this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. getjabbed for christmas — thousands of nhs staff and volunteers will keep vaccination clinics open in england over the festive period. the uk prime minister boris johnson encourages people to have a vaccine in his annual christmas message — saying it's a wonderful thing to do for ourfamilies. at least 37 people are killed in a ferry fire in southern bangladesh. a former minnesota police officer who claimed she confused her handgun for a taser has been found guilty of manslaughter for fatally shooting 20—year old daunte wright the little town of bethlehem marks christmas eve in a year where tourism has been blighted by covid

and coming up, the most powerful telescope to ever be launched into space, is set for take off! hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. we're covering all the latest coronavirus developments here in britain and globally. first... covid vaccination clinics will remain open tomorrow and throughout the holiday weekend in england, as people are urged to get the jab amid surging infection rates. nhs england says 200,000 first, second or booster appointments can still be booked over the festive period. further afield — thailand has reported its first 0micron cluster — 21 infections have stemmed from a belgium couple who had travelled to the country earlier this month.

in europe, italy has reintroduced mandatory face coverings outdoors; and greece is ordering people to wear face masks both indoors and outdoors. the uk, france and italy set daily covid records yesterday. in britain there were nearly 120,000 confirmed cases. here's our political correspondent, helen catt. the prime minister has said for a while that he believes this christmas would be better than last, and he said he won't flip the switch on any new restrictions in england before tomorrow. he's used his annual christmas message to urge us to take extra caution, though, and suggested getting a vaccine is in the christian spirit of the season. getting jabbed not just for themselves, for ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone we meet. that, after all, is the teaching ofjesus christ, whose birth is at the heart of this enormous festival, that we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves.

and so let's think of all those who are being good neighbours and thinking of others. in the 2a hours to yesterday, almost 120,000 new infections were recorded, a record high. and there were 147 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. in his christmas message, the labour leader said this year had been incredibly difficult for the country. in the darkest of times, christian values of kindness, of compassion and hope have shone through. communities have come together to help one another. key workers have saved countless lives. there is some positive news. the uk health security agency says that someone with 0micron is between 30% and 45% less likely to visit a&e than if they had delta and between 50% and 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital. but it warned that higher transmission could still mean significant numbers of people end up there. and it also suggested boosterjab protection wanes faster against 0micron than delta —

15% to 25% lower after ten weeks. some vaccination centres will stay open throughout christmas. 200,000 slots are available between now and boxing day, according to nhs england, in what it's calling its jingle jabs campaign. scotland, wales and northern ireland have already announced that further restrictions will come into force from boxing day to tackle 0micron. so far, number ten has not followed suit, saying it continues to monitor the data, but it has not ruled out further measures after christmas. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. drjenny harries of the uk health security agency said there was a glimmer of christmas hope in yesterday's findings but warned it was still early days. critically, what we are seeing is omicron largely in young people and it is onlyjust now cases are starting to tip into the older

population, particularly 60 and 70 plus year old. there are a number of different reasons why we need to continue to look at this data further. let's talk to our political correspondent iain watson. the question everyone keeps asking, will there be more measures in the next week? i think there is a meeting on monday, parliament would have to be recalled if there is a big change. have to be recalled if there is a big change-— have to be recalled if there is a big change. that's right, if there is an bi big change. that's right, if there is any big change, _ big change. that's right, if there is any big change, there - big change. that's right, if there is any big change, there would l big change. that's right, if there - is any big change, there would need to be a recall of parliament, if there is anything, just guidance, it would not need a recall but there has been speculation about whether for example, in england, boris johnson made it much the same as nicola sturgeon the first minister of scotland has done, for example suggesting people would limit their mixing to three household, that would not be legally enforceable but it would have the power of government getting behind it. in terms of future restrictions, you heard from drjenny harries talking about the disease perhaps nowjust tipping into the older population.

those suffering from omicron, in that same interview she also mentioned the data that ministers would have to look at, would not just be about hospitalisations, it would also be about the number of people who are off sick, she said a high number of individuals already off sick so although people who get

high number of individuals already offs mps, although people who get high number of individuals already offs mps, even ugh people who get high number of individuals already offs mps, even to 1 people who get high number of individuals already offs mps, even to bring jle who get high number of individuals already offs mps, even to bring in who get high number of individuals already offs mps, even to bring in currentt own mps, even to bring in current restrictions including that advice to work from home.— italy and spain are the latest european countries to introduce increased restrictions in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus. governments across the region are struggling to cope with the strain placed on health services and medical staff as infections rise. 0ur europe correspondent nick beake has this report. the festive message to spaniards this year — wear a mask, even outside. across europe, governments are issuing health warnings rather than glad tidings. at a time when families come together, the advice is to keep your distance. belgium is now inviting children

as young as five to get vaccinated. covid cases here have been falling for the past ten days, but cinemas and theatres are set to close, although pubs will stay open. it's really a political choice that is not really supported by scientific. i feel like there are rules, but no—one really cares. it helps me to study that - all the nightclubs are closed! exhausted doctors and nurses are pleading with the public to follow the rules. the measures have their effect, and they permit us professionals to continue in our hospitals to take care of all kinds of patients and not only patients having covid. so, really, i know the measures are weighing on all of us, but they are so important to be able to keep our health system standing up. medical staff here and across europe

are unanimous that getting more people boosted is vital in the fight against the new variant, but what we don't yet know is how the early studies coming from the uk suggesting 0micron is milder will affect the decision—making of individual european countries in the coming days and weeks. covid rates across the continent have been spiralling. denmark has the highest, followed by the uk. but france, spain and italy have all seen a surge, as well as germany. and there's been anger in munich at tighter controls which have targeted the unvaccinated. police kept order at a time when most uk visitors are being kept out of the country. but travel bans, which france has also introduced and scuppered british getaways, won't work, according to the world health organization. it argues specific local measures, such as those introduced in spain and italy today on face coverings, are much better. as ever, the politics

of the pandemic can take some navigating. as the last—minute shoppers venture out, the general message from europe's leaders — we wish you a cautious christmas and a reined—in new year. nick beake, bbc news, brussels. dr david nabarro is special envoy of the who on covid-i9 and joins me now. thank you forjoining us we are hearing from the data that omicron might be milder, that is good news to a degree but obviously, we keep hearing about the strain on staff shortages within the health service and throughout the economy. right across the country is affected. because of the transmissibility. it's difficult for the public to understand what all of that means for their own behaviour? i understand what all of that means for their own behaviour?— for their own behaviour? i think it's really difficult _ for their own behaviour? i think it's really difficult for _ for their own behaviour? i think it's really difficult for the - it's really difficult for the public. it's also extremely difficult for politicians who have

to make the decisions on behalf of the people but perhaps the group that i would really like to single out today on christmas eve is the health workers in hospitals who are trying to keep the hospitals going and provide the care necessary in the face of an absolutely massive surge of new cases of covid—i9. it's a milder version, we are hearing, and i really hope it is. but when you have got such a huge search even of a milder disease, the one thing that you can expect is a huge demand on health services. and that is why these messages are coming out. please, everybody, be careful, restrict your contacts, where your facemasks, keep your distance. and do everything possible to protect those who are at risk. and if you can't get access to your booster dose, get it without delay. what

can't get access to your booster dose, get it without delay. what is our dose, get it without delay. what is your position _ dose, get it without delay. what is your position on — dose, get it without delay. what is your position on the _ dose, get it without delay. what is your position on the different - your position on the different responses, we are seeing some european countries say wear facemasks even outside. the netherlands i think have gone into a full lock down here in the uk. in england, certainly, much more free and open in terms of what you can do, very different responses so what is the right response? yes. do, very different responses so what is the right response?— is the right response? yes, and that i think is really _ is the right response? yes, and that i think is really confusing _ is the right response? yes, and that i think is really confusing for- i think is really confusing for everybody. what is the right response? and the reason why different countries are doing different countries are doing different things is simply because it's a balance. it's a balance between keeping aspects of the economy going and enabling people to enjoy as good a christmas and new year as is possible. whilst at the same time protecting health services and trying to avoid severe illness and trying to avoid severe illness and death. but i would just offer one observation and that is there is going to be an awful lot of people really quite sick in the coming weeks. and really what this is going

to do is it will lead to real pressure on essential services, workers who would normally expect perhaps to be accompanied by ten or 20 colleagues on a shift might find that five out of those 20 colleagues just cannot come because they are sick or perhaps also because they have got to isolate where they have to care for someone else who are sick and so i think what i would like to say to everybody is that do everything you can to restrict what you do to the absolute essential minimum, especially when it comes to meeting up with other people and having social events. because that is what leads to the virus spreading and we really do want to try to reduce the speed at which the peak of this latest wave is building up and then when the peak is reached, to get it to come down again as smoothly and quickly as possible. some parts of the world are taking tough action on those who are refusing to getjobs, we saw a move

in that direction from new south wales yesterday. is that something the world health organization should now support because obviously, vaccination has become political? yes. we are really careful in the world health organization about mandates that require people to get vaccinated or to wear masks and if they don't do so, some kind of retribution is there. the reason why we are cautious about that is that we are cautious about that is that we have always said the virus is the problem, people are the solution and the public needs to be onside in the response and... but the public needs to be onside in the response and. . ._ response and... but isn't the problem. _ response and... but isn't the problem, even _ response and... but isn't the problem, even if _ response and... but isn't the problem, even if you - response and... but isn't the problem, even if you had - response and... but isn't the problem, even if you had the majority population vaccinated and sticking to the rules, if they do not trust their own political leadership or there is a small group of people not following the rules are not getting jabbed, whole society suffers? {iii are not getting jabbed, whole society suffers?— are not getting jabbed, whole society suffers? of course and everybody _ society suffers? of course and everybody i — society suffers? of course and everybody i think _ society suffers? of course and everybody i think is _ society suffers? of course and everybody i think is beginning | society suffers? of course and l everybody i think is beginning to really get that. there is a challenge with people who are not

vaccinated, they are more at risk of getting sick. they are more at risk of ending up in hospital. hospitals are primarily overloaded when it comes to covid—i9 because of people who have not been vaccinated. and so, what we have to do is plead with everybody to kind of make the jump and go and get vaccinated. there will be a small core who say absolutely no way. and i am not going to be able to succeed in persuading them. but i want to persuade everybody who is just hovering on the edge, please get it. please get it. hovering on the edge, please get it. please get it— hovering on the edge, please get it. please get it. what about the coming ear? do please get it. what about the coming year? do you — please get it. what about the coming year? do you foresee _ please get it. what about the coming year? do you foresee forth _ please get it. what about the coming year? do you foresee forth jabs - year? do you foresee forth jabs here, following on from the booster fairly quickly because we hear immunity wanes after ten or 12 weeks? do you see another three or fourjabs weeks? do you see another three or four jabs for weeks? do you see another three or fourjabs for all of us in the coming months and do we know that is definitely safe? coming months and do we know that is definitely safe ?_ definitely safe? let's wait until our colleagues _ definitely safe? let's wait until our colleagues who _ definitely safe? let's wait until our colleagues who work - definitely safe? let's wait until our colleagues who work in - definitely safe? let's wait until our colleagues who work in the absolute inner core of the world health organization have sifted

through all of the data. we are absolutely not suggesting going further than the current regimes of three jabs and that is considered to be a reasonable way of working. let's give our advice when we have sorted through all of that, i don't want to be drawn on that but what i do want to say is during the next year, in the view of the director—general of the world health organization, we should be able to get ahead of this virus, we had the technologies and we really need to get people onside. the most importantly, we have to make sure whatever vaccine we have got is evenly distributed throughout the world. because if one person somewhere in another part of the world happens to be unlucky to be the person within her and another variant appears, that can then cause problems everywhere, as we have seen with omicron. so we want to see fair distribution everywhere and that is a big story, let's not talk about fourth jabs right now, let's get

everybody having their first, second and third if that is what the government is asking for, that is the best way forward for now. doctor david nabarro. _ the best way forward for now. doctor david nabarro, thank _ the best way forward for now. doctor david nabarro, thank you _ the best way forward for now. doctor david nabarro, thank you so - the best way forward for now. doctor david nabarro, thank you so much i the best way forward for now. doctor i david nabarro, thank you so much and happy christmas. david nabarro, thank you so much and happy christmas-— happy christmas. happy christmas, eve one, happy christmas. happy christmas, everyone. be _ happy christmas. happy christmas, everyone, be careful, _ happy christmas. happy christmas, everyone, be careful, minimise - happy christmas. happy christmas, | everyone, be careful, minimise your contacts to what is absolutely essential. ., ~' , ., at least 37 people have been killed after a packed ferry caught fire in southern bangladesh. it happened near the town othalakati. the ferry had sailed from the capital, dhaka, and was bound for the southern town of barguna, with hundreds of passengers on board. akbar hossein from the bbc bengali service in dhaka gave us this update. the very tragic accident happened last night. the ferry was starting from dhaka and was going to the coastal district of barguna, which is 250 kilometres south of dhaka. and when the ferry was in the middle of the river, it caught fire.

and i have spoken to local police officers and rescuers, they have informed me. so far, they have rescued 37 dead bodies. and many people there and children have been taken to local hospitals. and when the accident, the fire broke out, it instantly spread all over the ferry. it is a three—storey ferry. and many peoplejumped into the river to save their lives. and local officials say that many people, when theyjumped in the river, they cannot swim and they drowned in the river and they recovered the dead body. and many people were trapped inside the ferry. so they died. so a very tragic incident and the rescue operation is still going. bangladesh is a country of 170 million people, and more than 30% of the total population, their main transportation is ferry. they travel to the coastal district by ferry. but often we see the safety standards is always ignored.

we have seen a lot of ferry accidents where hundreds of people have died. but each time when any accident happens, the government officials and the department concerned, they are sure that the safety standards will be improved. but nothing has been done so far. and people are dying, people are suffering. the owner of the vessels, they always prefer to flout the government rules and regulations. they don't care about the government rules and regulations. this ferry was supposed to carry around 300 passengers, but it was carrying more than 500 passengers. so it was also an overcrowded ferry. so this is a very pathetic thing, that why are the safety standards not being improved here? in the us, a former police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter after she shot and killed daunte wright, an unarmed black man, in the state of minnesota earlier this year. kimberly potter maintained she had mistaken her handgun for a taser. our north america correspondent, david willis, reports. it was a routine traffic stop

on a sunday afternoon in april. police in a minneapolis suburb ordered 20—year—old daunte wright from his car and were attempting to arrest him when things went terribly wrong. as daunte wright tried to escape, the officer wearing the body camera, threatened to taser him. taser, taser, taser! but only once she pulled the trigger, did she realise she'd mistaken her gun for a taser. kimberly potter was arrested three days after daunte wright died of a single gunshot wound to the chest. giving evidence in her own defence, kimberley potter told the court the killing of daunte wright was an innocent mistake. i remember yelling, "taser, taser, taser." and nothing happened. and then he told me i shot him.

whilst neither side disputed she did not intend to kill daunte wright, the jury decided she acted recklessly on the day in question. we, the jury, on the charge of manslaughter in the first degree, while committing a misdemeanour on or about april 11 2021 in the state of minnesota find the defendant guilty. they found kimberley potter guilty of charges of manslaughter. cheering. to the delight of demonstrators outside the court, many of whom feel such verdicts also speak for the many others, african americans in particular, who have suffered racism and brutality at the hands of the police. i kind of let out a yelp because it was built up in the anticipation of what was to come and while we were

waiting for the last few days. now, we have been able to process it. a request by the lawyers for kimberly potter for her to be granted bail over was denied by the judge. she is due to be sentenced in february and faces the possibility of up to 15 years behind bars. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. the people of bethlehem were hoping this would be the year the tourists came back — and their fortunes would change. with omicron — and the israeli borders shut — it doesn't look like there will be tourists — but will there still be a christmas in bethlehem? let's go now to bethlehem — and speak to the bbc�*s tom bateman. reduced, quieter christmas, presumably?— reduced, quieter christmas, resumabl ? ~ . ., ., presumably? much quieter, although havin: said presumably? much quieter, although having said that, _ presumably? much quieter, although having said that, we _ presumably? much quieter, although having said that, we are _ presumably? much quieter, although having said that, we are getting - having said that, we are getting quite a few people turning up in manger square here, waiting for a

route of christmas and a journey of hope, the head of the catholic church for the region is making his way from jerusalem across into the west bank and here to the town of bethlehem, they are about three hours into the journey already and they follow the route that christians believejoseph and mary took on their way to the town here and what is now that square, manger square, and the church that you can see here, the church of the nativity, a fourth century structure that was built on the grotto, the site where christians believejesus was born. they will arrive here, we expect some more crowds before the midnight mass that takes place this evening. but the big problem on everyone's minds at the moment is the lack of tourism and international visitors because of the closure of the boarders because of the new covid variant. what the closure of the boarders because of the new covid variant. what about the normal dignitas _ of the new covid variant. what about the normal dignitas that _ of the new covid variant. what about the normal dignitas that would - of the new covid variant. what about the normal dignitas that would come and help many members of the public are still interested or focused given what has happened at the

moment. —— normal dignitas. given what has happened at the moment. -- normal dignitas. there is alwa s moment. -- normal dignitas. there is always normal— moment. -- normal dignitas. there is always normal dignitas _ moment. -- normal dignitas. there is always normal dignitas as _ moment. -- normal dignitas. there is always normal dignitas as well - moment. -- normal dignitas. there is always normal dignitas as well as - always normal dignitas as well as the latin patriarch that i mentioned. people making their way to bethlehem to come and see this moment, come and see the christmas tree, the big event here traditionally, that international tourism has simply disappeared. instead, there are many arab israelis, palestinian citizens of israelis, palestinian citizens of israel who had made their way here because they are unable to travel, one official told me they have about 80% eight in ten hotel rooms are currently in use but that only tends to be for a few days and i chatted to be for a few days and i chatted to one cafe owner earlier he said he had to close his shop for 18 months, they were hoping tourism would spark back into life this christmas but it

has not been the case so there is big disappointment and of course at this time of year, people maintaining some hope. this time of year, people maintainin: some hoe. ., ., maintaining some hope. tom bateman, in bethlehem, — maintaining some hope. tom bateman, in bethlehem, we _ maintaining some hope. tom bateman, in bethlehem, we will— maintaining some hope. tom bateman, in bethlehem, we will be _ maintaining some hope. tom bateman, in bethlehem, we will be back- maintaining some hope. tom bateman, in bethlehem, we will be back with - in bethlehem, we will be back with you throughout the day. thank you. the queen is expected to give a very personal christmas message tomorrow — her first since the death of her husband, prince philip. she will speak beside a framed photograph of the couple taken during their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007 — and will wear the same sapphire brooch that she wore on her honeymoon. the queen will spend christmas day at windsor castle with members of herfamily, including prince charles and camilla, the duchess of cornwall. the christmas story has been told many times, but you've never seen it like this. one chapel near swansea has enlisted its congregation's dogs to perform this year's nativity. the cast includes finley and fearne, who played mary and joseph, margaret the jack russell pug—cross as the babyjesus, and three wise whippets played by edna, betty and topsy.

the chapel said they wanted to "cheer people up". this is bbc news. iam not i am not sure literally how to follow that. i think it is time for the weather. yes, it is the weather! and our lovely carol kirkwood is here, a human being, thank goodness! hello again and merry christmas to you. if you were hoping for a white christmas, for most of us we will not see it, in fact it will be quite mild many parts of the uk. today will be mild for many of us, we still have morning fog to lift and care from some areas and we also have rain spreading east. what has been happening is this weather front has produced overnight snow in scotland, fizzling out now we still have some rain from it and this weather front is bringing have some rain from it and this weatherfront is bringing rain in from the south—west. and it is going

to be pushing north eastwards through the rest of the day. so as you see, the dregs of the weather front, fairly cloudy across scotland, northern england, northern ireland, it's damp, brighterskies in the far north of scotland, it is is cold here, this with a front coming in from the south—west which could have some thunder. it is cold in the north, in the highlands temperatures in sheltered glens may not break above freezing, so you will notice that. for northern ireland, england and wales, temperatures are that little bit higher especially as we come further south, we are looking at 11 and 12 degrees. this evening and overnight the cold air in scotland filters south, this band of rain moves north, we could see some snow on the tops of the hills in northern england. going to be a cold night in sheltered glens, perhaps —6 or —7, milderfurther sheltered glens, perhaps —6 or —7, milder further south. tomorrow we start on that note, each weather front producing rain, we still have quite a windy day during christmas day and the cold air filtering from

scotland into northern england but still a lot of mild air across much of england and wales. this rain coming as it bumps into the colder air across north—west wales, could fall as snow on the highest ground. meanwhile, for northern england and scotland, you could see the odd isolated wintry flurry but for most of us it will be dry with lengthy spells of sunshine but it will feel cold and it will be a windy day. especially in the north—west. on sunday, we start with snow on the hills in northern england, south—west scotland, travelling north, quite a cloudy and damp day. in the south—west it should brighten up in the south—west it should brighten up later, temperatures here are still ten or 11 degrees. heading into monday, there is a chance we could see some rain bumping into the south, rain in the north, still mild.

this is bbc news, the headlines... getjabbed for christmas — thousands of nhs staff and volunteers will keep vaccination clinics open in england over the festive period. uk prime minister borisjohnson encourages people to have a vaccine in his annual christmas message, saying it's a wonderful thing to do for our families. at least 37 people are killed in a ferry fire in southern bangladesh. a former minnesota police officer who claimed she confused her handgun for a taser has been found guilty of manslaughter for fatally shooting 20—year—old daunte wright. and the little town of bethlehem marks christmas eve in a year where tourism has been blighted by covid. now on bbc news, it's time for weather world. sarah keith—lucas and nick miller report on how climate change is affecting the scottish ski industry and look back at 2021's biggest storms.