welcome to bbc news. i'm mark lobel. our top stories: most countries probably have omicron cases and its spreading faster than previous variants. the world health organization warns the world to prepare. even if omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could, once again, overwhelm unprepared health systems. noes to the left, 126. wow! gosh! here in london, despite the pm claiming success, dozens of his own mps vote against new coronavirus restrictions in the latest blow to boris johnson's authority.

two close friends who lost their lives in the english channel migrant tragedy. we visit their home town in iraqi kurdistan. a record temperature's observed in the arctic. scientists say the 38 degrees celsius heat is an alarm bell for climate change. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the head of the world health organization has issued a new warning about the omicron variant of coronavirus, saying it is spreading far more quickly than any other to date. he told countries around the world underestimate it at your peril. stephanie prentice reports. it's been three weeks since the

first detection of the omicron mutation but is likely to be in most countries by now stop that's according to the world health organization, were pushing for increased vaccination, enforced mask wearing, and further social distancing. as the new variant move swiftly around the world. omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variants. 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 disease, the sheer number of cases could, once again, overwhelm unprepared health systems. if? overwhelm unprepared health 5 stems. _, , overwhelm unprepared health s stems. , ., ., systems. 77 countries are now reporting — systems. 77 countries are now reporting omicron _ systems. 77 countries are now reporting omicron cases, - systems. 77 countries are now reporting omicron cases, with i reporting omicron cases, with manyjolting into action. the uk has rolled out its plan b

measures. and in the netherlands, primary schools are closing early for the holidays. christmas there will once again roll out with less sparkle is a nighttime lockdown is extended, limiting houseguests to four over christmas and new year's eve. translation: christmas and new year's eve. tuna/mom— christmas and new year's eve. translation: there's a lot we don't know— translation: there's a lot we don't know about _ translation: there's a lot we don't know about omicron - translation: there's a lot we don't know about omicron yet. | don't know about omicron yet. more information will be revealed in the coming days and we. for example, we do not know yet how sickening this variant is, but what we do know by now is, but what we do know by now is enough to worry us.— is enough to worry us. early data had — is enough to worry us. early data had suggested - is enough to worry us. early| data had suggested omicron is enough to worry us. early data had suggested omicron may be resistant to vaccines, with many countries fearful of hospitals being overwhelmed, but some experts are more optimistic. but some experts are more optimistic-— but some experts are more optimistic. we also thankful we're not — optimistic. we also thankful we're not seeing _ optimistic. we also thankful we're not seeing the - optimistic. we also thankful we're not seeing the same i optimistic. we also thankful. we're not seeing the same kind of rate of mortality as we did with delta or even the high numbers of overall viral load, which tells us that omicron, fortunately, should be less pathogenic, but that doesn't mean if you are unvaccinated you should be worried about it,

we would encourage you certainly to get the vaccine, get your booster. get certainly to get the vaccine, get your booster.— get your booster. get the vaccine. _ get your booster. get the vaccine, the _ get your booster. get the vaccine, the sentiment i get your booster. get the - vaccine, the sentiment echoed by the who, but with a nod to vaccine inequality in poorer nations. reiterating the fact that when it comes to battling variance, the world is only as strong as its list vaccinated population. —— least. stephanie prentice, bbc news. let's get more from dr gregory poland, professor of medicine and infectious diseases and director of mayo vaccine research group, who's in rochester, minnesota. hejoins us now. doctor, the world health organization is still talking about unprepared health systems a year and a half after the beginning of this pandemic. a year on since the vaccines started to roll out, where people thought there would be a turning point in the pandemic, is there not a turning point yet?- pandemic, is there not a turning point yet? well, there is in countries _ turning point yet? well, there is in countries that _ turning point yet? well, there is in countries that have - turning point yet? well, there is in countries that have had l turning point yet? well, there is in countries that have had a i is in countries that have had a high uptake of the vaccine. but evenin high uptake of the vaccine. but even in the most developed countries, let's take the us, for example, we only have 60%

of americans immunised and so the hesitancy and the rejection of vaccines and mask wearing make it an almost insolvable problem. make it an almost insolvable roblem. �* , , ., problem. and the live issue now is booster— problem. and the live issue now is booster shots. _ problem. and the live issue now is booster shots. we have the i is booster shots. we have the world health organization chief saying booster shots should play a role, but the protection for those in need to get the firstjab is crucial and then we have data, 70% of protection you get from two doses of pfizer, on the one hand, is the official data, and then you have the reddish prime minister saying it is clear that two doses of the vaccine are simply not enough, it was right?- not enough, it was right? yes, and that is _ not enough, it was right? yes, and that is correct. _ not enough, it was right? yes, and that is correct. if- not enough, it was right? yes, and that is correct. if you - and that is correct. if you have had no past doses your level of protection again symptomatic disease is estimated to be about 30%. your protection against death is higher, but a third dose moves you up to protection against death of about 90% protection

against symptomatic disease of about 70%. 50 against symptomatic disease of about 7096-— against symptomatic disease of about 70%. so how quickly does the vaccine _ about 70%. so how quickly does the vaccine need _ about 70%. so how quickly does the vaccine need to _ about 70%. so how quickly does the vaccine need to be - about 70%. so how quickly does the vaccine need to be spread . the vaccine need to be spread around the world to stop variance emerging? well, that is a very tall — variance emerging? well, that is a very tall order _ variance emerging? well, that is a very tall order and - is a very tall order and frankly i don't... if we had all of the vaccine we could ever want still don't think we could be the position where we wouldn't see variants arising and that is because the people not getting immunised. anybody who is in the us who is eligible can get a vaccine and yet they don't. eligible can get a vaccine and yet they don't-— eligible can get a vaccine and yet they don't. you are saying vaccine hesitancy _ yet they don't. you are saying vaccine hesitancy is _ yet they don't. you are saying vaccine hesitancy is one - yet they don't. you are saying vaccine hesitancy is one of. yet they don't. you are saying | vaccine hesitancy is one of the major obstacles to this. if we are then looking at spreading the emergence of new variants, travel bans a one option, yet in the uk we have seen this latest travel ban drop like a red hot potato.— latest travel ban drop like a red hot otato. ., ~ ., red hot potato. you know, there is really very _ red hot potato. you know, there is really very little _ red hot potato. you know, there is really very little science - is really very little science to support the notion of a travel ban. what is legitimate is that a country would say "you cannot enter our borders

without a qualified immunisation record and is perhaps also a negative test." but banning travel is too little, too late, and doesn't work. , , ., , ., ., little, too late, and doesn't work. , , ._, ., ,, work. dr gregory poland, thank ou so work. dr gregory poland, thank you so much — work. dr gregory poland, thank you so much for— work. dr gregory poland, thank you so much forjoining - work. dr gregory poland, thank you so much forjoining us. - work. dr gregory poland, thank you so much forjoining us. my| you so much for “oining us. my pleasure. h coronavirus cases in the uk have been rising, and the prime minister has introduced restrictions to stop the spread. but borisjohnson�*s new rules prompted a major rebellion in parliament by his own conservative mps. the measures, such as mandatory covid passes for entertainment venues, were passed — but only because the opposition labour party supported them. the rebellion in his own ranks spoke both of a lack of support for any further restrictions and left another dent in mrjohnson�*s already battered authority, which took a hit when allegations emerged of christmas parties held a year ago under his watch when the country was in lockdown. a british newspaper hasjust published this photo of what appears to be another such party thrown by conservative aides, in breach of covid measures. a spokesman has said that senior staff "became aware of an unauthorised social gathering" organised by a candidate for london mayor and that formal disciplinary action has been taken against four staff members. our deputy political editor vicky young reports on the events in parliament.

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 is 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. these public health measures would not have gone through if labour hadn't shown at the leadership that the prime minister failed to show. 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. it was a cry of pain from the conservative party.

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 act 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.

i believe that no government should ever use fear as a tool to try and persuade its citizens. 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. that is not freedom. the liberal democrat leader, who hasjoined a growing list of mps who've, today, tested positive for covid, is questioning how effective some of the government's measures are. we think the covid id cards or passports as they are called would give people a false sense of security because you can be double jab, boosterjabs and transmit the virus. liberal democrat support a better option to insist on negative lateral flow tests. 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. 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.

stay with us on bbc news. still to come: a record temperature's observed in the arctic. scientists say the 38 degrees celsius heat is an alarm bell for climate change. 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 3.5 years of conflict — conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives. before an audience of foreign leaders, before an audience of world leaders, the presidents of bosnia, serbia and croatia put their names to the peace agreement. the romanian border-

was sealed 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 bbc news. the latest headlines: a fresh warning from the world health organisation that the new coronavirus variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate. in the uk, a blow to prime minister borisjohnson�*s authority as dozens of his fellow mp vote against covid restrictions. the arctic is among the fastest warming regions in the world, heating at more than twice the global average. on tuesday, the world

meteorological organisation recognised a new arctic temperature record, after the russian town of verkhoyansk hit 38 degrees celsius in june 2020. professor randy cerveny is the rapporteur on extreme records at the world meteorological organisation and was part of the team that worked to verify this temperature in the arctic. hejoins me live now from phoenix arizona. why did it take so long to verify a record that was produced injune verify a record that was produced in june 2020? verify a record that was produced injune 2020? in verify a record that was produced in june 2020? in order to make sure — produced in june 2020? in order to make sure that _ produced in june 2020? in order to make sure that our _ produced in june 2020? in order to make sure that our records i to make sure that our records are right, we have to make sure they were taken into the correct manner, that the instrumentation was the proper instrumentation, that the sensor was calibrated and reading the correct values, that it was sighted in a specified place and it was at a

specified place and it was at a specified level. there are lots of guidelines to take uniform measurements around the world so when we have a new record what we want to do is make sure that observation was taken in exactly the proper manner so we can have faith and confidence in all of our observations. 50 in all of our observations. so we can trust it. when i was living in the middle east and it was 38 degrees, i would have to change my shirt a lot. but this is in the arctic. it is alarming- _ this is in the arctic. it is alarming. it _ this is in the arctic. it is alarming. it is. - this is in the arctic. it is alarming. it is. and - this is in the arctic. it isj alarming. it is. and that this is in the arctic. it is i alarming. it is. and that is one of the big problems, having high temperatures taken in the arctic. we would normally expect to see snow covering as temperatures are increasing, we will have less and less snow cover and that means the sunlight that would be reflected back into space is

being absorbed by the ground and is making it hotter. it is feedback mechanism. it increases the heat on the ground. i5 increases the heat on the round. , increases the heat on the ground-— increases the heat on the round. , ., ., , ., ground. is there good news and can be reversed _ ground. is there good news and can be reversed or— ground. is there good news and can be reversed or is _ ground. is there good news and can be reversed or is it- ground. is there good news and can be reversed or is it linked i can be reversed or is it linked to climate change? it is linked to climate change? it is linked to climate _ to climate change? it is linked to climate change _ to climate change? it is linked to climate change and - to climate change? it is linked to climate change and my - to climate change and my particularjob is determining extremes in different parts of the world. i cant tell you, for example, in the last ten years we have looked at anymore extremes of high—temperature extremes of high—temperatu re then extremes of high—temperature then we have of low temperature. how last low temperature. how last low temperature extremes we verified to place more than 25 years ago so we are living in a warming world and it is as a result of our action.- result of our action. this is keeping — result of our action. this is keeping you _ result of our action. this is keeping you busy - result of our action. this is keeping you busy now. - result of our action. this is | keeping you busy now. how should we look at stopping this? we had the cop26 summit,

many suggestions there. where do we go? i many suggestions there. where do we to? ., many suggestions there. where do we to? . ., ., do we go? i am not a politician, _ do we go? i am not a politician, i— do we go? i am not a politician, i am - do we go? i am not a politician, i am a - do we go? i am not a - politician, i am a climate scientist. i look at the data and want to make sure the data is correct and what we are measuring is actually what is happening in the world. i have to let more knowledgeable, in terms of political experience, people discuss what we can do to stop this. all i can do is try to show the numbers occurring on the planet are indeed the right numbers we are measuring. indeed the right numbers we are measuring-— measuring. thank you so much forjoining _ measuring. thank you so much forjoining us— measuring. thank you so much forjoining us on _ measuring. thank you so much forjoining us on bbc— measuring. thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. - measuring. thank you so much j forjoining us on bbc news. my pleasure- _ 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. here's our media editor amol rajan. for years, every country and particularly western democracies have grappled with how to minimise 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 somebody in my life and abusers recognised these kind of things, they recognise vulnerable people. 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's 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 shouldn't be up to kids to keep themselves safe on the internet. an important report today by a joint committee on the draft 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 cyberflashing, which is 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 these recommendations is to transfer power from silicon valley to elected officials closer to home, and to make what's illegal

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 on its own. regulating technology is very hard, that is why it's taking so long to implement new rules, but the era of self—regulation is over. amol rajan, bbc news. malta's parliament has passed legislation to permit the cultivation and personal use of cannabis. it's the first country in europe to do so although several others have similar plans. some countries already tolerate cannabis use in certain circumstances. but opponents have called for the president to veto the law. the bbc�*s tim allman reports.

in some mysterious way, the illusion of the drug state seem to fashion their way in life. it is a debate that goes back decades. is cannabis and essentially harmless recreational substance, something no more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco, or is it the gateway drug that can have long—term damaging effects, particularly on the young? the answer, at least for lawmakers in malta seems to be the former rather than the later. they have voted to legalise the drug, allowing adults to carry seven grams and also to allow growth at home. we are going to give inaudible by making sure that people who make use of cannabis now have a

safe and regularised way of obtaining it.— safe and regularised way of obtainin: it. ,, ., , obtaining it. several countries have already _ obtaining it. several countries have already legalise - obtaining it. several countriesl have already legalise cannabis. canada among them. it allowed recreational use in 2018. and then there are nations that effectively turn a blind eye. the netherlands is famous for its coffee shop where the drug can be openly sold. but malta would be the first country in europe to legalise cannabis, at least in small amounts. i europe to legalise cannabis, at least in small amounts.- least in small amounts. i think it is a great — least in small amounts. i think it is a great idea _ least in small amounts. i think it is a great idea because - least in small amounts. i think it is a great idea because it - it is a great idea because it helps people with pain and depression. i helps people with pain and depression.— helps people with pain and depression. i personally did not agree — depression. i personally did not agree with _ depression. i personally did not agree with that - depression. i personally didj not agree with that because depression. i personally did | not agree with that because i think— not agree with that because i think it — not agree with that because i think it will make us lazier as a society— think it will make us lazier as a society but i do not agree that— a society but i do not agree that anyone that is using it should _ that anyone that is using it should be jailed. the that anyone that is using it should be jailed.— should be jailed. the main opposition _ should be jailed. the main opposition party _ should be jailed. the main opposition party opposes i should be jailed. the main i opposition party opposes the plan, wanting it will normalise drug abuse but where malta

leaves, others may follow. luxembourg and germany are also promising changes in the law stop tim allman, bbc news. hello. well, the key message in the weather forecast is that the weather is going to be very settled over the next few days. a big area of high pressure is going to establish itself across the uk, and that means settled conditions, i think, in the run—up to christmas. and on the satellite picture, you can see that area of high pressure across spain, portugal and france. it's building here and it's extending northwards. and as it extends northwards, it's going to push the fronts away to the north as well. but for the time being, we still have quite a few isobars — these pressure lines — so a stronger wind and a weather front close to northern ireland and across western parts of scotland and the north, as well, during the course of wednesday.

so, here, it will be at times cloudy, but it's mild with that cloudy, rainy weather, around 8—9 degrees celsius. to the south of that, very mild, too. ten degrees, but it is dry. now, the cloud cover on wednesday will vary considerably across the uk. we still have that weakening weather front in the north west here, so dribs and drabs of rain. and at the very least, it will be cloudy, but plenty of bright if not even sunny weather around merseyside, parts of the midlands, lincolnshire, also northern and eastern parts of scotland. in the south, we have thicker cloud because it's drifting in from the southern climes here. now, this high pressure really will be in place across the uk by thursday. you can see the weather fronts have been pushed to the north, so that means it's drying out right across the uk. still a little bit of rain maybe early in the morning, flirting with the very far north—west of scotland and the northern isles, but you can 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. the headlines: the head of the world health organization has issued a new warning about the omicron variant of coronavirus, saying it is spreading far more quickly than any other to date. he told countries around the world — underestimate it at your peril. in the uk, prime minister borisjohnson's suffered the worst parliamentary rebellion of his term in office, with dozens of his own mps voting against new covid restrictions. but the changes were approved thanks to backing from the labour opposition the highest temperature ever recorded in the arctic, 38 degrees celsius, has been officially confirmed by the world meteorological organisation. experts say the record, which was reported in siberia injune last year, represents an alarm bell for the earth's changing climate. those are your headlines on bbc world news.