and coming up on the bbc news channel... with the ashes less than two weeks away, australian batter tim paine is taking a break from all forms of cricket and pat cummins replaces him as captain. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the health secretary sajid javid has told mps there is huge international concern about a new highly mutated variant of covid—19, which could pose a substantial risk to public health. no cases have yet been detected in the uk, but flights from six southern african countries have been suspended. the world health organisation is meeting in geneva to discuss the situation. our first report is from our health correspondent katharine da costa. the correspondent katharine da costa. emergence of a complex the emergence of a new highly complex variant in southern africa has sounded alarm bells around the world. so far most cases have been identified in one province of south africa where it appears the variant may be driving a new wave of infection. may be driving a new wave of infection-— may be driving a new wave of infection. . , ., ., i, , , ., , infection. early analysis show this variant has _ infection. early analysis show this variant has a _ infection. early analysis show this variant has a large _ infection. early analysis show this variant has a large number- infection. early analysis show this variant has a large number of- variant has a large number of mutations that require and will undergo further study. it will take a few weeks for us to understand what impact this variant has. a, a few weeks for us to understand what impact this variant has. a new variant was — what impact this variant has. a new variant was only _ what impact this variant has. a new variant was only identified - what impact this variant has. a new variant was only identified four - variant was only identified four days ago. genetic analysis shows it has twice the mutations of delta the dominant variant worldwide including 30 changes to the spike protein which the virus uses to enter human cells. ~ ., �* ., . , cells. we haven't got evidence it is here et. cells. we haven't got evidence it is here yet we _ cells. we haven't got evidence it is here yet. we haven't _ cells. we haven't got evidence it is here yet. we haven't identified - cells. we haven't got evidence it is here yet. we haven't identified it l here yet. we haven't identified it in her sequencing and we are giving results of more than 50,000 cases a week. a huge amount. there is travel from south africa across the globe and there are many rising cases in south africa at the moment so we will need to be very aware and look for it carefully in all of the data coming through.— for it carefully in all of the data coming through. current vaccines have been _ coming through. current vaccines have been designed _ coming through. current vaccines have been designed to _ coming through. current vaccines have been designed to target - coming through. current vaccines have been designed to target the i have been designed to target the spike protein from the original strain. some of the mutations in this new variant meaning the virus can spread more easily or make the vaccine less effective. jabs still provide protection against other variants of concern and can be tweaked if needed. it is variants of concern and can be tweaked if needed. it is highly unlikely they _ tweaked if needed. it is highly unlikely they will _ tweaked if needed. it is highly unlikely they will not - tweaked if needed. it is highly unlikely they will not have - tweaked if needed. it is highly unlikely they will not have anyi unlikely they will not have any effect. that would be a catastrophe. we may well see that the protection that we get is to some degree richest, particularly because there are so many mutations are the part of the protein that many of the antibodies bind to, so i do not think we are likely to see vaccines do not work at all.— do not work at all. flights to the uk have been — do not work at all. flights to the uk have been suspended - do not work at all. flights to the uk have been suspended from l do not work at all. flights to the | uk have been suspended from six african countries until a0 m on sunday to allow time to set up quarantine hotels. the government hopes a new travel ban will delay the variant being brought into britain. indie the variant being brought into britain. ~ ., ., ~ the variant being brought into britain. ~ . ., ~ , the variant being brought into britain. ~ ., ., ~ ., britain. we are working quickly and we are working _ britain. we are working quickly and we are working with _ britain. we are working quickly and we are working with a _ britain. we are working quickly and we are working with a high - britain. we are working quickly and we are working with a high degree | britain. we are working quickly and i we are working with a high degree of uncertainty. we are continuing to make assessments including about those countries with strong travel links to south africa. and we are working with our international partners including south africa and the european union to ensure unaligned response. but this variant is a reminderfor all of unaligned response. but this variant is a reminder for all of us that this pandemic is far from is a reminder for all of us that this pandemic is farfrom over. labour welcomed the travel restrictions but said better distribution of vaccines to poorer nations was essential. vaccines are still our best defence. we will have to wait two to three weeks for scientists to understand the risk there is no variant aprils —— this new variant may pose. katharine da costa, bbc news. the variant has so far been identified in four countries — south africa, botswana, israel and hong kong. several countries have nowjoined the uk in introducing urgent travel restrictions on south africa and neighbouring countries, because of concerns about the strain. all flights to the uk from south africa, namibia, zimbabwe, botswana, lesotho and eswatini have been suspended. from sunday, people arriving in uk from those countries will have to quarantine in hotels. stock markets around the world have fallen sharply on the news. here's our transport correspondent caroline davies. gloomy skies at heathrow this morning. after months of opening up travel to some places in the world is restricted. direct flights from six countries in southern africa have been temporarily stopped. anyone already in the uk who has beenin anyone already in the uk who has been in these countries in the last ten days will need to take a pcr test. 0n the uk and irish residents who have been in these countries in the last ten days will be light and they will have to self isolate and take two pcr tests and from sunday they will have to pay to quarantine in a hotel. for those landing this morning the news came as a surprise. i feel extremely relieved because who knows how long this is going to last? i who knows how long this is going to last? , ,., ~ who knows how long this is going to last? , ., , ., last? i spoke to my wife about ten minutes ago _ last? i spoke to my wife about ten minutes ago and _ last? i spoke to my wife about ten minutes ago and she _ last? i spoke to my wife about ten minutes ago and she told - last? i spoke to my wife about ten minutes ago and she told me - last? i spoke to my wife about ten minutes ago and she told me that| minutes ago and she told me that there _ minutes ago and she told me that there are — minutes ago and she told me that there are no flights going out of south _ there are no flights going out of south africa until monday or tuesdav _ south africa until monday or tuesday. they have stopped all flights — tuesday. they have stopped all flights. that is the first i heard of at _ flights. that is the first i heard of at about ten minutes ago. it is disappointing _ of at about ten minutes ago. it 3 disappointing news for catherine and her family who were planning to attend a family wedding in early december. to attend a family wedding in early december. ., ., attend a family wedding in early december-— attend a family wedding in early december. ., ., ., ~ december. to go back to south africa and see them — december. to go back to south africa and see them and _ december. to go back to south africa and see them and be _ december. to go back to south africa and see them and be at _ december. to go back to south africa and see them and be at the _ december. to go back to south africa and see them and be at the wedding | and see them and be at the wedding was really important. it has got us all through this somehow looking forward to that.— all through this somehow looking forward to that. when do you think ou will be forward to that. when do you think you will be able _ forward to that. when do you think you will be able to _ forward to that. when do you think you will be able to see _ forward to that. when do you think you will be able to see your - forward to that. when do you think you will be able to see your family| you will be able to see your family in south africa? i you will be able to see your family in south africa?— you will be able to see your family in south africa? i cannot imagine it is auoin to in south africa? i cannot imagine it is going to be _ in south africa? i cannot imagine it is going to be any _ in south africa? i cannot imagine it is going to be any time _ in south africa? i cannot imagine it is going to be any time soon - in south africa? i cannot imagine it is going to be any time soon and i in south africa? i cannot imagine it| is going to be any time soon and no idea note hope because ijust think don't think about it. the idea note hope because i 'ust think don't think about it._ don't think about it. the transport secretary said _ don't think about it. the transport secretary said the _ don't think about it. the transport secretary said the government - don't think about it. the transport | secretary said the government had acted quickly to buy as much time as possible. acted quickly to buy as much time as ossible. ., , acted quickly to buy as much time as ossible. . , ., , ., ., possible. eventually as he variant it will come _ possible. eventually as he variant it will come here. _ possible. eventually as he variant it will come here. i— possible. eventually as he variant it will come here. i am _ possible. eventually as he variant it will come here. i am a - possible. eventually as he variant it will come here. i am a great. it will come here. i am a great believer in science. we have shown what we have done by following the science with the vaccines and i was talking to the chief medical officer yesterday and his words, we will find the right vaccinations even for new variants, and we need to give ourselves as much time as possible. the government has said it will review the decision in three weeks. countries like south africa are key winter sun destinations for the travel industry. they will be hoping the announcement doesn't dissuade customers from picking i travel was starting to take off. caroline davies, bbc news. 0ur africa correspondent pumza fihlani is injohannesburg. the uk not the only country to bring and travel restrictions because of the current concerns. what are you hearing? what is the reaction to these travel restrictions? the immediate — these travel restrictions? tue: immediate reaction these travel restrictions? tta: immediate reaction from these travel restrictions? t"t2 immediate reaction from the these travel restrictions? tt2 immediate reaction from the south african government and sciences here is they are saying that very little is they are saying that very little is known about this new variant and they would like to be given time to study it further to know how transmissible it as but also whether it poses more danger than the variants that we have seen and detected in the country but also how it is likely to react to vaccines and whether it will hamper the country plus my current vaccination programme. the south african government has said they believe the decision by the uk may have been hasty especially because there were still meant to be discussions with the world health organization to get an idea of a uniform reaction. we have seen a statement a few minutes ago of the world health organization cautioning about hastily imposing travel bans because they understand that it travel bans because they understand thatitis travel bans because they understand that it is something that is difficult, whose effect is difficult, whose effect is difficult, to reverse, and something south africa themselves have seen in the past few months.— the past few months. thank you very much. our medical editor fergus walsh is with me now. so many uncertainties. it begs the question, how concerned should any of us be? , ., ., ~ ., , ., of us be? very hard to know but a real heart — of us be? very hard to know but a real heart sinking _ of us be? very hard to know but a real heart sinking moment - of us be? very hard to know but a real heart sinking moment when i i of us be? very hard to know but a - real heart sinking moment when i was listening to scientists say this is the most worrying variant they have seen so far on paper. in practice hard to know. the south african authorities have moved really quickly to share their data. this was only identified formally earlier this week so things really need to know. does it cause more severe disease? are vaccines less effective against it? because of these mutations on the spike protein, the part of the virus uses to break into sales, and the part of the virus which the vaccines are based. and will drugs be less effective against it? it highlights the need for global immunisation, the idea that none of us are safe and tell the whole world to say. two thirds of the uk population is fully immunised and now we have a very effective booster programme. in south africa it is one in four people and in africa it is far lower than that thatis africa it is far lower than that that is real concern.- africa it is far lower than that that is real concern. a 12—year—old girl has died after suffering catastrophic injuries during an argument in liverpool city centre. ava white was with friends when she was assaulted yesterday evening. four teenage boys, aged between 13 and 15, have been arrested on suspicion of her murder. danny savage is in liverpool. a very strange atmosphere here in liverpool city centre with buskers in the main shopping streets singing christmas songs, people going about their shopping on black friday and a huge amount of the shopping area completely cordoned off after this incident last night. sometimes we use the word shocking too much but there seems to be a shocking attack on a 12—year—old girl he was the year eight people in a school in the city who was in town last night with a group of friends. it appears there has been some sort of altercation between her group of friends and another group of youths in and a scuffle has ta ken another group of youths in and a scuffle has taken place during which she has received catastrophic injuries. she was treated at the scene and taken to alder hey children's hospital and sadly she did not survive. herfamily children's hospital and sadly she did not survive. her family was told their 12—year—old daughter who had gone into town for the switch on of the christmas lights was not coming home again. many people post my thoughts are with them at the moment. , , ., , , thoughts are with them at the moment. , , . , , ., moment. give us a sense of the reaction- _ moment. give us a sense of the reaction- it _ moment. give us a sense of the reaction. it is _ moment. give us a sense of the reaction. it is so _ moment. give us a sense of the reaction. it is so shocking - reaction. it is so shocking particularly because of the ages of everyone apparently involved. yes. everyone apparently involved. yes, ou have everyone apparently involved. yes, you have got _ everyone apparently involved. yes, you have got four— everyone apparently involved. t2: you have got four teenagers being questioned by detectives at the moment who were arrested last night, aged between 13 and 15. in this street in the centre of liverpool people have been coming to put down flowers and her school has released a statement. the head teacher of notre dame catholic college that she was a much loved, valued and unique member of the notre dame family, and incredibly popular girl with a fantastic group of friends. our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to ava's family and friends and everyone affected. this is something that has got to the heart of people in liverpool at the moment. the number of fathers being left has grown by the minute. meantime the investigation goes on. —— of flowers. businesses closed because large areas have been cordoned off while police investigate what exactly happened to this 12—year—old girl last night for her to end up fatally injured in an argument. thank you. the french president emmanuel macron has accused the uk of not being serious about dealing with the migrant crisis. european ministers will meet on sunday to discuss the situation, after 27 people drowned on wednesday trying to reach the uk but mr macron confirmed that the home secretary priti patel can no longer attend that meeting. her invitation was withdrawn after borisjohnson publicly called on france to take back migrants who cross the channel. here's our political correspondent damian grammaticas. as the prime minister an undiplomatic leader? he as the prime minister an undiplomatic leader? as the prime minister an undilomatic leader? , , ., ., undiplomatic leader? he says you are not serious. — undiplomatic leader? he says you are not serious. is _ undiplomatic leader? he says you are not serious, is he _ undiplomatic leader? he says you are not serious, is he right? _ undiplomatic leader? he says you are not serious, is he right? very - not serious, is he right? very ublic not serious, is he right? very public statements _ not serious, is he right? very public statements after - not serious, is he right? very public statements after the l not serious, is he right? very public statements after the death of 27 people in the channel. last night he said he had written to emmanuel macron with a series of proposals. asking among other things forjoint patrols from next week with french police and uk border officers and the returns agreements of the uk could send back those coming across the channel in small boats. france has rejected exactly these things before and took offence saying this was not what the prime minister discussed on the phone two days ago and this was no way to deal with sensitive issues. translation: you do not sensitive issues. translation: tm, do not communicate between leaders on these issues by tweet and public letters. we are not whistle—blowers. come on. come on. waiters communicate a tedious way to deal with serious questions between people —— leaders communicate in a serious way. on sunday we will meet and we will see when it comes to the uk how we can act effectively if they decide to be serious. figs uk how we can act effectively if they decide to be serious. $5 a they decide to be serious. as a consequence — they decide to be serious. as a consequence france _ they decide to be serious. as a consequence france has - they decide to be serious. as a consequence france has uninvited to home secretary priti patel from a meeting with eu ministers happening on sunday to discuss how to respond. this is a humiliation for the prime minister and the home secretary who have completely lost control of the situation in the channel at the very moment when the prime minister needed to be a statesman, to actually deal with this. what we saw instead was a grave error of judgment, putting a public letter on twitter. in judgment, putting a public letter on twitter. ,, , ., twitter. in downing street they are ”uttin u- twitter. in downing street they are putting on the _ twitter. in downing street they are putting up the christmas _ twitter. in downing street they are putting up the christmas tree, - putting up the christmas tree, relations with france are anything but festive. boris johnson says relations with france are anything but festive. borisjohnson says his aim is to save lives, but his proposals had been rebuffed by the french and the uk after brexit is no longer part of the eu scheme to allow the return of asylum seekers to eu countries, which means both sides have to find ways to work together. trio sides have to find ways to work touether. ., ., ., .., sides have to find ways to work touether. ., ., ., .. ., . ,, , together. no nation can tackle this alone and i — together. no nation can tackle this alone and i hope _ together. no nation can tackle this alone and i hope the _ together. no nation can tackle this alone and i hope the french - together. no nation can tackle this alone and i hope the french will i alone and i hope the french will reconsider. it is in our interests and in their interest and in the interests of people being people trafficked to the uk and these tragic scenes we are seeing. the uk sa s it tragic scenes we are seeing. the uk says it wants _ tragic scenes we are seeing. the uk says it wants to _ tragic scenes we are seeing. the uk says it wants to act _ tragic scenes we are seeing. the uk says it wants to act cooperatively i says it wants to act cooperatively and france has proposed that the uk sent personnel to process asylum claims in france, but that was dismissed site yesterday. jessica parker is in calais for us now. some form of political solution is needed because these are people's lives. , , , lives. yes, because even if the politicians _ lives. yes, because even if the politicians are _ lives. yes, because even if the politicians are not _ lives. yes, because even if the politicians are not quite - lives. yes, because even if the l politicians are not quite talking, the problems in calais absolutely processed. there are still people living in very squalid conditions. there is still a perilous sea crossing over to the uk, as evidenced by what happened on wednesday, those tragic events, events which led to a lot of talk about cooperation, working together to try and find solutions, but it became pretty clear pretty quickly that britain and france had different ideas as to what that might mean. this needs to be seen in the context of tensions between the two countries on a range of issues. then last night this letter released by borisjohnson on twitter. downing street insists it is reasonable and paris says it is not and they regard the message as really delivered. as things stand here on sunday european ministers will meet ten will not be among them. it is worth emphasising official level talks are still going on. if there were hopes that what happened on wednesday might be a catalyst for some kind of political change, political relations between britain and france if anything seemed worse.— britain and france if anything seemed worse. ,, ., ,, ., ~ seemed worse. jessica parker, thank ou. the met office has issued a red weather warning, covering the coast of north—east scotland down to northumbria. a red warning means there is a risk to life and property. winds of up to 90 miles an hour are expected to bring down power lines and cause severe disruption to transport. our correspondent david shanks is in aberdeen. the forecast certainly is not good for a little bit later on, david. absolutely not. it started with pretty heavy snow in aberdeen at around 10am this morning, but it is those extremely high winds that are causing those concerns. great the first named storm of this year. goodness, many apologies, i think like david is perhaps already affected by the weather. the met office issuing a red weather warning and we will have a full weather forecast at the end of the programme. our top story this lunchtime... the health secretary says a new, heavily—mutated covid variant could pose substantial risk to public health, and is of international concern. also on the programme, back to the drawing board. the success of the sportsman who turned to art during the pandemic. coming up on the bbc news channel... more than two weeks sincejoining, eddie howe will finally be in the dugout as head coach for newcastle for the first time when they face arsenal tomorrow after returning a negative covid test. england could become the first country in the world to introduce legislation which should result in better support for people with down syndrome. a bill has been debated for the first time in the commons today and if it passes into law, it will mean public bodies like councils, schools and job centres will be required to specifically recognise the needs of people with the condition. our disability affairs correspondent nikki fox reports. pull, pull, pull. tom is pumping iron at the gym. yeah, one more. the 17—year—old has down syndrome. he is working towards a career as a fitness instructor and he's already whipping me into shape. is that a cheating situp? yeah. what if i let go of my hands? um, yes, it's better. being a lean, mean fighting machine is not all tom wants from life. i want to be a fitness coach. and i want to get a wife and a baby. a dog. yeah. beard. yeah. and a new flat. in no particular order? yes, absolutely. at one stage he wanted to ride a motorbike, which i hope he's dropped. so he's keen to do those things. i'm a huge believer, it's about opportunities and that's what as a parent, that's what we try and provide any child, but i think with a child with down syndrome i have to work harder. 0k, do you want a slice of cake, tom? the aim of the bill is to make life easier for thousands of people like tom. it will ensure they get the right support when it comes to education, employment, health and social care, and after today's debate that has moved one step closer. there has been such an incredible level of support. i got support from all parties in the house of commons. at the moment that's a fairly rare thing to get. if this gets passed, will you put more pressure local authorities need to deal with people in their locality anyway. to deal with people in their locality anyway-— to deal with people in their locality anyway. what would be completely _ locality anyway. what would be completely unacceptable - locality anyway. what would be completely unacceptable is - locality anyway. what would be completely unacceptable is to i locality anyway. what would be - completely unacceptable is to have people with down syndrome whose parents are no longer get them into inappropriate care. he is absolutely gorgeous. heidi and james have been married for over a year. so what is going to happen? heidi is a leading campaigner for people with down syndrome. she is backing the bill because she knows just how important it is. it's all about making it easier for people with down syndrome. that is all we want, we want easy lives. from the start of our lives to the end of our lives, and that is what i want for david. for everyone. it is estimated there are around a7,000 people with down syndrome in the uk. as it stands the bill only applies to england, but it is hoped if it is passed, other nations will follow suit. tom, well done. nikki fox, bbc news. a 2a—year—old man has been charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of bobbi—anne mcleod in plymouth. cody ackland from the southway area of the city appeared at plymouth magistrates court earlier today. 18—year—old bobbi—anne was reported missing on saturday after she failed to meet friends. a woman's body was found six miles from the city centre on tuesday. shoppers are expected to spend more than £9 billion this weekend as the black friday sales get under way. it's the first big test for supply chains after months of disruption and labour shortages. emma simpson is at curry�*s main distribution centre in newark. love it or loathe it, black friday is a massive shopping event. what started as a one—day extravaganza is now a month—long blizzard of promotions and deals, partly to smooth out the demand. you join me here at currys, britain's biggest electrical retailer, and this is their main distribution hub. and it is the size of ten football pitches, this complex alone, and this is where all the orders are picked, processed and dispatched and today it is the peak, they are flat out. how is it all going? let's talk to lindsey hazlehurst, currys chief supply chain officer. how are your nerves this morning? it's more excitement than nerves this morning. we spent months preparing for this weekend and we have had to work quite a lot harder this year, but we were working really closely with our suppliers. we got the stock in early, we got more stock than we had last year. we got extra warehousing space, we are using every inch of our stores to make sure we got the maximum amount of stock available, and we recruited over 3200 colleagues across our business. so we are ready and raring to go. more stuff than last year, but some popular items more stock than last year, but some popular items are scarce, aren't they? yes, absolutely. it is always the case. there are really hot products every year, but if you can't buy it at currys, you probably can't buy it anywhere at this point. my advice would be if you want something particular, if you see it, buy it now. but across the vast majority of our range we have got lots of stock and lots of products and lots of expert colleagues who can help you find what you need. how many playstation 5s, doyou have them. we've got some, never enough, emma. your supply chain is coping, despite all the challenges? yes, absolutely. it is all about preparation and about fantastic colleagues and that is really the key for us. we are feeling really confident that our supply chain is ready and raring to go. lindsey, thank you. clearly they will be pretty busy here. they are doing an order every second. emma simpson. climate change activists have blocked a number of amazon warehouses across the uk, on what is the retailer's busiest day of the year. members of extinction rebellion targeted thirteen sites across the uk, including its largest distribution centre in dunfermline. it said it wanted to draw attention to alleged exploitation of amazon workers and environmentally wasteful business practices. amazon said it was working to minimise any potential disruption to customers. the plaid cymru leader, adam price, says their co—operation agreement with labour in the senedd will change the lives of thousands of people. in a speech, mr price will say plans in the deal to give all primary school children free school meals show the party is making a difference. the pre—recorded address will be played at a virtual conference today and party members will vote on whether to endorse the three—year co—operation agreement tomorrow. a lavish ceremony has taken place in egypt to mark the opening of the 3,000 year old avenue of sphinxes to the public. it's taken more than 70 years to excavate the statues, which were buried along an ancient walkway nearly two miles long, connecting two of the city's greatest temples. hundreds of people performed at the event with music inspired by stories written on the walls of the temples in hieroglyphics. the challenging circumstances of the past 18 months have forced all of us to adapt, but niall guite has turned lockdown into a whole new opportunity. he represented britain at the special olympics, sport for athletes with a learning disability. but when he was forced indoors he started to create pictures and from his bedroom in sheffield they re now being sold around the world. joe wilson went to meet him. niall guite combines his passion is for sport, for art. his stadium pictures began as a lockdown distraction. they have become a phenomenon. i start in the morning and get a plan of it and then select the colours and then start the process of drawing it. this is the stadium. the art has travelled to spain, here is seville's managerjulen lopetegui with his home ground. muchas gracias, niall. hello, grayson perry here. hello, what is that behind you? a niall guite original. a fellow artist friend. not only is niall a brilliant artist, he is also a special| olympian so, a class act. sport england figures show opportunities for people with a disability are only resuming gradually. life is about adapting and niall has one room in the loft for training, anotherfor art, and those pictures, they have become a business. niall sells prints of his pictures on his website in conjunction with the special olympics charity. he is now self—employed and in britain only 6% of adults with a learning disability have paid jobs. he does a lot of research. you have always done you have always done that, haven't you? you have got a head full of football. if you opened it up, there would be a ball in there. but to get to this point just feels quite dreamlike actually. perhaps niall�*s pictures represent that, haven't you? the power of sport, but also the possibility of creativity. weather joe wilson, bbc news, in sheffield. time for a look at the weather, here's darren bett. we have been talking about that red