this is bbc news. the headlines. scientists cautiously welcome studies that suggest this is bbc news. the highly—contagious omicron covid variant is milder than previous versions. the health secretary warns that the sheer number of infections could still lead to hospitals being overwhelmed. we do know with omicron, that it spreads a lot more quickly, it's more infectious than delta is, so any advantage gained from reduced hospitalisation needs to be set against that. there's been a doubling in a week of the number of staff at acute nhs trusts in london who are absent for covid—19 reasons. across england nearly 19,000 staff were absent. russia's president putin spells out how he thinks a military conflict might begin in eastern ukraine, amid heightened tensions with the west.

police warn e—scooter users they risk having them seized and destroyed if they're used on public roads. 15—month—old... hey, baby. both of them are ok. 15-month-old... hey, baby. both of them are ok-_ 15-month-old... hey, baby. both of them are ok. and coming up: rescue footage emerges of two babies being pulled alive from the rubble of kentucky's tornado last week and handed over to their grandmother. the health secretary says the government has no plans to announce any further covid restrictions this week and will continue to monitor the data after two early studies

indicated that the 0micron variant may cause milder illness than delta, with patients less likely to need hospital treatment. mrjavid urged people to remain caution during the festive period. we are not planning any further announcements this week. i want people to, despite the caution we are all taking, the sensible caution, people should enjoy their christmases with families and friends, of course remain cautious, and we will keep the situation under review. we are learning all the time from this new data and we will keep analysing that data and if we need to do anything more, we will, but nothing will happen before christmas. he also reacted to a number of studies into the 0micron variant which appear to show — at least at this early stage — suggest people infected with 0micron were between 30% and 70% less likely to need a hospital bed than compared with other variants. these early reports, they suggest that the risk of hospitalisation is lower than delta and that of course

is good, but it's encouraging news and they are not very clear yet on how much that risk is reduced and we do know with 0micron that it does spread a lot more quickly, it is a lot more infectious than delta is, so any advantage gained from a reduced risk of hospitalisation needs to be set against that and we know for example that if a much smaller percentage of people are at the risk of hospitalisation, that a smaller percentage of a much larger number that could still be significant in hospitalisations. with me is our political correspondent ben wright. then, some promising early indications with regard to these studies on the severity of 0micron. and less promising news we have seen a pretty stark figures on the number of nhs staff in acute hospital trusts in because of virus or related illnesses either because

they are isolating or because they have covid themselves. where does that leave any potential future decision on further measures in england? decision on further measures in encland? . ~ , decision on further measures in encland? , ., england? picking up that last point, we talk with — england? picking up that last point, we talk with the _ england? picking up that last point, we talk with the nhs _ england? picking up that last point, we talk with the nhs being - we talk with the nhs being overwhelmed by covid, there are two big concerns. clearly, there is the fact that you have far too many people turning up sick and wanting hospital beds and the nhs has a capacity to deal with that and then a knock—on impact for other in all people and then there is the staff being ill and there is a question and a query about what is happening in london hospitals was at the forefront of the current 0micron wave. but listening to sergeant javid and i thought it was interesting that he talked with this new data being encouraging. more than that, they're slowly trying to build up a picture of what this new variant means in terms of severity, hospitalisation, and that picture is far from complete. hospitalisation, and that picture is farfrom complete. we'll get new data later this afternoon from uk health security agency which will fill out that picture a bit more. he

is not ready to say that we are out of the woods because clearly we are not and i think the government is also worried about how this is heard by the public because what they want most of all is people to go and get their boosterjabs. that will potentially do more than anything to reduce the impact of this variant and the way it is currently moving. do think england could go its own way compared the other home nations and introducing post—christmas measures? we and introducing post-christmas measures?— and introducing post-christmas measures? ~ ., ., , and introducing post-christmas measures? ~ ., ., measures? we know scotland wales and northern ireland — measures? we know scotland wales and northern ireland have _ measures? we know scotland wales and northern ireland have announced - measures? we know scotland wales and northern ireland have announced that i northern ireland have announced that there is. because clearly, for the prime minister, there is an issue here with a number of backbenchers who are utterly opposed to further measures being introduced. do you think that england might try to hold off on this for as long as possible? it may well and we know that half of his parliamentary party voted against the measures that are in the so—called plan b the cayman with covert —— covid passport and great reluctance to agree to anything else

with a response to anything in response to this. i don't think that for many of those tory mps there was a firmly set position. i think it could change of the fact change but we know for boris johnson could change of the fact change but we know for borisjohnson that could change of the fact change but we know for boris johnson that as well as having to weigh up this scientific data, clearly there are political considerations as well. yet a cabinet meeting this week and the majority of ministers were clear they wanted more data before agreeing to what has been called a circuit breaker after christmas similar to the measures have been put in a northern ireland, scotland and wales but i don't think there is and wales but i don't think there is a plan in the drawer ready to be pulled out. i think it remains uncertain because the government hasn't decided what to do. ben. hasn't decided what to do. ben, thank you _ hasn't decided what to do. ben, thank you very _ hasn't decided what to do. ben, thank you very much. _ hasn't decided what to do. ben, thank you very much. lets - hasn't decided what to do. ben, thank you very much. lets talk more about that data. some data to bring you now on the latest nhs staff absences from trusts in england, starting with london. a total of 3,874 staff at acute hospital trusts, those which provide hospital—based services such as a&e and outpatients

were absent for covid related reasons on the 19th of december that's more than double the figure from a week earlier. across england trusts, 18,829 staff were absent on that same day, inclusive of the london figures. that's up 54% from a week earlier. we've contacted nhs england for comment on how those absences could affect nhs services. let's speak to adrian boyle who was the vice president of the royal couege the vice president of the royal college of medicine. thank you for joining us today. those figures are clearly concerning for you. yes. joining us today. those figures are clearly concerning for you. yes, one ofthe clearly concerning for you. yes, one of the things — clearly concerning for you. yes, one of the things we _ clearly concerning for you. yes, one of the things we have _ clearly concerning for you. yes, one of the things we have learned - clearly concerning for you. yes, one of the things we have learned with l of the things we have learned with the pandemic is what happens in london tends to then spread out and happen across the rest of the country, so i don't work in london, but i would look at those figures and think this is likely to start happening around the country. what happening around the country. what im act is happening around the country. what impact is this _ happening around the country. what impact is this level _ happening around the country. what impact is this level of _ happening around the country. what impact is this level of absences that we are seeing illustrated in these figures, what impact is that

currently having on the ability of trusts to deliver trusts, both covid and non—covid? it trusts to deliver trusts, both covid and non-covid?— trusts to deliver trusts, both covid and non-covid? it slows everything down and the _ and non-covid? it slows everything down and the big _ and non-covid? it slows everything down and the big problem - and non-covid? it slows everything down and the big problem and - and non-covid? it slows everything down and the big problem and this| and non-covid? it slows everything i down and the big problem and this is rather workforce because you cannot... what we will see if these measures carry on is that we will have to scale back and have to prioritise bits of care and some things might get cancelled, things will get deferred, itjust creates an enormous amount of additional slowness within the system. those cancellations _ slowness within the system. those cancellations and _ slowness within the system. those cancellations and deferrals - slowness within the system. those cancellations and deferrals are - cancellations and deferrals are already happening, are they? yes. already happening, are they? yes, but this will _ already happening, are they? yes, but this will be _ already happening, are they? yes but this will be accelerated. we already happening, are they? 12: but this will be accelerated. we are constantly getting asked if the nhs is overwhelmed? but it doesn't get overwhelmed but everything just grows more slowly. if somebody falls over and break their hips, it takes longerfor the ambulance over and break their hips, it takes longer for the ambulance to get to them and when the ambulance gets to them and when the ambulance gets to the hospital it takes longer for them to get into the hospital and going through the emergency

department is slower and getting to award a slower and becoming an out patient is slower. everything, everyone of those steps is dependent on having staff. everyone of those steps is dependent on having staff-— on having staff. based on the absences. — on having staff. based on the absences, for _ on having staff. based on the absences, for which - on having staff. based on the absences, for which we - on having staff. based on the absences, for which we have | on having staff. based on the - absences, for which we have this evidence, do you think extra measures should be brought in post—christmas in england to try and curb the spread of 0micron? that post-christmas in england to try and curb the spread of omicron?- curb the spread of omicron? that is a olitical curb the spread of omicron? that is a political decision _ curb the spread of omicron? that is a political decision and _ curb the spread of omicron? that is a political decision and we - curb the spread of omicron? that is a political decision and we would . a political decision and we would never as a royal college start advocating for additional measures got, but personally i am beginning to prioritise things that are most important so there is a lot of social things that i would have done this week that i have not done because i am prioritising to see my parents this week.— parents this week. ultimately, the answer a question _ parents this week. ultimately, the answer a question is _ parents this week. ultimately, the answer a question is yes _ parents this week. ultimately, the answer a question is yes on - parents this week. ultimately, the answer a question is yes on a - answer a question is yes on a personal level, from a scientific medical perspective, i appreciate you may not be wanting to say that with this particular hat on, representing the college of emergency medicine, but everything you know as an individual and as a doctor tells you that these measures

might help? doctor tells you that these measures mi . ht hel ? , doctor tells you that these measures miaht hel? , doctor tells you that these measures mic-hthel? , ., doctor tells you that these measures might help?— might help? yes, so we have seen that these measures _ might help? yes, so we have seen that these measures do _ might help? yes, so we have seen that these measures do help - might help? yes, so we have seen that these measures do help and l might help? yes, so we have seen| that these measures do help and it does ease pressure. we have to balance that against everything else. some of this does desperately affect people who are shielding and likewise my heart goes out when i see the effect it has on the economy and in particular hospitality. these are political decisions which are informed by medical evidence. that leads me to — informed by medical evidence. that leads me to my _ informed by medical evidence. that leads me to my next _ informed by medical evidence. that leads me to my next question because the flip side of that is focusing on the flip side of that is focusing on the booster campaign and focusing on the booster campaign and focusing on the vaccinations and trying to avoid restrictive measures. is that in your medical opinion the best route to follow? i your medical opinion the best route to follow? ~ , ., , to follow? i think it is a big card we've got _ to follow? i think it is a big card we've got and — to follow? i think it is a big card we've got and i _ to follow? i think it is a big card we've got and i think _ to follow? i think it is a big card we've got and i think when - to follow? i think it is a big card we've got and i think when you | to follow? i think it is a big card - we've got and i think when you look at the graphs of people have come forward for boosters, as a population, the public are doing an amazing job. we have seen people standing outside in long queues and in the code does not called to get

boosters. we should be proud of that societally. it is the right thing to do and the response of the public has been heartening. for do and the response of the public has been heartening.— has been heartening. for those staff who are not — has been heartening. for those staff who are not off— has been heartening. for those staff who are not off for— has been heartening. for those staff who are not off for covid _ has been heartening. for those staff who are not off for covid reasons, i who are not off for covid reasons, extra pressure on them, how are they coping? taste extra pressure on them, how are they coin: ? ~ :, extra pressure on them, how are they coin? : ., ., extra pressure on them, how are they coin? ~ ., ., . ., extra pressure on them, how are they coin? : ., ., . ., ., ., , coping? we are all creating various wa s. we coping? we are all creating various ways- we take _ coping? we are all creating various ways. we take our— coping? we are all creating various ways. we take our services - ways. we take our services responsibly and we are all doing and thinking how we can best support our patients by making sure there are some sort of back—up for them. we are thinking about how to do this. it does feel like here we go again. we have been here before, we know what we are doing, it may feel quite tough but we have got through this before. ., �* , ,., before. doctor boyle, we wish you and all your _ before. doctor boyle, we wish you and all your colleagues _ before. doctor boyle, we wish you and all your colleagues in - before. doctor boyle, we wish you i and all your colleagues in emergency medicine at the very best for the christmas period and we know everyone is going to be incredibly busy but thank you for what you all do and we wish you well.

the days following christmas will see the return of some coronavirus restrictions in many parts of the uk in response to concerns over the 0micron variant. some of the devolved administrations announced new measures yesterday, which will come into effect from boxing day. let's take a look at what is being introduced. in northern ireland, nightclubs will be closed from boxing day, from the 27th of december hospitality will return to table service only with no more than six people allowed to sit together and people will be advised to reduce indoor mixing to a maximum of three households. in wales — restrictions introduced include a return of the rule of six in pubs, cinemas and restaurants. two—metre social distancing rules will also be reintroduced in public places. nightclubs will close from boxing day. in scotland, from boxing day, there will be limits on the size of live public events. from the following day, nightclubs will close for three weeks, while pubs, bars and other hospitality venues will return to table service only

with one—metre social distancing and no more than three households in each group. in light of those new restrictions for nightclubs in scotland, i spoke to gavin stevenson who is the director of the mor—rioghain group, which owns venues in inverness and aberdeen and is also the vice chair of the night time industries association scotland and he explained what they were planning to do. for our premises we have a range of premises ranging from restaurants and a small nightclubs so for us, we will be closing the nightclub, it is simply not viable to operate with one metre social distancing and table service. that reduces our capacity by about 75% and we just can't trade viably like that. to that extent, the announcement today that there will be additional closure grants for places to close is welcome from the scottish government, albeit we all wish we weren't in this position again at this time of year. of course, and with your nighttime

industries cap on, will most now —— nightclubs... be going down the eclosure route, rather than trying to do table and social distancing? i mean, nightclubs arejust fundamentally designed to be large capacity premises and unfortunately they need to have those numbers meant to be able to trade viably. —— numbers in to be able... so we suspect the majority will now choose to close and take advantage of the closure grants. it is really important, we haven't seen the detail of what those grants will entail, but nightclubs are in a very precarious financial position after 500 plus days of closure and only being open for a few months, so we hope the grants to be announced will meet the scale of the need. i was just about to say that you don't yet know the detail of how much these grants will be or do you know when you might get hold of this money, this financial support? we have meetings with the scottish government later today to try and understand what it is that they are proposing

and so hopefully we will be able to get that money flowing through injanuary so the clubs can afford to pay their bills and to ensure that their staffs jobs are secure because i think that is the most important thing at the moment, it's looking after notjust the businesses but also the team. it would be great if we saw the return of furlough from westminster, but at the moment, there has been no progress on the topic at all. i guess that in the meantime what you're hoping for and looking at this early data on the severity of 0micron, you're hoping that this initial closure period of three weeks for nightclubs and the extra measures introduced for other parts of hospitality, that perhaps at the end of that you may be able to pull back from that position to something approaching a more normal operations? well, yes, that is certainly the hope. 0bviously, despite support coming through, it never comes close to being able to actually cover the costs of closure or indeed

of restricted operations. the most important thing is that we are able to get premises back open and trading fully in as short a time as the current situation allows. i think the scottish government are well aware of the urgency of the situation and will continue to work closely with them to give clubs open are safely and as quickly as possible. gavin stevenson. breaking news. from the office of national statistics which says that an estimated 1.4 million people in the uk have covid—19 in the week ending december the 16th and that is the highest number since comparable figures began in autumn 2020, says the 0ns. the prevalence of cases around one in every 45 people with covid in the

week ending december the 16th. and thatis week ending december the 16th. and that is the highest number since comparable figures began in autumn 2020. we have footballing news. leads united and watford fc have called off games. that is due to covid cases and that is a statement coming from the premier league. let me tell you a little bit more about the statement and you can see it there on your screens on twitter following the postponement request from leeds and watford as result of covid—19 in the premier league board regrettably agreed to call off the boxing day fixtures so wolverhampton wonder versus watford fc in liverpool against leeds were both due to be played on sunday at 12:30pm and the premier league says it is aware of the decision to postpone these decisions and it will

disappoint supporters and it understands the frustrations at a special time of year. but it says it is trying to give people as much notice as possible and safety is the priority. as european countries enter the christmas period — the 0micron variant is turning into the dominant strain in a number of countries — notjust here in the uk. spain has indicated it will bring back compulsory mask—wearing outdoors. the country ended mandatory outdoor mask use in latejune, while still requiring them indoors in public spaces or in crowded outdoor spaces where social distancing was impossible. in australia's most populous state, new south wales, authorities are proposing taking a far tougher stance against those choosing to remain unvaccinated , charging them for covid medical costs. 0ur australia correspondent shaimaa khalil has more. this idea was mentioned by the new south wales state health minister, brad hazzard. he was speaking to local

media, and he was saying that the new south wales state government is considering whether to force people who are unvaccinated to pay for their medical bills if they required hospitalisation for covid—19. he did not mention any further details. he didn't say how far along they are in those conversations. but if implemented, this is going to be extremely controversial, because it is going to be a drastic change from australia's universal health care system. it has already come under fierce criticism from australia's top medical association, the australian medical association. its president said that this was unethical to charge people for medical care based on previous health choices, that it was a shame to deny people health care, to deny people medical care in the middle of a pandemic, and that this was a lack of compassion really, at a time when people

need it the most. and also, where do you draw the line? by the same logic, do you then charge smokers? new south wales has, of course, eased its restrictions. it's come out of lockdown. it's opened both its domestic and international borders for australians and for visa holders, and there was an expectation that these cases were going to rise, but that number has sharply risen in the last week or so. today, the state has reported more than 5,700 covid—19 cases. about 80% of that is of the 0micron variant. and these are big numbers, in an australian context. so i think even if it'sjust an idea that's being floated, even if it's just being discussed, it's going to make that divide between the vaccinated and unvaccinated even deeper, and i think it also shows you a certain nervousness from the state government's side about whether or not the health care is going to handle more cases.

the president of russia, vladimir putin has been holding his annual end—of—year press conference in moscow. these are live pictures from the conference. it is always a lengthy affair. it is always a lengthy affair. this year, due to covid rules, only 500 journalists were invited— less than half than in previous years. 0ur reporter has been monitoring this press conference and can tell us more. president putin has been talking about how he thinks a military conflict might begin in eastern ukraine. what more did he have to say on that?— have to say on that? yes, as you ri . htl have to say on that? yes, as you rightly noted _ have to say on that? yes, as you rightly noted it _ have to say on that? yes, as you rightly noted it was _ have to say on that? yes, as you rightly noted it was a _ have to say on that? yes, as you rightly noted it was a lengthy - have to say on that? yes, as you i rightly noted it was a lengthy press conference and it lasts for four or five hours and most questions refer to internal matters but this year there was a lot of attention to the this tension with the west and tension with the ukraine and as you mentioned, he spoke about ukraine

but it seems that both sides are speaking different languages and are viewing this from completely different perspectives and that is the trouble because mr putin was saying that what he is doing is only responding to the provocation from the west and also he used the western military and political help to ukraine as a threat because he is afraid that it may end up in the wrong hands as he said. he didn't explain though was the second part of the story and why he says an independent ukraine as a threat and why this vicious circle of mutual disbelief and cannot be broken by either side. mas disbelief and cannot be broken by either side-— disbelief and cannot be broken by either side. was there anything in what he said _ either side. was there anything in what he said that _ either side. was there anything in what he said that the _ either side. was there anything in what he said that the eastern - what he said that the eastern ukraine and the west might be seen as ratcheting up tensions and of itself. ., , ., .,

itself. our? he noted before that he is en'o in: itself. our? he noted before that he is enjoying this _ itself. our? he noted before that he is enjoying this tension _ itself. our? he noted before that he is enjoying this tension because - itself. our? he noted before that he is enjoying this tension because he i is enjoying this tension because he can do whatever we want within our country and we can move troops wherever we like. if this provokes tension in the west in a way it is good. i guess he is looking forward to negotiations with the west which are due to come injanuary and this tension which is building up is playing into his favour because he feels that he has more cards up his sleeve and more arguments to make and it brings him to the better position on this as he sees as a trade—off. position on this as he sees as a trade-offl— position on this as he sees as a trade-off. ., ., , ., ., ., trade-off. from what you have heard from the rest — trade-off. from what you have heard from the rest of _ trade-off. from what you have heard from the rest of the _ trade-off. from what you have heard from the rest of the news _ from the rest of the news conference, 0lga, is there anything you would pick out as an notable? ihe you would pick out as an notable? h2 spoke about nato rockets being placed in europe and i think it's interesting that he says it is a threat to russia but he fails to mention that actually, the

development was being frozen before russian annexation of crimea and was only renewed by that. he spoke a lot about coronavirus and said that part of the problem is related to the fact that the russian vaccine is not recognised in the west. what he failed to mention is that it was actually russia itself who failed to supply all the needed documents to the world health organization. i guess you know it's a game by him to spread his meshes to the west but also the same time to his internal audience... also the same time to his internal audience- - -_ sales of e—scooters have rapidly increased over the last four years but, if you're thinking of buying or giving one as a present this christmas, you may want to think again. police forces across the uk are warning people to make sure they're aware about where they can be used legally otherwise they could be seized and destroyed asjo black reports.

at a depot in the midlands, thousands of pounds worth of e—scooters are being chopped into pieces. if one of these is on your christmas list, it could be seized and destroyed if you're caught riding it in the wrong place. privately owned e—scooters can only be used on private land, with the land owner's consent. currently, the only e—scooters you can ride on public highways are rental ones from approved operators, which are part of a government trial operating in 32 areas of england. mate, just pull over there. and the police are out and about looking for illegal e—scooter use. £600, totalling £1200 for the two of them, and i think they're brilliant. steven crowley from birmingham bought his own e—scooter. he's walking with it, so isn't doing anything wrong on this occasion. when you bought it, were you told about where you could use it? no, not really. but, you know, in the same breath, you're not going to —

you know, we didn't inquire. you know, so we wasn't really interested. but what what gets me a little bit, just finding this out, they shouldn't be allowed to sell something that you can't use. steven says the rental scooter trials can confuse people into thinking personal devices can be used in the same way. and he's not alone in calling for retailers to be much clearer about the rules when they're selling them. the fact westminster police have seized well over 100 private e—scooters since april — around 140, in fact — and sometimes they're seizing them a few minutes after people have bought them from the shops. there's no way people would be riding them around on public land, if they'd been told on that kind of scale. so the shops are not doing enough. but retailers we've spoken to say they do provide clear and visible information, so customers understand the legal restrictions. and sales seem to be booming. more sales brings more safety concerns. this crash testing footage released by the charity guide dogs shows the potential dangers

of badly ridden e—scooters. james holbrook dislocated his shoulder when two schoolgirls riding a private e—scooter, crashed into him as he was cycling home. i think anything that gets people out of cars is a good thing. i think e—scooters are part of a solution of freeing up the roads. but there should be some regulation. people aren't aware of what the rules are, or choose to ignore them. they're not really being enforced. calls to legalise private e—scooters are growing, and a decision could be taken by the government next year. the department for transport says safety is a top priority, and the rental trials across england will allow an understanding of the benefits and impact of this new form of transport. many say e—scooters provide a fun, convenient, greener way to travel. but if you misuse a privately—owned one, it could in the end be a very expensive journey. jo black, bbc news.

the british socialite ghislaine maxwell will spend christmas day, her 60th birthday, behind bars, after thejury in her sex crimes trial suspended deliberations on wednesday without reaching a verdict. the judge granted a request from the jurors that they take thursday off and told them to return on monday, after the christmas holiday. 0ur correspondent, barbara plett usher, has been following the trial in new york. the jury deliberated for two full days, but it wasn't able to reach a verdict before christmas. and the court has now recessed for the holiday weekend. the jurors are considering six counts against ghislaine maxwell of grooming and transporting girls for sex. and the case is narrowly focused on the accusations of four women who say that she facilitated or participated injeffrey epstein's abuse of her. the jurors have several times asked the judge to send them transcript of testimony or to clarify certain issues. they will come back on monday to continue deliberating about whether to convict ghislaine maxwell of all, some or none of the charges.

in the meantime, ms maxwell will be spending christmas at the federal detention centre in brooklyn, where she's been for more than a year, with this decision still hanging over her. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. it's going to be unseasonably mild for some parts of the country today, more notably northern ireland, england and wales. we've got a lot of cloud around and and also a weather front which is producing all of this rain, the heaviest of which is crossing northern ireland, into northern england and scotland. falling as snow on higher ground. behind it, it should brighten up later for wales, the south—west and northern ireland, but look at these temperatures, 10—13 degrees, way above average for this time of year, cooler across the north where we still have a north—easterly wind. now tonight, the rain moves towards the north of scotland, we'll see snow on higher ground. behind it a fair bit of cloud around, some patchy mist and fog forming and it's not going to be as cold a night for most as it has been of late.

but still the risk of ice on untreated surfaces in parts of scotland. tomorrow, we have a decaying front producing some snow flurries in the highlands, some in the northern isles, a lot of cloud and then this front comes in bringing some rain with stronger winds coming in behind. still mild in the south—west and cold in the north east. hello, this is bbc news with anita mcveigh. the headlines: over 1.3 million people would have tested positive for covid—19 infections in the week ending 16th december in the uk, according to official estimates. despite scientists welcoming studies suggesting 0micron is milder than previous variants, the health secretary warns hospitals could still be overwhelmed. the health secretary warns hospitals we the health secretary warns hospitals that it does sj quickly we that it does spread a lot more

quickly and is a so any advantage gained from a reduced risk of hospitalisation needs to there's been a doubling in a week of the number of staff at acute nhs trusts in london who are absent for covid—19 reasons. across england nearly 19,000 staff were absent. the premier league calls off two boxing day games — liverpool v leeds and wolves v watford — after requests from leeds and watford to postpone because of covid infections. russia's president putin spells out how he thinks a military conflict might begin in eastern ukraine, amid heightened tensions with the west. a women's health ambassador is to be appointed in england as part of government plans to tackle decades of gender inequality within the health service. women in the uk have a longer life expectancy than men but officials say they are spending less of their life in good health.

with me now is the conservative mp for lewes and health minister maria caulfield. resetting the dial on women's with you putting in context the scale of gender inequality in we did a consultation with women across the country earlier this year and had and the sort of issues women have been raising our throughout their lifetime so whether it is young women talking about difficulties getting 14 weeks between asking for those

health and submission is closing, an in—built bias or decades of bias in the health care service? i an in-built bias or decades of bias in the health care service?- in the health care service? i think it's a combination _ in the health care service? i think it's a combination of _ in the health care service? i think it's a combination of things. - in the health care service? i think i it's a combination of things. women themselves and we have started debating these issues in parliament so we had a big debate in october and the menopause and h or t. for some women, therejust and the menopause and h or t. for some women, there just aren't aware of these health problems and when we talk about the menopause is more than hot flushes and night sweats, many women, hundreds have contacted to me that they didn't realise the sleepless nights or change in mood or the brain fog that these things were down to a biological process of the menopause. a lot of it is around raising awareness around women so that they are able to ask for help

that they are able to ask for help that they are able to ask for help that they need and also health and health care professionals work in primary care and in hospitals that they understand and improve their training about the experiences of women and it's about making sure the services are then there to support women with the health care needs. mental health, violence against women, these are also on this and it's an ambitious list of areas that you want to look at. how is this going to be delivered, paid for and staffed? :, , going to be delivered, paid for and staffed? . , , , ., staffed? initially, this is our vision. these _ staffed? initially, this is our vision. these are _ staffed? initially, this is our vision. these are the - staffed? initially, this is our - vision. these are the responses we have got, what women are telling us, so it's not the government setting out these priorities, these are women plasma priorities and what will happen now as we move forward into the spring as we will put the meat on the bone for those priorities to be set out in terms of what women can expect for those areas. it cannot be right in this day and age that women are often waiting eight years to be diagnosed with endometriosis and often going ten or 12 appointments to get a

diagnosis confirmed and is a precious years in a young woman's life issues having fertility issues as a result of this. it is about setting out that what women have told us and these are the priorities we are looking at in the new year we will announce details on that in terms of how we're going to improve the experience of women without their life. i the experience of women without their life. , , ., the experience of women without their life. ,, ., y., �* their life. i guess what you're sa inc. their life. i guess what you're saying- you _ their life. i guess what you're saying. you have _ their life. i guess what you're saying. you have been - their life. i guess what you're i saying. you have been gathering their life. i guess what you're - saying. you have been gathering the thoughts of women, the experiences of women, but you must have thought at this stage about how that is going to be delivered. can you give any insight into that aspect at this stage? any insight into that aspect at this sta . e? :, any insight into that aspect at this sta . e? ., , ., ., any insight into that aspect at this state? ., ,., ., ., stage? there are some low hanging fruit that we — stage? there are some low hanging fruit that we can _ stage? there are some low hanging fruit that we can deal _ stage? there are some low hanging fruit that we can deal with - stage? there are some low hanging fruit that we can deal with quite - fruit that we can deal with quite quickly and when you look at hrt, thatis quickly and when you look at hrt, that is already in guidelines that women should be offered hrt when they're going to the menopause but only 10% of women are. we can quickly address that issue by improving education and training for gps and we have announced that we're going to make it cheaper and easier to access hrt so there are some really quick wins but there are also

other issues that women have brought out that when take the longer to deliver on. we out that when take the longer to deliver on— out that when take the longer to deliver on. ~ . , ,., deliver on. we have been reporting ofthe deliver on. we have been reporting of the doubling _ deliver on. we have been reporting of the doubling of week _ deliver on. we have been reporting of the doubling of week who - deliver on. we have been reporting of the doubling of week who are i of the doubling of week who are absent because of covid raisins in the hse in london and a similar picture across england. how concerned are you about the impact of a covid to bring about the kinds of a covid to bring about the kinds of reform that you are talking about? , , , about? this is why the prime minister and _ about? this is why the prime minister and the _ about? this is why the prime minister and the secretary i about? this is why the prime minister and the secretary of about? this is why the prime i minister and the secretary of state are really keen to promote the message and the best way out of this is for people to get vaccinated and to come forward for their booster doses because we know, as a health minister, we have seen the impact of putting restrictions and seeing less people coming forward to their gps, to hospitals and this has on the overall health and we want to get back to providing routine day—to—day services in a way that hasn't always happened through the pandemic. that is why the key message is get boosted so we can get through this crisis and will make people's live safer but also safer for all of our

communities because we are seeing the difference in the booster vaccine is making. bre the difference in the booster vaccine is making. are those absences — vaccine is making. are those absences not _ vaccine is making. are those absences not just _ vaccine is making. are those absences not just the - vaccine is making. are those | absences notjust the number vaccine is making. are those i absences not just the number of absences notjust the number of people in hospital with covid, are they not reason enough to bring in some sort of post—christmas measures like northern ireland, wales and scotland have done? why is england, for the moment, choosing to go a different way? the for the moment, choosing to go a different way?— for the moment, choosing to go a different way? the prime minister has been clear— different way? the prime minister has been clear that _ different way? the prime minister has been clear that up _ different way? the prime minister has been clear that up until- has been clear that up until christmas there won't be any changes in measures being introduced in england, but obviously, the prime minister, the cabinet are looking at the data coming in almost on an hourly basis and will make any decision that they feel is necessary to make. at this moment, the cases that up until christmas there is no change, but clearly, after christmas if they feel that data suggests changes need to be made, they may well look at that but for the moment, the pm has been clear on that but they are keeping a close eye on the data and any changes will not be made before christmas. i

realise mps don't need to pre—empt what their prime minister might say but you are a nurse, you know what it is like on the front line. do you think that looking at what we are seeing in terms of the number of cases and staff absences in the nhs that some more measures should be brought in? it is that some more measures should be brou:ht in? , ., , that some more measures should be brouht in? , . , . brought in? it is really important that we look _ brought in? it is really important that we look at _ brought in? it is really important that we look at the _ brought in? it is really important that we look at the health i brought in? it is really important that we look at the health care i that we look at the health care is around. i also have responsibility for cancer within my health portfolio and we have around 10,000 cancer referrals a day and some of thatis cancer referrals a day and some of that is dealing with the backlog bomber looked down almost one year ago. to make these decisions, you have to look at all the data in the round and that is what the prime minister and the secretary of state will do. the data is coming in thick and fast and it is important we give them the time and space to look at that before any decisions are made. of course, you need all staff to of course, you need all staff to deal with cancer patients and every other area of health care, don't you? on a practical level, don't you think that people in england might

be saying that look, these people in scotland, wales and northern ireland know what they can and can't do for the foreseeable, for the next few weeks. we also need to know that. certainly, my constituents to contact me are very clear that the advice is there in terms of wearing facemasks in public settings, working from home if you can and taking sensible precaution and i think the british public are very sensible and now the measures they need to take to keep safe. 0bviously our key message is to get a booster vaccination and if you haven't had a vaccination and if you haven't had a vaccination is not too late to get your first and second and that is the best way people can protect themselves and family and friends. 0ne themselves and family and friends. one more question, if i may. there are early discussions are ongoing about the possibility of a fourth vaccine or another booster or however you want to describe it. gordon brown has been talking about the global covid vaccine roll—out to poorer nations and saying it is staying in soul or a stain on the

soul of the wealthier nations and will come back to haunt every country without a push to get the whole world vaccinated next year. do you think there is an ethical issue here when you look for example at only one in every four health care workers in africa has a vaccine, that wealthy nations like the uk should be looking at a fourth vaccination for people? i should be looking at a fourth vaccination for people? i think the uk has been _ vaccination for people? i think the uk has been leading _ vaccination for people? i think the uk has been leading in _ vaccination for people? i think the uk has been leading in the - vaccination for people? i think the uk has been leading in the way i vaccination for people? i think the uk has been leading in the way of| uk has been leading in the way of the vaccination roll—out and supporting other countries around the world but also in the treatment of covid and so the secretary of state has announced this week around the access to antivirals and so it is just as important to look at those treatments is one of the vaccination programme and that helps every country. if we are able with our science and technology in the uk to develop these treatments and get them rolled out, get people into clinical trials so people are diagnosed now with covid and have symptoms, it is really important that they think about taking part in these clinical trials because that

helps every country in the world... would you accept that rolling out or the pace of the rolling out globally to poor nations need to increase? ih to poor nations need to increase? in the uk has been front and centre in supporting other countries around the world in terms of access to vaccines and helping them get those vaccines and helping them get those vaccine programmes rolled out. a huge amount of work has been done by this country in terms of helping those who are struggling to get their population is vaccinated because it is true until everyone is vaccinated around the world we are always in danger of another variant emerging. it is a crucial area and we are working very hard on that. health minister, thank you very much for your time today.— most people want to receive covid vaccine, but many countries are still struggling to get hold of the drugs. eight billion jabshave been administered worldwide — but the vast majority have been given in high and middle—income countries. former prime minister gordon brown says the failure to distribute coronavirus vaccines to poorer

countries is a �*stain on our global soul'. naomi grimley reports. 2021 was the year eight billion vaccines were administered across the world. but the vast majority have been given in richer countries. only one in four african health care workers have been vaccinated, for example. and a former british prime minister thinks that should shame us all. it is really a stain on our global soul. because we have had a surplus of vaccines created in one part of the world, and indeed stockpiling, and we have a severe shortage in the other part of the world where only 3% have been vaccinated in low—income countries. and it affects us all, because i think people are starting to realise that if we allow the disease to spread in poor countries and then mutate, it comes back and it haunts even the fully vaccinated. mr brown wants world leaders to try again at the start of the new year to make vaccination across the world a priority. the world health organization says

98 countries have not been able to meet the target of vaccinating 40% of their populations by the end of the year. without more progress, who officials are warning the pandemic will drag on for longer. getting the vaccines to those who need them most in all countries must be a priority for every single government. notjust some. we need to also be able to use tools to drive transmission down, because if we don't, we will continue to see the virus change and the virus and threaten us in ways that will bring us closer to the beginning rather than closer to the end. 2022 will see us and to the pandemic. —— enter the third year of the pandemic... —— enter the third year of the pandemic... but the question remains — will it be the year that vaccines finally become available everywhere? naomi grimley, bbc news.

500,000 fake delivery texts are expected to be sent by fraudsters in the uk this week. the public�*s being advised to take extra care when clicking on links and inputting information — in what's predicted to be the busiest ever week for anti—fraud agencies. last christmas saw a record number of parcel delivery scams being reported, and this year has already seen ten times that amount. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith has the story. tis the season for gifts, last—minute purchases and late deliveries. the text arrives. you scan the message and click the link... except, it's not from royal mail, or amazon or dpd. it a scam, and you've just popped in your address. the thing about this time of year is that so many of us are still waiting for those last—minute presents to be delivered, the final parcels still to arrive at the door. so when we do get one of those messages, it's all too easy to just click on the link to put in a few details without really thinking about the consequences.

we've had years of advice to be suspicious of e—mails, but everyone is more likely to fall for a scam text. we trust them more and respond quicker. the pressure to get our presents means we are easy prey for 500,000 parcel scams this week. messages saying, "you missed your parcel delivery, you haven't paid enough postage, you need to pay customs, stuff like that. that is ten times more than this time last year. royal mail say it's easy to check whether the message really is from them. if we ever send a message like that, we will always put something through the door. we love putting things through the letterbox, so we were always putting either a something for you card if an item we can't deliver or a fee to pay card because that will always come through the door. but the text is only the first half of the scam.

once you have given your address or postcode, you might get a phone call in the days that followed. people take the information that they glean during those conversations or information that you give them, and in turn, pretend to be from your bank orfrom the police, and then they contact you and say, we need your money to be moved to a safe account, or something similar. although the police have made postal scam arrests this year, they are always playing catch up. you cannot arrest your way out of this tsunami that we have got a fraud. so it is a lot about protecting ourselves. so don't let present parcels pressure you into clicking a link this christmas. you might be in for an unpleasant surprise inside. a well—known statue commemorating the deaths of students protesting in beijing's tiananmen square has been removed from a university campus in hong kong. china has always forbidden any public recognition of the killings of pro—democracy demonstrators in bejing in 1989 — and the university said it had removed the statue

after taking legal advice. it was one of the few remaining public memorials in the region. russell trott reports. an iconic piece that stood tall in hong kong for decades, the pillar of shame commemorates the tiananmen square massacre, speaking volumes with bodies piled to represent the pro—democracy protesters killed by the chinese authorities in 1989. it had been at the forefront of annual vigils, but it too has been silenced. i don't think people expected this thing would happen in the university — so—called with the most freedom of expression or freedom of speech. they try to become the first one to remove every history or parts of history inside the campus. under cover of darkness, construction workers dismantled the eight metre statue. the university of hong kong ordered its removal in october, saying the decision was based

on external legal advice and risk assessment in the best interests of the university. i would ask, if they don't give me the sculpture, i will sue them. because they have destroyed an artist's work in hong kong, they have kept it for 25 years and now destroyed. of course, they must give it to me, even in pieces. i want to take it back to denmark and put it together and make an exhibition. this pillar was one of the few remaining public memorials to tiananmen square in hong kong, where the anniversary was marked annually until being banned by the authorities in 2020. they cited covid measures as the reason, but with china forbidding any public recognition of the massacre, questions have been raised over attempts to erase history in this semi—autonomous region. russell trott, bbc news.

gibraltar and the capitals of the falkland islands and the cayman islands are among 39 places vying to win official uk city status. it's the first time british 0verseas territories and crown dependencies are being included in the competition, as part of the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations. the winners will be announced injune next year. joining me now is councillor richard holmes, who is the mayor of causeway coast and glens borough which includes colerarine. it's vying to gain city status as part of the queen's 2022 platinum jubilee. thanks forjoining thanks for joining today. thanks forjoining today. being from northern ireland myself i know the delights but for people who don't, why should coleraine be a city? headquarters here... this area is

the golden coast of northern ireland, famous now for its scenery and for its golf, but coleraine itself, a special place in history. the oldest settlement on the island of ireland, on the banks of the river, 2500 years before the pyramids were built in giza. also in 450 ad... one of the first towns in the plantation of ulster, established in 1609. a very rich historical heritage in the town. you are looking — historical heritage in the town. you are looking to _ historical heritage in the town. you are looking to the history and heritage. what else do you have to do to make your submission a winning one? :, :, ~ do to make your submission a winning one? ., ., 4' ., do to make your submission a winning one? ., , ,., one? looking at the sporting tradition here, _ one? looking at the sporting tradition here, we _ one? looking at the sporting tradition here, we have i one? looking at the sporting| tradition here, we have some one? looking at the sporting i tradition here, we have some really famous international events, the northwest 200, one of the greatest motor racing events in the world, with the races on the isle of man,

international youth football tournaments, but the area has also been hosting the open in port rush nearby, one of the most successful ever held, coming back in 2025, expecting 250,000 people for that event. so harry gregg is another person from coleraine town who was one of the busby babes and heroes in the munich air crash disaster. harry unfortunately died last year and is buried in the town, so rich for business as well and we have had a number of visits over the years from the royal family with a clean coming in 1953, just after her coronation. she came back in 1977 and back in 2014 and 2016 as well. so we have had that, but part of it is to re—drive economic development... sorry, part of the city status is to drive economic development and we have the growth fund coming in here with 70 million to spend. this is

one of the poorest parts of northern ireland and we hope the city status will really help drive social and economic develop and in the area. which leads me to my next question. can you tell us a little bit more about what winning city status, if thatis about what winning city status, if that is to happen for coleraine, what would that mean for the city and the area?— and the area? this is a low-wage area, and the area? this is a low-wage area. very _ and the area? this is a low-wage area, very successful— and the area? this is a low-wage area, very successful in - and the area? this is a low-wage area, very successful in tourism i and the area? this is a low-wage i area, very successful in tourism but things like city status can really help drive a sense of community in the town and establish the town. we have seen other cities do quite well out of it. we are very good in the food industry, which is up and coming here. and the light industry... these are things that bring together city status and, like i said, will hopefully help to drive those forward and certainly create a massive sense of pride in the town. like my good luck in the competition, mayor of causeway coast

and glens borough, including coleraine, richard and glens borough, including coleraine, richar- rescue footage has been released of two babies being pulled alive from the rubble of kentucky's tornado last week. this is the moment police officers found dallas — aged three months — and kaden, 15 months, in a bath tub. wrapped in blankets, their grandmother tucked the children with a bible into the tub before the twister hit. the bath was ripped from the house by the force of the winds and flung into the garden. only one of the babies sustained a minor injury. they were reunited with their grateful grandmother before being taken to hospital. a lost episode of the morecambe & wise show has been discovered in an attic after more than 50 years. it hasn't been seen since it was broadcast in october 1970 but will be shown on bbc two this christmas as our media and arts correspondent david sillito reports. morecambe and wise, 0ctober1970, and what would become a familiar setting for many classic sketches — eric and ernie at home in pyjamas.

and the name on the card is mr eric morecambe. i hello, mr morecambe. hello, hello! are you there, mr morecambe? yes, speak up. but unlike so many of their shows, this hasn't been repeatedly re—shown. it was thought to have been lost. that is until eric's son gary paid a visit to his mother's attic. i was rummaging around mainly looking for paperwork. i was looking, actually, for old scripts, because some of them had gone missing. and then i came across all these cylinders. and i thought very little of them, except they were big and old and worth bringing down. he had no idea what was in the canisters until he got a call from someone who finally watched the footage and told him... i think you will be very surprised to learn you have just found a missing show. and i really was, i was staggered. i thought that was incredible. would you care to try to hit me over the head with your umbrella, sir?

hit you over the head with my umbrella? i yes, please. all right, if you insist. i didn't realise, at that point, just how far the bbc would go then to present it. that it would then get colourised, for instance, which is fantastic. so it has been brought bang up to date. don't light your pipe in here, it's not allowed! look out, the nurse is coming. get rid of it, quick. and also, what's really good is the quality. the quality of the show itself. you can see the embryonic morecambe and wise come through, and that's fantastic. so now, restored and colourised, a chance to see a bit of comedy history which has, until now, been lost in the family attic. mr morecambe. yes, that's true, that's true. mr morecambe. yes, that's me. for £85. oh, yes. do you have any idea whose voice this is? i it's you! david sillito, bbc news. in a moment it'll be time for the one 0'clock news with jane hill,

but first let's catch up with the weather with louise lear. good afternoon. what a difference a day makes. we started out mild but quite murky with outbreaks of rain. these weather fronts pushing steadily northwards through the night but behind it introducing this milder air with the southerly flow and that mild air will gradually displace the cold air across much of england and wales and the exception will always sit across the far north of scotland. that means a potential, through the day today, of seeing a little bit of snow. the tops of the mountains being seen. some heavier rain later today into northern ireland, north—west england and the scottish borders to the south of that, with quite a lot of cloud, may be thick enough for light drizzly rain in places, but it will stay mild, 10-12 rain in places, but it will stay mild, 10—12 is a high. further north, we keep that colder air, temperatures sitting 5—7 c. living out of thursday towards christmas eve, is that where the front continues to push steadily north,

bumping into the cold air, we could see some significant snow to higher ground, above 200 metres in the highlands before it peters out through the night. further south, it will be a misty and foggy start, a milder start, will be a misty and foggy start, a milderstart, but will be a misty and foggy start, a milder start, but that is certainly worth bearing in mind if you are up and off travelling to see friends and off travelling to see friends and family first thing on christmas eve. the fog will gradually lift into low cloud, the rain easing into scotland, but by the same time down to the south west into northern ireland, wales and south—west england we will see some wetter and increasingly windy weather starting to develop by the end of christmas eve afternoon. mild to the south and the greatest start of seeing some brightness and sunshine but cool into the far north—east of scotland. as we move out of christmas eve into christmas day, as this weather front continues to push its way steadily northwards once again we still have that cold air sitting across the far north of scotland still on the leading edge there could be a bit of a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow early on christmas day and that will ease away. it's going to be a pretty

nondescript christmas day for most of us, a lot of cloud around and yet again some rain into northern ireland, wales and south—west england. but here it stays on the mild side at the north and east keeping that cooler air. that rain has got to sweep its way steadily northwards so it could be hanging around for some of us for boxing day, but again still relatively mild.

no more announcements of covid restrictions in england before christmas says the government, as early studies suggest 0micron may be milder than delta. but the rising number of cases could still put pressure on the nhs — staff absences in england were up 50% on the week before. the nhs is coping with the impact of 0micron alongside emergency pressures, trying to recover the backlog and of course delivering the vaccination booster programme as well. we'll be discussing the latest findings and what it means for the nhs. also in the programme... a stark warning from the energy industry — household bills could rise by up to 50% next year unless the government intervenes. waiting for a parcel delivery? beware of scam texts

saying you owe postage —