and sir frank williams — who created one the great formula one teams — has died. good afternoon. the health secretary says he wants to expand the uk vaccination programme as a matter of urgency — because of the new omicron variant of coronavirus. a third case has now been identified here and there are expected to be more — with concerns that it may spread more easily and potentially evade current vaccines. ministers say they have acted swiftly. in england, mask wearing in shops and on public transport will be a legal requirement once again, a change that will come into force on tuesday. here's our health correspondent, anna collinson. taking upa taking up a booster when eligible was always important but since taking up a booster when eligible was always important but since the emergence of the heavily mutated kogan diddy over the variant is even more important. kogan diddy over the variant is even more important-— more important. queues like this in slou:h more important. queues like this in slough could _ more important. queues like this in slough could include _ more important. queues like this in slough could include people - more important. queues like this in slough could include people as - more important. queues like this in i slough could include people as young as 18 with a key government adviser saying the role that could be expanded sooner than planned. the government also announced new measures yesterday including making face masks compulsory in shops and on public transport in england as well as asking all uk arrivals to take a pcr test.— well as asking all uk arrivals to take a pcr test. everyone wants us to rotect take a pcr test. everyone wants us to protect the — take a pcr test. everyone wants us to protect the progress _ take a pcr test. everyone wants us to protect the progress we - take a pcr test. everyone wants us to protect the progress we have - to protect the progress we have made. that is why we have acted very swiftly and i believe in a proportionate way with the news of this new variant. that includes the decision on thursday to read list six countries. we added four more countries to that list. fit, six countries. we added four more countries to that list.— countries to that list. a third omicron _ countries to that list. a third omicron case _ countries to that list. a third omicron case has _ countries to that list. a third omicron case has now- countries to that list. a third omicron case has now been| countries to that list. a third - omicron case has now been detected in the uk, along with two others confirmed in brentwood in essex at nottingham. it is feared there may be many more. to slow any spread, targeted testing is taking place at locations where cases have been found. however, for now, the government in england is not asking people to work from home again, something that was advised by sage and is already in place in scotland. we are already advising people to work at _ we are already advising people to work at home wherever that is practical— work at home wherever that is practical and possible. our advice on that— practical and possible. our advice on that hasn't changed in scotland in the _ on that hasn't changed in scotland in the way— on that hasn't changed in scotland in the way it has in recent months in the way it has in recent months in england — in the way it has in recent months in england. it's not a political competition. i've said all along that my— competition. i've said all along that my first and most important duty is_ that my first and most important duty is to — that my first and most important duty is to do what ijudged to be correct — duty is to do what ijudged to be correct and appropriate and proportionate to keep people in scotland — proportionate to keep people in scotland are safe.— proportionate to keep people in scotland are safe. there are many unknowns with _ scotland are safe. there are many unknowns with this _ scotland are safe. there are many unknowns with this new _ scotland are safe. there are many unknowns with this new variant, i scotland are safe. there are many| unknowns with this new variant, so over the coming weeks, scientists are going to answer some key questions such as, is it more transmissible? meaning does it spread more easily? does it call more severe disease compared to other variants? and does it reduce the effectiveness of current covid vaccines and boosters? there is some potentially positive news which could help save christmas. the doctor who first spotted the new omicron variant in south africa said she found many patients who test positive displayed a very mild symptoms, no cough, more tiredness. what we are seeing clinically in south — what we are seeing clinically in south africa and, remember, we are at the _ south africa and, remember, we are at the epicentre where i am practising is extremely mild. we haven't practising is extremely mild. - haven't admitted anyone. i spoke to other colleagues of mine and it's the same picture. the committee believes vaccines will still work against the omicron variant. the us company ben turner says it should know in the coming weeks and, if needed, a newjab could be available early in the new year. anna collinson, bbc news. in the netherlands — airport testing of passengers who had flown in from south africa have revealed more cases of the new variant — and here travel businesses are among those seeing an immediate impact from the changing rules. caroline davies reports. ship whole airport on friday night, 600 passengers from two planes to south africa were disembarked and tested. now the dutch authorities have confirmed 13 people in this crowd did test positive for the omicron variant. those who tested negative were sent home. they include cathy hougaard, now back in the uk. she self isolating but feels she was put at risk. i’m the uk. she self isolating but feels she was put at risk.— she was put at risk. i'm shocked. i feel ruite she was put at risk. i'm shocked. i feel quite vulnerable. _ she was put at risk. i'm shocked. i feel quite vulnerable. on - she was put at risk. i'm shocked. i feel quite vulnerable. on the - she was put at risk. i'm shocked. i | feel quite vulnerable. on the plains where social distancing is difficult. however, you are wearing a face mask, you are not allowed to walk up and down the plane, we were sanitising all the time. once we got to the airport, all of that went out the window. even the buses, the transport they put us on, was crammed full of people. um? transport they put us on, was crammed full of people. why is that ha--ened? crammed full of people. why is that happened? the _ crammed full of people. why is that happened? the airport _ crammed full of people. why is that happened? the airport said - crammed full of people. why is that happened? the airport said it - crammed full of people. why is that happened? the airport said it was i crammed full of people. why is that happened? the airport said it was a | happened? the airport said it was a unique situation and they had done their best to make sure people were comfortable. others have also been affected by the variant. the cardiff rugby team and their support staff have been unable to leave south africa because of two positive covid cases in their group. one is thought to be the omicron variant that they are now isolating at a hotel. around the world, travel restrictions are tightening. from this morning, quarantine hotels took guests again in the uk. switzerland has announced that uk rivals will need to isolate for ten days, be double vaccinated, and take a covid test. spain has said british travellers must be vaccinated to be allowing. getting home has become increasingly complicated for some.- home has become increasingly complicated for some. middle east have cancelled _ complicated for some. middle east have cancelled most _ complicated for some. middle east have cancelled most of— complicated for some. middle east have cancelled most of the - complicated for some. middle east have cancelled most of the flights | have cancelled most of the flights and you can't get back that way. there are some through europe. lots of european nations are trying to get back to their nations, too. to actually try and get out of south africa is very difficult. meanwhile, in the uk, although _ africa is very difficult. meanwhile, in the uk, although the _ africa is very difficult. meanwhile, l in the uk, although the restrictions are still limited, they are already having an impact. while christmas shoppers fill the streets, some are already changing their plans. one body for the hospitality industry said that they are already seeing cancelled reservations as fragile consumer confidence is knocked, again. the travel industry is also concerned that people won't make holiday bookings as long as they travel rules keep changing. the uncertainty about the variant and where it has spread is already making business uncertain, too. caroline davies, bbc news. live now to the netherlands where our correspondent anna holiigan joins us from arnhem. how concerned how concerned are how concerned are the authorities of discoveries of new cases of the variant? ~ ., ., discoveries of new cases of the variant? ~ . ., , variant? well, the realfear here is that this might _ variant? well, the realfear here is that this might just _ variant? well, the realfear here is that this mightjust be _ variant? well, the realfear here is that this mightjust be the - variant? well, the realfear here is that this mightjust be the tip - variant? well, the realfear here is that this mightjust be the tip of i that this mightjust be the tip of the iceberg. at, they have set up a special testing group. —— at schipolnan. they are getting tested straightaway at the airport and go into quarantine before they get their results. but of course, schipol is a major hub. people are travelling right across the continent. it may be the case that authorities fear this virus is spreading undetected. all around, you can see the bars and restaurants are already closed. closed at 5pm under new rules. and the big fear is that with this new variant present, a full—blown lockdown could be on the cards for christmas. a full-blown lockdown could be on the cards for christmas.— a full-blown lockdown could be on the cards for christmas. the latest uk coronavirus figures have been released in the last hour, showing 37,681 new infections in the latest 24—hour period. another 51 deaths were recorded — that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on vaccinations, more than 17.5 million people have now had a boosterjab. let's take stock of the response so far to this new variant — with iain watson — our political correspondent. what sense do you have of the judgment that ministers are making on their response to the new variant? ., �* , . variant? the government's chief scientific adviser _ variant? the government's chief scientific adviser said _ variant? the government's chief scientific adviser said if - variant? the government's chief scientific adviser said if things . scientific adviser said if things got worse, the government have to go hard and early. they have moved very swiftly, this time. critics are wondering if they are going hard enough against the new variant. last month, sage said "reintroduction of working from home guidance is likely to have the greatest individual impact on transmission out of the measures they are considering" the sub sajid javid was asked by the bbc why he isn't doing this and he said ministers have to decide and he cited concerns about the economy, which will please many conservative mps. this is now becoming something of a political dividing line. labour pushing for working from home guidance in england now. the snp led government in scotland already doing it. this is the political risk for the prime minister, he said he is acting in a targeted way. he will review these measures in three weeks' time. then, if he can lift the measures, he will be proved right. if he has to extend then then, his political opponents are lining up to say we told you so. —— if he will have to extend them. tens of thousands of homes and businesses in scotland and northern england are still without power in the wake of storm arwen — with some being warned they may not be reconnected "for several days". parts of wales and the midlands have also been badly affected — as alexandra mackenzie reports. storm arwen brought winds of over 90 mph. the damage caused was extensive. scottish power said it was the worst in many years — like here in lockerbie. trees were blown onto power lines. in the town of kintore in aberdeenshire, people are doing what they can to stay warm and fed. but they don't know when their electricity will be restored. we've had no power since friday night, when some big trees took down the cables beside our house. so we've got my 97—year—old dad, he's is in the village, so he's got power now, thankfully. but it doesn't look as though we'll be getting any power any time soon. thousands of people in wales are also without power. carmarthenshire is one of the worst—affected areas, and attempts to resolve the problem resumed early this morning. we rely heavily on electric for everything in the household now. we can't even make a cup of tea. the simple things in life have been taken away from us. it's also been a struggle across parts of the north of england. you can't eat, you can't cook. you can't have a drink, you can't have a shower or anything. so we've just been surviving off the last bits of the hot water. and then we've had to sleep with all our clothes on because it's been so cold in the bedrooms. i can't even tell you how cold it is. here in east lothian, some are making the most of the winter weather and freezing temperatures. alexandra mackenzie, bbc news. immigration ministers from france, germany, the netherlands and belgium have held crisis talks this afternoon to try and find a solution to the growing number of migrants crossing the channel in small boats — after 27 people died this week. the uk was told not to attend after french anger over borisjohnson�*s response to the crisis. our paris correspondent, lucy williamson, reports. it's usually migrants arriving in europe that prompts this kind of meeting. today was triggered by migrants who are leaving the eu. 27 people died in the channel on wednesday trying to reach the uk. opening the meeting, france's interior minister called for a common fight against people smugglers. he was also heard admitting that the relationship with the uk was "not easy" but it's necessary, he said, our geography means we have to get along with our british friends. there was one glaring absence from this meeting, the home secretary had her invitation revoked, after president emmanuel macron said the british government wasn't serious. he was reacting to a letter published on twitter by borisjohnson calling forjoint patrols with french forces and the ability to send migrants straight back to france. after the meeting, france's interior minister had this to say. translation: this meeting wasn't anti-english, it was l pro—european, and we must work with our british friends. france says it's now a front—line state for the eu when it comes to migration. people smuggling networks are known to operate across borders here and the government says more than half the people camped in calais have come from belgium. in rome today, pope francis expressed his sadness at the deaths this week and urged governments to keep talking. translation: i renew my heartfelt appeal to those who can help - resolve these problems, especially civilian and military authorities, so that understanding and dialogue can prevail over exploitation and so that they direct their efforts toward solutions that respect the humanity of these people. in folkestone, people gathered to remember those who died on the narrow strip of sea that separates them from france. british politicians like to say, during brexit negotiations, that the uk wasn't leaving europe, just leaving the eu. what that distinction means for managing cross—channel migration is still being hammered out. lucy williamson, bbc news, calais. sir frank williams, the founder of the williams formula 1 team, has died at the age of 79. during his time — the team won nine constructors�* championships and seven drivers�* titles and dominated much of the 1980s and 1990s. lizzie greenwood hughes looks back at his life. ina in a sport so dominated by global big business, frank williams made formula 1 a family affair. the former salesman was a pioneer, building up his motor racing team from nothing, starting in an empty carpet warehouse in oxfordshire and going on to become the best in the world. ,, , ., ., ,, world. seven wins for frank william" — world. seven wins for frank williams' team, _ world. seven wins for frank williams' team, up - world. seven wins for frank williams' team, up to - world. seven wins for frank williams' team, up to the i world. seven wins for frank - williams' team, up to the chequered flag and passed it goes alan jones... flag and passed it goes alan jones. .. �* . flag and passed it goes alan jones... �* . ., ., jones... i've had a wonderful life, wouldn't have _ jones... i've had a wonderful life, wouldn't have changed _ jones... i've had a wonderful life, wouldn't have changed anything, | wouldn't have changed anything, truthfully. an exciting business. i don't _ truthfully. an exciting business. i don't have — truthfully. an exciting business. i don't have anything to worry about, which _ don't have anything to worry about, which can_ don't have anything to worry about, which can be quite healthy. inaudible in total, williams racing won nine constructors�* and seven drivers titles. constructors' and seven drivers titles. �* . . constructors' and seven drivers titles. �* , , ., , titles. axle finishes and he is world champion. _ titles. axle finishes and he is world champion. and - titles. axle finishes and he is world champion. and damon| titles. axle finishes and he is - world champion. and damon hill wins the japanese — world champion. and damon hill wins the japanese grand _ world champion. and damon hill wins the japanese grand prix. _ world champion. and damon hill wins the japanese grand prix. and - world champion. and damon hill wins the japanese grand prix. and i've - the japanese grand prix. and i've -ot the japanese grand prix. and i've got to— the japanese grand prix. and i've got to stop. — the japanese grand prix. and i've got to stop, because _ the japanese grand prix. and i've got to stop, because i've - the japanese grand prix. and i've got to stop, because i've got - the japanese grand prix. and i've got to stop, because i've got a i the japanese grand prix. and i've i got to stop, because i've got a lump in my— got to stop, because i've got a lump in my throat! — got to stop, because i've got a lump in my throat! hie _ got to stop, because i've got a lump in my throat!— in my throat! his achievements are all the more _ in my throat! his achievements are all the more incredible _ in my throat! his achievements are all the more incredible considering | all the more incredible considering many of those victories came after he sustained a serious spinal injury in 1986, an inconvenience, he called it. ayrton senna was a driver williams idolised. and his tragic death whilst driving for him was something the family described as heartbreaking. the williams family eventually bowed out of the sport last year. but the team, which bears his name, add to which he dedicated his name, add to which he dedicated his life, lives on. sir frank williams — whose died at the age of 79. there�*s more throughout the evening on the bbc news channel. we�*re back with the late news at 10pm. now on bbc one, it�*s time for the news where you are. goodbye. hello. this is bbc news. let�*s get more now on our main story, and the uk has detected a third positive case of the omicron coronavirus variant. the uk health security agency said the invidual who was visiting the uk spent time in westminster, but has now left the country. in the past few minutes, dr susan hopkins said she expected to find further cases in the coming days. firstly, i think we will detect more cases in the coming days and we are investigating suspected cases at the moment, anyone who is positive and has returned from southern african countries over the past number of weeks. we are chasing those individuals and contacts and asking them to isolate within ten days and retesting a number of contacts as well. that is extremely important to slow the spread in communities. i think we will still see cases coming from other parts of the world as well as cases start to emerge. and i think again, the important thing is we all can do to reduce the transmission, such as face coverings, reducing contacts, where possible working from home, like i do, in a mixed way, are good things to do to reduce the number of cases of low. it is really hard to predict the numbers we will see in coming weeks but i expect we will see increasing numbers day on day for at least the next couple and then hopefully a more steady state. but it really depends on how transmissible this virus is compared to the variants that have gone before. i think what we have seen before. i think what we have seen before in every single wave is that we can see rises in the number of case numbers and we have seen that with alpha, delta, but in other cases such as in the beta and gamma, where we were able to control the incursion better and faster, we managed to hold those cases very low in this country. and actually reduce them to where we are not seeing them at all any more. i think it is really difficult to predict, it depends on the transmissibility of this virus and how much you can control it. if it is really transmissible, at least the same as delta or even more so, then it will be very difficult to prevent it spreading throughout the globe in a rapid fashion. but if it is less than transmissible, we have a good chance of controlling it. at the moment i just cannot say which direction it is going to go in. we don�*t give out individual case details, as you will be were aware of, but as always, we attempt to contact all individuals who are cases, some are more difficult to contact than others, potentially because of the numbers or details not being adequate for what we have been provided with. in this scenario we have made contact with that individual and have discussed his history and where he has been and visited in london. so we need to ensure that people get home safely, as we have done throughout the course of this pandemic. we need to ask people to wear masks on public transport, which we have done and will come into regulations in the coming days. those things will help reduce transmissions in our population. i think that it is very difficult for the numbers of people coming in from all around the world on a daily basis to take measures to be able to take private transport on their way home for every single one but it is important they can get to their home and be able to isolate their home and be able to isolate their as required.— their as required. susan hopkins there. we were initially told there were two cases in nottingham and brentford, both linked and in connection with travel, the third case is somebody who spent some time in westminster. as a result of the case in essex, members of a church congregation and staff, customers and delivery workers at a kfc, have been called together for a pcr test for the omicron variant after its detection in brentwood. it says a targeted testing affects anyone who visited kfc in the brentwood kfc in high street on november the 19th. nine days ago. between one o�*clock and five o�*clock in the afternoon. one o�*clock and five o�*clock, the kfc and brentwood high street on the 19th and also members of a church congregation who presumably have been informed through the church. this will be because somebody who was common to those two locations as the omicron variant so they are doing this pcr testing and you might have noticed if you live in the area heightened presence of testing and thatis heightened presence of testing and that is to try to identify how much it may have spread. we will bring in more than that as we get into this and it is people who attended the trinity church in pilgrim�*s hatch in essex. ministers responsible for immigration, from france, belgium, germany and the netherlands, have met in calais to discuss the crisis over migrants making the perilous journey across the channel, to the uk, in small boats. the talks come after 27 people drowned on wednesday. ylva johansson is the european commissionerfor home affairs — she�*s been speaking in the past half hour. it in the past half hour. is of the utmost importance 1 we it is of the utmost importance that we give the highest priority to manage this difficult situation. it is important with closer co—operation between member states and together with our agencies. it is also important to work closely together with the uk. we have to prevent lives being lost. we have to prevent lives being lost. we have to prevent chaos, to our external borders. what we have been discussing today is very much the whole other route approach, the importance of reaching out to countries of origin and transit and this is very much my responsibility to do that, as a responsible commissioner, and that is what i am doing. but also the importance to have a comprehensive agreement on migration and asylum in the european union. i have presented a new pact on immigration and asylum that addresses this, to prevent irregular arrivals, to have a proper register and screening process at the borders, proper border procedures and quick and swift returns of those not eligible to stay and a solid solidarity mechanism. today we also had an opportunity to discuss the more operational co—operation. and this is an area where more needs to be done, even though member states and our agencies already co—operate and our agencies already co—operate a lot. what we heard today was, for example, that france is ready to deploy an aeroplane to do the surveillance to help repair when we see movements on where people are ready to start to leave. we also have information about how well organised these organised criminal groups are. they are more less on an industrial scale in organising these trips. that is why it is so important to have an eastern —— even closer police co—operation with the help and support of europol. europol�*s migrant smuggling centre is a very important hub for information sharing. we need more of the information sharing and we also need to address the financing, go after the money. this is a very lucrative business that the smugglers are doing. we also agreed to continue working close together on this topic so i should say these two hours were very well spent, it was important to see the high commitment from all ministers to work closer together and put this issue higher up on the agenda. thank you. pardon? sorry... we agreed to have an even closer co—operation in the member states and the commission via our agencies and to be able to deploy, for example, aeroplanes and also if necessary to work closer also if necessary to work closer also on returns and on police co—operation. we need to put higher emphasis on the priority of this issue. we need to work together with the uk to address this of course. and this is an area where we need an exchange of intelligence and we need a common approach as to how to address these big organised criminal groups that are doing their smuggling. groups that are doing their smuggling-— groups that are doing their smunlin, . .. smuggling. that was the official eu view. we smuggling. that was the official eu view- we also _ smuggling. that was the official eu view. we also had _ smuggling. that was the official eu view. we also had a _ smuggling. that was the official eu view. we also had a news - smuggling. that was the official eu i view. we also had a news conferences and remarks from gerard darmanin, the interior minister in france. he is responsible for migration. he says the organisation which polices the external border of europe plans to help patrol french channel using a plane from the 1st of december. he also said that in the course of that, the aircraft will fly day and night over the area from france to the netherlands. that is following the netherlands. that is following the meeting today. in which the ideas being discussed and which the commissioner was at. we also told there was some criticism about british position on migration and saying that basically the british must be responsible and make their country less attractive for migrants, he said. that is the latest copy from that meeting, which i think has broken up. i meeting to which the home secretary was not invited, other other interior ministers had been invited and she was then invited because president macron got upset because boris johnson tweeted a letter, treated simultaneously, and the french felt they were being bounced into reacting into policy ideas from the prime minister. some other breaking news... covid related. the department of education says schools in england, pupils in year seven and above will have to wear face masks again in communal areas and the rules will apply to visitors in communal areas and head teachers have received an email update today so if you are a head teacher sitting at home thinking, thank goodness i have the day off, and you don�*t often, i�*m afraid it is another emailfrom the often, i�*m afraid it is another email from the department. very important, year seven and above, students will have to wear face masks in communal areas, not in classrooms, but in communal areas, as will visitors and school staff. that is to come back... there is no date. i would assume it is with immediate effect. the copy we have received does not actually specify that. if we get more than that, i will bring that to you. and we will do that. something else, we knew this, we have formal confirmation, from the prime minister, from 4am on tuesday, all international arrivals entering the uk must take a day two pcr test on self—isolate until they receive a negative result. as we heard from a travel expert earlier, this was confirmed by the shadow foreign secretary lisa nandy, these tests are not necessarily being checked and obviously there is a lot of concern about this because people are taking a pcr test and waiting for a result, and isolating, some cases of people saying they have not received a result back or the test arrives later than the second day even though they ordered it on time. some political arguments will come on that but the requirement is there, you are obliged if abroad and want to come back to the uk to get a day two pcr test which you must pre—book and you have to show evidence of pre—booking when you carry out boarding procedures to your aircraft in preparation for departure from the uk. that is from the prime minister�*s twitter. it had not been officially confirmed, four o�*clock on tuesday is when notes tests kick in. in other news... the i�*m celebrity get me out of here contestants have been removed from the set of the show after it suffered damage during storm arwen. this weekend�*s episodes of the itv show have also been cancelled. itv said "technical difficulties caused by extreme weather" had forced them to cancel saturday and sunday�*s episodes. earlier i spoke to tv critic scott bryan, who said this is a huge inconvenience. this is less of i�*m a celebrity, get me out of here, and more of i�*m a celebrity, they got them out of there. and this is not what itv had wanted, with the show being so utterly crucial to their schedules being disrupted in this way. but i think this is very much a sign of why you shouldn�*t really, perhaps have a big entertainment show broadcasting in the middle of british winter from the welsh countryside.