there have been numerous tributes from across the world of musical theatre to the composer and lyricist stephen sondheim, who's died at the age of 91. he wrote the lyrics for west side story and the scores for many of the 20th century's most successful musicals, including a little night music and sweeney todd. stephen sondheim, described as a genius of musical theatre, who's died at the age, of 91. england's women footballers maintained their winning run in qualification for the 2023 world cup. they beat austria 1—0, with ellen white scoring the only goal on her 100th international appearance. here's joe lynskey. the next women's world cup is in australia and new zealand. to get there, england go

through sunderland in a storm. so torrential was the weather, the local trains said not to travel, but sarina wiegman�*s england look on their way to something good. they dominated austria through the first half. and, on 39 minutes, found a way through the wall. this was ellen white's 100th cap, and she'd marked it with a goal. she's on course to soon be england women's record scorer. that was england's 33rd goal in five qualifying games, but they knew this was their biggest test. they kept their 100% record thanks to mary earps�* stunning save. but that was the closest austria came. and england should have had more. this win keeps them top and on course for the finals, where, down under, they'll hope for even brighter days on the pitch and with the weather. joe lynskey, bbc news. that's it. there's more throughout the evening on the bbc news channel, and i'll be back with the late news at 10:10pm. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. bye for now.

this is bbc news, the headlines at six... the government announces

new restrictions as two cases of 0micron, a new variant of covid—19, are discovered in the uk. this is the responsible course of action to slow down the seeding and spread of this new variant and to maximise our defences. people in england will now once again have to wear facemasks on public transport and in shops. all contacts of suspected 0micron cases must self—isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status. mrjohnson also announced that people entering the country would have to take a pcr test and self—isolate until they get a negative result. the government also said it's considering how it can expand the coronavirus booster campaign. the prime minister says these measures are precautionary and temporary and will be reviewed in three weeks.

we'll bring you all the latest. in other news — two men are killed by falling trees as storm arwen hits parts of the uk with high winds, rain and snow. borisjohnson hasjust boris johnson has just announced borisjohnson has just announced new temporary coronavirus controls in england at two cases of the highly transmissible 0micron were discovered. the uk cases, in essex and nottingham, are linked to travel in southern africa and from the same cluster. borisjohnson said that in response some coronavirus

restrictions would include the mandatory wearing of face people who've been in close contact with 0micron cases will have to isolate themselves, even if they're fully vaccinated. four more african countries are being added to the travel red list — bringing the total to ten. here's the prime minister announcing some of the new rules at the government's press conference in the last hour. yesterday we took steps to protect the uk against the variant coming here from southern african countries, and earlier today added four more countries to the red list. but we now need to go further and implement proportionate testing regime for arrivals from across the whole world. we are not going to stop people travelling, i want to stress that. travelling but we will require anyone who enters the uk to take a pcr test by the end of the second day after their arrival, and to self—isolate until they have a negative result. second, we need to slow down the spread of this variant here in the uk because measures

at the border can only ever minimise and delay the arrival of a new variant, rather than stop it altogether. so, in addition to the measures we are already taking to locate those who have been in countries of concern over the last ten days, we will require all contacts of those who test positive with a suspected case of 0micron to self—isolate for ten days regardless of your vaccination status. we will also go further in asking all of you to help contain the spread of this variant by tightening up the rules on face coverings in shops and on public transport, and third, and most importantly, we need to bolster our protections against this new variant. we don't yet exactly know how effective our vaccines will be against 0micron,

but we have good reasons for believing they will provide at least some measure of protection. and if you are boosted, your response is likely to be stronger, so it's more vital than ever that people get theirjabs and we get those boosters into arms as fast as possible. so, from today, we're going to boost the booster campaign, we are already planning to do 6 millionjabs in england alone over the next three weeks and now we are looking to go further. the health secretary has asked thejcvi, the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, to consider giving boosters to as wide a group as possible, as well as reducing the gap between your second dose and your booster. of course, we are speaking to our counterparts in the devolved administrations and will continue to coordinate with them. the measures that we are taking

today, including on our borders and facemasks, are temporary and precautionary, and we will review them in three weeks. at that point, we should have much greater information about the continuing effectiveness of our vaccines. i very much hope that we will find that we continue to be in a strong position and we can lift these measures again. but right now this is the responsible course of action to slow down the seeding and spread of this new variant, and to maximise our defences, so that we protect the gains we have worked for so hard and so that we can continue to save lives. that was the prime minister announcing those extra measures at his downing street briefing. we have just heard the welsh government has confirmed it is going to introduce this a measures on international

travel, as has been announced by mr johnson. the welsh government did say it had warned the uk government of the dangers of removing restrictions. we have repeatedly raised our concerns about its decision to relax international travel reels quickly, precisely because of the risk of introducing new variants into the uk. we also warned against the removal of pcr tests for returning travellers. that is what the welsh government have been saying. let's get some reaction to the announcement. let's speak to the labour mp and shadow health minister, alex norris. the prime minister in addition to talking about this further travel restrictions, pcr testing for people coming back into the uk but also face coverings in shops and on public transport in england, does that make sense to you?- public transport in england, does that make sense to you? yeah, we are su ortive that make sense to you? yeah, we are sunportive of — that make sense to you? yeah, we are supportive of these _ that make sense to you? yeah, we are supportive of these measures. - that make sense to you? yeah, we are supportive of these measures. we - supportive of these measures. we were very critical with regards to the delta variant which was allowed to spread more quickly than it should have done because of our lax border control. of course, a return

to wearing facemasks in public spaces, we have said that as the cost of everything we could have been carrying on anyway. i don't think we should ever have stopped doing that. we are broadly supportive of what has been announced today. he supportive of what has been announced today.— supportive of what has been announced today. supportive of what has been announced toda . . , ., ,~ announced today. he was asked in the news conference _ announced today. he was asked in the news conference whether _ announced today. he was asked in the news conference whether he - announced today. he was asked in the news conference whether he should i announced today. he was asked in the | news conference whether he should go further and implement more of plan d, working from home where possible. would you like him to have gone further? ., , , , further? the government because my lan b has further? the government because my plan b has or — further? the government because my plan b has or has _ further? the government because my plan b has or has been _ further? the government because my plan b has or has been our _ further? the government because my plan b has or has been our plan - further? the government because my plan b has or has been our plan a. i plan b has or has been our plan a. we think mask wearing should be commonplace in common spaces. we think people should be able to work from home where it is possible. i think we should have been doing all those things already. we want them to be doing that now, we especially want them to go further on the booster jabs. want them to go further on the boosterjabs. i don't want to decry the vaccination programme, it has been very successful, but with regards to boosters, the girl to do have a million today so we have all the over 40s boosted by christmas,

we are a long way below that. what the prime minister has announced todayis the prime minister has announced today is below that rate. he talks about boosting the booster programme, we want to see that and see community facilities used. getting this jabs out is going to be crucial and i think we could go further. , crucial and i think we could go further. ._ ., ,., .,, further. one way to boost the programme — further. one way to boost the programme is _ further. one way to boost the programme is to _ further. one way to boost the programme is to reduce - further. one way to boost the programme is to reduce the l further. one way to boost the - programme is to reduce the period between the second faxing and investor. mrjohnson says that is what he wants. —— the vaccine and the booster. he is pretty much doing what you want? we the booster. he is pretty much doing what you want?— what you want? we called for it to be reduced _ what you want? we called for it to be reduced to _ what you want? we called for it to be reduced to five _ what you want? we called for it to be reduced to five months - what you want? we called for it to be reduced to five months so - what you want? we called for it to be reduced to five months so i - what you want? we called for it to i be reduced to five months so i hope we will hear back from thejcvi that will be the case. we think they need to be looking at other elements to the booster programme and to jabs on what generally with regards to how to improve the response rate and for those under 12. i think chris whitty

called it a different element of risk and reward now. i think teams sketch out things will change in that way. the quicker the better and i pushed sajid javid on bis on tuesday and they were quite defensive about it. we need to get on the front foot.— on the front foot. there are some eo - le on the front foot. there are some people who _ on the front foot. there are some people who would _ on the front foot. there are some people who would say _ on the front foot. there are some people who would say we - on the front foot. there are some people who would say we are - on the front foot. there are some i people who would say we are going on the front foot. there are some - people who would say we are going to get variants because that is what happens in a pandemic and with a virus, you are going to get mutations and variants all the time. this is another one. we don't know that much about it. maybe we are overreacting? i that much about it. maybe we are overreacting?— that much about it. maybe we are overreacting? i find that hard, that anal sis. overreacting? i find that hard, that analysis- we _ overreacting? i find that hard, that analysis. we have _ overreacting? i find that hard, that analysis. we have now _ overreacting? i find that hard, that analysis. we have now been - overreacting? i find that hard, that analysis. we have now been at - overreacting? i find that hard, thatj analysis. we have now been at this for 18, 19 months and what have we learnt? we have learned that if you are thinking about acting, then you need to do it today and significantly, and that helping perhaps in a week or two things will be better, they tend to be worse. i would it give much succour to that

argument at all. thank you very much indeed. —— i wouldn't give that much succour to that argument. let's cross to downing street and speak to our political correspondent, iain watson. the scientists say go early and go hard and mrjohnson will say that is exactly what he has done. he hard and mrjohnson will say that is exactly what he has done.— exactly what he has done. he has one a exactly what he has done. he has gone a lot — exactly what he has done. he has gone a lot earlier _ exactly what he has done. he has gone a lot earlier than _ exactly what he has done. he has gone a lot earlier than he - exactly what he has done. he has gone a lot earlier than he did - exactly what he has done. he has. gone a lot earlier than he did when there was a threat from the delta variant initially. to some extent, people would be saying he has learnt his lesson from that and this time the travel ban in southern african countries was announced ahead of the eu and america, so to some extent he is going earlier, but is he going harder? as we heard from alex norris from labour, he says plan b should be plan a and the government should be plan a and the government should be advising people to work from home. 0ursjohnson didn't do that, he didn't say that the passports would be introduced which are currently in place in some settings in scotland and he didn't say there

will now be mask wearing in public transport and in retail. i think again what is interesting is this todayis again what is interesting is this today is a moment he would really rather have avoided, ever since the great lockdown, as long as case numbers in hospitals and deaths were relatively low, the prime minister wanted the economy to stay open. it is a measure of the seriousness that he is reintroducing any measures. i asked him directly whether we would see the beginning of restrictions now. he said they will be temporary and reviewed in three weeks' time. we are a month away from christmas and people are anxious about the plans at that time of year. you say christmas this year is going to be better than christmas last year. but thatis better than christmas last year. but that is setting a low bar because a contract that period of hassles being allowed to mix. in addition, he didn't say the restrictions would be with john he didn't say the restrictions would be withjohn in two weeks' time to stop we are in the hands of the

virus. —— withdrawn. who knows? we may yet see further restrictions but even not go all the way to the government's so—called plan b at this stage. he said it would be very targeted, so those pcr tests are people coming back into the country, so we can find out if they are suffering from that variant. i think one area might be controversial between the parties and that is this question of self isolation. self isolation for ten days even if you are double faxed. you come into contact someone suspected of having the 0micron variant as a source of their infection. labour have argued time and again that in order for people to self—isolate, the government has to look at the sick pgy- government has to look at the sick pay. there was no mention of that from the prime minister either, but certainly there will be fierce around whitehall that perhaps people who have been used to having very few restrictions since the summer, and you are double vaccinated, might not necessarily embrace south

isolation for ten days. it is clear the government, criticised by the opposition before for being too slow to be at, wanted to react quickly with some new measures in the face of a new threat. this with some new measures in the face of a new threat.— of a new threat. as well as more restrictions. _ of a new threat. as well as more restrictions, also _ of a new threat. as well as more restrictions, also talking - of a new threat. as well as more restrictions, also talking about l restrictions, also talking about putting a blister on the booster programme and trying to get a reduction in that time period between the second vaccine and the booster, to increase the number of people who have got that booster jab. people who have got that booster 'ab. ., , �* people who have got that booster 'ab. . , ~ ., ., jab. that is right. and again patrick vallance _ jab. that is right. and again patrick vallance was - jab. that is right. and again patrick vallance was saying | jab. that is right. and again i patrick vallance was saying he jab. that is right. and again - patrick vallance was saying he still thought it might be better that people are vaccinated, they might population has no vaccinations, the better. he said perhaps three things could happen from now on. —— has at their vaccinations. from having their vaccinations. from having their third jab, we may be better protected in any case from this new variant. secondly, there are some

vaccines being manufactured which have a broader base that might be able to be more effective against other variance, and thirdly we may have to go to that stage and that is why the government is looking to buy time and bring in restrictions now, then we have to go to the stage where manufacturers have to modify vaccines. but in the meantime, the gap between having a second and third jab is being reduced to five months and thejoint third jab is being reduced to five months and the joint committee for vaccinations and immunisation are now looking at the possibility of vaccinating children under the age of 12. ~ . ., ., ., of 12. whether clear on when all this comes _ of 12. whether clear on when all this comes into _ of 12. whether clear on when all this comes into effect _ of 12. whether clear on when all this comes into effect in - of 12. whether clear on when all this comes into effect in terms i of 12. whether clear on when all| this comes into effect in terms of the travel rules and pci requirements, and the coverings? i know he said we would be hearing more from the health secretary on face coverings in the next day or so, but is there a date when all this comes into effect? we haven't had that specifically. _ this comes into effect? we haven't had that specifically. i _ this comes into effect? we haven't had that specifically. i think - this comes into effect? we haven't had that specifically. i think we - had that specifically. i think we will hear more from sajid javid on

all of this, but i would imagine the pcr tests were coming at the same time as a self isolation requirements for a red list countries, which is now expanded to ten. i suspect from the beginning of the week we are likely to see that being reimposed. certainly, if they are going to try and slow down the spread of this variant, then you need to know who is into the country, if you are going to impose self isolation and contact people with the variant, they are going to have to move pretty swiftly. we are waiting for confirmation. i'm sure we will find out this evening and what it is will be set out from the health secretary. for what it is will be set out from the health secretary.— what it is will be set out from the health secretary. for the moment, thank ou health secretary. for the moment, thank you very _ health secretary. for the moment, thank you very much. _ health secretary. for the moment, thank you very much. -- _ health secretary. for the moment, thank you very much. -- more - health secretary. for the moment, i thank you very much. -- more details will be set out. _ some breaking news — and the italian government had announced the first detected case of new covid variant in the country. the country's national health institute says just one case

has been found so far — it hasn't said where in the country it's been located. let's speak to professor devi sridhar, who's chair of global public health at the university of edinburgh. thank you very much for being with us. the measures that the prime minister and the government have announced so far, did they make sense in the face of this new 0micron variant? sense in the face of this new omicron variant?— sense in the face of this new omicron variant? ~' , , omicron variant? the key thing is we don't know much _ omicron variant? the key thing is we don't know much about _ omicron variant? the key thing is we don't know much about it _ omicron variant? the key thing is we don't know much about it and - omicron variant? the key thing is we don't know much about it and don't l don't know much about it and don't know if it is much as a symbol than delta and will become dominant. we don't understand its impact on health incomes, which is the primary thing we are concerned about. and the third is whether it will erode our collective immunity, either through natural immunity and vaccines. there is a lot of uncertainty as they are trying to put in place steps any precautionary way to make sure that if it does turn out to be more severe than we anticipate, that we are in a better position. we anticipate, that we are in a better osition. ~ ., �* ~ ., anticipate, that we are in a better osition. ., �* ~ ., , anticipate, that we are in a better osition. ~ ., , position. we don't know exactly, as ou sa , position. we don't know exactly, as you say. but — position. we don't know exactly, as you say. but we _ position. we don't know exactly, as you say. but we do _ position. we don't know exactly, as you say, but we do know _ position. we don't know exactly, as you say, but we do know about - position. we don't know exactly, as you say, but we do know about its l you say, but we do know about its profile and a number of mutations, which is it lot. it is different from other variance, isn't it? it is

and i from other variance, isn't it? it is and i think— from other variance, isn't it? it is and i think it _ from other variance, isn't it? it is and i think it is _ from other variance, isn't it? it is and i think it is worth _ from othervariance, isn't it? it 3 and i think it is worth flagging this is the first one since delta that has attracted this kind of interest on the scientific community, and this is why south african scientist by debt and said to have a look at this, there are 50 different mutations in 0micron, this could be a problem in terms of reinfection is making people more ill. have a look closer. but it is early days and i think people should not be anxious or stressed or worried because what the government is saying need to slow down the seeding and spread throughout the country, and the same things you will be doing to avoid getting covid, you'll be doing to avoid getting this new variant. what covid, you'll be doing to avoid getting this new variant. what is our getting this new variant. what is your hunch. _ getting this new variant. what is your hunch. on _ getting this new variant. what is your hunch, on the _ getting this new variant. what is your hunch, on the theory - getting this new variant. what is your hunch, on the theory of- your hunch, on the theory of vaccines? do you think the vaccine should be able to deal with this new variant even though it has different mutations? aha, variant even though it has different mutations? �* ., ., ., ,, mutations? a lot of time we talk about whether _ mutations? a lot of time we talk about whether the _ mutations? a lot of time we talk about whether the vaccines - mutations? a lot of time we talk about whether the vaccines work mutations? a lot of time we talk. about whether the vaccines work or don't work and that is too binary. it is a sliding scale and we want vaccines to be as effective as possible at stopping severe disease, is that the initial trials showed

over 95%, we know with delta that has been brought down. but the worry is it will bring down the effect of illness, not whether they will work or not. if access to provide pretty good protection. —— the vaccines have provided pretty good protection. we have tools we didn't have last mentor, we had vaccines, we have tests, we understand transmission and where we need to wear face coverings and how the virus spreads. we should be using these measures to try and lift restrictions and live as normally as possible using testing, vaccines and masks. ., possible using testing, vaccines and masks. . ., ., masks. one argument we have heard from the former— masks. one argument we have heard from the former prime _ masks. one argument we have heard from the former prime minister, - from the former prime minister, gordon brown, is that one of the reasons this has originated in africa, it was suddenly discovered there, he was saying it is because there, he was saying it is because there is such a low number of people who have been vaccinated in africa, thatis who have been vaccinated in africa, that is part of the reason and the

west is to blame. richard nations have been hoarding vaccines are not sending them to african nations. we have sending them to african nations. - have seen better so—called vaccine nationalism where rich countries use them to distribute their populations and their poor countries waited their turn, and their poor countries waited theirturn, and and their poor countries waited their turn, and then instead of going to poor countries, rich countries went to bustos, and mobsters have been given in rich countries than total vaccinations in poor countries. many of these people are still exposed, co—workers and at the elderly. it is a difficult one for politicians because they are under pressure not to have locked down this winter. we note the blister is effective. that is no good evidence from israel, united states and about this so it is difficult for political leaders to deal with this challenge at home and worry about other parts of the world. ,., ., worry about other parts of the world. h, ., ., . ~' worry about other parts of the world. ., ., ,, ., let's get some reaction from virologist dr sarah pitt

from the university of brighton, also a fellow of the institute of biomedical science... thank you indeed for being with us. how worried are you about the 0micron variant? what is your reading on it? we omicron variant? what is your reading on it?— omicron variant? what is your reading on it? we know that it is robabl reading on it? we know that it is probably more — reading on it? we know that it is probably more infectious - reading on it? we know that it is probably more infectious than i reading on it? we know that it is| probably more infectious than the delta variant, but we don't know really whether that means it well out compete the delta variant. at the moment delta is dominant across the moment delta is dominant across the whole of the world. and certainly be dominant one in europe. we don't know whether that will actually turn out to be stronger and take over, where delta is. it is worth remembering we have had quite a lot of interesting delta plus variance which looked as though they were a little bit more infectious than the original delta, but they have never been able to take over where delta is the dominant one. we

don't know what is going to happen with it in that respect, we have to wait and see. i5 with it in that respect, we have to wait and see-— wait and see. is it more transmissible, - wait and see. is it more transmissible, which i wait and see. is it more transmissible, which it| wait and see. is it more - transmissible, which it does wait and see. is it more _ transmissible, which it does appear to be, but also is it more dangerous in terms of does it make you more ale and increase the risk of death? i don't think we know that for sure. what we do know as it is a... way the changes have come in the spike protein, they are some of the ones we have noted in this 0micron, it is the same as what we have seen in the beta variant and the gamut variant, and those two were a little bit resistant to the vaccine. —— gamma variant. that is something we are worrying about, the fact the vaccines may not work quite so well against this one because it doesn't work quite as well against beta and gamma, because it is a difference between that and doubt her. i have to stress, as everybody has been

saying all along, these vaccines do work, even against beta and gamma, and certainly we expect it to work against this as well. it might not be quite as good as stopping you having passing the disease from one person to another, which we have already seen with two doses with delta, that you can stop the virus up delta, that you can stop the virus up and pass it on, which is why we are doing the booster programme. we are doing the booster programme. we are hoping this programme will protect us against whatever variant comes along. let protect us against whatever variant comes along-— protect us against whatever variant comes alon. , ., ,~' i. .,, comes along. let me 'ust ask you, as the scientists _ comes along. let me 'ust ask you, as the scientists try — comes along. let me 'ust ask you, as the scientists try to _ comes along. let me just ask you, as the scientists try to find _ comes along. let me just ask you, as the scientists try to find out - comes along. let me just ask you, as the scientists try to find out more - the scientists try to find out more about 0micron and there is a lot of research that needs to be done, the government as saying they are playing for time with new restrictions. things like making it mandatory to wear face coverings in shops and on public transport in england, is that sensible? are you worried in a sense that many people have got pretty complacent, a lot of people have stopped wearing masks on

the underground, on buses and so on, on trains around the country. i really wish we hadn't taken away mandatory mask wearing in the first place. i will be quite happy to see it come back in. i have been in plenty of situations where i have been the only person wearing a mask and an enclosed public spaces, on a train carriage, in a shop. regardless of 0micron, even with the number of new cases of delta we have been seen at the moment, things like mandatory mask wearing and being a bit more careful about social distancing, and even covid passports potentially are all things we should be doing anyway. it would be good to see those come back in again. i do think people have stopped doing it because it is not mandatory. i think you'll find in wales and scotland and northern ireland, more people are doing it, perhaps not hundred percent compliance but more people

are doing it when is mandatory. if we are not required to do it, people stop doing it. if we are required to do it, i hope to see more people will begin to do it again. hopefully everyone hasn't thrown their masks away, and that will help us to keep the numbers down, regardless of what happens with 0micron. goad the numbers down, regardless of what happens with omicron.— happens with omicron. good to talk to ou. happens with omicron. good to talk to you- thank— happens with omicron. good to talk to you. thank you. _ as part of the new restrictions outlined today, four more countries have been added to the government's red travel list, meaning all arrivals into the uk will have to quarantine in a hotel for ten days. angola, malawi, mozambique and zambia are the countries affected, bringing the total to ten now on the red list. let's now speak to our transport correspondent caroline davies. just when travellers thought they could start travelling again freely, suddenly they cannot on top of all of that we have this additional pcr testing that the government announced. tote testing that the government announced.— announced. we feel like international _ announced. we feel like international travel - announced. we feel like international travel are l

announced. we feel like - international travel are starting to tighten up again. this is still relatively small levels of tightening in comparison to what we have seen over the course of the last couple of months. things were really listening up and the travel industry felt they were able to get off the ground again, people are starting to book, notjust for this winter but also for next year, and the real concern is if people start seeing things going on the opposite direction, they might lose some of that confidence. plenty of people will have but to go away during the christmas holidays, many people who haven't seen them in other countries for a long time will be hoping to be able to do their trips and remake the family and friends. at this stage it is still relatively limited, but what we do know so far on these limitations, the bed rest has now got ten countries on, and from 4am tomorrow morning, anyone who is arriving, who has been in any of those countries in the last ten days, will have to stay in a quarantine hotel and pay for that. it is on the uk and irish citizens that can come into the country that have been in these ten countries,

there is no new additions, angola, mozambique, malawi and zambia. we also have south africa, zimbabwe and others who are already on the list. anyone who is not a uk or irish citizen will not be able to come into the uk if they have been in any of those countries in the course of the last ten days. pcr testing is also coming back. that only went at the end of october. it was the 24th of october for england, the 31st for scotland, wales and northern ireland. so a relatively recent change with the elephant pcr testing to the cheaper, lateral flow testing. the advantage of pcr testing. the advantage of pcr testing is you can sequence the results of those pcr tests and that means you can identify the variant. that was seen as no longer necessary when it was removed at the end of last month because these tests were considered to be too expensive and there is no variant of concern at that point. now there is, this has been reintroduced. the other thing to bear in mind is that if you do

travel, you take