england trail 3—0 in the series, with one test to play. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. england's education secretary, nadhim zahawi, has backed cutting the covid isolation period in england from seven to five days. he said if there's evidence it's safe, the change could reduce staffing pressures on schools, hospitals and other important sectors. the uk health security agency is reviewing the length of the isolation period. mr zahawi said ministers are doing all they can to make sure the health service can operate during what he called "a rocky few weeks". our political correspondent jonathan blake is with me. tell us more about what he said. there is a couple of main points to discuss this morning as the education secretary says it moves from being in a position of a pandemic to coronavirus being endemic, that will do something to appease pressure from backbenchers on borisjohnson who are keen to see an exit strategy from the restrictions we have been living under from restrictions we have been living underfrom one restrictions we have been living under from one extent to another for the last two years or so. but particularly on this period of isolation, which was reduced recently from ten to seven days, he is the first cabinet minister to talk openly about the possibility of it coming down further to five days, it coming down further to five days, it is not the decision ministers take on a whim or on their own, certainly up to this point in the pandemic they have relied on advice from the uk health and security agency to make any change there. in the context of huge staff absences in schools, hospitals and other sectors of the economy, it is clearly something under consideration and he and others in government would like to see happen and he outlined the reasons for that speaking this morning. the important thing to remember is our isolation period the important thing to remember is our isolation is that we start isolating when we -et is that we start isolating when we get symptoms, others have been isolating — get symptoms, others have been isolating when you get a positive test _ isolating when you get a positive test the — isolating when you get a positive test. the caveat around this is the uk health— test. the caveat around this is the uk health and security agency says if you _ uk health and security agency says if you cut _ uk health and security agency says if you cut it — uk health and security agency says if you cut it down to below seven days, _ if you cut it down to below seven days, you — if you cut it down to below seven days, you might see a higher spike, but they— days, you might see a higher spike, but they will review it. the reason i think_ but they will review it. the reason i think it _ but they will review it. the reason i think it is — but they will review it. the reason i think it is important we keep it under— i think it is important we keep it under review is because it would help with — under review is because it would help with staff absences, hence why if the _ help with staff absences, hence why if the expert, and i have to defer to the _ if the expert, and i have to defer to the uk— if the expert, and i have to defer to the uk health and security agency, _ to the uk health and security agency, deem it appropriate that you can have _ agency, deem it appropriate that you can have two negative tests on consecutive days, as we do now day six and _ consecutive days, as we do now day six and seven, then it is a good thing _ six and seven, then it is a good thing to— six and seven, then it is a good thing to keep under review, that is exactly— thing to keep under review, that is exactly what they are doing. the newsnaper _ exactly what they are doing. tie: newspaper says that exactly what they are doing. ti9: newspaper says that we exactly what they are doing. ti9 newspaper says that we will have to start paying at some point lateral flow tests, so what did he say about that? .., :, flow tests, so what did he say about that? ., ,, . ., , .,, that? the education secretary was cuick that? the education secretary was . uick to that? the education secretary was quick to play _ that? the education secretary was quick to play down _ that? the education secretary was quick to play down any _ that? the education secretary was quick to play down any suggestion | quick to play down any suggestion that the government will soon at least move to a policy of not having those three lateral flow tests universally available. there have been supply issues recently and just last week, the prime minister said priority would be —— supply would be prioritised to key workers, but after swift political pushback from labour saying this would be the wrong move at the wrong time, the scottish first minister nicola sturgeon said it would be wrong headed to do this, nadhim zahawi saying the government has no plans to call for an end to free lateral flow tests and did not recognise those reports this morning. and those reports this morning. and labour, those reports this morning. and labour. they — those reports this morning. and labour, they have _ those reports this morning. and labour, they have a _ those reports this morning. and labour, they have a new energy policy. labour, they have a new energy oli . , :, labour, they have a new energy oli _ , ., . ., labour, they have a new energy oli . , :, ., ., policy. they are calling for a windfall tax, _ policy. they are calling for a windfall tax, a _ policy. they are calling for a windfall tax, a one-off - policy. they are calling for a windfall tax, a one-off tax l policy. they are calling for a - windfall tax, a one-off tax which windfall tax, a one—off tax which they say would raise a huge amount of money on oil and gas producers in the north sea because, the party argues, they are companies who are benefiting most from rising wholesale oil and gas producers, and doing that would allow them to fund measures to ease the impact of rising energy bills, which are set to go up significantly later this year when the energy price cap is predicted to rise. that and other measures, they say, are available to the government and should be what the government and should be what the government and should be what the government is thinking about now. it is not a new measure, previous labour and conservative governments had done a similar thing and the liberal democrats called for it last week, but being in opposition, labour has the luxury of putting forward this menu of options and attempt to make the government look indecisive. the shadow chancellor was outlining more about why the party feels this would be a good move now this morning. because of this hue now this morning. because of this huge spike _ now this morning. because of this huge spike in _ now this morning. because of this huge spike in prices, _ now this morning. because of this huge spike in prices, everybody i now this morning. because of this i huge spike in prices, everybody you talk to— huge spike in prices, everybody you talk to in— huge spike in prices, everybody you talk to in the energy market says this is— talk to in the energy market says this is a — talk to in the energy market says this is a one in a generation type spike, _ this is a one in a generation type spike, but — this is a one in a generation type spike, but also recognising there are big _ spike, but also recognising there are big problems in our energy market — are big problems in our energy market. we are too reliant on the russians, — market. we are too reliant on the russians, for example, that our basic— russians, for example, that our basic gas— russians, for example, that our basic gas needs. we need to wean ourselves— basic gas needs. we need to wean ourselves off that imported gas by investing — ourselves off that imported gas by investing in renewables, hydrogen, nuclear, _ investing in renewables, hydrogen, nuclear, but also insulating our homes, — nuclear, but also insulating our homes, so _ nuclear, but also insulating our homes, so i don't think it is about short-term — homes, so i don't think it is about short—term fixes, which is why in the package of measures... that short-term fixes, which is why in the package of measures... that is what peeple _ the package of measures... that is what peeple will — the package of measures... that is what people will want, _ the package of measures... that is what people will want, those - the package of measures... that is what people will want, those who i the package of measures... that is i what people will want, those who are struggling to pay their bills. 9on struggling to pay their bills. £200 off bills for everybody, _ struggling to pay their bills. £200 off bills for everybody, an - off bills for everybody, an additional £400 for those who need it most, _ additional £400 for those who need it most, paid for by a windfall tax on the _ it most, paid for by a windfall tax on the north sea oil and gas companies, but recognising we have to sort— companies, but recognising we have to sort out— companies, but recognising we have to sort out the problems in our energy— to sort out the problems in our energy market with a whole package of longer—term reform is that this government have ducked. of longer-term reform is that this government have ducked.- of longer-term reform is that this government have ducked. labour are callin: for government have ducked. labour are calling for a — government have ducked. labour are calling for a cut _ government have ducked. labour are calling for a cut on _ government have ducked. labour are calling for a cut on vat _ government have ducked. labour are calling for a cut on vat on _ government have ducked. labour are calling for a cut on vat on energy - calling for a cut on vat on energy bills, that is something that boris johnson has so far ruled out, saying it would be a blunt instrument despite some time ago championing it as a benefit or highlighting it as a possible benefit of leaving the eu, given we would be able to set our own rate of that sort of tax. but big pressure on the government to do something to ease the impact of this rising energy bills and other areas of the cost of living are going up. sooner or later, the prime minister and chancellor must decide what to do because doing nothing is not an option. do because doing nothing is not an otion. :, ~' ,, do because doing nothing is not an otion. :, ,, g. ., ., earlier i spoke to thorrun govind, chair of the royal pharmaceutical society in england. she warned that there is a still a shortage of lateral flow tests, which has led to her members receiving abuse from the public. i asked her if she was reassured by nadhim zahawi's comments that lateral flow tests would stay free, despite newspaper reports that they wouldn't. i think i will be reassured when we see a more supplies coming into the pharmacies. as you have seen, i have been doing a few media interviews over the last two weeks or so and we have had difficulties in pharmacies because we are getting abuse from the public, because we are not getting the supplies into the pharmacies. now, it is meant to be getting a bit better, there was only one sole distributor through the christmas and new year period, though it is pleasing to see that they are looking into sorting another distributor, so i think we need to see the action and for it to be recognised that at the end of the day, it is our health care teams on the front line who are bearing the brunt of the decisions made higher up. so, to confirm, are you or not short of lateral flow tests right now? we are not, we are still struggling to get them in, and we are only allowed to order one box into the pharmacy per day, which is about 56 tests still. are you saying that is not enough? that is not enough to meet demand, no. we are... they are going straight out of the door, patients are coming in and obviously they have been told they can collect them and that is an issue as well, the collection code does not mean there is one sat there waiting for you at the pharmacy. it is not click and collect like at the supermarket, so we need more lateral flow tests into the pharmacies and we need the government to be supporting front line health care professionals who are doing their utmost to support the public. dr clive kay, chief executive king's hospital in london, has said that 10% of his staff of 14,000 are yet to be vaccinated. my colleague sophie raworth asked him whether it was right for his staff to be forced to take the covid vaccine by april. they are not being forced, just to be really clear, they have not been forced and it is not mandatory, they are being encouraged. but they could lose theirjobs. there is a possibility if they choose not to be vaccinated they could be redeployed, and if we can't find that opportunity to redeploy, then the consequences... but it is either have your vaccination or lose yourjob, but your hospital, people may well have seen, the health secretary was here last week and a consultant, a critical care consultant, confronted him. i would be dismissed - if i don't have a vaccine? the science isn't strong enough. you were there. how did you feel about hearing that for a start? my personal view as an individual, but in terms of my role as chief executive of king's college hospital, is to encourage our staff to be vaccinated and myself, my colleagues, we have been doing that since the vaccination programme started and we will continue to do that. but we will not make individuals be vaccinated. we must treat them with kindness, with compassion, we must give them every single opportunity to talk through if they don't want a vaccine, if they would like to talk, if they need any help or clarification, but ultimately, it is their choice, and i'm not going to comment on individual cases, but the reality is, if, at the end of the day, an individual, fully informed and we feel we have done all our very best to encourage them to have the vaccinations and they have decided not to, that is their choice. do you think it is fair, though? i think the reality of whether i think it is fair or not is a moot point, the law is now such that individuals who are not vaccinated, if they can't be redeployed, they will not be able to work in hospitals if they deal with patients. new changes to covid travel testing rules have come into force in england. from today, the day two test for international arrivals in england can now be a privately—bought lateral flow test rather than a more expensive pcr one. the move applies to fully—vaccinated people and those aged under—18. some breaking news — according to reuters quoting sputnik, a russian state—owned news agency, 164 people have been killed during the unrest in kazakstan. thousands have been detained and public buildings have been torched in the worst violence since the 1990s. protests began a week ago in response to petrol prices being doubled, but have become a broader movement against the russian—backed government. gareth barlow reports. these khazak residents aren't gathering to protest, they're gathering outside the city morgue, waiting to find news of their loved ones killed when proesters clashed with security forces. even here, soldiers stand guard and guns are drawn. elsewhere in ekibastuz, the country's biggest city, people queue for bread and fuel as an uneasy calm returns to kazakhstan. calm, in part, imported from it snearest neighbours. contingents of peacekeeping troops requested by the president of kazakhstan continue to arrive from russia and belarus, heavy weaponry in response to unrest that began over a hike in fuel prices but now seems to have developed into an internal political power struggle within this former soviet state. on saturday, the former head of domestic intelligence was arrested on suspicion of high treason, fueling speculation of strife within the ruling party. despite the deaths and the devastation, many citizens, though, remain defiant. translation: | think. the people have awoken. there won't be another president reigning for 30 years. there have been positive things about it but also negative things. i would like the authorities to listen to what we're saying because this has all been going on for too long. what's next for kazakhstan remains unclear. the unrest has drawn in neighbouring armed forces and president tokayev�*s orders for troops to shoot kill without warning may see ordinary khazaks subdued, or possibly in time may stoke simmering tensions. an attempt by the australian government to delay novak djokovic's appeal against deportation has been rejected by a judge overseeing his case. the government had requested the tennis star's court hearing be postponed until wednesday, but it will go ahead as planned on monday morning. the world number one men's tennis player — who is opposed to vaccination — is being held in an immigration detention centre. his case has caused a huge outcry in australia and made headlines around the world. simonjones reports. serbian music plays. supporters of novak djokovic gather outside the immigration detention centre in melbourne where he's staying. they want to see him on the tennis court. but the countdown is now on to his court case. 0h, mate, i haven't slept since he came off the plane, we're all sick to the stomach. it's a very unfortunate situation for australia. it's becoming very embarrassing. this was djokovic arriving on wednesday. his legal team say he had received a vaccine exemption to enter the country from tennis australia, because he had tested positive for covid on december 16th. that was the day on which these pictures were taken, showing djokovic maskless at a ceremony in his home country of serbia, at which he was honoured with his own postage stamps in recognition of his achievements. it's unclear whether he had taken a test at this stage. the following day, serbian media says he was pictured handing out awards to young players. it is unclear whether he knew he had covid. another player, renata voracova, from the czech republic, has now left the hotel and the country after her visa was cancelled. djokovic had asked to move to somewhere he could train ahead of the open. that looks unlikely, but he has been given exercise equipment and gluten—free food. one former australian foreign minister is not sympathetic. there's no way you could give him an exemption when exemptions have not been given to people who've wanted to go to australia to see dying parents, and, you know, injured relatives. there are all sorts of heart—rending stories about people not being able to see their relatives in australia, but those people are not famous, so they don't get an exemption. but it will now be up to a judge to decide, just a week before the australian open begins. simon jones, bbc news. people in serbia's capital, belgrade, have also been holding daily rallies in support of mr djokovic. our balkans correspondent, guy de launey is there. this isn't the sort of rally that would normally be held for serbia's most accomplished tennis player. instead of serving up a warm welcome for the nine time australian open winner, the home nation —— host nation... these people are showing their support for serbia's number one sporting star, they have come to expressed their disapproval of what is happening to him in australia and listen to the family of novak djokovic explain how they feel about their son spending orthodox christmas weekend in a quarantine hotel in melbourne. just imagine that you have a son and he is spending christmas, our christmas, christmas orthodox, in prison. this is, for me, prison, this is not an immigration hotel, this is prison, because they do not allow him to go out. belgrade's novak tennis centre is where you will find the next generation of serbian champions. this girl is targeting a victory at wimbledon in 2024, when she will be 18. she credits novak djokovic for supporting head development ——her development at his tennis centre and she says she was happy to return the favour at the family rally. i think he deserves all of that and he deserves our support. he is our man, he is playing for our country, so even if we can't help that much, we are there to support him at least. belgrade's main coronavirus vaccination centre could do with a similar level of support. serbia's overall vaccination rate is languishing below 50% and novak djokovic's ambivalent stance towards vaccination has not helped, so not all serbians sympathise with his current situation. translation: | would say - there are some double standards, as on the one hand, we are constantly being told that we should get vaccinated and then, when it comes to a person like novak djokovic, we see that there are exceptions. at least the church has given its blessing. here they've said millions of orthodox serbs would remember novak djokovic in their christmas prayers and they will be hoping monday's judgment in melbourne will bring deliverance for their sporting icon. a baby boy separated from his parents during the chaotic american evacuation of afghanistan in august last year, has been reunited with relatives. sohail ahmadi, only two months old at the time, was handed to a us soldier as his parents struggled to get into the airport. while most of the family managed to fly out of the country, the little boy was left behind in kabul. he was taken in by a 29—year—old taxi driver, hamid safi, who has now handed the boy over to his grandfather. our correspondent quentin somerville is in kabul and has more. this is the story of the ahmadi family, who were part of that deluge of people who fled towards kabul airport after the taliban made it into the city in august. they were moments away from salvation, a flight to the united states, but they got caught in a crush at the gates of the airport and in the panic they handed their two—month—old baby, sohail, to a us soldier. he was handed over the fence. when the family then got inside they couldn't find the baby. they were then evacuated after searching the airport, they were evacuated from kabul, made it to the united states, still kept looking for the baby in the united states in the hope that he had been put on a flight, that he had made it there somehow, and they found nothing. after months of searching and a campaign by an afghan refugee group and a story by the reuters news agency, sohail was found and he was found here in kabul alive and well. he had been picked up by a 29—year—old taxi driver, mr safi, who took the baby to raise him as his own. it seems mr safi was reluctant to give the child back but after pleading from the family and negotiation with the family and a short span of time in taliban detention, he has now handed over the baby to his grandfather and other relatives here in kabul. he is alive and well and the expectation is he willjoin the rest of the family, his four brothers and sisters, in texas where they will be resettled in the united states. in pakistan, the bodies of people who died after becoming trapped in their cars by heavy snow have begun arriving in the capital, islamabad. at least 21 people died after hundreds of vehicles became stranded by unusually heavy snowfall around the hilltop town of murree, to the north—east of the capital. charlotte lam reports. the tragic outcome of what was supposed to be an enjoyable weekend. at least 21 people died after their cars became engulfed with heavy snow. included in the victims, a policeman, his wife and their six children. military units and other emergency services were deployed to clear roads and hand out supplies to stranded motorists as they waited to be rescued. the chief minister of punjab has tweeted that those left stranded by the record snowfall have now been moved to safety and while work to clear the snow continues, many of the areas roots have been reopened. although roads leading to murree remained sealed off by authorities. as ambulances transporting the bodies of people who perished arrived in islamabad, the row over who is to blame for the disaster has already begun. taking to twitter, opposition politicians pointed to the fact that extreme snowfall had been predicted, with claims government officials had taken steps to prevent the huge influx of tourists keen to enjoy the winter weather. the pakistani prime minister, imran khan, has ordered an enquiry into the disaster. but before that is completed, further heavy snow is expected to fall. charlotte lam, bbc news. it's usually one of the biggest nights in hollywood, but this evening's golden globes ceremony will be held without a—list stars — or a red carpet. the event is being boycotted after it emerged that the organising committee had not had a single black member for more than 20 years. the awards will be announced via social media, as our entertainment correspondent colin paterson reports. # it all began tonight... tonight, west side story is one of the big favourites to win at the golden globes. but all of its stars and its director, steven spielberg, will not be there. the same goes for belfast, which is tied for the most nominations — seven. we're looking to cleanse the community. you wouldn't want to be the odd man out in this street. touch my family and i'll kill you. it is based on the childhood of its director, sir kenneth branagh, who has never won a golden globe. if he does tonight, the way he will find out is on his computer. it is doubtful that he will even care. the golden globes are normally a star—studded event, but they have been beset with problems for the past year. an los angeles times expose revealed that they have not had a single black voter for almost two decades, and there are accusations of unethical practices. this prompted tom cruise to send back the three golden globes he had won. the rights holders, nbc, said they would not broadcast the ceremony, and despite radical changes being introduced, hollywood en masse decided to boycott the event. this week, the golden globes announced that the ceremony at the beverly hilton hotel in los angeles will be a private event and will not be live—streamed, with winners simply being announced on social media. this prompted us talk show host conan o'brien to ask: and ricky gervais, who has hosted the golden globes five times, has even suggested there is a chance this could be the last time they are held. you're the number one topic ahead of tater tots, and the pope followed you... as to who could win, when it comes to the tv categories, there could be a procession for succession. the media family drama series has the most nominations, with five. is he going to watch? could we make a note in the minutes that he is watching us? but with no—one able to watch the globes and with things as they are, it is fully expected that tonight's winners will not even acknowledge that they have won. i'm a good guy. i'm better than you. three new photographs of the duchess of cambridge have been released to mark her 40th birthday. the portraits, taken by fashion photographer paolo roversi, will go on display this year in three places which have a special meaning to her. berkshire, st andrews and anglesey. they will then be housed in the permanent collection of the national portrait gallery. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello. compared to yesterday, it's been a much drier and brighter day so far for most of you. bit of a chilly start, admittedly, but lots of sunshine across southern and eastern areas at present. there are a few showers, though, particularly in the west. they've become more widespread across parts of southern scotland and northern ireland, and through the afternoon they will push into northern england, increasing the cloud here. showers are mainly of rain, but a little bit of hail, sleet or a little snow in some spots. to the north of it, we will see sunshine continue in northern scotland. southern scotland should brighten up a little bit. much of wales, the midlands, east anglia and the south—east dry with sunny spells, any showers very few and far between, but the channel islands down towards the far south—west of england, devon, cornwall and south—west wales, will see cloud increase. milder air trying to push in, but with it some rain or drizzle, and that will continue through this evening and overnight, pushing into western areas. showers in northern england push through the east midlands, east anglia and fade. cold middle part of the night across parts of eastern uk, maybe —6 in eastern scotland for a time, and there is still a little bit of frost for one or two into the morning, but actually temperatures rise through the second half of the night, and by the start of tomorrow, 8—10 degrees in the west, that's because you will be in this little slice of milder air sandwiched between these two weather fronts. the first one just bringing increased amounts of cloud, patchy drizzle, the second one bringing some heavier bursts of rain in northern scotland and strengthening winds. that will touch gale force later in the day. hazy sunshine, though, will continue through monday across some eastern areas, but you can just see how the cloud thickens up. there's some light rain or drizzle on it pushing its way eastwards, lying somewhere from yorkshire through the midlands towards the isle of wight during the afternoon. west of that we will see extensive mist, low cloud around some of the coast, but 12 or 13 degrees. before that weather front arrives, eight or nine in the east. that weather front then pushes away southwards as we go through into tuesday. milder start in the south, the cloud, occasional rain or drizzle, particularly to the south—east during the day. much brighter conditions further north, with sunny spells. a few showers continue in scotland, strong to gale force winds, as well. temperatures drop relative to monday, but there's still a degree or two above what we would normally expect in this stage of the year, and they will climb a little bit further for some as we go through this coming week. through wednesday in the second half of the week, high pressure builds in across the south. closer to that area of high pressure, so, southern parts of england and wales, this is where we could see some overnight frost and fog. that could linger through the day, so, for one or two, temperatures mid—single figures at best during the second half of the week. further north, with more breeze, some breaks in the cloud, up to around ten or 11 celsius. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... england's education secretary backs reducing covid isolation down from seven days to five. novak djokovic prepares for a court hearing — after saying he has a vaccine exemption to enter australia — because he had covid last month. russian troops arrive in kazakhstan as order is restored following six days of violence that killed 164 people. the afghan baby separated from his parents in kabul during the chaos of the us withdrawal — is reunited with relatives. the duchess of cambridge at 40 — three new portraits will go on display in towns where kate has lived — to celebrate her birthday. and it's a draw for england and australia in the fourth ashes test. england trail 3—0 in the series, with one test to play. now on bbc news, it's time for dateline london. all hello, and welcome to a new year of the programme which brings together bbc specialists with foreign correspondents