this is bbc news. the headlines at 11pm: this is bbc news. the headlines at "pm: the prime minister will chair a cobra meeting tomorrow and the government is expected to move into the next stage of the coronavirus strategy, from contain to delay. today, the chancellor unveiled the biggest spending budget for over 25 yea rs, biggest spending budget for over 25 years, with more cash to protect the economy against the impact of the coronavirus. whether its millions of pounds or billions of pounds, whatever it means, whatever it costs, we stand behind our nhs. to more people have died from coronavirus in the uk as the world health organization declares the outbreak a global pandemic, urging action to contain it. a case of coronavirus is confirmed at a care

home in hampshire, contributing to the highest one—day increase in the uk of 83 cases. in italy, the worst hit european country, new restrictions mean all shops are closed except food stores and pharmacies. in new york, the victims of the former hollywood producer, harvey weinstein, celebrate his jail sentence of 23 years for sexual assault and rape. at 11:30 p.m., we'll have an in—depth look at the papers with our reviewers, former trade minister lord digbyjones and broadcaster henry ponce dean. stay with us for that. —— henry bonne sue. good evening. the uk is set to step up good evening. the uk is set to step up its response to the coronavirus outbreak. the prime minister will

chaira outbreak. the prime minister will chair a cobra meeting tomorrow afternoon, where it's expected the prime minister will confirm if the uk will move from the contain phase to the delay phase. in the uk, there are currently 460 infected and eight people have died. a cabinet minister who the bbc is not naming itself isolating after coming into contact with the health minister, nadeem doris, at a recent downing street reception. today, the world health organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic. jessica parker is with us in westminster. jessica, bring us up to date on where the government is and how things are moving in the next 24 hours? there was already a cobra meeting today chaired by the health secretary matt hancock, after which he came to the house to update mps, give a statement to the house of commons, but we understand there will be another cobra meeting tomorrow, this time chaired by the

prime minister. he obviously already chaired one earlier this week but what's expected to happen tomorrow is this move into the delay phase 110w. is this move into the delay phase now. we've kind of been on the borderline from what's known as contain and delay recently, contain obviously being the focus on finding people that might have tested positive for the virus, contact tracing those they've come into contact with. delay, you're looking ata contact with. delay, you're looking at a further range of measures. what's important to emphasise is your not necessarily going to see an announcement tomorrow that schools are going to be shut and sport stadiums will be closed down, there will be no mass gatherings, for example, what we are being pointed to is what chris whitty outlined as possible social distancing measures ata possible social distancing measures at a press conference early this week, and this idea that even those showing mild respiratory tract infection symptoms might be asked to self—isolate for a time. edge that carnal thing we might be looking at

tomorrow, but ministers will be looking at a range of steps that could be taken over a timeline period over the coming weeks and months. the anxiety from the government perspective is not to go to fast, too soon and to take measured steps as this outbreak carries on spreading. can you tell us more carries on spreading. can you tell us more about what we know about ministers who have been tested or ourselves isolating? the recent news isa ourselves isolating? the recent news is a cabinet minister who, as you say, we're not naming, is getting tested for the virus after coming into co nta ct tested for the virus after coming into contact with nadine dorries, the health minister. this cabinet minister as we understand it is self isolating having been tested today. we will have to wait on further news on that but obviously the anxiety is the possibility... it isjust on that but obviously the anxiety is the possibility... it is just a possibility that more people might

get the virus in westminster, as is reflected in the rest of the country. can't say too much at the moment but we understand another health minister also self isolating having come into contact with nadine dorries. jessica parker, thanks very much. phase two of the government action plan in tackling the spread of the coronavirus is the delay phase. the government that says the aim is to reduce the rate and extent of the spread. there would be an increase of publicly promoted good hygiene measures. the government says during this phase, they would look to minimise the social and economic impact. among the measures specified in the government action plan include the possibility of closing schools, encouraging more people to work from home and having fewer large—scale gatherings. those are some of the main parts of the delay phase, and you can check online yourself if you wa nt to you can check online yourself if you want to find out more about what is involved potentially in this next

phase. it's not necessarily all going to come into action immediately, but it is on the horizon. earlier today, the newly appointed chancellor, ritchie sooner, unveiled the biggest spending budget in 25 yea rs, the biggest spending budget in 25 years, including a £12 billion package to cushion the economy against the impact of the virus —— rishi sunak. the chancellor warned the spread of the virus would have a significant short—term financial impact. the 12 billion plan is aimed at supporting jobs and businesses is the impact of the coronavirus intensifies, and there is a promise to give the nhs whatever it needs, whatever it costs, to deal with the crisis, including a £5 billion cash injection. sick pay for the self—employed is also on offer stop the plans over five years come to £175 billion, everything from road and rail, broadband and housing and extra nurses and police. the extra spending is to be paid for largely with a big increase in government

borrowing to the tune of nearly £100 billion by 2024. earlier today there was an emergency cut in interest rates by the bank of england to 0.25%, bringing borrowing costs down to the lowest in history. here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg. what might be an emergency for our health could be an emergency for the economy. an economic shock that could prove large and sharp. ministers want to slow the spread of the virus... you need to self—isolate? the virus... you need to self-isolate? and limit the ill effects on how the country makes its living. the new man at number 11 clutching what felt like an emergency budget, a job that's become more daunting. every single one of the 27 days he's been in charge. with more than 400 and people with coronavirus now, even a couple in westminster. the chancellor of the exchequer...

number one on the chancellor's list was clear. we will get through this together. the british people may be worried, but they are not daunted. we will protect our country and our people. we will rise to this challenge. for a period, people. we will rise to this challenge. fora period, it's going to be tough, but i'm confident that our economic performance will re cove r. to get to the other side, £12 billion to start with four public services private business. spending ona services private business. spending on a scale worth listening to. first... first, whatever extra resources our nhs needs to cope with coronavirus, it will get. whether it is millions of pounds or billions of pounds, whatever it needs, whatever it costs, we stand behind our nhs. he promised cash, grants, even suspending business taxes for some small firms. if people fall ill or

can't work, we must support their finances. we'll make sure that our safety net remains strong enough to fall back on. for businesses with fewer than 250 employees, i have decided the cost of providing statutory sick pay to any employee off work due to coronavirus will, forup to 14 off work due to coronavirus will, for up to 14 days, be refunded by the government in full. beyond the immediate emergency, the task was also to keep the promises of the tory manifesto to build, to restore, public bricks and mortar right around the country. huge spending on roads, rail, science and housing. we need to build the infrastructure that will lay the foundations for a new century of prosperity. we need to grab the opportunity to upgrade, to improve, to enhance, to level up. that starts today with the next part of our plan as we get britain building. a record

splurge paid for by running up a huge national overdraft. a government that gets things done! creating jobs... government that gets things done! creating jobs. .. impossible to imagine, tories during a budget like this, a few years ago. a people's budget from a people's government, andl budget from a people's government, and i commend it to this house. new chancellor fixing his and i commend it to this house. new chancellorfixing his place alongside the prime minister, a new era too. so would there be a new response labour? the chancellor showed not some but a lot of brass neck when he boasted measures to deal with coronavirus are only possible because of his party's management of the economy. this is a budget that has an admission of failure, an admission austerity has been a failed experiment. it didn't solve our economic problems but made them worse, but held back our own

recovery and failed even in its own terms. opposition reminders, the tories have been in charge for almost a decade. this tory government has failed to level up for anyone, anywhere, and they can't be allowed to hide from these facts, just as they can't be allowed to hide from their legacy. and a note of caution from a million face. prudent management of the public finances is one of the usp mac plural... we own it to them to only ta ke plural... we own it to them to only take as much as we need and to spend it wisely. but conventional tory wisdom shifted here today. big spending and big borrowing now the direction. the government may be for to change much further to cope with a virus well beyond its control. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. the chancellor said the budget today was the biggest spending boost for the economy in a generation but the key question is how this new

spending is to be paid for. our economic editor faisal islam has been investigating. both big guns at the economic policy, the bank of england and the treasury, firing today to provide co—ordinated emergency support for the economy of the unknown impacts of the coronavirus epidemic. governor mark carney‘s team slashing interest rates and leaning on the banks to accompany the new chancellor's rapid rescue package. that included £5 billion of immediate nhs spending to help cope with an expected surge in cases, and £7 billion in targeted tax cuts to support the cash flow of most small businesses, including funds for covering sick pay. on top of that, an emergency cut of 0.5% in bank of england rates to a record low, alongside changes to the financial system to make sure the cut is passed on to small business. after days of talks with the treasury and emergency meetings at the bank, the outgoing governor launched the moves with his successor, andrew bailey. the bank of england's

role is to help uk businesses and households manage through an economic shock that could prove large and sharp. but should be temporary. these moves, both here and at the treasury, showjust how serious the economic impact of this virus could be in an economy that was already failing to grow injanuary. they‘ re designed to keep companies going, paying people and investing even though much remains unknown. these massive interventions have one big aim — to prevent a temporary but grave health crisis having a permanent economic scar. but the chancellor also had his eyes on a longer spending prize. the usual pattern for government borrowing plans is this — falls over five years. not any more. it's now considerably higher, not to fund the crisis response but some unplanned extra investments for the future, and surprisingly, much more

on everyday spending on say police and nurses. the national debt now forecast to hit £2 trillion, 2,000 billion pounds, but the affordability of that depends on loans to governments around the world. if conditions get more difficult, the arithmetic becomes a lot more uncomfortable. the obr raised the possibility of recession as the everyday impact of the invisible coronavirus appears in our workplaces, on our supermarket shelves, our streets and sports stadia. it could last longer than expected, even overlap in difficulties with the post—brexit trade deal. such unknowns are exactly why, for a decade, governments have demanded lower deficits. here at the treasury, that has now changed for a reason. but at the very time the world is full of risk. faisal islam, bbc news.

let's look at some of the items other items in the budget. taxes on beer, spirits, cider and wine are to beer, spirits, cider and wine are to be frozen but tobacco taxes will continue to rise at 2% above the rate of inflation, adding 27p a pack of 20 cigarettes. the 5% rate of vat on sanitary products, the tampon tax, will be abolished from january. a plastic packaging tax will come into force from 2022 with manufacturers and importers whose products have less than 30% recycla ble products have less than 30% recyclable material charged £200 per ton. £120 million will be invested in emergency funding for places affected by the winter flooding, plus £200 million for flood. total investment in flood defences will double to £52 billion over the next five years. £1.5 billion is to be invested in the refurbishment of further education colleges and a 20% tax on digital publications, including newspapers, e—books and academic journals including newspapers, e—books and academicjournals will be scrapped from december.

you can find out how the budget will affect you with our budget calculator, it is on the bbc news app and on the website. the headlines on bbc news: the prime minister will chair a cobra meeting tomorrow, where the government is expected to move into the next stage of its coronavirus strategy from contain to delay. the chancellor unveils the biggest spending budget for over 20 years, with more cash to protect the economy against the impact of coronavirus. and in new york, the victims of the former hollywood producer, harvey weinstein, celebrate his jail sentence of 23 yea rs celebrate his jail sentence of 23 years for sexual assault and rape. jessica mann with it uk except to move into the delay phase. the pick

of the coronavirus could be a couple of the coronavirus could be a couple of months away. parliament will remain open despite the health minister testing positive to the virus and to more ministers, including a member of cabinet, deciding to isolate themselves. the nhs confirmed they would increase the number of data tested 10,000. we've been to visit a sample processing centre. coronavirus testing's already under way at this laboratory run by north west london pathology services, part of a major expansion of testing in england, bringing in hospital labs to help cope with an expected rise in the caseload. there was one more added to the number, with news the health minister nadine dorries had tested positive, the first mp to contract the virus. government says will remain open. officials are tracing her recent contacts. a member of her staff has tested positive. there will be a significant increase in testing capacity, using hospital labs like this.

public health officials say the tests are not for anyone who might feel they're ill — they're specifically targeted at those seen to be most at risk, and only after decisions made by nhs 111 or doctors. so how does contact tracing work? if a person tests positive for the virus, public health officials identify their close contacts in recent days. they're looking for people who've spent at least 15 minutes at a distance of less than two metres. then they decide who's low risk and who's high risk, depending partly on their age and underlying health. the low—risk individuals take no action, while those at high risk stay at home for 14 days, and if they have symptoms, call 111. it's often family members, because obviously you're living very closely together. so family members will be contact traced. in different situations, it will be people that you've been very close to, that you've maybe had a close conversation with, that is when you are most likely to have been infected. travel insurance has been hit.

lv said it was temporarily halting sales of new policies after travellers scramble to try to protect themselves against cancelled holidays or being stuck abroad. two other companies have restricted cover. and a coronavirus case in a hampshire care home has been confirmed. the council said there were rigorous infection control procedures. it's another reminder of the challenges with controlling covid—19. hugh pym, bbc news. in italy, europe's worst affected country, spending has been increased to help the economy. the prime minister has also announced a tightening of restrictions including the closure of all stores except for pharmacy and food shops. some crucial for pharmacy and food shops. some crucialfor production pharmacy and food shops. some crucial for production will remain open. 4500 people in italy now have

the virus and the number of facilities has jump. —— the virus and the number of facilities hasjump. —— 12,500 the virus and the number of facilities hasjump. ——12,500 stop 12,500 stop connecting the epicentres. a doctor in wuhan and those in europe's equivalent, northern italy. colleagues in crisis. sharing the know—how. we reached that italian doctor on the right in his hospital. the first to diagnose coronavirus here. it hit like a bomb that has kept on exploding. the first few hours, we received ten, 50, 60, 70, until 200 patients in our emergency department and we had some hours where the oxygen supplies sockets were insufficient to give oxygen to all the patients. so we were in a sort of, let me say, war scenario. but, in his town, it may have peaked.

with no cases there, in the past day, it could be a sign of containment working. i think that what we did in this area has demonstrated that we are on the right pathway. so i am quite optimistic, i am quite confident that this could be the right way to go. but the rest of italy is days behind, and the virus is still surging. rome is quiet. with limits on movement. under new restrictions and ends tonight, companies must close department not needed for productions and all shops apart from food stores or pharmacies will be closed. pharmacies are only allowing customers in one at a time. in the next cafe is, tables must be a metre apart. they will close at 6pm. you can see the children's

playground is closed as art schools, universities, cinemas, theatres and so many other venues. several airlines have stopped flights in or out, a concern for brenda and andrew samuels, booked to travel to manchester tomorrow. their hotel here is shutting on friday for lack of customers. i am not worried about the disease, we are taking all precautions that we can, but we are worried about going home. whether our flight will still get us home. police have a new target — traffickers of hand gel and facemasks, cracking a ring that tried to make a huge profit, like prized drugs, in these dystopian times. mark lowen, bbc news, rome. a member of the british armed forces has been killed in a rocket attacks ona has been killed in a rocket attacks on a military base in iraq. the us official confirmed to americans also died in the attack launched nearby

baghdad. it is where uk and other coalition nations have been training iraqi security forces. the prime minister borisjohnson iraqi security forces. the prime minister boris johnson has iraqi security forces. the prime minister borisjohnson has called the attack deplorable. in new york, harvey weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of two women. nick bryant was in court. there was joy in this moment for the victims of harvey weinstein. that the convicted rapist will spend so long behind bars, that their voices have finally been heard. in courtjessica mann and mimi haley delivered victim statements describing how he ruined their lives and then had to listen to weinstein's rambling remarks, in which he expressed remorse for the women but also the men going through this crisis. then came the sentencing, 23 years. there were gasps in the courtroom as the sentence was read out, not least because it is so severe. most legal analysts had

expected 10—15 years. so from this courthouse in manhattan, a punishment that will echo around the world. this is whatjustice looks like, 20 plus three years. the model tarale wulff was one of the women to testify during the trial. for the first time i can say i can feel a sense of happiness i guess. because this is not a happy circumstance to be, that we are all here for, but i feeljoyous. this is very severe, what is your response? ridiculous is what it is. harvey weinstein's defense team had sough the minimum sentence of five years in prison. he faces 23. i think that number is a cowardly number to give. i think the judge caved, just as i believe the jury caved and i am not happy. but it is the feelings of weinstein's victims that matter and for the model amber battila na gutierrez,

that number, 23, is especially poignant. i was 23 when he assaulted me. that is the number when my life was ruined, so... any response to today's sentence? i am super happy. from his limousine to a prison van, from the red carpets of hollywood to the notorious rikers island jail in new york, a me too message, especially to men of power that wealth and menace offer no immunity from prosecution. nick bryant, bbc news, new york. a cultural reporterfrom a cultural reporter from the new time and part of a team who won a pulitzer prize for reporting on workplace sexual harassmentjoins me. your response to what has happened in court today? like many

people you had, those watching the case, were a little bit stunned at thejudgement. 23 years is case, were a little bit stunned at the judgement. 23 years is an extraordinarily long sentence, especially for someone in harvey weinstein's age range. it is very likely if this is a life sentence. that is what his defence team argued that thejudge did that is what his defence team argued that the judge did not hear that argument. what are you hearing from those you interviewed and those whose stories you heard. those you interviewed and those whose stories you heardlj those you interviewed and those whose stories you heard. i think there is such a range of emotions. this was a tense moment. a sense of relief, vindication. if the judgement had gone another way, if you had gotten a light sentence or not been convicted, they would have been tears for sure but today we saw different tea rs, been tears for sure but today we saw different tears, tears of relief.

many of the women have been holding on two these experience for many yea rs. on two these experience for many years. this will unpack some of those feelings. what does it mean for this movement and others who have suffered in this way across the country? when are taught to lawyers that it when i talk to lawyers who work with survivors is that they are hopeful this case and this verdict sent a message, especially to prosecutors. this kind of cases are often not prosecuted and this case was in fact a risky one to take on, they did not think it was an open and shut, easy case to when, but the fa ct and shut, easy case to when, but the fact they wait, that he was convicted and got this kind of prison term is really meaningful. there is no possibility for change. it also showed you do not have to be

a perfect victim to have your day in court and have your story had an your voice matter. sorry about the breakup on part of that line. some breaking news coming in to us. police are dealing with multiple person stabbing in walthamstow. police say this is an isolated incident and if i do not believe there is a risk to members of the public but there are some road closures in that area and are appealing for any information. it seems to be an isolated incident at the moment according to the police. the trial of three teenagers accused of murdering the police officer andrew harper have heard how the car had been trying to get away at all cost. he was caught and pulled along

the road after being called out to a burglary last august. the car almost hit other vehicles as they tried to escape. all three deny the charges. the former prime minister alec salmon's trial and le vernet said she was humiliated by his behaviour. —— the woman known as woman. wednesday brought a day of contrast. a beautiful date for southern england. as you can see from this picture sent in. for the north and east, it was cold with hail showers. it is this cold air which will be the key feature to the story over the key feature to the story over the next couple of days, squeezing the next couple of days, squeezing

the mild and back into the continent. quite a powerfuljet centred across the uk but it is now weakening off is starting to slip to the south. once on the north side of the south. once on the north side of thejet, we are on the south. once on the north side of the jet, we are on the colder side. a chilly start to thursday morning. snow and show is continuing for scotland, northern ireland, western england. chaos on exposed coast, 45 miles per hour in places. mike oldfield by the afternoon. temperatures between 7— 11 degrees. —— milder by the afternoon. light winds and clear skies, temperatures starting on the chilly side in a few places. a noticeable different to the feel of the weather. light winds on friday. friday looks likely to