late . Too little too late . First of all, on the vaccination too little too late . First of all, | on the Vaccination Programme, too little too late . First of all, on the Vaccination Programme, as it is abundantly clear we are making excellent progress with the Vaccination Programme. We are seeing today on day significant improvements in the volume of vaccine being delivered, just as we plant would be the case. We have had formidable success in protecting the individuals, ourfellow formidable success in protecting the individuals, our fellow citizens who are at greatest risk by the superb performance that has been done in care homes in particular, in the care homes in particular, in the care homes in particular, in the care homes where there are elderly residents. We are moving as fast as we possibly can and we are very confident that we can deliver the targets that we have set out. Obviously, we are trying to move as fast as we can. If we can do the quicker, we will. We have to take an approach which balances the delivery of the Vaccination Programme with the receipt of supply of vaccines and we have got to take into account the necessity which will begin to start in about three weeks to start the roll out of the second dose of the roll out of the second dose of the vaccine to everyone who has received the first dose. On the question of Quarantine Hotels, we are still in discussions with the United Kingdom government is about the approach on this question. We are keen to work collaboratively on are keen to work collaboratively on a four nations basis with the other governments of the United Kingdom to ensure that we have a robust approach in place. We obviously set out to parliament that we want to be as effective and to have as rigorous an approach as we possibly can do because this is one important way in which we can interrupts the reintroduction of the virus into scotland as a consequence of international travel. I certainly do not take the view that it i certainly do not take the view thatitis i certainly do not take the view that it is too late for any of these measures make measures to happen, we have got to be building up our resilience as a country to withstanding any further pressure from a covid 19. We are doing that very effectively in the reduction of cases in a Community Transmission within the country we have seen some huge falls in a Community Transmission from over 300 cases per 100,000 injust about transmission from over 300 cases per 100,000 in just about three weeks ago, in scotland, to a position where it isjust ago, in scotland, to a position where it is just over 120 per 100,000 people. We are making that progress, Quarantine Hotels are another tool that we can use it to stop the spread of the virus and we can use every dozen that we will use every tool we have and we will work with other governments to make as much progress as we can in that respect. We will now move on to david shanks from bbc scotland. Good afternoon. David shanks from bbc scotland. Good afternoon you david shanks from bbc scotland. Good afternoon. You mentioned the weather could cause afternoon. You mentioned the weather could cause disruption for several days could cause disruption for several days how could cause disruption for several days. How many appointments do you anticipate days. How many appointments do you anticipate this will affect . And how lon anticipate this will affect . And how long should people have to wait for the rescheduled appointments . And what effects would anticipate any rescheduling would that have and the current rescheduling would that have and the current pace of the vaccinations could current pace of the vaccinations could make particularly in rural areas . Could make particularly in rural areas . ~ , could make particularly in rural areas . 9 ,. , areas . We hope, david, that the weather does areas . We hope, david, that the weather does not areas . We hope, david, that the weather does not result areas . We hope, david, that the weather does not result in areas . We hope, david, that the weather does not result in any i weather does not result in any disruption and as i setup my comments, it is a fact that we are a number of steps that members of the public would expect us to be taking ordinarily to protect the Vaccination Programme. So, we will be making sure that any vaccination sites are a priority for gritting or for snow clearing, if that is the issue. Obviously, access roads to such centres will be a priority, but as part of the overall resilience effort which ministers are lookouts on a constant basis when we have incidents of this type, to make sure that people are able to undertake essential journeys, that people are able to undertake essentialjourneys, and going for a vaccination appointment is an essential journey. Vaccination appointment is an essentialjourney. As i said in my comments, we ask people to make considered judgments about whether it is safe to do so, given the concessions that they will be experiencing. Now, the weather warning is putting. The intensity of the weather warning tends to be for the next couple of days in the northern part of scotland from essential, from perth, northwoods, will be also concentrating our efforts to make sure that there is as little disruption as possible. Any individual who has to cancel an appointment because of the weather will be rescheduled as quickly as possible. I do not envisage that this will have a Significant Impact on the Vaccination Programme, but we will be making sure that each individual that is affected in any way on this make its support to get a vaccination at the earliest possible opportunity, to maintain the Good Progress that we are making in rolling out a vaccine persian programme. We now move on to alan smith. , ~ programme. We now move on to alan smith. , ~ i. Programme. We now move on to alan smith so. Programme. We now move on to alan smith so. We programme. We now move on to alan smith. So, we are programme. We now move on to alan smith. So, we are going i smith. Thank you. So, we are going to leave that smith. Thank you. So, we are going to leave that briefing smith. Thank you. So, we are going to leave that briefing now, smith. Thank you. So, we are going to leave that briefing now, the to leave that briefing now, the deputy first Ministerjohn Swinney there, bringing us up to date with there, bringing us up to date with the latest coronavirus figures in scotland. Now, in the past few minutes by the welsh Education Minister has said that wales is not yet in a position to allow all School Pupils to return to the classroom. She confirmed that Foundation Phase pupils, those aged between 23 7 will be back at school from fabry the 22nd, along with some older children on a vocational couege older children on a Vocational College courses. There will be no timetable given for their children. Kirsty williams made the announcements in the last few minutes. 9 9, announcements in the last few minutes. 9 ,. , announcements in the last few minutes. 9 ,. ,. , , minutes. We have been clear that our children public minutes. We have been clear that our children Public Education minutes. We have been clear that our children Public Education is minutes. We have been clear that our children Public Education is a children Public Education is a priority throughout this pandemic. Sadly, we are not yet in a position to be able to see if we will return to be able to see if we will return to school for every letter. However, thanks to people following our national guidance, there is sufficient headroom for us to bring some of our learners in a phased and flexible progressive way back into the classroom. After half time, from the classroom. After half time, from the 22nd of february, our Foundation Phase learners will start to return to school during that week. Children of critical workers and honourable workers, as well as those taking exams or assessments, and learners in special schools, will continue to be able to attend as they have done about the pandemic. We have prioritised our youngest learners because of the favourable evidence on transmission on younger children and also because we know they find it most difficult to learn remotely. Small numbers or set up vocational numbers coming including apprentices will all be so be able to return to colleges. Again, this is because of difficulties from remote learning. As they will need to Access Training or workplace environments in order to undertake their practical qualifications. Following productive discussions with our colleagues and local authorities, of further education partners, we are introducing a number of additional measures to provide staff with an added level of insurance for their safe return to face to face teaching. This includes the introduction of twice weekly testing for staff members, as well as increased Financial Support for a new face covering. We are providing an additional £5 million to support schools, colleges and local authorities to invest further in items that they need to keep their premises safe. As we all know, you only get one childhood, which is exactly why we are all working so hard to support young people back into schools so that they can learn alongside their friends. Into schools so that they can learn alongside theirfriends. However, into schools so that they can learn alongside their friends. However, i alongside theirfriends. However, i need to be absolutely clear, we are told, time and time again, that our education premises are safe. That it is the added movement around them that contributes to the infection rate number. I must make it clear to all learners, to parents, and carers, please, continue to follow the guidelines by following the guidance, and restricting contact with others, we are able to ensure that our children and young people are able to do what we all will not, which is to be back learning alongside their friends. Thank you very much and we will now turn to questions from our colleagues in the media. As i understand this afternoon, we are going to start with bbc wales. Afternoon, we are going to start with bbc wales. , ~ , ,. With bbc wales. Thank you so much. When will parents with bbc wales. Thank you so much. When will parents of with bbc wales. Thank you so much. When will parents of older with bbc wales. Thank you so much. When will parents of older children i when will parents of older children find out when will parents of older children find out whether their pupils will be able find out whether their pupils will be able to go back to school . You set out be able to go back to school . You set out a be able to go back to school . You set out a timetable for that, when you do set out a timetable for that, when you do that . fits set out a timetable for that, when you do that . You do that . As you know, our considerations you do that . As you know, our considerations about you do that . As you know, our considerations about opening i you do that . As you know, our i considerations about opening up education, forface to face considerations about opening up education, for face to face learning for more of our pupils, that takes place as part of the wider government review of coronavirus lockdown. The next period of review will be announced on fabry the 19th. We will hope to be able to give an indication at that point as to next steps for education. Clearly, the more our young people to be back to face to face learning, we need to ensure that the statistics that doctorjones just outlined, continue to be in the right direction and we can help that happen by continuing to follow the rules. I really must stress that today, to parents, i am so pleased that we are able to get Foundation Phase learners back to school, but i does not mean that Everything Else can go back to normal. We really need parents and carers to have to follow the guidance and take real care, especially at the beginning and the end of, of the school gates, at Wearing Masks there, socially distancing from other parents when you drop off or collect your children. Also, a reminder that because your children are back in school, unfortunately, we are not in a position to allow them to mix outside of school, so im afraid, thatis outside of school, so im afraid, that is no play dates, no seats if it was, no birthday parties. It is by following these regulations is advice that we can minimise the disruption to education for those children are able to go back, also put in a position to allow more people that make children back to face to face learning. The people that make children back to facetoface learning. Facetoface learning. The welsh Education Minister facetoface learning. The welsh Education Minister fester. Facetoface learning. The welsh Education Minister fester. More i Education Ministerfester. More news, people arriving in the uk confront runabout hotspots abroad will have to quarantine in hotels for tonight. Will have to quarantine in hotels fortonight. Ill will have to quarantine in hotels for tonight. Ill correspond and simonjones is outside heathrow airport. A new destination for new arrivals from the most high risk countries. British nationals returning home from more than 30 covid hot spots will have to check into designated hotels at their own expense for ten days. It is to try to stop the spread of new variants of the virus which emerged in south africa and brazil. But labour says because Quarantine Hotels wont be introduced for another ten days, lives will be put at risk. It is utterly shambolic that this has been brought into effect on the 15th Of February. Thats over 50 days since the South African Strain was first discovered in this country and little wonder, frankly, that it reached our shores. Where i am at the moment, a road very close to heathrow airport, there are Numerous Hotels and the government is going to need to sign up a lot of them if its going to provide around 1,000 hotel rooms each day, Tens Of Thousands of rooms needed over the next few months for people arriving back here at airports like heathrow who have come from covid 19 hotspots. Some in the industry see this as a great opportunity because its not been a good time at the moment for Anyone Running a hotel because of the coronavirus pandemic, but other hotel owners have expressed their frustration. They say theyve been trying to talk to the government for a number of days, even weeks, about how this will work. They have heard absolutely nothing back, until they received a document yesterday outlining some of the requirements that the government will need if hotels are to sign up to this. The government has said today that its still in the early stages of this, it has got ten days to sort it out. It is confident it will be a success, but they tell us, its early days. The announcement only came out at one minute past midnight this morning, so its unsurprising that no one has formally signed up to this, but the whole point of this is that we give hotels notice because they will need to change the way they operate. We are asking them to do something very different. We are giving them time to make those adjustments and we are also giving ourselves time to ensure that this policy is effective by working with International Partners, and giving our Border Enforcement Officials the time they need to prepare to make this work. This is how we understand this will work. When passengers arrive at heathrow and they need to be taken to a hotel, they will be escorted there by Security Officers and then, when theyre at the hotel, that will too be overseen by Security Officers, who are going to be organised by the government, rather than by the hotels. It is likely to be private security firms involved. People going to hotels will need to spend most of the ten nights in their rooms. Theyll only be allowed out if theyre accompanied, we are told, by a security officer, if they need to go out for a bit of fresh air or perhaps for a cigarette. Security is going to play a big role in this. So that is going to be another challenge for the government Notjust Finding the hotel beds that they need, but also finding enough staff to be able to run this efficiently and properly. And Security Staff as well, who will ensure that no one can enter the hotel who shouldnt be able to enter the hotel. In terms of how it will work, people, when they are in their rooms, will get served three meals a day, they will have access to fruit and tea and coffee. They will get a knock at the door with their food that will be provided by room service, so that they dont have to go out and do any sort of mingling. They will also get a couple of coronavirus tests during their ten day stay. But the government is facing some criticism as to how long it has taken them to implement this, but also some concern that although it is ten days away, it is a lot for hotels to get their heads round in a short space of time. The office for National Statistics show that coronavirus rates are falling. I had a set x is here. Robert, what they show . They show that in england for example, the number of people that have tested positive for virus is more random, its about one in 65. It is fewer than the other we were reporting last week, it was one in 55 and sharply down from a just before christmas. We are seeing declines also in scotland, down to about one in hundred and 50 people, and Northern Ireland, the same, same levels as in england. The only concern maybe is in wales where levels are flat, at roughly the same levels are flat, at roughly the same levels that we have been seeing in england and Northern Ireland. The sharpest falls, really, im in london, i think of the headlines backin london, i think of the headlines back in the new year, when it was around one in 30 people in london were estimated to have the virus there. Now it is publicly a little bit more one in 50, but that is certainly moving in the right direction. Sadly down in some parts the country and going in the right direction gradually. T5 the country and going in the right direction gradually. The country and going in the right direction gradually. I direction gradually. Is great. Michael is direction gradually. Is great. Michael is going direction gradually. Is great. Michael is going in direction gradually. Is great. Michael is going in the direction gradually. Is great. Michael is going in the right michael is going in the right direction. Michael is going in the right direction michael is going in the right direction. ,. , direction. So, given that we have been a lot direction. So, given that we have been a lot done direction. So, given that we have been a lot done for direction. So, given that we have been a lot done for the direction. So, given that we have been a lot done for the last direction. So, given that we have been a lot done for the last few. Been a lot done for the last few weeks, you are excited about the rates falling and the trends currently. Rates falling and the trends currently rates falling and the trends currentl. ,. , currently. Yes, we are getting different pictures currently. Yes, we are getting different pictures depending i currently. Yes, we are getting. Different pictures depending on different pictures depending on different sources of evidence was that this is a good source of evidence, because they pick people at random and is swap them. This is different when people have to feel sick and then come forward for the test. The cases have been coming down very quickly, they have been in the fortnight, the last fortnight, little bit faster than these numbers suggest, and what the people of the government suggest, that dont let it bring down anyone number. It is great that numbers are coming down as well. But do not lookjust at one of them, not trying to smash them altogether in your head, to try and look at the decline. That is what the r number will give us later today when the government published their official directive. T am today when the government published their official directive. Their official directive. I am sure we will be their official directive. I am sure we will be back their official directive. I am sure we will be back to their official directive. I am sure we will be back to you their official directive. I am sure we will be back to you then. Their official directive. I am sure i we will be back to you then. Thank you very much to that update. Thank you, robert kath, the bbc� s head of statistics. The headlines Energy Prices will rise for millions of people across the uk in april with the price cap going up by £96 a year three people have died in what police are calling a series of incidents in kilmarnock last night. Ten days in a hotel for anyone returning to the uk from Coronavirus Hotspots. The government says the new rules will come into force a week on monday. Roma communities are already some of the most marginalised in europe. They often live in overcrowded, segregated settlements and face wide spread discrimination, but the pandemic has left many communities ravaged, completely cut off from society, with people unable to get work and many struggling to access any government support. Our europe correspondent Jean Mackenzie has spent time in one settlement in bulgaria. Segregated and shunned. Surrounded by squalor. Now devastated by the pandemic. When we talk about our problems, other people think we are over exaggerating things. But, no, we really live in the jungle. This man is taking us deep into the settlement where he has lived all his life. Home to 25,000 people, its severely overcrowded, warding off a virus is nearly impossible. People cannot keep themselves safe. If you need an ambulance, an ambulance cannot enter here. Roma communities have long been discriminated against. But the pandemic has cut them off from society completely. At one point, the people here were blamed for the outbreak of the virus, meaning no one will hire them any more and without formal contracts, they are struggling to access government support. Surviving is now a slog. The Bulgarian Government says it is trying to help identify and support those in need, providing them with food parcels and additional teaching. But here the help is hard to come by. And as the rain pours, problems melts. Problems mount. It must be tough getting through pandemic without water. Its. Awful. The state is not considering us like citizens. I believe that the state is like a mother for us. She should think about us, should help us when we are in need. And its not happening. It was difficult to see how life could get much harder here. But this community that is used to being ignored, now feels totally abandoned. Jean mackenzie, bbc news, bulgaria. Days of torrential rain have caused flooding in france. Caused rivers across france to burst their banks. Some roads and parts of villages are underwater, with many others put on high alert. Areas in the countrys south west are worst affected, as Sylvia Lennan Spence reports. Southwestern france submerged. River banks breached. Vast swathes under up to ten metres of water. Translation the fact that the water has risen so high up on the trees like that, you dont realise it. But its really something. Translation in 34 years, ive never seen anything like this. This is really exceptional. This towns deputy mayor surveys the damage the only way he can. Some have nowhere to go. A shop front now a waterfront. This tomato producing town normally hosts an internationally renowned pop festival. Now it welcomes and rescuers to help overcome this road to nowhere. Translation no one is missing or hurt and the residents expect this kind of event. But this flood is actually exceptional. We havent had one of this magnitude since 1981. It caught many people off guard as they evacuated their homes. Storm justine sent rivers in this area between bordeaux and toulouse to levels not seen since the 1870s. Paris was affected too. The river seine burst its banks. Proving quite an eyeful for even regular river waters. Sylvia lennan spence, bbc news. Parish councils may been viewed by some as the smallest, least powerful parts of the government system, but their meetings can be just as dramatic as anything in parliament. Take, for example, the Zoom Gathering of the planning and Environment Committee of handforth Parish Council in the north west of england in december. The meeting has turned up on social media and now its gone viral. Mark lobel explains why. Recent frosty conditions in the small town of handforth spilled over into a heated meeting of the Environment Committee which one comedian says was worthy of a golden globe. Its this one. Handforth Parish Council chair brian tolver begins by questioning the legitimacy of the meeting. Well start the meeting, and i want to repeat what i said at the beginning of the last meeting, that this meeting has not been called according to the law. The law has been broken. The correct titles and procedures are all important here. Are you here as the proper officer . I am here offering support to handforth Parish Council in the conduct of this meeting this evening. Youre not the proper officer. Is that as a clerk or proper officer . There is no difference between clerk and proper officer. Of course there is yes, there is. You must know the basic law. But self proclaimed monitoring officerJackie Weaver, apparently brought in as clerk to calm the tensions in previous meetings by other members present, stands her ground. Bedlam soon ensues. The law has been broken. It has been properly. Will you please let the chairman. . mrs weaver, please if you disrupt this meeting, i will have to remove you from it. You cant its only the chairman who can remove people from the meeting. You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver. No authority at all shesjust kicked him out. No, shes kicked him out dont. Shes kicked him out this is a meeting called by two councillors. Illegally they may now elect a chairman. No, they cant, the vice chair is here, i take charge read the Standing Orders. Read them and understand them she gasps. Stop it dear me appalling behaviour with both the chair and vice chair now consigned to a virtual waiting room, Jackie Weaver asks whether they should be let back in, but the other members arent in a forgiving mood. Im afraid that i would be loath for that to happen, because weve got work to get through, and i can only see everything being. Even more disrupted. Hundreds of thousands of views of the lively scenes have awakened what would normally be a sleepy Parish Council meeting into an internet sensation, with one Presenter Tweeting out loud, but what happens next . mark lobel, bbc news. The questions on everyones lips with more snow forecast this weekend, lets take you to somewhere in the uk that has had snow every day since 24th december. And if lockdown is going to force us all to stay at home, perhaps this is one of the most idyllic ways to do it. As these pictures show, the pearson family, who live in the scottish highlands, have made the most of their enforced lockdown. They even managed a night in an igloo despite the plunging temperatures. Earlier, dad gordon pearson, along with seven year old struan and three year old brodie, told my colleague Annita Mcveigh more about it. We tried a couple of times to build one,. We had snow since the start of december on and off, but this is the first one that has properly stayed, for the duration. And did you help daddy build this . Yes. Fantastic. Ok, was it really hard work to build . Yeah, and it was about. It took about six weeks to make it. He is going to show you. It is quite windy here, so he will show you a few things. Yes please. It has got a slide. As every igloo should have,a slide amazing and as brodie inside or is he outside . Brady is outside, but struan is and will show you inside. When you go, through the entrance. That is amazing and struan, you spent a night in this with your dad and your little brother, is that right . Yes. What was it like . When i thought it was going to be colder, but it was actually quite warm. We had mats and a blanket and a onesie. You answered what i was going to ask very good prediction of my question, how you managed to keep warm was it the best sleepover ever . Yes gordon, did you. . Did you just make this up as you went along or did you look for any videos or advice online . Yes, actually, it is not really an igloo, it is more like a snow hole, but ive built them before, not to this extent before though. This is a luxury snow hole. What was it like to sleep in . It was surprisingly fine. Struan had made a hole in the roof, so i was getting snowed on so we had to fill it in. But apart from that, it was a good night sleep. It was probably actually One Of The Best nights of sleep that i have had for a very long time before we go, german scientists have found what could be the worlds smallest reptile. So small it can fit on yourfingertip. Discovered in madagascar, the nano chameleon is less than 30 millimetres long, making it the smallest of all the roughly 11,500 known species of its kind. Scientists say the nano chameleons natural habitat is under threat due to deforestation, but have now placed the area under protection in the hope that the species will survive. Absolutely lovely. Lets have a look at the weather. For some of us, the weather has felt physically spring light, but over parts of scotland as we head through the next few days, thats you turn back to something much more wintry is going to affect all of us. Low pressure is down to the south east of the uk, that is going to be drawing in at this really cold easterly went, so wind chill has removed with a weekend into next week. Feeling sub zero, for all all of us, and that cold wind is going to bring a similar snowfall. The heaviest of the snow is across northern scotland, between 20 30 centimetres, perhaps 50 centimetres on higher ground, an amberwarning in perhaps 50 centimetres on higher ground, an Amber Warning in force. We have already seen some disruption, we could see some more later. That is snow across scotland, but some rain at lower levels in south east scotland, and north east england as well. Rain showers also coming across parts of england and wales for the course of the night. Some ice and frost could develop over those clearer skies and some mist and fog patches first thing saturday morning. Saturdays weather, will see some rain across parts of england and wales, the snow will continue for scotland, falling to increasingly low levels and some of that snow will work into parts of Northern England, probably across the pennines into saturday afternoon. Colderair, the pennines into saturday afternoon. Colder air, starting to filter its way south on saturday. Miles before southern england, temperatures of 80 degrees, but then it is going to all change on saturday night into sunday. Bitterly cold air moving into the east or north east, combining that with low pressure in the south east of the uk, we could see significant snowfall for parts of east anglia and the past incident because a sunday. Scattered snow showers elsewhere, especially eastern scotland and eastern england, and dry and cloudy in the west and is going to feel bitterly cold wherever you are. An amber weather warning for that heavy snowfall on sunday come across parts of east anglia and south east of england. Do make sure that you check the forecast, the details could change. But the potential is there for some disruptive snow. On monday, it is a similar picture once again, some more heavy snow coming in across south east england, east anglia, and across eastern and england and scotland, also seeing some heavy snow showers. Only a or two above freezing, but much colder than that when you add on the winds. All the warnings are on our website. Goodbye. A fall in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in most parts of the uk. The numberfell to one in 65 in england last week though doctors warn we mustnt be complacent. We would like to see levels at a really safe level before we take our foot off the gas. We dont want to be in this position again. And we want our hospitals in some sort of state that they can cope with what used to be normal if we are going to head back towards that. Well have the latest on the fall in infections with our health editor. Also this lunchtime the government defends its scheme to quarantine travellers arriving in the uk but says it doesnt yet know how many hotels will take part. Gas and electricity bills are to rise for millions of people in april Charities Say its bad timing

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