tests in the netherlands suggest the omicron covid strain may have spread around the world before it was first reported to the world health organisation by south africa. over a dozen countries and territories have detected cases, giving a clearer picture of how long the variant has been circulating. mark meadows, donald trump's former chief of staff, has agreed to make a deposition before the congressional investigation into the assault on the capitol. the committee says mr meadows has already provided records on the incident. former president trump has urged his associates to ignore the probe. entertainerjosephine baker has been honoured with a place in the pantheon in paris. she's the first black woman to be inducted, and is recognised for her contribution to the performing arts, civil rights activism, and her work as a french resistance agent during the second world war. now on bbc news, it's hardtalk,

with stephen sackur. welcome to hardtalk, i am stephen sackur. what kind of republican party will be fighting for control of the us congress in 2022 and attempting to regain the white house in 2024? in to regain the white house in 202a? in large part, it will hinge on donald trump, right now he remains the dominant political figure now he remains the dominant politicalfigure on the american right but american conservatism faces other defining choices. not least whether the time has come to break up the unprecedented power of america's tech giants. my power of america's tech giants. my guest is colorado congressmen ken buck. do today's republicans have a coherent worldview?

ken buck, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. a pleasure to have you on the show. i think it's fair to say you characterise yourself as a freedom loving libertarian republican, who opposes big government. why is it that when it comes to america's giant to corporations, the most successful companies in all of american capitalism, you want big government to intervene to and i quote telling them? i and i quote telling them? i don't want big government to intervene, i want to make sure we create competition in the marketplace and i think that the key distinction. i'm not

looking for the heavy hand of government to come in and break up government to come in and break up companies or otherwise support companies that are weaker or have not been able to compete in the marketplace. i think there are unfair advantages, we need to level the playing field in the big tech market and make sure we have competition. it’s tech market and make sure we have competition.— have competition. it's pretty unusual. _ have competition. it's pretty unusual. if— have competition. it's pretty unusual, if i _ have competition. it's pretty unusual, if i may _ have competition. it's pretty unusual, ifi may say, - have competition. it's pretty unusual, if i may say, for . have competition. it's pretty unusual, if i may say, for a i unusual, if i may say, for a right—wing republican to declare capitalism has failed? i have to tell you, i don't believe that and i don't believe that and i don't believe i am right—wing. i think i am right in the middle of the political spectrum is everyone is to the left of me but i believe in the capitalist system, we have always had or at least for the last hundred and whatever, 50 years, we have had a view towards monopolies that allows government to come into the economy and to make

sure there is competition. to be specific, it seems you personally want to see the dismantling of some of the be off giant tech companies, you don't believe facebook should own instagram, it seems, or what's up? you seem to believe google is abusing its powers by selling its owner making sure its own brands and products come up very high on its search engine. if the brave new world that you want to see were actually to be delivered, the truth is, is it not, that american consumers and others would face higher prices, thousands of people who work in america's successful tech sector would be thrown out of work? this would be a net disaster the us economy? i don't know where you got that from! i believe we need to have competition in the marketplace, i don't believe we need to destroy companies. these companies will thrive. they were successful because the

economy was in a position to allow them to thrive, they produced a good product and other companies will produce a better product and that is what we want to see. we want to see competition. the idea that somehow the american economy will be in a shambles or even these companies will be in a shambles is nonsense. don't rel on shambles is nonsense. don't rely on my — shambles is nonsense. don't rely on my words, _ shambles is nonsense. don't rely on my words, rely - shambles is nonsense. don't rely on my words, rely on . shambles is nonsense. don't i rely on my words, rely on your fellow republican congressman darrell nisa who says if you got your way there will be an unprecedented expansion of big government, an invitation for china to gain even greater access to our data, the creation of new and broader powers for government regulators, a grab bag of anti—business provisions that certainly would not empower consumers? that is your fellow republican. consumers? that is your fellow republican-— consumers? that is your fellow republican. and the great thing about the republican _ republican. and the great thing about the republican party - republican. and the great thing about the republican party in i about the republican party in this country is that we had disagreements and we had vigorous disagreements. at the end of the day, we come together over a better policy

because we disagree and he and i have a disagreement on this issue. he is from california and represents many of the companies that are being targeted with these anti—trust laws and he certainly is entitled to his opinion. i believe, at the end of the day, we will see anti—trust laws applied in the high—tech economy in a way that creates competition and we will have even better choice and prices. you see, the companies themselves do say that your proposals would lead to and i quote one of the trade groups backing the net a choice, higher prices, fewer choices, less innovation. let higher prices, fewer choices, less innovation.— higher prices, fewer choices, less innovation. let me ask you something. _ less innovation. let me ask you something, what _ less innovation. let me ask you something, what would - less innovation. let me ask you something, what would you - something, what would you expect a company like that to say? they are certainly not going to welcome these changes because these changes allow competitors to be stronger and compete with them and challenge them in the marketplace. these

laws that we are talking about plays consumers first. these companies do not place consumers first, they place their bottom line first. if you read the articles about facebook and facebook, seeing the rising suicide rates among teenage girls in america and continuing to do, but doubling down on their business model, that's something that... believe me, i have seen it and i have heard francis haugen, the whistle—blower, talking about what the company knew about what the company knew about the damaging impacts of some of the products and services they provide on social media platforms. we are very well aware of that but it is interesting, that she also said she did not believe the dismantling, the break—up of facebook would help one little bit. you may be barking at the wrong tree here? figs bit. you may be barking at the wrong tree here? $5 i bit. you may be barking at the wrong tree here?— wrong tree here? as i said, i am in favour _ wrong tree here? as i said, i am in favour of _ wrong tree here? as i said, i am in favour of competition l wrong tree here? as i said, i i am in favour of competition and i am in favour of making sure

that we have a level playing field so competitors can compete with these companies. you keep talking about this heavy hand of government breaking up companies. i think what is important is we allow competitors to give consumers a choice, we allow competitors to give consumers the opportunity to make decisions that do not involve losing their privacy. we make choices based on whether we want, for example, with facebook, wejust talked about, it should only be for young women under 18, should only be hoisted above the shoulders and not full body shots. if we have competition in the marketplace we were the people making sure they offered services and products that parents could make good choices and protect the children. right now, we don't. _ and protect the children. right now, we don't. you _ and protect the children. right now, we don't. you are - and protect the children. right now, we don't. you are a - now, we don't. you are a politician, your business is...

you are a journalist! your business is the art of the possible and what you appear to want to happen to america's most successful economic sector seems to be is not going to happen and your leader in the house kevin mccarthy says your proposals will not fly, the democrats say they will not support you, yes, you have some support you, yes, you have some support amongst progressive liberals but you are a staunch conservative and most republicans right now, arejust not with you so this is going nowhere. not with you so this is going nowhere-— nowhere. well, that is certainly _ nowhere. well, that is certainly your - nowhere. well, that is certainly your view. i nowhere. well, that is| certainly your view. my nowhere. well, that is - certainly your view. my view is that through good arguments, we will get a majority in the house, and the senate, and we will get these bills passed. i have to tell you, i would rather be correct and not get to the finish line than be incorrect. i am to the finish line than be incorrect. iam not to the finish line than be incorrect. i am not going to compromise on the importance that i place on consumers choice and protection in this area. ., ., ., area. let me move on if i made to other areas. _

area. let me move on if i made to other areas. where - area. let me move on if i made to other areas. where you - area. let me move on if i made to other areas. where you havej to other areas. where you have taken a stand. you have taken a stand on covid—19 measures, you, personally, have declared for many months that you will not get vaccinated, is that still your position? my position _ still your position? my position is _ still your position? my position is that - still your position? ij�*i position is that what i still your position? ii position is that what i do still your position? ii1: position is that what i do with the vaccine is my business, i don't believe in vaccine mandates, i don't believe the government should require individuals to put a foreign substance in their body for a disease like this. we have seen a lot of very new and interesting information on the vaccine. what we have seen is people who have been vaccinated are still getting the disease and still dying, some of them still dying from the disease so i think people need to make their own choices and need to be given the best information available and again, we go back to the tech centre, when you censor the debate on something as important as vaccines for covid—19, you are denying

people that information and you are creating a paranoia amongst some people, why is big tech, government, saturating information? i government, saturating information?— government, saturating information? i don't think anybody. _ information? i don't think anybody. i _ information? i don't think anybody, i don't - information? i don't think anybody, i don't think - information? i don't think - anybody, i don't think anybody is censoring the information and the date at which quite clearly shows the vaccines work. they drastically reduce the possibility is that you will get infected at even further reduce the possibility you're going to be hospitalised or killed by covid—19. fire you're going to be hospitalised or killed by covid-19._ or killed by covid-19. are you aware- -- _ or killed by covid-19. are you aware... they _ or killed by covid-19. are you aware... they are _ or killed by covid-19. are you aware... they are sensory - aware... they are sensory information about the fact that young people are at very low risk for having any ill side effects from this disease. congressmen, if i make a simple question, are you aware of what's happening in the hospitals in denver, colorado, your home state, right now? i am aware we have increased numbers of individuals in hospitals and many of them have been vaccinated.— been vaccinated. most have not. let me quote — been vaccinated. most have not. let me quote bob _ been vaccinated. most have not. let me quote bob mcdonald, - let me quote bob mcdonald, executive director of the

denver department of public health who was quite clearly blaming the unvaccinated for what is happening, 83% of those hospitalised with covid—19 have not got vaccinated, he says. hospitals are filling up with those who have chosen not to get vaccinated. when you say it is my choice not to get vaccinated, many watching and listening to this will say, it is not about you, it is about the collective, society, you have a duty to get vaccinated not just to protect yourself but to protect other people. and when you talk about the collective, that's a great word that i think we need to distinguish in terms of american politics and frankly, the liberty and freedom that we believe in in this country. whether i've been vaccinated or not, you keep saying i have not and i said very clearly that it was up to me to make that decision. but i have to tell you that individuals have the ability in this country to be

wrong. and that is something that we cherish in this country. they may have made a decision that is the absolute right decision and they may have made a decision that is the wrong decision but they had that freedom and especially when it comes to their own body and their own decisions concerning medicine and i will absolutely support individuals who decide not to get vaccinated. millions of americans in this country have had this disease and have not even know that they have had this disease and therefore, their immunity has increased. is it not a crying shame that in the united states of america, measures to try and protect the public from covid—19 have become so deeply politicised, and we have republican governors of states like texas and florida going to court to try to stop schools mandating that their pupils should wear masks? is that not a horrible indictment of where

politics and american sits today? politics and american sits toda ? ., ., , ., ., , today? no, what is a horrible indictment — today? no, what is a horrible indictment is _ today? no, what is a horrible indictment is that _ today? no, what is a horrible indictment is that anyone - indictment is that anyone thinks that government should be able to require individuals to stick a needle in their arm and put a substance that government decides is right for you into your body. that is what would be a crying shame. and when you read the statistics which tell us it is quite obvious now infection rates, hospitalisation rates, are much higher in republican leaning areas than democrat voting areas of the united states, in other words, there is an ideological connection to the way covid—19 is heading america, does that disturb you in any way?— america, does that disturb you in any way? what disturbs me is when governors _ in any way? what disturbs me is when governors from _ in any way? what disturbs me is when governors from these - when governors from these liberal states shut down their economies and cause increased suicide rates and cause increased drug abuse and increased drug abuse and increase domestic violence and ijy increase domestic violence and by doing so, those statistics are not brought out. this detects it you mention are brought out and frankly, many of the states you now site have

turned the corner and lowered death rates than the states that have shut their economies and turned their individuals by doing so. and turned their individuals by doinu so. �* , ._ doing so. briefly, ifi may, turnin: doing so. briefly, ifi may, turning to _ doing so. briefly, ifi may, turning to gun _ doing so. briefly, ifi may, turning to gun control - doing so. briefly, ifi may, turning to gun control with you, you are well known as a passionate advocate of second amendment rights. you are said ijy amendment rights. you are said by the new york times to be one of the politicians most heavily financed by the national rifle association. when you read that there's been a massive spike in gun sales, gun ownership, connected bills it seems to what happened onjanuary connected bills it seems to what happened on january the 6th on capitol hill after donald trump is election defeat and also insecurity is fed by the pandemic, when you read about that spike in gun sales and the spike in firearms murders across the united states, does it give you pause to reconsider your position? what is giving me pause is why i ever agree to an interview like this, we need to back up

and go through a number of different parts of your question because it is absolutely unfair, it surprises me it is a respected journalist, you would do that. i am not one of the highest supported members of congress from the nra, i ran an election in 2009 and ten and i lost the race for the united states senate, they spent money in that race and since that time, the nra has not given me much money, a couple of thousand dollars in a couple of election cycles. that does not make me the highest paid or highest supported memberfrom the nra. and the id in this country that we are going to take guns away from people as an idea that is repugnant notjust from people as an idea that is repugnant not just to from people as an idea that is repugnant notjust to me but to a large proportion of the population. a large proportion of the population-— a large proportion of the --oulation. �*, , i. population. it's 'ust you were a staunch h population. it'sjust you were a staunch defender— population. it'sjust you were a staunch defender for - population. it's just you were i a staunch defender for example of maintaining the status quo on assault weapons being legal in the united states. there is a big movement to try and get them banned, as they were

pretty much banned before 2004 but you were absolutely adamantly opposed to that and i wonder, i don't think this is an unfair question but i wonder in the current highly toxic and polarised, potentially violent political culture we see in the united states, whether you would reconsider your position? it is an unfair question and let me explain why, you're only giving one side of the issue. after the assault weapons ban expired, early this century, it was analysed, the statisticians came in and looked at it and it was determined that there was no effect on violent gun crimes in this country as a result of having the quote "assault weapons ban in place. the truth about assault weapons is many people in this country, and i mean millions of people, use a r15 is mean millions of people, use a r 15 is in the countryside to kill predators that are praying on their chickens and small

livestock and people do not want these weapons taken away from them. if they are used by people who have mental illnesses, let's deal with the mental illness, stop dealing and blaming the gun for committing crimes. we have a serious problem in this country with mental illness and we should address that but we should address that but we should not try to take away and constitutionally protected right because we have another issue we refused to deal with. you may think it's unfair i have linked the spike in gun sales and in firearms murders to the political climate but some people would point to things that have happened recently in washington and they would ask what on earth is going on? what i am thinking of is yourfellow going on? what i am thinking of is your fellow republican congressmen putting out a video, a video animation in which a character with his face is seen killing, actually killing the democrat congresswoman alexandria 0casio—cortez, or at least a

character with her face. 0casio—cortez, or at least a character with herface. that was reviled by many in america, it came to the floor of the house as a vote of censure, only two macro republicans actually censored your fellow republican for that, you were not one of those, why not? because i think what we need to deal with in congress as a whole different situation, taking paul �*s committee assignments away from him i think is inappropriate. we had a number of anti—semitic remarks from members on the left who did not lose their committee assignments and i think the hypocrisy of treating one member differently than others is great narrative for the speaker but... it others is great narrative for the speaker but... it comes to olitical the speaker but... it comes to political culture, _ the speaker but... it comes to political culture, donald - the speaker but... it comes to| political culture, donald trump was the most powerful person in your party, claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him which is plainly a live. he claims the real insurrection was actually the election

result rather than the assault on congress which we saw in january the 6th and he has called the people who launch that assault lovely people. where do you as a republican stand on that? are you with donald trump he was now indulging in his big lie or are you defending democracy? i have said i do you defending democracy? i have said i do not _ you defending democracy? i have said i do not believe _ you defending democracy? i have said i do not believe the - said i do not believe the election was stolen, i believe while there were certain improprieties in the election, i do not believe they rose to the level of changing the end result in the election. i have a lot of problem with the discourse and the uncivil nature of the discourse in washington, dc and frankly across this country. i do not think you can blame guns on the one hand for it and i don't think you can blame a particular member of congress for that discourse. speaker nancy pelosi stood behind the president during a state of the union address, and address that millions of americans watch and

is critical to our democracy and she ripped up his speech, that certainly is not civil discourse and it does not... congressman, right, ican assure you we put tough questions to democrats and republicans on the show but the question for you, as a republican is if donald trump runs again and one of his key advisers jason miller says it is 99% certain that he will, are you prepared to support a man, donald trump, who clearly has nothing but disdain and contempt for america's democratic system? again, donald trump _ democratic system? again, donald trump does - democratic system? again, donald trump does not - democratic system? again, | donald trump does not have disdain and contempt for america's political system, when you have a disagreement... i thought you agreed with me his contention that the election result in 2020 was stolen is indeed a lie? i election result in 2020 was stolen is indeed a lie?- stolen is indeed a lie? i did not say it — stolen is indeed a lie? i did not say it was _ stolen is indeed a lie? i did not say it was a _ stolen is indeed a lie? i did not say it was a lie, - stolen is indeed a lie? i did not say it was a lie, i - stolen is indeed a lie? i did not say it was a lie, i said l stolen is indeed a lie? i did not say it was a lie, i said i | not say it was a lie, i said i did not agree with his decision, you are saying he is a liar, i am decision, you are saying he is a liar, iam not decision, you are saying he is a liar, i am not and that is a major difference between your

view of what is going on and my view of what is going on and my view of what is going on. to answer your question, view of what is going on. to answeryour question, i view of what is going on. to answer your question, i will make a decision about who to support for the republican nomination and who to support from that point going forward when we have a nominee for the republican party or we have people who have announced their canvas. i will not speculate on the people who are going to run at this point and who i will support. at this point and who i will swoon-— at this point and who i will su--ort. , . ., ., support. just to be clear and it is important, _ support. just to be clear and it is important, you - support. just to be clear and it is important, you do - support. just to be clear and it is important, you do not i it is important, you do not believe that donald trump claiming the election was stolen is a lie? i claiming the election was stolen is a lie?— stolen is a lie? i don't believe _ stolen is a lie? i don't believe that _ stolen is a lie? i don't believe that the - stolen is a lie? i don't i believe that the election stolen is a lie? i don't - believe that the election was stolen, i have said that. 50. stolen, i have said that. so, one can _ stolen, i have said that. so, one can only _ stolen, i have said that. so, one can only conclude - stolen, i have said that. so, one can only conclude you think donald trump insisting it was stolen was a lie?— stolen was a lie? no, look, i was a prosecutor _ stolen was a lie? no, look, i was a prosecutor for - stolen was a lie? no, look, i was a prosecutor for 25 - stolen was a lie? no, look, i. was a prosecutor for 25 years, there is a lot of people out there is a lot of people out there getting information that is incorrect and they draw conclusions on that but that does not make that a lie. if the information he gets is different from the information i am getting and he makes a

conclusion, there is a fundamental difference in the information and the conclusion we draw. my conclusion is the election was not stolen, his conclusion is the election was stolen, i am conclusion is the election was stolen, iam not conclusion is the election was stolen, i am not going to start throwing around pejorative and accusing a former president of the kind of conduct that you are willing to do. i the kind of conduct that you are willing to do.— are willing to do. i am not a journalist- _ are willing to do. i am not a journalist. a _ are willing to do. i am not a journalist. a final— are willing to do. i am not a journalist. a final point, - are willing to do. i am not a journalist. a final point, a i journalist. a final point, a very well known republican writer and thinker robert keegan has quit the party because of his disgust of donald trump and he says we are, right now, in the midst of are, right now, in the midst of a massive american constitutional truck crisis. he says of donald trump runs again and if donald trump wins in 2024, we could be looking at the destruction of american democracy. the destruction of american democracy-— the destruction of american democra . ~ . , democracy. what is your view? i do not think _ democracy. what is your view? i do not think we _ democracy. what is your view? i do not think we are _ democracy. what is your view? i do not think we are looking - democracy. what is your view? i do not think we are looking at i do not think we are looking at the destruction of american democracy, i think one of the issues we have is the left in this country have adopted socialist policies. i this country have adopted socialist policies. i quoted to ou a socialist policies. i quoted to you a well— socialist policies. i quoted to you a well known _ socialist policies. i quoted to you a well known republican i you a well known republican thinker, not a leftist. can i

finish my answer?- thinker, not a leftist. can i finish my answer? sure. ok. i think the _ finish my answer? sure. ok. i think the left _ finish my answer? sure. ok. i think the left has _ finish my answer? sure. ok. i think the left has adopted - think the left has adopted socialist policies, they have adopted policies that are opposed to our veterans, our police, and most of america is upset about that. we saw a recent election in virginia for the republican candidate beat a former governor for the governor position. we see the shift in public opinion in this case, in this country, to the right and we see it because people reject the policies of the left. i don't think that is a constitutional crisis, i think if donald trump runs and if he wins, it is because of joe biden �*s weakness and it is because this country is not well served with the democrat party. congressman ken buck, we are sadly out — party. congressman ken buck, we are sadly out of _ party. congressman ken buck, we are sadly out of time _ party. congressman ken buck, we are sadly out of time but - party. congressman ken buck, we are sadly out of time but thank . are sadly out of time but thank you so much forjoining me from colorado. you so much for “oining me from colorado. ., ~ , .,

hello there. after a spell of cold weather, the final day of november brought a return to something milder, something much milder, in fact — westerly winds which fed a lot of cloud across the uk but brought temperatures of 12, 13 or 14 degrees in many places. away from the far north, cold air clung on across shetland and that cold air has been staging a return over recent houi’s. this area of low pressure has worked its way through. and that plunge of cold air will continue to take effect as we head through wednesday, the first day of december, it the first day of the meteorological winter. and it will feel like it for many of us.

there will be some spells of sunshine, but we'll see showers or longer spells of rain drifting southwards, some wintry weather mixing in over high ground, especially across the northern half of the uk. and if we do see any showers into northern scotland through the afternoon, they are likely to fall as snow to very low levels indeed. it will remain windy, particularly gusty winds around the coasts, gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour and temperatures, if anything, coming down as the day goes on. so afternoon values between two and nine degrees. with that brisk wind, it will feel cold out there. now, through wednesday night, we will see some clear spells, some wintry showers too. could see some snow to relatively low levels across parts of eastern england. certainly snow to low levels in the northern part of scotland and temperatures, well, they will drop very close to freezing, below freezing in places. a widespread frost and perhaps some icy stretches to contend with on thursday morning. still quite breezy to start thursday. still some wintry showers, particularly in the east. but this area of high pressure is going to be trying to build its way in,

so that means we will see more in the way of dry weather. as we go through the day, the showers will become fewer and further between. there will be more dry weather, some spells of sunshine, although our next frontal system will be introducing cloud and some rain into northern ireland and the far west of scotland. a very chilly feeling day indeed, highs between three and nine degrees. and then another change in the weather as we move out of thursday into friday. this frontal system pushes eastwards. some snow on its leading edge, but this will be introducing milder air once again from the atlantic, so a bit of rain around in places on friday. there will be some good spells of dry weather as well, but it will feel milder to end the week.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. compulsory vaccinations a possibility for germany, as the new coronavirus strain spreads across the globe. mike pence calls on the us supreme court to overturn the landmark abortion legislation roe v wade. �*lovely bones' author, alice sebold, apologises for her part in the conviction of a man found innocent after 16 years injail. the human cost of the war in yemen — our middle east editor jeremy bowen sends a special report. the way this war ends is not

in the hands of yemenis