this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. american prosecutors charge the parents of a teenager accused of a massacre at a school, saying they share responsibility because they owned the gun which was allegedly used. i will be entering today the gun ownership is our right and with that right comes great responsibility. the first data on the omicron strain of covid suggests vaccines are less effective at stopping it spreading, but they do make the symptoms less serious. scientists say they can now use gene—editing technology to determine the sex of mice, creating female or male—only litters. an ongoing drought in the horn of africa has left millions

without enough food to eat. animals, too, are struggling to stay alive. the drought is still ongoing. i can see this _ the drought is still ongoing. i can see this calf. she's too weak to stand _ see this calf. she's too weak to stand up. — see this calf. she's too weak to stand up, so she has to be fed right here _ hello, welcome to bbc news. i'm shaun ley. we begin in the us state of michigan, where in a rare move, prosecutors have charged the parents of an alleged school shooter with involuntary manslaughter. this was the scene at oxford high school on tuesday. four people were killed and seven injured in the shooting. ethan crumbley was charged as an adult with one count of terrorism causing death and four counts of first—degree murder. authorities have now issued a fugitive warrant forjames

and jennifer crumbley. but in a joint statement to the bbc, the family's lawyers said the crumbleys "are not fleeing from law enforcement" and had left town on the night of the shooting "for their own safety". here's the oakland county prosecutor announcing the charges a little earlier. it's imperative we prevent this from happening again. no other parent or community should have to live through this nightmare. i have shared previously and i will reiterate today that gun ownership is a right, and with that right comes great responsibility. they sent the information i have received, today i'm announcing charges against the shooter's parents, jennifer and james crumbley. james crumbley is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. jennifer crumbley is also charged with four counts.

our washington correspondent, barbara plett usher, told me more about the significance of these charges. extremely rare for parents to be charged — extremely rare for parents to be charged in — extremely rare for parents to be charged in mass shooting tragedies. in michigan, there's not even a law that says _ in michigan, there's not even a law that says parents are required to keep— that says parents are required to keep guns— that says parents are required to keep guns out of reach of their children. — keep guns out of reach of their children, so it's a very unusual step — children, so it's a very unusual step but _ children, so it's a very unusual step. but the prosecutor said essentially that the parents were complicit. she said they contributed to this _ complicit. she said they contributed to this tragedy and how to be held to this tragedy and how to be held to account — to this tragedy and how to be held to account. she listed a number of things _ to account. she listed a number of things one — to account. she listed a number of things. one is that they bought the -un things. one is that they bought the gun for— things. one is that they bought the gun for the — things. one is that they bought the gun for the boy as a christmas present, — gun for the boy as a christmas present, but also, in the day or so before _ present, but also, in the day or so before the — present, but also, in the day or so before the shooting, there were a number— before the shooting, there were a number of— before the shooting, there were a number of incidents where he had been _ number of incidents where he had been called to account for troubling behaviour. — been called to account for troubling behaviour, and they did not intervene. his teacher noted that he had been _ intervene. his teacher noted that he had been searching his phone to try to buy— had been searching his phone to try to buy ammunition and his mother was aierted _ to buy ammunition and his mother was aierted she— to buy ammunition and his mother was alerted. she didn't respond, but she did text _

alerted. she didn't respond, but she did text him later in a sort of jokey— did text him later in a sort of jokey way— did text him later in a sort of jokey way saying, "i'm not angry with— jokey way saying, "i'm not angry with you. — jokey way saying, "i'm not angry with you, you need to learn not to -et with you, you need to learn not to get caught" — with you, you need to learn not to get caught." the next morning, he was stopped by teachers because they found a _ was stopped by teachers because they found a drawing that he had made, which _ found a drawing that he had made, which was — found a drawing that he had made, which was quite alarming, which showed — which was quite alarming, which showed up gun and a bullet and a bloody— showed up gun and a bullet and a bloody body. it said the thoughts don't _ bloody body. it said the thoughts don't stop, help me. very disturbed drawin9~ _ don't stop, help me. very disturbed drawin9~ he — don't stop, help me. very disturbed drawing. he was sent to the principal— drawing. he was sent to the principal 's office and his parents were _ principal 's office and his parents were summoned to say he needed help seiiing~ _ were summoned to say he needed help selling. they resisted the idea of taking _ selling. they resisted the idea of taking him home and they didn't check— taking him home and they didn't check his— taking him home and they didn't check his backpack. he was sent back to the _ check his backpack. he was sent back to the classroom, and just a few hours _ to the classroom, and just a few hours later, _ to the classroom, and just a few hours later, the mass shooting took place _ hours later, the mass shooting took place the _ hours later, the mass shooting took place. the prosecutor was quite hard on the _ place. the prosecutor was quite hard on the parents, saying that they had a responsibility and had to be held to account — a responsibility and had to be held to account. 1, ., , a responsibility and had to be held to account-— a responsibility and had to be held to account. 1, ., , , to account. barbara, “ust remind us about the events — to account. barbara, “ust remind us about the events on _ to account. barbara, just remind us about the events on the _ to account. barbara, just remind us about the events on the day - to account. barbara, just remind us about the events on the day that i to account. barbara, just remind us| about the events on the day that led to these fatalities. because he had clearly had the thoughts in his mind which she wasn't coping with, and

then he tragically turned them into action with devastating consequences for his school. action with devastating consequences for his school-— for his school. yes, that's right. apparently _ for his school. yes, that's right. apparently on — for his school. yes, that's right. apparently on his _ for his school. yes, that's right. apparently on his cellphone, . for his school. yes, that's right. apparently on his cellphone, hej for his school. yes, that's right. - apparently on his cellphone, he had recorded _ apparently on his cellphone, he had recorded a _ apparently on his cellphone, he had recorded a video talking about his plan or— recorded a video talking about his plan or his — recorded a video talking about his plan or his desire to do this, although— plan or his desire to do this, although he had not put it on social nredia _ although he had not put it on social nredia that— although he had not put it on social media. that drawing was discovered and it— media. that drawing was discovered and it sounded as if he was a struggling against an urge, the words — struggling against an urge, the words "help me." a couple hours later. _ words "help me." a couple hours later. the — words "help me." a couple hours later, the school superintendent said he — later, the school superintendent said he didn't have a disciplinary record — said he didn't have a disciplinary record he — said he didn't have a disciplinary record. he went into the bathroom and took— record. he went into the bathroom and took the gun out of his backpack and took the gun out of his backpack and loaded _ and took the gun out of his backpack and loaded it and came out and started — and loaded it and came out and started shooting, and he killed four students _ started shooting, and he killed four students and he injured six. including _ students and he injured six. including a teacher. he had been charged — including a teacher. he had been charged as an adult, even though he's15_ charged as an adult, even though he's15 years old. which is a very unusual— he's15 years old. which is a very unusual state of affairs as well. one of— unusual state of affairs as well. one of the _ unusual state of affairs as well. one of the reasons for that, they

did not— one of the reasons for that, they did not think this had been an impulsive _ did not think this had been an impulsive act, but in michigan, some crimes— impulsive act, but in michigan, some crimes are _ impulsive act, but in michigan, some crimes are so — impulsive act, but in michigan, some crimes are so severe that underage peopie _ crimes are so severe that underage people are — crimes are so severe that underage people are automatically tried as adults _ people are automatically tried as adults. one of those is first—degree nrurder. _ adults. one of those is first—degree nrurder. one — adults. one of those is first—degree murder, one of the crimes in which he had _ murder, one of the crimes in which he had been — murder, one of the crimes in which he had been charge, as well as terrorisnr~ _ to the coronavirus pandemic now. the chief scientist of the who says the new omicron variant could become dominant around the world, but that doesn't necessarily mean we'll need to reformulate our vaccines. the number of countries detecting the coronavirus variant is increasing every day, but the who also says it's too soon to know if omicron causes a more serious illness, and people shouldn't panic. the surge in south africa, where the variant was first identified, has accelerated further. there were more than 16,000 new cases announced on friday — up from 11,500 the day before. doctors say there's a higher rate of admissions of young children. and after germany announced new restrictions for the unvaccinated on thursday, the republic of ireland has announced limits on the size of attendances at indoor events for its entire population, and a restriction of no more than four households

socialising in a private home. so, let's take a closer look at south africa, just about to deliver an address to the nation. so, let's take a closer look at south africa, where omicron is spreading at an unprecedented rate. in the past 2a hours, 11,500 new cases were reported. just compare that to an average of 300 daily infections two weeks ago. south africa's health minister urged people to get vaccinated. this fourth wave which we have started to enter into can be managed. without too many casualties way too much glass of life. without too many casualties, without too much glass of life. if we all observe the safety measures, the biggest risk being gatherings, especially indoor gatherings. as more cases emerge, so does the data about the effectiveness of the treatments. here's the world health organisation's chief scientist

with what we know so far. it's possible that the omicron variant can cause infections even in previously vaccinated people. we are seeing that now with previously vaccinated people who are the first to be reported. but however, the fact that they are not getting sick, we have to wait and see, but they develop only mild illness are still providing protection. the uk is among several countries offering covid boosterjabs, which will mean some adults receiving three doses of the vaccines. british health chiefs have chosen to use the moderna and pfizer shots, and trials suggest they give the best overall response. researchers also said there were good signs that the vaccines still protect against the omicron variant. our medical editor, fergus walsh, reports. amid gloom over omicron and its potential threat, some encouraging news. it was back in the summer that nearly 3,000 uk volunteers got one of seven different covid vaccines

as a booster shot, three months after their second dose. thank you, everybody. for those boosted with pfizer after two doses of astrazeneca, their antibody levels were 25 times higher than a control group after one month. when pfizer was given after two pfizer shots, antibody levels rose eight fold, but from a much higher initial level. moderna and other combinations also worked well. the study didn't look at omicron. it has mutations in the spike protein, which may make antibodies less able to bind on to it and prevent infection, but the bigger the antibody army the better. t—cells, another part of the immune system, were also significantly boosted. these can spot and destroy infected cells. the study showed boosters worked

well against beta and delta variants, so it is likely they will also protect from serious disease with omicron. all of the vaccines showed a good t—cell response. the antibodies moderna and pfizer were high. we're hopeful that the vaccines will provide a broad protection against multiple variants, although we can't say for certain at this moment whether they will work very well against omicron or not. in south africa, the first real world evidence has shown omicron may evade some of our immunity. scientists have found a surge in the number of people being reinfected with covid, but there is still real uncertainty about omicron. we don't know yet about whether there's genuine immune escape with this variant, we won't know for some time whether people become more unwell with this variant once they're infected. i think we know it's more transmissible, but we need even more definitive data. science is moving fast, but it will take weeks before it's clearjust how much of a threat

is posted by omicron. fergus walsh, bbc news. authorities in italy say a man who wanted a covid vaccination certificate without getting the jab tried using a fake arm. they say he arrived with a silicone mould covering his real arm, hoping it would go unnoticed. but a nurse realized the trick, saying she found the skin �*rubbery and cold'. she reported him to the police. notjust for not just for having rubbery notjust for having rubbery and cold skin. tens of millions of people are facing severe food shortages across a huge area of east africa, as the region faces the worst drought for many years. crops are failing and animals on which many communities depend are dying of thirst. there's been three years of poor rainfall in northern kenya, much of somalia and southern ethiopia. it's feared the drought will continue long into next year, putting millions of lives at risk. the bbc�*s senior africa correspondent anne soy reports from northern kenya. the devastating impact of drought. this is wajir in northern

kenya, a predominantly pastoralist community, which coexists with wildlife. neither has been spared. water pans have long dried up. there are dead animals everywhere. even at ahmed ibrahim's home. he's 66, and tells me he's never witnessed anything like this. translation: the drought has been i going on for the last nine months. i i had 150 head of cattle, but now left with about 30, i had 150 heads of cattle, but now left with about 30, which are very weak. i also had 400 goats. i'm only left with these few that you can see. a few times every day, neighbours helped to lift the remaining livestock so they can stretch their already weak muscles. tough decisions he has to make to balance between feeding his family and his livestock

with ever—dwindling resources. translation: the remaining livestock will continue dying, _ but the biggest issue is what will people eat? people who have lost everything, what will they eat? that's sadir�*s biggest worry, too. the 47—year—old mother of six is only left with these goats. livestock are a source of livelihood and wealth. losing them leaves them poor and hungry. them poorer and hungry. translation: i believe god provides, but at this rate, we're at risk - of dying because of starvation. this is a wildlife conservancy in northern kenya, and the effects of drought here are all too clear. that is a very unusual sight — a dead giraffe inside a wildlife conservancy, yet we're told that at least 11 of those have been found within months. and it is notjust giraffes that are affected. it is all wildlife.

there's no pasture, there's no water for them. more frequent droughts suggest climate change is already taking its toll on the region. the impact on people is devastating. loss of livelihood and a direct threat to survival. anne soy, bbc news, wajir. powerful images of a crisis yet to fully unfold. scientists in britain have used gene editing technology to create female—only and male—only litters of mice. they say their technique could eventually be applied to chickens to ensure that only egg—producing females are hatched. our science correspondent pallab ghosh reports. half of these chicks are useless to the farming industry because they're male and don't lay eggs, so they have to be killed. that problem could be solved thanks to a breakthrough that enables scientists to reprogram animals to produce only females. scientists to reprogramme animals to produce only females. some six to seven billion male layer

chicks are killed every year shortly some six to 7 billion male layer chicks are killed every year shortly after birth at a point when they have a nervous system scientists at the francis crick institute in london have found that the system was successful in mice, and they think it'll work on chickens. in mice, and they think the researchers here have found a way of deactivating a gene involved with embryo development. the system can be programmed to stop either male or female embryos from developing using a technique called gene editing. the six of a mammal is determined by its chromosomes. the sex of a mammal is determined by its chromosomes. females have a pair of xs, males have an x and y. the process involves inserting half the gene editing molecule into the father's y chromosome, and the other half into the mother's dna. after mating, male xy embryos containing both halves of gene

editing molecule will not develop. but female embryos will grow normally. gene editing can be used to make other genetic changes. these piglets are resisted to a lung disease that often devastates herds. the government is considering whether to allow the use of the technology by the farming industry. pallab ghosh, bbc news. do stay with us on bbc world news. how an interpreter who worked with british forces in afghanistan found a new home in the uk for his family — thanks to the kindness of strangers. it's quite clear that the worst victims of this disaster are the poor people living in the slums which have sprung up around the factory. we feel so helpless. the children are dying in front of me and i can't do anything.

charles manson is the mystical leader of the hippie cult suspected of killing sharon tate and at least six other people in los angeles. at 11 o'clock this morning, - just half a metre of rock separated britain from continental europe. it took the drills just i a few moments to cut through the final obstacle, then philippe cossette, . a miner from calais, _ was shaking hands and exchanging flags with his opposite number from dover. . welcome back. i'm shaun ley with the very latest headlines. in a rare move, us prosecutors have filed involuntary manslaughter charges

against the parents of a teenager accused of shooting dead four students at his school. the world health organisation says vaccines may not be able to prevent people from infection with the omicron strain, but they do seem to make its effects far less serious. thousands of people in parts of north east england and scotland are still without power a week after storm arwen left a trail of destruction. the energy regulator, ofgem, has launched an urgent review into the response of the energy network companies. our scotland correspondent, lorna gordon, has been finding out how people have been coping in aberdeenshire. in the winter sun, aberdeenshire looks stunning, but this has been a brutally hard week for many here. storm arwen brought down trees and power lines and, seven days on, its impact is still being felt. have you got your power back on again? no, it's not on yet. we went off on friday. on friday, the day of the wind. oh, aye, there have been trees blown

down a lot before, but i mean, this is the worst i've seen. for some, no power meant know water either, so bottled water was brought in for drinking, and at night, this family huddled together for warmth. like many we spoke to, they were disappointed at the information they'd received. you just felt like crying sometimes. you just couldn't, i think it was the false promises as well, we kept getting e—mails of them saying, it will be on at six o'clock, it will be on at 12 o'clock. and then last night, the army came, two army blokes came, but that was the first people that's been to check that you're all right. there's nobody. you're just being left to fend yourself. people here rallied around to look out for each other. this farm are receiving hot food from a good samaritan determined to help. we rely on good friends and good neighbours. l excuse me. we're relying on good friends and good neighbours. - if it wasn't for these, we'd be... it wouldn't be good. you've come together as a community?

you have to. you have to do in these difficult times. - downed power lines meant the local primary school has been shut all week. children staying at home. i think one of the best part has been i've got to play board games with my family. one part that i didn't like is that my friend's den got destroyed. and if the power does ever go out again, their mum is determined to be prepared. i'm ripping out my electric heater and there will be a log burner in there and gas. we won't be left vulnerable like this again, and we'll have a generator. really? yes. big changes ahead? yes, definitely. engineers have been working round the clock to restore supplies. tonight, more houses here are finally being reconnected. people will be hoping what's been described as a once in a generation event remains exactly that. lorna gordon, bbc news, aberdeenshire.

in afghanistan, the taliban have issued a new decree on women's rights. the order says women are not property but �*free human beings'. it also says women should not be forced or coerced into marriage. but there's no mention of employment rights or education. our afghanistan correspondent secunder kermani has more from kandahar. well, the rights laid out in this decree, no forced marriages, as you say, inheritance for widows, these have long been accepted parts of islamic law, that in poorer muslim countries like afghanistan, they have often but on the ground, they've often not implemented. in more rural areas, it's not uncommon for women to be treated as peace offerings by feuding families. women's rights activists say ending any kind of patriarchal abusive behaviour is a good thing, though if this is

implemented, that's something they welcome. but they've also highlighted that many of these practices had already been outlawed by the previous government, and the most striking thing about this decree is the complete failure within it to mention at all girls�* right to education and women�*s right to work. that�*s fuelling suspicion that this degree is an attempt by the taliban to both appease the international community and also carry on appeasing the taliban�*s on elements that don�*t want to see women playing in the roles in public life. there have been some comments in recent weeks by taliban representatives suggesting that perhaps, all secretary school age girls will be able to go back to school next year —— secondary school. many people remain very sceptical. secunder kermani reporting there. let�*s stay with afghanistan,

but switch gears to a more heart—warming tale. an afghan man who worked as an interpreter for british armed forces has a new home in the uk, thanks to the generosity of a total stranger. lucy manning has the story. oh, i�*m so pleased to meet you, at long last. kindness often repeats itself. sometimes it only takes one person to change the lives of others. the vesal family, at the end of their long journey to a home. i�*m so pleased to meet you. when kabul collapsed, we were just left behind in a dark tomb. we first spoke to burhan, a former interpreter with british forces, when he was hiding in afghanistan, fearful for his life. a day before the suicide bomb at the airport, he risked the crush there, and managed to get his family out. how are you and all the family doing? everyone is ok and now we are in safety. our bbc reports about

burhan resonated. 75 years ago, another british army interpreter was given refuge from germany — helga macfarlane�*s mother, helena. i saw the report of the afghanl refugees coming in from kabul i saw the report of the afghan refugees coming in from kabul on the army plane, and the story of the vesal family, and my mother had been a refugee during the second world war, and fled from her home. she only survived through the kindness of people along the way, and ijust felt i had do something and give back something for the kindness and the humanity that helped my mother and her family survive. after 100 days in a hotel room together, the night before their move sepehr and his family, so far from their life in afghanistan, are finally about to start a new one. sepehr, how do you feel about going to aberdeen? good. what are you excited about? something about toys.

this is your new house. from the taliban, a dangerous evacuation, a new country, cramped hotel rooms, to his own bedroom. look in there. what do you see? the toys. narcis left everything behind. her work as a gynaecologist, her relatives. now she must start again. you make it the way you want it. you change anything, you make it the way you want it. your generosity and your kind heart will never be forgotten. no words express it, but that, but still we have the good humans inside this world, and, and you are an example. and you are an example. thank you so much. you�*re part of our our family now

and you�*re so welcome. the kindness of strangers. that�*s it from bbc world news. thanks for your company. we have a rather cold and windy weekend to come, and there will be some wet weather at times on saturday. some showers or rain and hail snow, saturday. some showers or rain and hailsnow, drierfor saturday. some showers or rain and hail snow, drierfor many on saturday. some showers or rain and hail snow, drier for many on sunday throughout the weekend. what�*s going on? low pressure close to scotland. around it, showers or longer spells of rain and hail snow on saturday, and it�*s also dragging in another push of chilly air from the northwest. it�*s not what those are working to restore power want to hear, but it will be a rather cold weekend ahead with temperatures of starting like this. just a few spots

close to freezing. early rain across eastern england, clearing away to money spells. this curl of rain, into more of northern england —— sunny spells. northwest scotland starting to brighten up in the afternoon. just a few showers. much of southern england, a lot of the day is going to be dry. it�*s blustery wherever you are. these are average speeds and stronger gusts around western coast. 45 mph or so. it will feel colder than these temperatures might suggest. they are already down compared to friday. saturday evening and night, it�*s central and eastern parts of england with outbreaks of rain. a few showers in the west, but clear spells and where you have them, a greater chance of a frost going into sunday morning. especially in the countryside. on sunday, the low pressure is here. for many, it�*s far

enough to allow a dry day, but closer, especially eastern parts of england, outbreaks of rain around. it may strange into eastern scotland at times, and put a little further west towards the midlands. much of scotland, northern ireland, wales and the western side of england, bar the odd shower, staying mainly dry. still a very brisk northwesterly breeze to contend with, so it will feel colder than these temperatures might suggest. temperatures don�*t change much in the week ahead, and especially during the first half of the week, it looks like we will have to contend with more wet and at times windy weather.

this is bbc news, the headlines.

prosecutors in michigan have charged the parents of the teenager accused of a deadly school shooting with involuntary manslaughter. jennifer and james crumbley bought the handgun allegedly used in the attack last sunday. the who has warned that all countries should prepare for an omicron surge with the number of countries detecting the variant increasing daily. it also said it was too soon to say if omicron causes more serious illness. british scientists have found that the pfizer and moderna vaccines are the most effective to use as boosterjabs. they also found signs that a third jab protects against the new variant. and pope francis has visited cyprus. at a prayer service, he condemned what he said was slavery and torture being suffered by people fleeing war and poverty.