a cold day in the east, turning milder in the west, milder for all on tuesday before it turns colder again. hello, it's another cold, frosty, icy night on the way and some sleet and snow in parts of the midlands and across southern england to clear away before we get into the night. further wintry showers along the north sea coast, this is bbc news. i'm rebecca jones. the headlines at 7pm... a third case of the new omicron variant of coronavirus has been detected in the uk. the government urges people to get their boosters and to follow new rules from tuesday on mask—wearing in england. the government says pupils in year 7 and above in england should wear masks in communal areas of schools from tomorrow morning. everyone wants us to protect the progress that we have made. and that is why we have acted very swiftly and, i believe, in a proportionate way with the news of this new variant. the south african president has criticised the decision to put the country on the international red list. these list. restrictions are completely unjustified.

these restrictions are completely unjustified. and unfairly discriminate against our country and our southern african sister countries. tens of thousands of homes and businesses are still without electricity in the wake of storm arwen. four european countries agree to deploy a plane to patrol the french coast to help prevent migrants crossing the sea to britain. and sir frank williams — who created one the great formula one teams — has died aged 79. hello and welcome to bbc news. the uk vaccination programme should be expanded as a matter of �*urgency�* because of the new omicron variant of coronavirus. that's according to the health secretary, sajid javid, as a third case has now

been identified here. and there are expected to be more, with concerns that it may spread more easily and potentially evade current vaccines. ministers say they have acted swiftly — in england, mask—wearing in shops and on public transport will be a legal requirement once again — a change that will come into force on tuesday. here's our health correspondent, anna collinson. taking up a booster when eligible was always important — but since the emergence of the heavily mutated variant, is even more important. queues like this in slough could include people as young as 18, with a key government adviser saying the roll—out could be expanded sooner than planned. the government also announced new measures yesterday including making face masks compulsory in shops and on public transport in england as well as asking all uk arrivals to take a pcr test. everyone wants us to protect the progress we have made.

that is why we have acted very swiftly and i believe in a proportionate way with the news of this new variant. that includes the decision on thursday to red list six countries. we added four more countries to that list. a third omicron case has now been detected in the uk, along with two others confirmed in brentwood in essex at nottingham. it is feared there may be many more. to slow any spread, targeted testing is taking place at locations where cases have been found. however, for now, the government in england is not asking people to work from home again, something that was advised by sage and is already in place in scotland. we are already advising people to work at home wherever that is practical and possible. our advice on that hasn't changed in scotland in the way it has in recent months in england. it's not a political competition. i've said all along that my first and most important duty is to do

what ijudged to be correct and appropriate and proportionate to keep people in scotland are safe. there are many unknowns with this new variant, so over the coming weeks, scientists are going to answer some key questions such as, is it more transmissible? meaning does it spread more easily? does it cause more severe disease compared to other variants? and does it reduce the effectiveness of current covid vaccines and boosters? there is some potentially positive news which could help save christmas. the doctor who first spotted the new omicron variant in south africa said she found many patients who test positive displayed very mild symptoms, no cough, more tiredness. what we are seeing clinically in south africa and, remember, at the epicentre where i am practising is extremely mild. we haven't admitted anyone. i spoke to other colleagues of mine and it's the same picture. the government believes

vaccines will still work against the omicron variant. the us company moderna says it should know in the coming weeks and, if needed, a newjab could be available early in the new year. anna collinson, bbc news. the department of education has said that pupils in year 7 and above should wear masks in communal areas of schools in england from monday. headteachers were sent an email from the department earlier today. the rule will also apply to visitors and staff in communal areas. dr susan hopkins from the uk health security agency said they were currently trying to indentify contacts from the third indvidual to test positive for the omicron variant. we don't give out individual details. but we attempt to contact all individuals who are cases.

we don't give out individual case details, as you will be well aware of, but as always, we attempt to contact all individuals who are cases. some are more difficult to contact than others, potentially because of the numbers or details not being adequate for what we have been provided with. in this scenario we have made contact with that individual and have discussed his history and where he has been and visited in london. yesterday it was announced that the uk's first two known omicron cases were discovered in brentwood in essex and in nottingham. today, nottinghamshire county council's director of public health jonathan gribbin told the bbc that targeted testing for the variant will be taking place at a school in the area. we will be contacting parents of children at eight nottinghamshire school with a view to undertaking some targeted testing so we can better understand the spread of the omicron variant and also to make sure that we take all the available steps we possibly can to slow up that spread. but if you are asking

how concerned should people be about the omicron variant, i think they should just be concerned enough to make sure that they follow all of the government guidance that is in place at the moment. in association with that, we want to encourage everybody who is eligible for the booster vaccine to book themselves a booster vaccine to book themselves a booster vaccine to book themselves a booster vaccine as soon as possible. jonathan gribbin. members of a church congregation and customers and delivery workers at a kfc outlet are being told to get a pcr test after the omicron variant of covid was detected in brentwood. essex county council said it affected people who had visited kfc in brentwood high street between 1pm and 5pm on november 19th, and anyone who attended trinity church in pilgrims hatch on november 21st. the latest uk coronavirus figures have been released, showing 37,681 new infections in the latest 24—hour period. another 51 deaths were recorded —

that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on vaccinations, more than 17.5 million people have now had, a boosterjab. the president of south africa, cyril ramaphosa has hit out at countries, including the uk, who have placed travel bans on the country in the wake of the emergency of the omicron variant. in an address to the south african nation, mr ramaphosa ruled out imposing further restrictions for now and encouraged south africans to get their vaccines. speaking in the last hour, he demanded that the global community relaxed travel restrictions on south africa. these restrictions are completely unjustified and unfairly discriminate against our country and our southern african sister

countries. the prohibition of travel is not informed by science, nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of this variant. the only thing the prohibition on travel will do is to further damage the economies of the affected countries and undermine their ability to respond to and also to recover from the pandemic. we call upon these countries that have imposed travel bans on our country and our other southern african sister countries to immediately and urgently reverse their decisions and lift the bands they have imposed before any further damage is done and our economies and to the livelihoods of our people. there is no scientificjustification whatsoever for keeping these restrictions in place. we know that

this virus, like all viruses, does mutate and form new variants. we also know that the likelihood of the emergence of more severe forms of variants is increasing significantly where people are not vaccinated. that is why we have joined many countries and organisations and people around the world who have been fighting for equal access to vaccines for everyone. we have said that vaccine inequality not only costs lives and livelihoods, in those countries that are denied access, but that it also threatens global efforts to overcome the pandemic. in the netherlands, airport testing of passengers who had flown in from south africa has revealed more cases of the new variant. here, travel businesses are among those seeing an immediate impact from the changing rules. caroline davies reports. schiphol airport on friday night. 600 passengers from two

planes to south africa were disembarked and tested. now the dutch authorities have confirmed 13 people in this crowd did test positive for the omicron variant. those who tested negative were sent home. they include cathy hougaard, now back in the uk. she self isolating but feels she was put at risk. i'm shocked. i feel quite vulnerable. on the planes where social distancing is difficult. however, you are wearing a face mask, you are not allowed to walk up and down the plane, we were sanitising all the time. once we got to the airport, all of that went out the window. even the buses, the transport they put us on, was crammed full of people. why has that happened? the airport said it was a unique situation and they had done their best to make sure people were comfortable. others have also been affected by the variant. the cardiff rugby team and their support staff have been unable to leave south africa because of two positive covid cases in their group.

one is thought to be the omicron variant — they are now isolating at a hotel. around the world, travel restrictions are tightening. from this morning, quarantine hotels took guests again in the uk. switzerland has announced that uk rivals will need to isolate for ten days, be double vaccinated, and take a covid test. spain has said british travellers must be vaccinated to be allowed in. getting home has become increasingly complicated for some. middle east have cancelled most of the flights and you can't get back that way. there are some through europe. lots of european nations are trying to get back to their nations, too. to actually try and get out of south africa is very difficult. meanwhile, in the uk, although the restrictions are still limited, they are already having an impact. while christmas shoppers fill the streets, some are already changing their plans. one body for the hospitality industry said that they are already seeing cancelled reservations as fragile consumer confidence is knocked again. the travel industry is also

concerned that people won't make holiday bookings as long as the travel rules keep changing. the uncertainty about the variant and where it has spread is already making business uncertain, too. caroline davies, bbc news. (motor racing legend sir frank williams who founded and was team principal of williams racing, has died at the age of 79. the williams team announced his death this afternoon. sir frank marked 50 years as an f1 team boss in 2019, having run two teams in that time. let's talk to sirjackie stewart obe — a three—times formula one world champion. good to have you with us. thanks for joining us. that introduction, it feels like it does not do frank williams justice. feels like it does not do frank williamsjustice. he really was feels like it does not do frank williams justice. he really was a legend. and ijust wondered what your thoughts and memories are of him and this is a very sad day. he

was an him and this is a very sad day. he: was an incredible achievement. him and this is a very sad day. he was an incredible achievement. he started with little to no money in motor racing and in lesser formulas and had very good drivers in the lower classes and then, of course, he got into formula one. and he did that with great style and expertise, by which time he knew how to go and get money from people to make his motor racing pay. and he was the one who originally got from saudi arabia major sponsorship for the williams grand prix car. it was a relatively small factory to begin with but it ended up being one of the most beautiful facilities for motor racing in the world, as it still is today. in that very same place. frank created an enormous amount. he was a great bread. he had a wonderful sense of humour and we had great times together. i once ran out

of petrol near silverstone and he stopped to give me a lift to get some petrol and he neverforgave me for that! we had lots of fun together. he did not approve of the tartan trousers stop of course, i would never wear those, isaid if tartan trousers stop of course, i would never wear those, i said if we won the grand prix, would you wear the trousers? of course, because you will never win a grand prix. no, we did. and frank had to wear those tartan trousers! and it was sad that he was so ill at the end that, in a way, today he has passed away in peace. and for that, i think frank would appreciate that. a wonderful man, wonderfulfood british man, wonderful food british motorsport. man, wonderfulfood british motorsport. very proud of his knighthood and he correctly got the knighthood. and he brought alonso

many successful grand prix drivers to the very top and winning world championships. you to the very top and winning world championships.— to the very top and winning world championships. you mentioned his illness at the _ championships. you mentioned his illness at the end _ championships. you mentioned his illness at the end but _ championships. you mentioned his illness at the end but one - championships. you mentioned his illness at the end but one major. illness at the end but one major life defining moment was his car accident in 1986. i wonder, can you give us some sense of how he coped with those life—changing injuries? well, for many, many weeks he was unconscious. a great doctor, sid watkins, was looking after him. and more than once, he called me to see if i thought it was better for frank to slip away because he was in deep unconsciousness. i thought we cannot do that, we must keep trying. and watkins was the man who pulled him through, in the end. and he then corrected himself into such a fashion that he went back to formula one as a team principal. of course, with the paralysis completely, it

was an amazing manner that he went about his business. and everybody respected frank. he was safe as houses everywhere he went it. he was a great bread and he was very proud to be british and a great admirer of her majesty, the queen. that was his great statement at all time. frank will never be forgotten. he did so much for british motorsport, he carried that with such style. sadly, the road accident that caused his paralysis alonso forth, he overcame that in a fashion that i don't think i have ever seen anyone else take on. that challenge that he had. because he trulli was completely helpless, and away. and yet his mind was there. and he continued to show that off and have drivers winning world championships. it is extraordinary, _ world championships. it is extraordinary, but - world championships. it is extraordinary, but his - world championships. it is extraordinary, but his greatest successes came after that accident.

what does that tell us? it successes came after that accident. what does that tell us?— what does that tell us? it 'ust a . ain what does that tell us? it 'ust again shows i what does that tell us? it 'ust again shows you i what does that tell us? it 'ust again shows you the i what does that tell us? it just| again shows you the greatness what does that tell us? it just i again shows you the greatness of what does that tell us? it just - again shows you the greatness of the man. he had wonderful people around him, he had a wonderful designer who is still with us. and that relationship will last forever, for both of them. even in heaven. so frank had good friends. few friends, but good friends. he chose very carefully who he had friends with. but he was very good at racing money into motorsport, in a big way. it is a cut-throat _ into motorsport, in a big way. it is a cut—throat business, you know that. full of quite a lot of big egos. i wondered that. full of quite a lot of big egos. iwondered if that. full of quite a lot of big egos. i wondered if you could give me a little insight into what his style was in navigating some of those big personalities. modesty. he never saw himself _ those big personalities. modesty. he never saw himself as _ those big personalities. modesty. he never saw himself as a _ those big personalities. modesty. he never saw himself as a great - those big personalities. modesty. he never saw himself as a great man. i those big personalities. modesty. he| never saw himself as a great man. he always was modest. he was good with other people, very good in

motivating people, engineers alonso forth. so therefore, he had that skill and everybody believed him and everybody trusted him. that is the other thing. everybody trusted him. that is the otherthing. he everybody trusted him. that is the other thing. he chose good people and they stayed with him. many of the williams people are still in the team because of where frank brought them. so he brought people along, he built people. really, i think i cannot say enough for frank. frank wasjust one of cannot say enough for frank. frank was just one of those very special people. he was a great brit, he was proud of great britain and when he got his knighthood it was the greatest thing that ever could have happened in his life, it was wonderful and great that he got that great privilege. 5ir wonderful and great that he got that great privilege-— great privilege. sirjackie stewart, i'm still getting — great privilege. sirjackie stewart, i'm still getting my _ great privilege. sirjackie stewart, i'm still getting my head - great privilege. sirjackie stewart, i'm still getting my head around i great privilege. sirjackie stewart, l i'm still getting my head around you running out of petrol! be that as it may, thank you for sharing your thoughts and memories of frank williams. :, ~ thoughts and memories of frank williams. . ~ , :, thoughts and memories of frank williams. :, ~' , :, g thoughts and memories of frank williams. . ~ g ,

tens of thousands of homes and businesses in scotland and northern england are still without power in the wake of storm arwen — with some being warned they may not be reconnected "for several days". all schools in aberdeenshire will remains closed until wednesday at the earliest. parts of wales and the midlands have also been badly affected — storm arwen brought winds of over 90 mph. the damage caused was extensive. scottish power said it was the worst in many years — like here in lockerbie. trees were blown onto power lines. in the town of kintore in aberdeenshire, people are doing what they can to stay warm and fed. but they don't know when their electricity will be restored. we've had no power since friday night, when some big trees took down the cables beside our house. so we've got my 97—year—old dad, he's is in the village, so he's got power now, thankfully. but it doesn't look as though we'll

be getting any power any time soon. thousands of people in wales are also without power. carmarthenshire is one of the worst—affected areas, and attempts to resolve the problem resumed early this morning. we rely heavily on electric for everything in the household now. we can't even make a cup of tea. the simple things in life have been taken away from us. it's also been a struggle across parts of the north of england. you can't eat, you can't cook. you can't have a drink, you can't have a shower or anything. so we've just been surviving off the last bits of the hot water. and then we've had to sleep with all our clothes on because it's been so cold in the bedrooms. i can't even tell you how cold it is. here in east lothian, some are making the most of the winter weather and freezing temperatures. alexandra mackenzie, bbc news. we can now speak to steve pearson in tosside, north yorkshire. steve hasn't had any electricity

or water since friday... —— near skipton —— nearskipton in —— near skipton in north yorkshire. very good if you to spare the time to talk to us. how on earth are you managing? it to talk to us. how on earth are you managing?— managing? it is really tough. i live on a tiny village — managing? it is really tough. i live on a tiny village on _ managing? it is really tough. i live on a tiny village on the _ managing? it is really tough. i live on a tiny village on the yorkshire | on a tiny village on the yorkshire and lancashire border but the power went off around 10:45pm friday evening. we live on complex and to compound the loss of electricity, we get our water and the pumps are electrically powered so we have no water or power. it electrically powered so we have no water or power-— water or power. it has been difficult! — water or power. it has been difficult! how— water or power. it has been difficult! how are _ water or power. it has been difficult! how are you - water or power. it has been l difficult! how are you keeping water or power. it has been - difficult! how are you keeping warm and drinking?— and drinking? well, we are drinking bottled water. _ and drinking? well, we are drinking bottled water. but _ and drinking? well, we are drinking bottled water. but i _ and drinking? well, we are drinking bottled water. but i think _ and drinking? well, we are drinking bottled water. but i think the - and drinking? well, we are drinking bottled water. but i think the big i bottled water. but i think the big difficulty is keeping clean as well.

fortunately, it sounds funny, but fortunately i have a rainwater barrel so i have been using rainwater to flush the toilet and the washing. but that ice up this morning because the weather conditions were dreadful. end morning because the weather conditions were dreadful. and what about the temperatures? _ conditions were dreadful. and what about the temperatures? it - conditions were dreadful. and what about the temperatures? it has - conditions were dreadful. and what i about the temperatures? it has been snowing. i about the temperatures? it has been snowina. :, about the temperatures? it has been snowina. . , . .~' about the temperatures? it has been snowin.. :, , : , :, snowing. i have 'ust checked before i left the house — snowing. i have just checked before i left the house on _ snowing. i have just checked before i left the house on saturday! - snowing. i have just checked before i left the house on saturday! i'm . i left the house on saturday! i'm sat in my car to get one. in my kitchen and it is three degrees. we have not lost your sense of humour. evenif have not lost your sense of humour. even if you have lost and water. is there any sense of when you will be reconnected and what the problem is? according to the electricity website, it indicates that we should be back tomorrow around about four o'clock in the afternoon. {l3h

be back tomorrow around about four o'clock in the afternoon.— o'clock in the afternoon. 0k. 3 or 4 da s. it o'clock in the afternoon. 0k. 3 or 4 days- it is — o'clock in the afternoon. 0k. 3 or 4 days- it is a — o'clock in the afternoon. 0k. 3 or 4 days- it is a long — o'clock in the afternoon. 0k. 3 or 4 days. it is a long time _ o'clock in the afternoon. 0k. 3 or 4 days. it is a long time but - o'clock in the afternoon. 0k. 3 or 4 days. it is a long time but from - o'clock in the afternoon. 0k. 3 or 4 days. it is a long time but from the j days. it is a long time but from the side of things you are in pretty good spirits, is that fair? you've not to good spirits, is that fair? you've got to be- _ good spirits, is that fair? you've got to be- one _ good spirits, is that fair? you've got to be. one of— good spirits, is that fair? you've got to be. one of our— good spirits, is that fair? you've got to be. one of our issues - good spirits, is that fair? you've| got to be. one of our issues that good spirits, is that fair? you've - got to be. one of our issues that we have got is that our electricity builds come from the south, we live on a residential park home side. we won't be entitled to any compensation because our metres around by the south. so north west electric will only pay the south owners. it is an anomaly of living here, i'm afraid. it owners. it is an anomaly of living here, i'm afraid.— owners. it is an anomaly of living here, i'm afraid. it sounds like you have a lot — here, i'm afraid. it sounds like you have a lotto _ here, i'm afraid. it sounds like you have a lot to sort _ here, i'm afraid. it sounds like you have a lot to sort out. _ here, i'm afraid. it sounds like you have a lot to sort out. thanks - here, i'm afraid. it sounds like you| have a lot to sort out. thanks again for talking to us on bbc news. good luck, steve pearson. no thanks very much. goodbye. the eu border agency is to deploy a plane over

the english channel from wednesday, to detect migrants attempting to cross to the uk in small boats. the decision was announced after immigration ministers from france, germany, the netherlands and belgium have held crisis talks this afternoon — to try and find a solution to the growing number of migrants crossing the channel in small boats — after 27 people died this week. the uk was told not to attend after french anger over borisjohnson's response to the crisis. our paris correspondent lucy williamson reports. it's usually migrants arriving in europe that prompts this kind of meeting. today was triggered by migrants who are leaving the eu. 27 people died in the channel on wednesday trying to reach the uk. opening the meeting, france's interior minister called for a common fight against people smugglers. he was also heard admitting that the relationship with the uk was "not easy" but it's

necessary, he said, "our geography means we have to get along with our british friends." there was one glaring absence from this meeting, the home secretary had her invitation revoked, after president emmanuel macron said the british government wasn't serious. he was reacting to a letter published on twitter by borisjohnson calling forjoint patrols with french forces and the ability to send migrants straight back to france. after the meeting, france's interior minister had this to say. translation: this meeting wasn't anti-english, it was l pro—european, and we must work with our british friends. france says it's now a front—line state for the eu when it comes to migration. people smuggling networks are known to operate across borders here and the government says more than half the people camped in calais have come from belgium. in rome today, pope francis expressed his sadness

at the deaths this week and urged governments to keep talking. translation: i renew my heartfelt appeal to those who can help - resolve these problems, especially civilian and military authorities, so that understanding and dialogue can prevail over exploitation and so that they direct their efforts toward solutions that respect the humanity of these people. in folkestone, people gathered to remember those who died on the narrow strip of sea that separates them from france. british politicians like to say, during brexit negotiations, that the uk wasn't leaving europe, just leaving the eu. what that distinction means for managing cross—channel migration is still being hammered out. lucy williamson, bbc news, calais. us fashion designer, virgil abloh, the artistic director of louis vuitton's menswear collection, has died of cancer aged a1.

a statement from his family on his instagram page described him as a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. it added... " for over two years, virgil valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma. "he chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis "in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, "all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art and culture." now it's time for a look at the weather with alina jenkins. hello, we've had an area of rain, sleet and snow moving its way southwards through scotland and england today. clearing away from the south coast through this evening, we'll keep a few wintry showers going along some eastern coasts but for many, clear skies that's going to lead to frost and ice before cloud pushes back in to the north and west of scotland and northern ireland later in the night, also bringing

some outbreaks of rain. but for many it's going to be a frosty night as temperatures drop at or below zero, “i! or —5 celsius for some rural parts of scotland and northern england. bit of a mix tomorrow, we have these frontal systems pushing into scotland bringing some outbreaks of rain, may be some snow over higher ground. cloud increasing across northern ireland, some patchy rain here, could see some rain into northern england through the afternoon. further south it stays dry, best of the sunshine in a line say from east anglia to dorset, but a cold feeling day here and starting to feel less cold the further north and west you are. actually, it'll be briefly milder for all of us on tuesday. doesn't last long, turns colder from midweek and also some wet and windy weather to come, too. bye— bye.

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