this is bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm martine croxall — our top stories: new figures show the staggering rise of covid infections in the uk — in london, it's estimated 1 in 20 people would have tested positive last week. at least 39 people are killed — after a packed ferry caught fire in southern bangladesh. south korea's former president park geun—hye, jailed for 22 years on corruption charges, is to be pardoned by the government. the little town of bethlehem marks christmas eve — in a year where tourism has been blighted by covid. in her first christmas broadcast since the death of prince philip, the queen is expected to give a very personal address tomorrow.

hello and welcome. 1.74 million people in the uk had coronavirus on december 19, according to survey by the office for national statistics — that's up by more than 400,000 people on the figure three days earlier. this equates to 1 in 35 people, or 2.7% of the population of the united kingdom. and in london this rises to around 1 in 20 people likely to test positive for covid—19, the highest proportion for any region in england. elswhere, 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.

here's our health correspondent, dominic hughes. that's it done. a christmas eve booster in basingstoke. here, they are getting jabs in arms up until christmas. it was good, it made sense to do it, doing my bit for the community and everybody else. in england, people will be able to get vaccinated throughout the festive break. 200,000 slots for first, second and boosterjabs are available, including on christmas day and boxing day. people are so keen to come in. there was a big rush at the beginning of the week, it's slowed down a little bit, but in fact people are really positive about having theirjabs. people in scotland, wales and northern ireland are being encouraged to get a jab to with vaccination centres closed over christmas until the 27th. even as the push on boosters continue, experts are mulling over the latest more hopeful research on the 0micron variant, indicating it could be less severe than delta.

potentially this is good news, if 0micron really is less nasty, and it is certainly shaping up to look less nasty, that's fantastic, what better christmas present could we have? but at the moment the data is small, mainly across the younger population so we are holding our breath. so, it is a cautious welcome, there are still some big unknowns, particularly how older people might be affected. typically we are seeing omicron largely in young people and it's onlyjust now the cases are starting to tip into the older population, particularly in the 60 and 70 plus—year—olds. there are a number of different reasons why we need to continue to look at this data further. even if the virus causes less severe illness in most people, it is so contagious, hundreds of thousands are likely to catch it, including health service workers, raising concerns about a staffing crisis. some have already noticed shifts are getting busier.

there is the increasing absence rates, the queueing at hospital, hearing our control staff call out for any ambulances available, and there just are not any left. that is taking a toll on front line staff. so, the booster rolled out forges on in all sorts of settings, here in an asian restaurant in bradford, an area where vaccine hesitancy has been higher than the rest of the country so they are trying to make the process as easy as possible. we are creating access where our communities are. a restaurant is the best place for this time of year, to come and bring the vaccines to make it as easy and as accessible as we can. the latest estimate by the office for national statistics is that by last sunday more than 1.7 million people in the uk were infected with the virus, around 1 in 35. it may be less severe than first feared, but the numbers catching the virus mean there will still be tough weeks ahead.

dominic hughes, bbc news. let's get more on those uk figures now and speak to our health correspondent, tim muffett. what conclusions can be drawn from those 0ffice what conclusions can be drawn from those office for national statistics data? i those office for national statistics data? ~ . ., data? i think we are getting a clearer sense _ data? i think we are getting a clearer sense of _ data? i think we are getting a clearer sense of where - data? i think we are getting a l clearer sense of where omicron data? i think we are getting a - clearer sense of where omicron is clearer sense of where 0micron is taking us. a20 5% rise in infections in the three days up to last sunday. that will lead more people isolating tomorrow, leaving a tough christmas. if that trend continues, it will put pressure on hospitals, schools and businesses. nearly1.5% pressure on hospitals, schools and businesses. nearly 1.5% of nhs staff in england were off work last sunday due to code or a midas, up by half in a week. but since 0micron infections do appear to be less severe, hopefully we won't hit the worst case scenarios that have done the rounds in recent weeks. london is leading the edge of the 0micron

wave, nearly 6% of the population in london is thought to have coronavirus. when rates are that high, hospitals will have trouble preventing outbreaks. people turn up to hospitalfor preventing outbreaks. people turn up to hospital for treatment when they happen to have coronavirus. the number of people going into hospital because a coronavirus is going up in london. 1.74 among people in the uk for what you have coronavirus in the uk up to last sunday. —— 1.74 million. uk up to last sunday. "1.74 million. ., ., ., million. yet the head of the uk have security agency _ million. yet the head of the uk have security agency says _ million. yet the head of the uk have security agency says that _ million. yet the head of the uk have security agency says that there - million. yet the head of the uk have security agency says that there is . million. yet the head of the uk have security agency says that there is a i security agency says that there is a glimmer of hope for christmas, how so? . ., , glimmer of hope for christmas, how so? ., ., , ., , , glimmer of hope for christmas, how so? ., , , glimmer of hope for christmas, how so? . , , ,, so? cautious optimism is the best wa to so? cautious optimism is the best way to describe _ so? cautious optimism is the best way to describe those _ so? cautious optimism is the best way to describe those comments. | so? cautious optimism is the best - way to describe those comments. she did warn that it is too early to downgrade the threat of 0micron, mainly because it is younger adult largely who have the disease at the moment, particularly age between 20-29. it has

moment, particularly age between 20—29. it has not yet worked its way through to such large numbers in older people. we had at the encouraging data yesterday that people are between 50—70% to become hospitalised compared to delta. yes, a glimmer of glamour hope. —— are less likely to become hospitalised. so they want to see how 0micron affects older people? so they want to see how omicron affects older people?— so they want to see how omicron affects older people? today a lot of data was released, _ affects older people? today a lot of data was released, we _ affects older people? today a lot of data was released, we are - affects older people? today a lot of| data was released, we are expecting more in the coming days. a lot of attention will pay today to see how it affects different generations and different ages. in spain, the wearing of facemasks outdoors has become compulsory once again, as the country tries to tackle the spread of the omicron variant of coronavirus. a curfew will be in force from tonight in catalonia in northeastern spain, where residents are banned

from leaving their homes between one o'clock and 6:00 in the morning. dr quique bassat is a research professor at the barcelona institute for global health. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. tell us about the situation that you are seeing across spain, in particular hotspots for 0micron. yes, we are very concerned about the situation. we are witnessing an unprecedented increase in at the number of cases, were 25,000 more cases to date that we had two days ago, with more than 100 points of incidence increased between two days ago and today. with increasing pressure to the health system, we are getting warnings from the emergency departments, the intensive care units, that we are seeing many more cases being admitted. even if this new variant is predominantly less severe, because we also have a predominately very well about

singing over 80% of the population having received two or more shots, we are seeing lots of pressure to the health system and lots of cases which required hospitalisation. what which required hospitalisation. what conclusions are _ which required hospitalisation. what conclusions are you _ which required hospitalisation. what conclusions are you drawing about how effective the vaccines are against this particular variant if you are seeing more people hospitalised?— you are seeing more people hositalised? ~ . , ., , , you are seeing more people hositalised? ~ . , . , , , hospitalised? what is happening is that this huge _ hospitalised? what is happening is that this huge increase _ hospitalised? what is happening is that this huge increase in - hospitalised? what is happening is that this huge increase in the - that this huge increase in the number of cases, even though the new cases may be less severe, it is having a tall in the cases that end “p having a tall in the cases that end up being severe. we do recognise that the vaccine is protecting against severe disease, but because of the enormous amount of new infection that we are seeing that there is a small proportion of those infections that you required hospitalisation. so it is important that the population understands that even though we are safe of the vaccines, we are not completely safe and we are not completely protected against hospitalisation. what and we are not completely protected

against hospitalisation.— against hospitalisation. what other measures do _ against hospitalisation. what other measures do you _ against hospitalisation. what other measures do you think— against hospitalisation. what other measures do you think the - against hospitalisation. what other - measures do you think the government might have to consider if the numbers can't be brought under control? ., , , numbers can't be brought under control? . , , ., . ., control? there has been a clear misalignment — control? there has been a clear misalignment between - control? there has been a clear misalignment between the - control? there has been a clear- misalignment between the political decisions taken by our government and the technical advice given by the experts in the country. measures that have been implemented are clearly insufficient to control or to stop this incredible growth. at the moment we have only been left with strengthening of the vaccination programmes, the covid passport required to enter into certain restaurants and shops, and have the obligation of a wearing facemasks outdoors, which is clearly not sufficient to control the spread of the virus. some provinces have proposed more stringent measures, like catalonia, and we believe these measures are urgently needed, because otherwise the virus is going to completely spread.—

to completely spread. doctored, thank ou to completely spread. doctored, thank you for— to completely spread. doctored, thank you for your _ to completely spread. doctored, thank you for your time. - at least 39 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. let's get more details from the bbc�*s akbar hossein, who joins us from dhaka. tell us about the death toll as it stands at the moment. inaudible. inaudible. i think we are struggling to hear you. it looks like the picture has frozen. we will try to contact him in atjust a moment. the former south korean president, park geun—hye, is to be granted a presidential pardon.

ms park, the country's first female president, was impeached and removed from office in 2017 after widespread public protests over her deals with big korean businesses. she was subsequentlyjailed for 22 years on corruption charges. 0ur south koera correspondent, laura bicker, has more from seoul. this decision has come as a big surprise — park geun—hye's name was not supposed to be on the pardon list, there wasn't even a hint of her name being on this year's new year pardon list, and here we are. president moonjae—in has announced that she will be pardoned. she was serving 22 years, she has served four years of that sentence. but in recent months she's been in ill health, she's been in the hospital a number of times with shoulder pain, even getting a shoulder surgery, and chronic back pain, and there have been widespread rumours about her declining health. in a statement from the presidential palace, it said that this action is being taken to unify the people in these times of covid—19, and also is being taken as a humanitarian act due to her declining health. but the outpouring of anger, and often the feelings of betrayal,

that we are seeing on social media here in south korea has perhaps not been anticipated by the blue house. president park geun—hye was impeached back in march 2017, and then she was tried for corruption and bribery, where she was sentenced to 22 years. but the impeachment saw millions of south koreans coming out onto the streets for several weeks, it was called the candlelight vigils. so, there was a strong feeling that this.. she came to represent the link between big business, big wealthy conglomerates, family run businesses, and the presidential palace. president moonjae—in, the current president, ran for office on the basis of rooting out that corruption, so that's one of the reasons why this has come as such a surprise. we are also in the middle of a presidential election here in south korea, and both candidates are being asked about it.

when it comes to the conservatives, she was a conservative president, so they welcome this announcement, but the liberal has welcomed it, but many will be asking what exactly does president moon think the liberals when it comes to their campaign. many are asking why now. i think as we come closer to the polls, which will be in march, i wonder whether this information will play into many people's decision—making. let's get some of the day's other news. two more universities in hong kong have removed memorials to the victims of the tiananmen square massacre from their grounds. following the replacement of the pillar of shame on thursday, art works at the chinese university of hong kong and the lingnan university disappeared overnight. japan will not send government officials to the beijing winter olympics in february, but it's notjoining the diplomatic boycott of the games initiated by the united states. a government spokesman said it's important that china respects basic human rights.

the luxury retail chain, selfridges, is being sold to thailand's biggest shopping mall owner and an austrian property company in a deal reported to be worth around five billion dollars. the group owns 25 stores worldwide — including its flagship department store on london's oxford street, that last week was revealed to be the most popular destination for uber passengers in the whole of europe. it has a colourful history. it opened in 1909, with a floor area of 42,000 square feet, which later was doubled. it was the brainchild of the american entrenpeneur, harry gordon selfridge. the store led to innovation in retailand aimed to make shopping fun. merchandise was displayed openly, allowing customers to examine it directly. the phrase "the customer is always right" is thought to have derived from selfridges. despite intense online competition, the brand of selfridges has continued to endure. the main london branch is the only store to be named the best department store in the world four times.

with me is our business reporter, jonathanjosephs. also reporter, jonathan josephs. famed for also reporter, jonathanjosephs. famed for its beautiful christmas also famed for its beautiful christmas window displays give us more detail about the steel and what it includes. this more detail about the steel and what it includes. , , ., ., it includes. this is an almost £4 billion deal. _ it includes. this is an almost £4 billion deal, about _ it includes. this is an almost £4 billion deal, about $5.4 - it includes. this is an almost £4 billion deal, about $5.4 billion l it includes. this is an almost £4| billion deal, about $5.4 billion if you prefer, and it includes 18 department stores. 0bviously you prefer, and it includes 18 department stores. obviously the iconic brand that is selfridge's, there are four stores in the uk, the flagship one on 0xford there are four stores in the uk, the flagship one on oxford street in london, also won in manchester and birmingham. they sell high—end goods, such as designer label fashion, homewares, food. you can also get your hair done or go to the cinema while shopping. there are also 14 other stores in the netherlands and ireland, which are

included as part of this deal, as well as the now defunct selfridge's hotel here in london, which the new owners help they can revive and bring back as a hotel as part of their broader vision for selfridges. what do we know about the companies that are buying selfridges and why they want to?— that are buying selfridges and why the want to? , ., ., , they want to? they are to companies which are joining _ they want to? they are to companies which are joining together— they want to? they are to companies which are joining together here, - they want to? they are to companies which are joining together here, the | which are joining together here, the thai conglomerate group and an austrian property group. they have been working across europe for the best part of a decade, building an empire of high end department stores in places like italy, germany, austria and switzerland. this will almost double their portfolio. they already have 22 stores, they are adding 18 more. no think that this is the future. despite the challenges of the pandemic, the ceo said that they can create a world

leading retail company. they want to focus on an in—store experience and being able to build on the vision that harry selfridge himself started backin that harry selfridge himself started back in 1909 in london. let’s that harry selfridge himself started back in 1909 in london. let's return to the ferry — back in 1909 in london. let's return to the ferry disaster _ back in 1909 in london. let's return to the ferry disaster in _ back in 1909 in london. let's return to the ferry disaster in bangladesh. | what more do we know about the death toll, because rescuers were fearful that more people would die? the death toll is _ that more people would die? tue: death toll is increasing, that more people would die? tte: death toll is increasing, it that more people would die? t"t2 death toll is increasing, it is highly likely to increase in the hours to come, because many people have severe burn injuries and are now being treated in the local hospitals. the problem is that hospitals. the problem is that hospitals are overwhelmed to the patients was not the kind of patience they are getting in at the hospitals in the rural areas, they are not equipped to treat them. that

is why it is alleged that many patients are not getting proper treatment. it is a very challenging thing for the doctors to cope with. on the other hand, the rescuers are 0n the other hand, the rescuers are still searching for dead bodies. the fire broke out on the vessel, many people jumped fire broke out on the vessel, many peoplejumped into fire broke out on the vessel, many people jumped into the fire broke out on the vessel, many peoplejumped into the river to fire broke out on the vessel, many people jumped into the river to save their lives, some of them drowned. the rescuers still believe there might be some people, that the number of deaths could rise and i was to come what happened on board this ferry, what was the cause of the fire? this is not clear yet. 0ne passenger who was rescued from the ferry was telling localjournalists that there are some issues in the engine room when the ferry started from dhaka, and the engine was

overheating. the problem is that around 13 barrels of diesel that were stored in at the engine room where the fire broke out. it immediately spread to the whole three deck ferry. the cause is still unknown, but the comment has formed an investigation committee to find out the reason for the fire. 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. 0ur royal correspondent, nicholas witchell, reports. for the queen, forced for a second year by covid to spend christmas at windsor rather than hosting herfamily at sandringham, this will be a moment to reflect on a year marked by sadness. her christmas broadcast, a still from which has been issued by buckingham palace, is expected to be a very personal one.

prominently on the desk beside her, a photograph of her and prince philip taken in 2007 when they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. philip's death last april, two months short of his 100th birthday and after 73 years of marriage, was the emotional low point of the year for the monarch. apart from a reference to him in her address to the cop26 conference, the queen has not so far spoken publicly about how much he meant to her. her broadcast may be an opportunity for her to do so. within the royal family, mindful that this will be the queen's first christmas without her husband, arrangements have been changed so that she won't be alone. clarence house has confirmed that the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall willjoin her at windsor on christmas day. other members of the family may also be there. but absent, of course, will be the duke and duchess of sussex. from their home in california, they've issued this photograph wishing their supporters

happy holidays. it shows harry and meghan with their son archie and their daughter lilibet, pictured for the first time. and so, at the end of a year touched by personal sadness, and some family tensions, thoughts will start to look ahead to next year and the celebrations to mark the queen's 70 years on the throne. uppermost in the minds of the palace planners, of course, will be the question of the queen's health. it's always a sensitive matter. it has particular significance after the recent concerns, and given that next year is the year of her platinum jubilee. the queen will certainly want to be involved in thejubilee as fully as possible, and there will be another event of special significance to her — a service of thanksgiving for the life of the duke of edinburgh, which it has been announced will take place at westminster abbey in the spring. nicholas witchell, bbc news.

christmas eve celebrations are under way in the west bank city of bethlehem, where hoteliers hoping for an influx of tourists have been disappointed by the renewed introduction of anti—covid measures. israel's borders have been closed to international travellers because of the pandemic and only a small number of people attended the procession in the city revered as the birthplace ofjesus. tom bateman sent this report. in manger square, they wait for the biggest night of the year. a christmas procession that will follow the route believed to have been taken by mary and joseph. it's a march of faith. but this season's greetings are mainly between the locals. the scout bands are a fixture of christmas in manger square and you can feel the energy. but what is missing are the international visitors and pilgrims that would usually be thronging the square here, and that is a devastating

blow for the second year running because bethlehem needs tourism to keep surviving. the glimmers of tourism restarting last month have gone derailed by border closures due to the new covid variant. people trying to find joy and happiness from nothing. so it's very interesting, very impressive to see such a gathering. bethlehem is relying definitely on tourism. since the beginning of the year 2020, everything is closed, all hotels are empty. it's very, very difficult - for people, especially those who are working in tourism sector. they are selling somej of the land to houses. the characters of christmas come to life. in this factory, ibrahim is the only worker here today. normally, he'd be joined by four more.

for palestinian christians in this part of the west bank, life's been a challenge, says nabeel, whose family has run this shop for decades. we could keep our workers till the moment, but i don't know. you know, it's hard. i have two shops, one is here, the one on the manger square. it's been like 24 months, zero income. it said it's not normal to see bethlehem this way. but at christmas, there's always light to look up to. as this town celebrates, it remains a year of hope against the odds. tom bateman, bbc news, bethlehem. a man from finland has taken the unusual step of blowing up his tesla car rather than pay a repair bill that came to $20,000. tuomas katainen was landed with the hefty bill afterfinding out he needed to replace a battery in his vehicle. his tesla dated back to 2012. tesla — owned by the world's richest man, elon musk — has faced complaints about the cost of replacing batteries

in some models. well, we enjoyed it. you're watching bbc news. the forecast and the lead up to christmas has always been about mild wet weather trying to feed and the family south—west into colder conditions and no north—east, and thatis conditions and no north—east, and that is exactly how the christmas weather is going to play out. no further north—east you are, the code that you christmas it will be for you. the further south—west, the milder a christmas with rain at times. another system feeding and rain into southern and south—east england, the midlands and wales. another with cloud and patchy rain into southern scotland and parts of northern ireland. maybe a few

flurries on the ground out of that. the brightest conditions in loving scotland, but this is where it is colder today. scotland, but this is where it is coldertoday. if scotland, but this is where it is colder today. if you wintry showers and the northern isles, especially for shetland. today, the rain will face enough, eventually producing a few flurries to the higher part of the pennines. another system pushing into south wales and south—west england, may be a rumble of thunder. no colder conditions in scotland with the clear skies. with the cloud as we start christmas day across southern areas, quite a bit of mist and fog around as well, outbreaks of rain into north england, wales and northern ireland on christmas day perhaps some snow into snowdonia and later on into the peak district. mailed to the far south—west, but for men me on christmas day and

isn't looking rather chilly. 0vernight into boxing day, as the little weather feeds into boxing day, we will see some snow. this is where we have the lowest temperatures. that does bring the potential for some snow on boxing day. initially to relatively low levels of northern england and southern scotland, more hills into the hill see it as it feeds further north. they write as well out on boxing day toward south wales and south—west england, this again is where named

this is bbc news. the headlines: new figures released in the uk show a 25% rise in coronavirus infections in the three days up to last sunday. if that trend continues, it will put pressure on hospitals, schools and business. the former south korean president park goon—hay, is to be granted a pardon by the government. ms park was impeached and removed from office in 2017, and jailed for twenty— two years on corruption charges. japan will not send government officials to the beijing winter olympics but says it's notjoining the diplomatic boycott of the games, in protest at china's human rights record.

now on bbc news, review 2021, the year in science.