hello and welcome to happy christmas. it is still the seventh day of christmas. i am reverend calvin robinson and i'll be standing in for alister stuart today. he's having a well—deserved break. the next 2 hours, i'll be keeping you company on tv and on radio with stories that really matter all over the country. plenty to come from this year's honours list. two pressure on the nhs. i'll keep you up to date , but first keep you up to date, but first all the news headlines . good

all the news headlines. good afternoon. it'sjust all the news headlines. good afternoon. it's just on 12:00. i'm bethany elsey in the gb newsroom pope benedict the 16th has died at the age of 95. in a statement , the vatican said he statement, the vatican said he passed away just after 930 this morning within the vatican city. he was the head of the catholic church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013 when he became the first pontiff to step down from the role in 600 years due to old age and ill health. well, this is the scene at st peter's square where worshippers are already gathering at the vatican, has announced that from monday morning, people will be able to pay their respects as the former pope benedict rests at saint peter's basilica ahead of his funeral on the 5th of january in simply a square tributes from religious leaders have begun pouring in the head of the roman catholic church in england and wales and the archbishop of canterbury have both the former pope both described the former pope as one of the great theologians

of the 20th century . four of the 20th century. four members of the england team who won the women's zero 2022 are among those recognised in the new year's honours list, among those recognised in the new year's honours list , the new year's honours list, the first to be issued by king charles captain lee williamson has made an epic while her team—mates lucy bronze beth mead and ellen white have been given mbes . gb news is very own and mbes. gb news is very own and diamond has also received an obe for services to public health. charity queen guitarist and animal welfare campaigner brian may has received a knighthood . may has received a knighthood. it's a it's a nice surprise to them to have this honour put upon me. i also think it's it comes with a responsibility to behave well, i guess to continue to behave in a way which benefits the country and the rest of the population here at the world as well. you know, but itake the world as well. you know, but i take this response to

responsibility quite seriously anyway , the prime minister has anyway, the prime minister has admitted the last 12 months have been tough and warned the uk's problems won't go away next year in his new year message to the country where she's seen act said the government will continue to tackle the nhs backlog and illegal immigration . he also said king charles coronation will bring the country together . and i'm not country together. and i'm not going to pretend that all our problems will go away in the new yeah problems will go away in the new year. the 2023 will give us an opportunity to showcase the very best of britain on the world stage in this historic year of his majesty, the king's coronation. we will come with pride in everything that makes this country great. yes, 2023 will have its challenges for the government. i lead is putting your priorities . first. the your priorities. first. the government has confirmed anyone travelling directly from china to england, from the 5th of january must show a negative covid test before departure .

covid test before departure. there are no direct flights from china to scotland, wales or northern ireland , but the northern ireland, but the government says it will work with the devolved administrations to ensure measures are implemented. there its amid concerns about surging cases in china following an of restrictions, france , spain and restrictions, france, spain and the us have also introduced similar rules. health leaders are warning this winter is likely to be the worst on record for any wait times as flu and strep a cases continue to rise , strep a cases continue to rise, several nhs trusts have declared incidents meaning they can't function as usual due to accept tional pressure. the royal college of emergency medicine says over 90% of clinically it's reported they patients who were waiting for more than 24 hours in a&e last week and that the highest ever level of bed occupancy was recorded in hospitals in november. at, 94.4. meanwhile ambulance staff are being told to conserve of oxygen suppues being told to conserve of oxygen supplies due to a surge in

demand. that's according to the health service journal . south health service journal. south east coast ambulance service has told staff it's caused by the high number of patients respiratory conditions, which suppliers are reporting to be higher than during the first wave of the pandemic . the latest wave of the pandemic. the latest data shows the number of flu patients in hospitals in england has risen by 79% in the last week . and new year celebrations week. and new year celebrations have already begun with new zealand welcoming in 2023. the city of auckland began the new year with a fireworks display from the capital sky tower and a light show over auckland's harbour bridge . it will be our harbour bridge. it will be our time scene and if you're up to date on ng, we'll bring you more news as it happens. now let's get back to alison stewart and friends with calvin .

and friends with calvin. welcome back to alastair stewart& friends ends with me the reverend calvin robinson from gb news. i'll be with for the next few hours on this new year's eve. here's what's coming up this hour. i thought and prayers go out to pope benedict in 62. inside his vatican rescue faced 95. we'll hear from an editor at the catholic . it's new editor at the catholic. it's new year's eve, which means a new honours list where. over 1000 people were selected for that exceptional contribution to communities across , the country. communities across, the country. we're asking is the honour system fit for purpose .7 expect system fit for purpose? expect opinions and debates. plus the nhs is complaining of mounting pressure . flu and covid cases pressure. flu and covid cases are on the rise. is our health care system on the brink of collapse ? all that and more . and collapse? all that and more. and remember, i want to hear from you. what do you think of the topics we're discussing today? email me. b abuse at gb dot uk or tweet at . gb news. pope

or tweet at. gb news. pope benedict xvi has died aged 95 in the vatican. he became the first pontiff to step down from the role in more than 600 years in 2013. our reporter cameron walker takes a look at his life . it's april 2005. smoke rises from a chimney above vatican. a new pope , the 265th leader of new pope, the 265th leader of the catholic church has been elected pope xvi, age 78, became the oldest newly elected pope since 1700s. but also the first german head of the catholic church centuries. born joseph ratzinger . church centuries. born joseph ratzinger. in church centuries. born joseph ratzinger . in 1927, he lived ratzinger. in 1927, he lived with his catholic family in bavana with his catholic family in bavaria . although his parents bavaria. although his parents were , was a member of the hitler were, was a member of the hitler youth . by the end of the second youth. by the end of the second world war, he was serving as a

german soldier , unwilling to german soldier, unwilling to fight. he deserted and was briefly held as a prisoner of war. the americans . ratzinger war. the americans. ratzinger was ordained as a priest in 1951 and was awarded a doctorates in theology at the university of munich. a few years later, he taught us a number of before becoming the archbishop munich. and. in 1977, he grew close . and. in 1977, he grew close. pope john paul ii's second and became one of his closest advisers . pope john paul second advisers. pope john paul second died in april 2005. joseph ratzinger was elected as head of the catholic church and, became pope benedict's poor 16th . he pope benedict's poor 16th. he continues legacy of his predecessor by speaking to other religious leaders, particularly judaism and islam . domino's is judaism and islam. domino's is a second was. he aims to revitalise the church in europe and maintains traditional catholic relating to sexuality and priestly celibacy . he

and priestly celibacy. he visited a number of countries in the early years of his papacy , the early years of his papacy, including new guidelines allowing more use of the latin mass. he directly addressed historical sexual abuse within the catholic church , speaking the catholic church, speaking out against its during a visit to the united nations. but he came under media scrutiny. his alleged role in the cover up of sexual and physical abuse cases by parish priests and in schools. the vatican denounced the allegations as false and calumnies and said its handling of the cases showed wisdom , of the cases showed wisdom, firmness . in 2013, pope benedict firmness. in 2013, pope benedict 16th announced his eminence resignation due to old age and ill health, making him the first p0pe ill health, making him the first popein ill health, making him the first pope in some 600 years to resign. more than 15,000 people crowded st peter's square to watch his final public address . watch his final public address. bambino cannot stop at no. in this year's statements, pope francis has made a surprise appeal. at the end of his address to ask for prayers for former pope benedict, saying he

was very sick . the vatican was very sick. the vatican issued a statement, but was receiving constant medical care. but soon after , the 95 year old but soon after, the 95 year old passed away , the vatican, the passed away, the vatican, the home of , the institution he'd home of, the institution he'd dedicate his more than 70 years of his life to karen walker, gb news news . well, joining me now news news. well, joining me now is simon caldwell, news news. well, joining me now is simon caldwell , associate is simon caldwell, associate editor at the catholic herald. you for joining editor at the catholic herald. you forjoining us editor at the catholic herald. you for joining us today, simon .thank you for joining us today, simon . thank you for having me on this wonderful pleasure to be here. very sad news that we're heanng here. very sad news that we're hearing today. could you please give us your brief synopsis of what the pope emeritus meant to you . what the pope emeritus meant to you. immense. a what the pope emeritus meant to you . immense. a tremendous, most you. immense. a tremendous, most me along with pope john saint john paul, the second. it was probably in my favourites off of the post war era. i thought he was a wonderful man, a teacher of great clarity, a gentle, retiring figure in this private life . but a serious insight. a

life. but a serious insight. a deep inside and a man of great courage . i mean, he really had courage. i mean, he really had to stand up and defend traditional values, the teachings of, traditional values, the teachings of , the church against teachings of, the church against all kinds of threats . and he was all kinds of threats. and he was often vilified for doing so . but often vilified for doing so. but he showed us what the christian virtue of portuguese fortitude . virtue of portuguese fortitude. and i think his legacy is terrific . for me personally, terrific. for me personally, i i'm a great admirer of his teachings on conscience . and he teachings on conscience. and he and this ties in with his own personal devotion to cardinal saint john henry newman was his greatest hero . ratzinger himself greatest hero. ratzinger himself grew up in germany. he served in the hitler youth against his will. and he ends up on a aircraft battery. but as soon as could as mean as soon as it was to resume priestly studies and inhuman was . to resume priestly studies and inhuman was. his passion and

part of that was because of newman's teachings on conscience and ratzinger took that with him throughout his priestly ministry and then through his papacy. and one of his the high points of his papacy was being able to be uttered by newman in cuffs some park in birmingham . i'm glad you park in birmingham. i'm glad you did address the issue of and spent too long it but i do want to address it because i know a lot of that a lot of haters will be using that as a topic to talk him down today. but he was a deserter from the german army and fought hard against for the entirety of life. and i do entirety of his life. and i do want to re—emphasise that . yes. want to re—emphasise that. yes. and it came from like , you know, and it came from like, you know, from an anti. his father was a policeman who loathe the when the loss of germans who are like that news very typical of that secular group within german society . but in 1946, when he society. but in 1946, when he entered seminary , he he was he

entered seminary, he he was he became part of an intellectual movement which embraced newman and what they liked about newman is, is precisely what newman offered against totalitarianism . newman was a great teacher of conscience . and they were they conscience. and they were they were rediscovering what it meant be what conscious meant in the face of totalitarianism . and face of totalitarianism. and ratzinger was right at the forefront of that. he was . you forefront of that. he was. you couldn't be more . well indeed, couldn't be more. well indeed, he's on record as saying of marxism that it's a dictate , a marxism that it's a dictate, a ship of relativism, which i think is quite fitting and quite apt, to be honest with you. but he was also the pope that was for reaffirming christian values and christian doctrine on issues like, you know, being against heterodoxy being against abortion and contraception. and, of course , ordination and even of course, ordination and even homosexual priests. he really stamped down on these issues that are facing the church and have been facing the church for a long time now . yeah, i think a long time now. yeah, i think what russkies saw was that it's

not our church, it's christchurch . and we have a duty christchurch. and we have a duty to pass on the that the apostles from that the sacred revelation that came through it through christ from christ and through the apostles . and it's not the apostles. and it's not something that we can choose to change at our will. it's something which we've received and which you've got to pass on and which you've got to pass on an authority in entirety to the next generation so that they might be saved and. and benedict wasn't going to allow people to come in with all kinds of or revolutionary reforms , this kind revolutionary reforms, this kind of thing. he said, no, this is this is this is a sacred deposit. this is something which this is what this is what we hold to be true . and it wasn't hold to be true. and it wasn't that he was against homosexuals or against women or anything like that. he was he was upholding 2000 years of christian teaching, said this is what it means to be a christian. absolutely. and if you'll indulge me, i'd like to take advantage of the time we have on

answer a quick prayer for him. oh, god. in whose presence? the dead or alive and in whom? your saints full of happiness, grant or supplication that your servant emeritus benedict servant pope emeritus benedict xvi enjoy the comfort of xvi may enjoy the comfort of your lights for all eternity through our lord jesus christ, your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy god, forever ever. holy one god, forever and ever. amen. simon associate editor of the herald . thank you the catholic herald. thank you so for time today. so much for your time today. welcome. thank you . now the new welcome. thank you. now the new honours list, the first of king charles's reign has been revealed. queen guitarist brian may players in the lionesses and grayson perry are amongst the names of this year's for their work. contributions to the country and king charles will be awarded the titles will be awarding the titles , rather, in awarding the titles, rather, in what will be the first time since the late queen's 70 year reign. and with many changes to the system over this decades, we're asking is the new year honour system fit for purpose ? honour system fit for purpose? joining me now is a royal, richard fitzwilliams . richard,

richard fitzwilliams. richard, thank you very much for joining us today. we've seen lots of changes over the years. could you run us through some of the modernisation patterns that we've seen the honour system? we've seen on the honour system? yes, absolutely because some 20 years ago it was a question of the archaic . there were the archaic. there were committees who made these choices. we didn't know who was on them. they're almost all male , very frequently dominated the civil service. and the system had got unquestioned or be out of in fact, leaks through those . so from 2005, at least 200 now ten committees who make the choice under the central honours committee. they aren't by civil servants and. we know who's on the we don't know the advisers, but nonetheless said that this has changed in a subtle, very, very significant ways as some 60% of this list, 1107 names, the i have links with talent . in

the i have links with talent. in fact in recent honours lists, it's been even than that. and what is so significant is that therefore in addition to the main job very frequently you would have had some connection with charity and in helping others. the other great target, which they've think achieved quite , is gender equality. 30, quite, is gender equality. 30, 50% of their numbers go to women and cbe and over which are the top honours. some 45% on the hold system. it's become more diverse. more persons of colour getting numbers and also it's less centred on in london than the south—east so a little bit of a problem there . and the of a problem there. and the other issue is fewer state serving , get them. that has long serving, get them. that has long been a tile source . a great deal been a tile source. a great deal of complaint.

been a tile source. a great deal of complaint . only some 2% of of complaint. only some 2% of people refuse. almost so it is overall a system that's pretty popular. and it also gives a great deal of pleasure . i quite great deal of pleasure. i quite like that statistic . only 2% of like that statistic. only 2% of people refuse honours because this suggests that the vast majority of people are still monarchists deep down, even if they proclaim otherwise publicly . richard, what is the purpose of the honour system ? whatever of the honour system? whatever world excellence to reward those who've helped others to the country, who have helped exports. i mean essential duty in a particular field if you have excelled , there are those have excelled, there are those who believe that the job the central job what you do is a reward itself. but in my view, and in the view of most people , and in the view of most people, that the country should also recognise you, whether you are or in the lionesses team , or in the lionesses team, whether you're a very quote dame mary quant who gets a companion of honour, whether in fact your

dame virginia virginia the job. virginia mckenna or indeed dame newly elected dame or appointed dame denise . it does that the dame denise. it does that the country has recognised you and also the ceremony where the queen formally announced this woman, charles, for the royal family. this is also very significant for you . fantastic significant for you. fantastic and richard, i it is getting more diverse as well . could you more diverse as well. could you tell us a little bit just briefly about the statistics there? yes so as usual, usually ihave there? yes so as usual, usually i have pulled up the statistics for this particular rather small section, but usually it's in advance of 10. there is no doubt also that in the order of merit, which is restricted to some 26, 27, the queen was appointed , had 27, the queen was appointed, had six appointees. in fact, they quite recently and four were

persons of colour. so it has far more diverse . there is the big more diverse. there is the big question. do we want order still of the british empire and the various categories that that has and also the factors of british empire medal that were the strains stated by david cameron. so the word empire still continues and i suspect at some that that will change probably to british excellence. the problem is a large number of people already got them and a lot of people don't want to change that being called for several. people were refused it because it has the name empire in it but as i emphasised the system has got a terrific advantage and that is that there are various grades. advantage and that is that there are various grades . so are various grades. so initiative and incentive are awarded you rewarded , you get $1 awarded you rewarded, you get $1 and you want to strive to get another. and it seems to me overall the system's it is working well and obviously it's got to be perpetually looked at to make sure it's in line with

contemporary sort . fantastic contemporary sort. fantastic analysis. thank you very much. that's royal commentator richard fitzwilliams joining me in the studio now is my good friend beunda studio now is my good friend belinda to lucy. studio now is my good friend belinda to lucy . what do you belinda to lucy. what do you make of the honour system? do you still think it's fit for purpose? i think it's fantastic . i think it's a real treasure to this country, the envy of the world. we have been handing world. yes. we have been handing out since william out knighthoods since william the and. every monarch the conqueror and. every monarch has sort of evolved the honours system as each century passes. it would be second. i think , had it would be second. i think, had the order of the garter 1348, and i'd to be the third and then queen victoria expanded the orders and the honours to offer so many more people. and then of course, you had 19, 17 and 1918 when george the fifth came up with this wonderful honour, the order of the british empire. and we must keep that empire word in there . it is tradition. it is there. it is tradition. it is our culture . it comes from a our culture. it comes from a wonderful period of our history that we should be proud of. apart from few bad apples . and

apart from a few bad apples. and ihope apart from a few bad apples. and i hope it doesn't change to excellence, but it then includes a huge amount of women as well in 1917 and 18, rewarding people in 1917 and 18, rewarding people in the first and second world war. and we go through the war. and as we go through the last as well, is last century as well, it is outstanding contribution spans from normal, ordinary brits that go out of their way to delivering credible results to their community or. outstanding in sports. it is magnificent. so i'm a big supporter however however am i find that politicians and civil service using the honour system unacceptable . i think there unacceptable. i think there should be a totally separate award system for those in politics because they are so near the of power and they fall too often. reward failure. look at only robins in 2019. could anyone believe it that the sort of darth vader and skeletor of the brexit years who have been accused of constantly frustrating brexit and delivering a horrendous treaty , delivering a horrendous treaty, failed to get through parliament three years. he was the night said by theresa may. and then we

have the home office chief. i think it's matthew. matthew referred i think he has just been knighted and he's overseen the worst migrant crisis. we've ever had and huge backlogs in passport controls and he walks off with a knighthood. and i think that demeans. and we can we can see on a system it's quite insulting to those who've really earned knighthoods really earned their knighthoods when give it to reward . so if when we give it to reward. so if that could be curtailed and politicians and civil service had their own reward system, then i'll be much more . it so then i'll be much more. it so sounds good and agree with everything you say. let's hear from awards and honours expert leslie russell. leslie, thank you so much forjoining us. what's your take the honour what's your take on the honour system? i with both of your previous guests and i'm a massive fan of the honour system because i think it does recognise amazing people and right through every strata of society . you've got knighthoods society. you've got knighthoods going to well, sir brian may rock star another to professor ian campbell a nuclear physicist

and then you go down to the levels with people in the community who are just doing fantastic work. and yes, i understand that it's not a perfect system , but what i think perfect system, but what i think is brilliant is that it is now open the public to make nominations. open the public to make nominations . you can go onto the nominations. you can go onto the gov.uk website and download a form and nominate somebody brilliant around you in the community, in charity and business if you truly think should be on the honours list, then do you know you've got to be in it to win it? awards, intelligence help people and we will very happily give anybody an honest assessment free of charge of the chances of somebody they think is deserving of an honour and i just think it's a brilliant system. it's joyful, isn't it? it's really celebrated the best of british society . it's good to have some society. it's good to have some good news to talk, thoughtful ones. i'm with you, leslie. so this is the process and how transparent is it if, for

example, i was to nominate someone who i think has done great for charity, what's great work for charity, what's the the process? the next step in the process? okay it's all about impact . so okay it's all about impact. so when you download that honours form and you fill it in, what you want to show is what they have changed for the better , how have changed for the better, how they've made britain a better place at whatever maybe place at whatever level. maybe they stand scientist . they are now stand scientist. maybe they're an eminent surgeon level. maybe that the local scout leader or schoolteacher . scout leader or schoolteacher. but you have to show what they've actually changed. it's about the influence they've had. it's about inspiring other people. so you send the foreman it goes to the cabinet office and then it's at and considered by one of those specialist committee is that we just heard about earlier. sports committee health committee , business health committee, business committee . they then draw up committee. they then draw up their final . it goes to downing their final. it goes to downing street for approval and then finally to buckingham palace to be rubber stamped . well we'll be rubber stamped. well we'll thank you for that insight . good thank you for that insight. good

to know. that's awards and honours expert lesley hussell now, still with me in the studio is belinda to lucy. belinda is there a worry that this system might go a bit to work? we heard that in the queen's lost honours. four of the six persons. what was known as persons. what was known as persons of colour , is there this persons of colour, is there this move to try and over represent certain demographics . i'm move to try and over represent certain demographics. i'm i'm not so sure i think that there are plenty of people from all sorts of communities racial backgrounds that have done extraordinary for their communities and it should be recognised for i mean, denise lewis got a major dame in this year's honours list. she done incredible work for the commonwealth as well as winning gold. of course for her country and, especially in sports and also work. there have been a lot of charities now that involve people from different races all over the country. so i, i don't think that's going work. i think it should be actually have nothing to do with colour or sex. i don't care if there's not 50% of being as long as 50% of women being as long as those really deserve

those people really deserve them. and the problem with honounng them. and the problem with honouring politicians etc. is that they're not getting honoured for doing anything excellent, just doing excellent, they're just doing their keep it down to theirjob. so keep it down to merit, keep it down only to merit. there's a 100 year merit. this there's a 100 year old given an award old man that just given an award for hours of for volunteering hours of reading. local primary reading. it is a local primary school. i mean, little stories like that, just lift the spirit there. yes. thank you. you are watching. and listening to alastair stewart& friends with me reverend calvin robinson me the reverend calvin robinson and the nhs are facing and the break the nhs are facing more pressure with reports of an of flu cases. we'll hear from our west midlands reporter from a hospital in birmingham but first here's a short.

break hello there back it's just on half past 12. i'm bethany elsey with your top stories from the gb newsroom. pope the 16th has died at the age of 95 and his

statement, the vatican's said he passed away just after 930 this morning within the vatican city, p0pe morning within the vatican city, pope benedict was the head of the catholic church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. he became the first pontiff to step down from the role in 600 years due to old age and ill health. from monday morning, people will be able to pay their aspects as he rests in, saint peter's basilica ahead of his funeral on the 5th of january . funeral on the 5th of january. four members of the england team who won the women's euro 2022 are among those recognised in the new year honours list. the first to be issued by king charles. captain leah williamson been made an obe while her lucy bronze beth mead and ellen white have been given mbes . gb news is have been given mbes. gb news is very young and diamond has also received an obe for services to pubuc received an obe for services to public health and charity and queen guitarist and animal welfare campaigner brian may received a knighthood . the prime received a knighthood. the prime

minister has admitted the last 12 months have been tough and the uk's problems won't go away next year. in his new year message to the country , rishi message to the country, rishi sunak said the government will continue to tackle the nhs backlog and illegal immigration . he also said king charles's coronation will bring the country together . the government country together. the government has confirmed anyone directly from china to from the 5th of january must show a negative covid test before their departure . there are no direct departure. there are no direct flights from to scotland, wales and northern, but the government says it will work with the devolved nations to ensure measures are implemented there. it's made concerns about surging cases in china following an easing of restrictions. france spain and the us are also introduced. similar rules. you're up to date on tv, online and dab, plus radio . this is tv and dab, plus radio. this is tv news. now let's get back to alison stewart and friends with kelvin kelvin .

kelvin kelvin. now pressure is mounting . the now pressure is mounting. the nhs and time. it's not industrial action threatening their existence. flu cases on their existence. flu cases on the rise with a reported seven times increase on the last month, according to new data from the national health care system. there were 3746 patients a day in hospital with flu last week. that's up from 520 a month ago with 267 in critical care beds. is the nhs system on the bnnk beds. is the nhs system on the brink of collapse? let's cross over to our west midlands reporter jack dawson, who joins us from a hospital from beverley . well, thank you, kelvin. these a 79% increase in these flu cases of people admitted to hospital in the week . around hospital in the week. around 3746 people were in flu in the

seven days up towards christmas day. that is just increasing week on week. that is in comparison to around 772 that are in hospital at the start of the. you can really see how rapid that rise in flu cases in hospital has been in terms critical care. as you mentioned, 267 people were in critical care with flu in the lead up to christmas in comparison to around last year, it was around 234. so it's really bad flu season this year. but we know from past years that we do have differing season. but the rate of flu year really does seem to be affecting more people than than through other years here . than through other years here. birmingham, the university hospitals, birmingham trust saying that they are seeing a the amounts of people being admitted to with flu symptoms , admitted to with flu symptoms, including the critical care units with respiratory failure as a as a result of a flu infection . professor drew perec infection. professor drew perec , the associate professor in acute and critical care , said

acute and critical care, said that we have young patients pregnant , so that we have young patients pregnant, so at least those who aren't typically falling into that vein or fall into that category experiencing serious complications because of flu such as pneumonia and organ failure, and that these patients now receiving critical treatment, including being sedated and ventilated. so this this flu season hitting younger people . people aren't people. people aren't necessarily always classes vulnerable a bit harder than other years. of course, this is the first year in a good couple of years because of covid restrictions . people have restrictions. people have actually been able to come together christmas. together for christmas. that might of the reasons why might be one of the reasons why infections have up infections for flu have gone up so quickly in the past. in the past few weeks , in terms of what past few weeks, in terms of what the effect that has had on the nhs with one, one, one, they recorded a record 721,000 calls last week. that's up from around 706,000 on the, on the on the week and that's up 60% on this time in the same week in 2021. a lot of those calls was because of parents about of course, we've had the rise in strep a

cases, but a lot of those asking for advice on how to deal with flu and to how how to get around the symptoms and get through them. nhs says it's prepared them. the nhs says it's prepared extensively for winter and obviously we've industrial obviously we've had industrial action, industrial action, got more industrial industrial . they industrial action to come. they said plans place said they've got plans in place to manage demand, to manage the rising demand, including around the clock system centres, system control centres, additional capacity, more mental health for ambulance services and community full services as. well, but the nhs saying if you need help on how to help stop and you know, cure the symptoms for your flu call, one, one, one. in the first instance. thank you very much. that was jack coston gb news, west midlands reporter now still with me in the studio is belinda. lose the belinda. it sounds like sensationalism to me. we saw on on the ticker right there twin demick this is the winter. everyone gets flu with winter. is that not the case has not always been the case. absolutely. and i did recognise all language coming back absolutely. and i did recognise all with1guage coming back absolutely. and i did recognise all with theige coming back absolutely. and i did recognise all with the twin)ming back absolutely. and i did recognise all with the twin demickack absolutely. and i did recognise all with the twin demick and again with the twin demick and overall patients on the overall and patients on the floor it's all starting floor and it's all starting again. was in hospital

again. however was in hospital a couple of weeks ago with my third daughter, who had this virus that's going around and she was in a terrible state and coughing up blood and high temperature and heart rate was going crazy and my daughters had it. but it particularly gripped her. and spending time in the paediatric a&e unit, there was barely any on the floor and it was mostly filled young parents with with toddlers , what i call with with toddlers, what i call sort of covid babies that were born in isolation and that had no exposure to , any kind of no exposure to, any kind of viruses. so their immunities got to develop. we stole that from them and now they're in hospital with slapped cheeks and, worried parents and really suffering so ihave parents and really suffering so i have noticed a big difference and i've spoken to lots of doctors. there is a huge influx in especially the young and children being severely affected by the flu, far worse than covid. and in fact , you know, covid. and in fact, you know, all the reports of kind of, you know, testing the chinese for coming into the country much more efficient, be testing to come in for who has the flu,

because that is crowding all hospitals moment. not that hospitals the moment. not that that would the anyway, that would the spread anyway, but yeah i have noticed actually a big impact but i don't think it's as frightening as the media making. no i had a couple of weeks ago you'll during the break coughing. i'm still break some coughing. i'm still trying but it's trying to get rid it but it's just bad cold is what it and just a bad cold is what it and we've been locked away for a couple of years. our immune systems aren't strong as they systems aren't as strong as they usually. common usually. it's common sense, isn't i think just don't isn't it? i think we just don't need be kissing more people need to be kissing more people under the mistletoe, know, under the mistletoe, you know, spreading more. just spreading a few more. just a good and thank good recommendation. and thank you, are watching you, bill. and you are watching and listening alastair and listening to alastair stewart& the stewart& friends with me the reverend plenty reverend calvin robinson plenty to afternoon. be to come this afternoon. we'll be about at the about a look back at the sporting events of the year from winning women's football winning the women's football world cup to the olympics. plus, we'll sharing some tips we'll be sharing some tips and tncks we'll be sharing some tips and tricks save the tricks on how to save the pennies the new year. first, pennies in the new year. first, let's take quick

break welcome back . you are watching

welcome back. you are watching and listening to alastair stewart and friends with me, the reverend calvin robinson on gb news. well, it a great sporting year for england's lionesses. lionel messi england's men winning the cricket t20 world and gold for team gb's women curlers . let's take a look back curlers. let's take a look back at the year in sport. to do that, we're joined by sports journalist aidan magee ayton. thank you for joining journalist aidan magee ayton. thank you forjoining us . good thank you for joining us. good year for sports it wasn't vintage year, i wouldn't say, but there was some certainly some standout moments . kobe some standout moments. kobe vintage that is still happening . oh, yes, sure. yeah, yeah. we got pregnant. we got yeah, we got pregnant. we got yeah, we got pregnant. we got league games so got some premier league games so they nice kicking off soon. they make nice kicking off soon. so something to so they, they go something to influence whole of the influence the whole of the entire year. but it's not entire year. but no, it's not been bad. i mean it's, it's, i wouldn't say it's as good as some the other ones we've had some of the other ones we've had in but then in recent times. but then obviously that we've obviously given that we've had everything disrupted covid, it was a full year of was good to see a full year of sport uninterrupted and saw sport uninterrupted and we saw some moments. so the some good moments. so the lionesses real was real lionesses was a real was a real highlight summer. our, highlight in the summer. our, our team haven't really our women's team haven't really hit them out hit the mark in terms of putting themselves on

the a number years they the for a number of years they got semi—finals of the got to the semi—finals of the world do well at world cup hoping to do well at the cup year as well. the world cup next year as well. well, i think it is well, hereafter, i think it is so. but to conquer europe like that and to get the momentum going through, going all the way through, beating in the final was really good. and they got. yes, actually. a couple actually. and they got a couple of nominees for the sports personality of the year as well. so good. we saw the so that was good. we saw the commonwealth games, i think you'd have that you'd have to call that a success as well. some would say that probably bit that it's probably a bit irrelevant compared to maybe that it's probably a bit irreiolympics compared to maybe that it's probably a bit irreiolympics and npared to maybe that it's probably a bit irreiolympics and somei to maybe that it's probably a bit irreiolympics and some of» maybe the olympics and some of the major events we can get stop birmingham on the map, birmingham back on the map, didn't i mean, didn't it? well, it did. i mean, the opening ceremony was pretty good. less good. it was a bit less political than what we were used to london, 2012. but so which to in london, 2012. but so which was good. focussed on sport was good. it focussed on sport as of cultural as well as some of the cultural history the city as well. and history of the city as well. and there was a good to the there was a good legacy to the stadiums actually it stadiums where they actually it they site, they actually use that site, break and it to use break it down and put it to use for communities rather than have the elephant all over the white elephant seen all over the white elephant seen all over the like sydney the world in places like sydney and athens. so and elsewhere and in athens. so that then football that was good. and then football wise city won wise we saw man city won the league liverpool got to

league title, liverpool got to the champions league final, a little of there and little bit of trouble there and then into this year, i mean, who knows them might even do it the first time in 19 it was first time in 19 years it was the 2004. they've the invincibles in 2004. they've got nowhere near winning the titles they titles since then but they made a this this a breakneck start to this this season they were action season they were in action tonight against against brighton. team, brighton. they're not my team, by just love my by the way. i'll just love my family oh, family sport arsenal. oh, do they? your they? yeah you're your connection nottingham. yes. connection is nottingham. yes. yes. my grandfathers played for, for excellence. must for excellence. but i must know what big up what my dad was a big man up front school they front was a movie school they get from. so so get your height from. so so yeah.i get your height from. so so yeah. i wouldn't say it was a vintage wouldn't say. i vintage year, i wouldn't say. i mean disappointment in mean england's disappointment in the the world have to the in the world cup you have to call disappointment call it disappointment to a degree most people degree i think most people would say be going to go say for them to be going to go beyond the quarterfinals can say was opportunity was a big missed opportunity because but because of harry penalty but again time we've got again 18 months time we've got the got chance the euros we've got a chance to atone. kobe did was it atone. one thing kobe did was it shifted these events quite shifted all these events quite close it's not like close together. it's not like let's another years let's wait for another two years or you've got to do or so, yet you've got to do something 18 months now. so we'll where goes and then we'll see where it goes and then we've interesting last we've had an interesting last 24 hours cristiano hours as well with cristiano renaldo settling renaldo finally settling in. al—nasser mean nobody around europe wanted europe actually wanted it. that was the reality of the situation. no they didn't

because i mean he's still top player he doesn't the player but he doesn't play the way he sounds way modern teams play he sounds it ronaldo it sounds ridiculous ronaldo knows doesn't knows ronaldo yeah. but doesn't matter anymore because you're inviting a circus inviting it become such a circus that you're inviting that into your club and it your football club and it becomes disruptive without even intending way. intending for it to be that way. he gave interview to piers he gave an interview to piers morgan a few weeks ago. i thought a good idea at thought it was a good idea at the i the united the time. if i was the united fan off the wall, then someone tried to cover what's going on there outdated there and find out how outdated there and find out how outdated the and how how they the thing is and how how they training facilities need upgrading most upgrading out is good, but most people way. people didn't see it that way. they thought that most managers and clubs around it and thought for you're for the price you pay. you're getting and it getting a circus here and it isn't got upstaged at isn't good. he got upstaged at the cup by his great the world cup by his great rival, well. rival, lionel messi as well. so we're sportspeople. we're looking at sportspeople. we a good year. he's we haven't had a good year. he's certainly on that is there certainly on that list. is there such as getting too big? such a thing as getting too big? the he's too big the sports? i don't he's too big for would certainly for the sport he would certainly see but i mean, see it that way. but i mean, this is so childish. i think you sort think there's a second sort of think there's a second world wants to world cup game. he he wants to pinch team, team mates pinch a team, another team mates go. just what they ought go. that's just what they ought to playground when to done in the playground when i was you know, you was that awful, you know, if you give on seven. but i

give me a one on seven. but i mean, it's he's 37 years old. he's trying to someone's goal. she's chasing individual she's chasing these individual records. a player records. if you've got a player who's individual who's chasing individual records, conducive who's chasing individual reccteam conducive who's chasing individual reccteam ethic. conducive who's chasing individual reccteam ethic. andiucive who's chasing individual reccteam ethic. and football is the team ethic. and football is more ever more and more team games ever before. carry before. they don't carry individuals attack individuals anymore. they attack as defend as as a team. they defend as a team. the goalkeeper is team. even the goalkeeper is part of the outfield part of the part of the outfield play part of the part of the outfield play i don't think they play now. so i don't think they necessarily want that. they look to thought 37 to the price. i thought at 37 his give way. his legs are going to give way. so the sign says these can't go on forever. we saw roger federer's well. federer's retirement as well. that big, shame, big that was a big, big shame, big loss well, especially loss in tennis. well, especially commercially, loss in tennis. well, especially comme|what, loss in tennis. well, especially comme|what the others the despite what the others the others probably one others probably will have one more but more grand slams in him. but nobody crowd like roger nobody draws a crowd like roger federer or the exhibition, the sponsors, want sponsors, they they all want knows well, knows the corporate guys. well, he's tennis. we saw he's big loss to tennis. we saw a in the in wimbledon a big run in the in wimbledon for norrie as well he rafa for norrie as well he beats rafa nadal a little bit nadal overnight a little bit relates years old relates the answer 26 years old he's his own but who he's come into his own but who knows? have knows? you might have a wimbledon the in wimbledon stop again in the in the or in may, rather, the knee or in may, rather, may orjune. the knee or in may, rather, may or june. and the knee or in may, rather, may orjune. and of course. pele. or june. and of course. pele. yeah, loss our yeah, pele. huge loss to our sport with football sport as well with football because, he he because, you know, he was he wasn't play of brazil wasn't allowed to play of brazil until eighties. he when until the mid eighties. he when he went to when he went to america . he football

america. yeah he football wasn't even brazil incredibly is even big in brazil incredibly is the sporting that the biggest sporting that football world and most football in the world and most successful certainly and it wasn't really before he wasn't really a thing before he really got going and made his mark and so eighties he mark and so by the eighties he was to age. was allowed to age. post—football career was actually quite enlightening experience for him because he was the was able to tour around the world interviewed him back world and i interviewed him back in 2004, five i always in 2004, five and i always remember him i said, like to have a word for word and was have a word for word and i was with young the daily with a young guy from the daily mirror. it was a we used to knock around together. know knock around together. i know his pele came back and his back. and pele came back and sits week chat i'll sits this week on our chat i'll chats then maybe saw chats then i'll maybe just saw talking kids us as talking to two kids like us as part ambassador euro. part of his ambassador euro. i mean, he was didn't need mean, he was not he didn't need the inches, that's the column inches, that's for sure. but that's a sure. i love that. but that's a good sportsman, isn't it? oh, yeah, it he is. he was an intense accomplished and intense he's accomplished and his i think was his achievements i think was 1200 games, 1200 goals in about 1300 games, three hat for three world cups, a hat for going to fight world cup final in 1962. i know, 1958 aged in 19 1962. i know, 1958 aged 18. i mean, that's phenomenal. roy thank you very much for that. that's a broadcaster and journalist. now it's time to look at the year is not being the best year for britain's bank

accounts. households struggling and poverty rising as the cost of bites . high inflation of living bites. high inflation bumped bills and the rising cost of the weekly shop have driven the economy to the verge of a recession . but is there light at recession. but is there light at the end the tunnel. while the the end of the tunnel. while the uk government recently announced a £26 billion port package for 2023 and 2024, with the aim of help helping millions of struggling households across the country to advise us on how to save pennies. i'm joined by financial expert jasmine birtles, founder of and editor of money magpie at dotcom. thank you so much forjoining . can you you so much forjoining. can you give us briefly and out of the best the top tips people can enter 2023 with on how to save their pennies . well firstly , i their pennies. well firstly, i would say don't panic. there's a lot of fear around people me are being asked all the time to come up with tips like this. and so increasingly saying, really, don't panic. and secondly, i do think that this is something i've said for a while, but i

think it's even more important now we need to get together . we now we need to get together. we need to share with each other because on our own it's going to because on our own it's going to be really quite tricky. you know, we're coming into another yeah know, we're coming into another year. i think of some problems . year. i think of some problems. so together we can be strong. together we can help each other. our neighbours our friends, our family and can share things so that we all have something we can all know that we've got some of our own and we can keep ourselves going , but for a lot ourselves going, but for a lot less money. so that's my number one tip. and we'll continue to be for 23, frankly . also, be for 23, frankly. also, though, right now is a really good time to go and have a look at what got in the house see what you can sell, see what you bnng what you can sell, see what you bring some cash in to, because john your is a tough month. it's about five weeks. we've had christmas a lot of people come into january with debt and it's as i say, it's a long month to

have that debt. so let's see how can make some more money to pay off pay that off and give yourself a bit of a decent start for the year. i'm finally i would say for the moment, i mean, there are a lot more tips, but for moment, i would say finally, do get help as quickly as possible. if you if you are struggling and you know, the good news is that there is there are a lot of places you can go for help for free help . for for help for free help. for example, i'm patron of community easy money advice, which is a series of debt advice agencies around the country. many work out of churches you probably know them. calvin also, of course is christians against poverty . there's citizens advice poverty. there's citizens advice stepchange national and if you're having problems the roof over keeping the roof over head you're worried about your mortgage, worried about your rent. go and seek shelter. but it's a great and the earlier

they see you the more they can do for you so there really is help out there lots and lots of helpful advice there. jasmine if you were to give us some advice rather than to individuals, if you're going to give it to the government fix the economy government to fix the economy that they've messed up, what would be? let's get would that be? right. let's get a time machine and go back two years and not lockdown and not insane amounts of money i don't think honestly that increase in interest rates is going to what they wanted to do . it does seem they wanted to do. it does seem that inflation coming down naturally anyway , but increasing naturally anyway, but increasing point of increasing interest is to make money more to make sure that people don't spend so much, they don't borrow so they don't spend so much. they will save instead because the savings rates will be better . but you rates will be better. but you know, the point is to therefore bnng know, the point is to therefore bring interest it bring inflation down. but inflation's

going to come down anyway because things expensive already. people are already not spending. so just putting interest rates up think will simply make it worse for those with mortgages we could see a lot more repossessions . i would lot more repossessions. i would stop that i would to be frank i would take a leaf out of liz truss mini budget everybody slagged off totally . but i was slagged off totally. but i was behind it because that was a budget was trying to get go for growth and i think far worse than inflation is recession . and than inflation is recession. and i do feel that that is the biggest worry everybody's fussing about understandably , fussing about understandably, about inflation. quite right . about inflation. quite right. but we have stacks at the moment and the stag party, the recession side, that's the worst. and that really is where we need to put firepower. and again, putting rates up is just going to it harder to. get

ourselves out of recession . ourselves out of recession. people won't spend absolutely sound advice there . thank you sound advice there. thank you very much, jasmine birtles, founder and editor of money magpie dot . i've got belinda to magpie dot. i've got belinda to lucy in the studio with me. beunda lucy in the studio with me. belinda we mentioned earlier that the lockdowns may have led to us all catching the cold or flu this winter. they also might led the being led to the economy being collapsed into , recession this collapsed into, a recession this year. collapsed into, a recession this year . it collapsed into, a recession this year. it seems the collapsed into, a recession this year . it seems the lockdown is year. it seems the lockdown is the result of all of this mess as a result of the lockdowns and the covid the governments reactions. covid but it? oh my but how do we fix it? oh my gosh, i'm so please you highlight because it's rarely brought certainly by the brought up certainly by the government that this is the reason we're in this financial they keep on about and they keep banging on about and ukraine as if that the sole cause of our woes and i think people can see through it now you know things the furlough being abused an d £5 billion being abused and £5 billion worth of taxpayers money just being misspent fraudulent claims and the government not trying to get it back that's £5 billion

you know that there's this sort of blank check that the government has that the british taxpayers pocket is where they're to just keep they're going to just keep digging into to try solve all the mistakes they've made. you know , i feel personally attacked know, i feel personally attacked by the government nicking into our salary every time they make up and they really have this the rot has been setting in long time. ukraine time. the russia and ukraine war. so as your said, you know if only we had a time machine and went back and then we could solve it. but unfortunately we are where we are and. i also agree with your guest, a guest that liz truss has some excellent ideas for growth. there's no optimism . how are we there's no optimism. how are we going to attract investment if no one's looking up and thinking wow, but this going to happen wow, but this is going to happen in are going to in these low taxes are going to attract new it's just is the stagnation that's quite depressing but i do like what your guest said about community and helping each other. we've been before. and helping each other. we've been of before. and helping each other. we've been of my before. and helping each other. we've been of my age before. and helping each other. we've been of my age above re. and helping each other. we've been of my age above .e. and helping each other. we've been of my age above . this people of my age and above. this isn't to cut your isn't new. having to cut your cloth to the fabric you have and, reducing your spending . and, reducing your spending. find out if someone's on the

street. elderly or on their own. take food, leftovers . when take them food, leftovers. when we house repossessed we had our house repossessed when younger, we had bags when i was younger, we had bags of clothes us outside of clothes to us left outside our by. by neighbours who our door by. by neighbours who we didn't know there was we didn't even know there was such spirit and it and such community spirit and it and let's try and galvanise that and look everyone on our look after everyone on our street time street through this time of crisis. love that let's not crisis. i love that let's not always look to the government for look at for responses. let's look at ourselves, let's inward ourselves, let's look inward like advice like a charity. fantastic advice . you are watching and listening to let's just do and to us. let's just do it. and friends with me, the reverend calvin, lots more coming up on the this afternoon. the show this afternoon. but first, at the first, let's take a look at the weather looking ahead to this afternoon. and the uk is looking cloudy with outbreaks of rain dner cloudy with outbreaks of rain drier and brighter in the northwest . he has the details . northwest. he has the details. it will be cold and rather cloudy across northern scotland this afternoon . there will be this afternoon. there will be some sunny spells times, but also scattered wintry showers bringing snow to higher ground the weather over northern ireland will be mostly with plenty of sunny developing as we head into the afternoon. winds

will be falling light. it will remain rather cloudy across northwest england with limited sunny spells here. there will also be some rain or showers at times . t it will be very also be some rain or showers at times. t it will be very cloudy across . wales with cloud low across. wales with cloud low enough to bring hill fog at times there be outbreaks of locally rain with the driest conditions in the east. it be overcast in the east midlands this afternoon with prolonged at times heavy rain for all areas . times heavy rain for all areas. it will be rather windy with strong gusts feeling for this time of year. east will be cloudy throughout the afternoon with prolonged spells of locally heavy rain throughout. there will be some and brighter spells, but they will be limited. it'll be a windy afternoon across southern england , especially along the england, especially along the coast . it will be cloudy here coast. it will be cloudy here with spells locally, heavy rain edging eastward . it's further edging eastward. it's further spells of rain across southern areas while remaining cold. the north with wintry showers over ,

north with wintry showers over, northern scotland. and that's how the weather up for the rest of the day .

hello and welcome. if you're just joining us, it's 1:00am. just joining us, it's1:00am. the reverend calvin robinson standing in for alison stewart's on the way . we will have the nhs on the way. we will have the nhs and will it be privatised. how will the world mourn former pope following the announcement of his death today? and should we pressure ourselves into tough new year's resolution ? but new year's resolution? but first, let's get the latest news headunes. first, let's get the latest news headlines . thanks, kelvin . good headlines. thanks, kelvin. good afternoon. it's 1:01. headlines. thanks, kelvin. good afternoon. it's1:01. i'm with your top stories from the gb newsroom. pope benedict xvi has

died at the age of 95. in a statement, the vatican said he passed away just after 930 this morning with within the vatican city, pope benedict was the head of the catholic church from thousand and five until his resignation in 2013. he became the first pontiff to step down from the role in 600 years due to old age and ill health. from monday morning, people will be able to pay their respects as he rests in saint peter's basilica ahead of his funeral on the 5th of january. while he editor at the catholic herald peter coldwell told gb news pope benedict's legacy benedict wasn't going to allow people to come in with all kinds of novelties or revolutionary reforms and kind of thing. he said , no, this is this is a said, no, this is this is a sacred deposit . this is sacred deposit. this is something which this is what this is what we hold to be true. and it wasn't that he was against homicide rituals or or against homicide rituals or or against women or anything like that. it was upholding to

thousand years of christian teaching. so this is what it means to be a christian. and that was the associate editor at the catholic herald, simon caldwell, that now full members of the england team who won the women's euro 2022 are among those recognised in the new year honours list. the first to be issued by king charles, captain leah williamson has made an obe whilst lucy bronze beth mead and ellen white have been given mbes . gb news. presenter anne diamond lord has received an obe for her services to public health and to charity and queen guitarist and animal welfare campaigner brian may has received a knighthood . it's received a knighthood. it's a nice surprise to them to have this honour upon me. i also think it's it comes with a responsible party to behave well, i guess to continue to behave in a way which benefits the country and the of the

population here and the world as well, you know. but i take this response to responsibility seriously anyway , the prime seriously anyway, the prime minister has admitted the last 12 months have been tough and warned the uk's problems won't go away next year. in his new year message to the country rishi said the government will continue to tackle the nhs backlog and illegal immigration. he also said king charles coronation will bring the country together . i'm not going country together. i'm not going to pretend that all problems will go away in the new year . will go away in the new year. the 2023 will give us an opportunity to showcase the very best of britain on the world stage in this historic of his majesty the king's coronation. we will come , together with we will come, together with pride in everything that makes this country great. yes, 2023 will have its challenges . but will have its challenges. but the government i lead is putting your priorities . the government

your priorities. the government has confirmed anyone travelling directly from china to england from the 5th of january must show a negative test before their departure . there are no their departure. there are no direct flights from china to scotland, wales or , northern scotland, wales or, northern ireland, but the government, it will work with the devolved nafion will work with the devolved nation to ensure measures are implemented there. it's amid concerns about cases in china following , an concerns about cases in china following, an easing of restrictions . spain and the us restrictions. spain and the us have also introduced similar rules . and new year celebrations rules. and new year celebrations have already begun with new zealand and australia welcoming in 2023. now if you're watching us on tv, you'll see these scenes from sydney with the fireworks over the iconic harbour bridge and opera . house harbour bridge and opera. house absolutely brilliant. you're up to date on tv news , movies as it to date on tv news, movies as it happens. now, let's back to calvin .

calvin. welcome back to alastair stewart& friends. with me, the reverend calvin robinson on gb news ad happy new year to our friends in australia . here's friends in australia. here's what's coming up this hour. our thoughts and prayers go out to 16. who has died at the vatican residence ? 95. we'll look back residence? 95. we'll look back on his life and hear from the reverend comments. pressure is mounting for the nhs as flu and covid cases are on the rise. is private isolation the only way for our health care system to survive ? and with high inflation survive? and with high inflation , widespread industrial action and soaring levels of channel crossings. rishi sunak has tough year ahead. and remember, i want to hear from you guys. what do you think of today's topics? email us gbviews@gbnews.uk and tweet us at . gb news. former

tweet us at. gb news. former pope benedict xvi has died at his vatican residence aged 95. a decade after he stood down because of ailing health, his will be held at st peter's on january the fifth. he led the catholic church for less than eight years until in 2013. he became the first pope to resign since the 12th. in 1415. benedict his final years at the mutter ecclesia et monastery . mutter ecclesia et monastery. the walls of the vatican . our the walls of the vatican. our reporter cameron walker takes a look back at his extraordinary life . it's april 2005. white life. it's april 2005. white smoke rises from a chimney above the vatican . a new pope. the the vatican. a new pope. the 265th leader of the catholic church has been elected pope . church has been elected pope. benedict xvi, aged 78, became the oldest newly elected pope since the 17th. hundreds but also the first german head of

the catholic church in centuries. born joseph ratzinger in 1927, he lived with his catholic in bavaria, although his parents were. ratzinger was a member of the hitler youth by the end of the second world war, he was serving as a german soldier . he was serving as a german soldier. unwilling to fight, he deserted and was briefly held as a prisoner of war by the americans . ratzinger was americans. ratzinger was ordained as a priest in 1951 and was awarded a doctorates in theology at the university of munich. a few years later , he munich. a few years later, he taught us a number of university , years before becoming the archbishop of munich and writing in 1977. he grew close to pope john paul the second and became one of his close guest advisers . pope john paul, one of his close guest advisers . pope john paul , the second, . pope john paul, the second, died in april 2005. joseph ratzinger was elected as head of the catholic church and became pope benedict's for 16th . he pope benedict's for 16th. he continues the legacy of his

predecessor by speaking to other religious , particularly judaism religious, particularly judaism and. domino's second feeding was he aims to revive italy's the church in europe and traditional catholic values relating to sexuality and priestly celibacy . he visited a number of countries the early years of his papacy. new guidelines allowing more use of the latin mass. he directly addressed historical abuse within the catholic speaking out against during a visit to the united nations . but visit to the united nations. but he came under media scrutiny. his alleged role in the cover up of sexual and physical abuse cases by parish priests in schools. the vatican denounced the allegations as false and calumny and said its handling of the cases showed wisdom and firmness . in 2013, pope benedict firmness. in 2013, pope benedict xvi announced his imminent resignation due to old age ill health, making him the first p0pe health, making him the first popein health, making him the first pope in some 600 years to resign. more than 15,000 people

crowded st peter's square to watch his final public address . watch his final public address. bambino cannot stop. no. in this year's post—christmas statements, pope francis made a surprise appeal at the end of his address to ask for prayers. former pope benedict saying he was very sick. the vatican issued his statements, but he was receiving constant medical care . but soon after the 95 year care. but soon after the 95 year old passed away in the vatican, the home of the institution , he the home of the institution, he dedicated more than 70 year of his life to karen walker, gb news. and we'll have more on that later. now, the nhs to say they are struggling to cope with they're calling a twin endemic of covid and flu as the number of covid and flu as the number of patients in hospital with the latter condition rose by 80% in a week, according to the latest . it's not just capacity . that's . it's not just capacity. that's an issue, though. ongoing industrial has also crippled the health care system. nurses walked out for the first time in 100 years earlier this month ,

100 years earlier this month, and ambulance workers followed closely behind. joining me now is , dr. anita raja, a gp gp is, dr. anita raja, a gp gp based in birmingham. thank you , based in birmingham. thank you, dr. anita, for joining us today . how are you finding things at the moment? i think it's pretty dire because winter months are challenging anyway for the nhs because of the winter pressures . and you've called it a twin dynamic, i'd say it's a triple demick here because we're also have a surge of strep a, which is a huge concern. yes, there are staffing issues, but the staffing issues may not just be the only problems within the nhs at the moment. the only problems within the nhs at the moment . you know, if you at the moment. you know, if you come to look at the way the system has been designed , i system has been designed, i think it's hugely failed. the pubuc think it's hugely failed. the public because the nurses haven't just decided to walk out last minute . it's something that last minute. it's something that has culminated due to of inefficiency . the managerial inefficiency. the managerial system . now, if you look at the system. now, if you look at the way the nhs is designed, unfortunately one person has to

do the work of ten people are burning out . there is a pay burning out. there is a pay problem, there is an appreciation problem . people appreciation problem. people don't feel that they are given much more than valueless clubs and of course people are burning out and want to leave the profession. so yes, it's absolutely dire. i agree with you . the problem is these you. the problem is these strikes and i understand what you're saying and that they're not last minute, they're well thought through, however, will they not matters worse if they not make matters worse if nurses are suddenly gone ? this nurses are suddenly gone? this situation from amendments , time situation from amendments, time and things are already at a stressful level, will care. it's a great question. it's a very good question. you've asked me. but you see, you've got to understand that at the moment the nurses striking because the nurses are striking because one is probably doing the one nurse is probably doing the work are at work of ten and patients are at risk anyway. they all risk every single every single minute. the waiting times in a hospital in a&e is anything between 16 to 24 hours. you could be waiting two days before you're given a bed .

days before you're given a bed. the strike is not just about the strike is because all nhs care staff are feeling under valued and overworked. i mean at the moment, if you are the impression that people are safe , i am willing to tell you assurance that not the ambulance are taking 8 hours to get to people . people are having to use people. people are having to use their own transport even if they are worried about a heart attack because it's easier to get to the hospital. the nhs is at breaking point. in fact, i would say that it's already broken . say that it's already broken. and what are the managers doing to amend the situation? what does anybody doing? i mean, their nightly tucked away in their nightly tucked away in their offices while the frontline workers what your heart see is your nurses, your doctors. they're facing all of the abuse . and at the end of the the abuse. and at the end of the at the end of the day, they're being blamed for all the failures of the nhs and the minister. so yes, i yes we minister. so yes, i mean yes we are under huge pressure at the moment, i wouldn't say it's moment, but i wouldn't say it's the fault because the nurses were at fault because they're they're they're walking out. they're walking are

walking out because people are dying day in any dying every single day in any corridor they're not corridor because they're not getting enough. getting help soon enough. i'm with dr. i'm with you. with you, dr. i'm with you. i see that the nhs doesn't work. it's fit for purpose it's not fit for purpose anymore. that the anymore. i see that it's on the bnnk anymore. i see that it's on the brink collapse. it hasn't brink collapse. if it hasn't already collapse, i'm with you on entirely. my question already collapse, i'm with you on (is, rely. my question already collapse, i'm with you on (is, rely. know, restion already collapse, i'm with you on (is, rely. know, jesseems however is, you know, it seems to me that the strikes were about but if they're about about pay, but if they're about working enough. about pay, but if they're about woriwhat enough. about pay, but if they're about woriwhat are enough. about pay, but if they're about woriwhat are the enough. about pay, but if they're about woriwhat are the conditions?gh. but what are the conditions? want want to want to change? do we want to get of this managerial get rid of this managerial structure the structure rid of all the bureaucracy? improvements structure rid of all the bureaucrto'? improvements structure rid of all the bureaucrto see improvements structure rid of all the bureaucrto see made provements structure rid of all the bureaucrto see made to yvements structure rid of all the bureaucrto see made to yveme|the we want to see made to make the nhs work again ? yes. to answer nhs work again? yes. to answer this question , i think all the this question, i think all the health minister needs to do is spend 12 hours in any local to see what needs to be done to make the system workable. at the moment , you know, we've got moment, you know, we've got a funding issue. i that but you know at the same time we've got to understand that nobody can work for free on nurses are going to foodbanks are unable to afford you know heating their homes their unable to afford buying their groceries they're unable to fill their tanks if they are district nurses . now, they are district nurses. now, how are we expecting people to

work under these conditions ? you work under these conditions? you know, if you look at junior doctors , as you are well aware , doctors, as you are well aware, they're going to be struggling soon as well. and that's also because they're unable to afford living of a foundation. your doctor earns absolute nothing at the moment . and what for? the moment. and what for? there's absolutely appreciation. somebody needs to sit down and just look at all the aspects that need to be addressed. 12 hours in and is enough. 12 hours in a&e. that's all you need to do . so the health minister and do. so the health minister and the prime minister spend 12 hours in a&e. that's dr. anita raja, a gp based in birmingham. thank you so much for your time today and joining me in the studio is belinda de lucy. beunda studio is belinda de lucy. belinda i'm not sure a strike can help change the situation of appreciation of our health workers, but is there a way that we can fix the nhs do you think or is it just beyond repair? it needs privatised. well i certainly think the nhs has enough to enough money. we enough money to the we've never spent more the nhs. we've never spent more money in history , the money in it in our history, the nhs do now. it's about

nhs than we do now. it's about management so we need management of money. so we need to throwing people's tax to stop throwing people's tax money into , these burning fuel money into, these burning fuel drums and just seeing it going up in smoke. so that's the first thing we have enough money. now it's about wastage and it's about using agency staff so expensive to the taxpayer. it's about missed appointments , £200 about missed appointments, £200 million a year to the taxpayer . million a year to the taxpayer. when rishi goes to the british association with with something to fix it like a £10 fine for repeat offenders they reject it you know it's really difficult to manage the when there is so it's become so political as well however the working conditions picked up by dr. anita just now are 100% back they are terrible for junior doctors the and in fact doctors it's insane the amount of paperwork are highly doctors are having to do instead of see patients they're having to spend hours filling out forms when should be done by middle management . why aren't we doing management. why aren't we doing that? we need to attract and

keep more doctors and stop stripping poorer countries of their medical staff and up our own medical staff, which we're not doing, especially our nursing colleges . they should be nursing colleges. they should be built across the country and we should be paying them a good and decent wage. but now is not the time for insane salary increases. they know that we don't have the money for it and now is the time for strike. now is not the time for strike. when nhs is at breaking when the nhs is at breaking point. support in their point. but i do support in their working conditions. i not working conditions. i do not think them well. think. we treat them very well. doctors commit suicide between two and 5% more than the general population and 7% of medical students leave medicine within three years. and why are many leaving the profession? because it's also a bullying environment. because exhausted and stressed with the emotional toil of holding people to lives in their hands every day , not in their hands every day, not being paid enough that grumpy with each other and grouchy with each we need to each other. so we do need to change working conditions change the working conditions for know how for doctors. but we know how to do how it used to do this. we know how it used to work with the of matrons work with the system of matrons and example, don't and for example, nurses don't necessarily need to degree qualifications. like said,

qualifications. like you said, you talent. you can have home—grown talent. we nhs. why we know how make the nhs. why are well, are we not doing this? well, this a big question this is this is a big question for next will reset the for rishi next will he reset the working is so working conditions is so important genuine important because a genuine belief go into medicine belief people go into medicine out goodwill, philanthropy and but if they can't work for free and rishi needs to set good conditions for them pay them enough by not charging the taxpayers more, but by using money they on stupid diversity and inclusion positions which cost millions of pounds in the nhs . and oh my god, don't even nhs. and oh my god, don't even get me started on that. but it's such waste money. we have such a waste of money. we have enough reset better enough money reset it better work conditions. that's for rishi next year. you very rishi next year. thank you very much. that's lucy now much. but then that's lucy now returning to the death of the former pope benedict. the 16th tributes are pouring in from across the world with rishi sunak. latest world to sunak. the latest world to praise work . and joining me praise his work. and joining me now is the reverend tomlinson, the priest of the ordinary of our lady of walsingham for the arts. thank you so much for joining me today. you joining me today. could you please telling us i know you are a convert to the catholic faith from anglicanism. could you

first tell us, did the pope have any that journey ? he any impact on that journey? he had enormous impact . you know, had enormous impact. you know, for many years , been thinking for many years, been thinking personally about, making the journey into the catholic church from the church of england . but from the church of england. but when pope benedict really gave a strong lead in wanting to defend the faith against worldliness and uphold all the doctrine that inspired me, enormous and when he announced he was going to open the ordinary act for people who wanted to come across but retain their english patrimony, i was one of the very first people i just knew in heart i wanted to go. he was huge inspiration . a great theologian inspiration. a great theologian and a great man of god . well, i and a great man of god. well, i don't think that's emphasise enough that he was a great theologian . i, i read his book theologian. i, i read his book recently , the jesus of nazareth, recently, the jesus of nazareth, which for me just speaks entirely of what was about. but it's great to have church leaders, isn't it, who are theologians who have that

background, can be leaders background, who can be leaders of spiritual realm as as the of the spiritual realm as as the earthly realm . i think it's earthly realm. i think it's essential . i would actually say essential. i would actually say probably the most important about pope benedict is that he was one of the most learned men in church history. i genuinely think he will become a doctor of the church . i think there have the church. i think there have been very few people as intellect , really capable been very few people as intellect, really capable as him his legacy to the church really going to be found in every thing he wrote, which was exhaustive and really, i think you know, i was really touched when he came england and walked with her majesty, the queen. and i really did think were seeing the end did think we were seeing the end of generation , the of a very great generation, the likes of which we've not really seen since . there seems to have seen since. there seems to have been a dumbing down throughout the 20th century. and i think our leaders aren't quite as impressive as the generation before them. this was man who spoke many languages , a man who

spoke many languages, a man who knew ancient church , who had knew ancient church, who had studied the fathers. and every time he spoke it was just panels of wisdom and really i don't think there's a predator alive who is really at the same standard that he set for the church. well, he followed in huge footsteps . well, didn't he? huge footsteps. well, didn't he? of course, john paul, the second, made him prefect of the congregation of the doctrine of , the faith. but prior to that, he actually quite a liberal priest, wasn't he, before he became a cardinal? yeah. i think one of problems that the one of the problems that the world has in understanding as it tries to see them through a worldly political lens. so people want pope benedict to be the traditional concern to pope francis , be the liberal left . francis, be the liberal left. but actually they don't often work those titles . i would say work those titles. i would say there are two very distinct schools of thinking in the church . one of them is quite church. one of them is quite modernist , church. one of them is quite modernist, wanting to open church. one of them is quite modernist , wanting to open the modernist, wanting to open the church up to the world. and that

would be really francis is there . pope benedict stood for the other great school of thinking the church that says we need to preserve the wisdom of the past . in preserve the wisdom of the past. in really is i think again where he came in so he was very in terms of wanting to embrace everyone and reach and speak out to the world he was liberal in the good sense of the word, you know what he wasn't was a big left wing politician, which is what world wants the pope to be the father and the catholic faith is a faith rooted in traditional is handed down from christ through the apostles to us we believe in apostolic succession, etc. this is a faith that is rooted in tradition and many are saying that with the death of pope benedict, the 16, there is no a leader holding on to that . and leader holding on to that. and the modernists will get their and the church will be opened up . the will to become of the

world. what will think ? i think world. what will think? i think i would say that actually benedict inspired a lot very young catholics. so i think the reality is in the long might have great optimism for the church i think today if you're going to be catholic you want that you want the in its fullness. i see lot of young people who hunger to be faithful who hunger for the beauty of the ancient mass. all these things that difficulty, i think, is that difficulty, i think, is that we have got a generation in power at the moment who are probably the boomer generation, whose entire ministry was spent trying kind of bring in felt and you know, and the bomb type religion very anglican a sense and so we've got this little bold at the moment where i think power is a little bit too much in one term, but actually, there are many young people are inspired by that. so i think in the short term got a rocky road

, but i think in the long term the church will come back roaring into life naturally as more people realise that perhaps wisdom of the church , the ages wisdom of the church, the ages is something missing from our rather vacuous and confused culture. today i hope you're right, but you gave practical example, of course, pope benedict was in favour and helped encourage the use of the latin mass, whereas pope francis, of course , has almost francis, of course, has almost outlawed this practise around the world. more traditional catholics are looking towards things like the latin mass to refind truth and beauty and goodness. so where do you see that happening. well, i i'm a optimist. i believe in the power , the holy spirit and i say that, you know, there's a great, lovely story that napoleon once said to the pope, i'm going to destroy your church. and the p0pe destroy your church. and the pope said, well, we catholics have been trying for 1500 years and we've not managed it. i we've got some real challenges. i think there are some very

politically motivated ideologues in power in the church at the moment are trying to suppress them for . moment are trying to suppress them for. people moment are trying to suppress them for . people who moment are trying to suppress them for. people who simply want to faithful and you know, so i do think there is a culture battle going on but in a way i think those of us who love pope benedict the way we can honour him is to fight the true faith to that, to stand up and be counted . and actually, the good counted. and actually, the good news is, you know, we've got god on side. so i'm feeling positive or rather we're on the side of god , father and give us some god, father and give us some good news. tell us the ordinary, the great work benedict's put through there to help anglicans keep their patrimony , joining keep their patrimony, joining the communion with . rome well, the communion with. rome well, it's tremendously time. pope benedict, many people may not realise it's a great anglophile . he loved this country and. he loved especially the great saint john henry newman, a man who famously had been raised as an oxford academic , a member of the

oxford academic, a member of the church of . but he became church of. but he became catholic and ended up being quite instrumental in his writing and indeed in influencing the second vatican council. so pope benedict realised, i think that in a sense the english way the anglican had lost its true faith and the morals of the church . and the morals of the church. england was just becoming very worldly and into environmentalism , all that. that environmentalism, all that. that was a real need to retain the best of anglican patrimony , best of anglican patrimony, which is english patrimony , a which is english patrimony, a reminder that actually occitan , reminder that actually occitan, our great schools, our universities , all of these were universities, all of these were forged in when it had a beating catholic . so he asked those of catholic. so he asked those of us to come over , not to just go us to come over, not to just go nafive us to come over, not to just go native , but to hold the story native, but to hold the story pre reformation england the fact that actually western culture is a catholic christian thing and something worthy to be preserved

something worthy to be preserved so we then took the catholic church and have our own mass with crime. meriam beautiful, all stemming from the very ancient rights that were here in england before. henry the eighth took his wrecking ball at we've kept some of beauty, some of that and a real emphasis the engush that and a real emphasis the english saints we've got cardinal newman now saint john henry newman as a patron our of walsingham the great story are really english feeling way of being catholic to remind what really unity is about. it's a tremendous gift we all in the ordinary. it's always to say benedict babies think he's one of our patrons to really one day to be a saint and i can really recommend people look up your literature as well the divine missal as well as the divine worship office funded hostage from ann. language within . from mary ann. language within. the the the catholic structure for the thomas and thank you so much for joining really do

joining us today really do appreciate a great idea if appreciate it a great idea if are watching or listening to alastair stewart& friends with me, the reverend calvin robinson . coming up, we'll bring you the latest facing latest on the struggles facing the nhs as we go live to our reporter on ground at one of the country's hospital . back country's major hospital. back after whether after the break. and whether looking ahead this afternoon and the uk is looking cloudy with outbreaks of rain but drier and brighter in the northwest . he brighter in the northwest. he has the details . it will be cold has the details. it will be cold and rather cloudy across northern scotland this afternoon . there will be some sunny spells at times, but also scattered wintry showers bringing snow to higher ground. the over northern ireland will be mostly dry with plenty of sunny developing as we head into the afternoon. winds will be light . it will the afternoon. winds will be light. it will remain the afternoon. winds will be light . it will remain rather light. it will remain rather cloudy across west england with limited spells here. there will also be some patchy rain or at times too, it will be very cloudy across wales with cloud enough to bring still fog at

times . there enough to bring still fog at times. there will be enough to bring still fog at times . there will be outbreaks times. there will be outbreaks locally heavy rain with , the locally heavy rain with, the driest conditions in the east. it will be overcast in east midlands this afternoon with , midlands this afternoon with, prolonged at times. heavy rain for all areas. it be rather windy with strong gusts. feeling mild for time of year. east anglia . be cloudy throughout the anglia. be cloudy throughout the afternoon with prolonged spells of locally heavy rain throughout. there will some dner throughout. there will some drier and brighter spells . they drier and brighter spells. they will be limited. it'll be a windy afternoon across southern england, especially along the coast . it will be cloudy here coast. it will be cloudy here with spells of locally heavy rain edging eastwards, further spells rain across southern areas while , remaining cold in areas while, remaining cold in the north with wintry showers over northern scotland . and over northern scotland. and that's how the weather shaping up for the of the day .

welcome back . good afternoon.

welcome back. good afternoon. it's 132 on bethany elsey in the it's132 on bethany elsey in the gb newsroom. the vatican has announced the death of pope benedict the 16th at the age of 95.pope benedict the 16th at the age of 95. pope benedict was the head of the catholic church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. he became the first pontiff to step down from the role 600 years due to old and ill health. pope francis will lead his funeral on the 5th of january in st peter's square . four st peter's square. four lionesses who won the women's zero 2022 are among those recognised in the new year honours list. the first to be issued by king charles captain leah williamson has been made an obe while her team—mates lucy bronze beth mead and ellen white have been given mbes. gb news is an anne diamond received an obe for services to public health and charity . and queen guitarist and charity. and queen guitarist bnan and charity. and queen guitarist brian may has received a knighthood . the prime minister knighthood. the prime minister has admitted the last 12 months

have been tough and warned uk's problems won't go away year. in his new year to the uk, rishi sunak the government will continue to tackle nhs backlog and immigration. he also said king charles's coronation bring the country together and the government has confirmed anyone travelling directly from china to england from the 5th of january must show a negative covid test before their departure . there are no direct departure. there are no direct flights from china to scotland, wales and northern ireland, but the government says it will work with the devolved nations to ensure measures implemented there. it's amid concerns about surging cases in china following an easing of restrictions. france, spain , the us also france, spain, the us also introduced similar rules. france, spain, the us also introduced similar rules . you're introduced similar rules. you're up to date on tv online and dab plus radio. this is tv news. now let's get back to calvin .

let's get back to calvin. welcome now, before we cross over to birmingham hospital, let's read out a few of your views . today's topics on our views. today's topics on our earlier conversation on new years honours. darrel says the list of people who are rewarding it by the king just shows how and farcical this list is. the lionesses team should been rewarded not for just the whole team won the it's unjustly unfair to the team because i mean it's good point. i'm not entirely sure why only four people were but a pilot says happy new year you all at gb news we really need your station. all thank pam. that's very kind. keep views coming in and do subscribe to our youtube channel. we all gb news well more on the struggles of the nhs now as they face a so—called twin demick of covid the flu. or as my last guest, dr. anita raja, just suggested , maybe even raja, just suggested, maybe even a triple. derek with strep a in the mix too. let's cross over to our news west midlands reporter

chuck colson who joins us from the queen elizabeth hospital in birmingham . cut off. the queen elizabeth hospital in birmingham . cut off . well, birmingham. cut off. well, calvin, the surge in. hello. hello. the surge in the number of patients over the last few weeks here and nhs england with flu has risen about seven times around 79% in just the last week . so there is a big surge , a big . so there is a big surge, a big rise, big surge in flu cases , rise, big surge in flu cases, 3746 people were in hospital flu in the week running up to christmas. and that was about just 772 at the start of the month. with that just a short few weeks , you can see how few weeks, you can see how rapidly cases of flu have have risen , although some of if not risen, although some of if not all of those are in critical condition . there's around 267 in condition. there's around 267 in the week, leading to christmas that were in the were being treated in critical care. when you get to critical care with flu it's not something that we can that can be treated there's not for an cut not really any cure for an cut of some minor kind of treatment so you can get hospital all

so you can get in hospital all in of being admitted to in terms of being admitted to critical what we've seen from the university hospital trust and their associate professor in acute and critical care professor dhruv perec . he says professor dhruv perec. he says that we do young patients, pregnant patients as well as people who do not typically fall into a vulnerable category , into a vulnerable category, having to go into critical care and receive sedation , also and receive sedation, also ventilation as so this is a it is a strong variant of flu. that is a strong variant of flu. that is that is getting people and having people admitted to hospital that wouldn't usually fall into those vulnerable categories. of course we know that over 65 and other groups will eligible for vaccine for the flu which should stop serious illness. we know roughly every year there's around a 90% uptake of that but this year's flu variant obviously more problems than we've seen in other years as well in terms of effect that that's actually had across the country in terms of the nhs as well, because of course we know that if there's flu the hospital , staff and

flu in the hospital, staff and nurses can also come down with that illness and end up being absence. we've heard today on the programme about some of the issues that some of water issues that some of the water facing with the nhs around understaffing, etc. when you have absences like 60 and a half thousand absences of staff sickness every day last up almost a fifth on last month combined with flu . of course, combined with flu. of course, some covid cases well where around 7200 nhs staff were off with covid in the last week. that does cause pressure on nhs on top of the flu on of covid as well. but the nhs committing to the they say they are prepared for winter the professor says stephen powis the nhs national medical director says that the nhs is prepared for winter extensively with more beds, extra handlers as well as the expansion full service response services , control centres and services, control centres and respiratory . and if you do need respiratory. and if you do need advice on your flu symptoms , how advice on your flu symptoms, how to treat your flu symptoms . if to treat your flu symptoms. if it's not serious, then to call

one, one, one and with 111, we have seen 721,301 calls last week. that's up 60% on this time last year. so a real evidence advanced the flu with strep a and covid 19 is becoming a big problem for the nhs over this winter periods. thank you very much. jack carson there. the queen elizabeth hospital in birmingham . you are watching and birmingham. you are watching and listening to alister and friends with me, the reverend calvin robertson. plenty more still to come. this afternoon with high inflation , cost of living crisis inflation, cost of living crisis or cost of lockdown crisis, migration and much filling, the prime minister's in—tray , how prime minister's in—tray, how will he fare in 2023 and why we pressure ourselves into new year's resolution ? we'll hear year's resolution? we'll hear from a psychologist . but first, from a psychologist. but first, let's take a quick break. see you see .

welcome back. it's two, two. and

you are watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends with me, reverend calvin robinson with widespread industrial , stubbornly robinson with widespread industrial, stubbornly high inflation soaring channel crossings , a volatile nhs and crossings, a volatile nhs and cost of lockdown crisis, it's safe to say rishi sunak has his hands full. at the close of 2022 with the conservatives still lagging behind labour in the polls the prime minister might be fighting his political life in 2023. here's what sunak and labour's keir starmer had to say as they laid out the plans for the new year . as they laid out the plans for the new year. the as they laid out the plans for the new year . the 2023 will give the new year. the 2023 will give us an opportunity. the new year. the 2023 will give us an opportunity . showcase the us an opportunity. showcase the very best of britain on the world stage . continuing to stand world stage. continuing to stand with our ukrainian friends against putin's and defending freedom and democracy wherever we find is under threat for hope to flourish . britain needs to to flourish. britain needs to change the way working people are struggling this winter, the way our public services are on the brink demands nothing less .

the brink demands nothing less. so this year my labour party will set out the case for change. the case for a new britain. the case hope a country where we can grow the economy for everyone not just the privileged few . blended the privileged few. blended the lunacy with such full in—tray. will the prime minister survive 2023? d0 will the prime minister survive 2023? do you think ? well, i 2023? do you think? well, i think it's the concern . bit of think it's the concern. bit of parties in—tray from 2019. i mean paul rishi is being stuck with so much stuff that never got round to either know all the commitments to reducing immigration in the manifesto , to immigration in the manifesto, to turning the boats back to , turning the boats back to, lowering taxes, the inboxes being like this for the whole term. there's very the tories have done. i know they've been distractions, but they're always there always are. there is not a lot of time left and i think i get a sense certainly from talking to people that listening to pledges , i'm going to do to more pledges, i'm going to do this in 2023 and i'm going to do that. and it's what it's people is out because . there's is owning out because. there's been action so rishi

been so little action so rishi needs to actually do rather than promise or pledge to do anything now he needs to do what the conservatives promised to do in 2019. he needs get eu 2019. he needs to get eu revocation and reform bill through and start doing the bonfire of eu regulations that will save businesses a pounds a yeah will save businesses a pounds a year. this this should have been done, you know, in 2019. so unfortunately he hasn't heritage a really large in and it's only grown because course the cost of living and the migration crisis as well it's not just about the boats it is 500,000 people coming over every year. you know, we're just talking about nhs. how on earth are we going provide health health care with ? half a million new people coming year , the coming in every year, the infrastructure. so rishi has got a very inbox, i don't a very full inbox, but i don't blame entirely. i think blame him entirely. i think the conservative party from day one has behind on its has fallen behind on its manifesto . does it have time to manifesto. does it have time to catch up and actually get things in place before the next election? not sure. i doubt the voters believe any more promises in any more manifestos they have to in next election,

to offer in the next election, so get going. no, so they need to get going. no, you're i don't you're right. i don't particularly prominent particularly like his prominent story position. however, it's story or position. however, it's not him . david cameron, not just him. david cameron, theresa may boris johnson. liz truss. what did any of them achieve? that was you name one conservative thing. their achieved. okay. well, i think david cameron allowing a referendum for brexit was a fantastic thing that pass. well nigel farage 100% achieved that but it was only the conservative party put it in the manifesto and delivered on it. remember the days they actually delivered on it that we were able to get out of this sort corrupt, eu evolving empire of thing. so that was great and they did get brexit over the line. i know it was a bit of a dog's dinner deal was a bit of a dog's dinner deal. so will credit boris with that and there are things to be excited about hopeful for. excited about and hopeful for. but not. they had the time but i'm not. they had the time to do. think let to do. i think they've let country down themselves down that, class that, infighting, whole class down, the whole closed down. i know this is another thing in ritchie's is he going to ritchie's in—tray is he going to be able to hold the party be able to hold the tory party together going to be together and is he going to be able fend off boris's

able to fend off boris's interest coming back in interest of maybe coming back in the or ? so knows, the next year or? so who knows, maybe such a bad maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing. from 5th thing. who knows? from the 5th of january, travellers from china need negative covid china will need a negative covid test uk a major test to enter uk in a major government u—turn . yet another government u—turn. yet another one. countries including one. several countries including the us, france and india , have the us, france and india, have already imposed testing . rishi already imposed testing. rishi sunak's move comes after tory mp has called for a robust response to a surge in covid cases in china following beijing's abandonment, its zero—covid policy . to discuss this further, policy. to discuss this further, i'm now by tim white data and expert covid expert . tim, what expert covid expert. tim, what does that mean ? it means i try does that mean? it means i try to analyse what's going on in the world and try to understand trends and risks to of us as well. but before we go any further. happy new year to . you further. happy new year to. you all your hard working staff there and all of you. happy christmas to you too as well, tim. we're having a lot of talk about china, but china is well, let's just say they're not very open transparent open, transparent with that data. so how we know there's even a over there? well

even a problem over there? well know from reporters that know from a few leaks that come out. we've seen the hospitals are overloaded . they're numerous, overloaded. they're numerous, numerous funerals. it's a terrible situation . it's been terrible situation. it's been badly handled , in my opinion, by badly handled, in my opinion, by the state. the lockdown and zero cobra policy was perhaps not a one. initially we saw australia and new zealand particularly have success with this, but failing to make sure that the vaccination were high enough and also not allowing any mixing not been a gradual shift has really caused problems because people didn't have any innate immunity. they hadn't the virus hadn't been circulating as it had even in australia and new zealand. they really opened the floodgates and this has caused a huge problem there. as you can see from the pictures we're showing and the stories that are coming out despite, you said, coming out despite, as you said, the attempt to probably cover it up . covid expert nice analysis up. covid expert nice analysis that very much. now, after

festive season of overindulgence , festive season of overindulgence a , festive season of overindulgence , a new year yields the start of a fresh slate for the 12 months that popular resolutions , of that popular resolutions, of course, include getting fitter , course, include getting fitter, losing weight and giving up smoking . mchugh but why do we smoking. mchugh but why do we put ourselves under pressure to set these goals on january the first to find out the mentality behind this, i'm joined in the studio by peter ayton, professor of decision research at, the university of leeds . professor university of leeds. professor peter , why do people do this peter, why do people do this themselves ? well i mean if you themselves? well i mean if you look at the data is what i always like to do rather just pontificate in speculative . you pontificate in speculative. you can observe not just the year but the start of month, the beginning of the week , the start beginning of the week, the start of a new term for my students. that's when visits to the gym go up and. people seem to naturally perceive themselves as being able to put their past wicked self behind them , a sort of

self behind them, a sort of temporal milestone like a year or even a month or a week and so it seems to have a sort of, you know, it's like a little mental conjuring trick that we can play on ourselves exploit this on ourselves to exploit this opportunity to, to put ourselves in the bad self in the past. and then to start afresh. that sounds quite healthy to me. it sounds quite healthy to me. it sounds like the confessional you go in, you're rid of your sins. you have, then you go out to you have, and then you go out to start afresh. of course you're cynical. more cynical. you'll have that more again, to have a again, but it's nice to have a reset it? well mean. the reset, isn't it? well mean. the question is, does it actually work? i mean, does it actually really help you sort of move on and improve yourself ? and you and improve yourself? and you know, you mentioned that you know, you mentioned that you know cynicism there lots of studies showing that you know people fall off the wagon and, you know, start smoking days or weeks most after having promised they'd smoke another cigarette again . ditto alcohol, ditto many again. ditto alcohol, ditto many things that people promise not do. nonetheless are some studies showing that , you know, making

showing that, you know, making a new year's resolution , new year's resolution, specifically a new year's resolution is better than not doing so, at least for some people. yeah. and so the question is, well, how come the people who succeed and the people who succeed and the people who succeed and the people who don't don't and i can you an idea of that too, which is essentially that a lot of people who make new year's resolution sessions just really espouse a desirable state. in fact, having a plan for how to achieve it . so they they say, achieve it. so they they say, oh, i'm going to do this or i'm not to do that, but then when you say, okay, how are you going to manage that? because the years of your life to date you've as you are. you've been as bad as you are. what going to change you what what's going to change you and of people are stumped. and a lot of people are stumped. but if have a plan and there are sort of tricks that can sort of tricks that you can employ sort of institute, you employ to sort of institute, you know, an actual intervention positive steps , that is, you positive steps, that is, you demonstrably much more effective . right. so let's ask belinda to have the new year's resolutions

this year. well, as you alluded to earlier , calvin, i thought to earlier, calvin, i thought she did take up vaping during lockdown, but i think of people took up very bad habits during lockdown. the amount of time you sit on the sofa, your phone, staying indoors , not necessarily staying indoors, not necessarily going grabbing day of going out and grabbing day of the fresh air outside . so the fresh air outside. so i think especially with, you know, my kids, i need to get outside more, get them off their phones more. so it's sort of more year's resolutions i'm going to do to them, but i'm going to do to myself. but but yeah , i agree to myself. but but yeah, i agree with you. i think it it depends the person. but you have to really to stop otherwise, really want to stop otherwise, you know, actually saints and puritans not much fun puritans are not that much fun to around with. so i don't to hang around with. so i don't think we should set standards too are humans. need too high. we are humans. we need our in moderation . you know, our in moderation. you know, they always say that the to long life is everything in moderation all right not you know total pure puritanical lifestyle. i'm against puritanism, but do like high standards. oh, professor pizza , i also heard that it pizza, i also heard that it helps if you publicly pronounce your resolutions . yeah, i mean,

your resolutions. yeah, i mean, apropos of what you've just mentioned as well, definitely helps if the desire for change comes from within and rather being upon people that doesn't work. but if people express themselves a desire to change, then you're in with a chance of there's no there's no guarantees. i've forgotten the question that you . what was question that you. what was that? it helps publicly tell people. yeah. so if you if you publicly literally sign a document , something out publicly literally sign a document, something out in give it to the people will most likely taunt you when fail and you sign it saying . i'm going to you sign it saying. i'm going to do the following things . and by do the following things. and by the way, it's not just you know, i'm going to do less of this, more that you have to actually implement a specific plan. yeah. so you're going to i'm going so you're going to say i'm going to gym just more or to the gym just more often or twice week i'm going on twice a week i'm going on tuesdays and at 630. so . you to tuesdays and at 630. so. you to be as specific as you possibly can and then it's obvious when you're you know you've got no for manoeuvre at that point and then you tend to you know you

can still fail but there's a standard that you can be held by. i think that's very helpful information. so the next time people are posting their new year's resolution on facebook, people are posting their new year are�*solution on facebook, people are posting their new year are they ion on facebook, people are posting their new year are they going facebook, people are posting their new year are they going fastickyk, people are posting their new year are they going fa stick to how are they going to stick to it and they've got it as well? and they've got a better chance doing it better chance of maybe doing it with friend know, signing up better chance of maybe doing it wi'the friend know, signing up better chance of maybe doing it wi'the gym d know, signing up better chance of maybe doing it wi'the gym withow, signing up better chance of maybe doing it wi'the gym withov1friend.|g up better chance of maybe doing it wi'the gym with wifriend. sorp better chance of maybe doing it wi'the gym with wifriend. so you to the gym with a friend. so you know, someone's there know, that someone's there waiting i think that's waiting for you. i think that's a cop out there a friend a cop out there because a friend always and it's always drops and then it's an excuse to true, but excuse not to go do. true, but thank much. that was thank you very much. that was professor ayton. professor professor peter ayton. professor of research of decision at research at the university let's university of leeds. now let's end on few of your emails because you've been sending in quite things and quite few interesting things and paups paul's says regarding nurses, a binman stops from start of binman never stops from start of the shift of supermarket the shift to end of supermarket shelf fillers. they never stop to doing the same thing day in and day out. it seems like the nurses don't think of others interesting point of view. paul there are a lot of a lot of people around the country working hard. not just working very hard. it's not just the nurses . however, they seem the nurses. however, they seem to taking priority at the to be taking priority at the moment. is it a case that everyone to be paid more, everyone to be paid more, everyone to be appreciated everyone needs to be appreciated more country more and would make the country a all of us?

a better place for all of us? onto year honours list, onto the new year honours list, paula, via twitter says honours lists become a farce. those deserve don't get one. and alison owen yeah , there are many alison owen yeah, there are many people that do deserve honours that, do get them, and it's a great thing to see. however course, belinda saying course, as belinda was saying earlier, there are a few politicians people slip politicians and people that slip onto list that we shouldn't onto the list that we shouldn't necessarily see, that it kind of dilutes i dilutes the whole process. i would it clean cut. would like to see it clean cut. much like linda says, get the politicians and the civil servants the make servants off the list and make sure it's philanthropy and people good work people that are doing good work for them for country, give them the honours give them the rewards. elizabeth rest in peace . elizabeth rest in peace. benedict, a true man . god, thank benedict, a true man. god, thank so much for getting in touch, guys. really those emails and tweets and say special thank you to belinda. lucy, you've got 30 seconds to wrap up. belinda, what you looking forward to in 2023? i'm a total optimist and i'm always so hopeful the new year begins. i we will see a wonder phil moment when the king is coronated that will unite the country again and lift our

spirits and we'll forget about all the divisions on twitter and social media and in politics. and we'll be sleeping side by side the mall night side on the mall the night before, ready cheer the new before, ready to cheer the new king really about that, king in. i'm really about that, and think it will remake our and i think it will remake our image again the world after it's had a bit battering. harry had a bit of battering. harry and over the few and meghan over the past few months excited months. i'm very excited about that. love that is very that. i love that is very positive. that unites positive. something that unites us us all together. that is us all, us all together. that is the of. the monarchy, after the job of. the monarchy, after all, all we've all, isn't it? that's all we've got today. up next is all, isn't it? that's all we've goton today. up next is all, isn't it? that's all we've goton the today. up next is all, isn't it? that's all we've goton the money'. up next is all, isn't it? that's all we've goton the money with next is all, isn't it? that's all we've goton the money with gb.t is all, isn't it? that's all we've goton the money with gb news is an on the money with gb news is hour liam halligan . i will be hour liam halligan. i will be back tomorrow at 10 am. enjoy the rest your day and a the rest of your day and have a happy new year. and of course, it's christmas. are it's still christmas. these are problems looking ahead to this afternoon and. the uk is looking mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain but drier and brighter in the northwest . he has the the northwest. he has the details. it will be cold and rather cloudy across scotland this afternoon . there will be this afternoon. there will be some sunny spells times, but also scattered showers bringing snow , higher ground. the weather snow, higher ground. the weather . northern ireland will be

mostly with plenty of sunny spells developing as we head into the afternoon, winds will be falling light. it will remain cloudy across north—west england with limited sunny spells here . with limited sunny spells here. there will also be some patchy or showers at times. t it will very cloudy across wales . cloud very cloudy across wales. cloud low enough to bring hill fog times. there will be outbreak of locally heavy rain with the driest conditions in the east it will be overcast east midlands this afternoon with prolonged and at times heavy rain for all. it will be rather windy with strong gusts feeling mild for this time of year , east anglia this time of year, east anglia will be cloudy the afternoon with prolonged spells locally heavy rain throughout . there heavy rain throughout. there will be some drier and brightest , but they will be limited . it , but they will be limited. it will be a windy afternoon . will be a windy afternoon. southern england especially the coast. it will be cloudy here with spells of locally heavy rain edging eastwards , further rain edging eastwards, further spells of rain across southern

areas while remaining cold in the north with wintry showers over northern scotland . and over northern scotland. and that's how the weather's shaping up for the rest of the day .

hello there. welcome back . just hello there. welcome back. just gone 2:00. i'm bethany elsey . gone 2:00. i'm bethany elsey. your top stories from the gb newsroom. the vatican has announced the death of pope benedict the 16th at the age of 95.pope benedict the 16th at the age of 95. pope benedict the head of the catholic church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. he became the first pontiff to step down from the role in 600 years due to old health, old age and ill , pope years due to old health, old age and ill, pope francis will his funeral on the 5th of january at saint peter's square , while the saint peter's square, while the associate editor at the catholic

, simon