This is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. The number of covid 19 cases in the United States passes 25 million with the number of deaths soaring to nearly 418,000. More than 70 cases of the south african variant of covid are identified in the uk, amid concerns the vaccine may be less effective against it. Ministers say numbers are being closely monitored. We have an enhanced Contact Tracing, to do everything we possibly can to stop them from spreading. Israel announces it will ban incoming flights from monday evening until the end ofjanuary in order to try and contain the spread of coronavirus. Some enjoy the wintry conditions, as snow and ice sweep across the uk, but Severe Weather warnings
are in place for many areas. And celebrations in china, as eleven gold miners whod been trapped underground for two weeks are rescued. Hello, welcome to the programme. We begin in the United States, which has now recorded more than 25 million coronavirus