plan worth two—trillion dollars — to provide help to americans reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. speaking at the white house — mr biden said the government needed to act "decisively and boldly" to help americans who are "barely hanging on." democratic leaders in the us congress have said the articles of impeachment against former president donald trump will be delivered to the senate on monday. however the senate majority leader — chuck schumer — has said the trial will not begin in earnest until the second week of february. there is evidence that the new strain of coronavirus — which first emerged in england before christmas — could be more deadly than the original. the chief scientific adviser to the british government said the new variant could be thirty to forty percent more deadly for men in their sixties.

a 1a year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 15 year old in birmingham. keon lincoln was attacked in broad daylight in the handsworth area of the city on thursday afternoon. witnesses reported seeing a group of youths armed with knives and hearing gunshots. sian lloyd reports. keon lincoln, described as a beloved son, who was full of life. police said he was subjected to inconceivable violence. the 15—year—old was attacked yesterday in the middle of the afternoon. this mobile phone footage was recorded soon after. forensic officers today continued to examine the street in the handsworth area of birmingham where it happened. witnesses saw a group of young people carrying knives, and shots were heard. police officers tried to give first aid before the ambulance arrived, but keon died shortly after being taken to hospital. this is a 15—year—old boy who has been murdered

in the streets of birmingham. and our belief is that the other people responsible for it were also round about that age. we know we've got a 14—year—old lad who's been arrested. his attackers fled in a white car, which crashed into a house a short distance away. why they targeted keon isn't yet known. people living here are shocked. the cycle of violence on our streets is of major concern. we've been seeking ways to make our streets safer for a number of years. our thoughts and condolences go out to the family of the young man. the 14—year—old boy remains in custody. police believe others were involved. keon�*s family are grieving a teenager who they remember as fun—loving, with an infectious laugh that lit up a room. they're asking anyone with information to come forward. sian lloyd, bbc news. now on bbc news. it was once the richest democracy in latin america, but under president nicolas maduro, venezuela has been in an economic tailspin.

venezuela was once considered by many as the crown jewel of south america. but that golden era is long gone. its economy is in crisis, oil prices have slumped as has production. in 60% of venezuelans now live in poverty. president maduro has been accused of directing the economy into freefall but the opposition has not succeeded in usurping him. there is no solution in sight and all the while venezuela is in the grip of covid—i9.

what is the future venezuela? and how did it come to this? beauty that has been brought to its knees. venezuela may boast the largest proven oil reserves in the world, but it is now better known for the hunger in economic woes piled on its people in each and every day. when this is your only chance of a decent meal, it is worth waiting for. soup kitchens are not new here, before covid—i9, people struggled to work, to pay for basic meals, to survive. forthe pay for basic meals, to survive. for the past year, it has been tougher than ever for venezuelans. those making lunch

our mothers themselves and everyone here helps each other out. in these covid—i9 times, the soup kitchen can no longer provide a safe space to eat. instead, every child the relies on lunch brings their own part to take back home. for dailies, the last year has been a struggle.

i'v e i've been covering venezuela for several years, the suffering is everywhere to see. and every time i return, life feels harder. the same man is in power in the same problems just get worse. venezuela bridge for a vast oil reserves is developing or other resources. reserves is developing or other resources-_ resources. the collapse of the country oil _ resources. the collapse of the country oil industry _ resources. the collapse of the country oil industry is - country oil industry is astonishing. it was in the 19205 that astonishing. it was in the 1920s that venezuela became a massive oil producer. by the 19705, the oil bonanza meant it was the richest country in latin america. but the sector is a shadow of its former self.

years of neglect and mismanagement and a crash in the oil price and more recently, the us sanctions have piled on the pressure. the industry has never recovered and that has hit the country hard. more than 5 million people have now left venezuela. president maduro was elected in 2013. he is being blamed for driving the economy further into the ground, he blames us sanctions for the problems venezuela faces. the us, once the largest purchaser of their oil, now seeks to remove him. mr maduro was elected for a second term, a poll that was highly controversial, a vote that the opposition boycotted. it was in the shadow of

elections dealing with the free or fair, elections dealing with the free orfair, but this man elections dealing with the free or fair, but this man started to become well known. as leader of the national assembly, his prominence rose and setting several articles of the constitution, he declared himself acting president, a decision that is backed by around 50 countries. but two years on, despite the political wrangling, the man sitting in the palace is still president nicolas maduro. he is going nowhere for now. in december, the government insisted on holding parliamentary elections to vote for a new national assembly while the opposition boycotted it once again, there are still those who feel voting is important. candidates rallied, supporters turned up at it it's this man, hugo chavez who keeps them going. chavis was the charismatic leader who kept the revolution

backin leader who kept the revolution back in 1999. the man who, through socialism, promised a better future for more venezuelans. 0ne better future for more venezuelans. one that was so long forgotten. today venezuela is not the same as it was. it is not the same as it was. it is poorer, malnutrition, unemployment is rising. but it is a religion not easily given up. this man, is the son of president maduro and was one of the candidates running in december selection. 0nstage, the candidates running in decemberselection. 0nstage, he december selection. 0nstage, he knew decemberselection. 0nstage, he knew that a vote would be a way to peoples hearts, to better to win votes.

a message believed by many in the crowds. but in among the supporters, there is also apathy, even fear. so often masked in these crowds. people unwilling to talk on camera and get the tort they felt compelled to vote for benefits, forjobs, for what is left of their livelihoods. unsurprisingly, government loyalists won the election. but the opposition continues to

fight on. butjuan guaido has become irrelevant to so many, no longer a politician in the national assembly. and despite arguing that his position still stands of the corrupt government, fewer people now stand by him. this trip so very different than the rest. normally a country so fixated by the political game, now it feels like there are more people united and batting way

politicians of all stripes. rather than opting to pick a side. with nobody fixing the problems, why vote for them at all. jonathan lives with his three children in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of caracas. jonathan's wife left to find

work in columbia at the start of 2020. they had no choice, there was nothing here in venezuela. the plan was for the family to follow a few months later, but then came covid—19 and they've not seen her since. jonathan has had to learn the roles of both mum and dad. when covid—19 hit, president

nicolas maduro imposed a tough lockdown. life got even harder. in his grip on power ever tighter. with hospitals across the country looking like this, lacking basic sanitation and equipment, the government knew that this system could not cope if the virus took hold. not far away from where jonathan lives, this covid—19 word is been busy. while the government boasts about keeping numbers relatively low compared to neighbours like brazil, medical professionals warn that despite the threats, there was such little testing that real numbers are vastly underreported.

and like so much of the world, over the christmas period, restrictions were eased and people started to relax. doctors are now warning the country is in the middle of the second wave and one that many fear will be far more serious than the first. and they're still scared about speaking out. it still scared about speaking out. ., ., , ., still scared about speaking out. ., ., , out. it allowed us to prepare and with _ out. it allowed us to prepare and with the _ out. it allowed us to prepare and with the pandemic. - out. it allowed us to prepare and with the pandemic. and | out. it allowed us to prepare i and with the pandemic. and we did collect some donations and things that allowed us to attend this first. but now, we have run out of all of that and it is hard to find people right now who will donate protection equipment and medicine for hospitals, so we are struggling, really. when a atient struggling, really. when a patient comes _ struggling, really. when a patient comes in - struggling, really. when a patient comes in needs i struggling, really. when a - patient comes in needs oxygen, are you needing to turn them away and say we cannot help? right now, we are doing that

because all of our beds with oxygen are occupied. and so, new patients that have come from yesterday or the day before, we have been forced to turn them away. mil before, we have been forced to turn them away.— turn them away. all of this in the context _ turn them away. all of this in the context of _ turn them away. all of this in the context of an _ turn them away. all of this in the context of an economy i turn them away. all of this in | the context of an economy on its knees. this is a country where hyperinflation is rampant. last year, it was around 6000%. worthless banknotes dumped on the streets tell you all you need to know about the countries problems. in the past year or so, there have been some improvements. allowing the use of dollars, for example. it has released a much—needed pressure valve in the economy. and it has gone some way to reviving it. in caracas, you can see examples of the recovery clearly. the hotel is a national icon and it has just been renovated and

reopened. the government is hoping it can help boost tourism in this troubled country. the hotel is 2000 metres across sea level and sits on top of a mountain range overlooking caracas in the caribbean coast and it was built in the 19505 during the dictatorship. it was a time of the country was oil—rich and it was a show of power, politics and modernity. carlos is one of the managers. he showed me around.

how much demand is there from venezuelans to be able to come and enjoy this iconic building? but while there are halves, they're even more have—nots. many driveaway in this neighbourhood are having to fight on many different fronts. this is sewage that is cited for three months and the people are trying to get the level down with a pump that doesn't get turned down every day and when it does its floods once

again. —— on. trying to salvage what he could from his home. franklin explains there is a lake on the other side of the street. recent rains have exacerbated flooding here. covid—19 feels like the least of franklins problems. the water alone is giving him breathing issues in 2020 has been a tough year. his neighbour shows me into her place. still, the government support her, she does not play nicolas maduro for all of the struggles. most of the belongings were ruined because of the floods.

by by the lake, residents are scavenging for firewood, with gas shortages, this is the only way they can cook now. 70—year—old is angry. this is the most oil—rich country in the world and get people have no fuel, it is hard to comprehend. driving even the shortest distance is a

logistical challenge everywhere you go, you see cues. years of underinvestment in mismanagement made all the harder by us sanctions on the oil sector has led to this. venezuela was once prosperous oil industry up in smoke. it goes all the way up the blocking comes back along here and it goes up there, around the corner and up another block and around the street. those are people can fill up. they have been waiting hours here and sometimes they wait days and sometimes they wait days and you can see people sleep ending their nights —— spending their nights in the car. she is still exasperated.

this is a petrol to you and travis are waiting in line they're not going anywhere into they're not going anywhere into the police allow them to. across the road he could see the petrol station is cordoned off and only when the police say they can go through and fill up one by one. further down the line, he struggles to look me in the eye because he is so angry. who is in charge of the top feel so relevant to those of the bottom. it is all about survival now. she does not want to be identified, but he has

turned the petrol shortage to his advantage. he fills his tank up in themselves that at twice the price. it may not be legal, but in today's venezuela, though do they have to do. we've never lived or something like this, he also buys fuel and they have access to everything are the ones in control. across venezuela, not just in the big cities, life continues to a struggle. it dawned on the caribbean coast. but do not be forward, this is no paradise. they bring in the first catch of the day, but they're disappointed. they will be lucky if they get $3 each from this hall. they head back out to see if they could, but they cannot get hold of the fuel.

they spend the day here, who was to blame them. what he does know is that the president probably doesn't suffer the way he does.

as night falls one last trip, one last chance for a decent catch. but today is not that day. and they've used her precious tank of petrol for nothing. with no guarantees that tomorrow will be any better. and what will tomorrow bring for venezuela? nobody knows. years of political wrangling and polarisation and attempts at changing the course of the country have led to nothing. a new us administration could mean a new approach, but nobody�*s hopeful of a radical shake—up anytime soon. the only thing that seems guaranteed is more of the same, economic hardship and political stalemate.

hello there. we are staying firmly in the cold air mass this weekend. so, it means we'll continue to see very cold nights, widespread frost, some ice. but by day, there should be quite a bit of sunshine around. however, there is some snow in the forecast on sunday across southern britain and this could lead to some disruption. stay tuned to the forecast. more on that in just a moment. for saturday we have low pressure to the north, that brings a run of north—westerly winds and feeding in lots of wintry showers. quite breezy across the north—west and less further south. we start off with some showers from the word "go" across the north—west, a risk of ice, some early mist and fog clearing from the south and then we'll continue with the showers in western scotland, north west england, running through the cheshire gap into the midlands, perhaps running into parts of east anglia and the south east where it will also be cloudier. it will stay brighter with sunshine for the north east and south west but it will be a cold day wherever you are. temperatures 2—5 celsius. showers continue on for awhile through saturday evening

and central areas, further showers for northern and western scotland and then we turn our attentions to this feature running into wales and the south west of england during the early part of sunday to bring some rain, sleet, and snow. another very cold night to come for saturday night, subzero values for most and a risk of ice to watch out for. sunday, we look at this feature running into the south west, this weather front which will bring the rain initially and then some snow to wales, south west england, perhaps across into parts of the midlands, southern and south—eastern england as we move through the day. now, there's still some uncertainty but it looks like at this stage we could be looking at some accumulations of snow to parts of central and southern england, 1—5 cm in places likely to cause disruption. further north it will be brighter with further wintry showers across some western areas but it's going to be another realy cold day where we have the lying snow across the south. into next week, it starts off cold monday but then through the week, the milder air starts to spread up from the south west. it will be turning a lot milder

across the board but with that mild moisture—laden air, we will see weather systems pushing in, too, with strong winds. this is pretty bad news after all the rain which we've have seen across the north and west of the country. this could cause some issues. monday starts off cold, further wintry showers and gradually turns more unsettled, wetter and milder and windier as we move through the week, perhaps the risk of local flooding in places.

hello and welcome to bbc news. on his second day in office, president biden has declared the economic crisis in the united states is deepening. he says he will take action to help families struggling to afford food because of lost income due to the pandemic. mr biden wants to go much further. he's calling on congress to authorize a $1.9 trillion relief package. he says the time to act boldly is now. i don't believe the people of this country just want to stand by and watch their friends, their neighbours, co—workers, fellow americans go hungry,

lose their homes or lose their sense of dignity