# last christmas i gave you my heart but the very next day you gaveit heart but the very next day you gave it away. and, after a wait of 36 christmasses — wham's festive classic finally tops the uk singles charts. the republican—controlled us senate has overturned president trump's veto of a $740 billion defense bill, handing the republican president the first veto defeat of his presidency weeks before he leaves office. two—thirds of the senators voting, having voted in the affirmative, the bill, on reconsideration, has passed. the objections of the president of the united states to the contrary notwithstanding. mr trump had criticised a clause that would lead to the removal of the names of confederate generals from us military bases. the move is seen as a humiliating rebuke of the president. evelyn farkas is a former deputy assistant secretary of defense in the 0bama administration. i asked her what she thought about this vote. well, i think it shows a couple of things. first of all, obviously with the loss of the presidential election, donald trump has lost power. he no longer has any real influence, with one exception, of course, there were some people who did vote with him, vote to hold up his veto, and those are the people who want his political base to support them. so there are some republican politicians over whom he has some influence, but he has lost a lot of influence. the other thing it shows us is that this bill is really important and there are very strong political constituencies that are stronger than president trump that allied to keep this bill on track and have it pass. that's interesting. you are someone who knows probably more about this bill than most, why is it so sacrosanct there? yeah, so i should say there's another part of my resume — for seven years, i worked on the senate armed services committee, essentially helping, as a senior staffer, put together this bill. it's the annual defence authorisation bill, it authorises the $741 billion coming up for next year, and also provides authority to the department of defense and the department of energy in the case of the nuclear arsenal. why is it important? because it pays the military salaries, the salaries of our military personnel and civilians. included in here was a pay raise. it also covers the cost of running military installations and bases. practically every state has a base or a military installation, so you can see, there is a lot of political support for this bill in the american society. well, given that, why do you think donald trump chose to veto it? well, there was a provision in there that was introduced by senator elizabeth warren — one of his political nemeses or enemies — and that provision called for renaming ten different military facilities — i believe they are all army installations. these installations have names on them right now of confederate war fighters, so people who lost the american civil war but have continued somehow, especially in the south, to be respected in a way that's unusual for the losing side. the white nationalists, of course, they have rallied to the confederate flag and the cause of the lost confederacy because, of course, the confederates were fighting to maintain slavery — which, of course, is white supremacy. and so president trump was pandering to the white supremacists and, frankly speaking, he is, for all intents and purposes, himself a white nationalist and so, he was opposed to that provision introduced by senator warren. but that provision was in the bill and received the support of the majority of the republicans on the committee and in the chamber as well, in the senate and the house. 0k, well, mrtrump clearly had his reasons to veto it and republicans have their very strong reasons to defy president trump. do you think we can learn anything from this outside of this particular bill, or was this just an issue that actually, republicans couldn't possibly turn their back on, or does it signify a slipping away of influence of donald trump? yes, it shows us the latter. so it shows us that there is a limit to this president's influence, that his influence is slipping. now, i would venture to say that if he had vetoed or tried to veto the defense authorisation act in its entirety in the past, he would have also had a problem — although i know he did manage to have his veto prevail in other instances. there are other provisions in this bill that he also didn't like that make it harder for us forces to be removed, for example, overnight from places like afghanistan and syria, but i think it shows demonstrably that the president's power has weakened substantially and if it weren't for the fact that he still has this hardcore, frankly far—right base, this constituency, he wouldn't have had any of the senators standing up for his interests and his prerogatives. the united states passed another unwanted milestone in the coronavirus pandemic — recording more than 20 million cases. that's more than any other country in the world. according tojohns hopkins university — there are now 20,007,119 cases in the us. 346,408 people have lost their lives during the pandemic. on wednesday alone, more than 3,900 people died of covid—i9 — a new daily record. there are growing concerns about a new variant of the coronavirus after more analysis confirmed it has a much quicker rate of transmission than the original strain. the variant has now been identified in at least 18 countries around the world after it was originally found here in the uk. its now putting enormous stress on british hospitals. our health correspondent dominic hughes reports. it might be a new year but there's no let—up in the pressure on hospitals in london and the south east. a surge in seriously ill covid patients means staff are being pushed to the limit. intensive care beds are a real pinch point. some patients are being moved from kent to bristol and plymouth, where there's spare capacity. that in itself is not unheard of, but doctors say it shows the pressures they're working under. if the number of cases don't begin to reduce fairly soon — and, indeed, reduce sharply — we would be in a situation where the health care infrastructure — notjust in london, but across the entire country — is overwhelmed. and it's not just rising patient numbers. staff themselves are falling ill, meaning resources are getting stretched. everybody‘s reporting a lot of pressure. everybody is saying that it's really difficult to off—load ambulances because our departments are full because, in turn, our hospitals are full. it's very frustrating because you can't look after patients in the way you want to, and you feel helpless when you know there's a sick patient in an ambulance which you just can't get into a department because there isn't space. in order to provide some relief, the nightingale hospital in london is being made ready for non—covid patients but still, hospitals report the situation remains very difficult. when we are seeing major london trusts, as we've seen in the media today, basically saying they are under real pressure, they are at more than double the normal rate of icu admissions than they would see, they are turning whole floors into additional icu space, that's when we know we're in a very, very challenging place. this surge in patient numbers is being driven by the new variant of the coronavirus. it's more contagious and it's affecting more younger people, and it's having an impact not just on hospitals in london and the south east, but right across the country. and new research highlights the impact the new variant of the virus is having on the r number — the rate at which it spreads. under the lockdown, maybe over the course of two to three weeks, the cases would've decreased by something like 30%. but if the new variant is now present, with this increase in the r number, all of a sudden instead of a decrease of 30%, we get a massive increase, the number of cases over the same period could triple. so this is more or less the most serious change in the virus that we've seen since the epidemic began. the best defence against the virus remains maintaining social distance, good hand hygiene and wearing face coverings, but the big concern is that as this new variant spreads, the extreme pressures now evident in london and the south east will soon be seen across the country. let's get some of the day's other news. iran has told the un's atomic watchdog that it plans to start enriching uranium to a level far higher than allowed under the international nuclear deal. it's the most significant breach of the agreement since the us withdrew from the accord in 2018. french police have been attacked as they try to shut down an illegal new year rave in brittany. the underground party has been attended by some 2,500 party—goers despite a strict coronavirus curfew. the new york stock exchange says it will delist three chinese telecommunications firms because of their alleged links with china's military. the move comes after president trump signed an executive order in november barring us investments in chinese companies that were seen as a threat to national security. rescuers in norway have found a body in the debris of homes swallowed up by a landslip near 0slo on wednesday. it's the first confirmed fatality. emergency workers managed to get into the crater on foot for the first time but nine people, including children, are still unaccounted for. vince soodin reports. it's a race against time. rescuers are accelerating the search for children, women and men hidden in a huge, dark crater filled with clay. but it's a high—risk operation as the ground is still not safe and workers are surrounded by precarious clay walls. emergency workers have managed to get into the crater on foot for the first time. they have to carry styrofoam boards to spread their weight in areas where ground remains unstable. today, the first body was recovered. translation: we've found one person. unfortunately, they've been confirmed dead. we're working intensively to search the area, and it's a risky search. many are affected by this tragedy. there are people who have lost their houses, everything they own and now, also family members. this father is one of those waiting for news. his girlfriend and 13—year—old daughter are missing. translation: i wish i could switch places with my daughter. she could be here and i could be missing. it is unreal. i never thought this could happen. a giant army vehicle called a paver has been sent to gjerdrum. it's equipped with a steel bridge in which rescuers can move along, but the ground is still too shaky for the 50—tonne machine to be deployed. a vigil was held for those missing on new year's eve. police have said the search will continue during the night. heavy rainfall is believed to have made the soil under the homes unstable. there will now be questions as to why the construction was permitted in the first place. vince soodin, bbc news. cuba, the only country in the world with two official currencies, has started phasing out one of them. the government is getting rid of the convertible peso to try to improve the economy. but that'll mean soaring prices, worrying many, even though wages are also going up. paul hawkins has more. cuban cu ban school at day cuban school at day zero, the end of a 26 year to currency system. 0ver end of a 26 year to currency system. over the next months, the convertible peso is on its way out. the government says it had this to go to make the economy more efficient and easier to understand for foreign investors was not the only problem is, that leaves people here with the cuban peso and it is worth 24 times less, or in other words, one us dollar equals 24 cuban peso. that means prices will soar in eye watering 160% and to make matters worse, the government is also ending subsidies on many goods. translation: pup i trust it is better than what we have been through. it has been a difficult yearfrom every point of view, economic, social. so now with these changes, i always trust it will be better and that things that we re be better and that things that were done had to be done now. they could not wait any longer. to compensate, the government is raising wages and pension payments. new salary framework sets 32 wage levels, depending on thejob. it means sets 32 wage levels, depending on the job. it means teachers, journalists, lion tamer ‘s and doc was in training for example, will earn the same salary. that 80% of the people here work for the state and many are worried the wage increases aren't enough. we are prepared. everyone knows the country, the situation we've been living in, having to currencies in the same country, the one that we had, the one that always existed, the cuban peso, that was always valued in gold. that continues to be the cuban gold. that continues to be the cu ban peso. gold. that continues to be the cuban peso. last year, cuban economy shrank, its worst decline in 23 years. caused by us sanctions and fewer tourists because of the coronavirus pandemic but the government says reform is needed. short—term pain for long—term gain. this is bbc news. our main story: the us senate has over—ridden donald trump's presidential veto for the first time, just weeks before he leaves office. they voted overwhelmingly to approve a defence bill mr trump had blocked. let's get more on that story. joe gould covers capitol hill for defense news. he's in washington. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you for having me. how big an embarrassment is that for the president? it is a big deal. this is the first and probably last veto that president trump will face. republicans avoided crossing president trump for most of his time but this was rare. why did president trump put this veto ina president trump put this veto in a place given it is so popular this bill supporting the military? it is hard to say. this is the counterpart to the appropriations defence bill that actually budgets money and it typically passes with broad bipartisan support. this is the 60th year in a row. it authorises money in securities and it is a huge portion of the government budget every year and it is symbolically supporting us troops and a huge windfall for the defence industry that supports jobs all over the country. so what we know is that donald trump threatened to veto the bill because it contained a measure to rename bases that were named for confederate military leaders from the american civil war but this was... this is pa rt war but this was... this is part of a painful legacy into the united states. the country has been focused on racial injustice over the last year. later we also saw that the president demanded the bill include a repeal, a liability shield for internet companies. president trump has been shooting with twitter, accusing ata shooting with twitter, accusing at a conservative bias from social media companies. —— anti— conservative. republicans felt pretty 16 particularly by the ban on section 230. just try to get a sense, this is the republican party standing up and defying that president but this is farfrom and defying that president but this is far from the overall and of the influence of donald trump over the republican party? if we are asking, what tactically the president could be gaining here, maybe his planting a flag, particularly on section 230, republican lawmakers have said they support a repeal but, again, why it failed with the defence appeal is because there isn't really a bipartisan consensus or even a consensus with republicans that repeal is the answer. if you were to drop it into this defence bill, you could torpedo the bill and drive votes away. a fascinating issue. thank you for talking us through it. thank you. an australian pro—surfer has been praised for running into rough seas in hawaii to save a woman from drowning. here you can see mikey wright sprinting towards the waves after realising someone was getting swept away in the strong current. he then entered the water, which was full of sharp rocks, to reach the woman. he had to battle to keep hold of her as the waves crashed over them and swept them off their feet, but mikey eventually got her to the safety of the beach. and mikey wrightjoins us live from the north shore of oahu. thank you for coming onto the programme. thanks heaps for having us. what did you see out of the corner of your eye and that split—2nd decision you made to go in that and help? we had literally been sitting in our backyard and we have seen this lady getting swept off her feet and neglect that she was going to a serious bit of danger here and the rocks she is on it is all volcano rocks so it is very sharp and she was just getting dragged off the rugs and out into the ocean —— rocks. the waves were ten foot plus. 0bviously, by the time i got down there, the set was big which was lucky for her and myself. as soon as i seen i thought this lady is going to need saving and ijumped the fence, ripped my shirt off and ran straight down the beach as quickly as i could and assisted, assessed the situation as i was running to see which was the best way to get to her. when you were in the water, was there any doubt in your mind? there were times when you are not obviously with it straightaway, did you think it straightaway, did you think it could get worse? her soon as i was getting close to her, as i drove i was getting close to her, as idrove in i was getting close to her, as i drove in the water i said to her, come towards me, do not try to go straight in because thatis try to go straight in because that is where the sharp rocks we re that is where the sharp rocks were underneath that and i was trying to get it towards more sand and less rock but, if the waves had been eager when i was down into the water with a, it could have been a lot more dangerous. but as soon as i got a hold of her, i said we're going to be ok, you are ok, we are going to get in and as soon asi are going to get in and as soon as i get repeating that to her over and over, every wave that hit us, you are ok. amazing. which you say anything back at that point? at that point she was like, 0k, 0k, and she was pretty much saying 0k and i said, do not let go, just hold onto me. sister was actually on the beach and she wanted me there was a double up coming and that's why i picked up and kind of jumped into and that's why i picked up and kind ofjumped into the wave, copping that hit of the wave on my back and then kind of got pushed down into the rocks a little bit. she had already got scratches all over her body and i got some down my back and my arms but for the situation we we re arms but for the situation we were in, we both came out pretty unscathed and at the end of the date she is safe now and to get on the beach and to see how thankful she was and to see her son that make her son came running down the beach at the time. hejust running down the beach at the time. he just latched running down the beach at the time. hejust latched onto me and was hugging me and did not let go for a minute saying thank you so much, he saved my mum,i thank you so much, he saved my mum, i thought she was gone and, you know, itjust goes to show things can change in a second over here and if you are not confident in the water, evenin not confident in the water, even in that situation if you we re even in that situation if you were confident, you would feel like you were in a bad situation. thank goodness you we re situation. thank goodness you were thank goodness for your local knowledge. well done for your efforts. remarkable story. thank you. wham's last christmas has topped the uk singles chart for the first time, 36 years after it was first released. the festive classic was streamed 9 million times over the last week. let's have a listen... # last christmas i gave you my heart. # but the very next day you gave it away.# first released in december 1984, george michael and andrew ridgeley‘s song was famously held off the top spot by band aid's do they know it's christmas. it's since returned to the top 10 six times. richard blade is a dj with sirius xm and he's been telling me how he felt when he heard the news. i was thrilled, i mean, it's a great song. we play it a lot on sirius xm and i was really shocked, actually, it had never been to number one on the uk charts before. yeah, 36 attempts, i suppose! it is quite the wait, and given what we know of the huge part of the cultural landscape wham and that song is here in the uk every christmas, what about where you are? same here. it's played on so many channels. sirius xm has been playing it on multiple channels, on first wave on the big 80s, on our christmas channels, and it's one of those songs that people request all the time because they love wham and they love george. and you had quite a good close relationship with the band? i did, i was very, very lucky to know wham from their earliest days. when they first came over in 1982 i had them on my radio show, they did their first—ever live gig with me at the beginning of 1983 and i took them to the 321 club in santa monica, california and that was the first time they played live when they lip synced to young guns and bad boys and then they did it the next night at the club i was doing in westwood. not everyone chooses to start the new year in comfort. in rome, the thing to do is this... that he goes, the traditional leap into the river. he struck a pose but thenit river. he struck a pose but then it was more of a jumper. please, do not dash out to your local river and try this. that's it from me. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @lvaughanjones. i'm lewis vaughan jones i'm lewis vaughanjones and theses bbc news. hello there. this cold weather isn't giving up anytime soon. it will stay for the weekend and most of next week. at least for the weekend there'll be quite a lot of sunshine around. mainly across western areas. it'll be cold and some further wintry showers, most of them across the eastern side of the country. the blue air mass indicates that cold air very much with us saturday. northerly winds pushing these showers into scotland, northern ireland and wales. plenty of them starting to go to the east coast of england. a few of them also pushing into the midlands. and there will be a covering of snow in places. but many places staying dry with the sunshine, though it will be cold. those showers start to spread a little bit further inland as we move through saturday night. further sleet and snow in places. probably the clearest of the skies in western scotland and northern ireland, so here the coldest to start sunday. elsewhere, cold again but with a risk of ice from all the showers. as we head on into sunday, we see high—pressure in the north of the uk, lower pressure to the south and that'll start to drive in eastern and north easterly winds. some subtle changes for part two of the weekend. that will push most of the showers into eastern scotland and in eastern england and they will drive their way a little bit further west through the day and there will be some sleet and snow there, not just at higher ground. probably the best of the sun will be across sheltered western areas and it will be a cold day when you factor in the breeze. head on into monday, a similar set up, the breeze feeding in more clouds and showers to much of england and wales and could see rain and sleet across the south—east. further north, lighter winds for scotland and ireland, and quite a bit of sunshine around. we have the stronger winds for england and wales particularly along the sea coast and it will feel pretty raw as these temperatures will struggle to get much above three to six degrees. it will feel colder than it suggests. and the blue colours are still with us as we head into next week and you guessed it, yes it is going to stay cold. it will be rather cloudy in places too. quite windy for a time and i think the winds could ease towards the end of the week, but by the end of the week, we could see rain, sleet and snow for some of us. 00:28:46,595 --> 2147483051:51:08,012 short—term pain for long—term 2147483051:51:08,012 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 gain.

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