this is bbc news. the headlines in the uk and around the world. the uk renews its appeal for everyone eligible to come forward for a booster vaccine — as research shows it significantly reduces the chance of developing symptoms from the omicron variant. new guidance is issued for care homes in england that will limit visitors to three for each resident — as omicron cases surge. a powerful storm batters parts of the us — a tornado hit an amazon warehouse in the state of illinois with reports of multiple people being trapped inside. britain warns russia it will face severe consequences if it

invades ukraine, as a g7 meeting of foreign ministers to discuss rising tensions gets under way. it would be extremely serious if russia were to take that action. it would be a strategic mistake and there would be severe consequences for russia. and england's cricketers slump to a nine—wicket defeat in the first ashes test in brisbane. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. health officials in the uk have renewed their appeal for everyone eligible to come forward for

a coronavirus booster vaccine — after research showed it significantly reduced the chance of developing symptoms from the omicron variant. the preliminary study — by the uk health security agency — also suggests that two doses of vaccine are not enough to protect people from catching the variant. cases of omicron have risen sharply in recent days, and could top a million by the end of the month. our medical editor, fergus walsh, reports. it is remarkable just how fast the omicron variant is spreading through a highly immunised population. new evidence suggests two doses of vaccine offer little protection from infection, while a booster cuts your risk of getting a mild illness by three quarters. but vaccination should offer much higher protection against severe disease. what scientists urgently need to know is what proportion of those infected will need hospital treatment. there are early signs from south africa that

omicron may mostly cause milder illness than delta, but even a small proportion of a huge omicron wave could result in sudden and sustained pressure on an already stretched nhs. the public are being urged to recognize the potential threat from omicron. our public health advice is to take proportionate action from where we are now. that includes face coverings vaccinating, primary vaccine. getting tested when you've got symptoms, regular lateral flows, making sure that you ventilate spaces. and finally to think about the number of contacts that you have every day, working from home if you can, and other measures that will reduce the transmission of this in the community. the government says covid measures will be kept under review. any decision on further restrictions on people's lives and livelihoods will need very careful consideration, given the threat from omicron remains unclear. one thing is certain.

this is the last news people wanted to hear in the run up to christmas. professor peter openshaw is an immunologist at imperial college london, and a member of the uk vaccine network — speaking in personal capacity. we are hearing a lot about how valuable and key that booster is going to be. for many that is the third vaccine. what is the mechanism that means it will make a huge difference?— that means it will make a huge difference? , , , ., difference? the immune response you aet difference? the immune response you net to difference? the immune response you get to vaccines — difference? the immune response you get to vaccines is _ difference? the immune response you get to vaccines is a _ difference? the immune response you get to vaccines is a sliding _ difference? the immune response you get to vaccines is a sliding scale. - get to vaccines is a sliding scale. the more of a response you get the more protection you get. it is relatively easy to protect against serious forms of disease. that is an important message. even if you do not have enough immunity to stop you getting infected, these vaccines are

probably going to be very effective in preventing you from getting serious disease and possibly dying. that is the big unknown with omicron, the severity of the disease. we keep hearing about this time lag before we start to see that aspect of omicron. how long should we wait for that data? this aspect of omicron. how long should we wait for that data?— we wait for that data? this disease tends to have _ we wait for that data? this disease tends to have a _ we wait for that data? this disease tends to have a nasty _ we wait for that data? this disease tends to have a nasty sting - we wait for that data? this disease tends to have a nasty sting in - we wait for that data? this disease tends to have a nasty sting in its i tends to have a nasty sting in its tail. the first week or so it often does not seem to be very severe, only may be in the second week that it really declares itself. many of the people who die are dying in the third orfourth the people who die are dying in the third or fourth week. it does take time. the other thing to say is that the people in south africa who have been infected tend to be in a young age group. at the moment in the uk it is a young age group who has the highest rate of infection, people in their 20s, highest rate of infection, people in their20s, in highest rate of infection, people in their 20s, in their 30s, highest rate of infection, people in their20s, in their30s, and highest rate of infection, people in their 20s, in their 30s, and some in their 20s, in their 30s, and some in their 40s. their 20s, in their 30s, and some in their40s. it their 20s, in their 30s, and some in their 40s. it is a relatively young age group, where we would not expect

to see very severe disease anyway. we have to connect for all those things before we can see whether this is less severe than delta, similar to delta. this is less severe than delta, similarto delta. it this is less severe than delta, similar to delta. it will take time for that to play out, unfortunately. i was reading somewhere that there are more hospitalisations in south africa for under fives, which are more hospitalisations in south africa for underfives, which is quite unusual, for waves of coronavirus. you are saying that we should be correcting. what coronavirus. you are saying that we should be correcting.— coronavirus. you are saying that we should be correcting. what should we be doinu ? should be correcting. what should we be doing? we — should be correcting. what should we be doing? we know— should be correcting. what should we be doing? we know what _ should be correcting. what should we be doing? we know what works - should be correcting. what should we be doing? we know what works year, | be doing? we know what works year, which is keeping your distance from people who are infected, regular testing, using face masks, all of that advice is so important in this stage when we really are trying to mmp stage when we really are trying to ramp up booster doses. we know that the booster doses do give very effective protection. we do not know how long it is going to last. it may not be very long lasting, but those booster doses are going to be

critical. but we cannotjust rely on the vaccine campaign to control this. we have to wear masks and all those other things we have learned to do. is those other things we have learned to do. , . , those other things we have learned to do. , ., , ., those other things we have learned to do. , . , ., ., to do. is it inevitable that we are auoin to to do. is it inevitable that we are going to see _ to do. is it inevitable that we are going to see a — to do. is it inevitable that we are going to see a wave _ to do. is it inevitable that we are going to see a wave of _ to do. is it inevitable that we are going to see a wave of infections to do. is it inevitable that we are i going to see a wave of infections of this particular variance globally? it is our very infectious virus. all the studies that are starting to show data around the world show very fast take up of the virus, and the anecdotal reports of very high infection rates in enclosed spaces and parties, quite unprecedented with previous variants. we are lucky in this country because we have been able to invest in vaccines ahead of time, the big vaccine stockpile, we have got mechanisms of delivering the vaccines. but imagine if this had happened early on, if we had had a virus this transmissible at the beginning, orwhat

a virus this transmissible at the beginning, or what is happening around the world in populations where the vaccines have not become available. indie where the vaccines have not become available. ~ , ., _, where the vaccines have not become available. ~ , ., ., , , available. we should count ourselves luc here. available. we should count ourselves lucky here. thank _ available. we should count ourselves lucky here. thank you _ available. we should count ourselves lucky here. thank you for _ available. we should count ourselves lucky here. thank you for your - available. we should count ourselves lucky here. thank you for your time. | from today, household contacts of people who've tested positive for covid in scotland, are being asked to isolate for 10 days — regardless of their vaccination status, or even if they've had a negative pcr result. the welsh government is urging members of the public to take a lateral flow test before going shopping or to christmas parties. and officials in northern ireland aren't planning to extend restrictions over the festive period — but say they may need to, but say they may need to come january. care homes in england are also being affected by the rise in omicron cases. from wednesday, the number of people allowed to visit each resident will be limited to three —

and staff testing will be increased. our reporter, simonjones, has more details. they're getting into the christmas spirit at this care home in norwich, but the shadow of omicron looms. the home, though, says it's determined not to close to visitors. i'd be very sad if that was to happen. our main goal is, is that our doors will remain open. and we've listened to the families. we've listened to our residents. and what they really missed was, it was that contact. and what we've done is that we're still allowing the visitors to come. we have robust procedures in place and it's been transformational. but things are changing — under new guidance from the department of health, care home residents in england will only be permitted to receive visits from three people, plus one essential care worker. staff will have to take three lateral flow tests a week, as well as a weekly pcr test. and there will be a £300 million fund to recruit and retain care workers.

as well as the extra testing for staff vaccination teams will be deployed to homes to make sure all residents and workers get theirjabs. here at the department of health, they say updating the visiting guidance and boosting the booster program will help protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society from the virus this winter. it's about balancing risk with the latest clinical advice. staff are overworked. i have sympathy with people out there. i had hoped this christmas would be better than last. it seems we are heading for another difficult one. this resident says she would be concerned if she could not see her relatives. i wouldn't like that, but i'd have to put up with it. the aim is to maintain contact at christmas, but the changes reflect the concern over omicron and the pressure the care system is already under.

simon jones, bbc news. joining me now is nadra ahmed, spokesperson for the national care association. what is your reaction to these new limits that have been put in place? it is disappointing. providers have been working really hard to try and make this christmas much better than last year. they have been planning this for a while. talking to families, getting things into place, making sure that we could get that festive feeling back again after having lost it for the last year. and this just moves as more towards what it was like before. it will be disappointing for relatives. it will be extremely disappointing for the residents. but it is the world that we live in. and we cannot risk getting this virus back into our

care services, especially when it transmissible. do you have the resources, or do most care homes have the resources and the staff to meet these new restrictions?— and the staff to meet these new restrictions? the restrictions, we have been _ restrictions? the restrictions, we have been dealing _ restrictions? the restrictions, we have been dealing with _ restrictions? the restrictions, we have been dealing with these - restrictions? the restrictions, we have been dealing with these for| restrictions? the restrictions, wel have been dealing with these for a while. what you have to remember is the testing regimes, the booking systems, these are all new, and things we had to raise with very little support, i have to say, and is one of the worst staffing crisis that we have ever seen. our staff have been taken away from that task thatis have been taken away from that task that is the most important to them, which is about supporting the people that we care for, and having to deal with that. we have got more ambulance staff coming in. providers do get some volunteers to come in and support but for all of that we have to manage, risk assess, and make it happen. resources are going to be very tight. they are going to

be difficult. especially as we come towards this festive period and the new year where staff who are exhausted, and also want time out with theirfamilies... i exhausted, and also want time out with their families. . ._ with their families. .. i wonder if i could jump _ with their families. .. i wonder if i could jump in _ with their families. .. i wonder if i could jump in very _ with their families. .. i wonder if i could jump in very quickly. - with their families. .. i wonder if i could jump in very quickly. do . with their families. .. i wonder if i | could jump in very quickly. do you feel as if these new guidelines are clear? we feel as if these new guidelines are clear? ~ ., ~ ., , clear? we will not know until they are published _ clear? we will not know until they are published on _ clear? we will not know until they are published on tuesday. - clear? we will not know until they are published on tuesday. we do| are published on tuesday. we do not know what the guidance will say. what we know as the headline, three nominated individuals from each family, and the essential care giver. how that will work is that families will need to nominate people. i think that in itself will cause some challenges where families have already planned who might be coming in to see they are relative. that is not going to be able to happen any more. there is huge disappointment for their relatives. we have raised expectations that

this christmas would be very different. the narrative was it would be much better christmas. it might be marginally, but we are going to live under this fear of the transmissibility of this virus. just to finish, do you think these new restrictions, obviously we'll find out more on tuesday when they are voted on, do you think they are neededin are voted on, do you think they are needed in your settings? i are voted on, do you think they are needed in your settings?— are voted on, do you think they are needed in your settings? i think we have not needed in your settings? i think we have got to — needed in your settings? i think we have got to avoid _ needed in your settings? i think we have got to avoid what _ needed in your settings? i think we have got to avoid what happens - have got to avoid what happens before with the seeding of the virus. we have to be much more careful about how we expose people to the virus. it may well be needed. but in different settings people will be able to manage them differently. if you have got large spaces, purpose—built spaces, it might be very different to a converted home. ithink might be very different to a converted home. i think there will be providers who will be thinking, they could do this differently. but

we will have to stick to the guidelines, because that is something that our insurance will want to be seeing. and it only matters when it matters. and one case will be one too many. thank you. spokesperson for the national care association, thank you very much. the uk foreign secretary liz truss has warned russia it will face severe economic consequences if it invades ukraine. she was speaking in liverpool where foreign ministers from the g7 are meeting to discuss rising tensions with russia, china, and iran's nuclear ambitions. joining me now is our diplomatic correspondent james landale, who's in liverpool. a rather busy schedule but it sounds as if there is a lot of criticism for potential action to be taken by russia. yes, that is the priority of this

meeting, because it is the most pressing issue at the moment. there are a stated to be over 100,000 russian troops on the border with ukraine. that has sent a lot of ripples of concern throughout the chancellery is of europe and around the world. the west is doing everything it can to deter any military action. whenever there is any meeting of foreign ministers, whenever a head of government is interviewed they are all warning of what they call severe consequences for russia if that were to take place sometime in the future. this was how liz trust put this earlier. —— truss. it would be a strategic mistake stop there would be severe consequences for russia. what we are doing this weekend is working with like minded allies to spell that

out. we are hearing of consequences. how much pressure, how much power, does the g7 have? when we hear about consequences, diplomatic and economic sanctions? primarily diplomatic and economic sanctions. it is a good question as to what they actually mean by these severe consequences. there are a range of economic sanctions. there are sanctions that are imposed on russia already. the big ticket items are things like the gas pipeline between russia and germany. that exists but it is not actually on tap at the moment because there are regulatory obstacles still to be overcome. and there are many western capitals we believe that if there were to be a russian invasion that pipeline should just be shut down. that would have a huge impact on russian gas exports, it would damage russia's economy. it would be a very high price to pay. but equally,

inevitably, that would curtail gas supplies to western europe, and that means that your and my gas bills would go up as a result, because there would be greater pressure on existing supplies. that is the dilemma with economic sanctions, if they are really going to hurt the other side, they quite often have a consequence for the countries that are imposing those sanctions. those are imposing those sanctions. those are the kind of discussions that are going to be had here today. the question is, how explicit are they going to be in coming days if ever this comes to a crunch. very quickly, why is the issue of nato offering ukraine membership a problem for vladimir putin? he opposes fundamentally the growth of nato and has done for years. he sees nato as an aggressive organisation, the west sees it as a

defence organisation, he would consider ukraine's membership of nato as a hugely aggressive act. it is not on the cards at the moment but what has been debated is this, if vladimir putin does not wish to invade ukraine but does wish to put pressure on the west by threatening to do so, can he get any concessions out of the west on that exact issue? in other words, can he persuade the west, for example, to rule out nato membership for ukraine? the head of nato this week has absolutely opposed that and said it is not up to any other country to decide who is or is not a member of nato. but thatis is or is not a member of nato. but that is the slight concern, is that in the rush to deter an invasion of ukraine, the west perhaps makes too many strategic concessions to the russians. fascinating. thank you very much.

a deadly tornado has ripped through the us states arkansas, kentucky, and into part of illinois. at least one person has died at a nursing home in monette, arkansas, and another 20 people are still believed to be trapped. in edwardsville, illinois a tornado has ripped through an amazon distribution centre causing the roof to partially collapse. some injuries have been reported. mark lobel reports. debris and power lines down in st charles county. tornado warnings were issued here before it struck a nursing home. the wild weather hit the top of this amazon warehouse in illinois. local reporters say there are people inside. a family member of someone trapped on the complex was speaking to them at the time. he was on the phone with me while it was happening. the tornado was hitting the back of the building. the trucks were coming in.

i told him to jump off the truck. we watched the building go up, start hitting the cars. i told him i was on my way, just stay under. icame in. now i can't find him. others are concerned about those on the premises also. i talked to him about eight o'clock tonight, a little before. i texted him and he was returning to the warehouse to drop his van off. i have not heard from him since. ijust heard on the news. we have lost power. i decided to come down here to see what was going on. i had no idea the building look that bad. i am worried sick. ijust want to know if he is ok. the national weather service forecast more than 70 million people across parts of the mississippi, ohio and tennessee valleys would be affected. with concern over the length and nocturnal nature of these tornadoes that can prove more destructive than daytime ones.

i'm joined now byjenna rae — a local reporter at the scene of the amazon warehouse in edwardsville, illinois. but some breaking news concerning this story, they kentucky governor has reportedly said that at least 50 people are likely to have been killed in this outbreak of tornadoes. tornadoes have ripped through kentucky as well as other us states late on friday night and early hours of saturday morning. he did add that the number of dead could be significantly more than that. the reports are heartbreaking, he said. we are hoping to get the latest from him. but initially it sounds like at least 50 people are likely to have been killed. we have

got that clip. let us listen to what they kentucky governor had to say a short time ago. first, trying to confirm this figure of more than 50 feared dead in kentucky, according to the governor. yes, ifear is kentucky, according to the governor. yes, i fear is that there are more than 50 dead in kentucky. confirmation on each individual is coming in. we are going to lose over 50 people. probably closer to between 70 and 100. it is devastating. let us get the latest from a local reporter at the scene of a amazon warehouse that was struck, in illinois, by one of those tornadoes. before we get the latest from there, your reaction to what we have just heard from the kentucky governor. it

does sound as if these tornadoes are devastating. it certainly has been across the entire midwest region, this afternoon, this evening, and into this morning. we havejust learned, confirmed in the last couple of minutes, that there are several dead from this amazon warehouse collapse that happens around eight o'clock central time here last night. we do not have a set number of people right now. we just know that several people are dead, possibly more are injured at this time. were these tornadoes forecast? did they take people by surprise? we were prepared for severe weather. we were prepared for severe weather. we were prepared for severe weather. we were tracking the storms the entire time across our state and in our viewing area. they span up very

quickly. quickerthan our viewing area. they span up very quickly. quicker than predicted. we were telling people to get in there safe space. we had to needle warnings going out within a significant amount of time for people to find and take shelter appropriately, to attempt to stay safe from this severe weather. have they now pass where you are? is this about recovery now and assessing those injured and the damage? and where are those who have been left without a home, where are they going? that been left without a home, where are the uuoin? . , , been left without a home, where are they going?— they going? that is exactly right. the have they going? that is exactly right. they have passed _ they going? that is exactly right. they have passed for— they going? that is exactly right. they have passed for now. - they going? that is exactly right. they have passed for now. the . they going? that is exactly right. i they have passed for now. the first round came through where i am now, in illinois, at half past eight, there was another round, it could have potentially been a tornado, it was strong winds, now in edwardsville we believe this is

potentially one of the places that had most damage... i potentially one of the places that had most damage. . ._ potentially one of the places that had most damage... i have to “ump in. iwill had most damage... i have to “ump in. mm speakfi had most damage... i have to “ump in. i will speak to i had most damage... i have to “ump in. i will speak to you i had most damage... i have to “ump in. i will speak to you later. h had most damage... i have to jump in. i will speak to you later. do - in. i will speak to you later. do stay safe. more on this story shortly. you are watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with owain wyn evans. hello, hello, everyone, i hope you're doing all right. now, most of us will notice temperatures rising across the uk today, but those rising temperatures will come courtesy of a weather front which, in turn, will also bring some rain, so there is your headline for the weekend. yes, turning milder, but rain at times. let's have a look at the air mass. you can see the blue colours being replaced by the warmer tones, the yellows, the oranges. this triangle here is called the warm sector. you can see it drawing up the milder air from the south. where you see the line, that is the boundary,

that is the weather front. and that is what is bringing us this. moving in from the west this morning, continuing on itsjourney, as we head through the rest of the day, then moving from the west towards the east. rain across many parts, i think. quite breezy to the north. temperature—wise, we will get to about 12, 13 celsius potentially. on the leading edge of that front, it will still be chilly, from the northern isles, down across eastern coasts, into single figures, whilst, further west, we will be in the double figures. let's look at tonight, then. the weather front continues to move away, fizzling out as it moves towards the east. we will see some clear spells developing across parts of the north of england, scotland, some showers here, with a strengthening breeze, cloudy across central and southern parts of england and wales, and a bit of a temperature contrast tonight, i think. many of us seeing double figures, 12, possibly 13 celsius. and across southern parts, and northern england, scotland, it will be pretty chilly, with temperatures down to around five celsius in aberdeenshire, potentially lower here or there. let's have a look at tomorrow, then.

more in the way of drier weather around. you can see this feature here, as it tilts into wales, northern ireland, northern england, eventually into scotland. some brightness, i think, further south. temperatures up a notch, we could get 1a celsius, but still cooler to the north. we are keeping an eye on an area of low pressure that will move towards us tomorrow night, there it is. this will be bringing very strong winds across parts of northern ireland and scotland, and we could see some disruption as a result with gusts of potentially 80 or 90 mph. there it is. you can see it moving away towards the north, skirting western coastal parts of scotland, the western isles, up towards the northern isles as well, with stormy conditions and very strong winds as well, so that is certainly one to keep an eye on. as for the rest of this week, relatively mild. it looks like things will cool down a bit towards the end of the week, turning more settled.

hello, this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines... in the latest breaking news, the governor of kentucky says at least 50 people died in the state, after a powerful storm battered the state, and a number of towns, with four

other deaths recorded as well.