sharon works at debenhams.— those are at risk as well. sharon works at debenhams. and the high street is changing - works at debenhams. it is a big blow and the high street is changing all. and the high street is changing all the time and you worry how that will end up looking. customers like to come in and try things on and have that experience with people like myself who help them with their products and what they want to buy. who would have thoughtjust a few years ago that the online upstart boohoo would be buying one of the biggest, oldest names in british retail? and that asos would be on the verge of picking up the crown jewels of sir philip green's retail empire? it all showsjust jewels of sir philip green's retail empire? it all shows just how much this industry is changing. big gaps to fill on the high street as well. mark robinson, a landlord who advises the government on revitalising town centres. tt is revitalising town centres. it is auoin to revitalising town centres. it is going to be — revitalising town centres. tt 3 going to be dreadful, but then t

sharon works at debenhams. up looking. customers like to come in and try things on and have that experience with people like myself who help them with their products and what they want to buy. who would have thoughtjust a few years ago that the online upstart boohoo would be buying one of the biggest, oldest names in british retail, and that asos would be on the verge of picking up the crown jewels of sir philip green's retail empire? it all shows just how much this industry's changing. big gaps to fill on the high street too. mark robinson's a landlord who advises the government on revitalising town centres. short—term, it's going to be dreadful, but then we had created these clone towns that people fell out of love with. we had these problems before covid started and we'll have to replace them with things that are relevant for the future and if we get it right, i can see 2021 being the turning point for the high street. but not yet. the remaining debenhams stores will reopen to clear stock and then close for

and top man and top — say with debenhams, as well. top topshop and _ say with debenhams, as well. and top man and top topshop and miss - man and top topshop and miss selfridge will be brought out as well? , , ., _ ., ., well? yes, this deal by no means a done deal. — well? yes, this deal by no means a done deal, not _ well? yes, this deal by no means a done deal, not confirmed - well? yes, this deal by no means a done deal, not confirmed in - well? yes, this deal by no means a done deal, not confirmed in any . well? yes, this deal by no means a l done deal, not confirmed in any way whatsoever but it seems there are many parallels between the fate of debenhams and the fate in some respects of brands like topshop, dorothy perkins, wallis, burton's. we are led to believe asos are interested but in the brand only, not shops, stores or potentially the staff either. there seems there is a big move from the online retailers, asos and boohoo, to stake a claim on the well—known bryants that i've been on our high streets for so long. but the sh

what we have heard from debenhams todayis what we have heard from debenhams today is they will try andrd there in the report, the implications of this are far—reaching. they will have a big impact on town and city centres that rely on big stores like debenhams to be the anchor tenant because without them, it is difficult to convince people to go into town and city centres given all the other restrictions on parking that you might find. so there will be big gaps on many high streets now. these big stores that take up a lot of space but that in itself is part of the problem. saddled with big debts and high rent rates to pay and the cost of those 12,000 staff, those retailers have not been nimble enough to cope with either some of their other rivals on the high street, the likes of h and zara and primark but those new online rivals, a source and boohoo that have stolen a source and boohoo that have stolen a lead. debenhams problems go back decades because even at the height of their success when they were doing very well, attracting people through their doors with their designers at deben

critics say it debenhams stood now for very little.bs. we know that boohoo is paying just £55 million for the brand and will not take on the stock, stories or staff. for many towns up and down the country, that will prove to be a huge blow, because we know that debenhams in many town high street is what is known as an anchor tenant, one of the big names that would normally be one of the attractions for people to go into that town centre and hopefully spend money in other outlets that are there. there are some examples where debenhams is the key retailer in a big shopping mall and will not open, proving to be a real drag on that shopping mall and also leaving a big hole in what it offers. i think it is because it has failed to keep up with the times that it has found it so difficult to find a buyer. we know that it has beenin find a buyer. we know that it has been in administration for a number of years and has struggled to find anyone who to buy it as a going concern. saying, yes we will have the brand, but we don't want the stories or

many of those employees will have been with debenhams for many years.up not being there, it is in the very short term we could start to see vacancy rates of a third or even one in two stores, of those major retail collectives, until we can see this balance out. so we have an urgent cry for some estimation of the high street. the solution will not be pure retail but it has to be something to make sure that we have still got places to be when we are able to be a community wants more and be together. —— be a community once more. but what will that look like? how can city centres be saved when work from home habits might also stick? perhaps questions for tomorrow. today it's about those 12,000 debenhams employees absorbing the news. tomorrow, we will get the latest unemployment figures and what we have seen over the months is people at the beginning of their careers and at the end of their careers who have suffered most and they are the exact categories of people who might work in topshop and debenhams. the new owners, boohoo, telling us, they have thanked

the case of debenham's, this is a uk flagship store, a huge brick and mortar star.e department stores all over the country the business model actually begun to -- became the achilles heel they had these very long-dated rents, long-term leases. when the pandemic hit, and even before the pandemic hit, they started running into some cash flow management issues and this is why debenham's got into trouble they had to take on more debt to keep servicing their brands for these leases and not managing to stay up with changing fashion trends and the shift to online and digital sales, where obviously, you know, players like asos and boohoo have led the pace one thing i would say, though, is we've talked a lot about how 2020 was the year of the pandemic and that it's shifted -- changed the way we work, changed the way we shop and accelerated many trends in the space. but for retail, it's really, really been a difficult year i was just reading in the uk alone about 180,000 jobs have been lost in 2020. looking ahead to 2021, they're also expecting as many as 200,000 jobs to be l

the online fashion retailer, boohoo, has bought the debenhams brand and its website.f the retailer's stores or its 12,000 staff. simon browing reports. debenhams, a high street bastian for over two centuries but it's been in distress for years, as online shopping accelerated and perceptions it couldn't keep up, as our retail habits change. now boohoo, one of the huge new online brands which has challenged so many of our traditional retailers, has bought what's left. boohoo's purchase of devon and sees them just take the website and brand name, meaning stores like this and 117 others across the country are now set to close. it is truly devastating news that the company's12,000 employees. but unfortunately the pandemic continues to wreak havoc for businesses that were already struggling to survive.- businesses that were already struggling to survive. what that is auoin to struggling to survive. what that is going to mean _ struggling to survive. what that is going to mean for _ struggling to survive. what that is going to mean for the _ struggling to survive. what that

sharon works at debenhams.e of the biggest, oldest names in british retail? and that asos would be on the verge of picking up the crown jewels of sir philip green's retail empire? it all shows just how much this industry is changing. big gaps to fill on the high street as well. mark robinson, a landlord who advises the government on revitalising town centres. it is going to be dreadful, but then the date we created these things that people fell in love, we had these problems before covid started and we will have to replace them with things that are relevant for the future and if we get it right, i can see 2021 being the turning point for the high street. but not yet. the remaining debenhams stores will reopen to clear stock and then close for good. the mother of 15—year—old keon lincoln, who died after being attacked in birmingham last week, says she heard the gunshots that killed him. five teenage boys have so far been arrested in connection with his death. in an emotional appeal, sharmaine lincoln pleaded wit

the remaining debenhams stores are to be closed permanently, after the brand was bought by the onlineof debenhams will have a domino effect in reducing footfall for other shops? this will disproportionately affect women who traditionally held many more roles in the retail sector, and many of these roles are now going towards distribution centres, where as we know, the gender balance is different. we are doing all we can to assist the sector - in these very times. there was bad news for grey squirrels in the week. 0riginally introduced from america, in the past century, numbers have rocketed — and now they're officially classed as a pest. they're blamed for the decline of their native cousin, the red squirrel. now a minister had news. we support work by the uk's squirrel accord to develop an oral contraceptive to reduce the grey squirrel population. now the government's confirmed it's delaying laws to protect nature, due to pressure on parliament from the coronavirus pandemic. mps spent the afternoon debating amendments to the environment bill, but further scrutiny has been postponed u

the remaining debenhams stores are to be closed permanently, after the brand was bought by the online debenhams will have a domino effect in reducing footfall for other shops? this will disproportionately affect women who traditionally held many more roles in the retail sector, and many of these roles are now going towards distribution centres, where as we know, the gender balance is different. we are doing all we can to assist the sector - in these very times. there was bad news for grey squirrels in the week. 0riginally introduced from america, in the past century, numbers have rocketed — and now they're officially classed as a pest. they're blamed for the decline of their native cousin, the red squirrel. now a minister had news. we support work by the uk's squirrel accord to develop an oral contraceptive to reduce the grey squirrel population. now the government's confirmed it's delaying laws to protect nature, due to pressure on parliament from the coronavirus pandemic. mps spent the afternoon debating amendments to the environment bill, but further scrutiny has been postponed unt

truly staggering. i and an appeal to help those hardest hit by the collapse of the retail giant debenhamsis will disproportionately affect women who traditionally hold many more roles in the retail sector. but first: prime minister's questions saw mps in reflective mood, following the news that the uk's coronavirus death toll had passed 100,000. more people have now died with coronavirus in the second wave than the first. the number of cases reached record levels in early january — partly driven by a new variant of the virus thought to be much more easily transmissible than other strains. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, who's self—isolating, said behind each and every death was a grieving family, friend, colleague, or neighbour. he wanted to hear the prime minister's explanation for the figures. the question on everyone�*s lips this morning is, "why?" the prime minister must�*ve thought about that question a lot. so can he tell us why he thinks that the united kingdom has ended up with a death toll of 100,000, the highest number in europe? the prime minister said he mourned every dea

some 12,000 jobs will be lost at debenhams at its 118 stores.l, but then the date we created these things that people fell in love, we had these problems before covid started and we will have to replace them with things that are relevant for the future and if we get it right, i can see 2021 being the turning point for the high street. the remaining debenhams stores will reopen to clear stock and then close for good. emma simpson, bbc news. this is outside source live from the bbc newsroom. our lead story... the us is about to re—impose bans on nearly all foreign travellers to slow the spread of new variants of covid. president putin has described protesters who'd gathered across russia last weekend in support of the jailed opposition leader alexei navalny as "terrorists who drive women and children in front of them". mr putin was being interviewed by students. here he is. the russian president doesn't often speak about mr navalny or his movement, but his arrest and the protests have given the issue a much higher profile in russia. here's what mr

sharon works at debenhams.hams stores will reopen to clear stock and then close for good. so, a new wind is blowing through washington but will it bring with it, a green revolution? just how much change canjoe biden deliver on an issue that remains — despite all the evidence — so divisive. today the us is the second biggest polluter in the world — and right now only 11 per cent of us energy comes from renewable sources. it's a repeating pattern. last year — global investment in clean energy surpassed 500 billion dollars for the first time. but our dependence on fossil fuels has remained stubbornly high. get this — since 1990 the proportion of global energy coming from oil, coal and natural gas has dropped byjust1 percent — to 80 percent. despite all the money that has been invested. let's speak now to heather zichal — chief executive of the american clean power association, former environment aide in obama's white house and advisor on biden's 2020 campaign. she joins us from northern virginia. to explain how so

12,000 jobs are likely to disappear from the high street as debenhams goes out of business.igh street retail that we have ever seen. even before the pandemic, high street stores were contending with online rivals, but as covid closed nonessential retail those without a website saw business disappear overnight. it was a painful contrast to the panic buying that emptied supermarket shelves amid soaring sales of toilet roll, flour, eggs and pasta. absolute nightmare to be perfectly honest. not a lot on the shelves left. no toilet roll at all. it's been a roller coaster. i never imagined i would end up doing a story about loo roll, how much we produce of it, for the national news. but in a way, that's how the pandemic, for me, started to unfold. in retail. because we all knew that the lockdown was brewing so what did lots of people do? they made a dash to the shops to stockpile. when the lockdown came, the high street effectively shut. those town centres so eerily quiet and for the high street retailers, those sales just evaporated. 0vernight they went into crisis mode. some wou

one such business was debenhams and we _ are. one such business was debenhams and we know— are. alongside online players. the chancellor desperately needs income. the reform _ chancellor desperately needs income. the reform of something like business _ the reform of something like business rates will give him that extra _ business rates will give him that extra income. it business rates will give him that extra income.— extra income. it is fascinating about some _ extra income. it is fascinating about some of _ extra income. it is fascinating about some of the _ extra income. it is fascinating about some of the changes i extra income. it is fascinating i about some of the changes that extra income. it is fascinating - about some of the changes that had been brought about. interesting to see it this morning. by dragon of dragons den. so many issues for retailers to contend with right now, not least those lockdown restrictions. coming out the different ways of doing things, being more flexible and adaptable with how they cope with customers and making sure they are still here when

the online retailer boohoo is set to buy the debenhams brand and website.ing on any of the remaining 118 stores or some of its 12,00 staff. the 240 year—old chain is already in the process of closing down after administrators failed to secure a rescue deal for the business. with all the sport now, here's john watson at the bbc sport centre. mishal, thanks. manchester united and liverpool locked horns again, this time in the fa cup. if you're waiting to watch the highlights which follow the news, you might want to look away as united came out on top in a five—goal thriller at old trafford to reach the fifth round. patrick gearey reports. cheering the noise you hear might be recorded, the fans you see might seem a little flat, but this is a fixture that could never feel empty. there's something on every game, every pass, every goal. especially that one, from liverpool's mo salah. it was his side's first since the last round, ending a dry january. manchester united, though, are league leaders, and they have marcus rashford — a man of vision, who spotted mason

debenhams is to disappear from the high street with the loss of 12,000 jobs.ite, but not the stores or stock. taxi drivers, security guards and care workers record some of the highest rates of death from coronavirus, according to new data. among those getting sick with covid—19 are, of course, healthcare workers themselves, who sometimes end up being treated by their colleagues. louise cullen has been speaking to one frontline worker, supported by his work family as he said goodbye to one of his own. i'm a 45—year—old who is fit and healthy with no underlying health problems. i have been reduced to a child again. this wasjonathan newell as his recovery began last november, on the respiratory covid ward he had volunteered on since march. he was rushed to craigavon in october. i don't remember being in the ed. i don't remember being admitted to the ward. after that i can remember going down a corridor and all these bright lights... and hearing a voice saying, "we're just going to put you "to sleep for a wee while." and that was it. within 2a hours, three more of

boohoo is set to buy the debenhams brand and website, the bbc understands. be taking on any of the company's remaining 118 high street stores or its workforce. the 2a2—year—old chain is already in the process of closing down, with the likely loss of 12,000 jobs. asos hasjoined the race to buy topshop, topman and miss selfridge out of administration. however, the online retailer only wants to buy the brands and not their shops, suggesting any deal would costjobs. sir philip green's arcadia group, which also owns burton and dorothy perkins, fell into administration last november putting 13,000 jobs at risk. mastercard will raise fees by more than five times when british shoppers buy from eu—based companies using debit or credit cards, according to a report by the financial times. the costs were previously capped by the eu, but since the uk left the bloc they no longer apply, as payments are deemed �*inter—regional.�* what can business do to help with mental health at work? with depression and anxiety estimated to have cost the global economy one trillion dolla

debenhams, which is in administration, its flagship store just around the corner from here is one ofwhich owns brands such as topshop, dorothy perkins and burton's, it's struggling to find a buyer. we heard just late last night that next, that was one of the big names in line to buy topshop, the jewel in the crown of the arcadia empire, has pulled out of the race. it says it's too expensive. and so the warning that there may be many more thousands ofjobs lost on our high streets as much more shopping moves online, there is a real concern that 2021 could get much worse. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has defended the government's economic response to the pandemic after borrowing hit a record high for december. more than £34 billion was needed by the government last month to help pay for covid support. borrowing for this financial year has now reached more than £270 billion. let's get more from our economics correspondent andy verity. ma eye—watering figures? ma eye-watering figures? in a way, our “ob is ma eye-watering figures? in a way, ourjob is easy _ ma eye-watering figures? in a wa

and debenhams is the latest casualty.brand but is not taking on the stores or its 12,000 strong workforce. i taking on the stores or its 12,000 strong workforce.— strong workforce. i don't think we've ever _ strong workforce. i don't think we've ever seen _ strong workforce. i don't think we've ever seen anything i strong workforce. i don't think we've ever seen anything like | strong workforce. i don't think- we've ever seen anything like this, and unfortunately i don't think it's going to stop. this and unfortunately i don't think it's going to stop-— and unfortunately i don't think it's going to stop. this cheshire -based recruiter says _ going to stop. this cheshire -based recruiter says despite _ going to stop. this cheshire -based recruiter says despite the _ going to stop. this cheshire -based recruiter says despite the obvious l recruiter says despite the obvious challenges, there are new opportunities, also might. retail is massive. opportunities, also might. retail is massive- you _ opportunities, also might. re

and debenhams is the latest casualty.ver seen anything like this and unfortunately i don't think it's going to stop. this cheshire—based recruiter specialises in retail roles and says lockdown has accelerated the shift towards online by more than five years. some of the retailers that we are seeing in the client were already in decline because they haven't innovated, they haven't looked forward to what the consumer wants. and this has made it faster and made it all condensed so it feels really, really tough. lots of that i think would have happened anyway. but for andrea, losing herjob so suddenly came as a shock. i thought, oh, we'll be closed for a couple of months and then we'll be back up and running and everything will be fine. no, i was totally wrong. for the last 28 years, andrea has worked for fashion brand jaeger, most recently as a manager at the leamington spa store. but the chain collapsed and andrea lost herjob two weeks ago. i was upset, because i felt as though i was losing a lot, because it had been very d

debenhams, which is in administration, its flagship storejust which is in administration, its flagship is one of five which will not to reopen even when restrictions are eased. arcadia group which owns brands such as topshop, dorothy perkins, and burton, is struggling to find a buyer. next was one of the big names in the line to buy topshop, thejewel in big names in the line to buy topshop, the jewel in the crown of the arcadia empire, but it has pulled out of the race. they said it is too expensive. the warning that there may be many more thousands of jobs lost on our high street as many morejobs move online, there is a concern that 2021 could get much worse. the headlines on bbc news... hopes the epidemic is beginning to shrink — as the r number in the uk falls below one for the first time in over a month. police break up a wedding party with 400 guests — being held at a school in north london. retail sales suffer their largest annual fall on record, because of coronavirus — with clothing sales particularly hard hit. the us presidentjoe biden has said that a wartime effort is needed

you might be able to make out debenhams, the flagship store, it of course is in administration, thatlifted, they will close the store entirely. just down the way from here, arcadia, that owns dorothy perkins, burton, miss selfridge, its future also in doubt and at the start of this year, this first quarter of 2021 is looking pretty bleak. we will get the confirmation of a double—dip recession when we get the final figures for the end of last year, remember, these figures tell us what has already happened, they are looking backwards but nonetheless, once again, the chancellor telling us this morning things will get worse before they start to improve. ben thompson, on 0xford worse before they start to improve. ben thompson, on oxford street for us this morning, thank you. labour is demanding a statement from the home secretary, priti patel, after it emerged that 150,000 arrest records were accidentally wiped from police databases. the home office says it's assessing the impact of the glitch, which happened last week, but insists no records of criminals or dangerous persons were deleted

debenhams is an administration, its big store around the corner is one of five that will not open.ge, bertens, theirfuture perkins, miss selfridge, bertens, their future remains perkins, miss selfridge, bertens, theirfuture remains in doubt. last night next, one of the big names in the frame to buy topshop, pulled out of that race, saying it was too expensive and they were no longer interested. the future for those brands remains in doubt although we expect topshop will find a buyer. tt expect topshop will find a buyer. it would be difficult to imagine oxford street without that iconic headline stauffer topshop. talking more broadly, uk government borrowing £34.1 billion last month. at that in context especially as we look to whether the government can offer more support whether to retail or other sectors. more support whether to retail or other sectors-_ more support whether to retail or other sectors. yes, we are talking about these _ other sectors. yes, we are talking about these numbers. _ other sectors. yes, we are talking about these numbers. they i other sectors. yes, we are

12,000 jobs are likely to disappear from the high street as debenhams goes out of business.ed non—essential retail those without a website saw business disappear overnight. it was a painful contrast to the panic buying that emptied supermarket shelves amid soaring sales of toilet roll, flour, eggs and pasta. absolute nightmare to be perfectly honest. not a lot on the shelves left. no toilet roll at all. it's been a roller coaster. i never imagined i would end up doing a story about loo roll, how much we produce of it, for the national news. but in a way, that's how the pandemic, for me, started to unfold. in retail. because we all knew that the lockdown was brewing so what did lots of people do? they made a dash to the shops to stockpile. when the lockdown came, the high street effectively shut. those town centres so eerily quiet and for the high street retailers, those sales just evaporated. overnight they went into crisis mode. some would say the pandemic has just speeded up change that was happening already. there was a big move online, the high street was already struggl

after more than 240 years, debenhams will vanish from the high street — bought by online retailer boohoo

we know debenhams is in administration, the arcadia group that owns topshop and dorothy perkins, thatto get chocolate happiness into british households. how ways to get chocolate happiness into british households.— ways to get chocolate happiness into british households. how do you make sure that you — british households. how do you make sure that you have _ british households. how do you make sure that you have a _ british households. how do you make sure that you have a decent _ sure that you have a decent proposition to get people back through the doors? we know that pandemic has sped up change that was happening already, shopping online is convenient and easy, you get it to your front is convenient and easy, you get it to yourfront door. is convenient and easy, you get it to your front door. what you have to do to get people into the shops again? do to get people into the shops auain? ., . , , again? nothing new, really, it is the aood again? nothing new, really, it is the good old _ again? nothing new, really, it is the good old formula _ again? nothing new, really, it is the goo

debenhams, which is in administration, its flagship store just around the corner from here is one ofhop, dorothy perkins and burton's, it's struggling to find a buyer. we heard just late last night that next, that was one of the big names in line to buy topshop, the jewel in the crown of the arcadia empire, has pulled out of the race. it says it's too expensive. and so the warning that there may be many more thousands ofjobs lost on our high streets as much more shopping moves online, there is a real concern that 2021 could get much worse. ben thompson reporting there. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has defended the government's economic response to the pandemic, after borrowing hit a record high for december. more than £34 billion was needed by the government last month to help pay for covid support. borrowing for this financial year has now reached more than £270 billion. here's our economics correspondent, andy verity. if you look at the amount that's been borrowed this financial year, in other words, from april to december, as you mentioned, it's up to £270 billion. that's more tha

and debenhams is the latest casualty.tailer boohoo is buying the brand but is not taking on the stores or its 12,000 strong workforce. i don't think we've ever seen anything like this, and unfortunately i don't think it's going to stop. this cheshire—based recruiter says, despite the obvious challenges, there are new opportunities, too. retail as a sector is massive. you have the distribution network of retail, online, and there are newjobs that have been created in e—commerce, marketing and lots of other places. for the last 28 years, andrea has worked for fashion brand jaeger, most recently as a manager at the leamington spa store, but the chains collapsed and she lost herjob does make weeks ago. obviously, i'm having to apply for benefits and obviously i'm trying to keep my flat on. salary coming in and you've got bills to pay. the government says grants and loans are helping to protectjobs during these difficult times, but economists warn the furlough scheme is hiding the true picture of unemployment, and worse is sti

debenhams is the latest casualty.n in decline were already in decline because they hadn't innovated, they hadn't look forward to the consumer wants. this has made it faster and made it all condensed, so it feels really, really tough, but i have a lot of that i think would have happened anyway. but for andrea, losing herjob so suddenly came as a shock. i thought we would be closed for a couple of months and then we would be back up and running and it will be fine. i was totally wrong. for the last 28 years, andrea has worked for fashion brand jaeger, most recently as a manager at the leamington spa store, but the chain collapsed and andrea lost herjob two weeks ago. i was upset because i felt as though i was losing a lot, because it had been very dear to me. obviously, i'm having to apply for benefits, obviously i am trying to keep my flat on. it is hard just to suddenly feel there is no salary coming in and you have got bills to pay. retailers continue to cutjobs and close stores to try to survive, but economists warn

are seeing businesses that are very shaped online doing well and more traditional retailers like debenhams 'ust send them over the brink._ over the brink. thank you for “oininr over the brink. thank you for joining us- — over the brink. thank you for joining us. katie _ over the brink. thank you for joining us. katie prescott, i over the brink. thank you for i joining us. katie prescott, there. nissan has told the bbc that its plant in sunderland is now secure. the carmarker says the trade agreement reached between the uk and the eu was positive. chief operating officer ashwani gupta said around 7,000 jobs in the uk were safe, and by implication tens of thousands more across the supply chain. mr gupta has been speaking to our business editor simonjack, from nissan's headquarters injapan. the sunderland plant being one of the best plants we have in the world with more than 35 years of history, we have invested more than £4 billion in this plant and we have spent £3.5 billion every year which goes to the uk economy. we are going to redefine the auto industry in the united kingdom because bre