this is bbc news. lam i am clive myrie. the headlines: covid boosterjabs will be offered to all adults over the age of 18, to combat the omicron variant, and the gap between second and third jabs is to be reduced. children aged 12 to 15 can get a second covid jab, while the clinically vulnerable will be offered a fourth. scientific advisers say the new measures are crucial, while more data about omicron is gathered. it may be that the vaccines that we have at the moment may be less good than against the current circulating delta variant. a total of 11 cases of the new variant have now been discovered in the uk, with the health secretary saying the government's tighter covid rules buy time. if it emerges that this variant

is no more dangerous than the delta variant, then we won't keep measures in place for a day longer than necessary. in other news, more than 60,000 homes in scotland and the north—east of england still have no power, after storm arwen. the commons standards committee is calling for mps to be banned from providing paid parliamentary advice. its report follows concerns about lobbying and second jobs. the british socialite ghislaine maxwell, a close associate of the convicted paedophile jeffrey epstein, goes on trial in new york for alleged sex trafficking. and barbados prepares to remove the queen as its head of state, to become the world's newest republic.

good afternoon. the uk now has 11 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus variant, 0micron, with five in england and six in scotland. as efforts increase to combat its spread, the government has announced big changes to the uk's vaccination programme. all those aged 18 to 39 will now be offered a booster vaccine. the gap between the second dose and the booster will be reduced from six to three months. children aged 12 to 15 will also be invited for a second dose, three months after first. those who are severely immuno—compromised will be offered a fourth dose of a vaccine. it's not yet clear how effective existing vaccines will be against the new variant, but scientists think they'll still protect against severe disease. and from tomorrow, face coverings in england will be compulsory in shops and on public transport, while travellers returning to the uk

must take a pcr test. in a downing street press conference, england's deputy chief medical officer, professorjonathan van—tam, said there were many things that we don't know yet about 0micron but that it was the number of mutations on the variant which made it worrying. it's always been the case that at some point — we've always said it — we are going to get a variant that gives us heightened concern. we are at that moment with 0micron. it is the new kid on the block for now, and i think it's true to say that scientists around the world, notjust in the uk, unfortunately agree that this one is of increased concern. 0n the effects of the new variant and how well vaccine effectiveness will hold up, here, i want to be clear this is not all doom—and—gloom at this stage. and i do not want people

to panic at this stage. if vaccine effectiveness is reduced, as seems pretty likely, to some extent, the biggest effects are likely to be in preventing infections, and hopefully there will be smaller effects on preventing severe disease. professorjonathan professor jonathan van tam. professorjonathan van tam. we are going to take you straight over to washington, were president biden is giving an update on covid—19 for select listen in. giving an update on covid-19 for select listen in.— giving an update on covid-19 for select listen in. look, we are going to fiuht select listen in. look, we are going to fight and — select listen in. look, we are going to fight and beat _ select listen in. look, we are going to fight and beat this _ select listen in. look, we are going to fight and beat this new- select listen in. look, we are going to fight and beat this new variant i to fight and beat this new variant as well. we are learning more about this new variant every single day, and as we learn more, we are going to share that information with the american people candidly and promptly. second, the best protection — i know you are tired of hearing me say this— against this new variant or any of the variance out there, the ones we've been dealing with already, is getting

fully vaccinated and getting a booster shot. most americans are fully vaccinated, but not yet boosted. if you're 18 years or over, and got fully vaccinated before june the 1st, go get the booster shot today. they are free, and they are available at 80,000 locations coast—to—coast. a fully vaccinated booster person is the most protected against covid. do not wait, go get your booster if it is time for you to do so. and if you are not vaccinated, now is the time to get vaccinated, now is the time to get vaccinated and take your children to be vaccinated. every child aged five or older can get safe and effective vaccines now. while it will be a few weeks before we know everything we need to know about how strong the existing vaccines protect against new variant, dr fauci is with me today, our medical team, and believe that the vaccines will continue to

provide a degree of protection against severe disease. and as additional protections, please wear your mask when you're indoors, in public settings around other people. it protects you, protect those around you. third, in the event, hopefully unlikely, that vaccinations or boosters are needed to respond to this new variant, we will accelerate their development and deployment with every available tool. i want to reiterate dr fauci believes that the current vaccines provide at least some protection against the new variant and the booster strengthens that protections and evidently. we do not yet believe additional measures will be needed, but so that we are prepared if needed, my team has already worked with officials at pfizer and moderna and johnson &johnson to develop contingency plans for vaccines or boosters if needed. and i will also

direct the fda and cdc to use the fastest process available, without cutting any corners, for safety, to get such vaccines approved and on the market, if needed, and we will do that the same way any modifications are needed for current treatments, use to help those to get ill with the covid virus. look, i am sparing no efforts and removing all roadblocks to keep the american people safe. all of this is confusing to a lot of people but if it is confusing to you, let me close with this simple message. if you are vaccinated, but still worried about the new variant, get your booster. if you are not vaccinated, get that shot, go get that first shot. my team at the white house provide me with daily updates this week, and thursday, i will be putting forward a detailed strategy outlining how we are unified covid this winter, not with shutdowns or lockdowns but with

more widespread vaccinations, boosters, testing and more. i promised every american that there would be always but it is vaccines available in the booster shots available in the booster shots available to them and for free, and everywhere available. every single american, free of charge, and i will keep that commitment. we need to do more than vaccinated americans. to be depend on that, we have to vaccinate the world as well, and america is leading that effort. we have shipped for free more vaccines to other countries than all other countries in the world combined, over 275 million vaccines. now we need the rest of the world to step up need the rest of the world to step up as well. let me be clear. not a single vaccine shot americans ever sent to the rest of the world will ever come at the expense of any american. i will always make sure that our people are protected first.

but vaccinating the world is just one more tool in how we need to meet our moral obligation as americans and how to best protect america as well. the delta variant and now the 0micron areas all immersed elsewhere in the world, so we cannot let that “p in the world, so we cannot let that up until all the world is vaccinated. we are protecting americans by doing that as well. as we is new this effort, let's remember we stand. we are in a very different place as we enter the month of december, this month, compared to where we were last christmas. less christmas, 1% of adults were vaccinated. this christmas, the number will be over 71%, including more than 86% of seniors. last christmas, our children read risk without a vaccine for some this christmas, we have safe and effective vaccine for children aged five and older with more than 19 million children and

counting of vaccinated. last year, the majority of schools were closed, this year, 99% of our schools are open. let me redirect once more, we also now have booster shots that provide extra protections, they are free and convenient, there is still time to get your first two shots or your booster shot or get your children vaccinated before christmas, all three are available and can be done before christmas. if you and your family and can be done before christmas. if you and yourfamily are and can be done before christmas. if you and your family are fully vaccinated, you can celebrate the holidays much more safely. and given where we were last year, that is a blessing. none of it should take for granted. we are throwing everything at this virus, tracking and from every angle, and that is what we have to keep doing. that is how we reopen our country, reopen our businesses, reopen our schools, reopen our country, reopen our businesses, reopen ourschools, how even with the pandemic we have generated a record job creation and record economic growth in this

country. we have moved forward in the face of covid—19, we have moved forward in the face of the delta variant and we will move forward now in the face of the 0micron variant as well. thank you, may god bless our troops and i hope you all have... i will be speaking before than, but a merry christmas as we approach it. questions?— approach it. questions? president biden there. _ approach it. questions? president biden there, about _ approach it. questions? president biden there, about to _ approach it. questions? president biden there, about to take - approach it. questions? president i biden there, about to take questions from the assembled press, but a brief summary of what he was saying there, in washington. he said the 0micron variant is a cause for concern not a cause for panic. he made it clear that the best protection is getting fully vaccinated and getting a booster jab. he said the american government was sparing no effort to keep people safe and he said, on thursday, he would give a detailed strategy on how the government would protect the

american people against covid over the coming winter months, but he made it clear he did not believe that those measures would include fresh lockdowns so we little bit like here in the uk, the focus is going to be on vaccinations and boosterjabs —— so he little bit like here. not only dealing with the delta variant but the new variant, 0micron, that is now beginning, it seems, to circulate, community transmission, at least here in the uk. meanwhile, health secretary sajid javid has been speaking in the house of commons. we're learning more about this new variant all the time. but the latest indication is that it spreads very rapidly. it may impact the effectiveness of one of our major treatments for covid—19, ronapreve. and as the chief medical officer said this weekend, there is a reasonable chance that our current vaccines may be impacted. i can update the house that there have now been five confirmed cases in england and also

six confirmed cases in scotland and we expect cases to rise over the coming days. the new variant has also been spreading across the world. confirmed cases have been reported in many countries, including austria, belgium, the czech republic, denmark, germany, italy, the netherlands, and portugal. in this race between the vaccines and the virus, the new variant may have given the virus extra legs. the shadow secretary of state for health, jonathan ashworth, was absent from the commons today as he is self—isolating — having tested positive for covid. in his place, labour's shadow health minister, rosina allin—khan, said the government should go further on tightening up the rules on face coverings. we support the decision to introduce masks _ we support the decision to introduce masks on _ we support the decision to introduce masks on public transport and in sh0ps, _ masks on public transport and in sh0ps, but— masks on public transport and in shops, but we believe this should

never_ shops, but we believe this should never have — shops, but we believe this should never have been abandoned in the first place — never have been abandoned in the first place. keeping masks in place would _ first place. keeping masks in place would always have been our plan a. will the _ would always have been our plan a. will the secretary of state extend the use _ will the secretary of state extend the use of masks to hospitality and other— the use of masks to hospitality and other settings? 0r the use of masks to hospitality and other settings? or does covid not spread _ other settings? or does covid not spread in — other settings? or does covid not spread in pubs? rosina allin—khan there, standing in forjonathan ashworth on the labour benches. the latest government coronavirus figures for the uk have been published. more than 42,500 new cases have been recorded over the latest 24—hour period and there have been a further 35 deaths. that's those who've died within 28 days of a positive test result. almost 18 million people in the uk have now had a third dose or booster of a coronavirus vaccine. 0ur health correspondent nick trigglejoins me now. interesting, listening tojoe biden there, a tactic is the same — use boosterjabs there, a tactic is the same — use

booster jabs and there, a tactic is the same — use boosterjabs and use vaccine to combat this new variant, even though at this stage it is not 100% clear whether they will work. concerned about this new _ whether they will work. concerned about this new variant _ whether they will work. concerned about this new variant is _ whether they will work. concerned about this new variant is that - whether they will work. concerned about this new variant is that the i about this new variant is that the mutations that had been seen will allow it to get around some of the bodies defences that have been built up bodies defences that have been built up by bodies defences that have been built up by the vaccine, but what the booster does, it's never can the increases the room immune response and hope is that it would counter any of the advantages —— it significant increases. that is why in the uk, as in the us, we have seena big in the uk, as in the us, we have seen a big emphasis on people coming forward for their boosters. this afternoon it was announced it would be extended to all over 18, currently only over a0 have been eligible for the booster, and the gap, the minimum gap between the second and booster dose has been shortened from six months to three months. as well as that 12—15 —year—olds will be offered the

second dose three months after the first. currently, they had only been offered one dose, but of course the nhs now has to deliver and that will be quite a challenge. at the moment, they're doing around 2.8 million booster doses a week of end of that rate, it would take three months to do the eligible population, so the nhs is looking at how it can increase that and get people boosted as quickly as possible. fibre. increase that and get people boosted as quickly as possible.— as quickly as possible. sure. 0k, nick, thank _ as quickly as possible. sure. 0k, nick, thank you _ as quickly as possible. sure. 0k, nick, thank you for _ as quickly as possible. sure. 0k, nick, thank you for that. - as quickly as possible. sure. 0k, nick, thank you for that. nick - nick, thank you for that. nick triggle there. professorjeremy brown, member of thejcvi and professor of respiratory infection at university college london, joins me now. hello to you. thanks very much indeed for being with us. it is clear the strategy, as we just had president biden there speaking there in washington, the key to at the moment at any rate with the information that we have, the key to dealing with 0micron is to get that vaccine and get boosterjabs. yes, vaccine and get booster 'abs. yes, that's the case. h vaccine and get booster 'abs. yes, that's the case. we _ vaccine and get boosterjabs. yes, that's the case. we know - vaccine and get boosterjabs. yes

that's the case. we know that from the previous variance, even the variance that have been slightly immune to the vaccine can be protected against when you boost immunity high enough, so the idea is to get everybody�*s antibody levels “p to get everybody�*s antibody levels up high, to prevent the 0micron variant from evading what we have inouye vaccine immunity at the moment to. inouye vaccine immunity at the moment te— inouye vaccine immunity at the moment to-_ moment to. and for those particularly _ moment to. and for those particularly compromise, l moment to. and for those | particularly compromise, a moment to. and for those - particularly compromise, a fourth doseis particularly compromise, a fourth dose is now being recommended, yeah? —— for securely compromise to. this -- for securely compromise to. this is difficult. — -- for securely compromise to. this is difficult, because _ —— for securely compromise to. ti 3 is difficult, because we know —— for securely compromise to. ti 1 is difficult, because we know those people have quite a poor response to vaccine and can get infected and the infection can cause quite unpleasant disease and also death in these circumstances, so we are trying the best we can do to protect the immunosuppressed from potential risk of getting the new variant. can immunosuppressed from potential risk of getting the new variant.— of getting the new variant. can you guarantee. — of getting the new variant. can you guarantee. can _ of getting the new variant. can you guarantee, can anyone _ of getting the new variant. can you guarantee, can anyone guarantee, | guarantee, can anyone guarantee, that if you do get all your booster jabs, if you are vaccinated in a

timely manner, that 0micron is not as much of a danger as it might have been? the fact is, really, we don't know enough about this new variant, do we? ., ., �* ., do we? know, we don't, and the crucial information _ do we? know, we don't, and the crucial information about - do we? know, we don't, and the| crucial information about whether people's immune response to the vaccine can recognise this virus or... i am sure it will recognise the virus, it is a degree of whether it is impaired compared to the delta variant. that is the information we need and won't be coming through for two weeks, but it is also pretty clear if you are vaccinated, you're in a better position than if were not, so it is still a good idea to get vaccinated in the booster dose will boost the immune response to such a high level, we hope you would overcome any inherent ability of this new variant to escape vaccine immunity. this new variant to escape vaccine immuni . _, this new variant to escape vaccine immuni . ,., ., , , this new variant to escape vaccine immuni . ., , , , , immunity. got that, but it is pretty clear, immunity. got that, but it is pretty clear. isn't — immunity. got that, but it is pretty clear. isn't it. _ immunity. got that, but it is pretty clear, isn't it, that _ immunity. got that, but it is pretty clear, isn't it, that we've _ immunity. got that, but it is pretty clear, isn't it, that we've got - clear, isn't it, that we've got community transmission of 0micron in

the uk? i community transmission of omicron in the uk? ., ., , ., ., the uk? i am not up to date, so i'm afraid i the uk? i am not up to date, so i'm afraid i cannot _ the uk? i am not up to date, so i'm afraid i cannot answer _ the uk? i am not up to date, so i'mj afraid i cannot answer the question. 0k, afraid i cannot answer the question. ok, when do you think we might all have a better sense of the potency of 0micron? and how it is operating within the community? of omicron? and how it is operating within the community?— of omicron? and how it is operating within the community? yeah, so the immunity data. _ within the community? yeah, so the immunity data, how— within the community? yeah, so the immunity data, how difficult - within the community? yeah, so the immunity data, how difficult this - immunity data, how difficult this variant may be for our existing vaccine immunity, you know in a couple of weeks. how micron affects people, clinically, whether it causes mild infection or severe infection, whether it might cause more severe infection in younger people, more readily than the previous variance, we will not know until there's been a few weeks of data of the virus spreading in a country unable to monitor what is

happening —— how 0ma krohn affects people. we will have to see how it affects south africa, as they are a bit ahead of us, i suppose we will know in a few weeks. we ahead of us, i suppose we will know in a few weeke— in a few weeks. we will leave it there. professor _ in a few weeks. we will leave it there. professorjeremy - in a few weeks. we will leave it | there. professorjeremy brown, thank you forjoining us. as we've been hearing, six cases of the 0micron coronavirus variant have now been identified in scotland. first minister nicola sturgeon said she's expecting there to be more cases. and she stressed that everyone needs to continue taking precautions. firstly, get vaccinated. it is the single most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and each other. secondly, test for covid regularly. as i said, we will be increasing testing in areas where the new variant has been identified, but for all of us, whenever we are, even if we are feeling fine, regular lateral flow testing is a really important way of finding out if we might have the virus. 0ur correspondent nick eardley told us more about the situation in scotland. one of the things that's worrying

some here in the scottish government is that a couple of the cases are linked to people who have not travelled abroad, don't have any contact with southern africa, so it seems that community transmission in scotland is under way. as you've been covering all afternoon, there are big unanswered questions about the impact of the new variant, about whether it makes people more ill, whether it can evade the vaccine, but certainly the message from nicola sturgeon in that briefing this morning and in her snp conference address, which was this afternoon as well, was about caution and about following the rules that are in place here already and have been in place for some time, about wearing face coverings and working from home where possible, really urging people to keep going with that. and we have had it confirmed, by the way, in the last a5 minutes that the scottish government will accept that advice from thejcvi on boosters, as you would expect.

they are drawing up plans at the moment, so we don't have it confirmed exactly when people under a0 will start to get their boosters in scotland, but that's certainly something that is going to be under way pretty soon. nick eardley purporting for us in glasgow there. —— reporting for us. and at 5.30pm, we'll be putting your questions about the 0micron variant to the experts. join us for your questions answered with health correspondent laura foster and professor clare bryant, who is an immunity specialist from the university of cambridge. so, stay with us for that. now we are going to move on. i think we are going to be going to the story concerning parliamentary standards. the commons standards committee is calling for mps to be banned from providing paid parliamentary advice. its report follows recent concerns about lobbying and second jobs. the committee also suggests that mps should be investigated for "excessive personal attacks" via "any medium". and it's been a busy morning at westminster. the labour leader sir keir starmer is carrying out a reshuffle of his front bench team. 0ur political correspondent

chris mason joins us. this reshuffle — was it a bit of a shock for a few people? it this reshuffle - was it a bit of a shock for a few people? it seemed that wa . shock for a few people? it seemed that way- i — shock for a few people? it seemed that way- i was _ shock for a few people? it seemed that way. i was at _ shock for a few people? it seemed that way. i was at a _ shock for a few people? it seemed that way. i was at a speech - shock for a few people? it seemed that way. i was at a speech that i that way. i was at a speech that angela rayner was giving on all things standards, and as she stood up things standards, and as she stood up to give that speech, suddenly, our phones were pending with news that a labour reshuffle was under way, so inevitably we asked angela rayner about that in the queue and a that followed and she gave every impression of being pretty much blindsided by this reshuffle. after the q speaking to both team angela rayner and team keir starmer, they were pretty irritated with each other. it emerged they had met this morning in person, they had talked about the reshuffle, but angela rayner said she did not know the details of it and that she had not been consulted about it, so for the second reshuffle in a row, the tensions between sir keir starmer

and angela rayner, who is directly elected by labour's members to be debbie leader so cannot be —— deputy leader, so cannot be stacked the stump as for the reshuffle itself, we still actually do not have any official confirmation about who is going where. it official confirmation about who is going where-— going where. it was all about parliamentary _ going where. it was all about parliamentary standards. - going where. it was all about i parliamentary standards. yeah, going where. it was all about - parliamentary standards. yeah, so the focus was _ parliamentary standards. yeah, so the focus was meant _ parliamentary standards. yeah, so the focus was meant to _ parliamentary standards. yeah, so the focus was meant to be - the focus was meant to be parliamentary standards. angela rayner was talking about that for 20 minutes or so in her speech at the institute for government, labour's plan that ministers should not be able to work in any related job for five years after they stand down as a minister, wanting an independent audit and scrutiny process as far as the whole business of second jobs are concerned, and what labour and angela rayner were trying to do was

open eyes this row about standards and focus on the conservatives, conservative corruption, as labour like to call it, yet the focus ended up like to call it, yet the focus ended up being on the roads at the top of the labour party. 0ne up being on the roads at the top of the labour party. one other thing to bring up on all things standards, the publication of a report this afternoon by the standards committee, chaired by the labour mp chris bryant. here he is laying out his committee's conclusions on what needs to change here. the most important thing is that we want to tighten up the rules on conflict of interest. it's always been wrong for mp5 to engage in what's called paid lobbying. that's what owen paterson was found guilty of. but we now want to make it even clearer that no mp can take anyjob which involves any kind of political or parliamentary advice and strategising or consultancy. and on top of that, we want to make sure that every mp who doesn't have any kind of outside interest has a contract. owen paterson didn't have a contract.

and that contract must specify things that they are doing and things that they are banned from doing, including any kind of advising people on how to get their way around the parliamentary or the political system. as far as changes are concerned on all of this, clive, this report published this afternoon, the work on that started months and months and months prior to the headlines we have seen in the last couple of weeks concerning owen paterson, the former conservative cabinet minister. former conservative cabinet minister-— former conservative cabinet minister. ,., . , former conservative cabinet minister. . , ., minister. the report reflects on some of the — minister. the report reflects on some of the specific _ minister. the report reflects on some of the specific issues - minister. the report reflects on some of the specific issues but| minister. the report reflects on . some of the specific issues but has more depth and longevity through it than that. for more depth and longevity through it than that. ., ., ., ,., , than that. for that reason, they will not than that. for that reason, they will rrot be _ than that. for that reason, they will rrot be a — than that. for that reason, they will not be a period _ than that. for that reason, they will not be a period of— will not be a period of consultation, people could run these ideas the committee suggested, they will come back and around easter, with any revisions as a result of all that, and then it will be up to parliament to change the rules. so the rules are likely to change, but not for little while. {lilia the rules are likely to change, but not for little while.— not for little while. ok, chris, thanks for— not for little while. ok, chris, thanks for that, _ not for little while. ok, chris, thanks for that, chris - not for little while. ok, chris, thanks for that, chris mason i not for little while. ok, chris, | thanks for that, chris mason at westminster.

the trial of ghislaine maxwell, on charges linked to her relationship with the convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein, has begun in new york. she denies trafficking and grooming under—age girls. ms maxwell, who's 59, is the youngest daughter of the disgraced media tycoon and former mp robert maxwell. let's get more from our correspondent in new york, michelle fleury. michelle, what happened in court so far? we michelle, what happened in court so far? ~ . ., ., ., , far? we are waiting for the opening an ument far? we are waiting for the opening argument from _ this morning, jury selection was due to take place. there was a holdup. one juror with a inaction in could not serve the sub two other jurors have come forward and said they have issues as well, one a planned holiday that might interfere with the trial, another talking about financial hardship because their employer would only pay for a couple of weeks — fairly normal in

the trial of this kind of scale and size, but that has somewhat delayed the start of this highly anticipated case. ~ . the start of this highly anticipated case. . ., ., ., case. ok. we are going to end it there. case. ok. we are going to end it there- thank _ case. ok. we are going to end it there. thank you, _ case. ok. we are going to end it there. thank you, michelle. - twitter co—founderjack dorsey is stepping down as chief executive of the company. he wrote in a statement that "it's finally time for me to leave", saying the company was "ready to move on" from his 15—year leadership. twitter says he'll be replaced by the current chief technical officer, parag agrawal. time for a look at the weather news. here is ben rich. . ~ a look at the weather news. here is ben rich. ., ,, ,., a look at the weather news. here is ben rich. ., ,, y., , a look at the weather news. here is ben rich. ., ,, , . ~ ben rich. thank you very much. a very good — ben rich. thank you very much. a very good evening _ ben rich. thank you very much. a very good evening to _ ben rich. thank you very much. a very good evening to you. - ben rich. thank you very much. a very good evening to you. it - ben rich. thank you very much. a very good evening to you. it has l very good evening to you. it has been a really cold day across the uk, many struggling to get above freezing, but things are changing. we have seen more cloud posting in from the west and with that the arrival of some quite milder air. temperatures across parts of western scotland this afternoon have been all the way up at 10 degrees, and

that milder weather will be spreading its way across the uk during tonight and early frost for some eastern parts, but a lot of cloud cover some outbreaks of rain, and temperatures by the end of 19 many spots up in double digits. a much milder start to the morning. some outbreaks of rain, the rain especially to the north of the uk, and ran across the west. the winds were stricken as well, but much milder temperatures in double figures. through wednesday into thursday, it will a chilly turn in little bit colder once again. == thursday, it will a chilly turn in little bit colder once again. -- it will turn on _ little bit colder once again. -- it will turn on the recorder. - hello this is bbc news. the headlines: covid boosterjabs will be offered to all adults over the age of 18, to combat the omicron variant, and the gap between second and third jabs, is to be reduced. children aged 12 to 15 can

get a second covid jab, while the clinically vulnerable, will be offered a fourth. a total of eleven cases of the new variant have now been discovered in the uk. in other news, more than 60 thousand homes in scotland and the north—east of england, still have no power, after storm arwen. the commons standards committee, is calling for mps to be banned from providing paid parliamentary advice. it's report follows concerns about lobbying and second jobs. the british socialite, ghislaine maxwell, a close associate of the convicted paedophile, jeffrey epstein, goes on trial in new york, for alleged sex trafficking. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. good evening. northern ireland women host their final world cup qualifier of the year tonight — as they host north macedonia. they registered their biggest ever victory when they beat the macedonians 11—0 away last week.

kenny shiels side sit third at the halfway stage of qualifying and are level on points with austria, but two behind on goal difference. shiels says it's about focusing on the results and not the goals. i it's about focusing on the results and not the goals.— it's about focusing on the results and not the goals. i don't want the uirls to be and not the goals. i don't want the girls to be thinking _ and not the goals. i don't want the girls to be thinking they _ and not the goals. i don't want the girls to be thinking they have - and not the goals. i don't want the girls to be thinking they have to i girls to be thinking they have to bring back the same amount again, it's not about that. it's about the performance and i have to be careful that i don't put lots of goals and head of player development and lots of goals i had of how we play. england play tomorrow night but nikita parris won't feature for the lionesses. the arsenal forward has been allowed to take a "a few days' rest", according to the fa after what they describe as a "busy 1a months of domestic and international football". england boss sarina wiegman says it's not an issue.

she has had so much love during the last two years. she hardly had any rest and during the week we had some chats with her also that the medical staff and after the game we decided that it was good for her to get a break and have a few days off. our squad is fit and everyone can play tomorrow. so it was an option to clear some days off. manchester city midfielder caroline weir has been nominated for fifa's 2021 puskas award for the second year running. the scotland international is on an 11—player shortlist for the world governing body's goal of the year, for her effort while playing for city in last season's derby against manchester united. she makes the list along with former spurs forward erik lamela and manchester city winger riyad mahrez. we've been hearing from the new man in charge at old trafford, as ralf rangick sys he is ”excited

to bejoining manchester united and focused on making this a successful season." the club confirmed the german as interim boss for the next six months. the german takes over from ole gunnar solskjaer, who was sacked last week after the defeat to watford. michael carrick has been in caretaker charge since. rangnick has left his role as head of sports and development at russian club lokomotiv moscow to take up thejob. kell brook says he's going to send amir khan into retirement after their long—awaited clash was finally confirmed. after years of failed negotiations, the long—term rivals have finally agreed to the all—british showdown on the 19th of february at the ao arena in manchester. brook hasn't fought since being stopped in the fourth round by terence crawford a year ago, while khan won a points decision over australia's billy dib injanuary. seven time champion ronnie o'sullivan is through to the last 16 of snooker�*s uk championship. he beat long time rival mark king by six frames to three at the barbican — making a century and five 50+ breaks

in another excellent performance. he'll face noppon saengkham or stuart bingham in the next round. seven time champion ronnie o'sullivan is through to the last 16 of snooker�*s uk championship. he beat long time rival mark king by six frames to three at the barbican — making a century and five 50+ breaks in another excellent performance. he'll face noppon saengkham or stuart bingham in the next round. and suzann pettersen has been named has europe's next solheim cup captain. she's competed in the contest nine times in total — most famously as a wild card selection in 2019 — when she holed the winning putt on the 18th green at gleneagles. she takes over from catriona matthew, as europe chase three consecutive victories for the first time. before we go, some sad news as a pioneer of the golfing world — lee elder has died at the age of 87. the american was the first black man to play in the masters,

making history in 1975 at a tournament many saw as an embodiment of the racism that was a large part of the sport in america at the time. the lpga said he was "the definition of a trailblazer". you can read more about lee elder and that historic moment back in 1975 on the bbc news website.. it's worth reminding yourselves.. but for now that is all from me. olly foster is here with sportsday at 6:30. now it is time for your questions answered. you've been sending in your questions today on covid—19 and the new variant omicron. with me is our health correspondent laura foster and also i'm joined by professor clare bryant who is an immunity specialist from the university of cambridge.

thank you forjoining us. i will start with ourfirst thank you forjoining us. i will start with our first question which comes from gareth. can the lateral flow tests detect the map variant? that is a good question. we think the answer to that question is yes. there has been some work that has been done today looking at whether or not there lateral flow will detect the omicron virus. this will be over the next few days but it's looking like the letter of protest will work which is good news. so we should continue _ will work which is good news. so we should continue to _ will work which is good news. so we should continue to still _ will work which is good news. so we should continue to still use - will work which is good news. so we should continue to still use them? l should continue to still use them? yes, we should. this should continue to still use them? yes, we should.— should continue to still use them? yes, we should. this one is for you lar . i have plane tickets and a hotel reservation for three nights and four days' stay in london. but with the new rules due to omicron, is it correct that i have to be isolated at the hotel since my arrival until the pcr test is negative,

during the third day of my stay? that depends on when carlos is planning to travel. if they are planning to travel. if they are planning to travel this week we know that there will was kicking tomorrow whereby you have to do a pci test if you're coming from outside the uk before the end of day too. and you do have to self isolate notjust in your hotel room so it's worth checking you have an en suite. and until you get a negative result and then you're allowed to go about your business but of question you could get a positive result and then your holiday will cost you a lot more. it's impossible to say if these travel rules will change when they might change that so much we don't know yet. but as we unpack more about omicron over the next couple of weeks we should say with more definitive and more definitely what will be happening travel wise for the next few months. it is will be happening travel wise for the next few months.— the next few months. it is a ositive the next few months. it is a positive test _ the next few months. it is a positive test you _ the next few months. it is a positive test you then - the next few months. it is a positive test you then have | the next few months. it is a i positive test you then have to the next few months. it is a - positive test you then have to move to an accredited hotel from your hotel room? i

to an accredited hotel from your hotel room?— to an accredited hotel from your hotel room? i imagine that if you already isolated _ hotel room? i imagine that if you already isolated in _ hotel room? i imagine that if you already isolated in a _ hotel room? i imagine that if you already isolated in a hotel- hotel room? i imagine that if you already isolated in a hotel they . already isolated in a hotel they would be to stay in that hotel. otherwise you risk spreading to various people. the dedicated hotels are for the red—faced countries where you have to quarantine. how do the test results show what variant has been detected in a positive test? this only works if you have had a pci test because pci tests amplifies three genes in virus and this allows you to detect which variant you have got that out or not this bike protein is present or not. with a new variant it has got so many changes in this paper at the end this means that pci test for it despite gm does not actually give you a positive result. so by

comparing their pcr results if you get three genes positive it is not the omicron paris but if it's too genes positive than it is and you can only do this by pcr. the lateral flow tests will not tell you that. i tested positive for covid—19 on sunday. my question is, how will i know what variant of covid i have? do they tell us? how long before they tell us? i hope your symptoms are mild and thinking good care of yourself as you recover. i am thinking good care of yourself as you recover. iam assuming thinking good care of yourself as you recover. i am assuming when he says he has done a positive result he means to pcr as a building on what claire hasjust he means to pcr as a building on what claire has just sent the results will show if you have a suspected omicron case and he will be told that when you get your test results. now if you are told by contact trace is that you do have a suspected omicron case then you and all your close contacts have to isolate immediately. whether you

should already be isolating but regardless of the vaccination status. that's important. if you have not been told that maybe a close contact have to ask and it does depend on the vaccination status. if you have not been told that you have a suspected omicron case that it's likely that you have delta because the most dominant variant here in the uk at the moment and he will not be told that but that's a very likely gas. — yes. it that's a very likely gas. — yes. it should be an indication as to which one it will be.— one it will be. that pci will tell ou if one it will be. that pci will tell you if you _ one it will be. that pci will tell you if you have _ one it will be. that pci will tell you if you have a _ one it will be. that pci will tell you if you have a suspected i one it will be. that pci will tell- you if you have a suspected omicron case. if you want confirmation on that, that will take a while and they have to do they generally sequencing and send it to my mum but it does not actually matter from i mess up isolation point of view of you have confirmed omicron case are a suspected one because the rules are the same. bud a suspected one because the rules are the same-—

a suspected one because the rules are the same. . ., , ., ., are the same. and it does not matter for contacts — are the same. and it does not matter for contacts of _ are the same. and it does not matter for contacts of that _ are the same. and it does not matter for contacts of that person? - are the same. and it does not matter for contacts of that person? it - for contacts of that person? it would depend on when the result comes back and if they can confirm it that it's not a omicron case you have to be guided by what the content tracers say.— content tracers say. that is variable — content tracers say. that is variable then? _ content tracers say. that is variable then? potentially l content tracers say. that is i variable then? potentially but content tracers say. that is - variable then? potentially but that pci tests have _ variable then? potentially but that pci tests have been _ variable then? potentially but that pci tests have been very _ variable then? potentially but that pci tests have been very good i variable then? potentially but that pci tests have been very good at l pci tests have been very good at noticing the gene dropout and it's more of a confirmation process and a suspected one. claire might be able to tell us more about that. i'm immunosuppressed and my 16—year—old daughter had her second dose of covid vaccination at the beginning ofjuly 2021. is she entitled to a boosterjab? that's a good question. i can understand why this lady is concerned. i don't actually know the answer to that question. i am guessing that because her doctor had already had a second covid—19

vaccine and deny that's unusual for someone of that age that is a good chance she will get the blister to jam but i don't know and of course is of particular concern for the community with everybody as it as you can because people who are immunosuppressed they risked catching any of the covid—19 variants and people who have no money community so it's pretty important that boost people for exactly this reason. i important that boost people for exactly this reason.— important that boost people for exactly this reason. i am going back to the question _ exactly this reason. i am going back to the question that _ exactly this reason. i am going back to the question that she _ exactly this reason. i am going back to the question that she picked i exactly this reason. i am going back to the question that she picked up l to the question that she picked up before that. if it is a suspected omicron case, suspected and not confirmed, if you're in contact with that person do you have to self isolate? i that person do you have to self isolate? . . . that person do you have to self isolate? . , , , ., that person do you have to self isolate? . ,, y., ., ., that person do you have to self isolate? . , , , ., ., ., ., isolate? i assume you do and i would exect isolate? i assume you do and i would exoect that — isolate? i assume you do and i would exoect that to _ isolate? i assume you do and i would expect that to be _ isolate? i assume you do and i would expect that to be clarified _ isolate? i assume you do and i would expect that to be clarified because i expect that to be clarified because estimates would be the same as the situation that would unfold because we are concerned about omicron at

the moment and i would see them we would have to isolate but i don't know that for sure. i have an autoimmune disease, so i had my second vaccine mid—april. i had my booster at the end of october. my worry is how strong is it with the new variant? ican i can understand life and might be a bit anxious. a site with news of a new variant but the truth is we don't know how to experience works. whether it is more or less transmissible or whether it's more or less deadly. but that thing you should remember is you just had your booster and you are brimming with antibodies right now. you have great protection from this variant and indeed all the variants and we have no evidence to suggest that these vaccines did not work against one. so what they have enough today is

that those who are immunosuppressed to a fourth dose is that if it has recently had harris she will not need that until the new year. find need that until the new year. and when should _ need that until the new year. and when should she be getting it? how many months? is it three? the minimum _ many months? is it three? the minimum is — many months? is it three? the minimum is three _ many months? is it three? tie: minimum is three months many months? is it three? tte: minimum is three months but many months? is it three? t“t9 minimum is three months but i many months? is it three? tt9: minimum is three months but i think the way to boost the programme will be well that would be dependent upon age and those who are most at risk. so the full details are being ironed out right now by all the various nhs and into different nations so we will be getting more detail about that hopefully later today but over the question of the next week or so. do we know whether you can catch both variants at the same time? or have contracted one you can't have both at the same time? that's a good question. i had not thought about that as an option to be honest. i can't see any reason why you would not be able to catch

both at the same time to be honest. it's not really something i thought about. ., , ., ,, ., about. one does not knock out the other one? — about. one does not knock out the other one? now, _ about. one does not knock out the other one? now, i— about. one does not knock out the other one? now, i don't _ about. one does not knock out the other one? now, i don't think i about. one does not knock out the other one? now, i don't think so. l other one? now, i don't think so. that's very _ other one? now, i don't think so. that's very unlikely. _ other one? now, i don't think so. that's very unlikely. you - other one? now, i don't think so. that's very unlikely. you can i other one? now, i don't think so. that's very unlikely. you can be l that's very unlikely. you can be infected viruses at the same time, you can have two infections i'm coming at the same time so i would not anticipate one could knock out the other, i would expect you could be infected with both at the same time. ~ : �* . be infected with both at the same time. ~ . �* , , be infected with both at the same time. ~ . �*, , ., , time. what's interesting about this discussion we _ time. what's interesting about this discussion we still— time. what's interesting about this discussion we still don't _ time. what's interesting about this discussion we still don't know i time. what's interesting about this discussion we still don't know very| discussion we still don't know very much about omicron. it was only discovered in the last week or so and they're still trying to find our feet with it. and they're still trying to find our feet with it— feet with it. don't forget, we should have _ feet with it. don't forget, we should have a _ feet with it. don't forget, we should have a lot _ feet with it. don't forget, we should have a lot more i feet with it. don't forget, we i should have a lot more information for the next two to three weeks as the antivirus natural history plays out in south africa said he had been such a greatjob with telling us what's going on and we should get clarity from how the disease progresses are not of the next

couple weeks so we should be in a better position to know what's going on. tens of thousands of people have spent another night without power as temperatures dropped to as low as minus six in some parts of the uk. yellow ice warnings remain in place for much of scotland, england and wales, with some schools closed and rail services cancelled as luxmy gopal reports. the impact of storm arwen continues. snow, ice and gusts of up to 100 mph caused severe damage, with thousands of people facing a fourth day without power. worst hit is the north—east of scotland, where a major incident was declared. your viewers will remember beast from the east in 2018. this is three times worse than that and probably some of the worst conditions we've seen

for the electricity network, certainly, in about 15 years. hundreds of thousands of homes across the country were without electricity for much of the weekend. it's been tough. we've got a couple of kids, one nine, one six, so it's been quite hard work. luckily my father—in—law lives about half a mile down the road, so we've been able to camp out down at his and have a few cups of tea and things like that. but, yeah, a bit of a nightmare not having any lights and no heating. it's been freezing and i've got two young kids, so we've had nothing to do and nowhere to go. it's been really cold and awful. it's warned pockets of aberdeenshire could potentially be without power until wednesday. vaccination clinics in the area have been cancelled today and schools are closed today and tomorrow. northern powergrid said north—east england's network experienced its worst damage in 20 years.

following heavy snowfall, more than 60 customers and an oasis tribute band have been trapped at a pub in the yorkshire dales since friday night, when the only road in and out was blocked. to be honest, they've been absolutely lovely. and the cliche i've been saying is they came as strangers and a lot of them are leaving as friends. and we are talking about a reunion next year. last night was the coldest of this season so far. temperatures fell as low as around minus nine celsius, recorded in cumbria. gritters were out in the early hours. it's been the busiest weekend so far of the season. the road temperatures got down to minus four degrees last night. our drivers have been out this morning since four o'clock treating the network, the roads and the cycleways and the footways across the city of york. the gritters are back after what's been a busy morning. in fact, for many teams, it was the busiest weekend of the season so far,

as a result of the drop in temperatures and the conditions brought by storm arwen. while the worst of the storm has passed, authorities in aberdeenshire say it's left worse damage than first feared — and recovery will take longer than expected. luxmy gopal, bbc news. four teenagers have beenjailed for life for killing the fifteen year old schoolboy, keon lincoln, in birmingham injanuary. the four, aged between fourteen and eighteen, have been given minimum terms of sixteen to nineteen years. ben godfrey reports. it was a barbaric and senseless attack. keon lincoln was stabbed from behind and it shot, just metres from home. the gunfire was heard by his own mother, charmaine. my first instinct was, where is my son? and then to figure out what has happened and the reasons why. it wasn't established in court whether keon's life

was taken during a gang dispute but cctv pointed to a premeditated and brazen attack on the schoolboy in the middle of the afternoon. a group, all under18, hunting down a victim. the fact that we have got youngsters of that age going around carrying weapons, using firearms, it's an absolutely terrible state of affairs. tahjgeem breakenridge and michael ugochukwu were convicted of murder, jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years. today in court the judge lifted reporting restrictions to allow the naming of the gunman. he was 1a—year—old yussuf mustapha. he will serve at least 16 years. another 16—year—old boy who can't be named received 17 years, while18—year—old kieron donaldson, who supplied weapons, receives a 12 yearjail term. i can only hope that the convictions offer some sort of solace for keon lincoln's family, but to put the message out there amongst the community,

we will investigate these matters and we will find those who are responsible and we will convict them. the motive for the attack is still not clear and the chaos of that january afternoon and has only brought sadness, reflection and more confusion for keon's family and friends. the crime that was committed is heinous, as i said, just diabolical, and we just really want to put an end to this. we want this to be one of those springboards that we can use, that can start bringing some questions to our community, and getting some answers. the gunman yussuf mustapha lied about his whereabouts that day, claiming he had been on an online school lesson during lockdown. keon's killers covered their faces in hoods. they felt untouchable as they inflicted eight knife wounds inside 30 seconds. keon had an unbelievable laugh, his mother said, he was a loving

child with a jolly spirit. ben godfrey, bbc news. following the deaths of 27 people in the english channel, the president said they uk is not doing its part and a number of people crossing the channel and he called on the uk to increase official immigration routes. prince charles has arrived in barbados, ahead of a ceremony to mark the island's transition to a republic. the queen will be removed as head of state and the country's first president will be sworn in. in an interview with the bbc�*s celestina olu—low—deh, the prime minister of barbados, mia mottley, said it was time for the nation to move forward. we believe that the unfinished business ought not to go past the

fifth anniversary of independence. a large part of what we are doing requires us to engage with the world and i want us to engage with the world is the best possible person that we can be. that requires us being confident in ourselves and understanding that by being as has the potential to be in charge of the affairs of this nation. the president of barbados is now someone's child can aspire to be so powerful. this country has had this monarchical system for 396 years. the time has come. we have it within our power to do more and better at the first thing that requires looking in the mirror and letting you see. i'm changing that maintenance which is requesting

centuries of being told that anything negative or the system that comes from you about it.- comes from you about it. something that kee -s comes from you about it. something that keeps coming _ comes from you about it. something that keeps coming up _ comes from you about it. something that keeps coming up when - comes from you about it. something that keeps coming up when we i comes from you about it. something that keeps coming up when we talk. that keeps coming up when we talk about the public, this time have any influence and the notion that we are part of the british empire and chinese empire nonsense. it part of the british empire and chinese empire nonsense. it has to sto -. chinese empire nonsense. it has to sto. i chinese empire nonsense. it has to stop- i find — chinese empire nonsense. it has to stop- i find it— chinese empire nonsense. it has to stop. i find it offensive _ chinese empire nonsense. it has to stop. i find it offensive in _ chinese empire nonsense. it has to stop. i find it offensive in the i stop. ifind it offensive in the extreme because people choose to claim their own destiny as a small state we can't review it our own interest or in our own terms. the 2020 speech _ interest or in our own terms. the 2020 speech declared that the time has come from barbados to fully exclude on your past behind. tell me a bit more about halep being the republic will help the facility? if you go to a government house now using the images of my baby ends. that will change as of december one i don't get me wrong i am one of the

biggest respect of her majesty the queen as of the century going into the 21st century but equally when you put it in a different context which makes the american come from? it's almost preposterous to think about it. so i my basement is aspects of the clearing and legacy become upset important. but not in a way that adversarial. and i'm very happy that we continue to work as friends and close partners with and i'm happy that prince charles has accepted our invitation to join us tremendous respect for him to have younger generation that's ready to say we want to be global citizens.

now it's time for a look at the weather with ben rich the evening. it has been a really cold today across many parts of the uk. temperature for some of that he freezing. that picture is an example of that. still some snow on the ground. temperature around one degree. but things have been changing a lot more crowded in from the west and the first signs of semi there. the amount air is making its presence frank — felt across western scotland and not the cloud that temperatures this afternoon all the way up to 10 degrees. it might get cold early on a class parts of east in england but generally speaking through the night to bring in my cloud and outbreaks of rain and drizzle and especially at the west and the rest temperatures by the end of the night looking at values of nine, ten, in more places. much

milder than it has been but tomorrow is looking like a cloudy day for many of us. the cloud are pretty some outbreaks of rain. especially across northern parts. we will see bright in here and there. later in the day some heavy rain starts to come in twice more and western scotland. it will be quite cold in the far northeast of scotland. elsewhere temperatures will be in the double digits feeling very different. it'sjust the double digits feeling very different. it's just a the double digits feeling very different. it'sjust a matter we will watch this area of low pressure here. it will deepen as it crosses the uk. it could bring some windy later to places that we could do without it. we're not expecting anything as windy as he saw over the weekend. but parts of southeast scotland could have some strong drinks for a time. from wednesday as the brings go around to northern east what we bring in something cold her once again. my blood they will not last long. wednesday we will have more than range bringing showers and places. went to shower is especially annoying spot and then

we could see some snow here. temperatures by the end of wednesday and back down once again. it would be a cold night to come on wednesday night. the end of the week as they will bring some eye pressure. they'll be dry like a time the frontal system comes in from the last rain and some snow. the frontal system most the temperatures after cold thursday will bounce back up. this temperatures up and down but still a mild night to come tonight mild to come tomorrow.

a big increase in boosterjabs and second doses to protect against the new omicron variant. everyone over 18 will be offered a booster three months after their second jab and 12—to—15—year—olds will be offered a second dose. our experience of fighting this virus has shown us it's best to act decisively and swiftly when we see a potential threat, which is why we're building our defences and putting these measures in place without delay. six cases of the new omicron

variant have been detected in scotland, five in england.