A meeting between the four nations of the uk to discuss tightening coronavirus restrictions over christmas has broken up, without agreement. Pressure has been growing on the government all day. Here are two of the uk leading medical journals publishing a joint editorial calling for the government to stop any household mixing. They describe the current plan to allow three households to gather at christmas as a rash decision that will cost lives. The journals also highlight the increase rate of here are their editors. The real striking, stark truth of the matter is that our Health System is not going to manage if we allow the current trend to continue out on top of this super spreader events that will be these five days of christmas. We are currently on course for around 19,000 Covid Patients in hospitals. At the start of the second wave number was 451. And bear in mind it was only yesterday that the government announced 3a Million People in the uk will be living under the toughest rules tier 3 from midnight tonight, including london. So the level of controls is rising. But then from 23rd to the 27th of December Itll be relaxed people will be able to mix with up to three households and stay overnight. Theres an extra day either side for those travelling to and from Northern Ireland. Then this morning, a government minister said this. We should recognise it has been a very difficult yearfor we should recognise it has been a very difficult year for many families. Many families want to come together over the Christmas Period that does not mean all those restrictions are lifted, people will continue to act responsibly but we should trust people to do so. Steve barclay also advised people to do the minimum that is possible. But this begs the question what is the definition of the minimum that is possible . The minimum that is possible under current restrictions in many parts of england is not mixing households at all. The governments appears to be saying what is possible at christmas is different. Well the opposition wants the policy reviewed. Heres the labour leader. I think doing nothing is not really viable. I think a responsible government is going to have to do something. There are a number of things they could do to toughen them up, and we will look at what they say. But, you know, and a sense i dont want to make this party political. We know people want to see each other. Families want to see each other. This wont come as a pleasant surprise to families, so im saying to the government, do the responsible thing, review, toughen up and we will support you if you do that. The first minister of wales doesnt support tightening the christmas restrictions hes reluctant to unpick the original arrangement negotiated between the four nations of the uk. Scotlands first minister, Nicola Sturgeon however sees things differently. I think its important that we have that discussion across the four nations given family patterns across the uk, but i do think its a case for us looking at whether we tighten flexibilities that were given any further, both in terms of duration and numbers of people meeting. And i will consider the views of the other nations. Nick eardley is in westminster. We know about how this discussion went this afternoon . It was constructive, and its worth 20 out that it was quite a big thing for the four nations of the uk to agree a common approach to christmas. Because they have been going their separate ways on restrictions over the last few weeks and months. There we re the last few weeks and months. There were no Firm Decisions made on that call tonight, and they are going to reconvene tomorrow to try and thrash out some details, but let me tell you where i think the different nations are. In england, i dont think the regulations are going to change. That means that the law wont change, and legally people will still be allowed to meet and christmas bubbles with three households over those five days a christmas. I do think, however, that theres going to be a tightening of theres going to be a tightening of the guidelines. I dont know exactly what that will entail, we know theres been a lot of discussion, for example, about travel and people potentially going from tier 3 areas which are facing the most strict restrictions to tier i areas which are the most flexible. In scotland i think the picture is slightly different, as you heard Nicola Sturgeon say they are, she thinks it should be discussion about the number of people that are allowed to meet, potentially the duration that are allowed to meet for. I think the thing were going to see change most of the next few days as the four nations of the uk talking a lot more about the guidance, and saying to people please dont travel if you dont need to. Dont think thatjust because you can you shed. At people should wear possible try and avoid this. Those talks will come as i say, continue tomorrow morning moshe ina more say, continue tomorrow morning moshe in a more firm idea of what is going to happen exactly then. Held the understand what kind of gotten its ticket issue can they say dont travel beyond a certain distance or how would they offer us guidance on what to do because you are going to be honest and say i dont know because a lot of it has been discussed and there have not been any further decisions on that. His ideas floated about trying to get people who are in areas with a virus is spreading really quickly not to travel to those areas where it isnt. And its pretty rare. One source was on the call that i was chatting to earlier today was saying thats their main concern, that people might travel from one part of the country to one part of the uk to the country to one part of the uk to the other or potentially move about once theyre in a new place. At the moment we dont know exactly what those new guidelines might be. But i do expect we will have that firmer idea probably tomorrow morning. Thank you very much indeed. Many countries in europe are stepping up coronavirus restrictions. Lets look at france first. It moves out of its second covid lockdown today that means there will be more freedom of movement but theatres, cinemas, bars and restaurants will remain shut. Turkey says it will go into a four day lockdown over the new year holidays. Germany begins a partial lockdown from wednesday, with non essential shops and schools closing. And the netherlands is going into a strict second lockdown all schools and shops are shutting for at least five weeks. Restaurants and bars will remain closed. Heres what people there have been telling us. Translation im sad that it has to be done, but is important. Yeah, i think that its necessary. Yeah. Anna holligan is in the hague. Many people here in the netherlands had been dreaming of a relatively relaxed christmas, but that over the weekend there were photos shared a people congregating in the chops come up christmas shoppers, and the figures are now almost double the worse Case Scenario figures are now almost double the worse Case Scenario protected by the government, so this christmas crackdown feels almost inevitable, and actually these measures go further than the dutch have done in the past. Its the toughest crackdown yet in this country, so what are they actually involve . Well all nonessential shops will be closed from today. Is everything from Garden Centers to diy stories and through markets and groceries will be opened. Theatres, museums, cinemas, amusement parks, they will all be closed. Next letss get an update from germany. Damien mcguinness is in berlin. This is the worst bit of the pandemic germany has seen so far. As we have talked about in the past, germany so far until very recently was thought to have done quite well. Infection rates were relatively low in the death rate overall remained pretty low and certainly throughout the summer infection rates dwindled massively, but we seen over the past month are really alarming surge in numbers. So typically now at death rates, daily death rates might be anywhere between three and almost 600 per day which is the highest that germany has ever seen, and that means that the overall death toll has risen very rapidly from 10,000 we re has risen very rapidly from 10,000 were it was stuck for quite a while, until very recently now to over 20,000 in rising pretty rapidly. Probably because theres quite a few outbreaks in Nursing Homes and among elderly people, but also because the numbers overall, the daily infection rates have risen quite rapidly. A month and a half ago Angela Merkel predicted that if we dont act quickly will end up with over 20,000 new infections per day and will actually that was it under estimation. She was accused of that time of fear mongering and overreacting. In fact it seems if anything she was under reacting, and now we are talking daily infection rates of almost 30,000. So the mood has shifted here in germany, there isa has shifted here in germany, there is a sense of deep concern among officials. In paris, thousands of people have protested against the restrictions. Many of the protesters work in the arts, and said they had been let down by the government, since they are missing out on the a Holiday Season that provides them with a lot of their income. The french Prime Minister says extra Financial Aid will be provided to them. Helen wimalarathna is an epidemiologist at the university of buckingham. She is live with us. Thanks for joining us. How do you assess the governments current advice on restrictions to be eased for those five days . Ive been nervous about this since it was first announced, andi this since it was first announced, and i think that many people working in the field are. The reason being that the virus is not going to go on holiday for five days, and i think its really worrying that we are going to allow this increase of mixing ata going to allow this increase of mixing at a time when the lockdown has slightly decreased transmission what weve seen it rising up again, and we are really at a high level, so we are going to be going from bad to terrible unfortunately i think. But when you look at the main drivers of the increase in the infection read where would you place household mixing . Theres been a lot of debate about whether its hospitality, whether its indoor household mixing, whether its schools. The fact is it is all of these. The verse thrives on contact between people. It will increase when contact between people increases. Does doesnt matter what the venue for the contact is. We know when you are spending a prolonged period indoors, especially people with whom youre comfortable, then you are going to kill your behaviour is not going to be that which guards against the transmission. And theres not going to be enough air exchange to preclude transmission. So we know that that is a very dangerous environment stop by i was going to ask about that, because the government advice is yes you are able to have three households in one home, but for people still to follow social distancing and not hug each other but would that not in some way counterbalance the increase in the risk . I think its really a fantasy to think that people can get together at christmas, a few drinks, and theyve not seen each other for and theyve not seen each other for a long time, and grandparents will not hug their grandchildren. As a search is not that close combat face to face physical contact, and sharing a space, sharing air with each other and if we are talking about spending a couple of days in an overnight stay then undoubtedly the services are going to become contaminated by anyone carrying the virus, and the air will be contaminated. And transmission will u nfortu nately ta ke contaminated. And transmission will unfortunately take place. Is there any solution here that you can offer people watching that would allow them to see their families and for them to see their families and for the risks to be managed . So this is really impossible, and i understand its a difficult situation to be in. I love christmas, but i think we are talking about this at the end of the year when at least 65,000 people in the uk have already died from covid. Its kind of trivial talking about injuring a couple of days together. I think this year is one for reflection, and i hope next year is one for a celebration and coming together. We appreciate you joining us, thank you very much indeed. Next we will turn to washington. Senior republicans have finally broken ranks with donald trump six weeks afterjoe bidens election win. The leader of the Us Senate Mitch Mcconnell has, formally acknowledged thatjoe biden won, on november the 3rd. Thats despite donald trump also failed attempts to overturn the outcome. Today i want to congratulate president elect joe biden, the president elect is no stranger to the senate. Hes devoted himself to Public Service for many years. I also want to congratulate the Vice President elect our colleague from california, senator harris. Beyond our differences all americans could take pride in our nation has a female Vice President elect. For the very first time. I look forward to finishing out the next 36 days strong with President Trump in our nation needs us to add another bipartisan chapter to this record. Overtreatment. Of achievement. Integrity of our elections remains intact. And now its time to turn the pages we have done throughout our history. To heal asa said done throughout our history. To heal as a said in this campaign. I will be president for all americans. Gary is with us from washington, dc. Mitch mcconnell got there in the end. Yesjust a few hours after Vladimir Putin got there. But this is the big moment, make no mistake about that. Hes one of the most powerful republicans in the country. What he says matters, and i think we will see other Senior Republicans follow his lead to. We also know that he and joe biden have spoken on the phone in the last few hours. And we re the phone in the last few hours. And were perhaps last night, not entirely sure when that was but theyve agreed to meet sooner rather than later as well. And in terms of the political consequences of Mitch Mcconnell saying this next, what does that fit into Donald Trumps approach of the next few weeks and months with it or leave them even more isolated, doesnt it . He was already pretty isolated, this is another huge key ally falling by the wayside. And i think it tells you that when congress meets in early january to tally the votes of the Electoral College come the last informal moment of the process, it means that really the Senate Republicans are not going to start trying to place some of the games of those republicans in the house want to play in terms of disputing individual states tallies. So i think that something that the president elect will take some comfort from. The interesting thing i think will be level President Trump do in of these runoff races for the senate in georgia . Because because these two runoff races and at that matter a lot because if the democrats were to win both of those it would be 50 50 in the senate with a casting vote for the Vice President harris. In the president still could have a significant influence over the republicans turnout in those two runoffs. As seen officials in the white house saying they are still planning litigation, im unclear where the president goes from here in practical terms . Is difficult. We cannot see any cases that are around an obvious sense, at the moment. We know that hes been rejected by the United StatesSupreme Court twice. A Supreme Court case that was in wisconsin has also been rejected a couple of days ago. Im not sure whether his other bits of litigation currently a re whether his other bits of litigation currently are at the moment, but we will wait and see what hes planning. Thats what the press secretary had to say a few moments ago, but we cannot find, or i cant find where these lawsuits are stop by if you do find them, let us know. Thanks for talking to us, gary live with us from washington, dc. Nigeria next. The Islamist Group boko haram says it abducted the hundreds of schoolboys who were taken from a boarding school on friday. This happened in katsina state, in the north west of nigeria. About 800 students were at the all boys Government Science Secondary School when the attack happened. An at least 333 students are still missing. One boy managed to escape byjumping out of a window but he hasnt seen his twin brother since. Translation i was afraid to come and terribly afraid. What frightened me the most that might brother would be in danger. When you look for him, i could not see him. Boko harams claim of responsibility has not been confirmed. The state governor of katsina has tweeted. Next lets hear from a former nigerian colonel on boko harams movements. There is a fanning out from the northeast of boko haram or terrorist elements into other parts of the country. Yes it is happening and we are breeding to see the results. And thats where it very disturbing. Our correspondent mayenijones is in kano the capital of katsina state. The so called leader of boko haram released this message, an audio message late last night. And in it he says that they carry out this attack because, its un islamic and there were to send a strong message that you do not support it. The reason why this attack is particularly significant is because this shows that boko harams area of activity, if its true that they carried out this can happen, is expanding. Way beyond where they have traditionally been active in the northeast of the country. The first attack of its kind in this pa rt first attack of its kind in this part of nigeria. Which is frankly quite a worrying trend. Growing and strong criticism as to the president S Performance when it comes to tackling security in the country.