about it? we start with �*plan b', those new covid restrictions being imposed in england, in response to the sharp rise in cases of the omicron variant. from monday, employees in england are being asked to work from home wherever possible. there are currently no formal rules to work from home in wales and northern ireland, though it is encouraged, but in scotland the government also advises working from home where possible. from this friday, face coverings will need to be worn in most public venues in england, including theatres and cinemas, with some exceptions for eating ordrinking. and the nhs covid pass, also known as a vaccine passport, will become mandatory for nightclubs or other venues with large crowds. the advice in england to work from home again, after it was lifted in the summer, will have a major impact on businesses and employees, with employers�* groups calling on the government forfinancial support. our business editor simonjack reports. christmas is supposed to add a little fizz to the economy but today�*s announcement felt a little flat for some workers in manchester. i think it�*s better for us to be in the workplace with our colleagues supporting each other, working from home is really isolating, so for me it is just not an option. while others felt better prepared this time around. when we did the first lockdown, when we had to work from home, we didn�*t know what we were up against, but i feel like we are in a better place now, and we are better equipped to deal with it. so i feel like it�*s a bit of an overreaction, if i�*m honest. but are business has prepared for another setback? in our big cities, commuters and office workers are the lifeblood for businesses like this family owned cafe who suffered last time workers were told to stay at home. we already lost one shop because everyone was working from home, so we lost one shop. if we start again, working from home, i think i don�*t know what we are going to do. it�*s going to be very sad. for some customers, the office is more than just a place of work. mentally, it�*s awful, like, you know, my early 30s, stuck in my bedroom in london, like, you know, no family around. i have a housemate. you are just getting up, going two metres to a desk, working, and then you are stuck in your house, like, it�*s what�*s the point, like? the uk economy is primarily a service—based economy. sandwich places like this, over the road a pub, a convenience store here, shoe repairs there, and all of these businesses rely on people coming to work, and things were going back to normal, estimates were that 60% of office workers were spending at least some of the week in the office, and footfall on streets like this were 70% of pre—pandemic levels, which is why this news has been described by business organisations here in london as a crushing blow. and it could lead to some perhaps unexpected but certainly unwelcome effects on the cost of living. if we aren�*t able to go out and take full advantage of the reopening of the economy then we are staying at home. we are not buying services, we are not going out, we are buying goods instead, that increases demand for physical goods and that, potentially, could add to already quite acute inflationary pressures. fans at old trafford tonight will need more than a ticket from next week. covid passes for large venues will be needed in england, something already required elsewhere in the uk. we�*ve experienced the implementation of covid passports in scotland and wales. we�*ve seen a 30% drop in trade initially. additional costs of up to £600 per week. at a time when businesses are relying heavily on building their cash reserves to survive quarter one in 2022, so it is a devastating blow to business. tonight, despite business and union pleas, the government said there would be no new financial support package in the post this christmas. simon jack, bbc news. well lets now get reaction from the institute of directors, dr roger barker is director of policy at the uk employers�* group. good to talk to you again. what is the iod saying about plan b being in place?— being in place? there is no doubt this— being in place? there is no doubt this is _ being in place? there is no doubt this is gonna - being in place? there is no doubt this is gonna be - doubt this is gonna be particularly damaging to sectors of the economy the companies that were relying on hosting our office parties, that were depending on after being back in the office, they are going to need some targeted report, eitherthis are going to need some targeted report, either this christmas or in the new year, perhaps phasing out the delaying of business rates release or even rethinking the national insurance contributions but i do think we need to get this in proportion. forthe do think we need to get this in proportion. for the economy as a whole beyond hospitality, i think business is in a position to cope with what is happened so far. this isn�*t a full lockdown and we are used to working at home. many employees will anyway be pursuing hybrid working and they willjust now be cutting back on the few days that they were going into the office so i think this is not the same situation as last christmas where it really did come as a major, major disruptions not quite also as well it depends how long the current restrictions last for as well doesn�*t it? because we are still very much in the dark when it comes to information about omicron and how potent it is or not as the case may be. that�*s absolutely right. we still need the evidence to know how this is going to go and i think perhaps some people are projecting a situation like last year and are thinking of the worst and are assuming we are going to head into a scale lockdown. are going to head into a scale lockdown-— lockdown. but as yet that is not necessarily _ lockdown. but as yet that is not necessarily the - lockdown. but as yet that is not necessarily the case - lockdown. but as yet that is | not necessarily the case and lockdown. but as yet that is i not necessarily the case and i think we should avoid talking ourselves into a worse situation than we actually have. �* ., situation than we actually have. ., ,, ,, situation than we actually have. ,, ., , have. but for business leaders, it is tough _ have. but for business leaders, it is tough for _ have. but for business leaders, it is tough for them _ have. but for business leaders, it is tough for them to - have. but for business leaders, it is tough for them to lead - have. but for business leaders, it is tough for them to lead in l it is tough for them to lead in this situation, isn�*t it? because so many people have covid fatigue. we were hearing from people report who were saying that working from home isjust really difficult for me for whatever reason. it�*s going to be tough, isn�*t it? it whatever reason. it's going to be tough, isn't it?— be tough, isn't it? it is going to be tough _ be tough, isn't it? it is going to be tough and _ be tough, isn't it? it is going to be tough and you - be tough, isn't it? it is going to be tough and you know. be tough, isn't it? it is going to be tough and you know al be tough, isn't it? it is going l to be tough and you know a lot of businesses were just getting and coaxing their employees back into the workplace but we should remember, however, that employees have different preferences about homeworking. there are many employees who absolutely prefer working at home. it depends on age group and it also can depend on gender and other demographic factors. so every employee is different but for those that really saw a benefit in being backin really saw a benefit in being back in the workplace, yes, this is damaging. 0k, doctor roaer this is damaging. 0k, doctor roger barker, _ this is damaging. 0k, doctor roger barker, thank - this is damaging. 0k, doctor roger barker, thank you - this is damaging. 0k, doctor| roger barker, thank you very much indeed from the institute of directors. and just to say of directors. and just to say of course there is detail and analysis on our website, there is a clear outline of the restrictions and the new rules that take effect from tomorrow and monday in england so do take a look. let�*s go to the us now, where the boss of instagram has been facing questions from senators in washington about how it proposes to protect young people online. it follows a report earlier this year, based on leaked internal documents, that said the company knew instagram could have harmful mental health effects on teens. samira hussain reports from new york. this is the first time a representative from mehta, the parent company of facebook and instagram has faced lawmakers since they facebook whistleblower revealed that instagram was privy to research that showed just how damaging the social media site could be to younger people. —— meta. in speaking to us senators, the head of instagram actually advocated for rules governing all social media companies which would create best practices, guidelines for youth safety online.— safety online. this is an entryway _ safety online. this is an entryway challenge - safety online. this is an i entryway challenge which requires industrywide solutions and standards. we have a specific proposal, we believe there should be an industry body determining the best practices with regards to safety. how to verify age, how to build age—appropriate experiences, and how to build parental controls. unsurprisingly senators were sceptical and even hostile to the suggestion that the tech industry could actively police itself. earlierthis industry could actively police itself. earlier this week instagram unveiled a new measures aimed at protecting teenagers from harmful content but the timing was largely criticised as the announcement came just a day before adam mosseri�*s appearance before lawmakers in washington. let�*s stay in washington, because executives from the cryptocurrency industry have been giving evidence to congress. the cryptocurrency market is worth more than two trillion dollars, and with the surge in interest in digital assets, some lawmakers are pushing for regulation. here�*s what the chair of the house financial services committee, maxine waters — had to say. americans are increasingly making financial decisions using digital assets every day. even some pension funds are beginning to invest in tractor currencies on behalf of retirees, despite the track record of volatility of crypto currencies as investments. the pandemic has also continued to contribute to working families looking for alternatives to rebuild their nest egg by investing in crypto the rapid growth of this industry has also become more visible with celebrity endorsements and atms that exchange cash for crypto currency. however, several questions remain as to how traditional rules apply and whether regulators have sufficient authority to protect investors and consumers while maintaining market integrity and encouraging innovation. kathleen brooks is director of the consultancy minerva analysis. good morning to you kathleen. that was really clear, wasn�*t it? and that comment from congress, that actually with crypto current business is a brave new world and traditional regulation doesn�*t fit. i brave new world and traditional regulation doesn't fit.— regulation doesn't fit. i think so and i think— regulation doesn't fit. i think so and i think what _ regulation doesn't fit. i think so and i think what was - regulation doesn't fit. i think| so and i think what was really interesting about those hearings is that they were fairly cordial. of course the crypto executives don�*t want an arrest regulation but they were supportive of some type of regulation, particularly the exchanges where a lot of exchanges where a lot of exchange of crypto takes place and where a lot of institutions as they mention, the pension funds, are going to be buying and potentially selling go as well down the line. what is quite interesting is that two years ago, mark zuckerberg, obviously the ceo of facebook came under a lot of pressure when he was talking to congress about facebook�*s plan for a stable coin or a type of crypto currency and that was called libra back then and now it seems they have accepted the reality that crypto is going to be part of our future and they certainly seem like they were willing to learn quite a lot about it so it was a very different hearing to what we expected and very different to what the programme boss face earlier in the day.— earlier in the day. yeah as you sa but earlier in the day. yeah as you say but it _ earlier in the day. yeah as you say but it is — earlier in the day. yeah as you say but it is important - earlier in the day. yeah as you say but it is important that - say but it is important that progress is made with regards to crypto currencies because it is so volatile, so speculative and people are getting hurt, aren�*t they? so regulators are keen to somehow have a level playing field. keen to somehow have a level playing field-— playing field. they are, definitely _ playing field. they are, definitely and - playing field. they are, definitely and it - playing field. they are, definitely and it did - playing field. they are, l definitely and it did come playing field. they are, - definitely and it did come at a tense time especially the bitcoin that fell more than $10,000 in 60 minutes so we are seeing incredibly volatile crypto currency but the focus was actually on things called stable coins and this is a digital currency which is linked to traditional currencies like the dollar. that is when i think we are going to see the biggest push for regulation first. the crypto market as you mentioned is absolutely massive but i think regulators are going to be able to swallow the stable coin, the one that is actually linked to a currency, the one that has already got regulation. for example anyone who issues a stable coin, they actually have two ensure that their deposits are all ensured and act a bit like a bank. that is going to be a lot easier for washington to regulate compared to crypto that can be mined anywhere. what is quite interesting i think is that the crypto executives were saying we want regulation, don�*t make it too onerous otherwise you will drive it underground. on top of that you will also put it out of the us somewhere where the us congress won�*t be able to regulate at all there is a fine balance that they need to strike.— is a fine balance that they need to strike. kathleen good to talk to you. _ need to strike. kathleen good to talk to you. thank - need to strike. kathleen good to talk to you. thank you - need to strike. kathleen good to talk to you. thank you for i to talk to you. thank you for your analysis this morning. to asia now where the cost of goods leaving china�*s factories is still rising fast, up 12.9% in november compared with last year. soaring inflation is being caused by high energy prices and higher raw material costs, as well as factory production cuts because of government power rationing. jinny yan is chief china economist at icbc standard bank here in london. good morning and nice to see you again. talk us through the picture in china. factory floor inflation is going up and up and up and yet consumer price inflation is not rising as much by any means. inflation is not rising as much by any meane— by any means. that is right. actually in _ by any means. that is right. actually in fact _ by any means. that is right. actually in fact in _ by any means. that is right. j actually in fact in november the factory gate prices started to fall and that comes as a sigh of relief, i think, for policymakers who have seen commodity prices particularly four ding on inflationary pressures domestically. of course there were power shortages in the second half of the year and, of course, battling with those power cut to factories was what was really weighing on the confidence, i think, particularly across industry. what we saw in the november data was the fact that even for a gate prices started to come down and that helped mainly by beijing�*s helford —— efforts to try and squeeze the factory gate price down. of course, what the policymakers are really interested in is ensuring that households are not four did and that is why why even with the base effect, meaning that this time last year inflation was relatively neutral or even negative, with the base effect we would have had a higher inflation picture if it was not for stepping in by policymakers. 50 if it was not for stepping in by policymakers.— if it was not for stepping in by policymakers. so as you say, the chinese _ by policymakers. so as you say, the chinese government - by policymakers. so as you say, i the chinese government stepping in to try and manage the situation but it is tough. you have ever grand close to collapse, covid still very much there although there is not officially any cases of omicron yet in china. so your thoughts on the outlook for the economy? exactly right. there are so many uncertainties surrounding china�*s growth outlook into 2022. so the last thing that china wants is to introduce even more uncertainty. i think the priority is absolutely stability and that is why we are facing a global inflationary environment, we face covid related restrictions especially heading into the chinese new year and we have, you know, a huge amount of travel domestically even in the last thing that authorities want is to see even further rising uncertainty. so the key really is to make sure that policies are in place, mainly accommodated and supported to make sure that even the problems and woes on the property sector are not going to impact on the average household.— to impact on the average household. ., ., household. thank you for your analysis- _ stay with us on bbc news, still to come:how soaring inflation is hitting americans already struggling to feed themselves, we have a special report from louisville john lennon was shot at the entrance to the dakota building, in the centre of new york. there�*s been a crowd here standing in more or less silent vigil and the flowers have been piling up. the 14th ceasefire of this war ended at the walls of the old city of dubrovnik. this morning, witnesses said shells were landing every 20 seconds. people are celebrating the passing of a man they hold responsible for hundreds of deaths and oppression. elsewhere, people have been gathering to mourn his passing. imelda marcos, the widow of the former - president of the philippines, has gone on trial in manila. she's facing seven charges of tax evasion, _ estimated at £120 million. she pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are to separate. a statement from buckingham palace said the decision had been reached amicably. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: new covid rules are announced for england, but the prime minister�*s accused of trying to deflect attention from a political scandal. the beijing boycott grows, now canada and britain say they won�*t be sending officials to the winter olympics. let�*s return to the subject of inflation, because the price of goods in the us is up more than 6% on last year — the biggestjump in three decades. so how is the rising cost of living affecting those already struggling to feed themselves and their families? michelle fleury has been to louisville in kentucky where one in seven residents rely on charity food banks. inflation rely on charity food banks. in america is at a 30 year inflation in america is at a 30 year high with prices rising fastest in the midwest and the south. in kentucky, they know firsthand the impact on the most vulnerable in the neighbourhood. most vulnerable in the neiuhbourhood. ., ., neighbourhood. people have to -a their neighbourhood. people have to pay their rent. _ neighbourhood. people have to pay their rent, their _ neighbourhood. people have to pay their rent, their utilities . pay their rent, their utilities and other stuff like that and then with the groceries going up then with the groceries going up like that, people are, like, well, something has to give. i�*m going to have to skip out or be short on this. i'm going to have to skip out or be short on this.— or be short on this. this community. _ or be short on this. this community, west - or be short on this. this - community, west louisville, or be short on this. this community, west louisville, has been designated a food desert meaning the people who live here do not have easy access to healthy and affordable food. and with inflation now rising faster than income, puts even more pressure on local food banks. how has inflation impacted those you serve? inflation impacts everybody. i have noticed a difference in prices for myself when i go to the grocery store. everybody has. so what you are looking at is our food bank.— is our food bank. amy johnston works at neighbourhood - is our food bank. amy johnston| works at neighbourhood house, helping residents with food and other basic needs. how much is demand increased because the pandemic? about 15— 20%. they get their food here at dare to care. a food bank that supplies pantries across the region. five counties and eight in kentucky. five counties and eight in kentucky-— five counties and eight in kentuc . �* , . ., kentucky. but they are also bein: kentucky. but they are also being squeezed _ kentucky. but they are also being squeezed by - kentucky. but they are also being squeezed by high - being squeezed by high inflation and supply chain problems. inflation and supply chain problems-— problems. there are so many deploys in — problems. there are so many deploys in getting _ problems. there are so many deploys in getting product - deploys in getting product here. we have seen our lead times of one or two weeks turn into four, six, even eight weeks. ., , ,, weeks. each of these boxes is now more _ weeks. each of these boxes is now more expensive - weeks. each of these boxes is now more expensive to - weeks. each of these boxes is now more expensive to put i now more expensive to put together. now more expensive to put together-— now more expensive to put together. we pay for freight and sometimes _ together. we pay for freight and sometimes the - together. we pay for freight and sometimes the items i together. we pay for freight i and sometimes the items are free, sometimes we pay for them. freight has doubled or tripled in some instances. find tripled in some instances. and that is not _ tripled in some instances. and that is not the _ tripled in some instances. and that is not the only _ tripled in some instances. and that is not the only rising cost. part of what you see he comes from surplus. maybe it will be discontinued. extra food that supermarkets don�*t need. but with demand outpacing supply, dare to care is to pay retail prices.— retail prices. overall we suspend _ retail prices. overall we suspend a _ retail prices. overall we suspend a substantial. retail prices. overall we - suspend a substantial amount more. so we will have to make some difficult decisions. can we increase the budget? will we stretch our resources? the? stretch our resources? they can't get — stretch our resources? they can't get food _ stretch our resources? they can't get food here, - stretch our resources? they can't get food here, tens i stretch our resources? they can't get food here, tens of| can�*t get food here, tens of thousands of people go hungry. rising food and transportation costs causes hardship, notjust for families struggling to cope but also for those trying to help them. but also for those trying to help them-— but also for those trying to help them. but also for those trying to hel them. , , ., help them. everything is on the line. we cannot _ help them. everything is on the line. we cannot let _ help them. everything is on the line. we cannot let our - line. we cannot let our neighbours go without food. finally, as millions of uk employees are being told to work from home again — a new report claims britain is lagging behind its european neighbours in adopting more flexible ways of working. benjamin braun is vice president of samsung europe. good morning, benjamin. why are we, the uk, so behind when it comes to hybrid working? we soke to comes to hybrid working? - spoke to 14,000 people across europe and there were interesting differences between people in mainland europe and people in mainland europe and people in mainland europe and people in the uk. let mr by saying that the past —— vast majority of people in the uk are embracing a working and the ability to work both from home and the office. 86% of us enjoy this hybrid style of working and only 13% of people in the uk want to go back to what we had before corona. however, 40% of people in the uk say that there is a big drawback and that big drawback is the always on culture. the inability to switch off work and start your personal time. we are also seeing that 51% of people in the uk are using technology to make sure that they can delineate between the work on the personal time. some people are now becoming much better at switching off and work notification so that they can start their personal time. at some song we have a couple of good hacks. some song we have a couple of good hacks-— some song we have a couple of good hacks. audio cuts out the person _ good hacks. audio cuts out the person you _ good hacks. audio cuts out the person you are _ good hacks. audio cuts out the person you are about - good hacks. audio cuts out the person you are about to - the person you are about to messages actually not working and asks me if i want to schedule that message and then it will only be sent once the person is up and working again. that really respects the personal time of our employees. essentially that is like an out of office reply, isn�*t it? what you are describing. but we have to embrace the hybrid model, don�*t we? it is here to stay, would you say? don't we? it is here to stay, would you say?— don't we? it is here to stay, would you say? absolutely. 13% of us want _ would you say? absolutely. 13% of us want to — would you say? absolutely. 13% of us want to go _ would you say? absolutely. 13% of us want to go back _ would you say? absolutely. 13% of us want to go back to - would you say? absolutely. 13% of us want to go back to what i of us want to go back to what we had two years ago. but there a couple of other interesting facts that we have seen as we spoke to 14,000 people across europe. one is that 88% of workers in the uk are still saying that they need better technology handed to them by their employers. for almost two years people have been sitting on their laptops at home with small screens, no web camera on a bad chair. brute small screens, no web camera on a bad chair-— a bad chair. we will have to leave it there. _ a bad chair. we will have to leave it there. sorry - a bad chair. we will have to leave it there. sorry to - leave it there. sorry to interrupt you but i do appreciate the challenges we are facing and we are out of time. we will see you soon. hello again. storm barra of course has been dominating our weather picture over the last couple of days with strong winds, heavy rain and some upland snow as well. but look at these big rocks. the seas have been chucking them onto the coastline of west wales. you know the seas are pretty angry when they throw brick—sized lumps of rocks at you. there is barra, it continues to feel it�*s getting less intense. we do have a window of slightly clearer weather that�*s set to come in during thursday. that means we�*ll see these showers that we got at the moment fading away over the next few hours. but it�*s going to be quite chilly for those heading out across northern england and scotland, temperatures as low as —2, —3 degrees celsius as you perhaps head outside the door first thing in the morning. but for many, a fine start to the day. in fact for some of you, it should be a lovely sunrise. the early rising sun illuminating this lump of cloud, the next weather system not taking long to move its way in and bringing rain back to northern ireland, west england and wales. but also eventually bringing some milder air into the south—west where temperatures reach around 11 degrees through the afternoon. still for most of us, it�*s another fairly chilly run with 6 or 7 degrees celsius, more typical temperatures. as we head into friday, that area of rain, perhaps with a little bit of mountain snow clears out of the way. we�*ll be left with these north—westerly winds. those north—westerly winds bringing a lot of sunshine, sparkling visibility, but also a number of showers. the showers will always be most frequent across the north—west, they will be some that reach right across the midlands, perhaps down towards even parts of southern england. temperatures, well, similar to recent days, still quite chilly around 6 or 7 degrees celsius. but the weather is set to change as we head into the weekend. another area of low pressure responsible for the change, this one is going to be bringing south—westerly winds in, particularly across parts of england and wales. could be some mist and fog patches first thing in the morning. so, for some, it could be quite a murky start and it�*s not entirely dry, we�*ve got outbreaks of rain piling and particularly through western areas of the country, although probably not a huge amount of rain across eastern most areas. temperatures rising through the day, 12 degrees toward south—west england and heading into sunday, that milder air will continue to push its way eastwards and northwards. by the time we get to sunday afternoon, most of you will see temperatures into double figures and the milder spots on sunday you could see temperatures as high as 14 degrees. then it looks like it will stay quite mild into next week. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. our headlines today. covid passes, working from home and the wider use of face masks, as plan b is brought into force in england. we know that the remorseless logic of exponential growth could lead to a big rise in hospitalisations and therefore, sadly, deaths. good morning. the hospitality sector says these new measures will have a devastating impact, especially on city centre venues. they want more support from the government to help them survive. i will be speaking to businesses here in liverpool. claims of more gatherings at downing street whilst the uk was in lockdown, as one of the prime minister�*s