Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News at One 20240711

Charities say its bad timing. In december we saw that 2. 1 Million People were behind on their bills. Thats 600,000 more than february last year. An outstanding 100 by an outstanding player. Scoring a hundred at his 100th test joe root� s special day. This is a meeting called by two councilors. Illegally who may now elect a chairman. Not they cant, because the vice chairs here i take charge and, when Online Meetings go wrong. The Parish Council session thats gone viral. And coming up on bbc news, the only two male brits in the Australian Open have been drawn against each other. Dan evans will play Cameron Norrie in the first round. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. Covid infections are continuing to fall in most parts of the uk, with one in 65 people testing positive in england in the last week of january. New figures from the office for National Statistics show a drop in scotland and Northern Ireland with infections remaining level in wales. It comes amidst calls for the government to give more details on the easing of lockdown measures. In a further development, the government says it plans to give everyone in england who is over 50 or clinically vulnerable at least one dose of vaccine by may. 0ur Health Correspondent Katherine Da Costa reports. England Katherine Da Costa reports. Has made a strong stai the england has made a strong start to the vaccination programme. More than 10 Million People have now had their first dose. In the next few weeks, experts say immunisation should have a real impact on reducing deaths and hospital admissions. That has prompted a small number of conservative backbenchers to renew calls for an early end to lockdown. We know what the government set was the reason for this third lockdown. Now that threat is receding, we ought to be, and indeed we are, and the government says we are, looking to open up. We also know now that the vaccines are going to benefit, with the enormous number of people who have been vaccinated, and we also know the vaccines are going to benefit, in terms of transmissions, in terms of cutting hospitalisations. All of those metrics should be moving rapidly in the right direction. The right direction. Latest figures show infections the right direction. Latest figures show infections are the right direction. Latest figures show infections are falling the right direction. Latest figures show infections are falling across most parts of the uk and have labelled off in wales. The prevalence remains high, with the office of National Statistics adjusting one in 65 had the virus in england in the week to last saturday. But the Health Service is still under intense pressure, with 50 more Covid Patients done during the first peak last spring. Health Officials Say cases need to be at very low levels before restrictions a re very low levels before restrictions are eased to avoid another surge. This virus is not pleasant for patients. Its not pleasant to do a bit and we would like to see levelled at a really safe level before we take our foot off the gas. We dont want to be in this position again and we want our hospitals in some sort of state that they can cope with what used to be normal, if we are going to head back towards that. U. , we are going to head back towards that. H. ,. ,. ,. , we are going to head back towards that. ,. ,. ,. , , that. Vaccination remains our best wa of that. Vaccination remains our best way of tackling that. Vaccination remains our best way of tackling the that. Vaccination remains our best way of tackling the virus. Way of tackling the virus. Assessments of the roll out so far have found both the pfizer and astrazeneca vaccines are extremely safe. Data up to the 24th Of January found nearly 23,000 suspected side effects were reported. Thats about three in every 1000 people. The vast majority of cases were mild, such as a sore arm or tiredness. Severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer Vaccine are very rare, affecting between one and two cases per 100,000. Affecting between one and two cases per100,000. Because affecting between one and two cases per 100,000. Because of the risk, doctors have said that those with a history of significant allergic reaction should not have the Pfizer Vaccine. ,. ,. ,. , vaccine. They have data from 10 Million People, vaccine. They have data from 10 Million People, and vaccine. They have data from 10 Million People, and they vaccine. They have data from 10 Million People, and they look i vaccine. They have data from 10| Million People, and they look as safe as they were reported in the earliest studies. So that is really encouraging. That is a huge amount of data showing that, essentially, the side effects are no different to most vaccines that we get. I hope that will be very reassuring to the General Public. That will be very reassuring to the General Public General Public. Assessments will continue as General Public. Assessments will continue as the General Public. Assessments will continue as the rollout General Public. Assessments will continue as the rollout is General Public. Assessments will i continue as the rollout is wrapped continue as the roll out is wrapped up. The government hopes to have offered more than 30 Million People, the over 50s and those with health conditions, and jab by the spring. The government has been defending its plans to quarantine people arriving in the uk, in a scheme due to begin in ten days time. People travelling from countries with high Infection Rates will have to stay in a hotel at their own expense, in an effort to control the spread of new variants of coronavirus. Labour says the scheme should extend to all international travellers. Helena wilkinson reports. Its Hotels Near Airports like heathrow which are expected to sign up. Once a uk resident or Irish National arrives from one of 30 covid hot spots, they will be escorted and required to quarantine for ten nights in a hotel. The Government Banker says they are working at pace and hotels will have enough time to prepare. The working at pace and hotels will have enough time to prepare. Enough time to prepare. The whole oint of enough time to prepare. The whole point of this enough time to prepare. The whole point of this is enough time to prepare. The whole point of this is that enough time to prepare. The whole point of this is that we enough time to prepare. The whole point of this is that we give enough time to prepare. The whole point of this is that we give the point of this is that we give the hotels notice, because they will need to change the way they operate. We are asking them to do something very different. We are giving them time to make adjustments and we also ourselves time to ensure that this policy is effective, by working with International Partners and giving our Border Enforcement Officials the time they need to prepare to make this work. The time they need to prepare to make this work. ,. , time they need to prepare to make this work. , time they need to prepare to make this work. ,. , this work. The Quarantine Rules are bein this work. The Quarantine Rules are being brought this work. The Quarantine Rules are being brought in this work. The Quarantine Rules are being brought in to this work. The Quarantine Rules are being brought in to control this work. The Quarantine Rules are being brought in to control the being brought in to control the spread of new variants of the virus. But some hotels say they have not been contacted by the government. 0thers been contacted by the government. Others say they wont have enough time to prepare. The Chief Executive of the London Hotel Group already runs a hotel that accommodates people quarantining because of covid. It took them nine months to set up. Covid. It took them nine months to set u. , covid. It took them nine months to set u. ,. , covid. It took them nine months to setu. ,. , set up. There has been no open dialouue set up. There has been no open dialogue between set up. There has been no open dialogue between hospitality i set up. There has been no open dialogue between Hospitality Sector and the government. I sent a step plan to them last week, and yesterday afternoon a document has come out and they are expecting people to fill that document in and submit it, and give these hotels open on the 15th of february. Labour sa s the open on the 15th of february. Labour says the scheme open on the 15th of february. Labour says the scheme should open on the 15th of february. Labour says the scheme should be open on the 15th of february. Labour| says the scheme should be extended to all international travellers, not just some countries. It is to all international travellers, not just some countries. Just some countries. It is utterly shambolic just some countries. It is utterly shambolic that just some countries. It is utterly shambolic that this just some countries. It is utterly shambolic that this is just some countries. It is utterly shambolic that this is being just some countries. It is utterly shambolic that this is being brought into effect on the 15th of february. That is into effect on the 15th of february. That is over into effect on the 15th of february. That is over 50 days since the South African that is over 50 days since the South African strain was first discovered in This African Strain was first discovered in this country. And little wonder, frankly, in this country. And little wonder, frankly, that it reached our shores. It is expected more than 1000 residents per day will return from places where new variants are prevalent. Details on how passengers will book their place in a Quarantine Hotel are expected to be set out by the government next week. Helena wilkinson, bbc news. Waless Education Minister Kirsty Williams says the country is not yet in a position to allow all School Pupils to return to the classroom. She confirmed that children aged 3 7 will be back at school from february 22, along with some older children on Vocational College courses. But there has been no timetable given for a return for other children. 0ur Health Editor hugh pym is here. Another busy day. We focus on new figures, of course. A fall in many parts of the uk. What should we be reading into this . Reading into this . Well, jane, this week has brought reading into this . Well, jane, this week has brought more reading into this . Well, jane, this week has brought more positive i reading into this . Well, jane, this week has brought more positive news. We learn from Professor Chris Whitty that, in the view of him and fellow experts, we were past the peak. Things were moving in the right direction. We know that daily reported case numbers are down around a quarter, week on week. It is nearly the same for daily hospital admissions. Is nearly the same for daily hospitaladmissions. Now we is nearly the same for daily hospital admissions. Now we have had the ons hospital admissions. Now we have had the 0ns survey, we heard about that a bit earlier, which is a broader survey of infections because it takes in people who dont know theyve got the virus and who dont have symptoms. That does suggest last week, in england, scotland and Northern Ireland, at least, case rates were falling. Although they were level in wales. So, things are looking more optimistic. That is why we are hearing political calls for Lockdown Restrictions to be eased more rapidly. It also warnings from the nhs that there is still a very large number of patients in hospital with covid 19. There was overall Hospital Numbers remain high. We had a warning earlier this week that the current vaccination programme, focusing on the top four Priority Groups, those aged 70 and over, would have an impact there. But there are, of course, admissions among those under the age of 70. People will continue getting sick with covid 19 for a little while yet. So, the general message, certainly from the nhs, is that the pressure is likely to continue for some time and there should not be any easing off before we are a bit more sure about the situation. Yes. Huh more sure about the situation. Yes. Hugh pym. More sure about the situation. Yes. Hugh pym. Thank more sure about the situation. Yes. Hugh pym, thank you more sure about the situation. Yes. Hugh pym, thank you very more sure about the situation. Yes. Hugh pym, thank you very much. 0ur poltical correspondent Damian Grammaticas is at westminster. That sums it up. There is still pressure on some fronts for the government here . Pressure on some fronts for the government here . Yes, definitely. Some very government here . Yes, definitely. Some very important government here . Yes, definitely. Some very important decisions, i government here . Yes, definitely. | some very important decisions, and difficult decisions that the Government Banker is facing. As you are hearing, the positive news increases the pressure, in some ways. Those calls from some backbenchers. But what the Government Back row has done to try and mitigate some of the pressure is to give us a timetable. So we know that by the middle of february we have the same for the Priority Groups, we seem to be on track for that. A week later, the Prime Minister will set out his road map, the beginning of march, talking about the possibility of children going back to school in england. What we have learned today is that the government is saying that by the beginning of may they expect to have heart all over 50s and Priority Groups given the first vaccine dose. So local elections can go ahead in england. Therefore, there are questions about when it will be able to open schools, when will it be able to open businesses, in what sort of order. But i think what everyone is conscious of is that we have had 110,000 deaths. We are in the third lockdown. A lot of those deaths have come since christmas, because the virus was allowed to expand again, to spread around the country. Nobody wants to go back to that. What we are hearing is, the health secretaryjeremy hunt, saying that the case number need to be down about 1000 a day before we think about 1000 a day before we think about relaxing. At the moment it is 20,000. Energy bills are to go up for millions of people in april after the Regulator 0fgem announced a raising of the price cap because of extra costs facing suppliers. The typical bill for someone on a default tariff will go up by nearly £100 a year. Poverty campaigners say the move comes at a time when many families are already struggling because of the pandemic. 0ur Personal Finance correspondent Kevin Peachey has the details. Forjanet and her family, lockdown life means their energy use and bills are going up, but the regulator, 0fgem, will soon allow suppliers to charge more. A higher price cap affects people who havent switched suppliers or whose Discount Deals have expired. I have three children. Ive got two Working From Home at the moment because of covid and because the offices are shut. The energy that we use, gas and electric, we use on a daily basis and usually it goes on in the morning at about 6 30am to warm the house. Its staying on constantly until probably 8 30pm at night. It means bills will go up by £96 a year when using a typical amount of gas and electricity bought from the same supplier. Thats likely to take an annual bill to £1,138. Those who switch can bring that down to £851 a year, but even the cheapest deals around went up by £50 at the end of last year. The new cap means Prepayment Metre customers may also see bills go up by nearly £90 a year. With an estimated two Million People behind on paying energy bills and covid related Government Support schemes winding down, Debt Charities say the financial squeeze will tighten. Weve seen a huge increase in the number of people behind on their energy bills. We are worried those people will face a double whammy, hits to their income and increased bills of the same time. Part of the price rise is to allow suppliers to cover their costs when consumers cant pay, but the regulator denies this willjust make matters worse. We appreciate this is really difficult time for many families out there, not only financially but all the other pressures were facing from the covid crisis, but the reason were making this change is costs in the market fell to their lowest level last year and have come back up again and that is reflected in the prices that people will need to pay. Janet knows that pressure will come. We have found that if you have dual fuel you tend to get a better deal, but i havent looked at the Energy Prices recently. Im not looking forward to my next bill. Winter worries which now look set to bring a financial chill to spring, as well. Kevin peachy, bbc news. Two women and a man have died in a series of linked incidents in kilmarnock. It began at the hospital in the town last night, Alexandra Mackenzie is there. What are the police saying . As you sa , there what are the police saying . As you say. There were what are the police saying . As you say, there were three what are the police saying . As you say, there were three incidents, i say, there were three incidents, three people died and the police are saying that these incidents are likely to be linked. The first one happened here, around 7. 45 last night. A woman was found outside the hospital in her car with serious injuries. She was given medical care, but died at the scene of those injuries. Then around 20 minutes later, another woman was stabbed in a street in kilmarnock. She was brought here to the hospital to be treated, but died from her injuries. Then around 8. 30, a 40 year old man died in a fatal car crash on the outskirts of kilmarnock. Now, the police have said that they are not looking for anyone else in connection to these incidents, and they are not concerned that there is any further threat to the community and to members of the public. Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon and the deputy first Ministerjohn Swinney have both expressed their shock and condolences after what happened. President biden has pledged to rebuild americas alliances and that the country will re engage with the world, in his first major Foreign Policy speech. He said solutions to problems such as Armed Conflicts and climate but he warned russia that the us will no longer roll over for president putin. Lebo diseko reports. This wasjoe bidens First Official visit to a Government Department as president. That he chose the agency which is home to the nations diplomats is significant. The president had a clear message about his countrys role on the world stage. America is back. Diplomacy is back at the centre of our Foreign Policy. This is a return to multilateralism after four years of america first. American alliances are our greatest asset, and leading with diplomacy means Standing Shoulder to shoulder with our allies and key partners once again. By leading with diplomacy, we must also mean engaging our adversaries and our competitors diplomatically. The most serious of those competitors, said president biden, is china. He said it poses a direct threat to americas prosperity, security, and democratic values, and he promised to push back on what he called beijings attack on human rights, intellectual property, and global governance. Russia too was singled out for undermining democracy both at home and abroad. Mr biden criticised the jailing of Opposition Leader alexei navalny. He said he would work with moscow where it was in us interests, but where it wasnt, he would take a tougher approach. I made it clear to president putin, in a manner very different from my predecessor, that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of russias aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyber attacks, poisoning its citizens, are over. 0n the conflict that has led to what the un called the Worlds Largest humanitarian crisis, a Key Announcement the us will end its support for saudi arabias Military Offensive in yemen. Its a sharp change from the policy of donald trump, who had increased its backing of the saudi led coalition. Millions of yemenis are facing starvation. President biden says he will halt the withdrawal of us troops stationed in germany. Donald trump had repeatedly accused germany of not paying enough for its own defence. He ordered the withdrawal last year, although it had not yet begun. Again and again, joe biden stressed that america is ready to resume its Leadership Role on the world stage. No doubt us allies will be pleased about the re engagement, but equally doubts are likely to remain over whether they can trust that america is back to stay. Lebo diseko, bbc news, washington. Donald trump has said he wont testify at his Impeachment Trial in the Us Senate Next week. His lawyers say the proceedings are unconstitutional. The former president is accused of inciting the attack on the Capitol Building in washington dc last month. The time is 19 minutes past one. Our top story this lunchtime. A fall in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in most parts of the uk. The number dropped to one in 65 in england last week though doctors warn we mustnt be complacent. We would like to see levels at a really safe level before we take our foot off the gas. We dont want to be in this position again. And we want our hospitals in some sort of state that they can cope with what used to be normal if we are going to head back towards that. Coming up on bbc news, an incredible first day of the first test against india for captain joe root. He becomes only the third englishman to score a century in his 100th test. As weve been reflecting, the government is under pressure to tighten Border Controls and prevent new strains of coronavirus entering the country. Door to door testing is taking place in a number of postcodes in an attempt to catch cases of the South African variant. So how worried should we be . Ros atkins reports. Tackling the variants of covid 19 has become central to this pandemic. In england, everyone in certain postcodes is being asked to get a test. In brazil, the city of manaus is seeing a death toll that is rising. In south africa, hospitals are running out of oxygen. Understandably, there is fear of how this virus is mutating. But how worried should we be . Im more worried than i was. Its incrementally scarier than where we were a month or two ago. Lets be clear. Whats happening is normal. Viruses do mutate. They change all the time. The variants were expected, but they still pose a problem for a number of reasons. First, some are more transmissible. Studies like this one from the lancet show that the uk variant spreads up to 70 faster. And theres another concern. There is a realistic possibility that this variant may be associated with increased mortality, compared to the old variant. Faster spreading, potentially more deadly. Then there is how we defend ourselves. People whove been vaccinated, or who have had covid 19 already, have antibodies in the blood which give them protection. But its possible these antibodies may not resist all variants equally. The virus seems able to evade that immune response, evade that immunity from being previously infected, and infect you again. But as well as these concerns, theres better news, too. Pfizer and moderna have both announced their vaccines still work against new variants. Were expecting trial data from astrazeneca, too. But if thats now, what about the future . There are certain to be more variants. Well, scientists are confident they can deal with them for two reasons. First of all, vaccines can be adapted. It is actually a relatively straightforward process. It only takes a matter of months, rather than the huge efforts that everyone went through last year. And second, case numbers in the uk are falling. The National Lockdown means these variants are infecting fewer people, and thats bought some time. As long as we manage to roll out the vaccine effectively, to all vulnerable people, it shouldnt have too much of an impact going forward. There can be no doubt that the variants have complicated this pandemic. They will be a feature of life for months, if not years to come. But we should emphasise, scientists remain confident that, in time, the virus, in all its forms, can and will be contained. Ros atkins reporting there. Local council and mayoral elections will go ahead in england on 6 may. Police and crime commissioner contests in both england and wales will also take place. Voters will have to bring their own pen or pencil and wear masks inside Polling Stations which will include Hand Sanitiser and divider screens. The elections the first in the uk since the pandemic will include a number of contests postponed from 2020 including the london and Greater Manchester mayoral votes. Voters in scotland and wales are due to choose new parliaments though a decision on these will be made by their respective governments. Its been a special day for the england cricket captainjoe root he scored a century in his 100th test against india in chennai. This is the first Test Match Broadcast on terrestrial tv in the uk since 2005. At the close england were 263 3. Andy swiss reports. A hundred in his hundredth test match. What a player. If sport is all about timing, well, itjust doesnt get better than this. Forjoe root, an unforgettable finale to an unforgettable day. Hed begun it celebrating a different century, his 100th test cap. But if that was sparkling, it was nothing to what followed. Under the hot chennai sunshine, his team wobbled at first, rory burns succumbing to a rush of blood. And its the first wicket down for england. And when dan lawrence quickly followed, india were proving just why they are among the worlds best. Enter root, though, with remarkable results. Class. Pure class. After hundreds in his previous two tests, a hat trick was clearly in his sights. At the other end, he found the perfect partner. Dom sibley reaching a gritty half century. But he was soon being overshadowed by his skipper. 0n current form, root seems in a world of his own, and the outcome was gloriously inevitable. A stunning century and a smile to match. Only the third englishman to make a hundred on his hundredth appearance. Some things are just meant to be. From there, he piled on the agony, although notjust for india. A six and a spot of cramp. But even that couldnt stop him. Just before the close, india did finally trap sibley for 87, but root is still there. It was englands day, but above all it was his. Andy swiss, bbc news. Six nations, seven weeks and unique circumstances the worlds most famous rugby tournament begins this weekend. The french government agreed to ease their quarantine restrictions, which means teams are allowed to travel between the various countries, moving in and out of bio secure bubbles. But all matches will be played in empty stadiums joe wilson reports. Just as winter drags on, sport brings a gift. From the comfort of anyones home, its there. The annual revival, the spectacle, the colours, the friendly rivalries renewed. The crowds arentjust part of the six nations, they are the tournament. Normally. This year its just the teams. England might be favourites, but some of their squad in these covid days have barely played. Eddie, right now are your players rusty, or are they hungry . Look, i think theyre very hungry, mate. Ithink, you know, this is an unusual period for everyone. Wed normally get a squad in at this time that drags their heels, you know, thats the honesty of it. This time, because of the fact that theyve had two weeks off, i think well find we have a hungrier, probably a fitter team than weve ever had before. Scotland have been waiting since 1983 to win at twickenham. Their last game there finished 38 all. Breathtaking. And this year, its not just another year. People are struggling in scotland, and we know that if our team can show their best attributes, reflect whats best about being scottish and win, itll give everybody a massive lift. Commentary still they carry it hard around the fringes. Wales play ireland on sunday. Both recent champions needing fresh direction. Well, everythings new these days, even interviews. Alun wyn, can you see me 0k . Yeah, you look lovely. Well, thanks very much. Likewise. I think youve got to say that. The welsh captain had seen it all, until everything changed. In a strange way, because we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, to be able to take the field, you know, or put yourself in contention to take the field in an International Setting is even more of a privilege. Its very special in the most normal times, but its doubly so now. Scotland versus england is sports oldest tradition. And theyll walk out to 150 years of history, and 80,000 empty seats. Joe wilson, bbc news, twickenham. Now, Parish Council meetings can have a reputation as being a little. Dull. But an Online Meeting in cheshire has gone viral, after it was anything but. Mark lobel reports. Recent frosty conditions in the small town of handforth spilled over into a heated meeting of the Environment Committee one comedian says was worthy of a golden globe. Its this one. Handforth Parish Council chair brian tolver begins by questioning the legitimacy of the meeting. Well start the meeting, and i want to repeat what i said at the beginning of the last meeting, that this meeting has not been called according to the law. The law has been broken. The correct titles and procedures are all important here. Are you here as the proper officer . I am here offering support to handforth Parish Council and the conduct of this meeting this evening. Youre not the proper officer. Is that as a clerk or proper officer . There is no difference between clerk and proper officer. Of course there is yes, there is. You must know the basic law. But self proclaimed monitoring officerjackie weaver, apparently brought in as clerk to calm the tensions in previous meetings by other members present, stands her ground. Bedlam soon ensues. The law has been broken. It has been properly. Will you please let the chairman. . mrs weaver, please if you disrupt this meeting, i will have to remove you from it. You cant its only the chairman who can remove people from the meeting. You have no authority here, jackie weaver. No authority at all shesjust kicked him out. No, shes kicked him out dont. Shes kicked him out this is a meeting called by two councillors. Illegally they may now elect a chairman. No, they cant, the vice chair is here, i take charge read the standing orders. Read them and understand them she gasps. Stop it appalling behaviour