welcome to those watching in the uk and around the globe. we start with growing concerns over the emergence of a new strain of covid—19 in south africa. the world health organisation has — in the past few hours — classified it as a variant of concern and named it — the greek letter omicron. meanwhile — european union leaders have agreed to suspend travel from affected areas — after belgium detected the first case in europe. the us have also announced they will bring in restrictions from monday. south africa has denounced the measures taken against the country, calling them �*unjustified' and �*draconian'. here's the statement from the world health organization. mcron is named as a variant of concern because mcron is named as a variant of concern because it mcron is named as a variant of concern because it has mcron is named as a variant of concern because it has concernin- concern because it has concerning properties. it has a large number of mutations and some of them have some worrying characteristics. why now there are many studies under way and a lot of work is going in south africa to characterise the variant in terms of transmissibility, in terms of severity and any impact on our countermeasures such as the use of therapeutics and vaccines. so far there is little information about there is little information about the studies are under way so we need researchers to have time to carry them out and the who will inform the public and member states when we have the information. the uk was one of the first countries to react to the new variant announcing travel restrictions on thursday. as fergus walsh reports. after months of opening up, a new coronavirus variant means travel restrictions are back. at heathrow, the last flights from south africa arrived this morning. i feel extremely relieved, because, yeah, who knows how long this is going to last? we've been told we have to isolate at home, so that shouldn't be too bad. from sunday, only uk and irish residents will be allowed in from six southern african countries, and they'll have to pay to quarantine in a hotel. the travel restrictions mean catherine will miss her niece�*s wedding in south africa. it's devastating. they've held back this wedding for two years for us, so we were all going to be together, which is really important. and literally, we were off on the ninth, and now we are not. the health secretary said the new variant may pose a substantial risk to public health, so the restrictions were necessary. i want to reassure this house that there are no detected cases of this variant in the uk at this time, but this new variant is of huge international concern. several coronavirus mutations have already made the covid pandemic worse. the alpha variant, identified in kent, drove a huge wave of hospital admissions and deaths here last winter. the delta variant, first detected in india, was even more transmissible and is currently the dominant strain worldwide. on paper, the new variant looks worrying, with twice the number of mutations found on delta. around 30 of these are in the spike protein, the key the virus uses to unlock our cells, and these changes may help it evade our body's defences. so far, we don't know whether the variant causes more severe disease, whether vaccines will be less effective, or drugs won't work. it's the sheer number and type of mutations that has scientists here troubled. some of them have never been seen in combinations like this before, many of them we have seen in various variants of concern so far, but it is the complexity of the mutations that we are seeing today, and the effects that it may have won both the immune response today, and the effects that it may have on both the immune response and transmissibility, that are a huge concern. the next few weeks will see scientific detective work in labs to determine the threat posed by this variant. travel bans will slow the spread but won't stop it going global if it has a competitive advantage over other variants. fergus walsh, bbc news. as we've just been hearing, the first confirmed cases of the new variant were found in south africa and botswana. and while the eu and the uk travel bans will affect travellers from those two countries, the measures will also impact those travelling from namibia, zimbabwe, lesotho and eswatini. from south africa, our africa corresponent andrew harding reports. a technical university in pretoria, south africa, this afternoon. this is where the new variant was first properly identified, spreading fast among students. obviously, this is so overwhelming, we are all worried, but the management took a decision to suspend all social gatherings and social activities. the impact here has been swift, with many countries now following britain's lead in banning flights from south africa. so, this morning's arrivals from johannesburg and cape town could be the last for some time. it is absolutely ridiculous that they have imposed it again so quickly, without really investigating this new variant. the timing for south africa could hardly be worse. it is summer here, and the tourist industry was hoping for a big boost after two richard years of lockdowns and red listings. no wonder south africa's foreign minister has criticised the travel ban, calling it rushed, economically damaging, and are urging britain to reconsider. not that that seems very likely, at least not in the short term. today, south africa is gearing up for a likely fourth wave, dominated by this new variant, but scientists here insist that trying to isolate countries or regions makes no practical sense. we saw with the delta variant that within three weeks, 53 countries were reporting cases of the delta variant, so stopping travel from one country or a small group of countries very soon becomes superfluous. it's really not the solution. but could there be one upside to the arrival of this new variant? in recent months, south africa's vaccine roll—out has slowed down. it is the same in other african countries, partly down to a shortage of vaccines, but also due to public apathy, and fear of the new variant could change that. hopefully, we get past the stage... are you vaccinated? i'm vaccinated, so hopefully i'll be safe. the focus is on this south african laboratory and the scientists trying to unlock the secrets of the virus's new mutations. andrew harding, bbc news, johannesburg. president biden hasjust been speaking about the new variant. i’zfe speaking about the new variant. i've decided speaking about the new variant. i�*e: decided that we going to be speaking about the new variant. i";e: decided that we going to be cautious and make sure no travel and from south africa and countries in that region. except foramerican south africa and countries in that region. except for american citizens who are able to come back. we don't know a lot about the variant except that it know a lot about the variant except thatitis know a lot about the variant except that it is concerning, spreads rapidly. i spent half an hour with my covid team led by doctor anthony faucl 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 uk home secretary priti patel�*s invitation has been withdrawn. this is in response to uk prime minister borisjohnson's public call for france to take back migrants who cross the channel. lucy williamson reports from calais. the road between paris and london is getting colder. the political distance a little wider each day. here in the migrant camps caught between the two governments they know about barriers and communication. macron says you are not serious, is he right? meeting the polish pm today, borisjohnson says co—operation between european partners was the way to solve the migrant crisis. that again underlines that this is a problem we have to fix together. borisjohnson is accused by france of using the migrant crisis for his own political ends. last night mrjohnson sent out a series of tweets saying he had written to the president macron with a number of proposals. he tweeted the letter calling forjoint patrols and suggesting that all illegal migrants who cross the channel be returned to france. this, he said, would break the business model of the criminal gangs. france is irritated by mrjohnson's style of diplomacy and it shows. translation: i am surprised - when things are not done seriously. we don't communicate between leaders on these issues via tweets or published letters. we are not whistle—blowers. come on. the ministers will work seriously to settle a serious issue with serious people. the tensions between france and the uk built up over a range of issues are becoming increasingly public. the home secretary priti patel was due here in calais this weekend to discuss migration but since mrjohnson's tweets last night she has been disinvited. uk officials are in paris today to discuss the issue. as officials try to bridge the political divide, migrants here are planning day after day how to bridge the channel. like moez, from sudan, queuing at a food distribution truck. he is undeterred by the deaths of 27 people in the channel this week. would he stop trying if he thought he would be sent straight back to france? this is my dream to go to the uk. if i came back to france again i would go to the uk. never be stopped. not stop, never. neither disaster nor diplomacy has stopped the rhythm of these crossings. an alternative to the promises of people smugglers can feel as remote here as the elisee palace or downing street. lucy williamson, bbc news. one of the young women who died on board that boat on wednesday has been named — maryam nuri mohamed amin from kurdistan. the family heard the news from two other people who were on board the boat. they are waiting for her body to be flown home to kurdistan. still to come. bargain hunt black friday but can supply keep up with demand? president kennedy was shot down and died almost immediately. the murder ofjohn kennedy is a disasterfor the whole free ofjohn kennedy is a disaster for the whole free world. ofjohn kennedy is a disasterfor the whole free world. he caught the imagination of the world. the first of a new generation of leaders. margaret thatcher is resigning as leader_ margaret thatcher is resigning as leader of— margaret thatcher is resigning as leader of the conservative party and prime _ leader of the conservative party and prime minister. before leaving to number— prime minister. before leaving to number ten to prime minister. before leaving to numberten to see prime minister. before leaving to number ten to see the queen she told the cabinet, it's a funny old world. angela _ the cabinet, it's a funny old world. angela merkel is germany's first woman chancellor, easily securing the majority she needed. the ma'ority she needed. attempts to fl a the majority she needed. attempts to fly a hot-air — the majority she needed. attempts to fly a hot-air balloon _ the majority she needed. attempts to fly a hot-air balloon had _ the majority she needed. attempts to fly a hot-air balloon had to _ the majority she needed. attempts to fly a hot-air balloon had to be - fly a hot—air balloon had to be abandoned after a few minutes but no one seemed to mind. as a local colleague — one seemed to mind. as a local colleague put it, it isn't hot—air we need. — colleague put it, it isn't hot—air we need. it_ colleague put it, it isn't hot—air we need, it is hard cash. cuba has declared nine days of mourning following the death of adele castro. he developed close ties with this other union in the 60s, an alliance that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in the cuban missile crisis. this is bbc news, the latest headlines... the world health organisation designates a new covid strain found in southern africa as a "variant of concern", amid fears the heavily mutated variant could be more infectious and more resistant to vaccines. the french president has accused the uk of not being serious about tackling the migrant crisis — following suggestions france should take back people crossing the english channel. lizzie greenwood—hughes has all the sport. there was a surprise in today's draw for next year's world cup when european champions italy and portugal were drawn in the same play—off path which means one of them will miss—out on qualifying for qatar. italy finished as runners—up to switzerland in their group stage of qualifying, while cristiano ronaldo's portugal were pipped to the top spot in their group after a home defeat to serbia, meaning both teams have to go through the new playoff system if they're to reach the tournament finals in qatar inext year. here's italy's head coach roberto mancini. it isa it is a very difficult draw for us because macedonia is a good team and if we win we go to play away in turkey or portugal. still with football — and the deal to bring ralf rangnick to take temporary charge of manchester united has been agreed but they're just finalising the small print in his move from lokomotiv moscow. the german is due to take charge for the remainder of the season, but michael carrick will still manage united for sunday's trip to chelsea. liverpool managerjurgen klopp knows rangnick well and sent this warning to other premier league teams. they will be organised on the pitch. i think we should realise that. let's hope it's not good news for other teams. we need time to train with our teams and he will quickly realise he doesn't have to do that because they play all the time which will make it tricky for him. a really good man and an outstanding coach, if he comes to england. the australian tennis davis cup captain lleyton hewitt says moving the competition to abu dhabi would be "selling the soul" of it. a decision on whether to move the finals to the middle east for the next five years will be made next week. but the move hasn't been well received by players, with some privately warning they're not prepared to travel there so late in the year. hewitt says the idea's "ridiculous". australia were beaten 3—0 by croatia in their opening group match of this year's finals in turin. the england and wales cricket board have released their new action plan to tackle racism and discrimination in the game. it follows the testimony by the former yorkshire bowler azeem rafiq, in which he called the english game "institutionally racist." our correspondent laura scott has the details. i spoke to one of the people whose alleged racist abuse in cricket and he said he welcomed the action plan but he wants momentum to be maintained. today the ecb chief executive tom harris said that the crisis engulfing the game has felt like an earthquake has hit it. the powerful testimony of azeem rafiq and others has exposed majorfault lines within cricket's culture and governance and those two areas are the focus of the 12 action points agreed by the game today, covering a full review of the dressing room culture, removing the barriers that have stopped ethnically diverse players from reaching the professional ranks, and making grounds like here at lords more welcoming for everyone. on the governance level, boardroom diversity targets have been set with a target of april next year. county to don't make them can expect to have funding withheld. comparison acknowledged today that this won't be the silver bullet and won't answer all of the questions around cricket and its problems but he hopes it will be a good start. that's all the sport for now. well, it is that time of year again where shoppers flock to well, some people who may not be relishing the prospect of the biggest love it or hate it, the annual shopping extravaganza black friday is underway. it's no longerjust a day, some retailers have been offering deals since the start of the month. some people who may not be relishing the prospect of the biggest black friday ever are the unions and campaign groups behind the make amazon pay movement. the campaign, which says the retail holiday puts too much pressure on its already strained staff, has organised protests at various amazon distribution centres around the world. i'm joined now by mick rix from gmb, one of the british unions organising the protests in the uk. thank you forjoining us. why is it important for you to protest against amazon when you don't actually represent amazon workers? we have uuite a lot represent amazon workers? we have quite a lot of— represent amazon workers? we have quite a lot of workers _ represent amazon workers? we have quite a lot of workers that _ represent amazon workers? we have quite a lot of workers that are - quite a lot of workers that are members of our union. we may not represent amazon workers, because amazon, through its anti—union declaration, doesn't recognise unions. refuses to recognise unions. in fact, where it does recognise unions it's because unions in other countries may have taken strike action to achieve that aim. our protests are really aimed on a number of levels. firstly, and's disastrous safety record, literally hurting hundreds of amazon workers each year and in the run—up to black friday and black friday itself, one needs to imagine the orders that come in, the pace of work required, the number of people required to process those orders and pick those orders creates hundreds of injuries and we have got freedom of information requests into ambulance trusts and local authority safety bodies which show that there is an excess of thousands of accidents now taking place at amazon sites and there is a 46% increase in the month of november in the run—up to black friday and on black friday itself, where literally hundreds of ambulances are attending amazon workplaces to tend to the sick and to the injured. we've got horrifying evidence of injuries taking place including chemical burns. that's one of the reasons we are protesting. fii< of the reasons we are protesting. ok but what would you say to the people who have had their packages delayed because you are causing the disruption for your protests? amazon are not here to respond to the allegations you've just made. but some who are watching may not have the package that they wanted by today for instance. what would you say to them?— today for instance. what would you say to them? today for instance. what would you sa to them? �* ., ., ., say to them? amazon never respond to the allegations- — say to them? amazon never respond to the allegations. they _ say to them? amazon never respond to the allegations. they bury _ say to them? amazon never respond to the allegations. they bury their - the allegations. they bury their heads in the sand and do nothing to address the problems of workers. in terms of the consumers, we do a lot of polling and research with people and yes, while people may be ordering from amazon, and we aren't asking them to stop doing that, there's a lot of sympathy because people do not want to see workers getting injured in preparing their products and sending their products to them. there is a natural sympathy amongst working people in this country for other working people. we've heard a lot in the pandemic about changes in working conditions, pay and shortages of hgv drivers and calls for better working conditions. ruc in evidence of amazon changing any of their practices? i ruc in evidence of amazon changing any of their practices?— any of their practices? i think amazon are _ any of their practices? i think amazon are going _ any of their practices? i think amazon are going to - any of their practices? i think amazon are going to have - any of their practices? i think amazon are going to have to | any of their practices? i think - amazon are going to have to change their practices. firstly, the evidence we've obtained, and it is evidence we've obtained, and it is evidence we've obtained, and it is evidence we have been compiling for a couple of years, the health and safety executive need to get a grip and start investigating the number of these claims of the evidence that's out there. they are the safety regulator for the uk and they should be more proactive. amazon need to get a grip. there are things amazon can do, if you look at the safety stats for many leading companies in the uk, where a company recognises a trade union and where trade unions and companies collaborate over making workplaces safer, then actually that increases the performance of the company. it's just good business sense. bier? just good business sense. very briefl , just good business sense. very briefly. what — just good business sense. very briefly, what are _ just good business sense. very briefly, what are you _ just good business sense. very briefly, what are you hoping to achieve here?— briefly, what are you hoping to achieve here? ~ ., ., , achieve here? well, we are hoping that through _ achieve here? well, we are hoping that through the _ achieve here? well, we are hoping that through the pressure - achieve here? well, we are hoping that through the pressure we - achieve here? well, we are hoping that through the pressure we are l that through the pressure we are putting on amazon and through the global campaigns as well, that actually amazon will take stock of itself and start to see sense. we are not enemies of amazon. we want people to work safely and we want people to work safely and we want people to work safely and we want people to be properly rewarded. the way to do that is to sit down with the gmb and other trade unions around the world and come to an agreement. fii< around the world and come to an agreement-— in a statement, amazon said. she has been given safe haven in italy after fleeing afghanistan. steve mccurry photographed her when she was 12 and living in a refugee camp on the pakistan afghan border. the italian prime minister's office said it intervened after she asked to leave following the taliban takeover in august. you can get in touch with me and my team on twitter. the wind is picking up now especially across more north—eastern parts of the uk. the winds are picking up now, particularly across more northeastern parts of the uk, where we have this red wind warning from the met office — the winds for a while gusting 80—90 mph, some significant disruption and a danger to life. it is coastal areas of scotland and north—east england covered until the early hours. some big and dangerous waves around. storm arwen is drifting down to the north the and it will bring down strong wind across the much the whole country. we have amber wind warnings more widely across eastern scotland, the north—east of england until the middle part of saturday morning but also across the north and west of wales and south—western england. wind could be up to 60,70 mph into saturday morning. we have an added hazard, snow already in scotland is going to move down to the pennines and there will be significant falls here. a mixture of rain, sleet and snow across the midlands into southern england meaning temperatures later in the night won't be far from freezing. the strength of the wind perhaps more significant for the country, especially down the irish sea coast. mixture of rain also sleet and snow, over the hills and the wet weather will push towards more eastern parts of england, allowing many other areas to brighten up with some sunshine. some wintry showers across the north of scotland. a cold day, temperatures perhaps no better than three or four degrees. wind will ease down in the afternoon but it is still going to feel significantly colder in the wind. wind tends to eat and things will calm down on saturday night. the storm moves away, the wind starts to drop. this week by the fund will bring more cloud and rain into northern ireland but i had it, we are in the cold air, more wintry showers across scotland. windy for a while, the wind continuing to ease and it won't be as windy on sunday but still cold even with the sunshine. getting slowly milder from the west. all eyes are on storm arwen, bringing widespread gales, especially when the in the north—east. some snow over the hills and further disruption. than a year. this is bbc world news, the headlines... the world health organization has classified a new covid—i9 strain detected in southern africa as a variant of concern and named it the omicron. south africa has denounced eu and uk travel bans as �*unjustified and draconian'. global stock markets have taken a hit as concerns grow over the variant. the dowjones in new york fell by more than 2.5% — its biggest daily drop in more