it comes after the uk's prime minister, borisjohnson, suggested france should take back people crossing the channel. the legendary broadway songwriter stephen sondheim has died age 91. mr sondheim — best known for his musicals — including west side story — died at his home in connecticut. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are the tv and radio commentator, joanna jarjue and martin bentham — home affairs editor at the evening standard. let's spring up today but the front pages. the mirror leads with fears among scientists, that the new covid

variant could already be in the uk. the same story makes the front page of the express, which warns the new variant could impact christmas plans. the daily mail carries calls for calm from health experts, after the uk and other countries implemented travel bans on southern africa. england's chief medical officer chris whitty thinks the delta variant is of greater concern than the new "omicron" covid mutation. that's according to the telegraph. the financial times reports that stock markets across the world have fallen sharply, after the discovery of the new covid variant raised fears over the economic recovery. a different story on the front page of the times. it reports on the english channel crisis — with the uk warning france of more deaths, unless talks between the two reopen. the yorkshire post leads on cash for levelling up. but it also covers the cricket racism story — it says the ecb's boss will not rule out an independent regulator for the sport, following azeem rafiq's

testimony to mps. martin, do you want to kick us off as our? let's start with those remarks from chris whitty, it sounds like he is calling for a bit of perspective over the news of the new variant and saying, actually camino, may be committed out the one that we are living through at the moment has actually caused us more problems and he hopes this one well. what actually caused us more problems and he hopes this one well.— he hopes this one well. what he is sa in: is he hopes this one well. what he is saying is that _ he hopes this one well. what he is saying is that although _ he hopes this one well. what he is saying is that although the - he hopes this one well. what he is| saying is that although the reaction to this emergence of this new variant, it is perhaps alarming in the sense of the immediate travel ban on south africa on the other countries in the region, it sounds quite fearsome and all the different potential problems with ed to come at the same time, chris reddy is making the point that a lot of this is still unknown about its real potency, its ability to evade the vaccine and indeed its degree of potency in terms of causing serious harm to people. so, it's making that point that we don't know a lot about it, all the actions of eyes on a precautionary basis, that it might

be highly problematic, not that it definitely is. that is his first point. the second point is that the doubt variant, we had 50,000 infections recorded in the latest data, that is a lot of infections. of course, in europe, we have of course, in europe, we have lockdowns in the netherlands, we have parents introducing mandatory mask wearing in public, germany having restrictions and so on, austria with a lockdown, all because cobit levels, infection levels in those countries are very high and rising rapidly, and his point is that the level of infections in this country with the delta variant principally are sufficiently large to be concerning themselves, and thatis to be concerning themselves, and that is the problem that is going to basis us most before christmas, under control, sort of come at the moment from a government point of view, from a health point of view, from health official point of view, but it's potentially problematic if it starts accelerating to make a much larger, so he is saying ray

about that now, concentrate on that at the moment and think about when we know more about the new variant, worry about that then and react appropriately. it is worry about that then and react appropriately-_ appropriately. it is interesting. this was good _ appropriately. it is interesting. this was good timing, - appropriately. it is interesting. | this was good timing, actually, taking part, joanna, and a local panel discussion, the local authorities at the front—end through their public health role in dealing with cove ed, an interesting quote from him a little way down the story. he was asked about plan b, this kind of legendary plan that we are assured that exists and ready to relative it becomes necessary, return to some restrictions that have been previously removed and said "my greatest rate at the moment is if we need to do something more muscular at some point, whether it is for the current new variant or at some later stage, can we still take people with us? some later stage, can we still take peeple with us?— people with us? yes. i was quite surrised people with us? yes. i was quite surprised at _ people with us? yes. i was quite surprised at that _ people with us? yes. i was quite surprised at that comment, - people with us? yes. i was quite - surprised at that comment, actually, from professor chris whitty because

obviously _ from professor chris whitty because obviously if it does, if or when it gets— obviously if it does, if or when it gets to — obviously if it does, if or when it gets to that stage, he is going to be gets to that stage, he is going to he at _ gets to that stage, he is going to he at the — gets to that stage, he is going to be at the forefront of those announcements, and he is going to be stood _ announcements, and he is going to be stood next _ announcements, and he is going to be stood next to a government official explaining — stood next to a government official explaining why we have to do that. i think that _ explaining why we have to do that. i think that his standpoint should be leading _ think that his standpoint should be leading from a perspective that it is common sense now for everybody in the country— is common sense now for everybody in the country after so long of going through— the country after so long of going through the virus to know that we basically— through the virus to know that we basicallyjust have to do what we have _ basicallyjust have to do what we have to — basicallyjust have to do what we have to do — basicallyjust have to do what we have to do if it gets to that stage. so i'm surprised that his comments are kind _ so i'm surprised that his comments are kind of— so i'm surprised that his comments are kind of leaning towards, you know. _ are kind of leaning towards, you know. wiii— are kind of leaning towards, you know, will people come with us on thatjourney if we know, will people come with us on that journey if we do get to that stage. — that journey if we do get to that stage, because he should be saying to people. — stage, because he should be saying to people, you know, continue being cautious. _ to people, you know, continue being cautious, and his comment about the new variant _ cautious, and his comment about the new variant being less worrying down the delta. _ new variant being less worrying down the delta. i_ new variant being less worrying down the delta, i understand that in the sense _ the delta, i understand that in the sense that — the delta, i understand that in the sense that the delta variant obviously is the dominant strain within— obviously is the dominant strain within the — obviously is the dominant strain within the uk, and we don't have enough _ within the uk, and we don't have enough information about this new strain, _ enough information about this new strain, hut— enough information about this new strain, but coronavirus is coronavirus. whether it mutates into something _ coronavirus. whether it mutates into something new or not, and if this

new variant — something new or not, and if this new variant become something that is more worrying, the restrictions are likely— more worrying, the restrictions are likely to _ more worrying, the restrictions are likely to he — more worrying, the restrictions are likely to be similar whether it is delta _ likely to be similar whether it is delta or— likely to be similar whether it is delta or whether it is this new variant — delta or whether it is this new variant so _ delta or whether it is this new variant. so i think that it is really— variant. so i think that it is really important for government advisers — really important for government advisers like professor chris whitty to kind _ advisers like professor chris whitty to kind of _ advisers like professor chris whitty to kind of stick with one narrative, because _ to kind of stick with one narrative, because we — to kind of stick with one narrative, because we have had a lot of back and forth in— because we have had a lot of back and forth in terms of mixed messaging throughout this pandemic, so sometimes it can be at that, you know, _ so sometimes it can be at that, you know. not— so sometimes it can be at that, you know, not useful in that sense. what do ou know, not useful in that sense. what do you make — know, not useful in that sense. what do you make of _ know, not useful in that sense. what do you make of the _ know, not useful in that sense. what do you make of the male, _ know, not useful in that sense. “twat do you make of the male, joanna? well, this particular headline from the mail— well, this particular headline from the mail doesn't surprise me, and i'm the mail doesn't surprise me, and i'm sure _ the mail doesn't surprise me, and i'm sure it— the mail doesn't surprise me, and i'm sure it doesn't surprise many people. — i'm sure it doesn't surprise many people. the _ i'm sure it doesn't surprise many people, the whole keep calm and carry— people, the whole keep calm and carry on. — people, the whole keep calm and carry on, don't let the new coalbed strain— carry on, don't let the new coalbed strain ruin — carry on, don't let the new coalbed strain ruin christmas. i think the whole _ strain ruin christmas. i think the whole narrative of don't let it ruin christmas — whole narrative of don't let it ruin christmas is that we have some sort of choice _ christmas is that we have some sort of choice whether the new strain comes into — of choice whether the new strain comes into the uk and how bad this new mutation is is a bit ridiculous.

but experts — new mutation is is a bit ridiculous. but experts are saying that the jabs will potentially work. we still don't — will potentially work. we still don't know because we are still waiting — don't know because we are still waiting on— don't know because we are still waiting on information and following weeks _ waiting on information and following weeks i_ waiting on information and following weeks. i do think that at the moment weeks. i do think that at the moment we should kind of stick to the narrative of being cautious and understand that the who have said that this _ understand that the who have said that this is — understand that the who have said that this is a variant of concern, and we — that this is a variant of concern, and we were all complaining months ago when _ and we were all complaining months ago when we didn't take that out the variant— ago when we didn't take that out the variant seriously when it was first identified — variant seriously when it was first identified in india, and i think we should _ identified in india, and i think we should take a similar approach in this sense — should take a similar approach in this sense as well.— should take a similar approach in| this sense as well.- well, should take a similar approach in i this sense as well.- well, i this sense as well. martin? well, i don't think— this sense as well. martin? well, i don't think mean, _ this sense as well. martin? well, i don't think mean, we _ this sense as well. martin? well, i don't think mean, we do _ this sense as well. martin? well, i don't think mean, we do have - this sense as well. martin? well, i don't think mean, we do have a i don't think mean, we do have a choice, don“t don't think mean, we do have a choice, don't be? the reality is yes, joanna is right from the mall clearly doesn“t yes, joanna is right from the mall clearly doesn't want us to go down the road of restrictions at christmas, that has been a consistent theme and message from that paper in general, doesn“t consistent theme and message from that paper in general, doesn't want restrictions, he wants us to be able to get back in the power as normal as possible, all along to matt's been pushing in that direction. as have one or two the other papers, the coverage is that it will be presumably like this continuing in that vein as we go forward, but it

is also true that we do have a choice about these things because it is notjust choice about these things because it is not just a choice about these things because it is notjust a health question, is it? there has been the dilemma all along of how you marry economic concerns over mcmillan cancer research today was talking about 47,000 research today was talking about 10,000 cancer diagnosis next and another 2a,000 a month late or so on. of course, you can opt to have the most rigorous precautionary health measures possible immediately, all the time, but there is always going to be consequences for that, whether it be an increase in domestic violence, mental health problems, all of these types of things, a cancer diagnosis misstep and so on, so there is a choice, ultimately, the plaintiff at the moment, i think, and the mail in terms of christmas reports, that's perhaps less critical than some of those other issues in the long run, but there is still in economic benefits to christmas as well for a lot of people, and saws and mental

wellbeing thing. it's a of acting sensibly, the measures put in place in relation to south africa and so on do make sense, but then we have to understand what the risk is and then act according to the evidence as it exists so far as we know what the evidence is and what the best thing to do is at that time, but it will be a balance to be struck at that point between acting on a precautionary principle very, very early and causing other negative impacts or delaying a little bit until we know a bit more, and that isjust until we know a bit more, and that is just inevitable political decision that will be faced. white not the express puts at new covert variant is a threat to christmas. you can almost put the man and he expressed next to each other and set the at against each other and see who argues most convincingly. but you are right, in a sense, it is all about timing. i wonder if we shed in that case move on to the ft, which

kind of is less about speculation and more about the impact it is already having. 0f and more about the impact it is already having. of course the stock market are reacting negatively because clearly immediately the prospects of greater restrictions potentially coming down the line and all sorts of businesses that depend on economic activity, people living on economic activity, people living on normally going to suffer as a result, businesses who have the shares in those businesses who have benefited, because they they should have done well under lockdown type conditions, but it's clearly the immediate reaction is going to a —i if this is an impression of economic and activity in general a lie. and the other hand, i think we should keep it in perspective, the stock markets can either after today“s files are still well ahead of where they were a year ago and in broad terms, quite high. stockmarkets do go terms, quite high. stockmarkets do 9° up terms, quite high. stockmarkets do go up and down and they may well go shooting back up again in a day's time or a week or two his time if the variant turns out not to be so

potent as some of the fears might indicate it could be. so, i think all of these stock market to stories, if you are trying to cash in a pension at the precise moment that happens, it“s in a pension at the precise moment that happens, it's not very good news, the rest of it is slightly, you know, here and now and just an indicator in the very short—term of sentiment, but not necessarily a good long—term guide to where we are going. it’s good long-term guide to where we are anoin. “ , ~ good long-term guide to where we are oiiin_ �*, ~' good long-term guide to where we are anoin. 3 ~' ., good long-term guide to where we are ioini. 3 ~' ., going. it's like the foam on the kind of type — going. it's like the foam on the kind of type of _ going. it's like the foam on the kind of type of real— going. it's like the foam on the kind of type of real political- kind of type of real political activity, if i say something controversial that will get trade is very irritated. there is real economic activity, but is still as martin says, it's not the substance, is that? these daily rises and falls. ., �* , ., is that? these daily rises and falls. ., h ., ~ ~ falls. no, it's not. and i think the government in — falls. no, it's not. and i think the government in this _ falls. no, it's not. and i think the government in this sense, - falls. no, it's not. and i think the government in this sense, in - falls. no, it's not. and i think the i government in this sense, in terms of the _ government in this sense, in terms of the travel — government in this sense, in terms of the travel bands and other things that have _ of the travel bands and other things that have had a domino effect on the stock— that have had a domino effect on the stock market have acted cautiously, and i_ stock market have acted cautiously, and i think— stock market have acted cautiously, and i think that the market has reacted — and i think that the market has reacted cautiously as well. this is kind of— reacted cautiously as well. this is kind of like — reacted cautiously as well. this is kind of like the second time around are a _ kind of like the second time around are a couple — kind of like the second time around are a couple times may be that we are seeing — are a couple times may be that we are seeing things like this happen,

and may— are seeing things like this happen, and may be, you know, it's kind of made _ and may be, you know, it's kind of made them — and may be, you know, it's kind of made them that much more cautious and wary— made them that much more cautious and wary and scared. what i think it's interesting that this, actually, as well is that the shares for the _ actually, as well is that the shares for the vaccine companies and meal prep at— for the vaccine companies and meal prep at home meal companies have ione prep at home meal companies have gone up _ prep at home meal companies have gone up versus the other companies who have _ gone up versus the other companies who have been affected, like the travel _ who have been affected, like the travel companies, etc. so it kind of shows— travel companies, etc. so it kind of shows that — travel companies, etc. so it kind of shows that within this pandemic, there _ shows that within this pandemic, there is— shows that within this pandemic, there is always winners and losers within— there is always winners and losers within the — there is always winners and losers within the stock market overall. my within the stock market overall. favourite one within the stock market overall. ij�*i favourite one of within the stock market overall. m favourite one of those within the stock market overall. m: favourite one of those activities was the takeaway cocktails, which were available during the course of the first lockdown. the next sounds good to me. it sounds like a great idea, doesn“t good to me. it sounds like a great idea, doesn't that? a cocktail would be produced and then you could go pick it up ready nice and cold to come and celebrate with your friends. a less happy story, there won't be much celebrating with friends between paris and london judging by the other story on the front of the ft. this is the

uninviting as it were, a terrible word, we pretty patel. uninviting as it were, a terrible word, i've pretty patel.- uninviting as it were, a terrible word, i've pretty patel. yeah, i think it has _ word, i've pretty patel. yeah, i think it has been _ word, i've pretty patel. yeah, i think it has been an _ word, i've pretty patel. yeah, i think it has been an incrediblyl think it has been an incredibly embarrassing 24 hours for priti patel— embarrassing 24 hours for priti patel and — embarrassing 24 hours for priti patel and the british government overall— patel and the british government overall after bryce johnson had published, welcome tweeted that letter _ published, welcome tweeted that letter that was addressed to the french— letter that was addressed to the french president. i think it was something that was very kind of trump _ something that was very kind of trump ask— something that was very kind of trump ask of him to do and probably not very— trump ask of him to do and probably not very smart given that he should be working — not very smart given that he should be working on better relations with france, _ be working on better relations with france, given camino, the months and months _ france, given camino, the months and months of— france, given camino, the months and months of turmoil when everything that happened with the french fishermen, and this is kind of like the cherry— fishermen, and this is kind of like the cherry on top. i do feel as if it is— the cherry on top. i do feel as if it is starting _ the cherry on top. i do feel as if it is starting to become some kind of hiscuit— it is starting to become some kind of biscuit for tat situation between the two _ of biscuit for tat situation between the two governments, very political. ithink— the two governments, very political. i think president macron has an election— i think president macron has an election coming, i think in 2022, so obviously— election coming, i think in 2022, so obviously he — election coming, i think in 2022, so obviously he is wanting to look strong — obviously he is wanting to look strong in — obviously he is wanting to look strong in his stance and obviously

boris _ strong in his stance and obviously borisjohnson always strong in his stance and obviously boris johnson always kind strong in his stance and obviously borisjohnson always kind of leads but that— borisjohnson always kind of leads but that great britain, we want to be believed on the world stage type of narrative, so it's not surprising, but, you know, the main thing _ surprising, but, you know, the main thing about— surprising, but, you know, the main thing about this is that these people — thing about this is that these people at the end of this, its peoples _ people at the end of this, its peoples lives that are being affected, and in this sense, we have had a _ affected, and in this sense, we have had a massive tragedy this week on wednesday with the fatalities that we saw _ wednesday with the fatalities that we saw in the channel, and i think that it _ we saw in the channel, and i think that it really should have been, i understand france's standpoint of why they— understand france's standpoint of why they wanted to this invite priti patel. _ why they wanted to this invite priti patel. hut— why they wanted to this invite priti patel. but i— why they wanted to this invite priti patel, but i also think this is a stage — patel, but i also think this is a stage where i would have expected them _ stage where i would have expected them to _ stage where i would have expected them to be the bigger person in that sense _ them to be the bigger person in that sense of— them to be the bigger person in that sense of lives being at risk. you could have _ sense of lives being at risk. you could have done _ sense of lives being at risk. you could have done the _ sense of lives being at risk. ym. could have done the macron speech, couldn't you? but still would've been a bit more grace fall on after all what is about to be, she does have to be in the room if they are going to get an agreement. you got to have the minister is there. it is interesting the ft says cross channel ties reach new low, the

times, migration stab will cost lives, french told.— times, migration stab will cost lives, french told. joanna is spot on, it lives, french told. joanna is spot on. it was _ lives, french told. joanna is spot on. it was petty- _ lives, french told. joanna is spot on, it was petty. it— lives, french told. joanna is spot on, it was petty. it doesn't - on, it was petty. it doesn't achieve anything, does a? making a political gesture to exclude priti patel, but that they have handled things perfectly is a different question, but it doesn't achieve anything for people to start falling out when terrible lives have been lost in a terrible lives have been lost in a terrible fashion. but terrible lives have been lost in a terrible fashion.— terrible fashion. but clearly the ioint that terrible fashion. but clearly the point that the _ terrible fashion. but clearly the point that the times _ terrible fashion. but clearly the point that the times is - terrible fashion. but clearly the point that the times is making | terrible fashion. but clearly the i point that the times is making in the messages coming from our government is that ultimately the solution doesn“t lie on the side of the channel, it lies over on the other side, the channel, it lies over on the otherside, he the channel, it lies over on the other side, he apparently lies over here, but large gently it relies on the other side of the channel and trying to stop this trade in people and peoples lives happening at all and peoples lives happening at all and stopping people being shipped across europe into boats and putting their lives at risk and losing them in this terrible fashion, which will continue, and that is the point that

if there is a breakdown in communication, a breakdown political good well and so on and a failure to find solutions, then unfortunately, we will see more of the terrible events that we have seen over the last day or two stop at the game is we've got it at that with one of the summits, the g 20 in italy where they had this meeting about the fishing row, and then they“d got something out, it's from both governments which was rather favourable to them and downing street on the cut up at that about three hours later. now dining street is doing the same by tweeting simultaneously the letter it was sending with the ideas. so, they have both been guilty of it, but the substance of the issue is such an important one, isn't it? to be fair, he was a journalist on the paper, the standard, you must feel like story is almost ground dashed almost like groundhog day. it is story is almost ground dashed almost like groundhog day.— like groundhog day. it is far from the first industry _ like groundhog day. it is far from the first industry has _ like groundhog day. it is far from the first industry has happened. i j the first industry has happened. i went over to one of the camps with

care starmer when he was labour“s immigration spokesman at the time before he became leader to visit one of these camps, you know, the conditions for them wasn't a small bouts at that point, it was lorries and trains that were trying to get on, and the same thing was happening from a people dying that way as well. the problem is not a new one. it's not easy for the french, to be fair to them, is it? some of these votes are buried in the sand, they are blown up in a very short time before people go off, so it's not quite as straightforward as it might seem to stop all of this, it's a long coastline, as they keep telling us. on the other hand, the migrants are coming across her obviously moving from the camps, and you would thought it would be at bit easier to keep a tab on where all of these movements and so on are. that“s keep a tab on where all of these movements and so on are. that's one thing. further down across the whole of europe, you have got this great chain of events that is happening with people being transported all the way across europe.— the way across europe. that's an extra in everything, _

the way across europe. that's an extra in everything, as _ the way across europe. that's an extra in everything, as you - the way across europe. that's an extra in everything, as you say, l the way across europe. that's an i extra in everything, as you say, the water crossings in the mediterranean with 75 people dying in one single instance last week. last story for us, we“ve instance last week. last story for us, we've only got about a minute or so left. martin, board chief will not rule out the ecb watch dog for a cricket if it's going to clean up its act over racism. figs cricket if it's going to clean up its act over racism.— its act over racism. as i said before in — its act over racism. as i said before in the _ its act over racism. as i said before in the first _ its act over racism. as i said i before in the first programme, its act over racism. as i said - before in the first programme, i'm a yorkshire man, so what is happening is particularly chain fall, absolutely abysmal but has gone on. rather independent regulator is needed or not, i'm not entirely sure, but because some of the things that were happening, it was hard to believe that it could“ve been happening in a modern age, really, and that was in stock before hand, and that was in stock before hand, and the ecb, in terms of their role have obviously been asleep. they stood back and let yorkshire get on with that without intervening at all, and perhaps, they should have been more hands—on across the board.

you can invent new structures, can you? but actually, some of this is a straightforward human decency issue. and knowing what isn't acceptable. you can have endless regular tears dashed regulators to to be told that told that stomach that help you, really. joanna, i didn't ask you, are you a cricket fan? i really. joanna, i didn't ask you, are you a cricket fan?— really. joanna, i didn't ask you, are you a cricket fan? i am not a cricket fan- _ are you a cricket fan? i am not a cricket fan. i _ are you a cricket fan? i am not a cricket fan. i don't _ are you a cricket fan? i am not a cricket fan. i don't even - are you a cricket fan? i am not a cricket fan. i don't even know i are you a cricket fan? i am not a | cricket fan. i don't even know the rules, lrut— cricket fan. i don't even know the rules, but i— cricket fan. i don't even know the rules, but i am a yorkshire girl. so i rules, but i am a yorkshire girl. so i don't _ rules, but i am a yorkshire girl. so i don't know— rules, but i am a yorkshire girl. so i don't know if that counts. gf i don't know if that counts. of course i don't know if that counts. course that i don't know if that counts. of course that counts. sorry, i don't know if that counts. (zii course that counts. sorry, briefly, you“re course that counts. sorry, briefly, you're going to say? i course that counts. sorry, briefly, you're going to say?— you're going to say? i was 'ust ioiin to you're going to say? i was 'ust going to say i you're going to say? i was 'ust going to say that i you're going to say? i was 'ust going to say that i i you're going to say? i was 'ust going to say that i think h you're going to say? i wasjust going to say that i think this i you're going to say? i wasjust going to say that i think this isj you're going to say? i wasjust i going to say that i think this is a good _ going to say that i think this is a good idea — going to say that i think this is a good idea because institutional racism — good idea because institutional racism is — good idea because institutional racism is real, and if they are not in a position— racism is real, and if they are not in a position to identify what they need _ in a position to identify what they need to, — in a position to identify what they need to, then an independent watchdog is probably the right move. joanna, _ watchdog is probably the right move. joanna, lovely to speak you don't to you. i hope you have a lovely rest of your we thanks for doing a bit of work us on usona us on a friday night. much appreciated as ever. thank you to for your company. appreciated as ever. thank you to foryour company. next appreciated as ever. thank you to for your company. next is part and whether then we are back with the news at midnight. that is it from the papers. goodbye.

that evenings. whales went and kept alive their hopes of qualifying for their first world cup after thrashing greece 5— zero tonight. they“ve dominated from the very start. the captains going their first call seven minutes and. holland curled in her second to make it 4- holland curled in her second to make it 4— zero. tosh harding rounded off the scoring for whales and remain in second in the group to paint dashed two points behind france who they play next week. scotland went one—nil down to ukraine after 20 minutes in their qualifier at hampden, roksolana kravchuck with the goal, but the scots had numerous chances to equalise and eventually salvaged a draw when abi harrison scored in injury time. like wales, they“re second in their group — two points behind spain

who they play on tuesday. meanwhile the draw for the play—offs for next year's men“s world cup was made this afternoon and the headlines for british fans are that if both scotland and wales win their semi—finals then they will play each other in their final — which means only one of them can reach the tournament. scotland will be at home to ukraine whilst wales will play austria in cardiff. but there are some very good sides in the play—offs including italy and portual who could also play each other in their final. the games will take place the end of march. wales are bidding to reach their first world cup in 64 years, while scotland have waited 24 years. if we got wales in the semifinal will be a battle of britain but one of the countries is not going to make it, so it's a tough game and i'm sure they are in a good moment but we are in a good moment as well so hopefully we both get through there in the play—off games and meet in the final in cardiff and i think that would be a fantastic occasion. still with football — and the deal to bring ralf rangnick

to take temporary charge of manchester united has been agreed but they're just finalising the small print in his move from lokomotiv moscow. the german is due to take charge for the remainder of the season, but michael carrick will still manage united for sunday's trip to chelsea. liverpool managerjurgen klopp knows rangnick well and sent this warning to other premier league teams. they will be organised on the pitch. i think we should realise that. let's hope it's not good news for other teams. —— that“s obviously not good news for other teams. we need time to train with our teams and he will quickly realise he doesn't have to do that because they play all the time which will make it tricky for him. apart from that, a really good man and an outstanding coach, if he comes to england. there was three games

in rugby union“s premiership with wins for northampton and gloucester — and a west country derby between bottom of the table bath and exeter in which bath — who haven't won yet this season — were leading 16—13 with four minutes to go but then england's sam simmonds went over for exeter and they went on to win it 23 points to 16. and in the united rugby championship connaught cantered to a comfortable 46 points to 18 win over the 0spreys. substitute conor fitzgerald got their final try. there“s nowjust a point between the teams in the table now. well, cardiff and scarlets rugby union teams are still trying to return to the uk before the new quarantine rules for travel from south africa come into force early on sunday morning. the two welsh regions are injohannesburg and durban respectively — to play in the united rugby championship. those games have now been postponed but officials have been desperately trying to charter a flight to bring back almost 100 players and staff before the deadline. cardiff gave an update this evening saying — they“d booked an aircraft but haven't been able to secure permission to fly to the uk today.

fifteen uk and ireland golfers have also withdrawn from thejoburg 0pen, which started yesterday. the england and wales cricket board have released their new action plan to tackle racism and discrimination in the game. it follows the testimony by the former yorkshire ——bowler azeem rafiq — in which he called the english game "institutionally racist." our correspondent laura scott has the details. i spoke to one of the people whose alleged racist abuse in cricket and he said he welcomed the action plan but he wants momentum to be maintained. today the ecb chief executive tom harris said that the crisis engulfing the game has felt like an earthquake has hit it. the powerful testimony of azeem rafiq and others has exposed major fault lines within cricket“s culture and governance and those two areas are the focus of the 12 action points agreed by the game today, covering a full review of the dressing room culture, removing the barriers that have stopped ethnically diverse players from reaching the professional ranks, and making grounds

like here at lords more welcoming for everyone. 0n the governance level, boardroom diversity targets have been set with a target of april next year. county to don't make them can expect to have funding withheld. tom harrison acknowledged today that this won't be the silver bullet and won't answer all of the questions around cricket and its problems but he hopes it will be a good start. laura scott reporting for us from lourdes. and that's all the sport for now. storm arwen has been buffeting the uk over recent hours. so far, the strongest wind gusts i've seen have been across coastal regions of aberdeenshire. inverbervie picking up a top gust of 78 mph. not too far behind, northumberland — 74 mph gust of wind here. those wind gusts strong enough to bring down some trees, no doubt some transport disruption

out and about as we head into saturday. the peak red weather warning lapses, though, during the early hours of saturday and, as our low—pressure moves southward, we'll be left with two regions of strong winds — one affecting eastern areas of scotland and northeast england, and another for wales and southwest england. both of these areas will see gusts of wind around about 60—70 mph, so still strong enough to bring down some trees. we could see some further disruption — and, as well as that, we've got some rain, some heavy snow over high ground, particularly the southern uplands and into the high highlands and over the high parts of the pennines, the cheviots, as well. could see some disruptive falls of snow high up. even low down, you might see a little bit of snowjust for a time as we head into the first parts of saturday morning. and, of course, it will be a very blustery and cold start to the day on saturday, as well, with those gusts well up, even inland, are very blustery, indeed. now through the rest of saturday, we will have this zone of rain, still a bit of sleet and snow mixed

in with that, although anything accumulating — well, that's not really likely to happen — anything that falls willjust melt back to rain, really, as the day goes by. but we'll keep those strong winds all day, and it will feel very, very cold — temperatures around 3—4 celsius quite widely, but factor in those winds, it will feel bitter. now, for the second half of the weekend, arwen continues to work away from the uk, it“s dying. but we've still got these fairly strong northerly winds, and those northerly winds won't be feeling any warmer at all. sunday will be a day, really, of sunshine and showers. the showers 0k, most frequent across northern and eastern areas, but i think there“ll be a whole raft of showers working into the northwest, as well. so nowhere“s immune from seeing an odd downpour. and those showers still having a wintry flavour, a bit of hail and sleet mixed in with some of those — temperatures around two celsius or so in newcastle, maybe a four in london, but again, feeling cold. now into next week, we'll see a sharpjump upwards in terms of temperatures. turns much, much milder by tuesday, but rain and some strong winds in the week ahead. that's your latest weather.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a new covid strain found in southern africa is classed a "variant of concern" by the world health 0rganisation over fears it may be more infectious and more resistant to vaccines. this variant has a large number of mutations,

and some of these mutations have some