we start here in the uk — where businesses are welcoming an easing of coronavirus restrictions — as england's plan b measures are abandoned. the government is no longer asking people in england to work from home — effective immediately. from next thursday face coverings will no longer be required by law and covid passes won't be needed for nightclubs and large events. self isolation rules do remain in place for people who test positive, but could soon be phased out — as our health editor hugh pym reports. masks on and off, the rules have changed at various times over the last two years but in england the government has said they will no longer be compulsory in shops and on public transport. in bristol, people gave us their reaction. i reckon it's a good thing that we are now learning to live with the omicron variant and that we have got to have the restrictions removed little by little. for me and for my family, i have elderly parents, ijust would rather if we could keep the mask wearing, really. at this restaurant they welcomed the scrapping of work from home guidance. so for us it's been great. the office being back is amazing. hopefully we are going to be back trading on a weekly basis as this has been very, very quiet for us. so what is the trend now for covid cases? one of the most authoritative sources is the community infection survey by the office for national statistics which picks up those without symptoms. according to the ons, covid infections in the uk fell last week for the first time since late november. it's estimated 3.4 million people have the virus. infections came down in much of the uk, including in england where one in 20 people at the virus and in wales with one in 25 and scotland one in 20. but in northern ireland also with one in 20, the trend was said to be uncertain. and the head of the ons thinks this is a significant moment. we are certainly seeing a major turning point, and we are certainly seeing a real reduction. the question i ask is that we are not sure yet whether that's going to continue to go down. ministers want to end self—isolation rules in march, or even before if possible, and say they will be reviewed. it is reasonable to think, just as we are living with flu, for example, we don't require people to legally self—isolate but to remain cautious, to be sensible if they are infected, we will eventually have to find a way to live with covid in a similarfashion. in scotland mandatory mask wearing will continue in most indoor public spaces, though most of the restrictions will be lifted from monday. in wales, nightclubs can reopen at the end of next week, though they'll remain closed for now in northern ireland. the devolved nations are moving at differing speeds, charting their own courses through this stage of the pandemic. hugh pym, bbc news. let's get some business reaction to the changes. chris southworth is director general of the international chamber of commerce here in the uk good morning. iassume good morning. i assume that your members, those in the uk at least will be very happy to know that plan b does have an end. , ., , know that plan b does have an end. , . , , . ., ~ end. this has been welcomed. we have to learn _ end. this has been welcomed. we have to learn to _ end. this has been welcomed. we have to learn to live _ end. this has been welcomed. we have to learn to live with - have to learn to live with covid and it has been particularly welcome for sectors hardest hit and also for the trading community or the trade economy which is under enormous strain from a range of issues. it is also good to see the uk leading by example on this and opening up the economy and showing the rest of the world what can be donein rest of the world what can be done in terms of living with covid. the only area we want to see more action is around global solutions on global vaccination, a lot more action is required there and also finding global solutions for a simple cheaper way of having a global testing regime around international travel. global testing regime around internationaltravel. i global testing regime around international travel. i think that would be really important as the next step. in that would be really important as the next step.— as the next step. in terms of eo - le as the next step. in terms of people returning _ as the next step. in terms of people returning to - as the next step. in terms of people returning to work, i as the next step. in terms of people returning to work, it| people returning to work, it sounds simple but it is not at all, is it? some people are quite fearful about returning to the office, especially if they have been working from home, most of the time, for the last couple of years.— last couple of years. this is the responsibility _ last couple of years. this is the responsibility of- the responsibility of employers. we are no different ourselves, it is about having a strong and regular dialogue with employees to find the right way forward. it depends also on functions and roles, what sort of sectors herein as to whether you can continue to work from home or work from home more and be more flexible in the workplace or whether the workforce actually needs to be in the office or in the factory. employers play a big role here but we've been doing this for two years and i think employers in the private sector have been exceptional in showing good leadership on this issue and wejust showing good leadership on this issue and we just have to support that leadership going forward to find the right solutions to keep the economy moving. solutions to keep the economy movinu. ., solutions to keep the economy movinu. . ., moving. there are also those who love _ moving. there are also those who love to _ moving. there are also those who love to be _ moving. there are also those who love to be in _ moving. there are also those who love to be in the - moving. there are also those who love to be in the office i who love to be in the office and are desperate to return to the workplace as it were but, actually as you say, as nurses have had to change the way they do things and adapt a bit and in many cases we have seen businesses downsize dramatically in terms of their workspace and their rental costs and so they do not have the full team back anyway. i think we are seeing the biggest transformation of the workplace, certainly in my career and lifetime. so i think what gets forgotten here is that we are moving to flexible working practices before covid and this has just accelerated that direction of travel. finding the right balance does depend on function and type of business or type of sector but this is a great opportunity to have a better worklife balance, to be more productive and that is what we have seen, productivity has risen dramatically at the same time as cost comes down so it is a much more efficient way of working. but that will vary depending on what industry you are in. but let's grab the opportunity and make sure that we are a more efficient economy with more productive workforce. i think that is a huge benefit. thank you very much, great to talk to you. now to the united states. president biden has been giving a press conference to mark one year since his inauguration. he's been hailing �*enormous progress�* in rebooting a us economy ravaged by the pandemic. but as michelle fleury reports from new york — americans are giving him the worst rating on his handling of the country's finances — of any president sincejimmy carter a0 years ago. the unemployment rate dropped to 3.9% and for the first time in a long time this country's working people got a raise. getting the economy back on its feet has been a top priority for president biden since taking office. it for president biden since taking office.— for president biden since taking office. it has been a ear of taking office. it has been a year of challenges - taking office. it has been a year of challenges but - taking office. it has been aj year of challenges but also taking office. it has been a l year of challenges but also a year of challenges but also a year of challenges but also a year of enormous progress. find year of enormous progress. and he is not wrong. _ year of enormous progress. and he is not wrong. unemployment is down, growth is up. corporate profits are soaring and us markets have outperformed the world. the presidents american rescue plan has cut child poverty in half and he succeeded in passing bipartisan infrastructure bill. and yet the president is deeply unpopular. joe biden is the worst economic rating of any president since mccarter. the progress of our economic recovery cannot be separated from our progress against the pandemic. the treasury secretary is right. the economic issues hurting the president are linked to a pandemic that many people's thought would be gone by now, wage gains are erased by inflation. giant trafficjam —— giant trafficjam in california borders are symbolic of a trust —— troubles in america. stickers ofjoe biden have been p°ppin9 stickers ofjoe biden have been p°pping up stickers ofjoe biden have been popping up across america. inflation is a really dangerous thing because every time you go to the grocery store or you fill your car up with gas you are reminded of it. the tests facing joe biden are all within his control. inflation is largely the responsibility of the central bank through rate hikes. one year into the job, many people do not fill his economic policies are helping them. well let's now look at how wall street has been performing. technology shares have been one of the big winners during the pandemic — as more of our work and leisure activities moved online. but that trend is rapidly unravelling on the markets. another day of losses on the nasdaq means the tech—heavy index is now down more than 10% from its record high before christmas — it's now in what market watchers call a �*correction�* anna macdonald is a fund manager at amati global investors good morning. nice to see you again. why is there a correction?— again. why is there a correction? ., ., correction? there are a few asects correction? there are a few aspects behind _ correction? there are a few aspects behind it, - correction? there are a few l aspects behind it, principally, the worry is picking up on what your previous commentator was saying, inflation and the return of inflation which means that interest rate are already rising in the uk and are slated to rise in the us and that means that investors sell those stocks which are more about the promise of tomorrow because they can make more money by investing today in stocks that benefit from interest rate rises such as banks and, also, they are looking at the more value end of the market and taking their profits in tech and investing into stocks that they think may benefit from the opening up of economies through world. so that may include leisure stocks, it may include airlines and energy stocks themselves because we see such a rise in the oil price at the moment. a rise in the oil price at the moment-— a rise in the oil price at the moment. , , ., ., moment. just looking at the old rice moment. just looking at the old price there _ moment. just looking at the old price there it — moment. just looking at the old price there it is _ moment. just looking at the old price there it is that _ moment. just looking at the old price there it is that a _ price there it is that a seven—year high this week. various issues are pushing up the price of oil but many analysts are saying it will head towards $100 a barrel fairly soon. and that will just make things, you know, it will make things, you know, it will make matters worse. we have seen how inflation numbers for the uk out yesterday and a multi— decade high. the uk out yesterday and a multi- decade high. absolutely in the inflation _ multi- decade high. absolutely in the inflation in _ multi- decade high. absolutely in the inflation in the _ multi- decade high. absolutely in the inflation in the uk, - multi- decade high. absolutely in the inflation in the uk, for l in the inflation in the uk, for example, will spike up again when the energy price gets lifted and people have to start spending a lot more on their energy bills unless any of the proposals talked about by the government in the press come to play. so it will be, it will be a tricky time for investors. the lack of, many oil companies as well have been pressed by investors to keep returning dividends and to reduce some of their exposure, in fact, to oil production and that means that the supply and demand is getting tricky and that is pushing price up. we should kee a pushing price up. we should keep a close _ pushing price up. we should keep a close eye. _ pushing price up. we should keep a close eye. thank - pushing price up. we should | keep a close eye. thank you. to turkey now — where the central bank makes its latest decision on interest rates in a few hours time. it has cut rates for the last four months in a row — under sustained pressure from president erdogan who believes lower borrowing costs will boost the economy. but that's weakened the country's currency, the lira, and stoked the cost of living. the official rate of inflation has spiralled to 36% — but many put the real rate at more than double that. guido cozzi is professor of macroeconomics at the university of st gallen in switzerland welcome to the programme. we have just been talking about the united states and the uk and everybody is expecting both central banks to up their interest rates because of inflationary pressure and yet, inflationary pressure and yet, in turkey, we see very high inflation and very weak lira and the central bank doing the opposite. and the central bank doing the o- osite. ., , and the central bank doing the o- osite. . , . and the central bank doing the ouosite. . . , , opposite. that is correct, yes. as ou opposite. that is correct, yes. as you said — opposite. that is correct, yes. as you said it _ opposite. that is correct, yes. as you said it is _ opposite. that is correct, yes. as you said it is a _ opposite. that is correct, yes. as you said it is a political- as you said it is a political decision after replacing three central bankers into years. the really wants to have low nominal interest rates and this is why the central bank has reduced interest rates to 14% now. the international scenario changes, may be there could be a reversal also because the lira depreciation otherwise would be even worse. also, you know, various _ would be even worse. also, you know, various actions _ would be even worse. also, you know, various actions are - would be even worse. also, you know, various actions are in - know, various actions are in place to encourage turkish people to have lira, to hold lira as opposed to other currencies in the midst of this huge depreciation of its value. so what is happening in regards to that and is it really working? the government decided towards december to start compensating the foreign exchange losses on lira deposits so now depositors can count on the treasury popping up count on the treasury popping up the interest rates, the nominal interest rates, effectively this is a monetary, they are affecting monetary policy in disguise because the expected returns on deposit is ritter —— is rising. is comparable to an increase in interest rates? it had a positive effect on the lira but it was temporary. 50 positive effect on the lira but it was temporary.— it was temporary. so at the moment — it was temporary. so at the moment it _ it was temporary. so at the moment it looks _ it was temporary. so at the moment it looks like - it was temporary. so at the moment it looks like the i moment it looks like the foreign exchange markets are waiting and in my opinion this may convince the central bank to officially raise their interest rate, also because as a consequence of this foreign exchange protected deposit measures. actually interest rates on bank deposits have increased effectively because banks are trying to attract lira deposits and also the interest rates charged on small and medium enterprises has increased about 30%. and medium enterprises has increased about 3096. guido, we have to leave _ increased about 3096. guido, we have to leave it _ increased about 3096. guido, we have to leave it there _ increased about 3096. guido, we have to leave it there but - increased about 3096. guido, we have to leave it there but we - have to leave it there but we shall keep an eye on how it unfolds in turkey. thank you for your time on that story. stay with us here on bbc news, there is so much more still to come. including turning the desert green. how the oil rich golf hopes to lead the world in renewable energy. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines. britain's prime minister boris johnson says he will challenge any fight to his leadership, as the row surrounding parties in downing street during lockdown continues. president biden has warned vladimir putin that the us will do significant harm to russia if he decides to invade ukraine. you might recognise these — apple airtags were launched last year. they're designed to be placed on personal items that you might lose like your wallet or your keys and you can find them using your iphone. they work very well. however, the bbc has spoken to six women in the us who all say the devices have been used to track them without their consent. our silicon valley correspondent, james clayton, has been investigating. my my telephone made a ding that i had never had before. it did not register what it said. it told me that an unknown accessory or device had been following my movement for a while. , , �* , , following my movement for a while. , ~ .,, while. this is apple airtags. they were — while. this is apple airtags. they were launched - while. this is apple airtags. they were launched in - while. this is apple airtags. they were launched in aprill they were launched in april last year and are designed to track and locate personal belongings, like your wallet, back back or luggage but in some cases they are also being used to track people. amber is a mum of four to mississippi. she had taken her kids to the park. it she had taken her kids to the ark. , ., ., , she had taken her kids to the ark. , ., .,, ., , park. it showed i was at my ark, park. it showed i was at my park. back _ park. it showed i was at my park, back to _ park. it showed i was at my park, back to my _ park. it showed i was at my park, back to my parents, i park. it showed i was at my - park, back to my parents, back to my home and it alerted me and said, the last time the owner saw your location was at 3:02pm and that was right now. amber believes the device was placed somewhere on her carpet she has not been able to find it yet. we have spoken to six women, but it across america that have all told us a very similar story. a message that p°p5 up similar story. a message that pops up into the phone telling them an unknown accessory has been moving with them. they also it is pretty creepy. you create an — also it is pretty creepy. you create an item _ also it is pretty creepy. you create an item which - also it is pretty creepy. you create an item which is - also it is pretty creepy. wi, create an item which is useful for tracking stolen items that you have also created a perfect tool for stocking. you have also created a perfect tool forstocking. no you have also created a perfect tool for stocking. no doubt about it. — — stalking. it is definitely happening, this is not made up. but definitely happening, this is not made up.— definitely happening, this is notmadeu.�* ., , , not made up. but many people sa when not made up. but many people say when they _ not made up. but many people say when they tell _ not made up. but many people say when they tell the - not made up. but many people say when they tell the police, i say when they tell the police, they do not know what to do and when they tell apple support they are not particularly helpful. and i got a notification after going to the local supermarket. it is really sca . local supermarket. it is really scary- what _ local supermarket. it is really scary- what i _ local supermarket. it is really scary. what i want _ local supermarket. it is really scary. what i want apple - local supermarket. it is really scary. what i want apple to l local supermarket. it is really| scary. what i want apple to do is simply require these devices to ask permission before you can be followed.— to ask permission before you can be followed. apple told the bbc that have _ can be followed. apple told the bbc that have good _ can be followed. apple told the bbc that have good safeguards| bbc that have good safeguards in place. if you have an android telephone, you can also download an app. but critics argue that apple, which is worth more than £3 trillion should be doing more to stop its products being used to track and even stock people. —— stalk finally — to abu dhabi — because the emirate has been hosting a major green energy conference this week. the oil and gas rich gulf states are responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. but the region is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world. sustainability week is being hosted by masdar — a commercial company set up by abu dhabi's government to channel commercial partnerships for clean energy fawaz al muharrami is director of clean energy at masdar which is a renewable energy company which as we mentioned is a renewable energy company. how are you going to make the most of this week and get the message out that things have to change? message out that things have to chance? , ~ , ., , change? this week is actually very important. _ change? this week is actually very important, it _ change? this week is actually very important, it is - change? this week is actually very important, it is actually l very important, it is actually a global platform for accelerating weld sustainable development. during the week there is a gathering of different people around the world. most of the heads of states, policymakers, international business leaders and technology pioneers, all of them gathered in this wonderful platform where they debate, discuss about all the global challenges, the technologies, they share some of the outline strategies and showcase innovations, all together to discuss about the challenges and how to address sustainability in the future. at the same time, also woke together towards net zero targets which is of the countries are on board since cop26 in glasgow. so this is an important gathering just after that and also it is also important in order to discuss the upcoming as well cop26 and adcock 28 which 28 will be hosted in the uae at that time. -- cop28. hosted in the uae at that time. -- com-— -- cop28. what is your target date set for — -- cop28. what is your target date set for being _ -- cop28. what is your target date set for being a _ -- cop28. what is your target | date set for being a missionary in abu dhabi and what are the biggest challenges to meetings that target? the biggest challenges to meetings that target?— that target? the uae have said that target? the uae have said that target _ that target? the uae have said that target by _ that target? the uae have said that target by 2050 _ that target? the uae have said that target by 2050 and, - that target? the uae have said that target by 2050 and, of - that target by 2050 and, of course, since the establishment back 15 years ago, we wanted to create a buy to transform and transition the country as well as globally towards more sustainability and maintain leadership in the development of sustainable energy. we started very early on in that race. and we are proud to say that we have achieved a really important milestone during that journey. today we have capacity beyond inaudible we have more than a0 countries already who are developing projects across six continents and also targeting strategy to achieve hopefully 50 — 100 megawatts by 2030. hopefully 50 -100 megawatts by 2030. ., ~ i. hopefully 50 -100 megawatts by 2030. . ~ i. hopefully 50 -100 megawatts by 2030. . ~ . hopefully 50 -100 megawatts by 2030. . . ., 2030. thank you so much for expiaining — 2030. thank you so much for expiaining the _ 2030. thank you so much for explaining the challenges - 2030. thank you so much for| explaining the challenges and also what you are up to during this sustainability week. those are the latest business stories. if you would like more, do take a look at our website. have a lovely day, i will see you soon. hello there. we've got a much colder day of weather coming up today. it was yesterday that we had a cold front bring a bit of patchy rain southwards. as that cleared, we had a fine end to the day in hampshire — a lovely sunset here. for northern scotland, though, it was quite a turbulent day. gusty winds, and those winds have been bringing in some snow showers to shetland, we've seen some in orkney and, more recently, across the north of the mainland as well. that will leave a risk of some icy patches here as we get into the first part of thursday morning with the frost otherwise pretty widespread. for many of us, though, the skies will be clear. now, any showers in northern scotland very quickly will lose their wintriness and turn back to rain. some very slightly less cold air works in here. and for most of the uk, although a cold and frosty start, there will be sunshine pretty much from dawn till dusk. it's going to be a lovely, if somewhat chilly, winter's day. now, there will be some showers coming down the north sea. they'll be affecting eastern parts of scotland. and with the winds blowing more or less parallel to the eastern coasts of england, most of the showers will stay offshore. the greatest risk of a shower will be across norfolk. you might see one or two coming into the north york moors as well. another cold night to come on thursday night — if anything, even colder across parts of england and wales, plumbing the depths. temperatures could get down to about —5, —6 degrees in the coldest spots but it will be turning milder in the north—west — that's because we've got some thicker cloud here. that'll probably give us quite a nice sunrise for some but the best of the sunshine through the day will be across eastern wales, central and eastern england, eastern scotland, probably eastern counties of northern ireland, whereas in the west, you're likely to see some of the higher temperatures but you will also see the thickest of the cloud, perhaps with some mist and fog patches developing around the coasts and the hills at times. little overall change, really, into the weekend. high pressure stays firmly with us — the same one that's been with us for ages now — and for the most part, that will keep weather fronts at bay — this one just skirting into northern scotland but it will be a weak affair. so, for saturday, mist and fog and some frost patches around first thing in the morning. again, it's western areas that will keep the thickest cloud. and here's our weak weather front, bringing a little bit of light rain or drizzle — no great amounts. for the western isles and the highlands, temperatures could reach double figures here but otherwise, still quite chilly across the south—east — 5 or 6 celsius here. and, to be honest, looking at the long—range forecast through the rest of the week and most of next week, the weatherjust stays dry, thanks to that same area of high pressure. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. our headlines. from today, face masks are not compulsory in england's classrooms, as the government says we must learn to live with covid. the prime minister vows to fight any leadership challenge, as mps await a crucial report into downing street parties. higher energy bills could be here to stay — that's the warning from the boss of the bank of england, who says the squeeze on the cost of living could last for longer than previously thought. and as the first aid planes touch down in disaster—struck tonga, we speak to one man desparately trying to reach his family. a busy day for the brits at the australian open, with dan evans through and heather watson out,