it comes as the first people in the uk have been hospitalised with omicron. new cases of the variant are up 65% the last 2a hours. elsewhere, the political pressure mounts on borisjohnson. he's facing a possible rebellion from his mps over covid rules and fresh questions about christmas gatherings at downing street last year. in other news, emergency teams continue the search for survivors in six us states after tornadoes leave more than 90 people dead. max verstappen is confirmed as the 2021 formula one world champion, after stewards dismiss a protest by lewis hamilton's team mercedes, following last—lap drama in abu dhabi. they intend to appeal again.

we are hoping to hearfrom we are hoping to hear from the united states later on in this hour. stay with us. let's talk to the leader of the liberal democrats, sir ed davey, whojoins me. what is your response to what the prime minister said in the statement from the medical officers about the increase in the level of concern? i don't agree with borisjohnson on many things but i do agree on this, everyone should have their booster jabs, it is a national interest for everyone to get them, i have and i recommend people do. my criticism is that they have moved quite slowly. we knew that omicron was more transmissible two weeks ago, they had a deadline to get all care homes and residents boosted by the 1st of november and still one in four have not had the boosterjab. there is concern that the government have

been moving much too slowly. i5 been moving much too slowly. is there any clarity as to why the booster programme has not progressed at the pace and with the success at the first two injections did? is it just logistics or is it to some extent public complacency? i think the government has not really sounded the alarm early enough. we saw the evidence that omicron was more transmissible before. and i do not think they have been level with the public. not think they have been level with the ublic. . . . , the public. particularly with the government's _ the public. particularly with the government's problems, - the public. particularly with the - government's problems, particularly the prime minister, they lack credibility and the need to treat the public as adults, public the advice and the sage advice so we can see all of the evidence that is. they have not been doing that and i think the government needs to level more with the british people and then they will take them with them. i am very supportive of the announcement tonight. we do need to treat this as an emergency. you want

to make sure that people's christmases are not ruined, and i talk to people around the country they are worried they will not be able to see their families and parents are worried that if this gets out of hand, schools may not openin gets out of hand, schools may not open injanuary. the government really has to get a group of this. it has moved too slowly, it has not treated people like adults by publishing one of the advice, but i just hope that people actually listen to the prem minister and i think it is in the national interest that everybody gets boosted. fin think it is in the national interest that everybody gets boosted. on the auestion of that everybody gets boosted. on the question of omicron, _ that everybody gets boosted. on the question of omicron, it _ that everybody gets boosted. on the question of omicron, it was - that everybody gets boosted. on the question of omicron, it was only - question of omicron, it was only identified as concerning a fortnight ago, you cannot blame the government for that, ago, you cannot blame the government forthat, can ago, you cannot blame the government for that, can you? the booster programme was an existing programme aimed at delta and it has now been discovered you need the booster, it did not know that until days ago? we have did not know that until days ago? - have been talking about omicron for a few weeks and we know it is a real threat. the lesson of this pandemic

is the government has tended to move much too slowly and the booster programme itself was not working, as you admitted a few minutes ago. the deadline to ensure boosterjabs went to care homes was the 1st of november. and still, 25% of care homes and residents have not received a booster. that is not very good, these are the most vulnerable in the country. and the government let the care homes and residents and families down before and it looks like they are doing it again. they need to get a group so let us hope to know marks a change in the government is going to actually get its act together and make sure that people realise they have to get those boosterjabs. pare people realise they have to get those boosterjabs.— people realise they have to get those boosterjabs. those booster “abs. are you whipping lib dem mps — those boosterjabs. are you whipping lib dem mps to _ those boosterjabs. are you whipping lib dem mps to vote _ those boosterjabs. are you whipping lib dem mps to vote with _ those boosterjabs. are you whipping lib dem mps to vote with the - lib dem mps to vote with the government on tuesday on the new additional rules announced? we have onl 'ust additional rules announced? we have onlyjust heard _ additional rules announced? we have onlyjust heard that _ additional rules announced? we have only just heard that there _ additional rules announced? we have onlyjust heard that there will- additional rules announced? we have onlyjust heard that there will be - onlyjust heard that there will be four separate votes and we have not seen the government's precise

regulations yet but of course we will back any necessary measures to stop the spread and we want to see the sage advice to justify the measure but we have concerns about the covid passports because there is no evidence that they stop the spread. we are very keen and have been throughout the pandemic to put the national interest first, to stop the national interest first, to stop the spread of covid but i want to make sure the government regulations actually have evidence behind them. thank you very much forjoining us. we can talk to the dup's paul givan, first minister of northern ireland. thank you for being with us. there has been son impression left that your administration at stormont and the administration in holyrood and in cardiff would like to go further and faster on restrictions or more concerned that the westminster government. what is your thinking at

this stage? we government. what is your thinking at this staue? ~ ., , this stage? we have very good engagement — this stage? we have very good engagement across _ this stage? we have very good engagement across the - this stage? we have very good engagement across the uk, i this stage? we have very good | engagement across the uk, we this stage? we have very good - engagement across the uk, we met on friday, the cobra committee was convened by michael gove and we met this afternoon and i anticipate another meeting of the cobra committee to take place tomorrow. that is ensuring that we share all of the latest data around the movement of the omicron variant and what is happening in london and scotland is certainly ahead of where we were at and —— where we are at a northern ireland and we anticipate that two week lag we will catch up with the spread of this variant, which is in northern ireland. it is critically important we have the joint approach, critically important we have the jointapproach, combined critically important we have the joint approach, combined messaging we are putting out where people are being asked to come forward for the boosterjab because the evidence is clear that the booster will help give you greater protection from any serious illness or hospitalisation as a result of the new variant and that will be vital, given the higher

levels of transmissibility associated with this variant. i would encourage people to come forward for that and we as governments need to make sure facilities are accessible so we already have agreed to extend the opening hours of walk—in clinics and we have lowered the age to 30 and we will seek to lower it even further for people to come forward for the booster because that will be critical in terms of what you can do to help our health service to get through the anticipated pleasures this new variant will create. there has perhaps _ this new variant will create. there has perhaps been _ this new variant will create. there has perhaps been a _ this new variant will create. there has perhaps been a less - this new variant will create. there has perhaps been a less fast - this new variant will create. there has perhaps been a less fast update of vaccinations in northern ireland than in other parts of the uk. are you clear why that is? fin than in other parts of the uk. are you clear why that is?— you clear why that is? on the booster we — you clear why that is? on the booster we took _ you clear why that is? on the booster we took a _ you clear why that is? on the booster we took a deliberate | booster we took a deliberate decision to get into our care homes first, so the most vulnerable in northern ireland in care homes have already received their boosterjab. even with the first and second injections, the pace did not seem the same, it seemed as if there was

much reluctance to take it in northern ireland and given the political parties have been taking the lead on this, encouraging people i wonder if you had got to the bottom of that and therefore were able to tell —— taylor public health messages accordingly? we able to tell -- taylor public health messages accordingly?— able to tell -- taylor public health messages accordingly? we have seen an u take messages accordingly? we have seen an uptake in — messages accordingly? we have seen an uptake in people _ messages accordingly? we have seen an uptake in people coming _ messages accordingly? we have seen an uptake in people coming forward l an uptake in people coming forward for their first an uptake in people coming forward for theirfirst and an uptake in people coming forward for their first and second dose but we already have over 90% of the aduu we already have over 90% of the adult population having received their first and second dose. what is encouraging is that some people have now come forward for the second step and i want to thank them for that. we have a steep acceleration of the boosterjab being rolled out and we can see that with over 40% of eligible adults having taken the boosterjab. what we need is a greater accessibility, so we have hundreds of new vaccinators having been recruited and we are looking at extending the capacity of existing hubs but also with the community pharmacies we have an important

arrangement and that allows people in their local community to go to their local chemist and they will get theirjabs. we have seen a steep rise in the number of people getting the boosterjabs but we need to see that increase even more. currently we are delivering around the same levels at the peak of the first primary doses but we want to increase that and really set a target by the end of this year to get as many people with the booster jab as possible, as well as taking those other sensible measures, taking personal responsibility for personal hygiene, you don't need to legislate on that. people can make the right choices when it comes with the right choices when it comes with the kind of decisions that you need to take to help us over the next number of weeks. i to take to help us over the next number of weeks.— to take to help us over the next number of weeks. i wanted to ask about the other _ number of weeks. i wanted to ask about the other measures - number of weeks. i wanted to ask about the other measures and - about the other measures and specifically one you had been very careful in the executive not to rescind. you have reemphasised recently working from home. encouraging people to work from home. is that advice being taken and

are you confident you will not have to cancel christmas this year? we certainl to cancel christmas this year? - certainly are working towards keeping our society open by doing that in a safe way so i have put the message out that people should not panic, but they need to be very much alert to the responsibilities that we all have to play our part and whether that is working from home where you can and then we encourage people to do that. that was not always be practical for people to do that. that was not always be practicalfor some businesses and individuals but where employers can facilitate that, we encourage them to do so. over the next number of weeks we are going to try to keep our society open and we are behind the curve in terms of this new variant in comparison to london and scotland. but we do want to keep people able to operate in as open a way as possible but we still have to take those decisions that personally will help, and that is a choice as we can all make where government does not need to legislate. that is taking that personal responsibility very seriously. the single most impactful

measure people can take, and i encourage people to do this over the next number of weeks, is good the boosterjab because the evidence has shown is that will help reduce the likelihood of you having serious health implications and requiring hospitalisation and that is a general concern we have in terms of the meetings i have had with the scientific and medical experts, this variant is much more transmissible, around 2.5 times more so than delta and you will have a large number of people in the publishing contracting the virus and becoming unwell. a smaller number of people being hospitalised is what could present a challenge to the health service. this is the best step we can take and we are doing it collectively across the four nations with the uk as we ask people to do that and come forward and get your boosterjab over the next number of days. paul givan, thank _ over the next number of days. paul givan, thank you _ over the next number of days. paul givan, thank you very _ over the next number of days. paul givan, thank you very much for being with us this evening. in the last

few minutes we've had a statement from the nhs chief executive amanda pritchard, who says omicron poses a grave threat that could lead to a new wave of infections that could be even greater than those which have gone before. nhs staff will do everything in their power to rise to the external challenge and ensure the external challenge and ensure the covid—i9 programme provides as much protection as possible as we prepare for a new wave of infections which could be even greater in those before. the online booking system is open to millions of people and will shortly open to all adults so please don't hesitate with your booking and get boosted. that is amanda pritchard. it has been confirmed that the south african president has tested positive for omicron. he is being treated for mild symptoms. according

to the government, he started feeling unwell after leaving a state memorial service of the apartheid president, fw leclerc. he is fully vaccinated and has delegated all of his responsibilities to the deputy president, david mabuza. mild symptoms so far and obviously everyone in south africa will be hoping it stays that way because thatis hoping it stays that way because that is what they are hoping not just for the president themselves, as our way here. i recapped out it has been a busy hour since we heard borisjohnson. he won the country faces a tidal wave of the omicron variant, including an address to the nation, saying the uk must reinforce our wall of vaccine protection as he set a new deadline ofjabbing everyone over 18 by the end of the new year. —— by the start of the new

year. we have begun the fastest poster campaign with over half a million jabs delivered yesterday alone. these achievements made possible by the extraordinary efforts of our nhs, including thousands of gps and voluntary vaccinators have literally saved countless lives and livelihoods in this country. i need to speak to this evening because i am afraid we are facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant, omicron. we must keep ourfriends and loved ones safe. earlier today, the uk's four chief medical officers raised the alert level 24. the second highest level. because of the evidence that omicron is doubling

here in the uk every two to three days. no one should be in any doubt that there is a tidal wave of omicron coming. i'm afraid that two doses of the vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need. but the good news is that our scientists are confident that with the third dose, a booster dose, we can all bring our level of protection back—up. i know there will be some watching who will be asking whether omicron is less severe than previous variants. and whether we need to go out and get that booster. the answer is yes, we do. do not make the mistake of thinking omicron cannot hurt you, cannot make you and your loved ones seriously ill. we have already seen

hospitalisations doubling in a week in south africa and we have patients with omicron in hospital here in the uk right now. at this point, our scientists cannot say that omicron is less severe and even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible than the wave of omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our nhs and lead, sadly, to very many deaths. so, we must act now. today, we are launching the omicron emergency booster national mission, unlike anything we have done before in the vaccination programme. to get boosted now. a fortnight ago i said we would offer every eligible adult a booster by the end of january.

today, in light of this omicron emergency, i am today, in light of this omicron emergency, iam bringing today, in light of this omicron emergency, i am bringing the target forward by a month. everyone eligible aged 18 and over in england will have the chance to get their booster before the new year. and we have spoken today to the devolved administrations to confirm the uk government will provide additional support to accelerate vaccinations in scotland, wales and northern ireland. to had the pace we need we will need to match the nhs�*s best vaccination day so far and then beat that day after day. the prime minister and a broadcast first released at eight o'clock this evening. we will have more than that during this evening. and the papers at 10:30pm. what would have been one of the big stories of the day... mercedes have lost their appeal against max verstappen's victory at the abu dhabi grand prix, the fia has announced.

the decision confirms the dutchman as formula one world champion. joining me now is jamie chadwick, a british racing driver who is also a development driver for the williams team. i guess you watch the race today from the comfort of your own home. what did you make of it? it was eventful! as _ what did you make of it? it was eventful! as a _ what did you make of it? it was eventful! as a self-confessed . what did you make of it? it was - eventful! as a self-confessed lewis eventful! as a self—confessed lewis hamilton fan, in the end it was not the result i wanted to see it at the same time, everything fans want to see with the spectacle as it was and normally we go to abu dhabi and in years gone past, the championship has been decided so to have a go down to the wire, the last lap, is great to watch. if down to the wire, the last lap, is great to watch.— great to watch. if you talk about the theatre _ great to watch. if you talk about the theatre of— great to watch. if you talk about the theatre of victory _ great to watch. if you talk about the theatre of victory and - great to watch. if you talk aboutl the theatre of victory and defeat, it had this in spades. they were obviously a lot of bad feelings, there is bad feeling between both drivers, that is well documented.

what did you make the decision to dispute max verstappen's victory? in a sense, you can understand the motivation, but i wondered if it was one of those cases where it might have been best to just let it go? no, completely understood from my side. there are so much of the line for these teams, they work so hard on the investment, financially and the hours they put in, racing 22 weekends every year, there is a huge amount on the line so to have it come down to how it did, mercedes were in the right to appeal, he was handled on the last lap. unfortunately, it was not how it should have been and it does not set the best tone for the way it finished and as a result, i completely understand how it has turned out. this completely understand how it has turned out. �* , . completely understand how it has turned out-— turned out. as a driver, you have been on the _ turned out. as a driver, you have been on the track _ turned out. as a driver, you have been on the track and _ turned out. as a driver, you have been on the track and you - turned out. as a driver, you have been on the track and you have l turned out. as a driver, you have i been on the track and you have had that perspective on races that most of us will never have. some of us

would never want! as you watch it, what made you think, this is not right, this is making me quite uncomfortable? aha, right, this is making me quite uncomfortable?— right, this is making me quite uncomfortable? ~ , ., , uncomfortable? a couple of things. from my side _ uncomfortable? a couple of things. from my side and _ uncomfortable? a couple of things. from my side and the _ uncomfortable? a couple of things. from my side and the way - uncomfortable? a couple of things. from my side and the way i - from my side and the way i understand motor sport and motor racing, as a sport, there is a real thatis racing, as a sport, there is a real that is black and white and there is never this mulling over decisions. we have access to what the fia is saying and what communication with the teams is and you are exposed to this disagreement around rules and then him changing his mind and that confuses me, it should be black and white and if it is grey and that should be eradicated. there was confusion in the last lap and i felt the decision was rushed to bring in the decision was rushed to bring in the safety car and max was left with this advantage of the new tyres, which he was able to get from pitting, and he won the world championship, which was great for the spectacle, it should not have

happened. but that said, both souda so diverted off so deserving throughout the year but you can still look back on this in a positive light as a championship. lewis hamilton has won before and he has this extraordinary track record. however you might feel, it is quite nice to see a new face winning, isn't it? , , ., , isn't it? definitely. on the 'ob that max and d isn't it? definitely. on the 'ob that max and red i isn't it? definitely. on the 'ob that max and red bull�* isn't it? definitely. on the job that max and red bull have . isn't it? definitely. on the job. that max and red bull have done isn't it? definitely. on the job- that max and red bull have done is remarkable, to challenge a team like mercedes is a huge thing for the sport to see but at the same time it takes nothing away from what lewis did today and as a young driver, looking up to someone, it is everything but you want to aspire to be so classy and professional and thatis be so classy and professional and that is how you win championships and today it did not come off but i do not think anyone can take away the season he has had. i do not think anyone can take away the season he has had.— the season he has had. i think you could qualify _ the season he has had. i think you could qualify for _ the season he has had. i think you could qualify for a _ the season he has had. i think you could qualify for a classy _ the season he has had. i think you could qualify for a classy and - could qualify for a classy and professional as well with victories

in 2019 and 2021 so don't take any of that away from yourself, even though today it is the guys. thank you for your analysis of what happened. good luck with the rest of your career. enqueue. jamie chadwick, a development driverfor williams. space — it's the final frontier. but now it's also a family business. yesterday, the daughter of the first american astronaut followed in her fathers footsteps — blasting off to the edge of space 60 years after he made history. laura shepard churchley took off on board a commercial aircraft — named after her dad — alan shepard. mark lobel reports. three, two, one. from rural texas to the edge of space. laura shepard—churchley following in her father's footsteps 60 years after his pioneering flight is the first american to make the journey. in a spacecraft named after him. mission control has confirmed new shepard has cleared the tower and is on its way to space. it was a once—in—a—lifetime ride

on board this fully autonomous six—storey tall commercial flight reaching an altitude of over 100 kilometres during a thrilling 10—minute trip. long enough to experience zero gravity, though. whoa! never seen anything like this. this tops an unforgettable year for human space flight, with private space companies aplenty, including space x and virgin galactic. blue origin launched its first crewed space flight injuly, carrying its founder, amazon's jeff bezos. captain kirk himself! star trek�*s william shatner, the oldest person to make it into space, followed in october. this third flight is blue origin's first full capacity one with six people on board which descended safely back to earth.

the 74—year—old's verdict? awesome! awesome, she says. and following in her father's footsteps? i thought about daddy coming down, and gosh, he didn't even get to enjoy anything i enjoyed. he was working. he was all business. right, he had to do it himself. i went on for the ride. have you seen how small his capsule was? he wasn't doing somersaults, he didn't have your windows. the only way he knew he was weightless was his straps were flying. right, because he was strapped in. underlining just how remarkably space travel has changed since 1961. how it will evolve in 2022 and beyond for the next generation, well, that's anyone's guess. mark lobel, bbc news.

now it's time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. —— susan powell... through sunday a weather_ —— susan powell... through sunday a weather system to the west of the uk pulled _ weather system to the west of the uk pulled more mild air north as far as southern _ pulled more mild air north as far as southern scotland and some areas so decent _ southern scotland and some areas so decent sunny spells developing through— decent sunny spells developing through sunday. that decent sunny spells developing through sunday.— through sunday. that selfsame weather system _ through sunday. that selfsame weather system will _ through sunday. that selfsame weather system will sweep - through sunday. that selfsame - weather system will sweep through to the north—west of the uk into the small hours of monday, producing strong winds for particularly the western and northern isles of scotland, where it will be windy for northern ireland as well and we see this cold weather front working its way south through the small hours. cooler air will tuck back into southern scotland, northern ireland and northern england by the end of the night but not especially cold, the night but not especially cold, the strength of the wind will keep things frost—free and that will feed showers into the north—west of scotland overnight. the weather front will produce rain across england and wales and very mild to the south of the front, overnight lows in double figures. through

monday, the front brings further rain into wales, the midlands and possibly lincolnshire, to the south some brighter spells and maybe even 14 degrees again. it will be cooler on monday across northern ireland, scotland and northern england. around average temperatures. this frontal system gets out of the way from the south—east quite promptly overnight into tuesday and then the next system starts to push into the far north for tuesday daytime. that means stronger winds on tuesday for scotland, some rain at times but we tap into milderairas scotland, some rain at times but we tap into milder air as we dry these fronts so a chilly temperatures across scotland and northern ireland will come up into double figures on tuesday whereas it will be cooler across england and wales. we get to the middle of the week and we start to see this area of high pressure across the continent starting to become increasingly into play and still a front snaking around to the north on wednesday but it is moving down into that area of high pressure, which squeezes the juice

out of it. some rain initially for scotland and northern ireland but for northern england, probably nothing more than increasing cloud. brighter spells for the south but as you get closer to the centre of the high, a greater chance of fog developing first thing on wednesday and sticking around with low cloud throughout the day. temperatures still around average or a shade above on wednesday. thursday, friday, into next weekend, the high starts to dominate across the uk. and at this time of year, high pressure means light winds and a risk of mist and fog developing by night and then sticking around through much of the day. it can also lift into low cloud but quite a gloomy —looking picture often common where these areas of high pressure settle. temperatures above average on thursday, highs of 11 degrees. through the end of the week and into next weekend the high shifts across uk with a chance later on in the weekend of the beginning of the week leading up to christmas that as the high drifts further west, we get on

the easterly side of it and pick up a northerly air stream that will see temperatures easing back. slowly through next weekend with them easing into single figures but for the start of the week ending up to christmas, we could see things turning distinctly chilly. at the moment it is looking very calm in terms of the outlook. light winds and through the week ahead very little in the way of rain. that will be largely frost—free. the real chance of anything chillier will come further into next weekend.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. borisjohnson warns that a "tidal wave" of omicron is coming and urges people to get a booster before the new year. there is a tidal wave of omicron coming and i'm afraid it is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough. rescuers search for survivors in six us states, after more than 90 people die in the largest outbreaks of tornadoes in american history. this was my home. until last night. i was told by a friend that the courthouse was down, and it was heading towards my house, but i never dreamt this.

with a collapsing economy, afghanistan's drug trade is on the rise.