new york has issued a vaccine mandate for private—sector workers to come into effect after christmas. it's aimed at stemming rising covid cases as the new omicron variant gains a foothold. washington has announced a us diplomatic boycott of the beijing winter olympics. it doesn't effect athletes but us government officials will not be attending the games. myanmar�*s military rulers are facing international condemnation after the country's ousted civilian leader aung san suu kyi was given a four—year prison sentence, later reduced to two. the us has described her conviction as an affront to justice. a second woman who says jeffrey epstein sexually abused her has been testifying in the ghislaine maxwell trial in new york. ms maxwell has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of sex trafficking and other charges.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are the broadcaster david davies and chief political correspondent at the daily mail, harriet line. tomorrow's front pages...starting with... the metro — leads with golfer thorbjorn olesen who's accused of �*sexually assaulting a woman on a flight�* — he denies the accusations. financial times front page looks at the scrutiny of blank—cheque company listings — they're being ramped up in the us — as officials look at the vehicle being used to take donald trump's �*non woke�* group. the guardian says the uk red tape �*chaos�* has led to afghans dying in kabul — according to a diplomat. the times — omicron cases

in the uk are on the rise — it says cases with the new strain of variant double every three days. staying with coronavirus — the daily telegraph says the booster rollout is �*at a standstill�*. the daily mail carries a report about a whistle blower who says afghanistan rescue flights were hampered by the work from home in whitehall. so let�*s begin... david, the booster story on the telegraph. this is david, the booster story on the telegraph. this is rather david, the booster story on the telegraph. this is rather worrying, we are putting a lot of faith in the booster programme. it is we are putting a lot of faith in the booster programme.— we are putting a lot of faith in the booster programme. it is a bit more than rather — booster programme. it is a bit more than rather worrying _ booster programme. it is a bit more than rather worrying if _ booster programme. it is a bit more than rather worrying if you - booster programme. it is a bit more than rather worrying if you accept i than rather worrying if you accept it as it appears and of course we are already being told that there is are already being told that there is a blame game going on in whitehall over the number of boosterjabs, over the number of booster jabs, despite over the number of boosterjabs, despite all the talk from boris and

the government about getting this vast number of needles in arms by the end of january. vast number of needles in arms by the end ofjanuary. it vast number of needles in arms by the end of january. it appears that numbers have rather fallen off in the past few days. there is a blame game going on, but it will be interesting to see how the government reacts to such a negative story. all these figures, and there are more figures of course another newspapers which we can talk about in a minute. those of us who are glass half empty merchants, i suppose are very, very concerned, but as far as this new variant is concerned, we wanted to believe the who, when it was telling us last week that perhaps things were not going to be so bad.— week that perhaps things were not going to be so bad. harriet, do you think this might _ going to be so bad. harriet, do you think this might be _ going to be so bad. harriet, do you think this might be the _ going to be so bad. harriet, do you think this might be the explanationi think this might be the explanation for the reason that we keep getting percentages, we have certainly got

percentages, we have certainly got percentages of people, as well as real numbers, during the first and second stages, the first and second doses and we have got percentages and other statistics, the number of people infected and all the rest of it, but the boosters, wejust keep getting numbers and it is hard to tell what proportion of the population is affected and has actually taken up the boosters. that is true, actually taken up the boosters. that is true. but — actually taken up the boosters. that is true. but at _ actually taken up the boosters. that is true, but at the _ actually taken up the boosters. twat is true, but at the same time you have the categories widen with a number of days, so when we reduced it down to down through the age groups, down to 12, so it is a little bit confusing. the percentages _ little bit confusing. the percentages have - little bit confusing. the percentages have jumped around a fair bit. _ percentages have jumped around a fair bit, but one interesting part in the _ fair bit, but one interesting part in the telegraph story, it says a senior_ in the telegraph story, it says a senior government source expects the easter— senior government source expects the easter roll—out to speed up over the next few _ easter roll—out to speed up over the next few days and the key question is quite _ next few days and the key question is quite how the nhs manages it. it is quite how the nhs manages it. it is going _ is quite how the nhs manages it. it is going on— is quite how the nhs manages it. it is going on to a tricky winter, all

that winters generally are tricky for the — that winters generally are tricky for the health service, this one particularly with thousands of patients— particularly with thousands of patients in hospital with covid, the gps are _ patients in hospital with covid, the gps are stretched, people cannot see their doctor _ gps are stretched, people cannot see their doctor and now the doctors and nurses— their doctor and now the doctors and nurses in_ their doctor and now the doctors and nurses in gp — their doctor and now the doctors and nurses in gp surgeries as well as volunteers— nurses in gp surgeries as well as volunteers will have to use spaces to administer these boosterjabs. to administer these booster jabs. how the — to administer these boosterjabs. how the government meets the targets with the _ how the government meets the targets with the booster roll—outs by the end of— with the booster roll—outs by the end ofjanuary remains to be seen. harriet. _ end ofjanuary remains to be seen. harriet, take us to the times front page saying meanwhile, while the booster programme may or may not be stalled, one thing that is not stalling is the rate of progress that omicron is making, or it has made in countries like botswana and south africa already. the made in countries like botswana and south africa already.— made in countries like botswana and south africa already. the times says that omicron — south africa already. the times says that omicron cases _ south africa already. the times says that omicron cases in _ south africa already. the times says that omicron cases in the _ south africa already. the times says that omicron cases in the uk - south africa already. the times says that omicron cases in the uk are - that omicron cases in the uk are doubting — that omicron cases in the uk are doubling every three days and that is an alarming rate. the problem is that we _ is an alarming rate. the problem is that we do— is an alarming rate. the problem is that we do not know quite how alarming — that we do not know quite how alarming or not omicron is. we do

not have _ alarming or not omicron is. we do not have any— alarming or not omicron is. we do not have any data yet as to whether it is more _ not have any data yet as to whether it is more deadly or how much more infectious, — it is more deadly or how much more infectious, preliminary data suggest it is more _ infectious, preliminary data suggest it is more infectious and there are suggestions it is not as deadly, but that is— suggestions it is not as deadly, but that is a _ suggestions it is not as deadly, but that is a mixed field. it is never good _ that is a mixed field. it is never good news, _ that is a mixed field. it is never good news, we know with coronavirus, if cases— good news, we know with coronavirus, if cases are _ good news, we know with coronavirus, if cases are going up rapidly, you extrapolate that and that means cases _ extrapolate that and that means cases will rise and the proportion of people — cases will rise and the proportion of people falling seriously ill will be pretty high as well. i think these — be pretty high as well. i think these figures are quite alarming and also we _ these figures are quite alarming and also we have seen from the health secretary — also we have seen from the health secretary today that omicron is spreading amongst communities in the uk, not _ spreading amongst communities in the uk, notiust_ spreading amongst communities in the uk, notjust from people who spreading amongst communities in the uk, not just from people who travel from different countries where it is prevalent — from different countries where it is prevalent. that is another concern for the _ prevalent. that is another concern for the government, especially coming — for the government, especially coming up to christmas when people are mixing _ coming up to christmas when people are mixing with their families and loved _ are mixing with their families and loved ones — are mixing with their families and loved ones and the government really does not _ loved ones and the government really does not want to put in more curves for them _ does not want to put in more curves for them. does not want to put in more curves for them-- who _ does not want to put in more curves for them.- who do _ does not want to put in more curves for them.- who do i _ does not want to put in more curves for them.- who do i believe? | for them. david. who do i believe? the secretary _ for them. david. who do i believe? the secretary of _ for them. david. who do i believe? the secretary of state _ for them. david. who do i believe?

the secretary of state said - for them. david. who do i believe? the secretary of state said today, | the secretary of state said today, my mp, sajid javid said today, they were not aware of any hospitalisations through omicron. then of course in this times article as well, i see quoted professor neil ferguson, not known as an optimist in many of these matters, and he, of course, is suggesting that there doubling time of three days or less and it is very depressing and worrying story for a lot of people. take us on to the glorious photograph on the front of the times tomorrow morning. it is none other than our prime minister, not heavily disguised, iam than our prime minister, not heavily disguised, i am slightly baffled at his interview in his police bobble hat, maybe it was cold in the morning. the thing that makes him instantly recognisable is his hair. tv blamed for middle—class cocaine use is the headline.

tv blamed for middle-class cocaine use is the headline.— use is the headline. well, from my oint of use is the headline. well, from my point of view. _ use is the headline. well, from my point of view. i _ use is the headline. well, from my point of view, i think _ use is the headline. well, from my point of view, i think if _ use is the headline. well, from my point of view, i think if we - use is the headline. well, from my point of view, i think if we were . use is the headline. well, from my point of view, i think if we were on j point of view, i think if we were on this times front page and that had beenin this times front page and that had been in an identity parade in liverpool, in the early hours of the morning, i would liverpool, in the early hours of the morning, iwould have liverpool, in the early hours of the morning, i would have recognised him, wouldn�*t you? being serious about this, you do wonder at times like this, films and television will always be at risk of being blamed for glamorising the taking of drugs of this story particularly says, it seems to have been an interview the times has done with the director of threat leadership at the national crime agency and he basically says the uk is seen as a particular target for the traffickers, and we are an attractive destination for drugs. helped by, he says, the

glamorisation, not least in middle—class families of the taking of drugs. ht middle-class families of the taking of dru:s. , ., ., middle-class families of the taking ofdru~s. , ., ., _ of drugs. it is not a terribly glamorous _ of drugs. it is not a terribly glamorous image - of drugs. it is not a terribly glamorous image of - of drugs. it is not a terribly glamorous image of the i of drugs. it is not a terribly . glamorous image of the prime minister, slightly distracting from the story, actually. just from my point of view. he probably would not get recruited by the police, actually, not quite the standard shape for a police officer now but i think they did reduce the height restrictions. harriet, what do you make of the story, i am curious, i see drug use and a lot of dramas but i often see it in the context of something certainly not been praised and encouraged, but actually in drama it is used as something to show how the character is negative or on the skids. t show how the character is negative or on the skids.— or on the skids. i think part of this is he _ or on the skids. i think part of this is he is _ or on the skids. i think part of this is he is making _ or on the skids. i think part of this is he is making the - or on the skids. i think part of this is he is making the point| or on the skids. i think part of. this is he is making the point that it is sort— this is he is making the point that it is sort of— this is he is making the point that it is sort of normalised and that consumption of lifestyle drugs had become _ consumption of lifestyle drugs had become more socially acceptable. even _ become more socially acceptable. even if _ become more socially acceptable. even if it — become more socially acceptable. even if it is— become more socially acceptable. even if it is not reflected in a positive _ even if it is not reflected in a positive way on television, the fact that it _ positive way on television, the fact that it is _ positive way on television, the fact that it is often on television, and

are perhaps slightly glamorous, even in a negative sense way, that is not really _ in a negative sense way, that is not really helping the drugs problem. it really helping the drugs problem. it is a really helping the drugs problem. is a good really helping the drugs problem. ut is a good point, it is very interesting these days, it is very rare to see a character smoking in an ordinary context in the way that one would have seen 15 or 20 years ago in drama or comedy or whatever. that is true, absolutely. there have definitely— that is true, absolutely. there have definitely been shifts in society that is— definitely been shifts in society that is reflected on television. we have got— that is reflected on television. we have got a — that is reflected on television. we have got a story in the mail on middle—class drug users being told to clamp _ middle—class drug users being told to clamp down or stitch up their friends — to clamp down or stitch up their friends and report them to the police — friends and report them to the police. there is clearly a normalisation of drug use and i think— normalisation of drug use and i think this — normalisation of drug use and i think this times article reflects that _ think this times article reflects that he — think this times article reflects that. be that on television or at middle—class dinner parties, this is where _ middle—class dinner parties, this is where the — middle—class dinner parties, this is where the government is trying to clamp— where the government is trying to clamp down, lots of policies coming this week— clamp down, lots of policies coming this week on tackling crime and today— this week on tackling crime and today was— this week on tackling crime and today was a big day on the drugs

policy— today was a big day on the drugs policy with the big ten year review published. policy with the big ten year review ublished. ., ., ., yorkshire post pursues this thought, protect children to thwart criminal networkers. not least because yorkshire and certain rural parts of suffered the problem is that many parts of the country have suffered, the county line system whereby what was more of an urban problem than a rural problem is no longer the case. it is one of the things the government is pledging to cut down on. ~ , ,., y government is pledging to cut down on. ~ , ,., , , ., on. absolutely. there is an interview— on. absolutely. there is an interview with _ on. absolutely. there is an interview with arm - on. absolutely. there is an i interview with arm longfield, on. absolutely. there is an - interview with arm longfield, the former— interview with arm longfield, the former children's commissioner, in which _ former children's commissioner, in which she _ former children's commissioner, in which she says that basically if you protect _ which she says that basically if you protect children and they have trusted — protect children and they have trusted adults around them, who are in safe _ trusted adults around them, who are in safe places when they go out on activities _ in safe places when they go out on activities outside of school, then it is much— activities outside of school, then it is much harder for these county tines _ it is much harder for these county tines drug — it is much harder for these county lines drug gangs to get into and affect— lines drug gangs to get into and affect those children and bring them onhoard, _ affect those children and bring them onboard, whereas those gangs are targeting _ onboard, whereas those gangs are targeting much more vulnerable children— targeting much more vulnerable children who perhaps do not have a

safe home — children who perhaps do not have a safe home set up and are not sort of protected _ safe home set up and are not sort of protected. so, ithink safe home set up and are not sort of protected. so, i think she calling for the _ protected. so, i think she calling for the government to look a bit more _ for the government to look a bit more broadly at family networks, social— more broadly at family networks, social care, — more broadly at family networks, social care, etc, rather than necessarilyjust sort of slapping on punishments. it is quite a detailed report— punishments. it is quite a detailed report back about today, 67 pages, a dru- report back about today, 67 pages, a drug strategy for the next ten years — drug strategy for the next ten ears. , , .~' drug strategy for the next ten ears. , , a , drug strategy for the next ten ears. , , , ., years. david, 'ust picking up on that, what — years. david, just picking up on that, what you _ years. david, just picking up on that, what you make _ years. david, just picking up on that, what you make of- years. david, just picking up on that, what you make of it? - years. david, just picking up on that, what you make of it? i. years. david, just picking up on| that, what you make of it? i tell ou what that, what you make of it? i tell you what i _ that, what you make of it? i tell you what i make _ that, what you make of it? i tell you what i make of _ that, what you make of it? i tell you what i make of it, _ that, what you make of it? i tell you what i make of it, i'd - that, what you make of it? i tell you what i make of it, i'd make | you what i make of it, i�*d make of it personally that it is the latest ten year or however many years it is, drug strategy and one has to ask what happened to some of the earlier ones. one is bound to say, previous strategies have not worked. the cuts that we have heard a lot about from the opposition today and the closures, it would appear today to

be reversed and i heard your own correspondence, what did he talk about? a new era for drug treatment and one really hopes that that is right, getting the balance right between fighting the gangs on the one hand and on the other hand, rehabilitation and dealing with the frightening number of heroin and cocaine addicts in our society. i mean, you just hope you do wonder what was going on over the past decade and 15 years when we were supposedly fighting drugs and the drugs problems in our country with previous strategies. let us accept, let us at least accept that they have failed and this is a new substantial effort.— have failed and this is a new substantial effort. david, take us on to the guardian _ substantial effort. david, take us on to the guardian which - substantial effort. david, take us on to the guardian which has - substantial effort. david, take us on to the guardian which has a i substantial effort. david, take us i on to the guardian which has a quite disturbing story, this is evidence from a former diplomat, he is the

whistle—blower who is referred to in one of the other papers and the male talks about this. this is inefficiency in his view in whitehall that had real consequences and a debate about what was going on in the foreign office when the foreign secretary was on holiday and all the rest of it, as the efforts were made to carry out the evacuation from cobble. this named whistle-blower, _ evacuation from cobble. this named whistle-blower, let _ evacuation from cobble. this named whistle-blower, let us _ evacuation from cobble. this named whistle-blower, let us be _ evacuation from cobble. this named whistle-blower, let us be quite i whistle—blower, let us be quite clear on that, he cannot be flavour of the month tonight with the former foreign secretary dominic raab, seems to have given some extraordinary evidence to the foreign affairs select committee. it is the aftermath of the evacuation from kabulfiasco. this former diplomat has claimed that there was

bureaucratic chaos, ministerial intervention, ministerial intervention, ministerial intervention to light, lack of planning, and a short hours culture in the department that led to people being left to die at the hands of the taliban. he is claiming that dominic raab, the former foreign secretary showed a misunderstanding of the haphazard process and desperate position at the airport by delaying several emergency evacuation referrals and he was working, it seems, at a desk on his own on certain occasions. it is an extraordinary story.— own on certain occasions. it is an extraordinary story. harriet, what ou make extraordinary story. harriet, what you make of _ extraordinary story. harriet, what you make of it? — extraordinary story. harriet, what you make of it? it— extraordinary story. harriet, what you make of it? it is— extraordinary story. harriet, what| you make of it? it is extraordinary and pretty— you make of it? it is extraordinary and pretty devastating, not only for dominic— and pretty devastating, not only for dominic raab, who is still in the government isjust a secretary, but for the _ government isjust a secretary, but for the culture of the civil service and anyone — for the culture of the civil service and anyone who was working on that. if and anyone who was working on that. if you _ and anyone who was working on that. if you were _ and anyone who was working on that. if you were one of those civil servants _ if you were one of those civil servants who is accused of basically not working — servants who is accused of basically not working at weekends, because of

this short _ not working at weekends, because of this short hours policy when you