more than a million omicron cases by the end of the month — and that two doses provides little protection against the new variant. a senior government minister has described the situation is "seriously worrying". the white house says president biden is "very concerned" by a supreme court decision to leave strict new abortion laws in place in texas. the controversial new law bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. the legislation is being challenged by abortion providers. the high court in london has ruled thatjulian assange should be extradited to stand trial in the united states, following assurances from washington about the way he'll be treated. the wikileaks founder faces charges linked to the leaking of classified military documents. his supporters say the us could not be trusted.

scotla nd scotland was my first minister has expressed deep alarm at the omicron variant, saying that from saturday all household contacts of any covid cases should isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status and even if they initially get a negative pcr test. she also urged people to cancel work christmas parties. alexander mckenzie reports. another christmas overshadowed by uncertainty. with a sharp increase in daily covid cases, the scottish government said the omicron variant is likely to be the dominant strain within days. to be blunt, because of the much greater and faster transmissibility of this new variant, we may be facing, indeed we may be starting to experience, a potential tsunami of infections. while out celebrating with friends, the advice came

to think carefully about mixing in crowded spaces and about deferring work christmas parties. i can understand them making a knee—jerk reaction, because yes, you don't the nhs to be overwhelmed. i don't think people will follow the rules as much as they did maybe in previous years. whether they're getting used to it and accepting it. this glasgow restaurant is one of many that have suffered cancellations. we are sitting in a space that would have had a table of 10, but they cancelled this morning off the back of the advice they have been given by the government. we have picked up some smaller tables to fill it, but it's the uncertainty that really hurts us the most. this is not the news anyone wanted to hear, it is not the message the first minister wanted to deliver, especially again in the run up to christmas, on what should have been one of busiest party nights of the year. but the scottish government wants to act now, due to the rapid transmission rate of this new variant.

if you have a room of 100 people and a single unknown omicron case is in that room, you could in the days after that find 50, 60 or 70 positives. that's what we're trying to prevent. some people were out in glasgow city centre tonight, others decided to stay at home and put the celebrations on hold once more. alexandra mckenzie, bbc news, glasgow. now on bbc news, it's time for the travel show with christa larwood. this week on the travel show: heading back for the first time in over two years. let's go to gate! this aussie girl is finally going home. laying on a special treat as a thank you to thailand's monkeys. and how the aftermath of the second world

war helped to create one of berlin's most famous takeaway snacks. but first, with the christmas holiday season beginning, many will be crossing their fingers for a return to something more like normality when compared to this time last year. particularly those expats heading home to family. and for australians who have been abroad during the pandemic, which includes myself, reuniting with the family back home this year will be especially significant. there

are few things you have to do to go to australia. first of all you need to be eligible to go to australia, it is not completely open, you have to be double vaccinated and be able to prove it, and then you get proof of that, you get an australia travel declaration, very similar to the arrival document you have to do the most places across the world now, and you have to do... one of these lovely pcr tests. so i will be dealing with that soon, we're not it. laughs. i don't mind it at all, this is like an extra bit of my passport at the moment as far as i am concerned. so it went from a situation

where you could easily travel around the world at the drop of around the world at the drop of a hat, to... you need to have a long—term plan and a lot of money to get into your own home country as an australian. i think the first reaction was shocked, like everyone around the world when the pandemic hit, and also feeling quite grateful when australia did shut its borders initially, because it felt like, well, everything is being done to keep my family and friends safe, and surely this is a sensible precaution. but it was this low—lying kind of stress because it meant that if something happened to someone at home, instead of being 2a hours away, 36 hours away maximum, now you just couldn't get home. it wasn't possible unless you had very deep pockets. i unless you had very deep pockets-_ unless you had very deep ockets. ., ., ., , ., pockets. i am originally from the uk but — pockets. i am originally from the uk but | _ pockets. i am originally from the uk but i have _ pockets. i am originally from the uk but i have lived - pockets. i am originally from the uk but i have lived in - the uk but i have lived in australia now for a number of years, i am the manager of australian, we are all

australian, we are all australian citizens —— married to an australian. we came on holiday in early march for a three week holiday to visit family in the uk, and we have been trapped here ever since, standard. my main challenges we have a small house and there are six of us, so we are filming this, this is my dad's study in the shed in the garden, and the uncertainty of not knowing when that would stop has been particularly difficult. when the australians decided to put limitations on the number of people arriving because it put pressures on quarantine, the airlines have actually been forced to discriminate against the economy passengers, and so we have actually been removed from a couple of lights. we have done everything in our financial means to get home, but we'rejust financial means to get home, but we're just not able to. well, we did actually get back home eventually, here in tasmania. we had a three week holiday to the uk, which actually became a 6—month extended stay. we feel so blessed to be home, even here a

year on, to be back here in hobart after such a time. we had instances _ hobart after such a time. we had instances in australia where _ had instances in australia where some passenger planes were _ where some passenger planes were carrying maybe two, four or five — were carrying maybe two, four or five passengers into australia. how bad it got. surprisingly, it usually supported, and for a long time, there _ supported, and for a long time, there is— supported, and for a long time, there is polling that shows consistently around two—thirds or three — consistently around two—thirds or three quarters of the australian public actually did surrport_ australian public actually did support these very, very strict international border bands, even — international border bands, even when it meant locking out their— even when it meant locking out their compatriots.— their compatriots. thankfully after a late — their compatriots. thankfully after a late start, _ their compatriots. thankfully after a late start, australia i after a late start, australia really did a fantasticjob in terms of getting vaccinated. a bit of a heart... kind of. i won't be working as a barrister

anytime soon. victoria, my home state has already reached 90% vaccination, which... it is quite emotionalfor me because... it has meant i can go home. so... it is going to be a lot of tears over the next few days. this is very exciting, very exciting. although i have completely lost the knack of how to pack. i used to be like power, power, icould how to pack. i used to be like power, power, i could be back in 15 minutes, and now it is like, what is the weather going to be like? hot is the answer to be like? hot is the answer to that. i have to wait while my test gets checked, ijust want to go.

there has been a bit of a curveball in the past few hours. ., . ., , hours. concern mounts as countries _ hours. concern mounts as countries around - hours. concern mounts as countries around the - hours. concern mounts as| countries around the world hours. concern mounts as - countries around the world then flights from southern africa... third case of the omicron variantm _ third case of the omicron variant... 35s third case of the omicron variant. . ._ third case of the omicron variant... ~ _, ..,, ., variant... a confirmed case of omicron _ variant... a confirmed case of omicron variant... _ variant. .. a confirmed case of omicron variant... i _ variant... a confirmed case of omicron variant... i have - omicron variant... i have received _ omicron variant... i have received notification - omicron variant... i have received notification that| received notification that quarantine has been reimposed to some extent, so it was quarantine free travel, now it is 72 hours of quarantine upon arrival, and having to be isolated from my family, so the joyous reunion is maybe off the cards. i don't really know what is going to happen, how i will be isolated within my family home, if that's possible, do i need to get a hotel. i also need to get a hotel. i also need to get a hotel. i also need to get a permit to enter the state of victoria, which despite my research i havejust found out about. so it is getting a bit complicated. i guess the joys of travelling during covid. well, let's go to

gate. oh man, iam during covid. well, let's go to gate. oh man, i am so excited! i don't even care if i have to quarantine, i don't care. that's me, of course. i have just checked i havejust checked in, and i havejust i havejust checked in, and i have just seen the melbourne on the sign. welcome aboard qantas flight 10 down to darwin and onwards to melbourne. just down to darwin and onwards to melbourne-— melbourne. just about to head off, and i _ melbourne. just about to head off. and i am _ melbourne. just about to head off, and i am so _ melbourne. just about to head off, and i am so excited. -

jackpot! on a long haulflight, three seats to myself! yes! to date, the overall death toll in australia from coronavirus is just above 2000. so they have done extraordinarily well in protecting life. technically, the issue — protecting life. technically, the issue of _ protecting life. technically, the issue of stranded - the issue of stranded australians, or stranded aussies as it became known colloquially, that should have abated by now. although there are still government repatriation flights being put on by the australian government, because there are some places in the world where people didn't get vaccines that will be authorised or recognised by australia, it makes it very challenging for them to get on commercial flights. ! them to get on commercial fliuhts. ., �* them to get on commercial fliuhts. . �* .,, them to get on commercial fliuhts. . �* ,, ., flights. i haven't lost russia in two years _ flights. i haven't lost russia in two years -- _ flights. i haven't lost russia in two years -- left - flights. i haven't lost russia in two years -- left russia | flights. i haven't lost russia | in two years -- left russia in in two years —— left russia in two — in two years —— left russia in two years _ in two years —— left russia in two years coming up to february. i have given up on christmas, _ february. i have given up on christmas, i think i will be lucky— christmas, i think i will be lucky to— christmas, i think i will be lucky to get back by february next — lucky to get back by february next year _ lucky to get back by february next year if things go well for me —

next year if things go well for me i— next year if things go well for me. i havejust been next year if things go well for me. i have just been living this— me. i have just been living this limbo existence where i don't — this limbo existence where i don't know what next month is going — don't know what next month is going to — don't know what next month is going to bring. i have been living — going to bring. i have been living with a constant dagger over— living with a constant dagger over my— living with a constant dagger over my head of the russian governmentjust saying "your government just saying "your reader— government just saying "your reader is— governmentjust saying "your reader is up", and i don't know what _ reader is up", and i don't know what the — reader is up", and i don't know what the hell i will do them, where — what the hell i will do them, where do _ what the hell i will do them, where do i go if that is the situation? because what country wants _ situation? because what country wants me — situation? because what country wants me at the current moment with everyone having covid, i am not — with everyone having covid, i am not properly vaccinated, and i am not properly vaccinated, and idon't _ am not properly vaccinated, and i don't know when my own government will let me back into— government will let me back into my— government will let me back into my country. about 15 minutes away from landing now. after a very long flight. and a quick stop in darwin. ~ ., , flight. and a quick stop in darwin. ~ ., darwin. we hope you have en'o ed darwin. we hope you have enjoyed your _ darwin. we hope you have enjoyed your service - darwin. we hope you have enjoyed your service on i darwin. we hope you have . enjoyed your service on board today, we do look forward to

seeing you on board our aircraft again very soon. laughs. guess who's out of quarantine! yay! ! guess who's out of quarantine! ya ! ., guess who's out of quarantine! ya ! . ., guess who's out of quarantine! ya ! ., ., ., ., yay! i am out! i am free! i am out of quarantine _ yay! i am out! i am free! i am

out of quarantine at _ yay! i am out! i am free! i am out of quarantine at long - yay! i am out! i am free! i amj out of quarantine at long last, and it has given me a bit of a chance to reflect on what has meant to come home. i missed you guys! my word, we are lucky to live in a time where, in usual circumstances, you can jump usual circumstances, you can jump on a plane, 2a hours later be on the other side of the world, in my case i can be home. and i think the pandemic has sort of shown me that in past years i have really taken that for granted, it feels normal to be able to do that. and it is not necessarily something to be taken for granted, and i think going forward i will feel fortunate every time i get on that plane. auntie christa!— auntie christa! you are so big! still to come _ auntie christa! you are so big! still to come on _ auntie christa! you are so big! still to come on the _ auntie christa! you are so big! still to come on the show. - auntie christa! you are so big! still to come on the show. we | still to come on the show. we are on the hunt for berlin's best curry worst.—

are on the hunt for berlin's best curry worst. everyone from homeless _ best curry worst. everyone from homeless people _ best curry worst. everyone from homeless people to _ best curry worst. everyone from homeless people to the - homeless people to the chancellor. and we are in thailand to see a festival that has been helping bring back tourists to the region. it is tourists to the region. it is treat tourists to the region. it is great to — tourists to the region. it is great to be _ tourists to the region. it is great to be home. - tourists to the region. it is great to be home. but- tourists to the region. it is great to be home. but now we're turning around and heading straight back to europe where sausages and curry sauce may not the most natural flavour combination but in berlin, currywurst, as it is known, has become a street food favourite. so we headed to the german capital to find out more about this dish and its surprising origins. in this dish and its surprising ori . ins. this dish and its surprising oriains. :: , ., origins. in the 50s and the 60s, currywurst _ origins. in the 50s and the 60s, currywurst was - origins. in the 50s and the 60s, currywurst was one l origins. in the 50s and the | 60s, currywurst was one of origins. in the 50s and the - 60s, currywurst was one of the fast food is easily available and everyone grew up with currywurst. natalie has a pizza of spanish descent, literally

part of the culture of the city. hello, my name is laszlo and welcome to the most famous currywurst stall in germany. it is easy. you just get a sausage, cut it in six or eight pieces. and then you add tomato sauce on top. an top that with curry powder and spices and thatis curry powder and spices and that is it. you also need a fork. it is that simple. thanks a lot. we have customers from all over europe from asia, from the states, from everywhere. thank you for your patience and sorry for the inconvenience. i am actually able to sell currywurst in a lot of different languages. i'm not fluent in italian or spanish or

whatever. every region claims to have invented currywurst. the only true story is how it happened in berlin. after the second world war there was a small food store and she always saw the gis eating out. she wanted to replicate that but it was not possible to have a stake. it was expensive after the war. and so she just tried it with local ingredients and one day she mixed up curry and catch—up by accident and tried to refine it with more spices, she put on a sausage, customers traded and that was the birth of currywurst. there is currywurst with casing. it is a salty smoked sausage, a bit more savoury. in the local thing is currywurst without casing. it is a sausage ride afterwards and just a little softer and tender. we love

casing. it was born out of necessity because after the second world war berlin was isolated so we did not have enough casing for sausages. there was no way to get the casing into berlin. it wasjust too expensive. one of the things that singles out the ingredients, the tomato sauce is as important. it is what we are famous for. this is only about 200 litres of it and on a regular day we go through a ton of it in all three restaurants. it is tomato, salt, sugar spices that is it. some curry sources have less than 50% tomato. that is not a standard that we try to achieve. currywurst in berlin is eaten ijy currywurst in berlin is eaten by everyone from homeless people to the chancellor. i think it is important. it

transcends social classes. everyone eats currywurst. and thatis everyone eats currywurst. and that is a taste of berlin. i would say it is down—to—earth and easy—going. try it yourself. and easy-going. try it yourself-— and easy-going. try it ourself. , ., yourself. next up we are in thailand — yourself. next up we are in thailand where _ yourself. next up we are in thailand where tourists - yourself. next up we are in | thailand where tourists have gradually been returning after the government launched a quarantine free travel scheme in november. and it isjust in time for the monkey festival. once a year the resident macaques get to dine like kings. on the most elaborate displays of fruit and vegetables lovingly crafted by locals behind—the—scenes. haste locals behind-the-scenes. we re are locals behind-the-scenes. we prepare the — locals behind—the—scenes. -

prepare the fruits. we have many kinds of food. tropical food, mostly. banana, papaya, grape, mangosteen. mango and all kinds of vegetables. and we learn every year what they like most. wejust learn every year what they like most. we just know that they like the most.— most. we just know that they like the most. the feast costs over 100 _ like the most. the feast costs over 100 thousand _ like the most. the feast costs over 100 thousand barred, . like the most. the feast costs i over100 thousand barred, over over 100 thousand barred, over £2000 and is mainly sponsored ijy £2000 and is mainly sponsored by a local hotel. the owner began its 33 years ago. offering a free buffy to the monkeys as a thank you for bringing in customers. and it has grown in size taking on different things each year.

three the monkey is an important symbol in buddhist tradition and as such they are revered and treated very well. but a word of caution. you will be bargaining for more than just a selfie. these longtailed monkeys are very comfortable around people.— around people. that was the first time- — around people. that was the first time. it _ around people. that was the first time. it was _

around people. that was the first time. it was a _ around people. that was the first time. it was a bit - around people. that was the first time. it was a bit afraid | first time. it was a bit afraid but it was ok because it was worse for other people than for me so it was ok. and here we are. the moment they have all been waiting for.— been waiting for. because of covid-19 _ been waiting for. because of covid-19 there _ been waiting for. because of covid-19 there has _ been waiting for. because of covid-19 there has been - been waiting for. because of covid-19 there has been an l been waiting for. because of. covid-19 there has been an two covid—19 there has been an two year gap since the last festival and in general the pandemic has been hard on locals and these guys. the city is hundred thousand monkeys and during the lockdown a lack of tourists and local streets resulted in secret monkey battles over scraps of food but things are looking up. they like the traditional desert this is made from egg and he

likes dorian the most. more than 100,000 travellers took advantage of the thailand pass in november. it means not seem like a lot but that is as high as the number of arrivals from january to october combined. i can say that tourists, there are a lot of tourists here. fewer people because of covid—19 but i think they need to bring guys and lots of people. to bring guys and lots of --eole. ~ ., to bring guys and lots of people-— to bring guys and lots of --eole. ~ ., , , people. well, now their bellies are full and _ people. well, now their bellies are full and locals _ people. well, now their bellies are full and locals are - people. well, now their bellies are full and locals are free - people. well, now their bellies are full and locals are free to l are full and locals are free to take the wheelchairs. 2000 kilos of food was prepared for the weekend festivities but nothing is going to waste. the

leftovers are ta ken to monkeys living in the mountain temples outside the city. well, that is all we have time for on the programme this week. join us next week when we spread some christmas cheer and visit some of our favourite stories from a year that, well, let's face it, has not been the best for travel i have to be honest with you, that was a little bit frightening. in an all electric revamp of an iconic british motor. , , ., this motor. did you see that?! this is wild. motor. did you see that?! this is wild- 11_ motor. did you see that?! this is wild. 11 lines. _ motor. did you see that?! this is wild. 11 lines. this _ motor. did you see that?! this is wild. 11 lines. this is - is wild. 11 lines. this is wild. ., wild. until next time, from me, christer larwood _ wild. until next time, from me, christer larwood at _ wild. until next time, from me, christer larwood at home - christer larwood at home finally here in australia and the rest of the travel show team it is goodbye and we will see you next time.

hello. a big change in the feel of the weather through this weekend with some milder air spreading from the west. but with that, a fair amount of cloud, some mist and murk and hill fog, and some outbreaks of rain at times. on the earlier satellite picture, a slice of clear sky, and where that clear sky remains, quite a cold start to saturday morning. the coldest weather of the whole weekend, in fact. out west, more cloud, and with that, some milder weather, which is slowly, but surely going to crawl its way eastwards through the day. so, temperatures in eastern parts starting the day below freezing, western areas well above. belfast at 6, plymouth at 8 degrees, and as we go

through the day, the milder, but cloudier and wetter conditions will work eastwards. so early sunshine in eastern scotland, eastern england, that won't last long, things will tend to cloud over. briefly a bit of sleet and snow over high ground in scotland. but as you can see, it will turn back to rain because as this wet weather continues to track eastwards, it will introduce ever milder conditions. so 12 degrees for belfast, for cardiff, for plymouth, just 6 in aberdeen, 7 in norwich. but actually, as we go through saturday night, we will bring that milder weather further eastwards. whereas we normally expect temperatures to drop through the night, they won't across some eastern parts of england, for example, ending the night at 10 degrees in norwich and hull, 5 there in aberdeen, very mild out towards the west. all the while, some cloud, some outbreaks of rain, some clear spells across the northern half of the country. then through sunday, again, there's going to be quite a lot of cloud. that cloud producing some outbreaks of rain at times,

especially through north—west england, northern ireland, up into south—west scotland. some brighter glimpses here and there and a very, very mild afternoon, 8 to 1a degrees. now, we have to keep a close eye on developments during sunday night, because this small, but potent weather feature is expected to pass closer to the far north—west, a deepening area of low pressure. that is set to bring some very strong winds across parts of northern ireland, but perhaps most especially in exposed parts of western and northern scotland, particularly for the western and northern isles, there could be some really quite stormy weather for a time. we will keep you posted on that one throughout the weekend. into next week, it stays relatively mild. a bit of rain around fora time, perhaps settling down later in the week.

good morning. welcome to breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. our headlines today: visits to care homes in england are to be limited to three people in response to the omicron variant. in scotland, from today all household contacts of covid cases have to isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status. england's cricketers suffer a nine—wicket defeat in the first ashes test in brisbane. and formula 1 fans gear up for one of the most anticipated races in history as lewis hamilton and max verstappen go head to head in a winner—takes—all grand prix.

and most of us will notice temperatures