this is bbc news. i'm victoria fritz with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the us president—elect joe biden outlines a $1.9 trillion spending package to combat the coronavirus pandemic and its effects on the economy. our rescue and recovery plan is a path forward with both seriousness of purpose and a clear plan with transparency and accountability. a uk ban on travellers arriving from south america and portugal as concern grows about a new virus variant from brazil. north korea unveils a new submarine—launched ballistic missile at a military parade in pyongyang, describing it as "the world's

most powerful weapon". also in business, scottish fishermen fear they'll be sunk by post—brexit border delays. the uk government says it's working hard to resolve the situation. we said stuff to europe last week and it took five days to arrive and it arrived dead and rotten —— sent. arrive and it arrived dead and rotten -- sent.— arrive and it arrived dead and rotten -- sent. the government is tackling — rotten -- sent. the government is tackling this _ rotten -- sent. the government is tackling this issue _ rotten -- sent. the government is tackling this issue and - is tackling this issue and dealing _ is tackling this issue and dealing with it as quickly as possible and the key is we got our fischbacher and our british fish, _ our fischbacher and our british fish. at — our fischbacher and our british fish, at that! and they are better_ fish, at that! and they are better and fish, at that! and they are betterand happierfor it. —— fish — betterand happierfor it. —— fish back _ hello and welcome. the us president—electjoe biden has set out his plan to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and revive the country's economy with a huge stimulus package. he has promised a mass vaccination programme and an extension of unemployment benefits to millions of americans. it's a spending package totalling $1.9 trillion.

our north america correspondent david willis reports. in the worst affected nation on earth, the coronavirus is having a devastating effect. hospitals are at breaking point as cases have spiralled to around 200,000 a day. food banks are inundated as the collapsing economy has caused many businesses to lay off their workers. joe biden promised to make combating the coronavirus is number one priority. with less than a week to go before taking office, he has unveiled a plan aimed at containing the virus and getting the economy back on track. 0ne getting the economy back on track. one that will cost this country nearly $2 trillion. we not only have _ country nearly $2 trillion. - not only have an economic imperative to act now, i

believe we have a moral obligation. in this pandemic, in america, we cannot let people go hungry, we cannot let people go hungry, we cannot let people get evicted, we cannot watch nurses, educators and others lose theirjobs we so badly need them. we must act now and act decisively. {line now and act decisively. one month after _ now and act decisively. one month after the _ now and act decisively. one month after the first - now and act decisively. one month after the first shots were administered here, america's vaccination programme is off to a sluggish start. mr biden is pledging billions of dollars to expand testing and vaccination effort and enable schools to reopen safely by the spring. he's also pledging larger sums to help individuals affected by the crisis. all of it paid for with borrowed money but necessary, he believes, in order to prevent the world's largest economy from slipping further into the abyss. all this, of course, at a time of deepening political unrest. packed close together and

mostly mask free, last week's protests at the capitol building were not only another potential superspreader event, they also underlined the fact that many here still believe the virus is a hoax. forjoe biden, there is more than one kind of healing to be done and ironically perhaps, the day that he is due to be sworn in marks a rather grim anniversary. the anniversary of the first confirmed case of covid—i9 in the united states. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. the current us vice president has said he will ensure a safe inauguration of the new administration next week as security is ramped up across the nation. mike pence's remarks followed a briefing with the fbi director. president trump has issued an emergency declaration forwashington, running from monday until the ceremony on january 20. mr pence says they will ensure a smooth transition of power. our aim here, that the american people can be confident and that we will ensure that we have a safe

inauguration, that president—electjoe biden and vice president—elect kamala harris are sworn in as the new president and vice president of the united states in a manner consistent with our history and tradition and in a way that gives honour to the american people and to the united states. 0ur north america correspondent david willis has been listening to mr biden�*s speech. hejoins us now he joins us now from hejoins us now from los angeles. you have been listening to those marks. how febrile is the mood in the us and particularly in washington? it is known as the people's house, victoria, but in actual fact hill is currently more like the green zone in baghdad, flagged entirely by 12 foot high walls, metal detectors, they have been brought in, security personnel are everywhere —— capitol. we learned earlier today that the

national mall which is a traditional viewing point for visitors looking to catch a glimpse of the old inauguration will be closed on wednesday of next week —— national mall. it is also been announced in the last hour or so that a rehearsal of the inauguration ceremony that was due to take place this sunday has been cancelled, along with plans for the president—electjoe biden and his team to travel from his home in delaware to washington, dc, by train. now, by the time wednesday's inauguration comes around, 21,000 armed national guard offices will be on duty in the nation's capital, more troops than are currently on duty, i'm told, in both iran, — iraq and afghanistan, as far as the us is concerned. absolutely staggering- _ the us is concerned. absolutely staggering- do _ the us is concerned. absolutely staggering. do you _ the us is concerned. absolutely staggering. do you feel - the us is concerned. absolutely staggering. do you feel the - staggering. do you feel the focus is finally shifting, though, from the outgoing administration to what is in

store for the us and the rest of the world over the next four years? of the world over the next four ears? �* , , ., years? there's definitely a noticeable _ years? there's definitely a noticeable shift _ years? there's definitely a noticeable shift but - years? there's definitely a noticeable shift but there l years? there's definitely a l noticeable shift but there is, at the same time, a lot of concern. today the fbi director christopher ray reiterated the fact that his agents are picking up what he called concerning online charter about possible armed protests growth rate notjust in the nation's capital but also in state capitals across this country. this is very much a nation on edge and a very, very difficult week of course following those protests in the capital building last week and a very difficult week as well for donald trump —— capitol. certainly, david willis, i know you will keep us up to speed, thank you forjoining us. for more on the transfer of power in the united states, head to the bbc news website. there's full background and analysis as the countdown to the biden inauguration continues. go to bbc.com/news

and follow the links. the emergence of a new coronavirus variant in brazil has led britain to ban all arrivals from south america from friday. travel from portugal and cape verde is also being banned because of their close links with brazil. the country has the second highest death toll from the virus in the world, after the united states, but it's not in lockdown. brazil's health minister has warned hospitals are close to collapse in one of the main cities, manaus. katy watson reports. manaus, say experts, is a city on the point of collapse. these images were filmed by members of the public and doctors, and given to us by the doctors' union — evidence, they say, of the struggles manaus is going through. hospitals with patients

lying next to a body bag. 0thers lying on the floor, waiting for treatment. a curfew has now been declared across the state and there are reports that oxygen is also running out. at the same time, scientists are working around the clock to understand the new variant. some of those mutations in the spike protein are quite similar to those found in uk and also in africa. we do not believe that these variants came from england or uk and in africa — it seems that this variant is evolving separately, but showing the same mutations. tests will take time to understand the new variant, but experts say that vaccines can always be altered to respond to changes in the virus. but it's a virus that seems to have been forgotten here — it's peak summer, the beaches are packed, and people are dropping their guard. "everyone's relaxed. "nobody cares about it any

more," this woman tells me, "so i'm going with the flow. "of course i'm scared," this coconut seller says, "but we have to continue working. if we don't work, we don't eat." the traffic is back, and so are the commuters. that's been the message from president bolsonaro all along, that brazil can't and shouldn't stop — a message that many people seem to have taken on board. but in the past few weeks, scientists have been warning of the grave implications if nothing is done, with some even calling for a uk—style lockdown. the scientific committee in the united kingdom was able to pressure the prime minister enough so that he would accept the lockdown. here, we have to basically pressure not the government, because the government is not going to relinquish, i don't believe they are going to accept science because they have never in this ten months. jair bolsonaro. cheering and applause. with president bolsonaro still playing down the virus and sowing unfounded doubts about the safety of vaccines,

lockdown doesn't seem likely yet. katy watson, bbc news, in sao paulo. let's get some of the day's other news. starting with the developing story. —— starting with a developing story. at least 26 people have died and dozens injured after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the island of sulawesi in indonesia. rescuers have been trying to reach people tapped under collapsed buildings, including a hospital. france is extending a 6pm curfew from saturday to fight the spread of coronavirus. the prime minister says the measure will last for at least two weeks. from monday, all travellers to france from outside the european union will have to produce a negative covid test. north korea has unveiled a new submarine—launched ballistic missile at a military parade in pyongyang. state media described it as "the world's most powerful the north korean leader kim jong—un watched the display as aircraft flew overhead.

0ur seoul correspondent laura bickerjoins me now. mr kim has been busy, pledging to expand the military potential, quite a show of strength in 2021. is this a sign of more to come? i think anal sts sign of more to come? i think analysts are _ sign of more to come? i think analysts are wondering - sign of more to come? i think| analysts are wondering exactly what else he has in store 2021. a new year and new weapons already on display after this rare party conference, where as you said kimjong—un rare party conference, where as you said kim jong—un vowed and pledged that his country would build more nuclear weapons and expand their nuclear capabilities. this does seem to be interesting timing indeed. just one week before a new us president, joe biden, will take office and many analysts believe both the party congress timing and this parade timing

may be aimed at kind of sending a message to the united states. first of all, sanctions will not kowtow us, we will not be bowed by strict international sanctions. and second, we will continue to build nuclear weapons, despite three summits between donald trump and kim jong—un and despite the maximum pressure policy brought in by the trump administration. so it does seem that north korea will continue to manage, even with this bleak economic circumstances that they are in, to build these kind of new weapons that they have displayed in this parade. taste displayed in this parade. we have years _ displayed in this parade. we have years now of economic sanctions from the us and others on north korea. do we really believe that north korea will continue to be willing to live within this self—imposed economic isolation? i live within this self-imposed economic isolation?- economic isolation? i think when it comes _ economic isolation? i think when it comes to _ economic isolation? i think when it comes to what - economic isolation? i think| when it comes to what they economic isolation? i think - when it comes to what they are prepared to do, north korea has shown they will endure a famine, in the 1990s, tens of

thousands of north koreans are thought to have died in a famine is money was funnelled towards nuclear weapons. here we are again in dire economic circumstances, the country has been cut off effectively, there is a border arcade in place to stop the spread of covid—19 and strict economic sanctions and devastating typhoons and floods and a triple whammy when it comes to north korea, as well as the economic circumstances not being great in the first place —— border blockade. this impoverished country has shown it will continue to funnel money towards weapons and i think the challenge for this new administration is dealing with this old problem and coming up with new ideas. absolutely, laura bicker in seoulfor us. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: an original painting of tintin by his belgian creator herge sells for a record amount at an online auction in paris. day one of operation desert

storm to force the iraqis out of kuwait has seen the most intense air attacks since the second world war. tobacco is america's oldest industry, and it's one of its biggest, but the industry is nervous of this report. this may tend to make people want to stop smoking cigarettes. there is not a street that is unaffected. huge part of kobe were simply demolished as buildings crashed into one another. this woman says she had been given no help and no advice by the authorities. she stood outside the ruins of her business. tens of thousands of black. children in south africa have taken advantage of laws passed by the country'sl new multiracial government. and enrolled at formerly white schools. tonight sees the 9,610th performance of her long—running play the mousetrap. when they heard of her death today, the management considered whether to cancel tonight's performance, but agatha christie would have been the last person to want such a thing.

this is bbc news. the lastest headlines: the us president—elect, joe biden, has outlined a $1.9 trillion spending package to combat the coronavirus pandemic and its effects on the economy. concern about brazil's new coronavirus variant prompts the uk to impose a ban on travellers arriving from south america and portugal. 2021 is due to be a momentous day for germany with angela merkel due to step down. christian democrats have met online for a conference in which they will choose a new party leader. jenny hill reports on the men vying for

the topjob. when reports on the men vying for the top job. when she speaks, listens, but angela merkel is preparing to leave office after 16 years in power, this autumn, leaving the party with a problem, how to replace her? three manner vying for the job of party leader. this man is the cheerful and popular prime minister of north rhine—westphalia, he doubts himself as the continuity candidate. this is the foreign affairs expert and former environment minister. he has run an energetic digital campaign targeting women and young voters. and after a decade of politics, millionaire businessman frederick excites traditionalists in the party, unnerved by angela merkel�*s centrist politics. this senior politician is one of 1001 delegates who will vote this weekend in a secret ballot.

translation: we weekend in a secret ballot. translation:— weekend in a secret ballot. translation: we don't need someone who _ translation: we don't need someone who just _ translation: we don't need someone who just wants - translation: we don't need someone who just wants to i someone who just wants to differentiate themselves from angela merkel, these were good times for germany, but after 16 years we do need a fresh start. what matters to me as we as a people's party win more female voters, from immigration backgrounds, that we improve gender parity, and on green issues, and digitalisation. i5 issues, and digitalisation. is expected the new leader will become the new chancellor. is not that simple. it will be spring before the country decides who will lead them as their chancellor candidate. they have to be sure they are going to win. and the pandemic has shifted the political landscape, raise the profile of other politicians. the health minister, and the bavarian prime minister, have performed well under pressure. both men insist they do not want the top job, but no—one believes them.

young people, they only know a woman who has been in chancellor for 16 years. we ask ourselves, will men be able to be chancellor? but on the other hand, angela merkel, she became a chancellor in 2005, she also had to learn and fill these positions. had to learn and fill these positions-— positions. these are extraordinary - positions. these are j extraordinary times, positions. these are - extraordinary times, and for germany, this will be a momentous year. angela merkel has dominated european and international politics for years. here at home thanks to her pandemic handling she is more popular than ever. nine months before an historic general election, it is anyone's guess as to who will replace. the problem for her party is candidate they choose, the will not be angela merkel. jenny hill, bbc news, burley and. —— berlin.

chinese authorities are constructing a temporary hospital in shijiazhuang, in the northern province of hebei. there's been an increase of coronavirus cases in the province in recent weeks. on thursday, china recorded its first death from covid—19 in eight months. a lockdown has been imposed on tens of millions of people. now it's america's longest war — nearly two decades after us troops arrived in afghanistan, its military presence is now being dramatically scaled back. by friday, another 2,500 american personnel are due to leave. but with violence surging, and the humanitarian crisis getting worse, many are asking if it's the right time for international forces to leave. 0ur correspondent, yogita limaye, has sent this report from kabul. afg hanistan�*s only hospital for children. every day, 1,000 new patients. more and more children who could be saved are dying here.

the americans are leaving, as war has brought humanitarian disaster to this country. this year, half of all afghan children are facing malnutrition. many won't make it to the age of five. subhan is two years old. till last year, he could walk. his mother, farishta, told me there are days they have no food at all. she has to borrowjust to eat. she said she gets very sad when her children ask her for food and she can't give them any. in the next bed is a three—year—old girl. her mother told us she wasn't sure she would survive. six times more people need life—saving support now than just four years ago.

dr muhammad qureshi, the director of the hospital, says if it wasn't for the war, afghans would have been able to pull themselves out of poverty. translation: my message for the world, in particular l to the big countries, is to help afghanistan end the war. so is this the right time for us soldiers to be leaving, i asked the vice—president? we believe the mission is not accomplished. taliban have not separated themselves from al-qaeda, but i am telling them as a friend, and as an ally, that trusting the taliban without putting a verification mechanism is going to be a fatal mistake. how worried do you think global powers should be about the threat of al-qaeda? very deeply. they can put any title on their withdrawal and exit,

but there is also a title that the terror groups will put on their withdrawal — defeat. surrender and escape. and that by itself will boost terror groups in the entire world. a threat for the west, but a reality afghans live with now. we've come to meet the family of the civilian who was recently killed. "my murdered son's name was navruz. he was my only son," says zainab nuri. "everyone grieved for him. they told me your son was a good man. we don't have any life now. look, we are living here in this room without anything. 0nly his children

are left behind." this has been america's longest war, but perhaps an unfinished one. for the us, and for afghanistan. yogita limaye, bbc news, kabul. an original painting of tintin — by his belgian creator herge — has sold for a record amount at an online auction in paris. the illustration fetched $3.8 million, including commission. that's the highest ever price for comic book art. the bbc�*s tim allman reports. it is classic herge. the clean lines, the vivid colours. tintin and snowy coming face to face with danger. 0riginally intended for the front cover of his adventure the blue lotus, it was deemed too expensive to reproduce. so instead, herge gave it as a gift to the seven—year—old son of his publisher.

translation: it has always| remained in the same hands. he folded it and stored it in a drawer to protect it. i asked him whether he wanted to sell it. he said, "no, i care about it very much! it is a gift from herge!" and in the end, he kept it until his death. you could still see the creases as it went up for auction in paris. speaks french add on commission and the anonymous buyer forked out the best part of $4 million — a new record for comic book art. not bad for a plucky boy reporter and his best friend. tim allman, bbc news. laughter plenty more on the website. lots to talk about, our top

story us us president—electjoe biden has announced a $1.9 trillion stimulus package to revive the us economy. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @vfritznews. hello. the rain and snow that fell across many parts of the uk during thursday has been petering out. temperatures have been dropping away. surfaces are really wet out there. so with those wet surfaces and some cold conditions, ice could be a big problem on friday morning — fog patches as well. here's the frontal system that brought the rain and snow during thursday, but it has been squeezed out by high pressure. the winds have been falling light — that's allowed temperatures to drop. we've got some fog patches out there, quite widely scattered, actually, across the country, and some ice — especially for scotland, northern england, the midlands into east anglia and the south east — so if you do have to make an essentialjourney, it could be some pretty poor travelling conditions. through the day, most spots will see some sunshine.

it is a drier day overall. the odd shower for kent, the odd shower for shetland and a few places across scotland, north east england, the midlands will hold onto fog all day long. if that happens, you'll be pegged back to just one or two degrees. even in sunshine, it will be a chilly—feeling day. and then during friday night into saturday, rain will push in from the west. i say "rain" — as it bumps into cold air, we could well still see a spell of snow, especially over high ground in scotland in northern england, but even to lower levels, there could temporarily be a spell of sleet or snow, even as far south as east anglia and the south—east through the first part of saturday morning as this frontal system works its way eastwards. but we will see some milder air working its way in, so any snow will be quite a transient feature, certainly at low levels it'll turn back to rain. and then even the rain will tend to clear away through the day with sunnier skies and just a scattering of showers following on behind. those temperatures climbing, particularly in western areas — nine degrees in liverpool, belfast, ten in cardiff and in plymouth. now, as we head out of saturday

into sunday, that frontal system moves away. high pressure tries to build in towards the south — that's where we'll see the driest weather on sunday. lower pressure to the north, so here we have a greater chance of seeing some showery rain, maybe some hill snow across parts of northern ireland, particularly scotland. whereas further south for england and wales, you can see largely fine conditions. patchy cloud and sunny spells, and temperatures for the most part between six and nine degrees. into next week, things look pretty changeable. there'll be some rain at times, but not all the time. it will turn a little bit milderfor a while. but how long that will last, we'll have to wait and see.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. president—elect biden asks congress for $1.9 trillion to shore up america's pandemic ravaged economy. underlining the scale of the task — almost a million americans filed forjobless benefits in the first week of january — the biggestjump since march. xiaomi shares plunge as the us adds the chinese mobile phone giant to an investment ban list. 0n the road to a post—eu future. but british truckers tell the bbc they have faced long delays and red tape since the end of the brexit transition period. and they are not alone — scottish fishermen fear they'll be sunk by new export rules. the government says it's

working hard to resolve the situation.