this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. as coronavirus continues to claim lives across europe, the netherlands begins five weeks of restrictions, while germany goes into a hard lockdown on wednesday. just eight days before covid restrictions are relaxed in england over christmas, two leading medicaljournals say the move would be a mistake and cost many lives. a senior republican finally breaks ranks with donald trump — senate majority leader mitch mcconnell speaks to joe biden and congratulates him on his election win. so, today, i want to congratulate president—electjoe biden. the president—elect is no stranger to the senate. he's devoted himself to public service for many years.

european countries are being forced to tighten restrictions ahead of christmas following record daily cases and deaths this month. the netherlands has announced a new five—week lockdown, while germany will enter a hard lockdown from wednesday. the latest figures across europe and elsewhere are bleak. the first western country hit by the virus, italy, reported 816 deaths on tuesday, while new infections rose to 14,844 from 12,030. deaths in turkey rose to a record 235. the country also recording 32,102 new cases, ranking it third in the world in the highest number of daily cases behind

the us and brazil. france has replaced its second national lockdown with a night—time curfew as the number of deaths on tuesday rose by 790. and in brazil, 964 deaths were registered on tuesday and 42,889 new cases. anna holligan reports from the hague. the dutch had been dreaming of a relatively relaxed christmas, but over the weekend, photos of crowds cramming into city centres combined with an infection rate that's now almost double the dutch government's worst case scenario has meant there's a sense of inevitability about the christmas crackdown, which ironically means the dutch will be celebrating under what constitutes the country's toughest lockdown yet. translation: i'm sad that it has to be done, but it is important. yeah, i think that it's necessary. yeah, unfortunately.

so, from today, all nonessential stores are closed, along with things like museums, cinemas, theaters and amusement parks. restaurants, cafes and cannabis coffee shops can keep on serving takeaways only. and lots of these pink signs have been going up in protest from businesses that feel as though they're being unjustly targeted without enough state support to keep them afloat. traditional german christmas markets aren't as busy this year. most have already been cancelled, and a hard lockdown is coming into force as the number of deaths and infections has been surging. nonessential shops and schools will close from the 16th of december until the 10th of january. after weeks of national lockdown travel restrictions within france are being eased today, meaning families can get together over the festive break. the infection rate remains

stubbornly high, though. a nationwide curfew will be in place from 8pm in the evening, which will be lifted on christmas eve, but not on new year's eve. italy is currently seeing the highest number of deaths since the end of march, and prime minister giuseppe conte has told italians to expect a more sober christmas without gatherings, hugs and kisses. there'll be a travel ban in place between different regions, but he reassured people father christmas is exempt from all global travel restrictions. until now, the netherlands has been reluctant to impose some of the stricter measures adopted by neighboring nations. but with the number of covid—related deaths now approaching 16,000, hospital admissions increasing, infections rising sharply and pressure on the health sector intensifying, a full—blown lockdown comes in later than many had hoped. anna holligan, bbc news, in the hague. as the number of deaths recorded

on tuesday in the uk reached 506, the british government has come under intense pressure to revise its plan to relax covid—19 restrictions for five days over christmas. a meeting between the four nations of the uk to discuss to discuss the plan broke up without any agreement. there's no sign the government is about to change its policy, but pressure has been growing all day. here are two of the uk's leading medical journals publishing a joint editorial for the first time, calling for the government to stop any household mixing. they describe the current plan to allow three households to gather at christmas as a "rash decision that will cost lives". here are their editors. the real striking, stark truth of the matter is that our health system is not going to manage if we allow the current trend to continue on top of the superspreader event that will be this five days of christmas.

we are currently on course for around about 19,000 covid patients in english hospitals. at the start of the second wave, the number was 451. this is what's at issue in the uk — from 23—27 december, the current coronavirus restrictions will be relaxed. people will be able to mix with up to three households and stay overnight. here's the british government's position. we should recognise it has been a very difficult year for many families. many families will want to come together over the christmas period, but that doesn't mean that all the restrictions are lifted. people will still need to continue to act responsibly, but we should trust people to do so. meanwhile, vaccinations are continuing. these front—line medical staff were among those getting the jab in the us on tuesday. but if their enthusiasm isn't shared by billions of people around the world,

the effort to contain and then defeat the virus could be made far more difficult. how do you you deal with those who may refuse a vaccine? claire breen is a law professor at the university of waikato in new zealand with a special interest in human rights and the "right to health". she joins us now from there. thank you forjoining us. i was reading i think it was 30% of people in new zealand are sceptical about having the vaccine. do you understand that? yes, i do. but i think we need to be careful about how we interpret that and how we understand scepticism. i think some people might rush to interpret that as new zealanders may not want to ta ke as new zealanders may not want to take the vaccine. but i think we need to take a step back and

understand that new zealanders like many people it might be just a little bit concerned about what is involved and the process by which the vaccine came to be so quickly. so concern, but then we will have it. is that what you were saying? hesitancy rather than anti—vaccine? yes, i think you could look at it as a spectrum. and where there might be some hesitancy, and i think that's natural and normal, people will want to know a little bit more about it andi to know a little bit more about it and i think within that spectrum, there will be some people who will find out a little bit more about it and then feel comfortable and press ahead with taking the vaccine once it becomes available. but then further along the route the a people who are a little bit more concerned and might need a little bit more information, and then you move along

to the cohort of the population that might be somewhat more resistant. you had a very tough lock down there but you also had a lot more success as well. how does government you think persuade people particularly different demographics to take this 7 different demographics to take this up? because you need some sort of herd immunity if that is ever proved because we still don't quite know what is happening on that front. because we still don't quite know what is happening on that frontlj think the government here has done very well over the course of the yearin very well over the course of the year in terms of clear messaging. simple messaging. the population by and large can understand and follow. and i think that approach needs to be continued over the course of the next few months. in terms of sharing the information but i think one of the information but i think one of the key factors as well is to acknowledge that people are concerned and they might be hesitant and they might be a little bit wary and they might be a little bit wary andi and they might be a little bit wary

and i think perhaps leading with that or acknowledging that from the beginning is probably a very useful tactic because it seems to be a common issue. i psychology issue. 0k, thank you very much indeed for joining us here. the us food and drug adminstration has opened the way for a second vaccine to be approved for use in america. the moderna jab maker's claims it is safe and 94% effective have now been verified. regulators will meet on thursday to discuss authorisation, and shipments could begin within 24 hours. the us has recorded more than 300,000 deaths from covid—19 and more than 16.5 million infections. to look at the challenges of the vaccine roll—out in the united states, we can talk to dr robert amler, who's dean at the new york medical college and an expert in public health.

the pfizer/biontech vaccine is especially difficult to transport. is the infrastructure in america up to this, do you think? yes, it is. we of course right now have a race to the top with a lot of vaccines coming online, now more than one and by the end of this week. you are exactly right all the difficulties of distribution and transportation, storage and handling along the way. but we are certainly up to the task. there is a big worry about temperature control for the first vaccines since we are told it will only work when stored with a limited range of temperature but everybody has been stocking up on —80 degrees freezers in advance of this, expecting the need. and in terms of

distribution, it was a military be needed or are other avenues available? it's really all hands on deck. everyone who can help is pitching in. the military, the governors, the state health departments and local health departments, and of course the cdc in atla nta departments, and of course the cdc in atlanta as well as the fda just outside of washington. everyone is working together on this.|j outside of washington. everyone is working together on this. i don't know if you are able to hear our previous gas talking about vaccine hesitancy or people who are vaccine sceptics but is it more a problem in the us than perhaps one would |magine? the us than perhaps one would imagine? honestly i think it's the same worldwide. whether you are below the equator or above the equator. my colleague in new zealand andi equator. my colleague in new zealand and i are 100% in agreement that hesitancy is a natural human phenomenon. after all, we have all

learned to be cautious about this terrible virus. it's a big risk. but is there a risk for the vaccine? the a nswer is there a risk for the vaccine? the answer is very minimal. and the risk pales in comparison to the risk of getting the virus, getting sick passing it on to friends and loved ones who may even go want to die. but when people begin to understand the relative risk between taking the vaccine and getting the virus, passing it on to others, most reasonable people will go ahead and get vaccinated. what sort of nudging does that require those from the government and the new administration in terms of perhaps one of people, identifiable celebrities, political leaders being seen to have this vaccine?” celebrities, political leaders being seen to have this vaccine? i think that's a great question. i will say the answer is not pushing but listening. understanding what it is people are concerned about, making sure they understand the risk of the virus and celebrities have a role to

play as well. as well as journalists in getting the word out. in the 19505, we have a great picture of the great elvis getting the polio vaccine. and in the 19705 when measles vaccines became more widespread, we actually had a poster of r2-d2 widespread, we actually had a poster of r2—d2 and c—3 widespread, we actually had a poster of r2-d2 and c-3 p0 widespread, we actually had a poster of r2—d2 and c—3 p0 from star wars saying parents of earth are your children immunised? soak celebrities of every stripe can also join the effort. interesting to see what happens. thank you very much for joining us on the programme, doctor. stay with us on bbc news. still to come, a royal deal with spotify — the duke and duchess of sussex are to produce and host a string of podcasts for the audio streaming giant. music. chanting. saddam hussein is finished

because he killed our people, our women, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes, but they brought a formal end to 3.5 years of conflict, conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives. before an audience of world leaders, the presidents of bosnia, serbia and croatia put their names to the peace agreement. the romanian border was sealed and silent today. romania has cut itself off from the outside world in order to prevent the details of the presumed massacre in timisoara from leaking out. from sex at the white house to a trial for his political life, the lewinsky affair tonight guaranteed bill clinton his place in history as only the second president ever to be impeached.

this is bbc news. the latest headlines — as coronavirus continues to claim lives across europe, the netherlands begins five weeks of restrictions, while germany goes into a hard lockdown on wednesday. just eight days before covid restrictions are relaxed in england over christmas, two leading medicaljournals say the move would be a mistake and cost many lives. the republican leader of the us senate, mitch mcconnell, has formally acknowledged that joe biden won last month's presidential election. it's the first sign of a split between the party's leadership and donald trump, who maintains, without any evidence, that he is the rightful winner of november's vote. here's mr mcconnell speaking on the senate floor on tuesday. so, today, i want to congratulate president—electjoe biden. the president—elect is no stranger to the senate. he's devoted himself to public service for many years. i also want to congratulate

the vice president—elect, our colleague from california, senator harris. beyond our differences, all americans can take pride that our nation has a female vice president—elect for the very first time. mr biden has gone to the state of georgia to campaign for the democrats in next month's senate run—off elections. he gave a speech in atlanta. two seats will be decided on the 5th of january, and if the democrats win them both, they will split the senate total 50—50. but as the vice president, kamala harris would have the casting vote in the event of a tie. the democrats would control all three of the white house, the senate and the house of representatives. in both races, a republican incumbent faces a democratic newcomer. jon ossoff, 33, a documentary film—maker is competing against senator david perdue, who is 70.

while senator kelly loeffler, 50, is up against reverend raphael warnock, 51, a senior pastor at an atlanta baptist church. jon and raphael are running on the commitment to be senators for all georgians. i'm asking you what you're already doing to support them, because if you do, the doors of promise and progress are going to open in washington. we're going to start to get done what we have to do, and more than anything, we'll make the lives of every georgian, the lives of every american better. we can now speak to our north america correspondent, david willis, who is in los angeles. let's start with mitch mcconnell. that is quite significant. highly. in saying that the electoral college has spoken and in sending his congratulations to joe has spoken and in sending his congratulations tojoe biden and kamala harris, mitch mcconnell is

saying to the republican party, a party that was wanted to fall out of line with donald trump, that the time is now to move on and to ask of the result of the election following its endorsement by the electoral couege its endorsement by the electoral college yesterday. and mitch mcconnell went further than that, he actually urged in a private meeting senators not to back any moves that might come from house of representatives members in challenging the electoral college outcome when there is thatjoint session of congress in just about three weeks' time. that session to formally count the votes of the electoral college and sign off on the outcome. so mitch mcconnell very much sending this message that that time is come to move on and not a message of course that is palatable even now to donald trump. and despite what he might be saying to other senators, donald trump still has quite significant influence over the republican party, does he not?

he does and he is not going down without a fight. as we know he is continuing to rail against the inequities as he sees it of the electoral system here on twitter. even going as far as to suggest that something republicans in the swing state of georgia, whichjoe biden won of course this time around, should even be sent to jail for not supporting him more actively if you like. so donald trump is clearly not going to concede this despite the fa ct going to concede this despite the fact that members of his party are now falling in behind the official result. just make sure to vote come early voting already taking place andi early voting already taking place and i think began in the last 24 hours, the vote on the 5th of january and the results on the sixth and that could change everything. how tight is that race? it's very tight. and it could change everything. georgia once a traditionally republican state has

now become a key battleground. it's a state thatjoe biden flipped at the last election, winning it back from republicans and the democrats have a lot of hope going into this. they do need a victory there in order to basically fulfil on joe biden's aggressive agenda as far as climate change, unemployment and the coronavirus is concerned. and so there is much to play for there in there is much to play for there in the weeks that lie ahead, hence also we have seen both donald trump and the vice president mike pence campaigning in georgia as well in recent weeks. thank you very much indeed. the islamist group boko haram says it abducted hundreds of schoolboys who were taken from a boarding school in northern nigeria on friday. this happened in katsina state, in the north—west of nigeria. about 800 students were at the all—boys government science secondary school when the attack happened,

and at least 333 students are still missing. one boy managed to escape byjumping out of a window, but he hasn't seen his twin brother since. translation: i was afraid, totally afraid. but what frightened me the most was that my brother would be in danger. when i looked for him, i couldn't see him. boko haram's claim of responsibility has not been confirmed. the state governor of katsina has tweeted. .. our correspondent mayenijones is in kano, the capital of katsina state. the reason why this attack is particularly significant is because this shows that boko haram's area of activity, if it's true that they carried out this latest kidnapping,

is expanding way beyond where they've traditionally been active in the north—east of the country. this would be the first attack of its kind in this part of nigeria, which is frankly a quite worrying trend. there's growing and strong criticism as to the president's performance when it comes to tackling security in the country. if you'll remember, he was elected in 2015 on the promise that he would tackle the problem of security, particularly when it came to jihadi violence. earlier this year, there were protests in the north—west of the country because kidnapping here has been such a huge issue, and i think that this latest kidnapping — particularly the number of students involved, 300 of them, some as young as ten years old — is really a big blow to the administration and their performance on the security front. harry and meghan, the duke and duchess of sussex, will produce and host a string of podcasts for spotify, signing a multi—year deal with the audio streaming giant.

the couple will make their debut in a holiday special set to be released this month just in time for christmas. in a statement, spotify said that the couple will create content that "uplifts and entertains audiences around the world". here's a little of the promotional clip which the sussexes released to publicise their new venture. should we... should we start? no, ladies first? no, say it cos i think it sounds really nice with your accent. what, archewell audio? yeah. archewell audio. imean... really? shall we? yeah, let's do it. hi, guys, i'm harry. and i'm meghan. one of the things my husband and i have always talked about is our passion for me to people and hearing their stories and no matter what the story, they usually offer you an understanding of where someone else is coming from. and at the same time

remind un some way of a story about yourself. and that is what this project is all about, to bring forward different perspectives and voices that perhaps you have not heard from before. many people will be hoping for a visit from father christmas in the next couple of weeks, but his visit came a little too early for one man in peru's capital lima. this father christmas, and his little helper, are actually undercover police officers. rather than the traditional entry down the chimney, this pair came equipped with a sledgehammer which made short work of an alleged drug dealer's front door. after the suspect had been restrained, some handcuffs were quickly unwrapped to complete the arrest , followed followed by the discovery of cannabis, cocaine and a handgun. watch out for father christmas. i'm @bbctimwillcox.

see you soon. hello there. tuesday night started on a dry note, but it's turned increasingly wet and windy during the early hours of wednesday courtesy of this deep area of low pressure moving up from the south, the centre of it moving across the republic of ireland. a swathe of rain and gales spreading across much of wales, western england, northern ireland and into scotland. so, wednesday's going to certainly start very windy, with gales at times. but the winds will slowly ease down through the day today. and there will be heavy rain for many of us. now, the heaviest of the rain will be across northern and western areas through the morning, pushing northwards across scotland. meanwhile, this band of rain will spread eastwards, exiting wales and western england and arriving towards the eastern side of england late in the day, although not reaching the far south, east and east anglia probably until after dark. a windy day for all, though not

as windy as how the day will start. we'll see plenty of showers pushing through northern ireland and western scotland. some of these will be heavy. temperature, on the face of it, 9—11 degrees, which is fairly mild for the time of year, but when you factor in the wind, it might not feel quite as mild. now, that rain eventually reaches the far south east during wednesday night. it clears away and then we are into clear spells and blustery showers. some of these will be heavier across some western areas. but because of the strength of the wind and the shower around, it's going to be a largely frost—free night, with those lows of of 5—7 degrees for many of us. so that's wednesday's low to the north of the uk. we're in between weather systems for thursday, so a brief respite before the next system arrives later on thursday and into friday. so, for thursday, we should see quite a bit of sunshine around, some areas staying dry altogether across eastern scotland, eastern england. most of the showers will tend to be across western areas and they could pick up to produce longer spells of rain later in the day, particularly in the far west, as this frontal system arrives.

and it will be quite mild here, generally mild, but those values a little bit lower across scotland and eastern england. then as we head on into friday, you can see plenty of isobars and active weather fronts right across the country. it's going to be very wet indeed with some heavy rain in places and very mild too, though as we head on into the weekend, slightly cooler air will push in from the west. so friday is very mild, very wet and windy, the risk of flooding in places. we'll see sunshine and showers as we head on into the weekend. it'll start to turn cooler, particularly on sunday.

this is bbc world news,

the headlines. germany and the netherlands are imposing their toughest coronavirus restrictions yet, just days before the christmas holidays. several other countries are expected to follow their lead, amid record cases and deaths across the region. the british government is expected to strengthen its advice to help prevent covid infections during the christmas season. but it's unlikely to reverse a decision to ease the lockdown over five days, despite some medical experts warning it could cost lives. the most senior republican in congress, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell, has finally congratulated joe biden on winning the presidential election last month. but president trump still refuses to concede, making unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud. prince harry and meghan markle say they will be making podcasts for spotify. the company says the couple will tell "uplifting and entertaining stories", starting with a holiday special later this month.