this is bbc news — with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. and geeta guru—murthy. joe biden says he's confident he's going to win the us presidential election — and insists he will fight to ensure every vote is counted. the numbers tell us it's clear, they tell us a clear and convincing story — we're going to win this race. as biden supporters celebrate — donald trump warns that legal challenges are onlyjust beginning. we'll bring you the latest in the race for the white house — we're live in washington shortly. the uk government bans all visitors from denmark — due to outbreaks of a mutated form of coronavirus in the country's mink farms which has spread to humans. greece becomes the latest european country to reimpose a lockdown due to rising rates of coronavirus. people are told to stay home

unless absolutely necessary. scotland becomes the first nation in the uk to ban parents or carers from smacking or hitting their children. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world — and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. stay calm, stay patient — the words ofjoe biden, who says he is on track to win the us presidency. speaking at his campaign headquarters a few hours ago, the democratic party candidate said he had a clear and convincing lead. this how the race looks four days on from election day. mr biden has 253 electoral college votes, with president trump on 214.

remember, 270 is the number required for victory. a final result is taking so long because they're still counting ballots in several knife—edge states, including pennsylvania and georgia. lebo diseko has the latest. joe biden supporters danced through the day and into the night in the city of philadelphia. their candidate's lead in this state is steadily growing and they can taste the victory. winning in pennsylvania would mean joe biden becomes the president. with more than 95% of votes counted, he is inching his way there. but with some votes still to come in, it may be some time before a result is declared. we don't have a final declaration... on friday evening, joe biden addressed the nation. he stopped short of declaring victory but his tone and message deliberately presidential. the numbers tell us it's clear — tell us a clear and convincing story. we're going win this race. just look at what has

happened since yesterday. 2a hours, we were behind in georgia. now we're ahead and we're going to win that state. 2a hours ago, we were behind in pennsylvania, and we are going to win pennsylvania. on twitter, donald trump again expressed frustration at seeing his election night lead "miraculously disappear". but it was the counting of postal votes that shifted the numbers so dramatically — a process donald trump had told his supporters not to trust. but as results trickle in from other battleground states, the picture building is not in his favour. in both nevada and arizona, joe biden‘s lead is increasing. georgia's results are so close, an automatic recount was triggered but it's unlikely that would change the result by more than a few hundred votes. donald trump has filed legal action in several states in an effort to turn his fortunes around, and there's no evidence of the widespread fraud that he alleges.

the legal hurdles may create a bumpy path, butjoe biden increasingly seems to be on firm footing on his road to the white house. and lebo diseko canjoin us live from washington now. it is early morning in the us. isn't that any sign at all of what the republican party leadership is now going to do in terms of whether they support trump and has a clear response, refusing to accept any projections of a biden victory? or are they going to or are they abandon him? certainly, mitch mcconnell the senate majority leader, the leader of the republicans in the senate essentially, has tweeted saying that all the votes need to be counted and that illegal boats should not be counted. that isn't really evidence, they haven't presented evidence of

widespread illegal votes cast. but he also said that the opportunity to challenge things in court as part of the american way. and he said there will be a peaceful transfer of power. people have raised as a concern. certainly, donald trump's children have said on twitter that they are not happy that the republican leadership has not been more vocal in supporting their father. mike pence then shortly came out and tweeted his support for the president, saying he stands by him. reports thatjoe biden is assembling a leadership team, i'm sure those negotiations had been going on for some time in the event that victory is declared? i would imagine they had been going on for quite some time. what's interesting is that they have almost started acting up like a transitional team. as if they have already had that victory. we

saw the address thatjoe biden gave to the american people, very presidential in its tone. he is steering away from declaring victory, he has not done that as yet, but he is certainly acting as if victory is his already. you keep being asked this and you can't tell us being asked this and you can't tell us exactly, but is it likely that the us tv networks will declare a fourjoe biden this weekend, today, tomorrow? i would be a rich, rich women if i knew the answer to that! we had thought that may be that there would be a declaration yesterday, it may come over the weekend, there are still votes being counted. the key state to watch as pennsylvania because ofjoe biden ta kes pennsylvania because ofjoe biden takes that, if that state to close forjoe biden, it is the state that decides whether he has won or not,

then that pushes him over that 270 mark there. georgia as well is doing the end of its counting and then it will begin its recount. recounts generally do not really sure things much, there were a recount last time round in 2016, only a couple of votes added,. even in the infinite 2000 controversial election, there was only just 2000 controversial election, there was onlyjust over 1000 votes that we re was onlyjust over 1000 votes that were different after recount there. many thanks. the gap between donald trump and joe biden may be growing — but the race in the remaining battleground states is still incredibly close. reeta chakrabarti takes a look at the electoral map and where the presidency will be decided. this is the state of play at the moment. this is the electoral map, and you can see the states in grey are the ones that are still to be decided, and there are some very close races going on. it's so close in georgia that they're going for a recount. arizona is also extremely close.

pennsylvania in the east, which we have all been focused on all day, well, there we have seenjoe biden edge his way past donald trump. and the democrats are now confident that they will take pennsylvania. what happens if they do? well, let me turn pennsylvania blue using the blue pen, and you can see that takesjoe biden passed the winning line, and he will then have won the election. but what's interesting... i will take pennsylvania away from him. joe biden has other routes to the white house too. let's assume that he succeeds in keeping nevada — hillary clinton won that in 2016 — and that he manages to flip arizona as well. that gets him to 270 as well. so there are different routes forjoe biden to the white house. i will return the map to the state of play to show you that for donald trump, it's more difficult. he's got to win pennsylvania. and then also three of the four other major swing states in order

to stay in the white house. a much more uphill task. what impact would a change in the presidency have on the relationship between the us and the uk? what are the formalities surrounding the transition of power? we can speak to the former foreign office minister, sir alan duncan. don't suppose wh thinking i don't suppose what the uk is thinking is top ofjoe biden‘s priority list right now, but what are the formalities? at what point does the uk government say that we are talking to the transition team? are they already doing that in the washington embassy?” are they already doing that in the washington embassy? i hope we have, but i think given covid and the nature of the tom presidency, that's probably nature of the tom presidency, that's pro ba bly less nature of the tom presidency, that's probably less that one normally might have seen. i think the trigger point is when the whole of the american system says we now have a president elect. that isn't so much protocol as a bit of a race, where

you want to be one of the early ones to have a conversation with the president elect, out of basic courtesy to congratulate him, but also to begin on the working relationship which will then inevitably follow. it is a bit of a base because there are always people who will say that someone else got their force who will say that someone else got theirforce and who will say that someone else got their force and therefore you do not matter any more. so is not so much protocol as a clever diplomacy to try and great to near the front of the queue in order to say, well done, mr president elect. given that the closeness of borisjohnson and donna tom, will we have fallen down the list of european leaders that joe biden‘s team will get in touch with? i think the hard truth is that the special relationship has for some time been less special. i think we had a defence and security relationship. i think however we have become less confident in our own foreign policy, where we have

become supplica nts, sucking own foreign policy, where we have become supplicants, sucking up a lot, as the main element of our foreign policy. of course, the whole administration has had a rather sycophantic administration has had a rather sycopha ntic changes, then administration has had a rather sycophantic changes, then the whole foreign policy looks different. for instance, that is the personality of a borisjohnson instance, that is the personality of a boris johnson and instance, that is the personality of a borisjohnson and donald trump relationship, where they are seen to be similar in some ways. i think that brexit will have turned out to be entirely negative. one, because of the personalities involved are bounded. i think that tom was very proud, biden was almost certainly against it. that makes the relationship between the presidency of europe more complicated, it makes us more separate. “— of europe more complicated, it makes us more separate. —— i think that tom was very proud. crucially, the whole issue of ireland entered into the mix in the way that hasn't done

as awkwardly until now. we saw joe biden tweeting about his concern for the good friday agreement in the last month. what is this going to do to a us uk trade deal, which was already looking quite difficult anyway? trump always did broad brush on the trade or on an island or on brexit or anything like that. i thinkjoe biden who is 99.9% likely to be next president will in due detail. i think we will find a much more thorough rational, fought for administration, which we have not had forfour years. we administration, which we have not had for four years. we will be, as it were, going back to dealing with something which i hope is more

competent, but which will introduce more difficult policy elements, because they will be looking at details like the good friday agreement. there does seem to be an affinity between ireland and joe biden, partly because of his roots, partly because of the long—standing democratic party interest in ireland and potentially a united ireland, so that would be more complicated. but at the very start this is about personalities and legacy. the legacy of, i think, personalities and legacy. the legacy of, ithink, our government's dealing with common sense boris johnson became prime minister will have become more difficult. do you think a boris johnson have become more difficult. do you think a borisjohnson and his team need to think about changing the way they operate if a club has lost and that style of politics and thomas wrote that borisjohnson seems to have copied has been rejected by the us? would it be preferable for the

current uk government to adapt if they want a stronger us relationship? and probably yes. your question goes to much deeper issues about the way we are governed and what the nature of our government from downing street has become and how it will look against a biden presidency compared with a chump one. i think what's this points to. it is less tweeting, less shooting from the hip and more established diplomacy. that means borisjohnson as prime minister and the foreign secretary well, i think, have to look to the quality of our diplomats and at the foreign office in a way that perhaps he hasn't done quite as much until now. i think under a biden presidency we are going to have a rebuilt state department. undertrump, have a rebuilt state department. under trump, the state department was completely hollow it out and

became almost irrelevant and there are many ambassadorial bases which have remain unfilled. i think biden will be much more professional, he will be much more professional, he will look at the competency and decency of government in a way that donald trump never did. thank you for your time today, thank you. we heard there about the wait for a result in pennsylvania. to give you an update on the count as it stands at the moment, joe biden is in the lead by more than 28,000 votes — giving him 49.6% of the share versus trump's 49.1%. that means we could be close to a projection for pennsylvania. it's why crowds have gathered in philadelphia. we are dumping trump! it's

incredibly joyous, we are dumping trump! it's incrediblyjoyous, is as if there is nobody besides celebrate is here right now. he wants to win this election, but our numbers are here. they will not still democracy! no way! i'm sick to my stomach. we will never accept us voter fraud, we will fight to the bitter end. if people are not going to allow the process to be examined. we must have an answer for all these discrepancies that have popped up. answer for all these discrepancies that have popped uplj answer for all these discrepancies that have popped up. i can't hear the trump supporters. they are over

there, they have their flags, but there, they have their flags, but there way more of us. look at us, we matter. philadelphia matters, and i can't wait. some people celebrating in philadelphia. it's now certain that the balance of power in the us senate won't be known until january. neither of the two senate races in georgia produced a clear winner, with no one securing more than the required 50% of votes. it means that two run—off elections will be held on january 5. donald trump's chief of staff, mark meadows, has reportedly tested positive for covid—19. mr meadows made headlines in octoberfor saying, "we're not going to control the pandemic," as cases surged across the us. mr meadows was last seen at a white house party on election night. his condition and the circumstances of how he might have become infected are so far unclear. france has recorded more than 60,000 new coronavirus infections — its highest daily total since the start of the pandemic. the country — like a lot of europe —

is one week into a second lockdown with the aim of curbing the spread of coronavirus. meanwhile, denmark has begun culling its mink population because it's worried about a coronavirus mutation found in the animal. paul hawkins reports. staff working flat—out at the victor provo hospital in northern france. intensive care capacity has been increased from 20 to 30 beds in recent weeks, as more covid patients than the first wave come in. translation: at the beginning of the second wave, it was more vulnerable people and elderly people coming to the hospital. but for several weeks now, that is no longer the case. the average age of patients in the unit has lowered. we have people aged a0 or 30 who had to be ventilated. the government claims that intensive care units like this one will be overwhelmed by the middle of november without the current lockdown. france hit its highest one—day total

since the pandemic began with just over 60,000 coronavirus cases. that is why, until the 1st of december, people can only leave their homes to go to work, to buy essential goods, seek medical help or to exercise. in italy, it is a similar story. much of the country is in lockdown, including here in milan, capital of the lombardy region, where the one—day death toll hit 445, a six—month record. bars and restaurants here are also shut, but people can exercise near their homes if they wear masks. hairdressers remain open. so, too, are the country's eight mink farms. animal rights groups are calling for them to be shut down by january. there are fears the animals could become contaminated with a mutant form of coronavirus, similar to the one found in mink in denmark which affected 12 people. the danes are the world's biggest producer of mink fur. that hasn't stopped the cull of all 70 million animals in denmark

in an effort to stop the disease spreading further. this unique mutation has a reduced response to antibodies, which can ultimately affect the efficiency of a potential vaccine. that is why denmark isn't taking any risks. britain has banned all visitors from denmark over fears of a new coronavirus strain there which has spread to humans from mink. the british government announced the move in the early hours of the morning. the danish authorities say mink—related mutations of the virus have been detected in 200 people since june. our correspondent, andy moore, is in denmark and has the latest. these are some of the toughest restrictions imposed yet by the uk on another country since this pandemic began. there are about four flights arriving in the uk today from denmark, there is a fairly due

to arrive near grimsby later this afternoon. the first british airways flight afternoon. the first british airways flight has already arrived at heathrow this morning, i think you can bet that the passengers on board that plane would have been the subject of special attention from the border authorities. the new regulations, basically, if you're a british national you will have to go into quarantine for two weeks with yourfamily. if into quarantine for two weeks with your family. if you into quarantine for two weeks with yourfamily. if you pass into quarantine for two weeks with your family. if you pass through denmark, even in transit, in the last fortnight, test entries will be you and will be telling you you must isolate for a period of two weeks after you left. —— test entries. then matt, if you're a foreign national, you will not be allowed into the uk, is that decisive, you just will not be allowed in. so what is the concern? this is a new variant of coronavirus, it is spread from humans to make, then from the link back to it's believed to have

affected 200 people in denmark. one particular strain seems to have affected 12 people that is causing a lot of concern. the danish authorities say it's a very serious, they think it might be resistant to a vaccine. so the attitude of the british authorities at the moment is, let's close the gate, raise the drawbridge, try and do all we can to stop this new strain coming into the uk. and then later on we can figure out with the who, with other scientists, to figure outjust how dangerous this strain might be. but at the moment they just want to stop it getting into the uk. scotland's ban on parents smacking their children has become law today, making it the first part of the uk to ban physical punishment of under—16s. it means that parents and carers will no longer be able to use physical force to discipline their children, as india grant reports. scotland is going to be the first country in the uk to ban smacking. it comes with a question mark

about how much the state can intervene in how parents discipline their children. i completely agree with it and i'm quite glad that scotland is one of the first countries in the uk to actually implement it. however i think there's more measures that need to support it. it doesn't really affect me in the slightest, we don't use smacking because it wouldn't work with our two, they don't care. i think for some it's probably now a safer option because some people would probably use more force than is necessary. i don't think there's ever a reason you should hit children. i don't think there should ever be an excuse. the loophole that's been there, i don't think that should have ever have been allowed to be there. the new law doesn't actually create a new offence, itjust removes the defence of reasonable chastisement of a child. in scotland, it was already illegal to physically punish a child in

another way, using an implement, shaking them or hitting them on the head. but now any form of physical discipline is illegal, even if it's a lighter slap on the child's arm or bottom. the only exception is if you're protecting a child from physical danger, say, if they are about to run into a row. i spoke to one lawyer who said that the law could still be challenged. there is a lwa ys could still be challenged. there is always great for a human rights challenge. the recent history tells us challenge. the recent history tells us that when the state intervenes on parenting issues, groups have got involved. so it remains to be seen without the bill be a human rights challenge. the bigger question is whether such a challenge would be successful. how easy it this be to enforce ? successful. how easy it this be to enforce? this is going to be a matter for the police to sort out. one would hope the police would exercise their discretion, and one would hope the prosecution would do likewise in cases like that. new law comes into force today, with wales also banning smoking in two years

time. the question now is whether the rest of the country follows suit. —— wales will also ban smacking. all non—urgent operations have been cancelled . at several major hospitals in greater manchester and birmingham in england, because of an increase in covid—19 patients. the trusts say they're having to divert resources away from procedures like hip and knee replacements, but that cancer treatment and life—saving care were to remain a "priority". in a small number of hospitals, there will be a few patients who won't get the treatment that they need as quickly as possible. but obviously, what will happen is that those patients will be prioritised on the basis of clinical need. of course, hospitals will do all of the important emergency surgery but it means that, for example, people who might need knees replaced or who might need hips replaced, they will take a bit longer than the hospital would ideally like, but if you have got your beds full of covid patients, there really is not much choice. let mejust show let me just show you pictures of the white house. it is early morning of

course in washington, dc. reports that the night inside the white house has been one of anger. joe abiding urging calm and patient speaking just a few hours ago. this is bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. we had a little mist and fog around this morning, but most of it should have cleared away by now. we have a fine day on at the way with plenty of sunshine, it's also relatively mild. tomorrow a very different story, we will see a lot more cloud and also some rain on the way. the rain bearing clouds is a low pressure just to the south—west of our neighbourhood, all of this cloud is heading in our direction. there is heading in our direction. there isa is heading in our direction. there is a bit ofa is heading in our direction. there is a bit of a gap at the moment but this cloud will be in place across the uk during the course of sunday, so the uk during the course of sunday, so to enjoy today's sunshine. the winds are also coming in from the

south pushing colder there a way to the north, that's why the temperatures are relatively mild for the time of year. still some mist and fog lingering through the early afternoon, but other than that is a mostly sunny story, just the outside chance of one or two spots of rain and the south—west of the country. how about the temperatures? it is around 16 degrees possibly in the south of the uk, around 10 or so for aberdeen. tonight the skies will be clear so temperatures will drop, particularly across scotland, there will be an early frost here. clouds are increasing, also silently winds continuing meaning it will be mild early on sunday morning, 12 degrees in plymouth. sunday, weatherfronts across the country, we are expecting the rain to reach northern ireland and also some western parts of the

uk. a lot of cloud around so even if you don't get the rain tomorrow it is going to be a cloudy day, and the chances are that some of these clouds will break up and give way to some sunshine across the south. 16 in london and cardiff, 13, 14 in liverpool. next week we keep the southerly winds, a suggestion of a current of air coming in from the southern climes to keeping things relatively mild, but weather france will be heading towards us. temperatures possibly peak at around 17 degrees in the south of the country, even in the mid teens around belfast. but some rain on the way. that's it from me, bye—bye.

welcome to dateline london in an unbelievably tense week, it looks likejoe biden unbelievably tense week, it looks like joe biden is unbelievably tense week, it looks likejoe biden is heading to the white house. he called for patience and calm as the votes were counted, in stark contrast to president trump who incorrectly claimed he had already won the election which was being stolen from him. when the results are confirmed, it could end up results are confirmed, it could end up being the first time since 1992, and only the fifth time in a century, that an incumbent president is unseated. will president trump go quietly, and if he does not, will the elders of the republican party support him or abandon