prince andrew's lawyers have been trying to convince an american judge to dismiss the sexual assault civil lawsuit against him. his lawyer said that the duke, who denies the accusations, could be covered by a deal his accuser, virginia giuffre, made withjeffrey epstein in 2009. a second chinese city has gone into full lockdown as officials rush to contain even small covid outbreaks a month before the opening ceremony of the winter games. britain and the united states have both registered new coronavirus records as the omicron variant continues to spread rapidly around the world. britain recorded more than 200,000 new cases in a day for the first time. world number one novak djokovic says he will head to the australian open to defend his title after receiving a medical exemption.

hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are broadcaster john stapleton, and kate proctor, editor of politics home and the house magazine. welcome back to both of you, welcome back to both of you, happy welcome back to both of you, happy new year. the is headline — daily tests for 100,000 key workers as prime minister sticks with plan b measures, at an announcement in downing street. the metro quotes borisjohnson, who insists england can ride out the 0micron wave as he brings no new covid restrictions. however, in the guardian, he admits parts of the nhs could be overwhlemed in the coming weeks, as hospital trusts declare critical incidents amid staff shortages and covid patients. the daily telegraph claims covid testing rules are to be relaxed, as part of efforts to shorten

the isolation period and solve staff shortages. and the financial times pictures tech entrepreneur elizabeth holmes, who was found guilty of fraud, after tricking investors her health company could diagnose a range of medical conditions with a blood test. wright, john, do you want to start us off this evening with the metro? a bullish borisjohnson, "we can write it out." a bullish boris johnson, "we can write it out- "— a bullish boris johnson, "we can write it out. " write it out." very bullish indeed, a few health _ write it out." very bullish indeed, a few health workers _ write it out." very bullish indeed, a few health workers of _ write it out." very bullish indeed, a few health workers of another l a few health workers of another country will be shaking their heads at what he had to say, with figures released today saying we have record numbers of infections in the united states, over a million in the uk, 300,000 in france, 130,000 in italy. we know it's a milder variant, it doesn't cause as many deaths or people to go to hospital, but it's

very transmissible. it's already costing companies and the national health service a great deal of time and effort, and staff not being able to go to work. so yes, bullish is a very good word to describe it. i think he's taking a bit of a risk and a lot of health workers would agree with what i have to say. kate, there's clearly _ agree with what i have to say. kate, there's clearly politics _ agree with what i have to say. kate, there's clearly politics and _ agree with what i have to say. kate, there's clearly politics and all - there's clearly politics and all this, messaging and a politician makes on the subject, but he must be mindful of his public health obligations, as well. so in parts, the message seems to be pointing in two directions at the same time? i think if you just said "we can write it out" without suggesting they would introduce _ it out" without suggesting they would introduce any _ it out" without suggesting they would introduce any of the measures or attempts to help the situation, i think_ or attempts to help the situation, i think there — or attempts to help the situation, i think there could be really serious cause _ think there could be really serious cause for— think there could be really serious cause for alarm. you would think the prime minister is not being very sensible — prime minister is not being very sensible. but when he did his press conference — sensible. but when he did his press conference today, he also talked about _ conference today, he also talked about making sure there were 100,000 tests available for key workers

every — tests available for key workers every day. he's talking about bringing _ every day. he's talking about bringing the army in to take place over those — bringing the army in to take place over those keyjobs if it ends up being _ over those keyjobs if it ends up being the — over those keyjobs if it ends up being the case of absence is meaning there's— being the case of absence is meaning there's a _ being the case of absence is meaning there's a lot — being the case of absence is meaning there's a lot of shortages, which is probably— there's a lot of shortages, which is probably expected. he said the nhs is on a _ probably expected. he said the nhs is on a warlike footing. sol probably expected. he said the nhs is on a warlike footing. so i think he is _ is on a warlike footing. so i think he is putting in some other measures, but i do understand the concern _ measures, but i do understand the concern that health workers are listening — concern that health workers are listening to that press conference and saying we are going to write it out. and saying we are going to write it out in _ and saying we are going to write it out in not — and saying we are going to write it out. i'm not sure it's in the metro, but one _ out. i'm not sure it's in the metro, but one of— out. i'm not sure it's in the metro, but one of the _ out. i'm not sure it's in the metro, but one of the other front pages says in— but one of the other front pages says in the northeast, at least, heart _ says in the northeast, at least, heart attack patients are being asked — heart attack patients are being asked to — heart attack patients are being asked to try and get a family member to drive _ asked to try and get a family member to drive them. i asked to try and get a family member to drive them-— to drive them. i am only interrupting _ to drive them. i am only interrupting you - to drive them. i am only| interrupting you because to drive them. i am only - interrupting you because that to drive them. i am only _ interrupting you because that takes us to the guardian, because it's on the front of the guardian. they are asking for a lift instead of waiting for an asking for a lift instead of waiting foran ambulance, asking for a lift instead of waiting for an ambulance, because hospitals are struggling to admit patients, so presumably amulets are tied up in car parks waiting for patients to be

admitted, because you can't dump them off the car park and drive for them off the car park and drive for the next one. you also mentioned the headline, and we heard today deerfoot hospital, and plymouth saying 500 staff off, critical emergency— they aren't the only trust doing that. again, also on the testing site, even hospitals are struggling to get enough testing equipment here.— struggling to get enough testing equipment here. that's right, the -ublic will equipment here. that's right, the public will know _ equipment here. that's right, the public will know it's _ equipment here. that's right, the public will know it's been - equipment here. that's right, the public will know it's been very - public will know it's been very difficult — public will know it's been very difficult to get a hold of the lateral flow tests in the last few days _ lateral flow tests in the last few days. ministers are saying they're out there — days. ministers are saying they're out there and you can get hold of them, _ out there and you can get hold of them, but — out there and you can get hold of them, but it's not quite so easy. get the — them, but it's not quite so easy. get the guardian story here clearly spells _ get the guardian story here clearly spells out — get the guardian story here clearly spells out the situation through various— spells out the situation through various health trusts across the country. — various health trusts across the country, and greater manchester had said this _ country, and greater manchester had said this evening they will have to stop some — said this evening they will have to stop some non—it dashed non—urgent surgery— stop some non—it dashed non—urgent surgery and _ stop some non—it dashed non—urgent surgery and some appointments will be suspended. some people have been waiting _ be suspended. some people have been waiting months and months for these

appointments, and will see them put back again _ appointments, and will see them put back again. of course, we are entering — back again. of course, we are entering a _ back again. of course, we are entering a really difficult time for the nhs, — entering a really difficult time for the nhs, and i can understand why there _ the nhs, and i can understand why there is— the nhs, and i can understand why there is so— the nhs, and i can understand why there is so much concern from health workers _ there is so much concern from health workers who— there is so much concern from health workers who probably feel the prime minister doesn't quite understand the picture on the ground. i was 'ust the picture on the ground. i was just going _ the picture on the ground. i was just going to _ the picture on the ground. i was just going to add, _ the picture on the ground. i was just going to add, it's _ the picture on the ground. i was just going to add, it's a - the picture on the ground. i was just going to add, it's a very - just going to add, it's a very critical time for the nhs and health service in general because more and more people are needing hospital treatment this time of year. we have the added problem that care in the community is not what it should be, so we've got people staying in hospital because there's nowhere for them to go, than the added problem of people going in there with covid as well. so all sorts of estrangement —— strain on an overwhelmed nhs. we are approaching the year two of them having to put up the year two of them having to put up with this. there's been a nervous breakdown in many cases because of the stress they are under. the only

thing i would add is the dismiss and of nonelective surgery but make the agony i went through waiting for my operation, i didn't have to wait too long thankfully, but people have been waiting for two years and now they have to wait even longer. take us to the l — they have to wait even longer. take us to the i, this _ they have to wait even longer. take us to the i, this daily _ they have to wait even longer. take us to the i, this daily test for key workers. what do you make of this? 100,000, we are told, someone earlier was saying at 100,000, if you have energy and transport, if you have energy and transport, if you have energy and transport, if you have meat processing, if you have the test at your testing laboratories — that hundred thousand doesn't go very far. it laboratories - that hundred thousand doesn't go very far.— doesn't go very far. it doesn't go ve far, doesn't go very far. it doesn't go very far. you _ doesn't go very far. it doesn't go very far, you have _ doesn't go very far. it doesn't go very far, you have 100,000 - doesn't go very far. it doesn't go i very far, you have 100,000 people testing and 17% testing positive, and they make the situation even worse. i'm not saying they shouldn't be tested, but they could be one of the outcomes of this. it scratches

the outcomes of this. it scratches the surface, and where will they get the surface, and where will they get the test from? even hospitals are short of testing material. in fact, keir starmer in his speech in birmingham this morning mentioned this and said two years on, it's a disgrace we still haven't got enough provisions for testing people up and down the country. don't try and go to a pharmacist, get a lateralflow test, you'll be lucky to get one. this is two years on. the government have done generally well in this pandemic, particularly in terms of vaccination, but the testing, test and trace costs £38 billion, and we are still short of equipment to test people? extraordinary. kate are still short of equipment to test people? extraordinary.— are still short of equipment to test people? extraordinary. kate said the prime minister, _ people? extraordinary. kate said the prime minister, again, _ people? extraordinary. kate said the prime minister, again, ministers- prime minister, again, ministers saying they are out there, you just have to look for them. i think that will irritate quite a lot of people because in my high street, there are signs up in a certain chemist saying "no tests today, try again

tomorrow." ifound one yesterday "no tests today, try again tomorrow." i found one yesterday and the assistant said we do have them, but i'm afraid they're commercially sold, these are not the free ones. £15 for a single lateral flow test. i bought one reluctantly, most people can't afford that on a daily basis. do you remember, we heard a lot about the government appointed supply—side tsar who used to run test goes, supposed to iron out problems in the supply chain — we haven't heard anything about that in recent weeks. haven't heard anything about that in recent weeks— recent weeks. know, we have not, indeed. recent weeks. know, we have not, indeed- just _ recent weeks. know, we have not, indeed. just elaborate _ recent weeks. know, we have not, indeed. just elaborate on - recent weeks. know, we have not, indeed. just elaborate on that, - indeed. just elaborate on that, because i lost your sound. sorry, john - the _ because i lost your sound. sorry, john - the government _ because i lost your sound. sorry, | john - the government appointed because i lost your sound. sorry, l john - the government appointed a john — the government appointed a former boss of one of the supermarkets as a supply chain tsar, and that presumably is because these problems in the supply chain, i know it is supposed to be beyond just covid, but presumably this comes into that kind of brief, doesn't take was yellow i would've thought

so, and what have we heard? i haven't heard anything more about that. . . , haven't heard anything more about that. ., ., , , , ., ~' , that. kate, daily tests for key workers _ that. kate, daily tests for key workers. this _ that. kate, daily tests for key workers. this is _ that. kate, daily tests for key workers. this is really - that. kate, daily tests for key workers. this is really the - that. kate, daily tests for key| workers. this is really the key that. kate, daily tests for key - workers. this is really the key note of what the prime minister had to say today. of what the prime minister had to sa toda . , ~ �* , of what the prime minister had to sa toda. , " v say today. yes, i think it's really important and — say today. yes, i think it's really important and even _ say today. yes, i think it's really important and even if _ say today. yes, i think it's really important and even if it's - say today. yes, i think it's really important and even if it's the - important and even if it's the 100,000 _ important and even if it's the 100,000 figure, as you mentioned, it's still— 100,000 figure, as you mentioned, it's still better than nothing. it's maybe _ it's still better than nothing. it's maybe a — it's still better than nothing. it's maybe a start, and i feel like it's less likely— maybe a start, and i feel like it's less likely to do with the borders and more — less likely to do with the borders and more likely to do with transport. we are not operating today— transport. we are not operating today at _ transport. we are not operating today at southern train because of staff shortages and trains there at christmas — staff shortages and trains there at christmas were unreduced timetables. ithink— christmas were unreduced timetables. i think that's the kind of thing that— i think that's the kind of thing that will— i think that's the kind of thing that will upset people. so we will see some — that will upset people. so we will see some people stepping in, or this testing _ see some people stepping in, or this testing focusing on transport workers _ testing focusing on transport workers. ., ,., workers. southern rail in the south and southeast _ workers. southern rail in the south and southeast of _ workers. southern rail in the south and southeast of england, - workers. southern rail in the south and southeast of england, the - workers. southern rail in the south. and southeast of england, the entire scottish rail network heavily affected, scottish rail reduced significantly the number of trains they are able to run because of staff shortages. interesting, the

contrast between having this testing — at the same time, we are told, and this is a telegraph line that's been flashing up lately, so might be something they've got a head of more detail today, "testing rules to be relaxed to solve staff shortages." doesn't sound like a solution if people aren't testing so much, conceivably coming in infected and start infecting their colleagues? this is really interesting and there has been — this is really interesting and there has been some calls for this isolation _ has been some calls for this isolation time to be shortened, which _ isolation time to be shortened, which is — isolation time to be shortened, which is what i thought we'd hear next _ which is what i thought we'd hear next from — which is what i thought we'd hear next from the government. but actually — next from the government. but actually the story the telegraph has here is— actually the story the telegraph has here is that if you test positive on a laterai— here is that if you test positive on a lateral flow device, people will no longer— a lateral flow device, people will no longer have to get a pcr unless they have — no longer have to get a pcr unless they have symptoms, which means they can start _ they have symptoms, which means they can start their period of isolation sooner. — can start their period of isolation sooner, they don't have to basically wait - _ sooner, they don't have to basically wait - i_ sooner, they don't have to basically wait - i know— sooner, they don't have to basically wait — i know someone waiting five days over — wait — i know someone waiting five days over christmas to get their pcr test after— days over christmas to get their pcr test after having a positive lateral flow, _ test after having a positive lateral flow. then — test after having a positive lateral flow, then you have to start your isolation — flow, then you have to start your isolation from a date further down

the line _ isolation from a date further down the line. it's an attempt to try and release _ the line. it's an attempt to try and release people from the isolation period _ release people from the isolation period quicker, and to try and make use of— period quicker, and to try and make use of lateral flows if you can get a hold _ use of lateral flows if you can get a hold of— use of lateral flows if you can get a hold of them, and use them as the point _ a hold of them, and use them as the point with— a hold of them, and use them as the point with which to isolate. at the moment— point with which to isolate. at the moment there are 1.2 million people isotating _ moment there are 1.2 million people isolating after having a covid test, so it shows — isolating after having a covid test, so it shows how many people in the country _ so it shows how many people in the country are — so it shows how many people in the country are isolating, how many are at home, _ country are isolating, how many are at home, struggling to get to work. so i at home, struggling to get to work. so i think— at home, struggling to get to work. so i think if— at home, struggling to get to work. so i think if the telegraph suggests this could _ so i think if the telegraph suggests this could be announced tomorrow, watch _ this could be announced tomorrow, watch this— this could be announced tomorrow, watch this space, because none of the other— watch this space, because none of the other papers have this detail at the other papers have this detail at the moment. it's an interesting front— the moment. it's an interesting front page. it the moment. it's an interesting front page-— the moment. it's an interesting front nae. , ., ., front page. it is. john, what do you make of it? — front page. it is. john, what do you make of it? that _ front page. it is. john, what do you make of it? that might _ front page. it is. john, what do you make of it? that might be - front page. it is. john, what do you make of it? that might be a - front page. it is. john, what do you i make of it? that might be a sensible compromise-— compromise. indeed it might, the other issue _ compromise. indeed it might, the other issue on _ compromise. indeed it might, the other issue on the _ compromise. indeed it might, the other issue on the other— compromise. indeed it might, the other issue on the other paper - compromise. indeed it might, the other issue on the other paper is. other issue on the other paper is the fact that they may be relaxing the fact that they may be relaxing the rules about being tested before you travel abroad, which may show up in the ft about shares in travel and

leisure industries soaring. i looked at that headline a half an hour ago when it first dropped on my laptop and thought, "good heavens, what?" then i realised this prospect of the testing being relaxed possibly by grant shops, testing for you travel being relaxed, possibly that's behind this. —— grant shops. but for shares to rise in those industries when we are getting record numbers of infections, 12 trusts declaring critical situations, having adapted to cope emergencies — i don't understand. to cope emergencies - i don't understand-— to cope emergencies - i don't understand. ., �*, , , , understand. that's probably why you and i understand. that's probably why you and i haven't— understand. that's probably why you and i haven't retired _ understand. that's probably why you and i haven't retired as _ understand. that's probably why you and i haven't retired as successful. and i haven't retired as successful investors, we are still working. but kate, on the other hand, the clever investor spots when something is cheap, and it suddenly gets more valuable. and they dashed the

non—clever investor thinks they've spotted and it turns out to be a chimeric? , spotted and it turns out to be a chimeric?— spotted and it turns out to be a chimeric? , , ., , , ., ., chimeric? this story is all about the travel _ chimeric? this story is all about the travel and _ chimeric? this story is all about the travel and leisure _ chimeric? this story is all about the travel and leisure shares . chimeric? this story is all about i the travel and leisure shares going up the travel and leisure shares going up because the industry feels as though— up because the industry feels as though it's hit some sort of peak covid _ though it's hit some sort of peak covid situation — therefore there's confidence — covid situation — therefore there's confidence again, potentially in hoiidavs — confidence again, potentially in holidays and global travel, some of these _ holidays and global travel, some of these shares have gone up like 12%, 11% including some airlines, hoteim _ 11% including some airlines, hotel... so whilst we are having all these _ hotel... so whilst we are having all these dire — hotel... so whilst we are having all these dire health warnings going on, from the _ these dire health warnings going on, from the health services being overrun, — from the health services being overrun, you got this very strange situation — overrun, you got this very strange situation where the tourism and travel— situation where the tourism and travel industry, because omicron is a less— travel industry, because omicron is a less serious illness, as may be showing — a less serious illness, as may be showing the way out and travel can be back— showing the way out and travel can be hack on — showing the way out and travel can be back on. and you have all these noises _ be back on. and you have all these noises around about there being less

onerous _ noises around about there being less onerous testing on travel which might— onerous testing on travel which might free things up again. i really enjoyed _ might free things up again. i really enjoyed doing this ft story because it feels— enjoyed doing this ft story because it feels completely converses to the day we _ it feels completely converses to the day i've spent reading all this bad news _ day i've spent reading all this bad news. �* . day i've spent reading all this bad news, �* ., ., day i've spent reading all this bad news. �* ., ., ., ., news. but apart from london, where there is evidence _ news. but apart from london, where there is evidence it's _ news. but apart from london, where there is evidence it's leveled - news. but apart from london, where there is evidence it's leveled out, . there is evidence it's leveled out, there is evidence it's leveled out, there is evidence it's leveled out, there is no evidence to suggest we've peaked already, so far all the experts i was listening to today are saying we have no idea when it will be, how serious this is getting. so i'm scratching my head as to how they've worked this one out. it’ii they've worked this one out. it'll be interesting to see how these shares are doing on the global stock markets, obviously singapore tomorrow morning and hong kong, but also in new york where the train is only coming to an end. as you say, the us figures are really bad.