the former us president, barack obama, has told the bbc that america is more divided today than it was when he was elected 12 years ago. he said his successor donald trump was partly responsible — because he had actively fanned division for his political purpose. this is bbc news. i'm james reynolds with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the british prime minister lift off to a new era — is self—isolating at ten space x's first operational downing street — after meeting an mp who later tested crewed flight to the international space station — positive for covid—19. borisjohnson says he was launches from cape canaveral. notified by the national test barack obama tells the bbc his successor, president trump, is partly responsible for polarisation in america today. some of that is attribute —— attributable to our current resident who actively fanned division because he felt it was good for his politics. the british prime minister, borisjohnson, is self—isolating at ten downing street — after meeting

an mp who later tested positive for coronavirus. and, it's a magnificent seventh world title for lewis hamilton — as he wins the turkish grand prix — to become the most successful driver in the history of formula 1. hello and welcome. in the past hour, spacex has launched four astronauts on a flight to the international space station. it's nasa's first fully—fledged mission sending a crew into orbit aboard a privately owned spacecraft. the astronauts are travelling in a dragon capsule which was launched atop a falcon rocket. it's only the second time this system has been used to transport people into space. i'm joined by our science correspondentjonathan amos. jonathan, that launch was thrilling and exciting. talk us through it. a 90 time launch on

the florida coast, kennedy space center, —— night—time. they went and it went absolutely according to the textbook, no problem at all. the falcon and then the dragon with a capital in the four astronauts inside being let free 12 minutes later after leaving the ground and they also recovered, as we have become accustomed now with spacex, recovering the bottom of the rockets and this is how they drive down costs and they will use that with the bottom pa rt will use that with the bottom part of the rocket, once they've refurbished it and checkedit they've refurbished it and checked it over, they will use it on the next crew launch which will come up in about six months‘ time stops so far, everything perfect and the four astronauts are due to arrive at

the space station. jonathan, this new astronaut taxi service is up and running, then. how does this change space exploration or space travel? for the one thing, it makes it easierfor nasa for the one thing, it makes it easier for nasa and its partners on the international space station which other russians obviously but also japan and canada. they have vehicles in reserve, two systems at the moment, the russian so use system and now the american system —— soyuz. it allows them to move around and make it easier to run the affairs on the space station. in terms of what it does for opening up space, it is very interesting now because this vehicle is much cheaper to operate than the old space

shuttles, for example. a space shuttle launch used to cost over $1 billion every single time it left the kennedy space center. this one, maybe 100 million, maybe less, nassar requires certain things of spacex which can make it quite expensive. —— —— nasa. it is a substantially cheaper. that will bring it down for notjust the big agencies but also other players as well. spacex is selling this vehicle, its dragon capsule, two private users. we will see one of those private users come up very shortly next year for private astronauts going into space was not we‘re waiting for tom cruise, indeed, the hollywood act, to talk about him making a movie in space, probably going up movie in space, probably going up on the dragon capsule with spacex ‘s. but they will be

private space stations as well so private space stations as well so things are going to change in the next few years and nasa believes because they‘re now using this new contracting out system, if you like, just like a company would contract out payroll, human resources, they are contracting out transportation in low earth orbit. they think that the money they will save doing that, and they have saved billions, let‘s be clear, they can then spend that on the more difficult, the more challenging task of getting astronauts back to the moon. and then who knows maybe one day to mars. maybe. jonathan amos, thank you so much. former us president, barack obama, has told the bbc that america is more divided now than when he was in office. british historian, david olusoga met him to discuss his long—awaited memoir, a promised land, a reflection on the volatile racial divide in the us. the bbc‘s james landale has more. so help me god. congratulations, mr president.

the election of america‘s first black president was seen by many as a watershed moment, a step towards ending historic divisions that had scarred the united states. but barack obama now believes those divides are deepening. divisions notjust of race, but also inequality. we are very divided right now, certainly more than we were when i first ran for office in 2007 and more divided than we were four years ago, when donald trump first won the presidency. some of that is attributable to our current president, who actively fanned division, because he felt it was good for his politics, but it preceded him and it will outlast him. in part, he says, that‘s because some americans feel they‘ve lost their

grip on the ladder of economic advancement and can be persuaded it‘s someone else‘s fault. resentments fanned, he says, by conspiracy—fuelled social media. crazy conspiracy theories, and what some have called truth decay, right, where facts don‘t matter. that has contributed enormously to these divisions. and, oh, yes, he believes the current president has played his part. what‘s been interesting, obviously, and sad during this election, is that that kind of lack of fidelity to the truth has consequences when it‘s being promoted by the most powerful elected official in the country. fixing that truth decay, he suggests, will take time and potentially better regulation of the internet and the media. i think at some point it‘s going to require a combination

of regulation and standards within industries to get us back to the point where we at least recognise a common set of facts before we start arguing about what we should do about those facts. as a new president prepares for his first term, his predecessor is mulling the legacy he left his country. mr obama says the us was better off after his eight years in office, but he accepts deep fault lines in american culture remain. james landale, bbc news. the us has recorded almost 11 million coronavirus cases and is approaching 250,000 deaths, the highest figures in the world. in the past 2a hours there were more than 160,000 new cases recorded. yet, joe biden‘s team still hasn‘t had authorisation from president trump to begin transition efforts between his advisers and the white house coronavirus task force. joe biden‘s top advisor says

the transition needs to begin this week — ron klain was speaking to nbc‘s meet the press. my myjoe biden is going to be the president. that needs to be a sea mless president. that needs to be a seamless transition. there is going to be a vaccine. there are people making plans to implement that vaccine. our experts need to speak to those people as soon as possible so nothing drops in this change of power we‘re going to have january 20. the us‘s leading infectious diseases expert, dr antony fauci, has been echoing these warnings. he said it would obviously be better for public health provision if he could start working withjoe biden‘s team immediately, and that "you don‘t want to stop and hand it to them — you want to keep it going." we can now speak to dr peter hotez who‘s professor and co—director of the centre for vaccine development at texas children‘s hospital. he joins us from houston.

how can mr hyden‘s team plan if they don‘t have the full fact? it is coming at the worst time possible because what we‘re looking at now is 150,000 more americans will die between now and a week or two after the inauguration on january 20. and a week or two after the inauguration onjanuary 20. we are ata inauguration onjanuary 20. we are at a point now where the number of new deaths per day will reach 2000 and 2500. what that means is that covid—19 will be the single leading cause of death in the us starting later in december and january and now we have all this resistance among the transition so at a time when we need a transition, a smooth transition, more than ever, we‘re dealing with something unprecedented now. with refusal to hand, make that handoff very

smooth and very quickly. i‘m quite concerned for the nation. top of the scientific world in the united states must be reasonably small, people must know each other. is there any way that people can just quietly go into a room share fa cts ? quietly go into a room share facts? i'm sure that is happening at some level and i‘ve been having conversations both with members of white house both with members of white house coronavirus both with members of white house coronavirus task force currently and undoubtedly that is happening but is not quite the same, is it? rather than doing it overtly and in a very smooth way because it is such a complicated epidemic and we have also this components are com plete have also this components are complete component of the epidemic in that the largest number of new cases is predominantly in red states. mostly in the heartland and the midwest and there is —— they are predominantly red states here in texas and yet you have a democratic regime here again.

that adds to the complexity as well. what are the crucial pieces of information that an incoming president will need in order to make plans? we need to know first of all precise numbers and in order to create bona fides epidemiology models in order to predict where things are heading. what we need to do is advise at very local levels, very granular levels, what we need to do in terms of more aggressive social distancing, measures where mask compliance is low and provide that advice to the local elected leaders and this makes it more difficult. what i‘ve been saying is look, if you look at what is going to happen in march and april, i think a significant percentage of the us population may be vaccinated by then. so that it‘s just a matter of hanging out now for the next few months. this is the next few months. this is the most critical time in order to save lives and it is the

difference between whether we have 400,000 americans who lose their lives a week or two after their lives a week or two after the election of 253,000 americans so it is a huge deal right now. and without a smooth transition, it makes it much more complicated. as always, thank you so much. thank you. here in the uk, prime minister borisjohnson has been told to self—isolate after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for covid—19. mrjohnson spent about 35 minutes with a member of parliament who has since tested positive. downing street said the prime minister is not showing symptoms. our uk political correspondent nick eardley has more. he has been contacted by test and trace. one of the mps he

was in contacted with, lee anderson, developed symptoms and has subsequently tested positive stop wasjohnson was contacted as a result and it is a pretty big deal. he will have to stay home for the next ten days, it means he won‘t be in parliament. i‘m told he will be working from downing street. he does still intent on communicating with the country, it is supposed to be a pretty big week for boris johnson, it is supposed to be a pretty big week for borisjohnson, he is trying to reset his government after some faction fighting in his office. there are conversations taking part with the parliamentary authorities in the uk to see whether he can still contribute to the commons but i think it is fairto to the commons but i think it is fair to say this couldn‘t have come at a worse time for borisjohnson. it have come at a worse time for boris johnson. it is have come at a worse time for borisjohnson. it is also worth bearing in mind he was extremely ill with coronavirus earlier in the year but we also don‘t know exactly what getting a virus means for your future immunity. boris johnson doesn‘t have any symptoms just now. i‘m told he is absolutely fine, he is feeling well that under the

test and trace system in the uk, he has to self isolate. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: lewis hamilton become the most successful driver in the history of formula 1 — as he secures his seventh world title. benazir bhutto has claimed victory in pakistan‘s general election, and she‘s asked pakistan‘s president to name her as prime minister. jackson's been released on bail of $3 million after turning himself into police in santa barbara. it was the biggest demonstration so far of the fast—growing european anti—nuclear movement. the south african government has announced that it‘s opening the country‘s remaining whites—only beaches to people of all races.

this will lead to a black majority government in this country and the destruction of the white civilisation. part of the centuries—old windsor castle, one of the queen's residences, has been consumed by fire for much of the day. 150 firemen have been battling the blaze, which has caused millions of pounds worth of damage. this is bbc news, the main headline: the dawning of a new era — spacex‘s first operational crewed flight to the international space station launches from cape canaveral. the united states has denounced attacks by ethiopia‘s tigray region on neighbouring eritrea. in a statement, the us state department‘s top diplomat for africa condemned what he called "efforts to internationalize the conflict in tigray" — and urged "immediate action to protect civilians and restore peace." earlier, the leader of the tigray region confirmed his forces had bombed the airport in the eritrean capital, asmara. the attack widens the conflict

which erupted between the ethiopian government and the regional governing party in tigray last week. leaders in tigray have accused eritrea of siding with ethiopia. our africa regional editor, will ross, reports. on the 12th day of the conflict, refugees continue to pour over the sudanese border in their thousands. they‘ve been forced to abandon their homes in ethiopia as the fighting intensifies. these are arduous journeys for young and old. many have witnessed appalling violence. translation: there is no food, there is looting. we lost our belongings, i lost my siblings. we came to sudan on foot and my children are not eating. translation: we have pregnant sisters on the streets. the militia chased us to the border. there's looting and stealing and killing, like in rwanda. on the streets, people haven't

eaten for three or four days. i don't know where my kids. it‘s hard for aid agencies to get help to this remote area of sudan, and if the number of refugees rises sharply, they‘ll struggle to cope. we are starting to provide assistance services, we are working with various agencies and you can see some start of an assistance provision, but much more needs to be done. ethiopia‘s military has been fighting troops loyal to the politicians running the country‘s northern tigray region, the tplf party, which for years was the dominant political force in ethiopia. the tplf has admitted attacking a federal army base last week, an event which the government said forced it into this war. but now there‘s been a worrying escalation in the conflict. the leader of the tigray region

has confirmed that tigrayan forces bombed the airport in the eritrean capital asmara on saturday. debretsion gebremichael accuses the eritrean president isaias afwerki of backing the ethiopian government and sending soldiers into the country to try to topple their common enemy, the tplf leadership. it‘s true that the ethiopian prime minister abiy ahmed is close to the autocratic eritrean leader. after coming to power in 2018, he reached out to make a peace deal with ethiopia‘s long—time foe. but mr abiy denies the involvement of eritrean troops. in a tweet, he said: the stability of ethiopia is seen as vital for the whole region. ethnic conflicts have been a problem for some time, but this new crisis has taken the country to a precipice.

with its key ally, america, distracted by its own political drama, there are worrying signs that this could be just the start of a devastating conflict. peru‘s interim president has resigned after less then a week in office. manuel merino lost the support of congress after the deaths of two young anti—government protesters in the capital, lima. widespread demonstrations were triggered by the impeachment on monday of mr merino‘s predecessor on corruption allegations. paul hawkins reports. celebrating the resignation of peru‘s latest presidentjust five days after he took office. translation: at this moment, when the country is going through want of its greatest political crises, i want to announce to all of the country that i present my irrevocable

resignation of the post of the presidency of the republic. my commitment is to prove. that announcement sparked celebrations on the streets of the, lima. the president‘s departure triggered by the death of two anti—government protesters on saturday. translation: merino has resigned because his hands a lot of our children. yesterday, the congress members complicit in the death of our children. candlelight vigils were held for the victims, killed as police responded with bullets and tear gas to a largely peaceful demonstration. their reaction has been criticised by the un and human rights groups. translation: we mothers and fathers in peru are in the situation, nobody wants what has happened but also nobody is free. there is a need to rise up. said the father wanted the victims. the impeachment of president vizcarra here

triggered the demonstrations, removed from office for allegedly taking bribes. he was quick to respond to the resignation of his successor. translation: a dictator has left the palace. all peruvians are waiting to see what is decided today in congress. they will give us a solution which is selecting another person that they want. the president continues to enjoy support for his attempts to reform a country hit hard by covid. 35,000 peruvians country hit hard by covid. 35, 000 peruvians have country hit hard by covid. 35,000 peruvians have died from the virus — the third highest rate of death per 100,000 people in the world. some have questioned the wisdom of his removal in the midst of a pandemic and the crippling recession. while his supporters wa nt recession. while his supporters want a parliamentary queue. despite the demonstrations, congress is meeting to decide who will become peru‘s third president in a week. their choice unlikely to stop the process. paul hawkins, bbc news. the british driver, lewis hamilton, has become the most successful in the history of formula 1 motor racing. victory at the turkish grand

prix sealed his seventh world title, equalling the record of michael schumacher. hamilton had already won more individual races than schumacher. speaking shortly after his win in istanbul, hamilton said it was dream come true but he felt he was only just getting started. earlier i spoke to theo mason tompson, a motor sport journalist with drive tribe. i asked him how he reacted when he saw lewis hamilton win. my my initial thoughts were just absolute elation stop there we re absolute elation stop there were tears of joy. absolute elation stop there were tears ofjoy. having followed lewis since his days inagp followed lewis since his days ina gp to in followed lewis since his days in a gp to in 2006, and watching him, all the way through to today, it was just absolute elation. i couldn‘t be happierfor him. absolute elation. i couldn‘t be happier for him. what makes him so happier for him. what makes him so good? i think it isjust his absolute determination that no matter what the race conditions are, no matter how his car is wearing that day of the day before, he has the drive to a lwa ys before, he has the drive to always get up and go better and

a lwa ys always get up and go better and always do what he can to win. and it isjust always do what he can to win. and it is just those factors i think that i would drivers play around in their mind, he goes, right, this is a challenge i have. now, let me face it and ove 1120 m e have. now, let me face it and overcome it as best i can. of course, he is now known not just for his sporting achievements but this year in particular for achievements but this year in particularfor his achievements but this year in particular for his social activism. talk to us about that and how important it is for him. yes, i feel that and how important it is for him. yes, i feelthat as and how important it is for him. yes, i feel that as a black formula 1 a driver in a sport dominated historically by white males, i feel the sport dominated historically by white males, ifeel the way sport dominated historically by white males, i feel the way he has carried himself really shows that he is about change andi shows that he is about change and i feel that the way he has conducted himself away from the track has actually had a positive effect, not only away from the track but at the fact itself. i feel that the formula community as a whole are doing more to pick up on what lewis has done and they are running with it and we see that with a gesture that happens before each race now where i‘ve driver

can stand or take the knee as a mark against racism which also got him in the promo that feels before that. my favourite question now. he has got seven titles, michael schumacher has seven titles. hamilton or schumacher for you? i would say thatis schumacher for you? i would say that is a very hard question. but i will give the answer of lewis hamilton. i have been watching formula 1 now for about 20 years so i have seen five of michael‘s title wins in the way he is on about that. and compare and contrast with lewis‘s. i just feel that and compare and contrast with lewis‘s. ijust feel that lewis is just lewis‘s. ijust feel that lewis isjust a lewis‘s. ijust feel that lewis is just a cut above for me. although, not to take away anything from what michael did, but i just feel that anything from what michael did, but ijust feel that lewis is just that little bit better than what michael was. reflections on lewis hamilton‘s seventh title. a reminder of our top story: the dawning of a new era — spacex‘s first

operational crewed flight to the international space station launches from cape canaveral. hello. that was quite the weekend of weather, and to start the new week we find ourselves in between weather systems. so, actually, for a time there will be something drier and brighter. only for a time, another the weather system is coming in with more rain. here it is, that‘s the one that brought us the wet and windy weather over the weekend, but here is the next one. and in fact we‘ll start the day with a few outbreaks of rain from monday morning, for, particularly, parts of scotland and northern england. and that‘s going to fade away. it‘s a cooler start to the day than we have had recently. and by lunch time much of the uk will be dry, there will be some breaks in the cloud allowing some sunny spells to come through, but remember that next weather system gradually increasing the cloud through northern ireland, wales, and the western parts of england. we will get some rain moving in during the afternoon. also reaching into words the southwest scotland. eastern areas will stay dry

for daylight hours, anyway. it will begin to turn a bit milder again with the arrival of the rain, but through the evening and night we will reach under those areas that have stated try during the day and gets stuck across northwest scotland for tuesday into wednesday where it is looking very wet here. maybe up to 150 mm in the hills, so there could be some flooding. mild overnight, and into tuesday so there‘s the weather system sticking around northwest scotland on tuesday. the rest of us are in this flow of very mild air coming in from the southwest. but there will be a lot of cloud around. it will be quite windy. you may see a bit of patchy light rain and drizzle. particularly to western hills, but remember, the heavy and persistent rain coming in towards northwest scotland. if you see some hazy sunshine you may well. in northeast scotland, parts of northeast england with that wind direction, your temperature could be around 17 celsius. still raining on wednesday, northwest scotland and not just here. rain spreads east right across the uk. cold airfollowing on behind,

still very mild across the east and southeast of england. the rain still coming with gusty winds. the rain eventually ends in northwest scotland. very wet on thursday in shetland. and then as we go from thursday, then still into friday, and a brisk north northwesterly wind and will be colder air moving south across the uk. some sunshine on thursday, and bands of showers moving south as well. so some rain at times this week. so, it will be quite windy. very mild for a time, but colder briefly later.