this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. tackling the global omicron surge — england cuts the isolation period for infected people, as israel becomes the first country in the world to offer a fourth vaccine dose. half a billion free covid tests for americans — president biden announces a major increase in testing capacity, as he tries to stop the spread of the omicron variant. let me say again and again and again and again, please get vaccinated. it's the only responsible thing to do. denmark's former immigration minister, who ordered the separation of under—age couples seeking asylum, is voted

out of parliament. and the national hockey league is set to pull out of february's winter olympics in beijing, over the omicron variant. hello and welcome. we start with the different ways countries around the world are trying to deal with the rapid rise in coronavirus cases, caused by the highly transmissable omicron variant. we still don't know if the rise in cases will translate to a similar rise in deaths or severe illness. and that uncertainty is one reason governments are finding it hard to find the right response. in the us, president biden has announced a major increase in testing capacity, with half a billion rapid tests to be made available for free.

israel has become the first country in the world to offer a fourth vaccine dose. it will be given first to the over—60s and to medical workers. and in england, people who test positive will be able to reduce their isolation period from ten days to just seven. we'll have more on the us shortly. first with a look at the other developments here's mark lobel. as children receive their dose of the pfizer vaccine at the school, israel has become the first country in the world to make a fourth dose of a coronavirus vaccine widely available to people over the age of 60 and medical workers. the country's prime minister naftali bennett welcomed the new saying the measure would help get through the omicron wave that is engulfing the world. as cases continue to rise in the uk, new isolation

guidelines have been announced which would allow people protested was a typical covid—i9 to reduce that self isolation from ten days seven, if they secure negative natural flow tests on day six and seven. , . , ., .,, flow tests on day six and seven. , ._, , seven. this decision has been informed _ seven. this decision has been informed by _ seven. this decision has been informed by uk _ seven. this decision has been informed by uk health - seven. this decision has been | informed by uk health security agency who looked at this very carefully and they are very comfortable that the detection provided by making this change, so that people can leave isolation after day seven as long as they have taken these two lateral float tests, and that they are negative, the protection it provides is similar to ten days of isolation without test. meanwhile germany has become the latest european country to tighten its coronavirus restrictions. from the 28 of december, nightclubs will be closed and large organised events, including the bundesliga football matches will take place behind closed

doors. because of a surge in infections in portugal, despite its very height vaccination rate, its government says people must work from home for at least two weeks from sunday, from when nightclubs and bars must be shut and a negative covid test would be needed to enter hotels or attend events like weddings. on new year's eve, outdoor gatherings would be limited to ten. translation: we are fully aware of the impact these measures have on our lives but we are also aware that if we do not take preventative measures, the consequences would be much bigger after christmas and new year. ~ ., bigger after christmas and new year. ~ . ~ ., year. meanwhile, the world health organization - year. meanwhile, the world | health organization approved another coronavirus vaccine on tuesday from the us firm, novavax, as the makers of the oxford university and astrazeneca vaccine say they have taken preliminary steps in producing an updated omicron targeted vaccine in case it is

needed. mark lobel, bbc news. as we mentioned president biden has announced a raft of new measures to deal with the omicron variant. gary o'donoghue reports from washington. more than two million people a day are travelling home for christmas through america's airports, and many of them are worried. the way i look at it is as long as we've been fully vaccinated, we're always masked up, should be ok. but it's quite dangerous still. i don't think anything's100% safe unless you stay in your house the entire time, so, yeah. omicron has exploded in the united states. in the space of two weeks, it's gone from less than i% of new cases to almost three quarters. so, for a second time in less than a month, president biden has announced more measures, extra vaccine sites and, in a change of direction, free home testing kits. i'm announcing today the federal government will purchase one half billion — that's not million, billion with a b —

additional at—home rapid tests with delivery starting in january. we'll be getting these tests to americans for free. those free at—home tests won't be available until next month, so testing sites like this recreation centre are opening up all over the country. and 1,000 military, nurses and doctors are being readied in case the hospitals get overwhelmed. while cases have been rising sharply, one encouraging sign is that hospitalisations haven't gone up anything like as much as they did earlier in the pandemic. but infections amongst the unvaccinated could change all that. we've first got to get the 50 million or so people who are eligible to be vaccinated who've not gotten vaccinated. that is critical. if you want to keep the level of spread in the country as low as possible, which would get us back to some degree of normality, you've got to get those unvaccinated people vaccinated. in new york, they've seen record numbers of cases

in the past few days, leading the mayor to offer a $100 incentive to those getting a boosterjab. it will not be a normal christmas once again. gary o'donoghue, bbc news, washington. governments are trying to react as they possibly can to the spread of the omicron variant. in about 25 minutes time, we will be looking at the various measures introduced into business, including a cash injection for hospitality in the uk. although to come a little later. dozens of people are feared missing after a landslide at a jade mine in northern myanmar. the landslide happened at around 4:00 in the morning local time, in the hpakant area of kachin state. there are fears that around 80 people have been swept into a lake by mining waste. the worst flooding malaysia has

seen in decades has left at least 27 dead, with fears that number will rise. three days of torrential rain has partially submerged entire towns and villages, forcing 60,000 people from their homes. government agencies have been accused of failing to issue storm warnings or send enough support. i'm joined now by hakim hamzah whose organisation, the malaysian red crescent, has been helping communities impacted by the floods. a warm welcome to the programme. tell us what you are seeing and experiencing at the moment? we seeing and experiencing at the moment? ~ ~ ., , ., , moment? we think that people are trapped _ moment? we think that people are trapped in _ moment? we think that people are trapped in their _ moment? we think that people are trapped in their homes - moment? we think that people are trapped in their homes for. are trapped in their homes for days. some have gone without food. we have deployed our members are volunteers under the ground to assist with the rescue efforts and the deployment of food to those

effected and also to conduct medical assessments on those who have been rescued so we can ensure health levels are all right. ensure health levels are all riuht. ., . . ensure health levels are all riiht, ., . ., , �* ensure health levels are all riuht. ., . . , �* ., right. how challenging isn't to t and right. how challenging isn't to try and help — right. how challenging isn't to try and help people _ right. how challenging isn't to try and help people bring - right. how challenging isn't to try and help people bring thel try and help people bring the aid they need? ——is it. fine aid they need? --is it. one art of aid they need? --is it. one part of the _ aid they need? --is it. one part of the town _ aid they need? --is it. one part of the town have - aid they need? --is it. one part of the town have been | part of the town have been submerged by water, we need to work closely with local residents who are very familiar with the whereabouts so that our votes do not run into vehicles or roadside submerged by water. these are some of the steps now in place that we need to be aware of and we also need to be aware of and we also need to also help others who provide assistance. to also help others who provide assistance-— assistance. quite a bit of criticism _ assistance. quite a bit of criticism has _ assistance. quite a bit of criticism has been - assistance. quite a bit of criticism has been aimedj assistance. quite a bit of. criticism has been aimed at assistance. quite a bit of- criticism has been aimed at the government in terms of our the

process is played out. your thoughts on what the government is doing in response? i thoughts on what the government is doing in response?— is doing in response? i guess the whole — is doing in response? i guess the whole country _ is doing in response? i guess the whole country has - is doing in response? i guess the whole country has been l the whole country has been taken by surprise with these sudden typhoon that has caused all this flooding. we're trying get better co—ordinated and getting assistance to the ground and government agencies have assisted in one part of town that has been submerged with water for a few days so what are is being pumped out. to ensure the water will recede. to ensure the water will recede-— to ensure the water will recede. �* . ., recede. are you concerned at the death _ recede. are you concerned at the death toll _ recede. are you concerned at the death toll of _ recede. are you concerned at the death toll of 27 _ recede. are you concerned at the death toll of 27 will - recede. are you concerned at the death toll of 27 will rise? | the death toll of 27 will rise? there is potential of the number going up stop some areas have been underwaterfor number going up stop some areas have been underwater for a few days so we do not know how many that have been trapped and yet to be rescued. some have gone days without food. so we're not

sure. in some parts of the country, where the dam waters have been released, houses have been washed out and people have been washed out and people have been covered with water so we really do not know how far we go. really do not know how far we to. . really do not know how far we to. ~ . really do not know how far we io, . , , ., really do not know how far we 0. ~ , , ., ., really do not know how far we io. ~ , , ., ., really do not know how far we go. we wish you all the very best and _ go. we wish you all the very best and thank— go. we wish you all the very best and thank you - go. we wish you all the very best and thank you for - go. we wish you all the very i best and thank you for talking to us on the bbc. denmark's former immigration minister, inger stojberg, who ordered the separation of under—age couples seeking asylum, has been voted out of parliament. stojberg was handed a 60—day prison sentence last week by an impeachment court. sylvia lennan—spence reports. measures to discourage migrant arrivals to europe over the past few years have often seemed controversial. in denmark in particular, they've tried to pull up the drawbridge. they've confiscated valuables from arriving refugees, created a three—year wait until relatives can join and at one point separated

young, married refugees. measures prompted by the 2015 refugee crisis when overi million entered europe via greece and italy, with many seeking asylum further north including in denmark. inger stojberg was immigration minister at the time. over the past two years she has been investigated over the legality of her 2016 decision to separate 23 married refugees under 18 years old from their spouses. she said it was to combat child marriages but her separation policy led some migrants to reportedly feel suicidal, living apart for months. bell rings. last week, she was convicted in an impeachment court and sentenced to 60 days' detention for failing to adhere to danish and human rights law, that each case must be assessed individually. fellow parliamentarians decided on monday that enough was enough. translation: it is incompatible with the office as a member- of parliament to have received an unconditional prison sentence.

a majority voted to remove the independent mp but she remains defiant. translation: i actually believe | that one has a moral obligation| to protect child brides when they come here. once i have served my sentence i can return, it could also be here. some commentators believe monday's verdict may galvanise her supporters on the right wing of politics but this rare case also underlines the consequences for ministers who do not comply with the law. sylvia lennan—spence, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: they news, still to come: are synonymous with christmas they are synonymous with christmas but have they been disappearing from kurdistan? we tell how environmentalist planning to change that. the world of music's been paying tribute to george michael,

who's died from suspected heart failure at the age of 53. he sold well over 100 million albums in a career spanning more than three decades. the united states' troops have been trying to overthrow the dictatorship of general manuel noriega. the pentagon said that it's failed in its principle objective to capture noriega and take him to the united states to face drugs charges. the hammer and sickle| was hastily taken away. .. its place. — the russian flag was hoisted over what is now— no longer the soviet union, but the commonwealth of independent states. | day broke slowly over lockerbie, over the cockpit of pan am's maid of the seas, nosedown in the soft earth. you could see what happens when a plane eight storeys high, a football pitch wide falls from 30,000 feet. christmas has returned to albania after a communist ban lasting more than 20 years. thousands went to midnight mass in the town of shkoder, where there were anti—communist riots ten days ago.

this is bbc news, the latest headlines: tackling the global omicron surge — england cuts the isolation period for infected people, as israel becomes the first country in the world to offer a fourth vaccine dose. president biden provides half a billion covid tests for americans, as he tries to stop the spread of the omicron variant. the national hockey league looks poised to pull out of the winter olympics which get underway in beijing in february. the move would see the omission of some of the world's top ice hockey players from the competition, as concerns surrounding covid—19 and the impacts on the remainder of the nhl season increase. tanya dendrinos reports. they are the best of the best but it seems it won't be a battle for gold in beijing or players in the national hockey league.

players in the national hockey lea i ue. ., ., , league. right now the nhl has postponed _ league. right now the nhl has postponed 50 _ league. right now the nhl has postponed 50 games _ league. right now the nhl has postponed 50 games so - league. right now the nhl has postponed 50 games so far- league. right now the nhl has postponed 50 games so far in l postponed 50 games so far in the regular season and they are saying that that is enough to have to use the olympic break to have two make up some of those games. to have two make up some of those games-— to have two make up some of those games. another chance i one those games. another chance ione for those games. another chance gone for those _ those games. another chance gone for those who _ those games. another chance gone for those who dreamt i those games. another chance gone for those who dreamt ofj gone for those who dreamt of representing their country on the olympic stage. i’d the olympic stage. i'd definitely _ the olympic stage. i'd definitely feel - the olympic stage. i�*c definitely feel for the guys who have missed numerous opportunities. it's not where it's the next year, you put a couple months. these are opportunities and experiences of a lifetime that you don't get very many of as an athlete and you might only get one. iiiii. and you might only get one. nhl ila ers and you might only get one. nhl players missed — and you might only get one. nhl players missed the games in 2018 but bargaining agreements or their return to the winter games and 2022 and 2026. the caveat, covid disruptions to the regular season. in caveat, covid disruptions to the regular season.- the regular season. in my opinion — the regular season. in my opinion it's _ the regular season. in my opinion it's a _ the regular season. in my opinion it's a smart - the regular season. in my. opinion it's a smart decision. i don't know who would really want to go under those circumstances. especially, i'd just put myself in that situation with the family,

there is zero chance that you would want to run the risk of being stuck over their. six. being stuck over their. six weeks out _ being stuck over their. six weeks out from _ being stuck over their. six weeks out from the opening ceremony, this puts major holes in the roster for teams around the globe, notjust in north america. so with the stars said to be put on ice once again, dazzling is anyone's came. —— anyone's game. let's get some of the day's other news. michael flynn, a longtime adviser to former us president donald trump, is suing the congressional committee investigating the january 6th attack on the us capitol. mr flynn's lawsuit alleges that a subpoena issued to him was too broad in scope, and punishes him for constitutionally protected speech he engaged in as a private citizen. parliament in ghana has been suspended untiljanuary following monday's session in which mps traded punches in a late night vote on a new electronics transaction tax. the proposal, which would include taxes on mobile money

payments, has divided the house for months. ticket sellers of spain's world—famous christmas lottery, due to be held today, are going on strike. el gordo, or the fat one, has a prize fund of almost two and a half billion euros. those who sell the tickets are demanding better pay, and will demonstrate outside madrid's opera house, where the prize draw takes place. now it's time to get all the latest from the bbc sport centre. we start with the nba commissioner adam silver who says there are no plans to pause the season is the number of players impacted by covid continues to rise. the nba has had to postpone seven games over the past week with more than 80 players reported to be isolating as per the nba's covid-19 isolating as per the nba's covid—19 protocols. he says they have examined multiple options but he doesn't yet see a reason to stop playing. brute

a reason to stop playing. we are having — a reason to stop playing. - are having trouble coming up with what the logic would be behind pausing right now. as we look through these cases, literally ripping through the country right now, putting aside the rest of the world, i think we are finding ourselves where we sort of knew we were going to get to for the past several months and that is that this virus will not be eradicated and we are going to have to learn to live with it. next to a farcical situation in italy where udinese were set to play at home to salernitana. the away team were hit by covid cases and banned by their local health authority from travelling. but serie a hadn't officially postponed the game so udinese, following the league's rules, went through the formalities of preparing for the match by announcing their line—up, as normal, and turning up to the stadium even though they knew their opponents wouldn't be there. proceedings were officially brought to an end 45 minutes after the scheduled kick—off time. it'll go down as an udinese 3—0 win and a one point deduction

for salernitana, but that's expected to be overturned on appeal with hopes the match can be rearranged. liverpool play leicester in the english league cup on wednesday. both sides have players missing with covid. liverpool were without several big names against tottenham at the weekend, and assistant coach pep lijnders says its absurd they have to play twice in four days. what happens if players are fatigued, you don't get your offensive attitude we want. the offensive attitude we want. the offensive quality we want. and second of all football as a team sport, so the moment lose players, we have to push players, we have to push players through these situations, the risk becomes just bigger. arsenal are the first team into the semi finals of this season's english league cup after a 5—1win over sunderland. eddie nketiah continued his impressive form in the competition with his first senior hat—trick as arsenal saw off the league one side. they'll discover their opponents on wednesday when the other three

quarter finals are played. australia have added uncapped fast bowler scott boland to their squad for the third ashes test in melbourne. boland comes in as cover, while fellow pacemen pat cummins and josh hazelwood also return. as for england, they'll need to re—group after going 2—nil down but australia's vice captain steve smith says his side have no intention of letting their advantage slip. it's gonna be a great occasion, it always is when you play for your country and a boxing day test match, particularly an ashes test match in the guys are really excited by that challenge and hopefully we can keep the momentum we have created these first two test matches and keep moving forward. and formula one driver nicholas latifi has revealed he received death threats after crashing out of the abu dhabi grand prix. his wreckage meant a safety car had to be deployed, ultimately taking away the sizable gap lewis hamilton had built up over rival max verstappen. verstappen went on to win the race and the championship, after catching up with hamilton behind the safety car.

latifi says he was shocked by the scale and tone of the hate and abuse he received online. he added that he'd expected it so deleted social media apps off his phone immediately after the race. you can get all the latest sports news at our website, that's bbc.com/sport. but from me and the team, that is all our support for now. —— how sport. reindeer once thrived in kyrgyzstan. they are considered sacred in central asia but their numbers have plummeted in the last hundred yea rs. now environmentalists have a plan to repopulate the country with the animal synonymous with christmas. the bbc�*s ermek maksutova reports. over a century ago, this was a land filled with thousands of reindeer. now there are just a little over 400 reindeer left

in kyrgyzstan. once a sacred animal, reindeerwere animal, reindeer were mercilessly poached. animal, reindeerwere mercilessly poached. the reindeer that are left are mostly here in this reservation where they are protected by high rocks and the fast river. this man used to be a poacher. in our tracks and guards the reindeer herds in the reservation. translation: to be honest, reservation. translation: to be honest. i've _ reservation. translation: to be honest, i've shot _ reservation. translation: to be honest, i've shot the _ reservation. translation: to be honest, i've shot the reindeer. i honest, i've shot the reindeer. i thought it was dead but it didn't die straightaway. i head no more bullets to finish at. i couldn't stand to be there, so a walk behind some trees and waited for its soul to leave its body. my heart ached, i've regretted it. in alforest its body. my heart ached, i've regretted it. in al forest and mountains, there were many reindeer. there were herds of them, hence the name of this

place, reindeer herds. i asked the old people and they told me that in 1926 my forefathers together with soldiers from the red army killed the last reindeer.— red army killed the last reindeer. , ., ., ~' ., reindeer. they now work to boost the _ reindeer. they now work to boost the reindeer - reindeer. they now work to i boost the reindeer population. reindeer are taken from this reservation and reintroduced to other parts of the country. translation: fix, other parts of the country. translation:— other parts of the country. translation: �* , ,, translation: a set by the river and a crate- _ translation: a set by the river and a crate- i — translation: a set by the river and a crate. i cried _ translation: a set by the river and a crate. i cried so _ translation: a set by the river and a crate. i cried so much. i i and a crate. i cried so much. i was overwhelmed. i don't know, i cried and shouted. i brought them here. the reindeer are here. , ., , here. they hope the reindeer read and _ here. they hope the reindeer read and flourish _ here. they hope the reindeer read and flourish in - here. they hope the reindeer read and flourish in their- read and flourish in their homes, so one day soon, reindeer will once again fill this land.

portuguese adventurer francishco lucinha has successfully crossed the atlantic in a boat powered only by kites. so take a look at this. he completed the 4,000 mile crossing from lisbon to the caribbean island of martinique, injust under seven weeks. the power needed onboard his small tri—maran was generated using solar power with lucinha steering, using remote controls that positioned an array of kites. some kites have exploded and i have now three standard kites, 27 metre kites and one 25m big one and now we are using the seven metre small kite but it is fine. we are moving at about 12 knots from 10—15 which is, which is ok. that's more than ok, don't you

think? and i think that is pretty incredible. we've got all the top business stories coming up next so do stay with us. i will see you injust coming up next so do stay with us. i will see you in just a moment. hello again. well, we're going to see some changes in our weather pattern through wednesday as this area of cloud, that's just out in the atlantic, starts to encroach. that will eventually bring some rain, particularly into western areas, with milder southerly winds spreading in as well. before we get there, though, it's a chilly start to the day with some patches of frost for central and eastern areas of the country. in some of the deeper valleys in scotland, we're seeing temperatures of, what, —9, —10 degrees, so a very cold start here. now, through wednesday, as i say, this area of rain is on the way, and it's going to be arriving pretty quickly in northern ireland, accompanied by those strengthening southerly winds. so, it will be turning progressively milder here pretty quickly through the day. elsewhere, a few brighter spells across central and eastern england, perhaps for northern scotland, too, but generally a lot

of cloud further west, with that rain continuing to push its way northwards and eastwards through the day. top temperatures around about 4—7 for many, but as that rain bumps into that colder air, well, some of those valleys could still have temperatures below freezing. so, there is a risk, and quite a significant risk i think, of seeing icy conditions out on the roads through wednesday evening, either due to freezing rain or rain falling on frozen surfaces. now, for thursday, we've got another weather front that's set to move its way in. now, i think it may well start off with rather murky conditions across much of the country, a few mist and fog patches over the hills, and rain. well, that rain's going to be heavier, particularly swinging across northern ireland, northern england, into parts of scotland as well. very mild in the south, 13 degrees, but we're starting to get some colder air spreading into the far north of the uk. and for christmas eve, we'll continue to have those kind of temperature contrasts. another weather front, this one concentrating rain across northern ireland, wales and the south—west of england, still with mild air here. further north, we've got those chillier conditions with wintry showers beginning to spread across

the northern isles. and for saturday, which of course is christmas day, we're going to have this battle zone somewhere across the uk. now, this is not set in stone. it could move a little bit further southwards perhaps over the next few days. for the north of the uk, we may well see a few snow showers, that is a possibility. the south—west more likely to see cloudy skies, grey conditions, rain and mild weather. and there's a small chance we could see something a little bit more disruptive, but itjust depends where this boundary ends up being. at the moment, it's here. cold air to the north, milder in the south west, but watch this space.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the uk government announces a £1 billion fund to help businesses hit by the pandemic. the news is welcomed by some, however others — like the beauty industry — are less than impressed. frustrated mcdonald's customers injapan have a chip on their shoulder, after the fast food chain runs short of potatoes. gaming obsession — the bbc has exclusive access to the uk's only facility for gaming addiciton and examines the growing problem. and spider—man takes the box office by storm, but the industry is bracing itself for further closures with new lockdowns looming.