Let s start here in the uk where people are asking if christmas will be cancelled again this year or will england s winter covid plan ensure the festive season gets the green light? all will be revealed later when the uk government sets out its plans to tackle the virus over the coming months. The government has now confirmed it will begin vaccinating 12 to 15 years olds and is expected to lay out plans for a booster scheme for those already vaccinated. The government is also expected to repeal parts of the coronavirus act, such as taking the power to close down the economy away from downing street. Joining me now is kate nicholls, chief executive of uk hospitality. Before we get on the winter, i haven t talked to you for a while. Where are things at right now for the hospitality industry given the challenges, staff shortages, that kind of thing? staff shortages, that kind of thin ? staff shortages, that kind of thin?. , , staff shortages, that kind of thing? the hospitality industry i
Hello there. We begin with the travel business because today the eu introduces what it hopes will be a passport to recovery for tourism. The digital covid certificate recognised across the eu show if you have been vaccinated or have had a recent negative test. And they are meant to do away with the need for quarantine and paperwork. But with concerns about the delta variant on the rise, will the certificates be enough to open up european travel and will uk visitors to the eu actually be able to use them as well? we speak to the executive director of the eu travel commission that promotes tourism in the region and he joins us now from russell s. Thank you forjoining us today. Now countries within the eu are still hugely divided on the issue of tourism. And member states are still very much allowed to impose their own national restrictions. So how useful are these things going to be? ,. ,. ,. , to be? the implementation of the covid certificate to be? the implementation of the covid ce
Us presidentjoe biden has arrived in geneva ahead of wednesday s summit with his russian counterpart vladimir putin. Relations between the two countries are at their lowest point in decades and mr biden has already said he will lay down america s red lines during the discussions. Our moscow correspondent steve rosenberg has travelled to geneva. They say that the waters of lake geneva have the power to rejuvenate, to cure. But can a lakeside summit here revive a political relationship that s in very poor health? when vice presidentjoe biden met vladimir putin, he told him he had no soul. More recently, he said he was a killer. Mr putin hit back: takes one to know one. So, when they sit down for talks, what message will the white house be putting across to the kremlin? fiona hill was donald trump s senior adviser on russia. She says moscow must be told to behave. The biggest danger that the united states faces right now from russia is the coercive, subversive, covert action that is the h
hello and welcome. good afternoon. the bbc understands no further covid restrictions in england are set to be announced today. borisjohnson is meeting with his scientific advisers as he considers whether further measures might be needed to slow the spread of the omicron variant. it s expected he ll hear about the impact on hospital admissions and nhs staff sickness over recent days. further controls have come into effect today in northern ireland and scotland. the new measures there affect the hospitality and leisure industries. in scotland, nightclubs have to close for at least three weeks and one metre social distancing and table service has been reinstated in hospitality settings where alcohol is served. table service has also resumed in hospitality venues across northern ireland. no more than six people will be allowed to sit together. dancing is also prohibited, except at weddings. yesterday in wales, the rule of six was reinstated for people meeting in pubs, cinemas and
cape town s city hall is bathed in purple light, to honour archbishop desmond tutu, south africa s anti apartheid leader, who died on sunday. and the new technology which could revolutionise the sorting of plastic packaging and boost recycling rates around the world. hello, and welcome to bbc news. the uk health secretary, sajid javid, has ruled out introducing any new covid restrictions in england before the new year. ministers had been under pressure to respond to rising infection levels after the devolved administrations in scotland, wales and northern ireland all implemented measures to stem the spread of the omicron variant. scotland has seen its highest ever number of cases this christmas period 11,030 were recorded on boxing day, and today, there were just over 10,500. meanwhile, england confirmed 98,515 cases in the past day. the health secretary said 90% of covid cases in england are now thought to be the 0micron variant and he urged people to remain cautious when