this is bbc news — the headlines at eight. 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 seven 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 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 1 teams — has died aged 79. hello and welcome to bbc news. a third case of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus, linked to travel from southern africa, has been detected in the uk. the health security agency said the person was no longer in britain,

but they had stayed in central london, where targeted testing was now being carried out. the health secretary, sajid javid, has tonight said the uk vaccination programme should be expanded as a matter of "urgency". 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.

dr susan hopkins from the uk health security agency said they were currently trying to indentify contacts of 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 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 one and 5:00pm on november 19th, and anyone who attended trinity church in pilgrims hatch on november 21st. our political correspondent, iain watson, is here. a lot going on, and a lot changing, actually, hour—by—hour, let us talk the politics though, what do you make of the judgment that the government is making, here and now as of sunday evening. what the government would say is they are acting very swiftly to deal with this, they are one of the first countries to reinstitute the red list, to start banning flight, it is interesting from what was happening, perhaps that variant has been here longer than we might have imagined

so there are concerns about how widespread it will be. there is no firm idea how quickly to spread, so what the government are saying is the measures they are taking are targeted, the kind of measures that will slow the spread of the new variant. i think the difficulty though, is because we don't yet know, just how infectious it will be is whether those measures are the right, they are swift measures but are they comprehensive enough? so what some the political points are saying is they are questioning whether they should be doing more of plan b, thing they had in their back pocket including advice to work from home. that already exists under the snp government in scotland. labour are saying it should happen here, the last month the government's own scientific adviser sage said this was the single individual step that you could take, biggest individual step you could take, effectively to stop transmission. now, sajid javid was asked why he wasn't doing this

and he cited concerns about the economy. he doesn't want to go anywhere near lockdown. other people are saying because the cases are still relatively low, then that means that the judgment is correct at the moment, because telling everyone to work from home is advice, it would ben't be an instruction but telling everyone to work from home may seem an overreaction but there is a political riskiness, because the new measures are getting reviewed a week before christmas, if those, at that stage, have to be extended rather than wound down we have a whole range of political points ready to say we told you so. so from a political point of view, how fine a line is the government having to tread between those who favour tougher restrictions and those who don't? ~ . ., , tougher restrictions and those who don't? ~ . . , ..,, tougher restrictions and those who don't? ~ . . , , .,, don't? well certainly the case, as ou don't? well certainly the case, as you know. _ don't? well certainly the case, as you know. a _ don't? well certainly the case, as you know, a range _ don't? well certainly the case, as you know, a range of— don't? well certainly the case, as you know, a range of mps - don't? well certainly the case, as you know, a range of mps in - don't? well certainly the case, as| you know, a range of mps in boris johnson's party who have been pretty sceptical about the imposition of

some the restrictions or how long they previously lasted. and some of those mps are i there been in touch with and they are concerned about what will happen next, so these regulations will come in on tuesday. in england. they won't be a vote immediately, and there can be a vote, as long as 28 days away, so at the moment there is some concerns they are not necessarily going to get this quickly enough on what is happening and they want the government to come to the house of commons quickly, there is concerns about some the measures themselves, one was saying we could be back to a pingdemic if you are going to people to self—isolate. those cases go up, that could hit the economy, so they are worried about the self—isolation aspect and some are worried about mask wearing or face coverings, this was announced on saturday, what wasn't is this would apply to secondary schools and common areas, that only became available today,

there are some primary schools now, who are just voluntarily telling people who visit to wear a mask, so there is a feeling among some mps of restlessliness, we are on a slippery slope to restrictions rather than a three week period until we know better how the virus is behaving. briefly, but a final thought. in england, we have to wear face coverings in shops and public transport. transport. lit will be a legal requirement on tuesday. why not immediately? it legal requirement on tuesday. why not immediately?— legal requirement on tuesday. why not immediately? it couldn't happen because of parliamentary _ not immediately? it couldn't happen because of parliamentary process, l because of parliamentary process, what the prime minister was keen to do, because partly he was criticised for acting late in the face of the delta variant, was to say he is acting swiftly this time to give people a clear idea the government was taking action, the regulations have to be laid in parliament, that happens tomorrow and they come into force at 4am the following day, there is a subsequent vote by mp, but it has to be done legally because so many restrictions were lifted back in the summer. understood. iain watson. thank you.

the department of education has said that pupils in year seven 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 mary bousted is the joint general secretary at the national education union. good evening to you. good evening to you. good evening. d0 good evening to you. good evening. good evening to you. good evenina. i. _, good evening to you. good evenina. ,, _, , good evening. do you welcome this news, good evening. do you welcome this news. from — good evening. do you welcome this news. from the _ good evening. do you welcome this news, from the government? - good evening. do you welcome this news, from the government? yes, | good evening. do you welcome this i news, from the government? yes, we do. we do welcome _ news, from the government? yes, we do. we do welcome the _ news, from the government? yes, we do. we do welcome the fact _ news, from the government? yes, we do. we do welcome the fact that - news, from the government? yes, we| do. we do welcome the fact that mask wearing is being reintroduced in communal areas and for adults as well, in primary schools, when adults are meeting, they will be wearing masks we do wish the government had gone further and in secondary schools mandated mask wearing in classroom as well, because those are communal areas and

there are areas where they are often crowded and where people pupils and teachers and staff spend most time. what about in primary schools? we. what about in primary schools? we, we understand. _ what about in primary schools? , we understand, from the old variant, that transmission in secondary is stronger, you know, secondary age children transmit more and there are more difficulties with primary schools, because it is quite a discipline to be able to wear a mask all the time. we do know that some primary schools are saying mask wearing in year six, primary schools are saying mask wearing in yearsix, and primary schools are saying mask wearing in year six, and the children seem to be able to do that, but we do think that that needs to be looked at, but certainly, it was the case in secondary that year seven, children age 11 and above wore masks and we think that that is a sensible move to be reintroduced at this time as well. you a sensible move to be reintroduced at this time as well.— at this time as well. you did su: est at this time as well. you did suggest at _ at this time as well. you did suggest at the _ at this time as well. you did suggest at the beginning - at this time as well. you did | suggest at the beginning you at this time as well. you did - suggest at the beginning you wished that the government had gone further, i suppose, that the government had gone further, isuppose, the that the government had gone further, i suppose, the government is making judgments, isn't it, the

overwhelming message about this new variant is at the moment we don't know, we don't know how transmissionable it is. how severe it is in terms of the outcomes of infection, we don't know how effective the vaccines are against it. i suppose in the light o what of what we don't know isn't what the government has done prisoner of war nat. , ., ,,~ , government has done prisoner of war nat. , ., , _, nat. only that the sage committee has said in the _ nat. only that the sage committee has said in the light _ nat. only that the sage committee has said in the light of _ nat. only that the sage committee has said in the light of the - nat. only that the sage committee has said in the light of the new- has said in the light of the new varianting go in hard, go in fast, and do what is, and that is the lesson we have had to learn from the previous waves of the virus, that if you, delay the necessary measures, then the new variant takes hold, like the delta variant did. new variants will take hold any way, but what you are trying to do but introducing measures is slow the rate of transmission so the hospitals aren't overwhelmed, so something like, in secondary schools wearing a mask in a classroom, that isn't a big, that is not a big

drawback, and if that means that fewer teenagers get this variant, which we understand to be highly trap missable. if they get it or a close contact of a pupil with this variant, this new variant, then they have to isolate for ten day, that is going to be incredibly disruptive to schooling, so surely, the best thing, we know that masks, suppress transmission of the virus, we know they are is second most effective way of suppressing transmission, so surely, if we want to keep children in school, if we want to keep teachers teaching them, we should take the necessary measures to actually achieve and secure and sustain schooling, we also need much better ventilation in schools as well, and that is something we have been calling for for a long time and for which the government's response has been inadequate. but my point is this, if you don't take the

necessary measures, and you don't take them in a timely fashion you will end up with more children art off school, far more teachers having to isolate at home, and that will be far more disruptive to education. so do the right thing, at the right time and do it in a timely fashion. we must leave it there. thank you. meanwhile, the president of south africa, cyril ramaphosa has hit out at countries, including the uk who have placed the country on the international red list 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 his country. 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 recoverfrom 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. 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 — alexandra mackenzie reports. 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. 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. sir frank williams, the founder of the williams formula i team, has died at the age of 79. during his time the team won nine constructors' championships and seven drivers�* titles — and dominated much of the 1980s and 1990s. lizzie greenwood hughes

looks back at his life. in a sport so dominated by global big business, frank williams made formula i a family affair. the former salesman was a pioneer, building up his motor racing team from nothing, starting in an empty carpet warehouse in oxfordshire and going on to become the best in the world. seven wins for frank williams�* team. up to the chequered flag and passed it goes alanjones. i have had a wonderful life, i wouldn't change anything, truthfully. an exciting business with something to worry about. which can be quite healthy, actually. it's been very good to me. in total, williams racing won 9 constructors world titles and seven drivers titles. mansell finishes and he is world champion. and damon hill wins the japanese grand prix and i have got to stop, because i have got a lump in my throat.

his achievements are all the more incredible, considering many of those victories came after he sustained a serious spinal injury in 1986. an inconvenience, he called it. ayrton senna was the driver williams idolised and his tragic death while driving for him at something the family described as heartbreaking. the williams family eventually bowed out of the sport last year, but the team which bears his name and to which he dedicated his life lives on. frank williams, who has died at the age of 79. sirjackie stewart obe is a three times formula 1 world champion, and knew sir frank williams. he shared some of his memories with me earlier this evening. he'd a wonderful sense of humour, we had great times together. i once ran out of petrol near silverstone, it was he who stopped

to give me a lift to get some petrol, and he never forgave me for it. so we had lots of fun together. he didn't approve of the stewart tartan trousers, and he said that "of course i would never wear those," and i said, "if we won a grand prix, frank, would you wear the trousers?" "of course, because you'll never win a grand prix, stewart grand prix." well, we did win a grand prix and frank had to wear the tartan trousers. he was a friend to the end, and it was sad that he was so ill at the end, that in a way, today he's passed away in peace, and for that i think frank would appreciate that. he was a wonderful man, wonderful for british motor sport, very proud of his knighthood, and correctly he got a nice knighthood, and he brought along so many successful grand prix drivers. let's talk to will buxton,

motorsport broadcaster. he was such an influential figure in formula one, wasn't he, what are your chief thoughts this evening at this very sad news? it is your chief thoughts this evening at this very sad news?— this very sad news? it is lovely, heafina this very sad news? it is lovely, hearing sir— this very sad news? it is lovely, hearing sirjackie _ this very sad news? it is lovely, hearing sirjackie stewart's - hearing sirjackie stewart's recollections of a man who has been described in so many ways over the past few hour, someone who was brave, tenacious, courageous, he was respected, revered and loved throughout the sport, it is funny i read a tweet a few moments ago before i came on air, which said, a goal without a plan isjust before i came on air, which said, a goal without a plan is just a wish, and frank was somebody who lived his life trying to achieve his wish, his dream, he was one of life's great dreamers and he achieved it despite everything that was thrown in his path with just dogged determination and tenacity, somebody who is part of the fabric of the history and the future, of formula one and how it

will be remembered. one of the all—time greats of the sport, italy has enzo ferrari and it is no exaggerate to say for british motor sport, you know, sir frank williams is that important. it is sport, you know, sir frank williams is that important.— is that important. it is worth you reminding _ is that important. it is worth you reminding us— is that important. it is worth you reminding us how _ is that important. it is worth you reminding us how he _ is that important. it is worth you reminding us how he started - is that important. it is worth you j reminding us how he started off. is that important. it is worth you i reminding us how he started off. it was humble beginnings. irate reminding us how he started off. it was humble beginnings.— reminding us how he started off. it was humble beginnings. we think of formula one — was humble beginnings. we think of formula one as _ was humble beginnings. we think of formula one as a _ was humble beginnings. we think of formula one as a big _ was humble beginnings. we think of formula one as a big megabucks . was humble beginnings. we think of l formula one as a big megabucks start but frank williams didn't come from money, he sold tins of cap bell�*s soup and groceries to make his way first as a racing driver, he didn't achieve that, he was too arms and elbows but as a team owner, as a team boss, where he found his feet, really found his way, he, he was working out of an old carpet factory, he had to take calls from a phone box because the phone company cut off his phone line because he couldn't afford the bill, he used borrow money from bernie ecclestone,

repay it and ask if he could borrow more, franc was one of life i'm dreamers of who fought to achieve his goal an to stay in this thing he loved, which was motor racing and it was his, the the thing that drove him. michael schumacher said it was his elixir, what kept him going and pushing on and you know, williams grand prix engineering is a team, which is second in the all time list of team titles only ferrari has more this dream, that this incredible fighter and champion had, is something i think we can all aspire towards, to live one's dreams and to allow it to push us, for all our lives as it did for him. irate allow it to push us, for all our lives as it did for him. we have very little _ lives as it did for him. we have very little time, _ lives as it did for him. we have very little time, i— lives as it did for him. we have very little time, i want - lives as it did for him. we have very little time, i want to - lives as it did for him. we have very little time, i want to ask. lives as it did for him. we have i very little time, i want to ask you briefly, what will his legacy be, was it a leader, inknow vasetor, engineer?— was it a leader, inknow vasetor, enaineer? ., ., ., ~ ., engineer? -- innovator. all of the above. i don't _ engineer? -- innovator. all of the above. i don't think _ engineer? -- innovator. all of the above. i don't think it _

engineer? -- innovator. all of the above. i don't think it is _ above. i don't think it is an exaggeration to say that formula one as a sport and probably british engineering, you in other, as an enterprise would be as it is not have the path it does or the future it does without the influence of sir frank william, he is one of the great briton, the sions of our sport, and, just, a legend, and and icon who will be sorely missed. goad icon who will be sorely missed. good to have you — icon who will be sorely missed. good to have you with _ icon who will be sorely missed. good to have you with us, _ icon who will be sorely missed. good to have you with us, will. _ icon who will be sorely missed. good to have you with us, will. thank you. us fashion designer virgil abloh, the artistic director of louis vuitton's menswear collection, has died from cancer at the age of a1. 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.