chinese property giants miss foreign debt payments, raising fears of a $300 billion hole in the financial system. we start with the impact of new covid restrictions in england. hospitality businesses are warning that they now face a collapse at their busiest time of the year. one trade body called so—called plan b a body blow to pubs, restaurants and entertainment venues, already struggling. from monday, workers in england are being told to work from home if possible. that's raised fears of a slump in footfall in city centres. and from wednesday, an nhs covid pass or negative test will be needed to get into large venues like nightclubs. masks must be worn in most indoor public venues as of today. from birmingham, here's our business correspondent emma simpson. a city with a festive feel. busy, too. many in good spirits despite the latest restrictions. i despite the latest restrictions. ~ �* , restrictions. i think if it's coin: restrictions. i think if it's going to _ restrictions. i think if it's going to help. _ restrictions. i think if it's going to help, it's - restrictions. i think if it's going to help, it's fine. l restrictions. i think if it's going to help, it's fine. i| going to help, it's fine. i will do whatever as long as people are safe. i will do whatever as long as people are safe.— will do whatever as long as people are safe. i think they are really — people are safe. i think they are really confusing - people are safe. i think they are really confusing but - people are safe. i think they are really confusing but i - are really confusing but i think_ are really confusing but i think actually people are ahead of the — think actually people are ahead of the government, so people will be — of the government, so people will be the ones who make the responsible choices. if will be the ones who make the responsible choices.— responsible choices. if they can have — responsible choices. if they can have a _ responsible choices. if they can have a party _ responsible choices. if they can have a party so - responsible choices. if they can have a party so can - responsible choices. if theyi can have a party so can we. this— can have a party so can we. this cafe _ can have a party so can we. this cafe relies _ can have a party so can we. this cafe relies on - can have a party so can we. this cafe relies on office . this cafe relies on office staff, back to working from home again next week. is staff, back to working from home again next week. is going to be tough. — home again next week. is going to be tough, to _ home again next week. is going to be tough, to be _ home again next week. is going to be tough, to be honest. - home again next week. is going to be tough, to be honest. it's i to be tough, to be honest. it's been almost two years now. just being sat lonely and wanting to get back to normal life and it all gets shut down again. you don't know — all gets shut down again. you don't know what _ all gets shut down again. you don't know what is _ all gets shut down again. you don't know what is going to happen, _ don't know what is going to happen, you don't know if it's going — happen, you don't know if it's going to — happen, you don't know if it's going to get better or worse. you — going to get better or worse. you feel_ going to get better or worse. you feel we are going backwards? i you feel we are going backwards?— you feel we are going backwards? ., ., backwards? i feel we are going backwards. _ backwards? i feel we are going backwards, absolutely. - backwards? i feel we are going backwards, absolutely. the - backwards, absolutely. the timinu backwards, absolutely. the timing couldn't _ backwards, absolutely. the timing couldn't be - backwards, absolutely. tie: timing couldn't be worse for this business. it timing couldn't be worse for this business.— this business. it was really startin: this business. it was really starting to _ this business. it was really starting to gain _ this business. it was really| starting to gain momentum this business. it was really - starting to gain momentum and we were excited enough to have this, we are back into that worrying, not knowing what's going to happen territory. find going to happen territory. and here is another _ going to happen territory. and here is another big changes stopping the covid pass. to get one you will have to be fully vaccinated for at least a fortnight or show a negative test in the last 48 hours. you can download the nhs covid pass on your phone and it's going to be mandatory for all nightclubs and large event. this nightclub owner says another big blow for the industry. owner says another big blow for the industry-— the industry. i've got to source _ the industry. i've got to source extra _ the industry. i've got to source extra stuff, - the industry. i've got to source extra stuff, putl source extra stuff, put policies, procedures, logistical arrangements in place and we really don't know what to expect when we open our doors next week. for what to expect when we open our doors next week.— doors next week. for the economy _ doors next week. for the economy things - doors next week. for the economy things aren't i doors next week. for the - economy things aren't nearly as bad as another lot down but one retail veteran says dissenters are vulnerable if restrictions go on for too long.— are vulnerable if restrictions go on for too long. once we get be ond go on for too long. once we get beyond christmas, _ go on for too long. once we get beyond christmas, you - go on for too long. once we get beyond christmas, you are - go on for too long. once we get| beyond christmas, you are going to find that city centres go back to where they were, right at the beginning of the covid problem and so the infrastructure which response the whole of the office life will not be there to support the people who may eventually go back to work. it’s the people who may eventually go back to work.— go back to work. it's not the news business _ go back to work. it's not the news business wanted - go back to work. it's not the news business wanted for i news business wanted for christmas. how this story ends depends on whether consumers will continue to go out and spend. susannah streeter is senior investment analyst at hargreaves lansdownif footfall is down & more spending shifts online, what impact will that have on inflation? the bank of england and its thinking on interest rates, how might that have changed? there are two kind _ might that have changed? there are two kind of _ might that have changed? there are two kind of conflict - might that have changed? there are two kind of conflict being - are two kind of conflict being tides which i think they have to try and counter now, first of all of course is what effect this will have on economic growth and it is very likely, as emma simpson was pointing out, that there will be a downturn, particularly in the hospitality sector but also for those bricks and mortar retailers, really reliant on that footfall, but the other element as well is we are already seeing signs of this, there was an expectation that people would spend more on services instead of goods, because it's good is inflation thatis because it's good is inflation that is seen as a real issue. the problem is, in this type of scenario as it is looking less likely. already we have figures coming through from black friday sales showing that spending on goods was up yet again, soaring to pre— pandemic levels, not seen for a number of years, up i2i%. now that is a big boost in spending on goods rather than services and that will lead to worries that inflation may lingerfor longer, so it's likely, certainly not to see an interest rate rise in the months to come, inflation is going to be of a concern. and so it isjust going to be of a concern. and so it is just exactly when we'll be the right time to raise rate?— we'll be the right time to raise rate? ., , raise rate? ok, thanks very much susanna _ raise rate? ok, thanks very much susanna in _ raise rate? ok, thanks very much susanna in bristol- raise rate? ok, thanks very much susanna in bristolforj raise rate? ok, thanks very - much susanna in bristol for us. let's go to the us now, where starbucks workers in upstate new york have voted to form a union. the cafe in buffalo will be the first unionized workplace, out of 8,000 us stores owned by the coffee giant, since unions were de—certified by the company more than three decades ago. a second cafe in the area voted againstjoining, but the workers united union are confident of victory at a third store. in a statement to the bbc, the president of starbucks in north america says the company will continue to find ways to lead on wages and benefits. from new york, our business correspondent michelle fleury has more. workers at one starbucks outlet in buffalo, new york voted to form a union stopping it comes after a lengthy and often contentious campaign of unionising three stores in the area. those involved took a moment to savour their victory. we've done at. in spite of everything that the company has thrown at us, and we all know that it has been an extensive entire union campaign by starbucks corporate to try and prevent this from happening. the employees at the location in buffalo, new york says the next step was to bring starbucks to the bargaining table. among the issues they want to dress, understaffing and insufficient training. while management at the coffee chain oppose the effort, the campaign enjoyed the support of some high—profile politicians such as bernie sanders who tweeted his congratulations, calling it a historic achievement. it is the first company owned starbucks out of nearly 9000 in the united states to be unionised and it comes as workers in many industries are demanding better pay and conditions, particularly given how much they had to endure given the pandemic. the vote represents a particular challenge to the country's restaurant industry where unions are rare. john logan is professor of labor and employment studies at san francisco state university, he's in boston. for 30 years this company has said to its workforce, you dont need a union, we'll look after you. and that paternialistic strategy has held. how much of a big deal is this? i think it is potentially an enormous deal. the number of workers involved is your story explained is actually relatively but the victory itself has huge symbolic importance. part of the problem is that when workers want to form a union in the united states they have to take a certain degree of risk, the legal protections for the right to choose a union are quite weak and so it really helps if you can point to other groups of workers who have taken that risk and it has paid off for them, and they can look to this store and say they are just like us, they took the risk, it has paid off. we can do that too. so it can be contagious in that respect and as your story pointed out, it's notjust happening in isolation, it's happening in isolation, it's happening at a time in the us labour market where you have all of these other things going on. increasing numbers of workers talking union, media workers, tech workers, museum workers, tech workers, museum workers, workers threatening to go out and strike or participating in strikes, so there's really a sense that this a different moment right now for the us labour movement. a lot of things have contributed to that but the symbol of a group of workers winning against one of the richest, the largest and the most anti—union corporations in the country i would say is tremendously important and symbolically it could be a watershed moment for the us labour. ., . , watershed moment for the us labour. ., ., , ., ., labour. potentially we are on the cusp of — labour. potentially we are on the cusp of some _ labour. potentially we are on the cusp of some thing - labour. potentially we are on| the cusp of some thing bigger here. i'm interested in students, how do you think they see the world of work changing in the us and their place within it? i in the us and their place within it?— in the us and their place within it? i think they are very concerned, - within it? i think they are very concerned, as - within it? i think they are very concerned, as you i within it? i think they are i very concerned, as you said stopping my students typically do work in food services and hospitality, retail. in precisely the jobs we are seeing a lot of union organising at the moment, at starbucks, at amazon, at the big, iconic employers who, you know, have really developed a somewhat depressing and dysfunctional vision of the future of the world of work, one that's based on algorithms, one that's based on algorithms, one that's based on algorithms, one that's based on disposable labour, low wages and no independent voice for employees. this seemed to be the way of the future but if we get a sort of upsurge of a liberty following this victory at starbucks, following other campaigns that will be going on immediately after it, it may well be the case thatjeff bezos and howard schultz, the former ceo of starbucks, that their vision is not the one that prevails, that actually an alternative, and already we are seeing organising going on in other buffalo starbucks outlets in arizona, in other parts of the country. so already this sort of sign of contagion appears to be happening. ok john, appears to be happening. 0k john, thank you very much for your time. let's stay in the us, because the soaring cost of living will be back in focus in a few hours time, with the release of official inflation figures. president biden has vowed to make controlling inflation a top priority. america's consumer price index was up 6.2% in october compared with last year, the highest its been for three decades. and there are predictions that figure climbed even higher in november, possibly to 6.8%. let's bring in pete earle, he's an economist and research fellow at american institute for economic research. the cost of living has become a heavily politicised issue. but realistically what can biden do about it? ,., ., realistically what can biden do about it? ., ., about it? good morning and thanks for— about it? good morning and thanks for having _ about it? good morning and thanks for having me. - about it? good morning and| thanks for having me. really it's in the hands of the federal reserve. the federal reserve has indicated that they intend to start fighting inflation as soon as possible, but that isn't right now. to do so they would raise interest rates, but they can't begin to do that until they taper, which means they end their bond buying programme, so that may not happen until next year, perhaps may orjune of 2022. so well a higher inflation rate justify a quicker turning off of the taps of cheap money, a taper if you will from the fed? we think so. there's a certain pace at which can do at. the fed also doesn't want to pull the rug out from any firms or entities which are relying on that money but i think right now it is still at $60 billion or $80 billion a month, they can accelerate that by a factor of ten or 20 less per month but at any rate it still won't be until next year that they have the latitude and the policy had space to be able to raise interest rates and combat the inflation. i interest rates and combat the inflation. ., , ., inflation. i wonder where you stand on _ inflation. i wonder where you stand on this _ inflation. i wonder where you stand on this issue. - inflation. i wonder where you stand on this issue. do - inflation. i wonder where you stand on this issue. do you i stand on this issue. do you think that the cost of living crisis in the states is a global phenomenon on or do you think it is a homegrown headache? it think it is a homegrown headache?— think it is a homegrown headache? it is a global phenomenon _ headache? it is a global phenomenon insofar - headache? it is a global phenomenon insofar as | headache? it is a global. phenomenon insofar as the headache? it is a global - phenomenon insofar as the us trade with many nations and also many central banks followed the fed's lead in the opening stages of the pandemic. bank of england, bank ofjapan, ucb, all opened up lines and loosened money in the opening stages of the covid pandemic. so it's reallyjust a question of how long it takes for some of how long it takes for some of that to spread to the rest of that to spread to the rest of the world but the dollar is used very widely and for that reason the us can actually export a certain degree of inflation. export a certain degree of inflation-— export a certain degree of inflation. . ~' , ., , . inflation. thank you very much for our inflation. thank you very much for your time. _ to asia now, where fears of a massive debt default by chinese property companies are coming to a head. credit ratings agency fitch says real estate giant evergrande and its smaller rival kaysa both defaulted on interest payments due to foreign investors this week. the companies themselves have not commented. evergrande alone owes some $300 billion, raising fears of a huge black hole in the global financial system that has rattled financial markets. let's talk to economist and author dr linda yueh. the threat of this has been enough to send stock markets into death spirals and yet now its officially labelled a defaulter, financial markets have barely moved, why? the shipment has been coming for some time and hear this term often that financial markets pass this in in other words they thought evergrande, the most indebted company globally, was not going to be able to make its payments. so as you see the kind of restrictor default, which one of the rating agencies has described the inability of evergrande to make a payment, so what i think you are seeing is the reaction of the expectation that it is not going to be the only chinese property company, certainly the biggest, but it was coming. it has been coming for some time. the question, and i think we will have to see what happens next, and then the markets might start to react more than it already has. for might start to react more than it already has.— might start to react more than it already has. for many years, investors _ it already has. for many years, investors gave _ it already has. for many years, investors gave to _ it already has. for many years, investors gave to companies i investors gave to companies like evergrande on the basis that beijing would bail out the big companies when it got tough. does that assumption or hold, you think?— tough. does that assumption or hold, you think? what happened in the property — hold, you think? what happened in the property sector _ hold, you think? what happened in the property sector both - in the property sector both because lots of debt has built up because lots of debt has built up for a couple of decades, but the break as it were to the property sector continuing to expand is actually chinese government policy, trying to rain in the sector, in other words, they put down three web lines to the property sector and trying to restrict the amount of debt companies like evergrande can hold on what they would like to do is what has been described as a sort of controlled deflation of the sector. that is always trying to be a bit tricky thing to do and in one sense the investors are saying well, the chinese government think they can deflate the sector and make property potentially more affordable for people because obviously that is one of the consequences of lots of money going into the sector, companies borrowing lots of money and building properties which have increasingly become unaffordable, but it's also the case that most of, the vast majority of chinese money and are held within china so the chinese central bank has a controlled financial system, money does not flow overseas and the expectation is the amount of debt in the system is something the central bank itself will try and either counter by supporting the sector through liquidity with the chinese government, and give capital to the property sector. i think that is why the chinese situation is a bit unusual and why investors expect, given the size of the property sector, near 30% of gdp, that the government was supported, if this controlled inclusion of the bubble does not go as it wishes.- not go as it wishes. really interesting, _ not go as it wishes. really interesting, thank - not go as it wishes. really interesting, thank you. . stay with us on bbc news, still to come: staging a recovery, but will new covid restrictions mean curtains for london's west end productions? 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: a court in chicago has found the actorjussie smollett guilty of staging an attack on himself nearly two years ago and making it look like a hate crime. new covid restrictions come into force in england , aiming to curb the spread of the omicron variant. to the uk's post—brexit trade now. it has reached agreement,in principle, on a digital trade deal with singapore. the idea is to cut costs and bureaucracy in a sector that already accounts for about 15% of global gdp and is growing fast. let's talk to our asia business correspondent mariko oi who is in singapore for us. this is the first deal of its kind for any european nation. what benefits are hoped to flow from this? i guess digital trade is a very broad concept but it is basically anything you when i buy on the internet but also online services and as he said the digital sector already accounts for 15% of global gdp and will keep growing and digital trade basically reduces transaction costs. from a company point of view, it is a lot more efficient and this hope to matt at map out how digital trade will operate in the future, so no tariffs on electronic cross—border transactions which many countries are thinking about. the uk is already the world's biggest —— second—biggest service exporter and because the brexit it means new markets and the treasury secretary explained what the deal could mean. digital is a way to strip out costs for goods that have been exported around the world so this is really practical, tangible stuff that demonstrates why trade deals with those allies and friends makes a difference for our traders and were really excited as part of the g7 presidency that the uk set this year that we were able to establish digital trade principles and this agreement is very much at the heart of those thought processes in working with singapore, a great ally and trading friend, and we want to set that out and lead the world on. �* , . set that out and lead the world on, �* , ., , set that out and lead the world on. asia is fast-growing and singapore — on. asia is fast-growing and singapore seen _ on. asia is fast-growing and singapore seen as _ on. asia is fast-growing and singapore seen as a - on. asia is fast-growing and singapore seen as a digital. on. asia is fast-growing and i singapore seen as a digital hub in the region and it is small but she has acknowledged convincing bigger partners in bigger trading blocs will be a lot harder. thank you, mariko oi. let's go back to our top story, the impact of those renewed covid restrictions in england on hospitality and entertainment. a major west end theatre operator, trafalgar entertainment, has welcomed tightening the rules on mask—wearing in venues but has warned new restrictions could amplify concern for some theatregoers. it is concerned that some customers may simply stay away over the crucial christmas period. dame rosemary squire isjoint chief executive of trafalgar entertainment, the second biggest theatre company in the uk. she's in sydney, australia, where they are launching a new alanis morissette musical. are you seeing cancellations? we have had some people ring up concerned but i think the important message is that the tears up and down the country in the uk are open, they are safe and people are coming to see shows and having a great time. mask wearing, we were already asking customers to wear masks. indeed, since every open fully injuly, all of our staff have been wearing masks all the time, weather front of house or behind the bar or whatever and many are choosing to wear them and the government has clarified it now so maybe gives people more confidence. i think one of the things that was heartening was that the covid vaccination evidence was not required for seated venues of our scale of most theatres, only over 5000 since they require that were as we didn't require that were as we didn't require that were as we didn't require that and i really think thatis require that and i really think that is the indication that the experts do not think they are as vulnerable or typical or not sites of super spreading events because when you go to the theatre you all point the wind direction and mostly you don't sit and chat to people sitting next to you. you stay within your little group.— your little group. that is certainly _ your little group. that is certainly true. _ your little group. that is certainly true. dame - your little group. that is - certainly true. dame rosemary squire, thank you for your time, i'm afraid we have to leave it there. best of luck with your new musical in sydney. thank you for your time, we have a headline is coming up in five minutes. a reminder of the court in chicago hassanjussie smollett is guilty of staging an attack on himself and making it look like a hate crime. more on that in about five minutes. see you soon. —— — a course in has found. hello there. thursday brought a day of contrasting weather conditions. glorious blue sky and sunshine in west sussex — nearly six hours of sunshine before the rain arrived late on in the afternoon. and as for friday, well, we could actually see plenty of sunshine yet again in many places. there will be a scattering of sharp showers and it will feel pretty chilly for most of us. however, as we head into the weekend, the story is changing. it will turn increasingly cloudy with some rain around but, more noticeably, it will turn milder. before that, though, this weather front continues to clear away. the winds swing round to a north—westerly and that's going to feed in some showers from the word go across the far north and west of scotland. it's going to be a chilly start as well first thing this morning with low single figures in the north. now, some of these showers could be heavy with some hail and thunder mixed in there as well and they will drift their way down through the cheshire gap towards the midlands but you can also see there's a good slice of dry, sunny weather to be found for many particularly sheltered eastern areas, central and southern england as well. temperatures generally around 4—9 degrees, so still a little below par, really, for the time of year. however, as we head into the weekend, here's the change. these weather fronts will start to push in and they're going to swing the wind direction around to a south—westerly, so that's going to feed in some milder air from the south—west and that's going to gradually nudge its way northwards for the second half of the weekend. it does come at a price — it means more cloud around. perhaps some early morning brightness in sheltered eastern areas. clouding over from the west with the rain pushing in, and some of it turning quite heavy along west—facing slopes as well. now, in terms of the feel of the weather, if we keep those clearer skies, 6 or 7 degrees for a time but out to the west, the milder air showing its hand — we'll likely see 10—12 celsius. then on sunday, it's going to be a rather cloudy, damp, misty, murky kind of day with outbreaks of rain perhaps threatening into the far north and west. but look at the temperatures — widely, we're likely to see highs of 11—14 degrees — that's just above the average, really, for this time of year. and that milder trend is set to stay with us for the week ahead, although cloud cover could be a bit of an issue from time to time. that's it. take care. good morning. welcome to breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. our headlines today... new covid restrictions come into force in england, with face coverings now compulsory in most indoor venues. it is the big screen sequel nobody wanted to see. from today in england when cinemas and theatres are open, face coverings are again required. i am in birmingham to find out what businesses and customers make of the change. borisjohnson's most senior press advisor comes under the spotlight, for attending a christmas party at number 10. health officials in scotland urge people to cancel their christmas parties, to stop the spread of the omicron variant.