welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... most countries probably have omicron cases and it's very faster than previous variance. the world health organization warns the world to prepare. could overwhelm help prepare system. in the uk a blow to borisjohnson. 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 eight 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 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.

the pandemic?earlier i spokeh wit 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, 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 we think there will be a significant uprise before the holiday season but nothing compared to where we were last year, god 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. let's talk about vaccines 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 incouraging and is that information we 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 unique 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 two does shot is really great. especially among those who are boosted 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. briefly, we 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? we're so 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 that you should be unworried 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 as we know that they work. we mentioned the rise in coronavirus cases in the uk. and restrictions brought in by the prime minister boris johnson, 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. the vicky young reports. british newspaper hasjust published the british newspaper hasjust published another photo of what appears to be another such party thrown by conservative aids in breach of measures the spokesperson said that senior staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering organised by a candidate for london mayor and that formal disciplinary action was taking against the whole staff to the campaign. our deputy editor vicki young reports. a government win... the eyes it b 369, government win... the eyes it by 369. the — government win... the eyes it by 369, the nose _ government win... the eyes it by 369, the nose to _ government win... the eyes it by 369, the nose to the - government win... the eyes it by 369, the nose to the last . by 369, the nose to the last 126. . �* ., , 126. ouch. but only with the hel of 126. ouch. but only with the help of labour _ 126. ouch. but only with the help of labour mps. - 126. ouch. but only with the

help of labour mps. that's l 126. ouch. but only with the l help of labour mps. that's the biggest rebellion borisjohnson biggest rebellion boris johnson is biggest rebellion borisjohnson is suffered a huge number of his own side ignoring his pleas, refusing to accept the case is made for more restrictions.— case is made for more restrictions. , ., restrictions. so the ayes have it, the restrictions. so the ayes have it. the eyes — restrictions. so the ayes have it, the eyes have _ restrictions. so the ayes have it, the eyes have it _ restrictions. so the ayes have it, the eyes have it unlocked. | it, the eyes have it unlocked. tonight— it, the eyes have it unlocked. tonight the government was putting on a brave face. {lit putting on a brave face. of course it's _ putting on a brave face. of course it's difficult, every decision_ course it's difficult, every decision we _ course it's difficult, every decision we make - course it's difficult, every decision we make has - decision we make has consequences, - decision we make has - consequences, everybody's waiting _ consequences, everybody's waiting those _ consequences, everybody's waiting those up— consequences, everybody's waiting those up all- consequences, everybody's waiting those up all the - consequences, everybody's . waiting those up all the time. but we — waiting those up all the time. but we had _ waiting those up all the time. but we had decided _ waiting those up all the time. but we had decided that - waiting those up all the time. but we had decided that we . waiting those up all the time. . but we had decided that we need to buy— but we had decided that we need to buy time, _ but we had decided that we need to buytime, we _ but we had decided that we need to buy time, we really— but we had decided that we need to buy time, we really do - but we had decided that we need to buy time, we really do need . to buy time, we really do need to buy time, we really do need to slow— to buy time, we really do need to slow down _ to buy time, we really do need to slow down this _ to buy time, we really do need to slow down this unbelievable transmittable _ to slow down this unbelievable transmittable virus— to slow down this unbelievable transmittable virus so - to slow down this unbelievable transmittable virus so that - to slow down this unbelievable transmittable virus so that we i transmittable virus so that we can get— transmittable virus so that we can get everybody— transmittable virus so that we can get everybody vaccinated. but labour_ can get everybody vaccinated. but labour say _ can get everybody vaccinated. but labour say it's _ can get everybody vaccinated. but labour say it's a _ but labour say it's a reflection on mrjohnson and the way he governs. this reflection on mrjohnson and the way he governs.- reflection on mrjohnson and the way he governs. this is a very significant _ the way he governs. this is a very significant blow - the way he governs. this is a very significant blow to - the way he governs. this is a very significant blow to the i very significant blow to the already damaged authority of the prime minister. it confirms that he's too weak to discharge the basic functions of government. these public health measures would not have gone through if labour hadn't shown the leadership that the prime ministerfailed to show. the leadership that the prime minister failed to show. after minister failed to show. after 20 months — minister failed to show. after 20 months of _ minister failed to show. after

20 months of on, _ minister failed to show. after 20 months of on, off- minister failed to show. after 20 months of on, off covid i 20 months of on, off covid restrictions many conservatives have had enough. this restrictions many conservatives have had enough.— have had enough. this was 'ust a bride have had enough. this was 'ust a bridge too i have had enough. this was 'ust a bridge too far. i have had enough. this was 'ust a bridge too far. vaccine h a bridge too far. vaccine passports today, what tomorrow or we _ passports today, what tomorrow or we can — passports today, what tomorrow or we can throw? i think they were — or we can throw? i think they were putting a marker down. it's been _ were putting a marker down. it's been proven in scotland vaccine _ it's been proven in scotland vaccine passports don't work, they— vaccine passports don't work, they dont— vaccine passports don't work, they don't prevent infection. so they don't prevent infection. 50 i — they don't prevent infection. 50 i think— they don't prevent infection. so i think it was a cry of pain from — so i think it was a cry of pain from the _ so i think it was a cry of pain from the conservative party. no prime from the conservative party. fir? prime minister wants to rely on the opposition to get their own policies through. the prime minister spent the day trying to persuade his own mps addressing a mirror the garments he said the government had absolutely no choice but to act and said that the spirit was spreading so quickly that the numbers that can end up in hospital would be disastrous. he wanted them to back new measures including compulsory vaccination 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 around. i health secretary had tried to win them around.— win them around. i firmly believe — win them around. i firmly believe that _ win them around. i firmly believe that individual- win them around. i firmly - believe that individual liberty and that curves should be placed on our freedoms only of

the most greatest of circumstances was up so it's vital that we act early and we act in a proportionate way doing whatever we can to build our defences and to preserve greater freedom for the long term. �* ., , ., term. but there was no mistaking _ term. but there was no mistaking the - term. but there was no mistaking the anger . term. but there was no - mistaking the anger amongst conservative mps. i mistaking the anger amongst conservative mps.— conservative mps. i am staggered _ conservative mps. i am staggered by _ conservative mps. i am staggered by the - conservative mps. i am - staggered by the governments approach over the last two weeks _ approach over the last two weeks in _ approach over the last two weeks in which we have used fair to— weeks in which we have used fair to persuade people. i believe _ fair to persuade people. i believe that no government should _ believe that no government should ever use fair to persuade its citizens. freedom is not an abstract _ persuade its citizens. freedom is not an abstract ideology. - is not an abstract ideology. freedom _ is not an abstract ideology. freedom is _ is not an abstract ideology. freedom is what _ is not an abstract ideology. freedom is what enables . is not an abstract ideology. i freedom is what enables my constituents _ freedom is what enables my constituents to— freedom is what enables my constituents to see - freedom is what enables my constituents to see their- constituents to see their family. _ constituents to see their family, comfort - constituents to see their family, comfort the - constituents to see their. family, comfort the dining constituents to see their- family, comfort the dining did not die — family, comfort the dining did not die in. _ family, comfort the dining did not die in. go— family, comfort the dining did not die in, go to _ family, comfort the dining did not die in, go to school, go i family, comfort the dining didj not die in, go to school, go to work — not die in, go to school, go to work that _ not die in, go to school, go to work that is _ not die in, go to school, go to work. that is not _ not die in, go to school, go to work. that is not freedom. i not die in, go to school, go toi work. that is not freedom. the liberal democrat _ work. that is not freedom. liberal democrat leader who work. that is not freedom.- liberal democrat leader who is joined a list of growing testing positive for covid is testing positive for covid is testing how positive some of the governments measures are put think the covid id cards, that covid passwords we give people a false sense of security because you could be double jobs and boosterjobs

double jobs and booster jobs and double jobs and boosterjobs and still transmit the virus without the democrats support a better option to insist on negative lateral flow test. the prime ministers authority is taken a hit in the past few weeks. his supporters worry he will 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, i was read the sentence will be very child. ——tough 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 society to release not only him but all the political prisoners who are behind bars at the moment. a british woman has been found guilty of murdering her girlfriends child. and during months of assault and psychological harm at the hands of brockville. a jury cleared the little girls mother of

murder and manslaughter but convicted her causing or allowing her daughter's death. diplomats from britain, 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 accused iran of taking positions inconsistent with the agreement and wasting precious time at the talks in 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 otherfamilies 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. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme, "let's call time on the wild west online," so say british mps who want big tech companies to do more against online abuse.

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clinton and his place in history is only the second president ever to be impeached. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore, our headlines. a fresh warning from the spreading at an unprecedented rate. in the uk, a blow to prime minister borisjohnson's authority as fellow conservatives rebel against covid restrictions, but his new measures are passed due to support from the opposition. the omicron variant a as we've been telling you — new covid variant. in papua new guinea — experts have expressed serious concerns about the possibility 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 he explained by the current rates of vaccination are so low. �* , ., ' rates of vaccination are so low. �* , ., , ., rates of vaccination are so low. �*, ., , ., ., low. it's no different to what we are seeing _ low. it's no different to what we are seeing across - low. it's no different to what we are seeing across the - low. it's no different to what i we are seeing across the world as well in terms of two main issues that keep coming up. 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. given what you've just said at current rates, when you expect the population

to be fully vaccinated? the institute is projecting 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. yes, precisely. how concerned are you against the emergence of new results of low—level vaccinations? i'm very concerned. what i'm more concerned about is the impact it's going to have on people in p & g. 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 we're 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. can you describe what the current rates of severe disease and death that the current virus has caused there? as you said, testing 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.

another story now and about how big tech companies should be forced to ta ke take temper action against online crimes and abuse. 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 in the streets 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. finally think unesco and ancient monuments come to mind. i have about this... congolese rumba — one of the most popular musical genres in africa — hasjust 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.

that's all the time that we have for you at this hour. thanks so much forjoining us. hello there. the key messages that the weather is good to be settled over the next few days with a big area of high pressure is getting established itself across the uk. that means several conditions in the run—up to christmas with up on the satellite picture you can see that area of high pressure across spain, portugal and france, it's across spain, portugal and france, its building here and it's extending northwards. as it's extending northwards. as it extends northwards it's going to push the fronts away to the north as well. for the time being we still have quite a few isobars, these pressure lines are a stronger wind and weather front close to northern ireland and across western parts of scotland. then the

north as well during the course of when days it will be a time cloudy. it's mild with a cloudy rainy weather around nine or celsius with a 10 degrees but is dry. we still have that weakening weather front and northwest of the dribs and drabs of rain at the very least it will be cloudy but plenty of bright if not sunny weather around merseyside, parts of the midlands, lincolnshire, also northern and eastern parts of scotland. the south we have thicker cloud because it's drifting in from the sudden climbs here. this high pressure really will be in place across the uk by thursday. you can see the uk by thursday. you can see the weather fronts have been pushed to the north. that means it's drying out right across the uk. still little bit of rain maybe early in the morning flirting with the very far northwest of scotland and the northern isles. you could see the bulk of the country is dry on thursday.

and again, a lot of variation in the cloud cover, but wherever you will be on thursday, i think the temperature will be more or less the same, around 10—12 degrees celsius. now, this is what we call a blocking high, and this happens when the jet stream sort of wraps around it in the shape of the greek letter omega. so, you can just about make out that omega shape. when that happens in the atmosphere, things don't tend to move around an awful lot. they get sort of locked in, so that's why that high pressure will lock itself in across this part of the world, across our shores. so, very little change is expected as we head through friday, through the weekend and into next week as well. that's it from me.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after hard talk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. wherever we live in the world, our home country and its dominant culture will have done much to shape our identity. from the history we learn in school to the statues in our city squares, we are embedded in a national story. but what if that story is deeply misleading? well, my guest is the british—indian writer sathnam

sanghera, whose bestselling book empire land challenges the dominant british view of the empire and its legacy.