and check online and check your weather forecast for where you are or where you want to go online and through the app. this is bbc news with the latest headlines: the government assessed two cases of omicron the new variant of covid have been discovered in the uk amid fears it has higher reinfection risks. ., ., , . risks. the two individuals concerned are our self — risks. the two individuals concerned are our self isolating _ risks. the two individuals concerned are our self isolating alongside - are our self isolating alongside their household while further tests are carried out and contact tracing. the two cases are linked. two men are killed by falling trees as storm arwen hits parts of thee uk with high winds, rain and snow. one of the 27 people who drowned in the channel on wednesday has been named from iraq.

the former england cricket captain michael vaughan says he's �*sorry for all the hurt�* azeem rafiq went through during the yorkshire racism scandal. and the legendary us composer and songwriter stephen sondheim, who was behind some of broadway's best known musicals has good afternoon. two cases of the newly identified variant of coronavirus have now been identified here in the united kingdom. the world health organization says early evidence suggests the variant named omicron poses an increased reinfection risk. the health

secretary has been talking to reporters about this in the last few minutes. ., ., , reporters about this in the last few minutes. . . , ., , minutes. late last night i was contacted _ minutes. late last night i was contacted by _ minutes. late last night i was contacted by the _ minutes. late last night i was contacted by the uk - minutes. late last night i was contacted by the uk health i minutes. late last night i was- contacted by the uk health security agency. i was informed they had detected two cases of this new variant in the united kingdom. one in chelmsford, the other in nottingham. the two individuals concerned are self isolating alongside their households while further tests and sequencing is carried out and contact tracing. the two cases are linked. we have always been clear that we won't hesitate to take further action if that is what is required and today i can announce one thing that we are doing immediately is carrying out targeted testing and sequencing of positive cases in the two areas that are affected. secondly, we are adding four more countries to the red list from 4am on sunday and those are angola, mozambique, malawi and zambia. if anyone has travelled to

these four countries or any of the other recently red listed countries in the last ten days, they must self isolate and take pcr tests. also, later today, the prime minister will be holding a press conference with the chief scientific adviser to the government and chief medical officer to set out further measures. lastly, this is a real reminder to us all that this pandemic is far from over and it is one thing that everyone can be doing right now is if they are eligible, please take your vaccine, whether it is your first, second or booster, please take your vaccine. �* , ., second or booster, please take your vaccine. �* ,, . ., , vaccine. are you concerned that this new variant — vaccine. are you concerned that this new variant is _ vaccine. are you concerned that this new variant is in _ vaccine. are you concerned that this new variant is in the _ vaccine. are you concerned that this new variant is in the uk _ vaccine. are you concerned that this new variant is in the uk now? - vaccine. are you concerned that this new variant is in the uk now? we i new variant is in the uk now? we were new variant is in the uk now? - were concerned from the moment we first identified this new variant. as i have said, it is deeply concerning and we do need to learn more about it but the fact we now have these two cases in the united kingdom means we do need to take further measures and that is why i have set this up today. what

further measures and that is why i have set this up today. what impact will this have _ have set this up today. what impact will this have on _ have set this up today. what impact will this have on the _ have set this up today. what impact will this have on the current - will this have on the current vaccine and booster roll—out? vaccines remain vitally important and if anything i think the importance of them, especially the booster vaccine is now even more important. we note this new variant is out there, we don't know enough about it yet but what we do know, we note the protections we have, especially the vaccines are hugely important. especially the vaccines are hugely im ortant. ., ., ., ., important. now that we have two cases, important. now that we have two cases. what _ important. now that we have two cases, what discussions - important. now that we have two cases, what discussions are - important. now that we have two cases, what discussions are you | cases, what discussions are you having about any potential plan b, any potential change in restrictions as we head into christmas? how does this change things? we as we head into christmas? how does this change things?— this change things? we have always been really clear— this change things? we have always been really clear that _ this change things? we have always been really clear that we _ this change things? we have always been really clear that we will - this change things? we have always been really clear that we will do - been really clear that we will do whatever is necessary to protect the progress we have made as a country, we have come a long way, especially since the summer. we will keep all this under review and if we take need to take further action we will. what can you tell us about the countries that the two people who have this variant, where have they

been, where have they come from? what do you know about their movements and do you expect to be able to contain it to the two individuals?— able to contain it to the two individuals? , . ., individuals? this particular case, these two cases _ individuals? this particular case, these two cases are _ individuals? this particular case, these two cases are linked - individuals? this particular case, these two cases are linked and l individuals? this particular case, these two cases are linked and it has been traced to south africa. are has been traced to south africa. are ou has been traced to south africa. are you concerned at this point, given what we know about this variant, that we will be looking at potential changes to the status quo at the moment as we roll into christmas? how should people view this sitting at home making their plans for christmas, thinking everything would be all right what can you tell them about what you know about this variant and what might lie ahead in the next few weeks?— variant and what might lie ahead in the next few weeks? everything we know, our international _ the next few weeks? everything we know, our international partners i know, our international partners know. we have been very open and thatis know. we have been very open and that is the right way of course to help people know why we are concerned and i made a statement in parliament yesterday to set out more of that information. but the one thing i would say again to anyone as

we have made a lot of progress, we all want to see that protected and if anyone is sitting at home thinking, what can i do? get vaccinated. let's talk to our health correspondent. what will scientists be doing now? the correspondent. what will scientists be doing now?— be doing now? the sequencing and surveillance _ be doing now? the sequencing and surveillance in _ be doing now? the sequencing and surveillance in the _ be doing now? the sequencing and surveillance in the uk _ be doing now? the sequencing and surveillance in the uk is _ be doing now? the sequencing and surveillance in the uk is really i surveillance in the uk is really strong, we do about 20% sequencing of positive cases already. they have identified one case in chelmsford, one in nottingham and they say they are linked. as we had the health secretary say, they are carrying out targeted testing in those two areas. and households involved are isolating at home. one of the really important public health messages to get across is people coming back from any of those southern african countries need to isolate at home for ten days and take a pcr test. on the ground, uk health security

agency will be closely monitoring this. we have pcr testing which can actually spot this new mutation, it is picked up in pcr testing. that is not 100% accurate but it is an early heads up that this could be this new variant and that can be taken away for sequencing to get confirmation. clearly that is what has happened and they have identified these two cases. then it is about targeted search testing and tracing, making sure you get in contact with the close contacts, get them to isolate. they want to put a lid on this because there is concern about this particular new variant of concern, because it is so highly mutated, there is a lot of mutations around there is a lot of mutations around the spike protein, the bit of the virus that breaks into the body's cells and if there are lots of changes, the worry is that it might be more transmissible and it might reduce some of the protection we get

from vaccines. there are some concerned and the world health organization has said there is some early evidence that might suggest this variant increases the risk of reinfection and might be driving a wave of infections in south africa. there is concern among scientists there but equally, there is a lot we don't know. these travel bans that we have talked about and the health secretary is extending to more countries, angola, mozambique, malawi and zambia from 4am on sunday, they are helping to delay the arrival, it won't stop it as we have seen, we already have two in the uk but it buys time because more research needs to be done in the lab and in the real world, to understand how this variant responds so that scientists know how to act. one of the most important things is vaccination, having the first and second doses plus the booster. that really tops up that protection and

senior scientists are saying the vaccines are working really well, protecting against a serious disease, against other variants and so they are optimistic that they will still be effective against this new variant. will still be effective against this new variant-— will still be effective against this new variant. ., ,, , ., , . let's speak now with dr margaret harris, spokesperson for the world health organization. thank you for being with us once again. how worried are you about this omicron? it originated in africa and flights have been stopped because of that but it is now clearly in europe as well. good afternoon- _ clearly in europe as well. good afternoon- i— clearly in europe as well. good afternoon. i think _ clearly in europe as well. good afternoon. i think we - clearly in europe as well. good afternoon. i think we can't i clearly in europe as well. good| afternoon. i think we can't even clearly in europe as well. good i afternoon. i think we can't even say it originated in africa. what we know is it was reported from africa because the south african science is very good and notjust a very good but also very open, they reported it quickly but we can't guarantee it

originated in africa. the reason we may get —— made it a variant of concern, two reasons, we got the information quickly and also it was mentioned the spike mutations, the 32 spike mutations is much more than we have seen before and also, the suggestion is that it seems to be very transmissible. we don't know that yet and we need to get much more information as quickly as possible. figs more information as quickly as ossible. �* , ., possible. as we get that information, _ possible. as we get that information, we - possible. as we get that information, we are i possible. as we get that i information, we are playing for possible. as we get that _ information, we are playing for time as the scientist try to investigate it. that's why we have all these travel restrictions imposed on southern african countries, notjust by the uk but other countries also. does the world health organization agree with those travel restrictions that have been imposed? fiur that have been imposed? our emergency — that have been imposed? oi" emergency committee and the international health regulations basically put it in a way that asks of the countries themselves to make the decisions based on the risk

assessments and the science as we understand it. it's a decision that is taken at national level and if you do impose those restrictions, the aim is to buy time, to get ready and get all the things going like enhanced surveillance, the sequencing, the plans about how you will manage people when they come in to prevent transmission further into the community, and also manage your health system,. the community, and also manage your health system-— health system,. interesting views from gordon _ health system,. interesting views from gordon brown _ health system,. interesting views from gordon brown today, - health system,. interesting views from gordon brown today, the i health system,. interesting views i from gordon brown today, the former british prime ministers saying it is no surprise the new variant has been discovered in south africa. he says it is partly because there are not enough vaccinations in africa because the richer countries have been hoarding vaccines. what do you make of that? that

been hoarding vaccines. what do you make of that?— make of that? that is certainly something _ make of that? that is certainly something i— make of that? that is certainly something i have _ make of that? that is certainly something i have been - make of that? that is certainly something i have been saying, make of that? that is certainly - something i have been saying, others have said it over and over again. the reason we wanted to see the world vaccinated at the same time is notjust because we care about every human on the planet, we do, but it made sense that you needed to bring down the transmission in the groups most likely to have severe illness and to be all for a long time. countries like the uk have done a fantasticjob of getting their population vaccinated but what we need is the wealthy countries to do everything possible to ensure that the vaccines to get spread fairly and if that is with assisting with manufacturing on—site, donating doses, those things have to accelerated. we warned unwarned. i really hope omicron is the dress rehearsal the real thing but indeed, letting this thing run riot

somewhere is an invitation to a perfect mutation. some people watching you now here in the uk will be wondering, here we go again. will be wondering, here we go again. will christmas be cancelled again? what do you think are the chances of a normal christmas. irate do you think are the chances of a normal christmas.— do you think are the chances of a normal christmas. we are looking at a modified christmas. _ normal christmas. we are looking at a modified christmas. no, _ normal christmas. we are looking at a modified christmas. no, we i normal christmas. we are looking at a modified christmas. no, we are i normal christmas. we are looking at| a modified christmas. no, we are not expecting, i mean we are going to have two or up our public health measures everywhere, get serious about them and manage our gatherings in the safest way possible.— in the safest way possible. always aood to in the safest way possible. always good to talk _ in the safest way possible. always good to talk to — in the safest way possible. always good to talk to you. _ in the safest way possible. always good to talk to you. many - in the safest way possible. always good to talk to you. many thanks l good to talk to you. many thanks again. let's talk about the travel implications that have been announced. joining me now is paul charles, founder and ceo of the pc agency. good to have you with us as well.

more countries added to the red list, angola, mozambique, malawi, zambia. what do you make of that? you have been critical of the government's policy in the past on travel restrictions. irate government's policy in the past on travel restrictions.— government's policy in the past on travel restrictions. we now have ten countries on — travel restrictions. we now have ten countries on the _ travel restrictions. we now have ten countries on the uk _ travel restrictions. we now have ten countries on the uk red _ travel restrictions. we now have ten countries on the uk red list - travel restrictions. we now have ten countries on the uk red list and i travel restrictions. we now have ten countries on the uk red list and it i countries on the uk red list and it feels like we are going backwards some weeks. the travel sector has been recovering pretty substantially, almost back to 80% of what it was pre—pandemic but now the sector is left in limbo, as are consumers who have trips booked for this christmas. it is a very worrying development and it is worrying development and it is worrying because it suggests governments are moving back to old policies, some of them on popular where they use hotel quarantine and travel bans at short notice. for business and leisure trips that is the worst news possible. i get that but does the _ the worst news possible. i get that but does the government - the worst news possible. i get that but does the government have i the worst news possible. i get that i but does the government have much

choice? they have this omicron variant, they are trying to investigate it, work out how dangerous it is and they need to play for time and the red list does give them time potentially. yes. play for time and the red list does give them time potentially. yes, it does but there _ give them time potentially. yes, it does but there are _ give them time potentially. yes, it does but there are lots _ give them time potentially. yes, it does but there are lots of - give them time potentially. yes, it does but there are lots of ifs i give them time potentially. yes, it does but there are lots of ifs and l does but there are lots of ifs and buts, maybes, possibles. nobody knows the impact of the new variant on existing vaccines yet, so the government should be looking at alternatives because we are going to see future variants emerge in future years, they will come and go and we can't simply fall back on hotel quarantine and travel bans all the time, otherwise there will never be a travel industry left. what they should be doing is using testing more and saying, let's bring back predeparture pcr tests from these ten countries. if you come from that country, you take a predeparture test and when you arrive from these countries into the uk you then go to terminal four countries into the uk you then go to terminalfour which are countries into the uk you then go to terminal four which are set aside for red list arrivals and you take

another test at that point. therefore there is double testing going on and it is testing that we rely on, that is how it has picked up rely on, that is how it has picked up these two cases in the uk today so we should rely on it for travel as well. �* . ., so we should rely on it for travel as well. ~ .. _, , ., as well. ten african countries on the red list, _ as well. ten african countries on the red list, do _ as well. ten african countries on the red list, do you _ as well. ten african countries on the red list, do you think - as well. ten african countries on the red list, do you think moore | the red list, do you think moore will be added to that list? i am sad to say that — will be added to that list? i am sad to say that i _ will be added to that list? i am sad to say that i think _ will be added to that list? i am sad to say that i think there _ will be added to that list? i am sad to say that i think there will - will be added to that list? i am sad to say that i think there will be i to say that i think there will be more added as more cases emerge around the world. but the main thing is that scientists urgently give details on whether in fact vaccines hold up against this new variant, thatis hold up against this new variant, that is what everybody needs to know. hopefully this is a false alarm and we can remove those travel bans as soon as possible, but the fear now is that the government will not review this red list for three weeks, and that means those who have trips booked notjust to africa but to other places as well will be worried that their country might be added to the arrested —— red list just before christmas and that is not what anybody once in the travel sector or the wider economy.

at least two men have been killed by falling trees as storm arwen hit parts of the uk with high winds, rain and snow. the storm caused damage across scotland, northern england, the midlands and wales — with winds of nearly 100 miles an hour leaving more than 100,000 homes without power. there are further weather warnings across the uk today, as emily unia reports. storm arwen brought winds of more than 90 miles an hour to pummel the coast of north—east scotland. the met office issued a rare red weather warning, meaning there was a potential risk to life. i can barely stand up. sean, a storm chaser, filmed treacherous conditions near edinburgh for social media. pushing through. i've been hit by falling debris. that is brutal. this is portobello beach in edinburgh. i have never in all my life seen a storm like this. passengers travelling from inverness to aberdeen ended up spending

the night on a train. i got on the train at elgin around three yesterday afternoon, and about five o'clock, we hit huntly and we stayed there for about 17 hours. trees blew down across the north—east of england and like the rest of the country, there was major disruption on the rail network. near rochdale, i20 lorries got stuck in snow on the m62, and there were power cuts across the north west. we've had a very high number of incidents on the network, a high volume of faults. about 7a,000 customers have had their power supply interrupted at some time, but we've restored supplies to 43,000 of those customers already. on this farm near st asaph in north wales, a shed roof blew down, damaging cars. and the bad weather also affected

itv�*s i'm a celebrity, which had to be pre—recorded. a yellow weather warning for high winds across central england, scotland, wales and northern ireland remains in place until six o'clock this evening. emily unia, bbc news. as officials in france continue to try and identify the victims of this week's mass drownings in the channel — the bbc has been hearing from the family and friends of the first person known to have died. maryam nuri mohamed amin was a 24—year—old kurdish woman from northern iraq and was trying to reach the uk to be with her partner. lucy williamson reports. it is a face that will haunt both sides of the channel. 24—year—old maryam nuri mohamed amin from northern iraq was crossing to the uk to meet her fiance. he told the bbc she had been messaging him when the boat began to lose air.

in her last message she tried to reassure him that help was coming. in iraqi kurdistan, herfamily�*s anger assured through their grief. translation: going to britain is very difficult. she tried to go legally twice, she went to the embassy but the process was delayed. she was forced to go the way she did. one of her friends has also been speaking about her death. her humanity was so good, always advising me. she was like someone i looked up to for advice, so no one should try this, no one, no one deserves to die this way. this disaster has changed little in the minds of people living in migrant camps here. they are just waiting for the right weather conditions to make the same journey. take the same risks. there's been lots of finger pointing across the channel over who is to blame for the growing crisis, european interior ministers are due to meet here tomorrow

to discuss the problem but at the british home secretary has been disinvited in the middle of a diplomatic feud between borisjohnson and emmanuel macron. investigations have begun to identify those who died and find out why help never arrived. harder to explain after all the diplomacy, all the deterrents, the loss of 27 lives in a narrow stretch of sea. the former england cricket captain michael vaughan, has spoken publicly for the first time since being accused of racism, by his yorkshire team—mate azeem rafiq. speaking to dan walker before the england and wales cricket board released a new action plan to tackle racism and discrimination, he apologised for any hurt he may have caused. michael vaughan leading england to the ashes in 2005. now he's fighting for his reputation

after being accused by three asian players of making a racist comment ahead of a game for yorkshire. "too many of you lot, we need to do something about it." do you in any way remember or recognise those words? i don't. my recollection from that day — as i've said, i was a yorkshire player for 18 years. i was the first player to sign for that club that was not born in the county, so for 18 years we've gone from me being the first to sign for the club, to sachin tendulkar to be the first from overseas, to players being able to sign from other clubs. and it was my last few games, and ijust remember it clearly that i was proud as punch that we had four asian players representing yorkshire county cricket club. it was azeem rafiq, the yorkshire whistleblower, who made the initial allegation. he has said that michael vaughan might not remember the alleged remarks because they didn't mean anything to him. yeah, that hurts.

that hurts, because i've always felt that every single team that i've been involved in — the biggest praise i ever got as the england captain for six years was that i was the kind of person that really galvanised the group, got the team working together as one. i always felt that i was the person in the dressing room that really wanted everyone to feel included. michael, you said you wanted to sit down with azeem and hear his story. the chances are he could be watching you this morning. he could be watching this now. what would be your message to him? i'm sorry for the hurt that he's gone through. yorkshire county cricket club, i believe, is me. you know, that's been my life. whether i'm a player or not, i'm a senior ex—player and ex—england captain, and i believe that once you've played for yorkshire you're always a yorkshire player. i'm sorry for all the hurt

that he's gone through. hopefully — time, i don't think, can ever be a healer in the situation that he's gone through. but hopefully time can be a way of us making sure that yorkshire county cricket club never goes through this situation again and never puts themselves in a position of denial that they treated a player so badly. vaughan says he wants to work with azeem rafiq to repair the damage done to cricket. he also says he regrets and is embarrassed by several posts he made on social media between 2010 and 2018, insisting he wouldn't post them now. when i look back on my 12 years on social media, i regret many tweets. i regret the tweets that you've just read out. i apologise deeply to anyone that i offended with those tweets. since retirement, michael vaughan has covered cricket for bbc radio, but earlier this week it was revealed that he has been stood down from his role at the ashes in australia this winter.

yeah, i won't be doing the ashes, which i understand. editorial at the minute, the story is all about azeem rafiq and racism in the game of cricket. i get that. ijust hope, in time, i get that chance to come back, and the one thing that i've loved more than anything since i retired is talking cricket. i love being on test match special, and hopefully in time i'll get that chance to do it again. michael vaughan's hopes for a return to the airwaves rest with his employers. it's his hope that he will have a role in helping to repair the damage done to cricket by this racism scandal. dan walker, bbc news. we put the remarks made by michael vaughan in that interview to azeem rafiq, but he declined to comment. when the taliban swept to power in afghanistan, they inherited an economy which was heavily reliant on foreign aid — large parts of the health service were entirely funded by the world bank.

all of that has now changed. staff at local clinics haven't been paid in three months — with warnings that medicines are running out. the bbc�*s world affairs editor, john simpson, travelled to a clinic in the hills south of kabul to see the impact the taliban's international isolation is having on ordinary afghans. this clinic is typical of the local health care system that was built up in the last 20 years with foreign help. not much to look at may but highly effective. and then the taliban got back into power. instantly the world bank, which had been paying for almost the whole of afghanistan's health care, cut off the flow of cash to the country. this is the result. llp the flow of cash to the country.

this is the result.— this is the result. up to nine million people _ this is the result. up to nine million people could - this is the result. up to nine million people could be i this is the result. up to nine million people could be on l this is the result. up to nine l million people could be on the this is the result. up to nine - million people could be on the verge of famine. up to 1 million children could die of malnutrition. it's a humanitarian catastrophe is what it is. ~ ., ., ., ., humanitarian catastrophe is what it is. with no international money cominu is. with no international money coming in. _ is. with no international money coming in, clinics _ is. with no international money coming in, clinics like - is. with no international money coming in, clinics like this i is. with no international money coming in, clinics like this are l is. with no international money| coming in, clinics like this are in dire trouble. this is the pharmacy. normally the cupboards would be packed with medicines. now they are running out really fast. the collapsing economy and the foreign sanctions against the taliban mean people can't buy food. the result is malnutrition. and it is starting with the children.— malnutrition. and it is starting with the children. there will be a hue with the children. there will be a huge health _ with the children. there will be a huge health crisis. _ with the children. there will be a huge health crisis. there - with the children. there will be a huge health crisis. there will. with the children. there will be a huge health crisis. there will be| with the children. there will be a l huge health crisis. there will be no medicine and people will face massive problems. even health care staff will leave. they health care services will collapse. we will start to see loads of mothers and children dying. this

start to see loads of mothers and children dying-— children dying. as winter approaches. _ children dying. as winter approaches, the - children dying. as winter approaches, the cuts i children dying. as winter i approaches, the cuts which the children dying. as winter _ approaches, the cuts which the world bank and foreign governments have introduced are having a greater and greater effect. in offices and government ministries, thousands of miles away from here, serious men and women are taking decisions to try to force the taliban to behave better in government. but it's these people here right now on the ground who are paying the price for those decisions. it will take time for the outside world's financial pressure to have an effect on the taliban if it even does. their guerrilla fighters after all, used to living rough. it is the ordinary people of afghanistan with no resources and no protection who will suffer. john simpson, bbc news. one of musical theatre's most revered composers and lyricists, stephen sondheim, has died at the age of 91.

in a career that spanned more than six decades, he created some of broadway's best known musicals — and wrote the lyrics for west side story. daniela relph has been looking back at his life. # isn't it bliss? # don't you approve? # one who keeps tearing around, one who can't move... send in the clowns, from the musical a little night music. # send in the clowns... it was stephen sondheim's only hit song — remarkably, because this was the man who revolutionised the american musical. as a young man he learned his trade from oscar hammerstein, the lyricist who wrote shows like oklahoma and the sound of music. sondheim, too, started by doing the words — notably for leonard bernstein's music in west side story. # i like to be in america!

# ok by me in america! soon he was writing his own music as well. # for a small fee in america... most of the shows that followed were hits. and then in 1970 he came up with a new idea — a musical that didn't follow an obvious plot. # phone rings, door chimes, in comes company... company was a series of vignettes featuring a dozen central characters. no two sondheim musicals were the same. i don't want to get bored writing. and you know, it's — when you hit a chord that you've hit before or a technique of using a song that you've done before — or when i do, i get very nervous. and i think "i've written that, i mustn't do that again." somebody will catch me up on it, so to speak. it's as if somebody�*s saying, "wait a minute, you did that in that show." into the woods was based on fairy stories like jack and the beanstalk. sondheim's music was rhythmically complicated and harmonically sophisticated. # we've no time to sit and dither.