like this before. many of them we've seen in various variants of concern so far, but it's the complexity of the mutations that we're seeing today and the effects that it may have on both the immune response and transmissibility that are a huge concern. with belgium recording europe's first case of the omicron variant, the european commission in brussels called for a suspension of air travel to affected african countries. we do know that mutations could lead to the emergence and spread of even more concerning variants of the virus that could spread worldwide within a few months. it is now important that all of us in europe act very swiftly, decisively and united. vaccine companies say they can prepare updated versions of theirjabs, perhaps within 100 days, if the omicron variant is found to evade immunity. fergus walsh, bbc news. health authorities in the netherlands say based on initial test results, there were likely dozens of people infected with covid—19 among some 600 passengers that arrived at amsterdam's schiphol airport on friday on two flights from south africa. the passengers have been kept isolated from other travelers at the airport after their arrival because of concerns about the new variant. meanwhile, peaceful protests continue in the country after the dutch government announced new round of restrictions. 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on wednesday trying to reach the uk, but mr macron confirmed that uk home secretary priti patel�*s invitation has been withdrawn. 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 what it takes to bridge the channel and what the risks are if you fail. two days ago, a boat capsized, killing 27 people. tonight, the first victim was named as 24—year—old maryam nuri mohamed amin from iraqi kurdistan. her fiance said he was messaging her as the dinghy began to lose air. herfather, mourning her death in irbil, in northern iraq, spoke to the bbc. translation: from germany, she went to france and in - france, she got into this slaughterhouse. the whole world talks about europe is a place that is calm, that is pleasant. is this what "calm" means? around 30 people dying in the middle of the sea? this is a sin to put people through this. this tragedy has put pressure on paris and london to amend their rift over how to tackle the channel crossings. macron says you aren't serious. is he right, prime minister? meeting the polish prime minister today, mrjohnson said cooperation between european partners was the way to solve the migrant crisis. and, of course, that, again, underlines that this is a problem that we have to fix together. but france has accused the prime minister of doublespeak. last night, in a series of tweets, mrjohnson said he'd written to the french president emmanuel macron with some proposals. he tweeted the letter, too, calling forjoint patrols of french gendarmes and uk border force, 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'm surprised when things are not done seriously. - we don't communicate between leaders on these issues via tweets or publish letters. we're 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's been disinvited — though uk officials are in paris today to discuss the issue. no invitations needed here, though. through it all, migrants plan the next crossing attempts. like moez from sudan, among those we met queueing for 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'd be sent straight back to france? this my dream, to go to uk. if come back to france, again, i go to uk. never not to stop. not to 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 elysee palace or downing street. lucy williamson, bbc news, calais. let's get some of the day's other news. one of musical theatre's most celebrated composers and lyricists, stephen sondheim, has died at the age of 91. in a career that spanned more than 60 years, he wrote the scores for some of broadway's best—known shows including company and a little night music. he also wrote the lyrics for west side story and sweeney todd. president biden has expressed concern about russia's troop build—up near the ukrainian border. he said he was likely to discuss the situation with both countries' leaders. earlier, the us national security adviser and senior ukrainian officials called on all sides to pursue diplomatic efforts to de—escalate tensions. three people have reportedly died in the unrest in the solomon islands. the political crisis in the country is deepening with protesters surrounding the prime minister's home for a third day, and police firing warning shots and tear gas to disperse crowds outside his residence. a night—time curfew has been extended. don't forget to check out our website. you'll find lots more background and analysis to the stories we're covering. just head to bbc.com/news. you can also download the bbc news app. a girl of 12 has died after being attacked in the street by a group of teenage boys in liverpool city centre. ava white was with friends when it's thought they were involved in an argument. it's thought she was attacked with a knife and suffered what police have described as "catastrophic injuries". four boys, aged between 13 and 15, have been arrested on suspicion of her murder. danny savage reports. ava white was 12 years old. last night, she came into liverpool city centre as the christmas lights were switched on. she never made it home. she was fatally stabbed. today, police sealed off a large part of the city's shopping area, investigating the killing of a year eight schoolgirl. any 12—year—old dying in these circumstances would be shocking. it's devastating for the family and, i think, many people who have i2—, i3—year—olds will be — just can't believe that's happened. as the day wore on, people came to leave flowers. some of them knew ava, many of them didn't. just shocked that such a terrible thing could happen here. she was just so small and loving and kind and she was one of the most kindest people i've met. i know the group myself and they were all so lovely. and the fact that she's been taken so early in life, it's not nice — it's not a nice thing to see or hear about. businesses in the crime scene cordon stayed closed for most of the day but in the communities ava white was part of, people tried to sum up whom she was. ava was a thoughtful, considered girl. she looked for the positive in everything. she was a much—loved member of the school community and she just made friends with absolutely everyone. she took everyone under her wing and just a genuinely nice little girl. a passer—by who saw what happened to ava tried to help her. paramedics then came and treated her at the scene before taking her on to alder hey children's hospital, but she died a short time later. in the moments after the argument involving ava last night, those involved were seen running away. police later arrested four boys aged between 13 and 15. they are now being questioned by detectives on suspicion of murder. danny savage, bbc news, liverpool. as we've been hearing, the legendary composer of broadway musicals, stephen sondheim, has died at his home in connecticut. he was 91. sondheim composed and wrote lyrics for a vast number of musicals, including west side story, sweeney todd and follies. daniella relph looks back on his career. # isn't it bliss? # don't you approve? # one who keeps tearing around, one who can't move... send in the clowns from the musical a little night music. # send in the clowns... it was stephen sondheim's only hit song — remarkably, because this was the man who revolutionised the american musical. as a young man, he learned his trade from oscar hammerstein — the lyricist who wrote shows like oklahoma and the sound of music. sondheim, too, started by doing the words, notably for leonard bernstein's music in west side story. # i want to be in america! # ok by me in america! soon he was writing his own music as well. most of the shows that followed were hits. and then, in 1970, he came up with a new idea — a musical that didn't follow an obvious plot. # in comes company! company was a series of vignettes featuring a dozen central characters. no two sondheim musicals were the same. i don't want to get bored writing, you know? i don't want to get bored writing and, you know, when you hit a chord that you've hit before, or a technique you've used before — when i do, i get very nervous. and i think "i've written that. "i mustn't do that again — somebody will catch me up on it," so to speak. it's as if somebody�*s saying, "wait a minute — you did that in that show!" into the woods was based on fairy stories like jack and the beanstalk. sondheim's music was rhythmically complicated and harmonically sophisticated. # we've no time to sit and dither. # while her withers wither with her. # and no—one keeps a cow for a friend... # artists are bizarre. # fixed, cold. # that's you, georges — you're bizarre! one of his cleverest creations was sunday in the park with george, about the painter georges seurat, whose most famous painting was recreated by the characters on stage. art is not an easy thing to do. and i've heard people say, "oh, so—and—so is so talented," as if all they had to do was get up in the morning and the painting was made or the song was written. and they don't understand that it's exactly as much hard work — and maybe harder — than making a shoe or anything that you make out of nothing. # i thought that you'd want what i want. # sorry, my dear... for his admirers, stephen sondheim produced some of the most sophisticated and thoughtful musicals ever written. # quick, send in the clowns. # don't bother, they're here. remembering stephen sondheim. let's talk to arts correspondent vincent dowd. he is obviously a genius, he had an incredible career. how would you characterise his work? a , would you characterise his work? , , ., work? many people i would call uenius work? many people i would call genius but _ work? many people i would call genius but he — work? many people i would call genius but he was _ work? many people i would call genius but he was a _ work? many people i would call genius but he was a genius - work? many people i would call genius but he was a genius and | genius but he was a genius and what he did, the crux of it, was take a particular genre, the american stage musical, although he had some way to success on film, and made it into something different. nobody does that, people like mozart do it, they change a particular kind of art, and he made musicals more serious, some people thought he made them too serious, some people thought he was a bit cold or chilly or a bit dull at times, but actually especially as he got into the middle part of his career he wrote absolutely gorgeous music. i don't think actually the music has yet been totally discovered but when you listen closely to something like into the woods you hear spectacular music which people will still be performing on stage in 50 years time. an stage in 50 years time. an incredible _ stage in 50 years time. an incredible range as well. stage in 50 years time. an - incredible range as well. yeah, at the beginning _ incredible range as well. yeah, at the beginning of— incredible range as well. yeah, at the beginning of his - incredible range as well. yeah, at the beginning of his career l at the beginning of his career he wrote the lyrics only, not totally to his satisfaction, he felt, for west side story but amazing lyrics for 26 or 27—year—old and gypsy which could have been a tad historic, he made into a drama and later on i remember going to an early performance of passion on broadway and i thought it was amazing that somebody could write this, if i say operator it is not quite right, but some way towards an operator and he is a guy who whatever he was at the time, a0 years ago had written the lyrics too true — operetta. written the lyrics too true - operetta-— written the lyrics too true - operetta. we have the most enormous — operetta. we have the most enormous range. _ operetta. we have the most enormous range. someone | operetta. we have the most - enormous range. someone who changed musical theatre? yes. changed musical theatre? yes, totall . changed musical theatre? yes, totally- he _ changed musical theatre? yes, totally. he was _ changed musical theatre? yes, totally. he was very _ changed musical theatre? yes, totally. he was very aware - changed musical theatre? yes, totally. he was very aware of. totally. he was very aware of his own talent. he was not shy about pushing his own talent but he took something which maybe was slightly dying and then in 1970 he wrote company and then a couple of years later he wrote follies, it has been revived a couple of years ago and now it is in preview on broadway and the last time he appeared on broadway was only a couple of days ago when he went to the new performance of company and everyone then said he was frail and more or less had to be guided into his seat and was clearly getting towards the end of his life but he was someone at the end of his life he could say yes, i changed the medium i worked in. you interviewed _ medium i worked in. you interviewed him. - medium i worked in. you interviewed him. he - medium i worked in. you interviewed him. he like| medium i worked in. you i interviewed him. he like as medium i worked in. you interviewed him. he like as a person? i interviewed him. he like as a erson? .., interviewed him. he like as a erson? _, , person? i did, he could be sliuhtl person? i did, he could be slightly grumpy _ person? i did, he could be slightly grumpy or - person? i did, he could be slightly grumpy or grumpy person? i did, he could be i slightly grumpy or grumpy or stern or rather serious teacher but you know, deep down i think it was a nice guy. there is my letter from it was a nice guy. there is my letterfrom him, last year i wrote to him and said please do an interview for your 90th birthday and he rowback a lovely letter saying i am very sorry, it is probably beyond me but thank you for asking. deep down he was a good guy and a warm guy and his life changed completely in the middle of his life when he was 60 and finally started to build up personal relationships which he had rather avoided before, there was a warmth into the warmth started to come out more in his music and we heard less of this slightly sharp edged cynicism. fascinating, vincent, thank you, remembering stephen sondheim has died at the age of 91. this is bbc news. the headlines: a new covid strain found in southern africa is classed a "variant of concern" by the world health organization over fears it may be more infectious and more resistant to vaccines. french president emmanuel macron is accusing the uk of not being serious about dealing with the migrant crisis as the diplomatic row deepens. staying with that story, despite the obvious perils of the channel crossing, people have still been attempting it in the days since the tragedy, with smuggling gangs trying to convince them that the journey is safe. from france, fergal keane reports. from paris, all routes lead north. the city that is a hub for information, for contacts. many of those en route to the uk have often arrived here first. after what's happened, a lot of the smugglers are lying low. but we've been given a phone number for a man who's offering to get migrants across the channel to the uk still. i'm going to team up with a colleague to try and get in touch with this man. i meet our arabic—speaking colleague in a paris suburb. because of his continuing work investigating the gangs, he doesn't want to be identified. he's now ready to make contact with the smuggler. an automatic message came out saying, "thanks for the communication. souza the iraqi at your service." so i'm going to ask him the possibilities to cross from france to uk. soon after, driving towards calais, there's a message from the man calling himself souza the iraqi. so now he's back writing to me and his response was, "walaikum assalam, darling." and he wrote also 2,000 euros each person. and, unprompted, he sends us video after video. migrants being rescued by border force, on an english beach, shouting his praises. the arabic text reads, "reached britain, thank god, souza the iraqi." so i will write now, "i'll come to calais today. is it really safe after what has happened?" so he wrote, "no, it's not true, nothing happened. it's safe." later, when we revealed we were from the bbc, souza the iraqi wouldn't talk about his operations. over years i've followed the smuggling journey, from turkey where traffic threatened us with a gun... i have a gun on my belly, and i will take it out and shoot you. so let's go on. ..to athens where we confronted a gang selling fake passports to migrants. they denied it. from bbc news. we'd like to know why you are selling false identity papers to people. and calais, so often the final departure point. as far back as 2013, we secretly filmed smugglers' middlemen here. global crime worth billions. this french policeman has worked for years around calais. he asked that we protect his identity, and spoke of the frustration of fighting the smugglers. translation: it's very difficult, - because as soon as we arrest one, another one pops up. the market provides a lot of money to these people, so there is always a replacement. for 20 years, the police have had the feeling that they're emptying the sea with a small spoon. in calais tonight there are still many willing to risk dangerous journeys, driven by poverty, conflict into the clutches of ruthless men. fergal keane, bbc news, calais. the met office has issued a rare red weather warning for north—eastern parts of the uk — that means people are being advised not to travel in those areas. the warning is because of storm arwen moving in from the east. travel disruption has already been extensive and trains between edinburgh and england have been cancelled. this was portsoy on the moray firth on friday afternoon buffeted by high winds. and waves crashed over harbour walls here in the village of gardenstown in aberdeenshire, with snow falling in braemar, close to balmoral castle in royal deeside. our correspondent lorna gordon is in stonehaven on the north—east coast of scotland. she gave us this update a little earlier. a huge sweep of the east coast is being battered by this storm with this red warning for wind, which means there's a potential dangerfor life in place, from north of aberdeen to middlesbrough, in the north—east of england. and the conditions really are brutal — there's driving rain, dropping temperatures and winds are forecast to potentially gust up to 90 mph. 25,000 homes, primarily in aberdeenshire, have been left without power tonight, the conditions on the roads are described as treacherous, police are warning people not to travel, and there's significant disruption on the rail network as well — many services are cancelled — and there are reports of people stuck on trains because of fallen trees blocking the lines. network rail says they're sending staff to help, but that it could take some time. of course, because the worst of this storm is hitting overnight, we won't know the full extent of any damage caused until the morning. love it or hate it, the annual shopping extravaganza black friday is under way. it's no longerjust a day, some retailers have been offering deals since the start of the month. this weekend, shoppers are expected to spend over £9 billion. but it's the first big test for retailers as they prepare for the christmas rush, and the question is can supply chains cope? our correspondent emma simpson reports. it wouldn't be black friday without big tvs, gadgets, and appliances flying off the shelves. this vast distribution hub in newark is home to britain's biggest electrical retailer. it's their most important time of the year, and the pressure's really on. it truly has been a perfect storm of shortages across the board. so we've taken on more warehousing space, we've got more stock than ever in our stores, and we've recruited over 3,200 colleagues across our business. so we've got the drivers, the warehouse staff, we've got everything we need to deliver this peak. how many playstation 55 do you have, then? never enough of the ps5s, but we've got some and we're getting more. black friday deals started even earlier this year to help spread the demand. even so, they're still processing an order every second here. this shopping bonanza is going to test many retailers to the limits, but it's the ones with the deepest pockets and the biggest clout with suppliers who'll likely cope the best. they sell a bit of magic at this small shop in york — potions and drinks. they don't do black friday, but they do need to conjure up more stock. the huge headache right now is not having the products we want on the shelves to sell. stock being stuck all over the place, from here in the uk where we can't get manufacturers to make what we need, to as far as stuck in a port in china somewhere, our giftware not being able to get onto boats because the boats aren't there. it's frustrating and it's sad. there are fewer deals this year, and some aren't all they're cracked up to be, but shoppers are spending. i always love a good deal. and especially on black friday, yeah. we didn't plan on spending as much money as we have, but we've got some. we saved a lot of money. this could turn out to be the biggest black friday yet if retailers can deliver the goods. emma simpson, bbc news, newark. just about time to let you know that extremely rare honeybees have been discovered in ancient woodland in the grounds of an oxfordshire palace. 15 miniature nests have been found in tree cavities. the new species appears to be descendants of native bees that until now were presumed to have been completely wiped out by disease and competition from imported pcs. but conservationists say the lack of chemical pesticides have aided their survival. that is about it from me for now. you can catch me on twitter. i'll be back in about half—an—hour, but thank you for watching. stay tuned. storm arwen has been buffeting the uk over recent hours. so far, the strongest wind gusts i've seen have been across coastal regions of aberdeenshire. inverbervie picking up a top gust of 78 mph. not too far behind, northumberland — 7a mph gust of wind here. those wind gusts strong enough to bring down some trees, no doubt some transport disruption out and about as we head into saturday. the peak red weather warning lapses, though, during the early hours of saturday and, as our low pressure moves southward, we'll be left with two regions of strong winds — one affecting eastern areas of scotland and northeast england, and another for wales and southwest england. both of these areas will see gusts of wind around about 60—70 mph, so still strong enough to bring down some trees. we could see some further disruption — and, as well as that, we've got some rain, some heavy snow over high ground, particularly the southern uplands and into the high highlands and over the high parts of the pennines, the cheviots, as well. could see some disruptive falls of snow high up. even low down, you might see a little bit of snowjust for a time as we head into the first parts of saturday morning. and, of course, it will be a very blustery and cold start to the day on saturday, as well, with those gusts well up, even inland, very blustery, indeed. now through the rest of saturday, we will have this zone of rain, still a bit of sleet and snow mixed in with that, although anything accumulating — well, that's not really likely to happen — anything that falls willjust melt back to rain, really, as the day goes by. but we'll keep those strong winds all day, and it will feel very, very cold — temperatures around 3—a celsius quite widely, but factor in those winds, it will feel bitter. now, for the second half of the weekend, arwen continues to work away from the uk, it's dying. but we've still got these fairly strong northerly winds, and those northerly winds won't be feeling any warmer at all. sunday will be a day, really, of sunshine and showers. these showers ok, most frequent across northern and eastern areas, but i think there'll be a whole raft of showers working into the northwest, as well. so nowhere's immune from seeing an odd downpour. and those showers still having a wintry flavour, a bit of hail and sleet mixed in with some of those — temperatures around two celsius or so in newcastle, maybe a four in london, but again, feeling cold. now into next week, we'll see a sharpjump upwards in temperatures. turns much, much milder by tuesday, but rain and some strong winds in the week ahead. that's your latest weather. this is bbc news. the headlines: a new covid strain found in southern africa is classed a variant of concern by the world health organization over fears it may be more infectious and more resistant to vaccines. the us is the latest country to impose travel restrictions to the affected countries to slow the spread.