good to have you with us. more now on the new omicron variant of the covid—19 virus, which is spreading rapidly throughout the world. this adds further worries to one of the hardest hit industries — tourism. the united nations�* world tourism organisation says the pandemic could cost the global tourism sector $1 trillion in lost revenues this year. while travel picked up in europe during the summer months, recent new restrictions in europe and now the fear of a new variant has led a number of countries, including the uk and eu, to restrict or ban incoming flights from southern africa. so how is travel industry responding? eric dresin is secretary general of the european travel agents�* and tour operators�* associations. good morning to you. good morning- — good morning to you. good morning. first _ good morning to you. good morning. first of _ good morning to you. good morning. first of all, - good morning to you. good morning. first of all, what l good morning to you. good i morning. first of all, what are ou morning. first of all, what are you hearing — morning. first of all, what are you hearing from _ morning. first of all, what are you hearing from all _ morning. first of all, what are you hearing from all those - morning. first of all, what are | you hearing from all those who are part of your industry body reacting to this latest news? it's again a blow for this industry. of course the expectations for the winter seasons were already a bit gloomy due to the recent decisions of the member states to reinstall some travel restrictions, but the news about this new variants is really problematic and as anyone here, we'rejust waiting for more scientific news about the risk that this virus would arise. so very difficult for all the members. [30 arise. so very difficult for all the members.- arise. so very difficult for all the members. do you think thou:h all the members. do you think though that — all the members. do you think though that the _ all the members. do you think though that the government . though that the government reaction on the part of the uk, across the eu, and other countries we are hearing now about japan, countries we are hearing now aboutjapan, is perhaps too rash or is it the right reaction, and also for the uk now, for travellers coming back to the uk having to have pcr tests, which are very expensive.— tests, which are very exensive. , �*, ., ., expensive. yes, it's, again, difficult to _ expensive. yes, it's, again, difficult to say, _ expensive. yes, it's, again, difficult to say, just - expensive. yes, it's, again,| difficult to say, just imagine this new variant would be more aggressive and member countries would have to take some more decisions, but if you look at the most recent information from the who this is not, for the time being, the right solution, so travel restrictions today is not the option, it is controlling and testing, despite the cost, would be the best way to allow countries to continue business. we have just got the un's report on how the tourism sector has been impact did. in europe, actually, this summer saw a real increase in travel compared to last year. it's not pre—pandemic levels yet by any means, but that was encouraging, wasn't it? exactly. and that was surprisingly good considering the contact, summer season, despite this positive tone, i would say not all our members were happy with it, because it is more the hospitality industry that has been benefiting from it, which is very good, because it is part of the tourism sector, but most of the tourism sector, but most of the tourism sector, but most of the people have travelled locally, and also have been to places where the need for travel agents and tour operators were not that necessary. so it was a good feeling, very helpful, but not all parts of the tourism industry have benefited from it. . , , ., ~ , ., it. ok, eric dresin, thank you forjoining — it. ok, eric dresin, thank you forjoining us. _ it. ok, eric dresin, thank you forjoining us, secretary- forjoining us, secretary general of the european travel agents' and tour general of the european travel agents�* and tour operators�* associations. financial markets worldwide slid on friday as investors digested the news of the new omicron variant of covid—i9. shares in airlines and travel firms were among the hardest hit. shares in ellaz, travel firms were hit very hard. —— airlines. but it was only a half—day of trading on wall street on friday due to the thanksgiving holiday. many traders were not at their desks instead taking a long weekend. lets take a look at how the new trading week has begun in asia. as you can see, the nikkei is currently down by nearly i.4%, hong kong down by a present. the price of brent crude, it has pinged up by 3% today. japan as well, not hit as hard as some anticipated, the futures were predicting japan would be down over 3% at the open. joining me now isjustin urquhart—stewart. he is founder of regionally. good to see you. good morning! took us through her mothers may trade today when wall street opens later, it is bound to be volatile, isn�*t it? it�*s opens later, it is bound to be volatile, isn't it?— volatile, isn't it? it's going to be volatile, _ volatile, isn't it? it's going to be volatile, but - volatile, isn't it? it's going to be volatile, but initially| to be volatile, but initially the shock we had was the shock of the almost inevitable, we knew there would be another variant at some stage, when the variant at some stage, when the variant came through the automatic reaction was the stocks will be affected first that effective travel, holiday, leisure, although suspects would be hit. however, what we found, the commentary coming out of south africa late in the day was that yes, it is a variant, but maybe it is not as transmissible as previously thought and maybe not as damaging. therefore there was a slight reaction back from that. the markets had already reacted. the price of oil had dropped quite significantly and also gas to a small amount. it certainly markets had been heavily hit. but by the time we reached them with japan opening then we saw the reaction was more muted. so we have seen a slight drop overall which would mean, i suspect, slight drop overall which would mean, isuspect, by slight drop overall which would mean, i suspect, by the time europe opens we will see a slight recovery, which may be a little too optimistic, because, frankly, the market doesn�*t really know. it�*s all operating speculation at the moment, not fact. , ., , speculation at the moment, not fact. ., , , fact. exactly. that is 'ust what mi fact. exactly. that is 'ust what was going i fact. exactly. that is 'ust what was going to h fact. exactly. that is just what was going to point | fact. exactly. that isjust - what was going to point out, justin, heavy losses in europe on friday, but for the next 2— three weeks investors are going to be waiting, like the rest of us, for the science and the data to come through and actually by the time we get to the middle of december we have got federal reserve meetings, other central bank meetings, which will be closely watched as well because there is anticipation we could see interest rates going up. it will be quite a tricky month when volumes can be lighter as we come to the end of the year. exactly so. so a tricky month, the chance of volatility. really, if they were a long—term investor at the moment i would almost turn off at the moment as they forget it, this will be a nervous time and go enjoy some christmas and don�*t worry about the rest of it stop if you are going to be watching markets day by day the strap yourself in, because it is going to be a bumpy ride. having said that, for short time traders they could be opportunities to buy in, you could see sudden changes, interest rates will go a comment as a matter of when they will go up, we know they are going up in the united kingdom because we already see mortgage rises. rates going up is also a good sign, edmen means economies are looking a little stronger, was considering what has happened in the past year, 18 months, is actually quite remarkable. maybe central bank might hold off with a kind of decision this month, do you think, given this month, do you think, given this new variants and the little—known impact about what impact it will have. you little-known impact about what impact it will have.— impact it will have. you are uuite impact it will have. you are quite right- _ impact it will have. you are quite right. they _ impact it will have. you are quite right. they will- impact it will have. you are quite right. they will take l impact it will have. you are i quite right. they will take the lowest risk route possible. it means, for heaven�*s sake, don�*t scare the horses, any rate rise we get will be tiny anyway. we are talking about not a half % or even a quarter of a percent, it is really very small, but it is a change in attitude —— half a percent. we have this thing where support has been tapered and the market had a tantrum, so you can have a similar sort of issue. it doesn�*t look like a similar sort of issue this time because we have been fed this years for so long it is more like a tape of boredom than anything else. i�*m afraid it is going to be bumpy, but he could go either way. but the longer. could go either way. but the loner. ., .,, could go either way. but the loner. ., , i. longer. 0h, we have lost you there longer. oh, we have lost you there for— longer. 0h, we have lost you there for a — longer. 0h, we have lost you there for a moment. - longer. 0h, we have lost you there for a moment. the - there for a moment. the technology, don�*t apologise. we got most of what had to say. thank you forjoining us early this morning. let us stay on the subject. a new chinese study shows covid cases could skyrocket if the country lifted its zero tolerance policies on travel restrictions like the uk, uk, and europe. sarah toms in our asia business hub is following the story. this what is china saying? well, it�*s a report by beijing�*s peking university thatis beijing�*s peking university that is predicting that if china were to switch from its current really stringent covid measures to a system like the us with fewer restrictions that it could lead to almost more than 637,000 covert cases a day stop now, this is an estimate, but that number is the highest number that has ever been reported by any country since the start of the pandemic and the start of the pandemic and the report by mathematicians also looked out how much the number of cases would rise if china adopted policies like the uk or france or israel and saw that again they would be on the rise. and this would have a devastating impact on china�*s medical system. devastating impact on china�*s medicalsystem. china, devastating impact on china�*s medical system. china, as we know, has been following a zero covid tolerance policy, unlike many countries in the west that have been opening up and learning to live with the virus. and, of course, this report, compiled by mathematicians, using data from august from the us and from european cities, appears to justify that policy stance. in the report it says that china couldn�*t afford to live travel restrictions without better more efficient vaccinations and more efficient vaccinations and more specialised treatments. 0k, more specialised treatments. ok, thank you, sarah toms in our bureau in singapore. let�*s get some of the day�*s other news. retail sales injapan went up by almost 1% in october from a year earlier which marks the first increase in three months but still below analyst forecasts. this is a slight bounce back from a substantial contraction in the period from july to september. in an effort to boost the japanese economy the government announced earlier this month a record $190 billion stimulus package, including subsidies for covid—hit businesses. china�*s aviation regulator said on monday that it would suspend air france from operating four paris—tianjin flights from today due to covid—19 cases. 11 passengers on an air france flight earlier this month tested positive upon arrival in the china said the country�*s civil aviation administration of china. efforts to create so—called greenjobs need to intensify if the uk government is to achieve its target of two million roles by 2030, according to a report. jobs linked to the green economy accounted for just over 1% of all advertised roles in the year tojuly 2021, consultancy pwc said which equates to just 124 thousand 600 newjobs.so, what counts as a green job? the simple answer is that it directly contributes to tackling climate change, although many think it should also cover roles that indirectly support that ambition. to talk us through the reports findings i�*m joined by carl sizer, head of regions and esg at pwc. do tell us more than about these so—called green jobs. what kind of roles are we talking about?— what kind of roles are we talking about? well, good morning. _ talking about? well, good morning, and _ talking about? well, good morning, and thank- talking about? well, good morning, and thank you . talking about? well, good i morning, and thank you very much your time. greenjobs morning, and thank you very much your time. green jobs are across three different areas, those that create a greener new product, electric vehicles, those jobs that help in the green processes, if you take, for example, a brewery powered by a solar powered brewery, that gives you another green job stop thirdly, research and development into green jobs. it can be quite a broad definition.— can be quite a broad definition. , definition. 0k, there is quite a lot in there, _ definition. 0k, there is quite a lot in there, but _ definition. 0k, there is quite a lot in there, but the - a lot in there, but the government is looking to see a huge advance in the number of them by 2030, are among other challenging targets, what is the likelihood? i challenging targets, what is the likelihood?— challenging targets, what is the likelihood? i think there is uuite the likelihood? i think there is quite a — the likelihood? i think there is quite a big _ the likelihood? i think there is quite a big opportunity i is quite a big opportunity here. when you look at our report what we found this quite nuanced data, one around industries, if you look at the industries, if you look at the industries in the newjobs created, 20% of those were actually in the energy waste water world. actually in the energy waste waterworld. if actually in the energy waste water world. if you go against another instrument how sector, it is down at zero —— health sector. what is interesting is the regional data. when you look at it in scotland and london lots of new green jobs, up london lots of new green jobs, up in the north—east of england, wales, northern ireland, it is slightly harder. that�*s where we really need government intervention. we need the ecosystems of business, academia, and local government to invest and make an opportunity for those economies in regions where it might be slightly harder. so there is enormous work to do. as you say, you could argue it is a levelling up exercise, something the government could seriously investing in those parts of the country. in terms of demand for green jobs i assume, especially among those coming into new careers, it is something they are looking for. it's something they are looking for. it�*s definitely. people are so excited by this. when i was up north, in the last couple of weeks, the youth was so excited ijy weeks, the youth was so excited by what is happening. they have an excitement and exuberance in theirs, you can see people wanting to get involved. that is why we had around 750 clients come through in our offices in glasgow, the energy and excitement is there to get involved. i think this is a big opportunity. involved. i think this is a big opportunity-— opportunity. i'm sure it is. carl sizer— opportunity. i'm sure it is. carl sizer from _ opportunity. i'm sure it is. carl sizer from nc, - opportunity. i'm sure it is. i carl sizer from nc, thank opportunity. i'm sure it is. - carl sizer from nc, thank you, carl sizerfrom pwc, thank you, interesting. greenjobs. more detail on that story on our website. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: not enough santas in the north pole. we tell you about a labour shortage that could spoil the christmas party. it�*s quite clear that the worst victims of this disaster are the poor people living in the slums which have sprung up around the factory. i am feeling so helpless that the childrens are dying in front of me and i can't do anything. charles manson is the mystical leader of the hippie cult suspected of killing sharon tate and at least six other people in los angeles. at 11 o�*clock this morning, just half a metre of rock separated britain from continental europe. it took the drills just a few moments to cut through the final obstacle. then philippe cozette, a minerfrom calais, was shaking hands and exchanging flags with robert fagg, his opposite numberfrom dover. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines: fears over the new coronavirus variant force israel and japan to barforeign arrivals. g7 health ministers are to hold emergency talks. as rebel fighters claim they�*re advancing on the ethiopian capital, the government releases footage apparently showing the country�*s prime minister on the front line. tributes are paid to the creative director of louis vuitton virgil abloh�*s died from cancer at the age of a1. the labour shortages that are plaguing many companies around the world extend all the way up to the north pole. that�*s right, santa clauses are in high demand and short supply. if you are trying to book a father christmas for your party or school and haven�*t yet got the booking secured you may be out of luck. samira hussain has been investigating in new york. this investigating in new york. isjim kelly. he spent hi career this isjim kelly. he spent his career teaching physics to high school students. he retired from thatjob a few years ago and come the holiday season something magical happens. leading up to christmas, it is all about who has been naughty or nice. santas are in high demand after a social —— socially distant christmas last year, people are eager for christmas cheer. saint nicholas is in short supply not least because the pandemic was particularly hard on older, heavier men.— particularly hard on older, heavier men. sadly we lost 55 santas this — heavier men. sadly we lost 55 santas this year. _ heavier men. sadly we lost 55 santas this year. they - heavier men. sadly we lost 55 santas this year. they have i santas this year. they have gone back to the north pole forever. so... that and we know of at least 400 santas have said no, iwill do of at least 400 santas have said no, i will do zoom of at least 400 santas have said no, iwill do zoom if anybody wants me but i won�*t go out again, so there is a bunch of people. that is who we know about. on the night before christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. £15 stirring not even a mouse. 45 minute santa experiences, anticipating a busy holiday season, michael booked santa jim back injune. season, michael booked santa jim back in june.— jim back in june. people cut back on their _ jim back in june. people cut back on their schedule - jim back in june. people cut back on their schedule rack| jim back in june. people cut i back on their schedule rack -- back on their schedule rack —— radically a lot of them. there has been a lot of centres scrambling now.- has been a lot of centres scrambling now. i've dodin a lot of jobs- _ scrambling now. i've dodin a lot ofjobs. -- _ scrambling now. i've dodin a lot ofjobs. -- i _ scrambling now. i've dodin a lot ofjobs. -- i have - scrambling now. i've dodin a lot of jobs. -- i have turned | lot ofjobs. —— i have turned down — lot ofjobs. —— i have turned down a _ lot ofjobs. —— i have turned down a lot— lot ofjobs. —— i have turned down a lot ofjobs. lot of jobs. -- i have turned down a lot of jobs.- lot of jobs. -- i have turned down a lot of jobs. down a lot of “obs. what has business — down a lot of jobs. what has business been _ down a lot of jobs. what has business been like _ down a lot of jobs. what has business been like for - down a lot of jobs. what has business been like for you i down a lot of jobs. what has i business been like for you this year. business been like for you this ear. ~ ., business been like for you this ear. . ., ., ' 1m business been like for you this ear. ., ., ' 1m ., year. we have over 12096 of rue-pandemic _ year. we have over 12096 of pre-pandemic levels. - year. we have over 12096 of pre-pandemic levels. at. year. we have over 12096 of| pre-pandemic levels. at the pre—pandemic levels. at the same time as well as we have fewer santas than we had pre—pandemic so more demand, less supply means that we are sort of facing a centre shortage this year. fin sort of facing a centre shortage this year. on an economy _ shortage this year. on an economy built _ shortage this year. on an economy built on - shortage this year. on an i economy built on shopping, shortage this year. on an - economy built on shopping, the holiday season is crucial before christmas to really be merry, america is going to have to make up for shortages. in product but also in workers. without the people to make the annual christmas retail boom happen, america�*s economically covering could be on thin ice. samir hussein, bbc news,. no end to that woman�*s talent! now back to our top story and the impact on tourism the latest variant of covid—19 could have. in europe ski resorts are beginning to reopen after the pandemic closures of the last two seasons. france, germany and italy closed the majority of slopes last year while austria and switzerland were able to keep most of their resorts open. in november french prime ministerjean castex announced ski resorts would remain open this winter — but with austria back in national lockdown — covid numbers rising across europe and the news of a new variant is that now in jeopardy. let�*s go live to val d�*isere in the french alps — one of the popular ski resorts which hasjust reopened — christophe lavaut is chief executive of val d�*isere tourism. talk us through the reopening. how did it go?— talk us through the reopening. how did it go? good morning and thank you- _ how did it go? good morning and thank you. well, _ how did it go? good morning and thank you. well, we _ how did it go? good morning and thank you. well, we are - how did it go? good morning and thank you. well, we are open - how did it go? good morning and thank you. well, we are open at. thank you. well, we are open at last, finally. after 623 days that we had to wait before opening ourfirst that we had to wait before opening our first ski that we had to wait before opening ourfirst ski lift. our first feeling of happiness. we are just happy despite all the actuality and what is going on about the virus. we just opened last saturday. people were here. all the predictions for this winter are quite good. we have 85 person occupancy rate. at the moment on paper at least everything seems fine. that at the moment on paper at least everything seems fine.— everything seems fine. that is a situation. _ everything seems fine. that is a situation. it _ everything seems fine. that is a situation. it is _ everything seems fine. that is a situation. it is interesting i a situation. it is interesting because as you say you have lost two seasons for the french alps. talk us through what you have had to do to reopen in terms of making sure it is covid—safe? terms of making sure it is covid-safe?— covid-safe? this is very important _ covid-safe? this is very important because - covid-safe? this is very important because all. covid-safe? this is very i important because all our customers want guarantees about everything related to covid. we just installed a test centre rededicated to all of the travellers who needed to have a test before going back to their countries. this is very important. also, investigating in installing their own covid test system inside their hotels so everything is ready for our customers to get tested. they have online bookings even to plan everything for their tests and everything should go easily with these systems.— with these systems. concerned about this _ with these systems. concerned about this new _ with these systems. concerned about this new variant - with these systems. concerned about this new variant and - with these systems. concerned. about this new variant and some of the measures the government is putting into place? uk travellers and french ski resort that is a big number of people who to ski in france during the season. coming home and having to do pcr tests, that kind of restriction could hamper those wanting to go this time. ., , ., _, , time. for sure. that could be an impact- — time. for sure. that could be an impact- we _ time. for sure. that could be an impact. we don't - time. for sure. that could be an impact. we don't know- an impact. we don�*t know exactly what is going to happen because it is about safety and we just want to fit everything thatis we just want to fit everything that is told by the government so so far you can reach france with no problem, there is no restriction. there are restrictions in switzerland. in austria, but in france, the vaccination rate is quite high. we have a little bit less restriction so far so you can go without a problem. just now when you go back to uk, you have to make a pcr test. we�*re just watching closely what is going to happen in the days. we wish ou going to happen in the days. we wish you all the very best. i can imagine has been so, so challenging and tough for businesses who rely on tourism. and all the other ski resorts across europe. you up—to—date on the sport and the business and the news. we have more on our website and you can download the bbc news app. have a lovely day and i will see you soon. hello. for many parts of the uk, it�*s a cold and icy start to the new week. there are changes afoot. it briefly turns milder on tuesday, doesn�*t last for long — the colder air moves back in from midweek onwards — and throughout the week, some spells of wet and windy weather at times. this is how monday shapes up. we have a warm front draped across scotland and northern ireland. ahead of it, we�*re in the colder air, behind it, something milder. on the front, we�*ll see outbreaks of rain preceded by some hill sleet and snow through the morning across scotland. ahead of it through the morning, a widespread ice risk for much of scotland and england. some patchy rain into northern ireland, maybe into the far north of england. further south, it stays mostly dry for daylight hours. the best of the sunshine, say, from east anglia down to dorset, but a cold—feeling day here. further north, not as cold — 10 celsius the high in belfast and glasgow. overnight, the cloud increases. that mild air pushes its way southwards, bringing with it some outbreaks of rain and drizzle but it won�*t be nearly so cold — a much milder night as we head into tuesday with lows across the northern half of the uk around 6—7 so, this is tuesday. we are in between fronts. notice how the isobars are closer together, so the winds will be strengthening, but we are in this warm air, so a much milder day, a lot of cloud. there�*ll be some outbreaks of rain, the heaviest initially scotland through the morning, and that rain piles in to northern ireland, northern and western scotland, parts of northern england, a few showers further south, but by and large, the further south you are, the drier you�*ll be. but look at the temperatures — 11 or 12 celsius on tuesday. it will be increasingly windy day. these are the average wind strengths but likely to see some stronger gusts, particularly for western coasts. now, this frontal system will be moving its way pretty swiftly across the uk through tuesday night and into wednesday, bringing all of us a spell of more persistent rain. but also, as it clears its way from south east england, behind it, we see those blue colours, that colder air starting to flood across, and it�*s quite a messy picture on wednesday. quite a few showers around, particularly for western and eastern coasts. those showers are likely to be wintry across northern and eastern scotland and it�*s starting to feel colder again, particularly across the northern half of the uk. we may still get 10 or 11 celsius further south. thursday should be mainly dry but feeling cold, and then more rain arrives on wednesday. goodbye. good morning, welcome to breakfast with dan walker and sally nugent. our headlines. the new omicron covid variant — the government sets out details of its measures to control the spread. face masks must be worn in shops and on public transport in england from tomorrow. an expansion of the boosterjabs programme to all adults is likely to be approved thousands are still without power after the damage caused by storm arwen — the police in scotland warn the disruption could last for days. the boom in buying now and paying later. more than 17 million uk customers have now used the payment option — double the number pre—pandemic. but are the regulations tight enough? i take a look.