welcome to bbc news — i'm simon pusey. our top stories... the new omicron strain of coronavirus is detected across europe — with cases confirmed in germany, italy, belgium, the czech republic and the uk — prompting new measures. we will require all contacts of those who test positive with a suspected case of omicron to self isolate for ten days regardless of your vaccination status. israel plans to ban the entry of all foreigners for two weeks from sunday night — to tackle the spread of the omicron variant. the family and friends of one of those who died in the english channel when their small boat capsized, tells the bbc that she was kind hearted, and humble. # go easy on me, baby...