welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... as omicron spreads across europe, a fresh warning from the world health organisation. a fresh warning from we're concerned people are dismissing omicron as mild. surely we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. in the uk, a blow to prime minister borisjohnson�*s authority as fellow conservatives rebel against covid restrictions. two close friends who lost their lives in the english channel migrant tragedy — we visit the town in iraqi kurdistan to hear from their grieving family and friends.

and calling time on the wild west online — british mps want big tech companies to be forced to take tougher action. it's seven in the morning in singapore, and midnight in geneva where the head of world health organisation has issued a new warning about the omicron variant of coronavirus. he said it was spreading far more quickly than any other variant. and he told countries around the world — underestimate it — at your peril. here's more from him — just a few hours ago: omicron just a few hours ago: is spreading a rate we have not omicron is spreading a rate we have not seen with any other previous variant. we are concerned that

people are dismissing omicron as mild. surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. even if omicron does cause less severe diseases, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems. that's the warning from the world health organisation. and it comes against the backdrop of rapidly rising infection levels in europe. the uk has registered its highest daily figure since january. and in the netherlands, prime minister mark rutte has announced that schools will close at the end of this week. he said bars, theatres and gyms will have to continue to observe the current early evening closing time rules until mid— january. set against that, new evidence from pfizer that covid vaccines are still very effective against the omicron variant. so everything taken together —

where are we now in the pandemic? i'm joined now by melissa nolan, assistant professor of epidemiology at the university of south carolina. wonderful to have you on the program. i imagine, many in the audience are wondering the same thing as i am, we've been through the delta wave, where are now at the beginning of the omicron variant, are we going to see similar rates of infection, that kind of wave in countries across the world? thank ou for countries across the world? thank you for having _ countries across the world? thank you for having me, _ countries across the world? thank you for having me, it's _ countries across the world? thank you for having me, it's a - countries across the world? thank you for having me, it's a pleasure| you for having me, it's a pleasure to be here. i think that's the million—dollar question that we all asking ourselves. when we think about delta in comparison where we were at that point, we had a significantly larger on vaccinated population for the suit omicron is going to take a whole we don't think it's good to be at the same level. we do anticipate this for the northern hemisphere in general. when we start to see respiratory

infection or applicable covid, well think about flu, we think there will be a significant uprise for the holiday season but nothing compared to where we were last year, god willing. to where we were last year, god willina. ~ ,, to where we were last year, god willina. ~ , ., �*, willing. melissa, that's encouraging. _ willing. melissa, that's encouraging. where i willing. melissa, that'sl encouraging. where you willing. melissa, that's - encouraging. where you are in willing. melissa, that's _ encouraging. where you are in the us we have seen infection rates rise recently as i understand it. how prepared is the us for another wave? i think the us has learned a lot. and our european partners as well and singapore, in the sense i know all of our state public health departments are now testing for omicron. that is great as we are anticipating and looking for them. at the same time we know that we are really overcoming some major obstacles. in particular we are having huge fatigue with our population. for example right now we are seeing that there is a larger

number unvaccinated people testing positive for omicron. we also know that a lot of our unvaccinated people are no longer seeking testing. so it's hard for us to be able to get after a number of what's happening. able to get after a number of what's ha eninu. v able to get after a number of what's ha eninu. �*, ., ~ able to get after a number of what's ha eninu. v . ~' . able to get after a number of what's hamenin, �*, . ~' , happening. let's talk about vaccines because we — happening. let's talk about vaccines because we are _ happening. let's talk about vaccines because we are getting _ happening. let's talk about vaccines because we are getting information | because we are getting information or reports from pfizer saying that two doses of the chart does protect somewhat against severe disease and hospitalisation. is that in averaging and is that information we can depend on?— can depend on? absolutely. if you think back to _ can depend on? absolutely. if you think back to what _ can depend on? absolutely. if you think back to what the _ can depend on? absolutely. if you think back to what the vaccines i can depend on? absolutely. if you| think back to what the vaccines are designed to do, it's not necessarily to prevent infection is to prevent severe disease. a vaccine gives your immune system in early warning system. if you dig about it, it gives you a two to three day advance so you can preamble and be ready in the event that you might get infected to reduce that risk of severe disease. not necessarily stars to if you think about

influenza vaccine, we typically have it every year. and even the common childhood vaccines, we still recommend you get those every five to ten years as a booster. the fact that we are seeing great efficacy with attitude does shot is really great. especially among those who flew rates are higher levels in the efficacy of the vaccine. which really brings home the point that if you are able to get that booster is a great time to do that.— you are able to get that booster is a great time to do that. briefly, we are seeinu a great time to do that. briefly, we are seeing in _ a great time to do that. briefly, we are seeing in south _ a great time to do that. briefly, we are seeing in south africa - a great time to do that. briefly, we are seeing in south africa but - are seeing in south africa but not as high levels as deaths in previous ways with him are you expecting that in other parts of the world?— in other parts of the world? where some thankful— in other parts of the world? where some thankful that _ in other parts of the world? where some thankful that were _ in other parts of the world? where some thankful that were not - in other parts of the world? where | some thankful that were not seeing the same rate of mortality that we did with delta or even the high numbers of high viral load. which tells us that omicron fortunately should be less path that doesn't mean that if your unvaccinated that you should be on worried about her. we would still encourage you to get

the vaccine, get the booster if you haven't done that or choose not to do that please abide by other health measures as we note that they work. fantastic to have you on the program. we mentioned the rise in coronavirus cases in the uk. and restrictions brought in by the prime minister borisjohnson, have prompted a major rebellion by conservative mps. the measures, such as mandatory covid passes for entertainment venues, were still approved because the opposition labour party supported them. but the rebellion has left another dent in mrjohnson's already battered authority. our deputy political editor vicky young reports. a government win. the ayes to the right 369, the noes to the left, 126. wow! ouch! but only with the help of labour mps.

that's the biggest rebellion borisjohnson has suffered a huge number of his own side ignoring his pleas, refusing to accept the case he's made for more restrictions. so, the ayes have it, the ayes have it, unlock. tonight, the government was putting on a brave face. of course it is difficult, every decision has costs and consequences. everybody's weighing those up all the time. we have decided we need to buy time, we really do need to slow down this unbelievably transmissible virus so we can get everybody vaccinated. but labour say it's a reflection on mrjohnson and the way he governs. this is a very significant blow to the already damaged authority of the prime minister. it confirms that he's too weak to discharge basic functions of government. after 20 months of on — off covid restrictions, many conservatives have had enough. this was just a bridge too far. vaccine passports today, what

tomorrow or a week down the road? they were putting a marker down. it has been proven in scotland, vaccine passports don't work and don't stop infection. no prime minister wants to rely on the opposition to get their own policies through and the prime minister spent the day trying to persuade his own mps. addressing them here in the commons, he said the government had absolutely no choice but to act and said that this variant was spreading so quickly, that the numbers that could end up in hospital would be disastrous. he wanted them to back new measures, including compulsory vaccinations for nhs staff, more masks, and covid passes or a negative test before entering large venues. earlier, the health secretary had tried to win them round. ifirmly believe in individual liberty and that the curbs should be placed on our freedoms only in the most gravest of circumstances. it is vital we act early and in a proportional way, doing whatever we can to build our defences and to preserve greater

freedom for the long term. but there was no mistaking the anger amongst conservative mps. i am staggered by the government's approach over the last two weeks in which we have used fear to persuade people. freedom is not an abstract ideology. freedom is what enables my - constituents to see their family, to comfort the dying, - to go to school, to go to work. the prime minister's authority has taken a hit in the past few weeks and his supporters worry he'll struggle to get his party and the country behind him. let's take a look at some of the other global stories in the headlines... more than 60 people have been killed in haiti after a fuel tanker exploded in the north of the country. reports say the truck was involved in an accident and people had been trying to gather leaking fuel when it ignited. prime minister ariel henry said the entire caribbean nation was grieving after the accident, as he declared three days of mourning. a court in belarus has

sentenced the prominent opposition activist, sergei tikhanovski, to eighteen years in prison. according to state media he's been sentenced for organising mass protests and inciting social hatred, during the 2020 presidential election campaign. his wife, svetlana, who now leads the opposition from exile, called the trial a sham, and thejudgement, revenge by president lukashenko. you know, iwas you know, i was read the sentence will be very child. and i'm not going to sit now and count what age is my husband to be released, of course not. i'm just asking one question to myself, what else i can do, what else can do to to society to release not only him but all the political prisoners who are behind bars at the moment. diplomats from france and germany have warned that the iran deal is at

risk of becoming an empty shell given the pace at which the country is accelerating its nuclear program. they accrue accused iran of taking positions inconsistent with the agreement and wasting precious time at the talks in bnl. —— bnl. the french authorities have formally identified 26 people who died when their boat sank in the sea between england and mainland europe last month, in what is the crossings worst—recorded migrant tragedy. more people may still be unaccounted for. among those confirmed dead were two friends from the same town in iraqi kurdistan. the bbc�*s hanan razak spoke to their families before the news of their death was officially confirmed. the people of this valley are in mourning once again. two close friends from the town of ranya are among those confirmed to have died last month when their boat sank in the english channel.

rizwan hassan was just 18 and a carpenter. his nephew says he tried to talk him out of going. the last time he heard from rizwan was on the night of the boat crossing. rizwan told his family that he would contact them from the uk. but hours later, he would lose his

life along with at least 26 others. also in the boat was his friend, hamad, 28. his sister says he believed that the uk promised him a brighter future. but he, too, would never make it. authorities told his family that his body was one of the 27 found. but even before this news, his family have been grieving for weeks. many other families in the region are now expecting similar phone

calls from the authorities to tell them that their missing loved ones are now confirmed dead. but despite the risks, people are still coming. an estimated 40,000 people have left the region for europe in the past year alone using illegal smuggling routes. the valley is bracing itself for more bad news. hanan razek, bbc news. terrible tragedy for so many families involved in that. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... fears of a possible new covid variant in papua new guinea — the country with the lowest vaccination rate in south east asi saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people,

our women, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes but they brought a formal end to three and a half years of conflict. conflict that is claimed more than 200,000 lives. before an audience of world leaders the presidents of bosnia and serbia and croatia put their names to peace agreement. the romanian border was sealedl and silent today, romania has cut itself off from the outside world in order to prevent the details. of the presumed massacre - in timisoara from leaking out. from sex at the white house to a trial for his political life, the lewinsky affair tonight guaranteed bill clinton his place in history as only the second president ever to be impeached.

this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore, our headlines. as omicron spreads across europe, a fresh warning from the world health organisation that the new variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate. as we been telling you the omicron parent has been shared unpopulated population. in pop in the guinea expressing serious concerns of a new covid variant. while the reported case rate remains low, the country has the lowest vaccination rate of any country in south east asia. just 2.4% of the population has recieved two doses of the jab. one expert raising concerns is adrian prouse is head of international humanitarian programs at the australian red cross.

great to have you on newsday. let's start by setting the scene for the audience, why has the covid job seem so much resistance in papua new guinea? �* , . so much resistance in papua new guinea? �*, ., , , ., ., guinea? it's a complex question to answer. recent _ guinea? it's a complex question to answer. recent research _ guinea? it's a complex question to answer. recent research done - guinea? it's a complex question to answer. recent research done by l guinea? it's a complex question to l answer. recent research done by the world bank into this i think that probably gives us the best indicator where it talks about it's no different to what we are seeing across the world as well for the two main issues keep coming out, people are concerned about side effects associated with getting the vaccine and they're also concerned about the long—term health implications of getting there vaccine. and the overall effectiveness. these messages keep getting through to people and they are causing hesitancy. i've seen a significant amount of hesitancy.— hesitancy. i've seen a significant amount of hesitancy. given what ou've amount of hesitancy. given what you've just _ amount of hesitancy. given what you've just said _

amount of hesitancy. given what you've just said at _ amount of hesitancy. given what you've just said at current - amount of hesitancy. given what you've just said at current rates, j you've just said at current rates, when you expect the population to be fully vaccinated? the when you expect the population to be fully vaccinated?— fully vaccinated? the institute is e'ectinu fully vaccinated? the institute is ejecting up _ fully vaccinated? the institute is ejecting up to — fully vaccinated? the institute is ejecting up to 26,000, - fully vaccinated? the institute is ejecting up to 26,000, it's - fully vaccinated? the institute is| ejecting up to 26,000, it's really scary to think about. the population will be less than 50% vaccinated in 2026 if we continue on his current trajectory. so these are the fertile grounds that the world health organization is talking about in terms of mutations and variants emerging. terms of mutations and variants emer: inc. , terms of mutations and variants emerauin. , , ., , ., emerging. yes, precisely. how concerned _ emerging. yes, precisely. how concerned are _ emerging. yes, precisely. how concerned are you _ emerging. yes, precisely. how concerned are you against - emerging. yes, precisely. how concerned are you against the | concerned are you against the emergence of new results of low—level vaccinations? i’m emergence of new results of low- level vaccinations? low-level vaccinations? i'm very concerned- _ low-level vaccinations? i'm very concerned. what _ low-level vaccinations? i'm very concerned. what are _ low-level vaccinations? i'm very concerned. what are more - low-level vaccinations? i'm very - concerned. what are more concerned about is the impact it's going to have on people on dash. in 2021 is been two waves of covid in png. both of us really stretch the health system to the breaking point. if we

continue with such low levels of vaccination work and it continued to be in this position will receive the health system and png coat. and the impact that has on other vaccine preventable diseases and it's tragic. preventable diseases and it's traaic. . ,. , ., tragic. can you describe what the current rates _ tragic. can you describe what the current rates of _ tragic. can you describe what the current rates of severe _ tragic. can you describe what the current rates of severe disease i tragic. can you describe what the l current rates of severe disease and death that the current buyers has caused there? figs death that the current buyers has caused there?— death that the current buyers has caused there? as you said, testing er caused there? as you said, testing per capita. — caused there? as you said, testing per capita. testing _ caused there? as you said, testing per capita, testing and _ caused there? as you said, testing per capita, testing and png - caused there? as you said, testing per capita, testing and png is - caused there? as you said, testing per capita, testing and png is one | per capita, testing and png is one of the lowest in the world we are seeing something like 36,000 only test positive. we've seen 586 deaths but the tolls, the belief is that these numbers are in no way accurate because of the lack of testing systems and capability that exists within p and g.— within p and g. that is very

worrying- _ within p and g. that is very worrying. thank— within p and g. that is very worrying. thank you so - within p and g. that is very l worrying. thank you so much within p and g. that is very - worrying. thank you so much for joining us to talk about the situation in papa new guinea. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines... the trial will start on wednesday of a harvard university professor accused of lying about his ties to china. charles lieber is accused of concealing funding he received from the chinese government. it's the highest—profile case to result from a us. crackdown on chinese influence within universities. a british woman has been found guilty of murdering her girlfriend's i6—month—old child. star hobson endured months of assaults and psychological harm at the hands of 28 year old savannah brockhill. a jury at bradford crown court cleared the little girl's mother, frankie smith, of murder and manslaughter, but convicted her of causing or allowing her daughter's death.

big tech companies should be forced to take tougher action against online crimes and abuse, according to uk mps. they've called for tighter safeguards for children and women and more action on tackling fraud and racist abuse to be made law. the committee's report said it was necessary to �*call time on the wild west online'. her�*s our media editor amol rajan. for years, every country and particularly western democracies have grappled with how to minimize the harms of life online while reaping the benefits. many of those harms affect children, especially grooming, usually by anonymous abusers. louise, as we've agreed to call her, was targeted when just 11 years old. so, i really, really was after that attention and validation from someone in my life and abusers have recognised these kind of things

and recognise venerable people and this abuse stole my teenage years away from me. she is now working with the nspcc to improve child safety online. i really think there needs to be a massive push for online safety for children because it is just not acceptable and there are so many different ways that kids can fall into the traps or these places where there are predators. it should not be up to kids to keep themselves safe on the internet. an important report today by a joint committee on the draught online safety bill which is due, finally, to go through parliament next year, contains recommendations likely to be followed. it suggests minimum safety standards in british law, policed by the regulator, ofcom. new offences to make cyber flashing, the sending of explicit pictures or any promotion of suicide or self—harm illegal. and there will be exemptions for quality publishers to protect freedom of speech. my youngest daughter died. having heard from ian russell, whose teenage daughter molly took her own life after seeing self—harm images on instagram,

the committee also recommends bereaved parents should be able to access their dead children's account. the key focus of the recommendation is to transfer power from silicon valley to elected officials closer to home, and to make what is illegal legal off—line also illegal online. this baroness has campaigned for a safe internet for years. i think we have seen over a period of time that the desire for growth has not been mitigated by an equal and opposite desire to keep either individuals or society safe and we have just seen so many bad outcomes and, you know, the tech sector has failed to deal with them by itself. regulating technology is very hard which is why it taking so long to implement new rules, but the era of self—regulation is over.

now to malta just become the first country to legalise cannabis. residents celebrated and streaked with lawmakers after pass. the legislation will also allow adults to grow up to four plants at home or possess up to seven grams. although smoking in public will still be illegal. the island nation is still playback seeking to position itself in a leader in medical cannabis. now think unesco—protected status and ancient monuments may come to mind. but how about this... congolese rumba — one of the most popular musical genres in africa — has just been added to the un agency's cultural heritage list. it is the culmination of campaigning by two countries — the democratic republic of congo and neighbouring congo—brazzaville. they both occupy what was once the ancient kingdom of kongo —

where the sensual dance is said to have originated. congolese rumba joins jamaican reggae and singaporean hawker food on the unesco list. hello there. it's been a mild day again today thanks to south—westerly winds. some places were lucky enough to see a bit of sunshine. it's going to be in short supply over the next few days. through the rest of the week, there will be a lot of cloud around. it will stay mild. there will be some areas of mist and fog, and it should become dry. the rain that we are seeing at the moment will eventually push away. and the rain that we are seeing at the moment is mainly coming from this band of thicker cloud here that's been sat all the way across the atlantic and across northern parts of scotland. that is that wiggling waving weather front that will weaken as it runs southwards, down across western scotland to bring some patchy rain here, down into northern ireland later and into cumbria as well. now, ahead of that, there will be a few more breaks developing

across other parts of northern england, perhaps north wales, the north midlands and across east anglia. so, here, it will turn a bit cooler. temperatures down to 5 celsius, maybe some mist and fog patches too. it's pretty mild, though, across more southern parts of england and wales. we've got this blanket of cloud. it's still rather grey and gloomy for these areas during tomorrow. once that mist and fog goes, we've still got some sunshine across north wales, parts of the midlands, east anglia and northern england. i think for lancashire and particular cumbria, a bit of patchy rain here, some patchy rain for northern ireland and developing across southern parts of scotland as it turns brighterfurther north across the country with some sunshine. and all areas will be mild again, temperatures typically ii—i2 celsius. now, there's not much rain in the forecast for tomorrow, what there is of it is going to get swept northwards again with that weather front, as high pressure starts to build in from continental europe. we've still got a little rain to head up towards shetland. otherwise a lot of dry weather again on thursday. again, it looks quite cloudy. some areas of mist and fog too, the best of any sunshine probably for eastern scotland, northeast england, perhaps into lincolnshire as well. and we've still got those temperatures several degrees above average, really, for this time of the year.

the wind is turning lighter, though, as that area of high—pressure starts to build in as we head towards the end of the week. that's going to stick around for quite some time. so, this is the story, really, for friday. we may have a bit more sunshine across northern parts of scotland. we've got a lot of cloud around elsewhere, mind you, and again, some mist and fog, perhaps particularly over the hills as that low cloud continues to lower. temperatures not quite as high on friday. and over the weekend, we will probably find those temperatures just dropping away a little bit more. it is going to turn a little bit cooler over the weekend, but high—pressure is going to keep it fine and dry.

this is bbc news.

the headlines — nearly 100 members of britain's governing conservative party have voted against new coronavirus restrictions in defiance of the prime minister, borisjohnson. however, the new restrictions were passed with the support of the opposition labour party. the world health organization has warned that the new omicron coronavirus variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate. the who director general says it's likely that omicron is already present in most countries around the world. the first major real—world study since the omicron outbreak suggests that two doses of the pfizerjab appear to provide 70% protection against hospitalisation, but only 30 % against actual infection. the us has led international condemnation of the 18—yearjail sentence imposed on the former opposition leader sergei tikhanovsky in belarus.