hello, i'm ros atkins, this is outside source. more than a0 nations have now banned flights from the uk because of a new variant of coronavirus. despite huge queues at the port of dover, borisjohnson says most supplies are still getting through the vast majority of food, medicine and other supplies are coming and this is bbc world news. going as normal. the headlines — more than a0 countries the new coronavirus variant have banned uk arrivals detected in the uk has also because of concerns about the spread been found in gibraltar, of a new variant of coronavirus. european union officials are trying denmark and australia. to agree coordinated, strengthened, health protocols for people the more we allow it to spread, the travelling from britain. borisjohnson says he's working to restore cross—channel freight more opportunity it has to change. services after france stopped lorries from crossing for two days. and britain leaves the eu single mrjohnson said he understood market and customs union in ten the anxieties but thought days‘ time and has rejected calls that the risks from lorry for an extension of the brexit drivers were low. 32 years after the lockerbie transition period. bombing, the us has announced that terrorism charges have been brought against a libyan national involved in the bombing of the pan am jumbo.

and in the last few minutes, us president—electjoe biden has welcome to our viewers publicly received an injection on pbs in america of the covid—19 vaccine in an effort to boost confidence and around the globe. in its safety ahead of its wide distribution next year. and also to our viewers on the bbc news channel. the uk is increasingly isolated after admitting a new strain of covid—19 is out of control. next, from theatre screenings to sofa screenings, mark kermode almost all of europe has banned flights from the uk. but the european union is set to announce a unified plan on tuesday that could exempt lorries and freight to ensure trade routes can resume safely as soon as possible. in africa and the middle east — turkey, israel, morocco and saudi arabia are among those to ban all flights from the uk. in asia — india and hong kong, which is a key travel hub have suspended flights too. in south and central america argentina and columbia have also taken swift action.

and so has canada, though so far the us has not. many questions — did the uk do enough to inform other countries about the variant? what can it do now to offer reassurance? how quickly can the uk be reconnected with the world? well, prime minister boris johnson called a crisis meeting today — afterwards — this was his message to the british people. the vast majority of food, medicines and other supplies are coming and going as normal. we are working with oui’ going as normal. we are working with our friends across the channel to unblock the flow of trade as fast as possible and the government at all levels is communicating with our friends in paris. i havejust spoken to president emmanuel macron. we had a good call and we understand each other‘s positions and want to resolve these problems as fast as possible and i know that grant is

also speaking to his counterpart. we are working to a solution, as i say, as fast as we can to allow freight traffic to resume between the uk and france and to ensure that lorries can travel in both directions anything that secure way. the escalation in the covid crisis in the uk has been driven by three interconnected events. first, the number of new infections began increasing rapidly. in the last 2a hours — there were more than 33,361; new infections recorded — that's almost double the figure from a week ago. the second event, is that there is a possible link between these higher infection rates and this new variant of the virus. it is believed the variant mutated in september, but it's much more recently that it's started to dominate positive tests in some areas, particularly in parts of the south east of england. that in turn led the government to create a new stricter tier of regulations — tier 4 — and very similar to the lockdown in november. the difference being this was not national. instead over the weekend, millions of people in london and the south east were placed

in tier 4. and the relaxation of the rules for christmas was scaled back completely in tier 4, and to a great degree and while all of this is happening in the uk — other countries are also looking to contain this new variant of covid—i9. it's already been identified in the netherlands, denmark and australia — but they want to avoid the rapidly escalating transmission the uk is seeing. boris johnson had this message to the uk's international partners. we understand your concerns and i hope everybody can see that as soon as we were briefed in uk government on the fast transmissibility of this new strain, at quarter past three on friday afternoon, we launched all necessary information with the world health organization and we took prompt and decisive action the very

next day to curb the spread of the new variant within the uk. all this is having an impact on the travel plans of millions of people who were going to be on the move for christmas. that includes people who've ended up stranded at airports. this video is from a woman called julia who arrived in berlin from the uk. new people have arrived and they are holding us all here in the airport until who knows when. it's a joke. as you can see — julia and other passengers have been given makeshift beds in the terminal — and now the authorities are trying to come up with a longer—term plan. france was one of first countries to shut its border. that happened on sunday evening — meaning the euro tunnel was shut for the first time in a decade — and no lorries or ferry passengers were allowed to arrive from the uk port of dover. the uk government moved quickly. transport secretary grant schapps tweeted "we're asking the public & particularly hauliers not to travel to kent ports

or other routes to france. we expect significant disruption in the area." and he was right — this has been the situation in dover all monday — hundreds of lorries have been backed up. simonjones is there. it's not looking good. unprecedented scenes here at the port of dover. there is a sign behind me saying french border is closed and that tells the story. you have staff from the port and also we've had the police there at the entrance, basically stopping any lorry that can't go in from going in. for a lot of lorries, it means they simply can't go anywhere, because on an average day bubbly volley probably thousands were going. the only ones allowed a re thousands were going. the only ones allowed are those that have containers, which are still being allowed to go across the channel, but anyone with a lorry driver all passenger vehicle, it's a no—go. now, with borders closed, lorries stuck in queues, and people having to make last minute christmas plans after being

told the rules have changed — lots of people have headed to the shops, worried that supplies may not last. there were queues at supermarkets across the country, like this sainsbury‘s in london, with stores trying to limit the numbers of people inside at one time to improve social distancing. we saw something similar at the start of the pandemic — with certain products coming under severe pressure — toilet roll being the main one. the difference is that last time, the only real pressure on supply chains was panic buying itself. this time, with borders closed, some products may be disrupted. here's our business correspondent theo leggett. supermarkets say they are well stocked at the moment, but if rate can't get across the channel, they could be problems after christmas, with supplies of some fruit and vegeta bles with supplies of some fruit and vegetables in particular becoming difficult to get hold of. sainsbury‘s has warned that if nothing changes, we could see shortages of things like lettuce, salad leaves, cauliflowers, broccoli and citrus fruit, all of which come from abroad. but others within the

food industry say there is no need to panicjust food industry say there is no need to panic just yet. food industry say there is no need to panicjust yet. there are lots of knock—on concerns coming from these travel bans. but the central issue for countries banning the uk is simple — as france's europe minister, clement beaune, said on sunday — "this is about protecting public health" and limiting the "spread of a new strain." well with that concern in mind, the eu has been meeting today to come up with a unified plan for the whole bloc — the details are expected to come tomorrow. gavin lee has been following things in brussels. now what the french officials are saying is that they will wait until tomorrow's ambassadors meeting. that is when decisions will be taken by all member states, if they can agree to one set of travel restrictions for the to one set of travel restrictions forthe uk, to one set of travel restrictions for the uk, but there is no chance at the moment that that 48—hour role will change. any decision will take place off the back of that. briefly, it's worth saying that there is a hodgepodge of different rules and regulations. the dutch saying that the ban is there in place until the new year, the germans and italians saying similar things. you have

countries like portugal saying only portuguese residents can fly, but others can be stopped at british airports. you have a swiss saying that if you've arrived at the country in the past week from the uk, he will have to self—isolate for ten days. 10,000 people arrived in geneva alone at the weekend from the uk, so all of these things are trying to slim down to one set of rules which we are expecting tomorrow. but will these travel restrictions work in containing the new strain? i asked paul hunter, professor of medicine at the university of east anglia for his take. ican i can certainly understand what they've done that. the issue is whether not the virus is there already. the problem with travel restrictions is that they only work if you don't actually already have the virus in country. we know that the virus in country. we know that the variant has been identified in denmark, the netherlands, reports

i've heard recently in italy as well. and indeed, australia. and so onceit well. and indeed, australia. and so once it is there and once it is spreading, it travel restrictions are unlikely to provide any great additional benefit. and we do know that many european countries in recent weeks have seen quite dramatic increases in the acceleration of the epidemic. the most likely explanation is that they have already got this new variant and in most european countries haven't been able to look for this variant until the last 48—hour is. but if that mutation happened in september, why is it only now in the weeks of december and the latter weeks of december and the latter weeks of december and the latter weeks of november that we see it impacting on the number of daily cases being recorded ? impacting on the number of daily cases being recorded? the cost when

you have a new mutation, it takes a long time to build up to any numbers that you can actually see that in relationship to everything else that is going on. if it's multiplying every two weeks, you have one case and then two cases, then four cases and then two cases, then four cases and so on, it takes quite a while before you have enough cases that actually, you start noticing something going wrong. as professor hunter was saying, it's believed this new variant of covid—19 may spread more easily — but health officials say there is no evidence it's more deadly or will react differently to vaccines. here's laura foster on what we know about this new, mutated strain. just because it changes, doesn't mean that way changes behaves. it just look slightly different. but what we have learnt today is that the scientists are now highly confident that the reason why this is becoming the dominant strain is because it is more transmissible.

but at the moment, there is no evidence to suggest it is more deadly au makes people more sick and no evidence to suggest it will stop vaccines and treatments from working. the scientist will be working. the scientist will be working on this in the next few weeks as we want some degree of surety with these things. everybody should keep going to get their vaccines, more than 500,000 have had their first job vaccines, more than 500,000 have had theirfirstjob so far, vaccines, more than 500,000 have had their firstjob so far, and they are saying anyone who was booked in should turn up. and here's the latest advice from the world health organisation. the bottom line is that we need to surpress transmission of all sars viruses as quickly as we can. the more we allow it to spread, the more opportunity it has to change. i'm joined by professor andrew hayward and epidemiologist in the uk. how serious a development is this new strain? it's very serious. i think the potential devastation that

an increase in transmission that covid can cause is heartbreaking, really. both in the uk and potentially in other countries. i think what it indicates is that you are either going to have a major increase in the number of deaths then we were expecting, all we are going to need to have tougher control measures and both of those situations are awful. i was going to ask whether you feel that the current restrictions being used by the uk and other european countries may be rendered inadequate? well, i think that's the big fear. what we can see is that, essentially, this strain, whilst managing to increase, even during lockdown in some areas, and so the level of restrictions needed to control it would appear to be greater than those that we have

seenin be greater than those that we have seen in the last lockdown. given that, what restrictions do you think would be appropriate to navigate the next 23 months of winter. well, i think it's early to say about the next few months. i think what we need to think about is what we do in the next few weeks. this is a strain that can really increase from quite low levels to quite high levels in a matter of weeks. and so, what we do now is important. it's really important and now is important. it's really importantandi now is important. it's really important and i think, whilst we could wait and see what happens, that's a pretty dangerous game and my concern is that we need more restrictions, sadly, in the areas that are outside tearful currently. you're a member of the advisory group to the uk government. do you wish the government had said earlier

that it was not going to relax the guidelines at christmas? well, i have been arguing for many weeks that the relaxation of christmas restrictions was a very bad idea. even without this new strain. and i think this makes it even more so. i think this makes it even more so. i think it's important that in tearful areas, people are essentially confined to their bubbles, which i realise is difficult. —— tier 4 areas. i would also advise people outside of those areas to stay within their household bubbles as there is the strain everywhere and it will transmit more easily than the current strain, so even a day of socialising with your family, u nfortu nately, socialising with your family, unfortunately, carries a risk. but the prime minister says he is guided by science, so why was he not guided

by science, so why was he not guided by the science that you and others we re by the science that you and others were offering? politicians have a very difficult balance to make here. i don't think anybody would envy their decisions. i think the consensus amongst scientists from an epidemiological point of view of course is that minimising contact over christmas is exactly what you need to do to prevent deaths in january. but obviously there are other things to balance and it is a politician because my job other things to balance and it is a politician because myjob to do that. thank you very much for joining us. stay with us on outside source. still to come, the eu's medicine regulator has approved the use of the pfizer—biontech vaccine. germany, france, austria and italy say they plan to start covid—19 vaccinations from sunday. a record 5a million americans may be going hungry this year

after the coronavirus pandemic. larry madowo met some of those asking for help. it's too cold and miserable to be waiting in the rain this early in the morning, unless you have to. these are the people cast aside by coronavirus and capitalism. in ellington virginia, one of america's wealthiest counties. this man lost hisjob as a wealthiest counties. this man lost his job as a waiter. he wealthiest counties. this man lost hisjob as a waiter. he is now struggling to pay his bills. did you imagine that you would need this sort of help? it was kind of embarrassing but you have to do what you have to do. my situation was not that bad, i had a normal type of living, my groceries, my payments, i can't afford them. this food pantry has seen a 45% increase in traffic since the pandemic. they give a week's worth of food and with more people either having lostjobs, furloughed for having reduced hours,

having them is the only way they can feed theirfamilies. this is outside source live from the bbc newsroom. our lead story more than a0 nations have now banned flights from the uk, and freight deliveries across the channel to france are blocked, after a new variant of coronavirus is found in britain the european union's medicine regulator, the ema, has approved the use of the pfizer—biontech vaccine. germany, france, austria and italy say they plan to start vaccinations from sunday. anna holligan has more from the hague. we've just been getting more information on this from the european president, ursula von der leyen. she gave a very short statement in brussels, actually. she said it will be available at the same time, under the same conditions for every country. the first batches will be shipped out of belgium, the plant in belgium, in the coming days and she said we are in this together. the eu vaccination dates have been

set up for the 27th, 28th and 29th of december. she described this as a very good way to end a difficult year and finally start turning the page on covid—19. that said, we are talking about 27 countries here and they are all prepared to different degrees. in germany, we have seen mass vaccination centres set up. they are hoping to be one of the first countries to start. here in the netherlands, less prepared. we are looking at around 8th ofjanuary, but there is more good news coming out of amsterdam today. the ema has said that they are expecting to release a decision on the moderna vaccine round about the 6th of january, so there is something, some positive news here in europe this evening.

president—electjoe biden is getting ready to receive his covid vaccination. let's listen in. we've seen a number of high—profile politicians in the united states get their vaccination on camera. this, of course, is the most high profile person to do it yet. the reason they are doing it on cameras because one concern that we have heard expressed from anthony voucher, the leading expert on the virus in the us and many others, is that that seem to be effective, the majority of americans will need to have it. —— fauci. we know there are some people who are sceptical about taking the vaccine and joe biden and many other high—profile politicians are determined to persuade americans that there is nothing to fear by having it done live on camera. that's what the president—elect is getting ready to do. donald trump is also said he will have the vaccine

when the time comes. there is no suggestion of a timeframe on at all whether he will do it with the cameras on him but we always knew thatjoe biden was always going to be keen to persuade americans as best he could to have one of the vaccines that we expect to be approved. this would be a pfizer biontech vaccine, the first to be approved and remember, donald trump was getting a little impatient with the length of time that process took, with the uk being the first western country to approve it. the americans went too far behind that and we've been discussing, the european union has followed today with the ema clearing it for use. in reality, because of the scale of the vaccination programme that is needed, not just in vaccination programme that is needed, notjust in the us but elsewhere, it won't just needed, notjust in the us but elsewhere, it won'tjust be the biontech vaccine, we will need to have a number of vaccine is approved, we know the moderna vaccine is being considered, the oxford astrazeneca vaccine that will

also be considered in time as well. but as he rolls up his left sleeve and the nurse rubs his upper arm, the president—elect is getting ready to receive the first of what i assume are two jabs, because we discussed a great deal an outside source and elsewhere on bbc news, this is the firstjab and then you leave it a number of days and then there is a second job, i think of there is a second job, i think of the top of my head, 21 days later, but i would need to double check that. but a significant number of days later. while the firstjab gives you some immunity to the virus, it's the double jab that really delivers the results. that's what pfizer and biontech tell us. a little plaster on the other side of his left arm. the scientists and the people who put this together, the front—line workers, people who were

the ones who actually did the clinical work, just amazing. and i wish we had time to take you through the whole hospital to see how busy and incredible you all are. we owe you big. we really do. one of the things is that i think the administration deserve some credit, getting us off the ground, i also think that it's worth saying that this is a great hope, i'm doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared, when it's available, to ta ke prepared, when it's available, to take the vaccine. there is nothing to worry about. i'm looking forward to worry about. i'm looking forward to the second shot, so is jail. she had her shot earlier today. she loves shots, i know. —— so isjill.

but the important thing is that it's worth stating that this is just the beginning. it's one thing to get the vaccine out and now that we have done it, it's going to be on the road as well. but it's going to take time. it's going to take time. in the meantime, i hope people listen to all the experts and the doctors, talking about the need to wear a mask during christmas and new year. wear masks, socially distance and if you don't have to travel, don't travel. don't travel. it's really important. we are still in the thick of this. it's one thing to have the vaccine, show up at the hospital. it's one thing to get the vaccine from that vile, into a needle, into an arm and there are millions of people out there who are going to

need this. front—line workers first, but i just want to thank everyone for all that they've done. you are real heroes. thank you. joe biden saying there, the nurse who administered the shot was a real hero. the president—elect said it there, this is about convincing americans that the vaccination should, there is nothing to fear. that's right, he joined should, there is nothing to fear. that's right, hejoined a lot of politicians who've been publicly taking the vaccine. it's also worth bearing in mind that he is on the at—risk category, you're 78 years of age. he will be the oldest president that america has ever had, so he was definitely in that priority category to get the vaccine. it's worth mentioning also that the vice president will get the vaccine next week. thank you all for watching.

goodbye. good evening. warm and wet, cold and dry there is something for everyone in this forecast. today it has been a rather grey and wet story with one smell of wet weather edging its way into scotland this afternoon. and then another spell of rain pushing into southwest england and wales. many of us scenes like this with some pretty soggy looking fields at the moment. pretty leaden looking skies with him as we go through the night tonight we will see clear skies developing across scotland, northern england and northern ireland. further south that rain moving through wales at the moment has got to slip its way into southeast england. it means a mild started tuesday morning here with double digits. further north, clear skies will see temperatures down to freezing for the up

at lays here there will be some sunshine in the morning for up a few scattered showers driven on by a northerly wind. sunshine extending to scotland, northern ireland and northern england. for much of wales, central and southern england it's overcast. showery outbreaks pushing into the south—west by the end of the afternoon. mild here but cooler further north. low pressure dominates across england and wales for wednesday and some of that rain could be quite heavy. this low is still the dividing line between this milderair still the dividing line between this milder air with this south—westerly flow, for one more day at least. but northerly winds still dominate across the far north, this means that's where the best of the sunshine is likely to be yet again but it's a colder story and any showers across the tops of the mountains in scotland could turn increasingly wintry. some of the rain as it moves its way across south—west england and wales could be heavy enough to produce localised flooding. we will need to keep an eye on that. that low pressure is gradually drifting its way off into the near continent. it does mean

that the christmas eve, the weather story will start to change. as high pressure builds in from the atlantic and quieten things down quite nicely. the northerly wind starts to kick in across the country, it will drive ina kick in across the country, it will drive in a few isolated showers down through the east coast, but there will be some spells of sunshine around as well on christmas eve. a quieter story, a colder story, 47 degrees as the high. moving out of christmas eve into christmas day, we could start off with a touch of frost under clear skies. it stays dry and relatively quiet, but cold, something wet are set to return for 00:28:33,566 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 boxing day.