hello, i'm ros atkins, this is outside source. white next line tests are racing to get more information about the omicron variant of coronavirus. the world health organisation is saying they expect to know within days whether this new variant can spread faster than others. it's not been identified in more than 20 countries with the first case now confirmed in the us. the best—selling —— the best selling author alice sebold apologises after the man convicted of raping her in 1981 has his sentence overturned. we'll hear from the lawyers who helped clear his name. a big moment for the us supreme court — which is hearing a case that could overturn women's constitutional rights to abortion — an issue

largely divided along party lines. i supported roe v wade, it is a rational position to take and i continue to support it. we are askin: continue to support it. we are asking the _ continue to support it. we are asking the supreme _ continue to support it. we are asking the supreme court - continue to support it. we are asking the supreme court of. continue to support it. we are i asking the supreme court of the united _ asking the supreme court of the united states to overturn roe v wade and restart _ united states to overturn roe v wade and restart the sanctity of life to the centre — and restart the sanctity of life to the centre of american law. scientists are racing to get more information about the omicron variant of coronavirus. lots of elements of this to tell you about today. let's start with this from the world health organisation. it's very early days in terms of our understanding of this variant, and again, we are grateful for the information that's coming in daily. there is a possibility, we don't have all the information yet on transmission in terms of if there is a fitness advantage, if it's more transmissible. there is some suggestion of that, but, again, it's early days. we expect to have more information

on transmission within days, not necessarily weeks, but in days. while they wait for that information — governments around the world are ramping up their responses. the us has just the us hasjust announced the us has just announced their first case. the individual is a traveller who returned on november the 22nd. the paint has not been detected in 25 countries including saudi arabia, south korea and nigeria. the authorities in nigeria are now enforcing mandatory vaccinations for all civil servants. enforcing mandatory vaccinations for all civilservants. in enforcing mandatory vaccinations for all civil servants. in southern africa, zimbabwe has reimposed a curfew from 9pm to 6am. switzerland will require vaccine certificates for all gatherings of 10 or more people. and the eu has brought forward its rollout of vaccines for 5 to ii year—olds. and we've had this from the president of the european commission.

on one hand, we have the virus and the variance, and on the other hand, we have vaccination and boosters, and i want the second part to win. it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now how we can encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination within the european union. this needs discussion. that's what we have heard from the eu. in the last hour we've also heard from us president biden. this is some of what he said. we have the best vaccines in the world, the best medicines, the best scientists, we are learning more every single day, and we will fight this variant with science and speed, not chaos and confusion. so let me repeat what the doctors and scientists have affirmed, the best protection against omicron is getting a booster shot. right now, about 135,000,000 americans are eligible for booster, but only about a0,000,000 have gotten one thus far. the world health organisation has been arguing against travel bans. but more than 50 countries have put

new travel measures in place. the us is set to require a negative test before travelling there. japan has extended its existing ban on foreigners — it also now applies to japanese residents who live in southern africa. and hong kong has expanded its entry ban for non—residents to three more countries: japan, portugal and sweden. next let's focus on south east asia — where many countries are reassessing their approach. jonathan head has more from bangkok. fortress australia was an extreme response to covid, yet nearly all countries in southeast asia did adopt a version of it, effectively sealing themselves off from the rest of the world for around 18 months. malaysia still isn't accepting any foreign visitors. vietnam has onlyjust started to open up a little bit a few tour groups from japan and korea. and here in thailand, where they had been struggling to revive the once massive tourist

industry, they have been cautiously easing restrictions, like mandatory quarantine, just over the past two months. now a new and highly infectious variant is spreading, confronting governments here with a dilemma in tourist dependent places like bali, businesses there are warning of dire economic consequences if leisure travel doesn't resume soon. yet, if there are severe new outbreaks under this omicron variant, that could force governments to put their societies back into complete shutdowns and devastating the rest of their economies to it. forthe moment, most of the governments have responded by imposing bans on some african and european countries where the new variant has already been detected. onlyjapan has imposed a ban on all foreign arrivals. governments here cannot forget that even when they did cut themselves off from the rest of the world and sealed their borders off at huge economic cost, while they

kept the earlier covid variants at bay for many months with very few cases, they all suffered severe outbreaks in the end during this year. we speak now with rhoda odhiambo in nairobi. first of all, has omicron arrived in east africa?— first of all, has omicron arrived in east africa? ., , ., , , ., east africa? not yet. no cases have been identified _ east africa? not yet. no cases have been identified in _ east africa? not yet. no cases have been identified in east _ east africa? not yet. no cases have been identified in east african - been identified in east african region, but that's also to show that perhaps it has been identified but they have not been able to share the data because we heard from south african scientists that the travel ban has been imposed in south africa and neighbouring countries, it's making it hard for them to be able to ship samples to other parts of the world where the scientists would be able to analyse the samples they collected. ., ., collected. your mentioning the travel ban _ collected. your mentioning the travel ban on _ collected. your mentioning the travel ban on some _ collected. your mentioning the travel ban on some countries l collected. your mentioning the | travel ban on some countries in southern africa. i was referencing that japan is southern africa. i was referencing thatjapan is bringing in new measures, for example. is that still angering leaders in southern africa? yes, it is still upsetting the

leaders in africa and neighbouring countries, because the fact that the travel bands have been imposed in south africa and its neighbours it's not based on science. this has also been echoed by the world health organisation's regional office in africa and also the who headquarters, asking countries to reassess their decision until they are able to know more about the omicron variant.— are able to know more about the omicron variant. last time you are an outside — omicron variant. last time you are an outside source, _ omicron variant. last time you are an outside source, we _ omicron variant. last time you are an outside source, we were - omicron variant. last time you are j an outside source, we were talking about kenya and its ambitious plan to roll out vaccination between now and the end of the year. how is it going? and the end of the year. how is it oiiin? .,, and the end of the year. how is it oiiin? ~' and the end of the year. how is it uuoin? ,, , going? so, last week, the country was sunposed _ going? so, last week, the country was sunposed to _ going? so, last week, the country was supposed to start _ going? so, last week, the country was supposed to start at - going? so, last week, the country was supposed to start at fax - going? so, last week, the country was supposed to start at fax date | was supposed to start at fax date net mass vaccination drive to ensure that people get vaccinated with either the single shot from johnson &johnson of the two dose pfizer, maternal, or astrazeneca vaccine. that took us a while because of logistical reasons. they have already started vaccinating teenagers, and for this to happen, teenagers, and for this to happen, teenagers have to get consent from their parents to get the covid—19

vaccines. as of yet, the numbers are low, but the government is hopeful that before the december 21 deadline many people, close to 10,000,000 people have received the covid—19 vaccine and won't have a problem getting in person government services. , , getting in person government services. , ., getting in person government services. , . , , ., services. just a practical question about how _ services. just a practical question about how sub-saharan - services. just a practical question about how sub-saharan africa - services. just a practical question about how sub-saharan africa is l about how sub—saharan africa is responding to the virus. is there an overarching body that is coordinating this because macro does each country go its own way? there are two bodies _ each country go its own way? there are two bodies ensuring _ each country go its own way? there are two bodies ensuring that - are two bodies ensuring that countries follow protocols that have been put in place during this pandemic. the african center of disease and control that advises the country and looks over sub—saharan africa and the middle eastern part of the who that looks over the northern african countries. making sure that as much as they put in policies that countries must observe, they also don't ensure that they don't take it personally, but they don't take it personally, but they also overlook what they have been able to do. we see that some countries would not align themselves

with the policies that have been put in place, so this organisation, they have followed the policies that are not hurting people, for instance, their livelihoods and sources of income. figs their livelihoods and sources of income. �* , their livelihoods and sources of income. . , ., ~ their livelihoods and sources of income. . , ., ,, their livelihoods and sources of income. a ., ,, ., their livelihoods and sources of income. . , ., ,, ., income. as ever, thank you for your hel. i'm income. as ever, thank you for your help- i'm sure _ income. as ever, thank you for your help. i'm sure we _ income. as ever, thank you for your help. i'm sure we will _ income. as ever, thank you for your help. i'm sure we will speak to - income. as ever, thank you for your help. i'm sure we will speak to you | help. i'm sure we will speak to you soon on outside source. live with us from nairobi. that's the latest on omicron. also today, members of the world health organisation have agreed a plan to try prevent future pandemics. 194 countries have signed up to it — and further negotiations on the detail will folllow. here's the head of the who. the nations of the world have made a strong statement that health security is too important to be left to chance or goodwill, or shifting geopolitical currents or vested interests. this resolution was adopted at a special meeting in geneva. imogen foulkes was watching. what we've got agreement on at the moment is we really need

to do better the next time, and there will be a next time there is a pandemic. i think that is not a person on the planet who has experienced the last two years and would disagree with that, but where it starts to become tricky is what goes in that international agreement? will it be a convention, will it be a treaty, will it be legally binding? will it get the who more powers to fly it scientists into a country where there is a new virus emerging? even if the government of that country doesn't want it, will it force pharmaceutical companies to waive their patents when there is a global health crisis? so, we are looking at at least two years, i think, for a first draught of this treaty to be presented to member states of the who. and we know already that there are different viewpoints about how firm it should be and certainly how much power the who should have. so i think it's going to be very interesting in two years.

in the meantime, as was said there, we have this pandemic that we absolutely need to get out of. another row is brewing around downing street — this time over a christmas party that took place last year. it began with this report from tuesday's mirror newspaper. it said the official no 10 staff christmas party was cancelled last year, but that an unofficial party, which the prime minister did not attend, took place on 18 december. the report said borisjohnson's top officials "knocked back glasses of wine during a christmas quiz and a secret santa while the rest of the country was forced to stay at home." this has raised eyebrows because london was placed under tier 3 lockdown restrictions on 1a december last year, after which time it was illegal to mix indoors with anyone outside your household or support bubble. the guidance also explicitly said "you must not have a work christmas lunch or party."the prime minister has not denied that the parties took place. but he said this.

all guidance was followed completely during number ten. here's what the leader of opposition labour said. does the prime minister really expect the country to believe that while people were banned from seeing their loved ones at christmas last year, it was fine for him and his friends to throw a boozy party in downing street? the bbc�*s political editor spoke to someone who was at those drinks. laura kuensberg tweeted... rob watson who was at those prime minister's questions. he has recovered and ready to speak to us on outside sites. what do we make of this?— make of this? pretty tense gathering- _ make of this? pretty tense gathering. what _ make of this? pretty tense gathering. what we - make of this? pretty tense gathering. what we make | make of this? pretty tense | gathering. what we make a make of this? pretty tense - gathering. what we make a bet is that this is the opposition making

the case that this is something that they have accused the government of before, essentially it's one rule for borisjohnson and those in power and a completely different rule for everybody else. i that seems to me there is clearly a discrepancy between what downing street is saying, that all the rules were followed, and these accounts of gatherings which clearly did violate the government's on bands on social gatherings both on december the 18th and november the 27th. i guess the big question is, ross, i guess you are about to ask it is will this cut through in the way some other allegations have?— through in the way some other alleiations have? . , , , allegations have? evidence suggests that i-erhas allegations have? evidence suggests that perhaps even _ allegations have? evidence suggests that perhaps even if _ allegations have? evidence suggests that perhaps even if it _ allegations have? evidence suggests that perhaps even if it does - allegations have? evidence suggests that perhaps even if it does cut - that perhaps even if it does cut through, if people are aware that something has happened, it won't necessarily have a big impact on the polls. necessarily have a big impact on the iolls. ., . , , ., ., polls. not necessarily. you are iuite polls. not necessarily. you are quite right- — polls. not necessarily. you are quite right- i — polls. not necessarily. you are quite right. i can _ polls. not necessarily. you are quite right. i can certainly- polls. not necessarily. you are quite right. i can certainly tell| quite right. i can certainly tell you from just glancing at social media, one always wants to be a bit careful about that, but looking at

twitter in the last 10— 30 minutes or so, some people arejust incredibly angry saying that they couldn't visit dying relatives, meanwhile, you know, it seems people were having a nice time in downing street. so there are certainly packets of anger on social media. as you say, we have seen stories like this on and off throughout the last 12 months or so, and conservatives don't seem to have suffered that much in the opinion polls. i’m much in the opinion polls. i'm curious. _ much in the opinion polls. i'm curious, when _ much in the opinion polls. i'm curious, when you _ much in the opinion polls. i'm curious, when you were talking with mps, talking with journalists at prime ministers questions today, was this the dominant subject? or was there more substantial matters occupying people's thoughts? i think i'm allowed occupying people's thoughts? i think i'm allowed to _ occupying people's thoughts? i think i'm allowed to reveal— occupying people's thoughts? i think i'm allowed to reveal that _ occupying people's thoughts? i think i'm allowed to reveal that there - occupying people's thoughts? i tri “ia; i'm allowed to reveal that there was a pretty frosty exchange between the prime minister's communications team and journalists after those exchanges. i think mostjournalists took the view of thinking that they are just not sure, took the view of thinking that they arejust not sure, and took the view of thinking that they are just not sure, and politicians are just not sure, and politicians

are just not sure, and politicians are just not sure at this stage whether it's one of those stories that will cut through like it did with dominic cummings, the preminger�*s adviser who went driving off when he shouldn't of done or whether this is one of those here today gone tomorrow stories. more broadl , today gone tomorrow stories. more broadly. we — today gone tomorrow stories. more broadly. we are _ today gone tomorrow stories. more broadly, we are also _ today gone tomorrow stories. more broadly, we are also looking at the opposition labour party this week with that interesting choreography around the big reshuffle by kier starmer at the same time as his deputy making a big steep that neck speech attacking the tories. has that calm down as a story? i think it has. that calm down as a story? i think it has- their— that calm down as a story? i think it has. their two _ that calm down as a story? i think it has. their two views _ that calm down as a story? i think it has. their two views of - that calm down as a story? i think it has. their two views of this, - that calm down as a story? i think| it has. their two views of this, one is that the critical view of the main opposition labour party is my goodness, could they ever possibly get their act together, and the more generous view is that, you know, coordinating announcements about this that or the other is probably fairly small in the long run. finally, click everyone is wondering if the restrictions are going to shift between now and quit taking a christmas. of the government seems to be sticking to its chorus.

absolutely. i