his stepmother is found guilty of his murder, his father of manslaughter. the duchess of sussex wins her privacy case against the publisher of the mail on sunday, after it printed parts of a letter she'd written to her father. the army is called on to help in the wake of storm arwen. nearly 20,000 people will have no electricity in scotland and northern england. and, it's nearly time for boxing day — we talk to the stars of the new british christmas rom—com. and coming up on the bbc news channel... he has his work permit, but ralf rangnick won't be in the dugout for manchester united against arsenal tonight. instead michael carrick takes charge for the last time. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. covid jabs could be needed every year — with the government confirming that it's ordered 114 million more doses from pfizer and moderna, to be delivered over the next two years. the deal allows for vaccines to be modified to tackle new variants of coronavirus, if necessary. the government says the order "future—proofs" the country's vaccination programme. cases of the 0micron variant have now been confirmed in at least 2a countries, including ten in the uk — with germany tonight announcing sweeping new restrictions for anyone who's not been vaccinated. here's our medical editor fergus walsh. booster after booster, the uk has just ordered enough vaccines for repeat doses next year and in 2023 should they be needed. all are the so—called mrna vaccines, from pfizer and moderna. whether they will need to retreat for the 0micron variant is still unclear. the focus right now is getting this round of boosters into arms. the prime minister had his at the hospital that saved his life last year. third time lucky- _ that saved his life last year. third time lucky. whatever _ that saved his life last year. t'i c time lucky. whatever omicron may or time lucky. whatever 0micron may or may not be able to do, it certainly will not negate the overall value of the booster, so everybody should get the booster, so everybody should get the booster, so everybody should get the booster as soon as your code forward. ~' ., forward. pfizer like the other vaccine makers _ forward. pfizer like the other vaccine makers is _ forward. pfizer like the other vaccine makers is already - forward. pfizer like the other- vaccine makers is already working in an 0micron specific covid vaccine which could be ready in three months. in a rare interview the boss of pfizer told me he thought regular boosters would be needed. if we of pfizer told me he thought regular boosters would be needed. if we have to make a guest post _ boosters would be needed. if we have to make a guest post on _ boosters would be needed. if we have to make a guest post on everything i l to make a guest post on everything i have seeri— to make a guest post on everything i have seen so far i would see the likelihood — have seen so far i would see the likelihood we needed annually vaccinations, mean very robust and hi-h vaccinations, mean very robust and high ievei— vaccinations, mean very robust and high level of protection. in the united states _ high level of protection. in the united states 5-11— high level of protection. in the united states 5-11 -year-olds | high level of protection. in the i united states 5-11 -year-olds are united states 5—11 —year—olds are now being immunised against covid. therapy dogs providing a useful distraction. a decision on this age group in the uk may come before christmas. they would receive a third of a standard dose. it all means bigger and bigger profits for pfizer, revenues from its vaccine will exceed £26 billion this year. what would you say to those who regard it as immoral to cash in during a pandemic. i regard it as immoral to cash in during a pandemic.— regard it as immoral to cash in during a pandemic. i believe that we have saved the _ during a pandemic. i believe that we have saved the global _ during a pandemic. i believe that we have saved the global economy - have saved the global economy triiiions— have saved the global economy trillions of dollars. i think it is a strong — trillions of dollars. i think it is a strong incentive for innovation for the — a strong incentive for innovation for the next pandemic, but people will see _ for the next pandemic, but people will see that if they step up to the genre _ will see that if they step up to the genre to— will see that if they step up to the game to bring something that saves lives and _ game to bring something that saves lives and saves money, there is also financial— lives and saves money, there is also financial reward.— financial reward. pfizer's 3,000,000,000th - financial reward. pfizer'sj 3,000,000,000th dose financial reward. pfizer's - 3,000,000,000th dose came off financial reward. pfizer's _ 3,000,000,000th dose came off the production line today, it billion are planned next year. it is a race against time with 0micron cases identified in more countries like india and france. in germany where delta cases are soaring, sweeping new restrictions have been announced for those unvaccinated, which will see them barred from many public places. meanwhile the uk has approved a new antibody drug which dramatically cuts the risk of severe illness. initialtests dramatically cuts the risk of severe illness. initial tests suggest it will work against 0micron. it's not just vaccines, but treatments which will end this pandemic. fergus walsh, bbc news. businesses have been calling for greater clarity from the government about whether people should go to christmas parties — as restaurants and hotels report customers cancelling reservations. the prime minister insisted this afternoon that events should go ahead. so what are people and bosses meant to do? 0ur consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith has been talking to party goers and planners in manchester. what are people telling you? i what are people telling you? i have 'ust had what are people telling you? i have just had confirmed _ what are people telling you? i have just had confirmed today _ what are people telling you? i have just had confirmed today that - what are people telling you? i have just had confirmed today that the i just had confirmed today that the big manchesterfashion brand boo who have decided to postpone their party until the spring. 0ther have decided to postpone their party until the spring. other companies clearly following suit and other big names like nat west and deloitte have all scaled down their parties, having a smaller team based gatherings instead of a whole big work crew getting together. everyone i have spoken to today has been aware of that mixed messaging coming from government, whether we should still plan plans stick to smaller groups, or go ahead with those big christmas parties. but also people have been stressing the importance of those physical gatherings, not just for team building and morale but relief for individuals with mental health, people that have been working separately for such a long time, so the tables are booked, deposits are paid, and the christmas jumpers are coming back out of the wardrobes. many: 0h! the party season is in full swing and staff from this company have come out in force. we gave everybody the choice whether they wanted to carry on in the uk, they've all decided to to come, which we're absolutely delighted about. and then we've got this. then we're out for a nice meal this evening. the drinks, the dips and the darts are all helping conversations flow. we haven't been together for, what, over a year, really, as a company. so really important, yeah. last week when we had - all the new rules with covid, i thought it's going to get - cancelled, but we have been lucky enough to still go ahead, which has been great. . they have had a few cancellations here at this darts bar in the last few days, but are hoping last minute walk—ins will fill those gaps. at the moment, we're seeing mostly groups of around 50, and some of the biggest we have are around 100 for this christmas. we have seen some bigger ones previously. but i'm not sure if it's a case of splitting down to departments and coming in smaller groups or them not having the party in the first place. the government haven't changed any of the rules around meeting in big groups. it's up to individual companies to decide whether or not they want to go ahead. but some firms are taking small steps to try and mitigate that risk, making people do lateral flow tests, perhaps meeting in smaller groups, in better—ventilated venues just to try and make everyone feel more comfortable. i think it is scary with the masks coming back in, but i don't think it should affect christmas do's, no. you're working with each other anyway, so you're going to be in proximity. i think it is very important, especially injobs where you actually work remotely anyway. so when you're looking forward to getting together, it's one thing that everyone's looking forward to working for the whole year, so yeah. we've been here since 4:00am this morning, loading - in all the lighting, _ sound, all the equipment and then... holly organises christmas do's at the other end of the scale, massive ones for big global brands. there'll be 300 people on this dance floor tonight. they're at the point where everything's organised and booked, they don't want to cancel. so we're doing another event today for 100 people, a conference and a party, we'll be doing small private dinings for like 20 people. just people want to be together and they want the christmas dinner and the crackers and everything, don't they? with just over three weeks to go until the big day, plenty of companies are taking a punt on a safe and successful night out. coletta smith, bbc news, in manchester. let's talk to our political editor laura kuenssberg in westminster — we hear about confusion and people confused about their own christmas parties. is the government messes the prime minister is trying to get across here also undermined because there is still talk about a christmas party a year ago? irate there is still talk about a christmas party a year ago? we have had anuer christmas party a year ago? we have had anger about _ christmas party a year ago? we have had anger about what _ christmas party a year ago? we have had anger about what went _ christmas party a year ago? we have had anger about what went on - christmas party a year ago? we have had anger about what went on in - had anger about what went on in downing street 12 months ago. we spoke yesterday to an attendee of a gathering who said several dozen people at an event where there with food and drink that went on until the early hours. labour is going for an investigation into that. relatives of people who lost their lives to covid have said they are sickened to hear what allegedly went on. downing streetjust does not want to get into this conversation. they have refused to give details of what happened. borisjohnson hasn't denied it but did not want to get any further into conversation about that today. but in terms of the wider picture about what people are meant to do now, the government is clear on one thing, they do say people should not be cancelling their events. but beyond that, it has been a bit of ministers being at odds with each other. one minister said that people shouldn't snog people they don't know. another minister said in the last hour or so people can snog whoever they like and it is none of the government was like business. i would like to emphasise it is there choice of vocabulary, not ours, but this isn't some kind of game of snot, attend or avoid, there is a serious point here because we are living as yet with an unknown level of threat from this new variant 0micron and because of that the government have been tightening up restrictions and are urging people to be cautious, but they are not yet at the stage where they are not yet at the stage where they are not yet at the stage where they are going to bring back super strict guidelines that did really keep all sorts of controls over it so much of our behaviour. everybody hope they are not going to have to get to that stage. but until the situation with the new variant becomes more clear, we are in a bit of a waiting game where there is i'm afraid to say going to be some room for interpretation over the rules, but the government's rivals would say that is why it is so vital that ministers stick to exactly the same message and exactly the same language, so the families and businesses around the country are trying to plunder christmas and can be absolutely sure what the best thing is to do. be absolutely sure what the best thing is to tie-— the latest coronavirus figures in the uk show there were nearly 5a,000 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. 11t1 deaths were recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. and on vaccinations, just over 19 million people have now had their booster jab. in the rest of tonight's news... a woman has been convicted of murdering her six—year—old stepson last year — and the boy's father has been found guilty of his manslaughter. as the uk was in lockdown — arthur labinjo—hughes was starved, tortured and neglected by emma tustin and thomas hughes, before dying of a head injury lastjune. during the trial at coventry crown court, the couple were described as �*utterly ruthless and pitiless'. an independent review is under way into the actions of social workers who'd visited the family two months before arthur died. i must warn you that this report from phil mackie contains video and audio recordings of arthur which were played in court as evidence, and it is distressing. arthur labinjo—hughes had been a healthy and happy little boy, but he was subjected to months of beatings and punishments by his stepmother emma tustin and father thomas hughes. basically my six—year—old stepson has fallen and he has banged his head. 0k. and while he was on the floor he banged his head another five times. tustin lied when she dialled 999, and when the police arrived she continued trying to say that arthur's injury were self—inflicted. so you have come in, he's banged his head| three or four times here? i was in the kitchen, then i sat down in the living room and that's when he threw himself on the floor. and you heard him banging his head? i heard him bang his head. but the evidence of cruelty was undeniable. the pair had filmed some of his suffering. this shows arthur on the day he died, so weak he could barely stand and walk. during the trial, jurors listened to the hundreds of audio recordings that tustin made, all of them extremely distressing. crying. no one's going to feed me. i think they are cold, calculating, systematic torturers of a defenceless little boy. they're wicked, evil. there's no word for them. especially your own child. in court, tustin and hughes blamed each other for what was described as systematic cruelty, but it was clear both were involved. it's been a really difficult and emotional case to have to deal with. but a really important one, because ultimately ijust wanted to make sure that there wasjustice for arthur and his wider family. arthur had gone to live in tustin's house at the start of the first lockdown last year, and that's when the abuse escalated. soon afterwards, arthur's other grandmother, joanne hughes, took this photo. but social workers who investigated said it had appeared to be a happy household. there were other opportunities to intervene and perhaps save arthur as well, but this was all going on during the very first lockdown last year, when people were isolating, and vulnerable children like arthur became invisible. arthur had already had a difficult start in life. his birth mother, 0livia labinjo—halcrow, is in prison after being convicted of manslaughter in another case. an investigation is being carried out to see whether opportunities to save the little boy witnessed. the tragic loss of a young boy in such terrible circumstances is dreadful. we send our heartfelt condolences to everybody affected. the circumstances around the death will be now subject to independent review. the review is due to be published next year. sadly, whatever lessons are learned will come too late to save arthur. phil mackie, bbc news. there was so much awful, disturbing material presented in this case. hundreds of audio recordings, hours of cctv footage, text and whatsapp messages than far more disturbing than anything you have just seen. it was one of the hardest cases i have ever had to cover, and very difficult for thejurors ever had to cover, and very difficult for the jurors who had to sit through two months of evidence. after the defendant had been taken down, they passed a note to the judge asking for a minute's silence for arthur, and i have never seen it happen in a case before. and all the court stood and observed a minute's silence. we will be back here tomorrow. tustin will get a mandatory life sentence, but hughes will also be alongside her as they are sentenced by the judge. phil mackie, thank you. the timing is edging up to 17 minutes past six. 0ur edging up to 17 minutes past six. our top story this evening: covid jabs may be needed annually. more than 100 million doses of the vaccine have been ordered. and still to come tonight. the struggle of disabled people to find the personal assistants that are vital to their everyday life. coming up on sportsday on the bbc news channel... the women's tennis association has suspended all tournaments in china amid concern for peng shuai. the chief executive said he had serious doubts the tennis player was free and safe. the duchess of sussex has won her legal fight against the publisher of the mail on sunday, which she brought after the paper printed extracts from a letter she'd written to her father. the court of appeal rejected associated newspapers' attempt to have a full trial in the case about privacy and copyright. meghan described today's ruling as a victory "for anyone who's ever felt scared to stand up for what's right". associated newspapers says it's considering an appeal. this report from our royal correspondent nicholas witchell contains some flashing images. once again, a very clear victory for the duchess of sussex in her battle in which she's been strongly backed by her husband against the tabloid media. at the heart of this case is the publication by the mail on sunday of lengthy extracts from a letter the duchess had written to her father three months after her wedding. at the time, relations between meghan and her father were difficult. earlier this year, a judge at the high court in london decided the breach of privacy was so clear—cut, there was no need for a full trial. the mail on sunday's publishers appealed against that ruling. today, threejudges in the court of appeal found that the original judge's decision was correct. the judge's careful decision, mostly on factual questions, was upheld. and it was hard to see what evidence could have been adduced at trial that would have altered that situation. the judges found that disclosures by jason knauf, meghan's former communications adviser, that she'd written the letter knowing it might be leaked and that she'd asked him to brief the authors of a book, were irrelevant. within minutes, a statement was issued from meghan, the duchess of sussex. she said... associated newspapers, the publishers of the mail on sunday, said they were "very disappointed" by the court of appeal�*s decision. "it is our strong view," they said in a statement, "thatjudgment should be given only on the basis of evidence tested at trial. "no evidence has been tested under cross—examination." associated newspapers say they are now considering an appeal to the supreme court. nicholas witchell, bbc news. thousands of disabled people are struggling to recruit thousands of people in the north of england are facing a seventh night without power after storm arwen. nearly 10,000 northern powergrid and close to 3,000 electricity north west customers are still cut—off. in scotland the army has been drafted in to support people in aberdeenshire who've been without electricity for almost a week. fiona trott reports from cartmel in cumbria. getting urgent help to the most vulnerable in the community. this fire station in ulverston has turned into an emergency hub. at the end of the phones, the police, mountain rescue and red cross volunteers, knocking on the doors of 600 properties. knocking on the doors of 600 preperties-— knocking on the doors of 600 --roerties. ~ ., �* ., , properties. what we're actually doinu is properties. what we're actually doing is knocking _ properties. what we're actually doing is knocking on _ properties. what we're actually doing is knocking on each - properties. what we're actually | doing is knocking on each door. properties. what we're actually - doing is knocking on each door. we are identifying if that person is vulnerable, if they have any needs, have got enough water, have they got enough clothing, are they warm enough, have they got enough food. any areas that we find that they do need, whether it is support, rear accommodation, we are managing that as a team, and delivering what they need to support their welfare. in need to support their welfare. in scotland, 130 military personnel have been brought in to help 12 villages in the grampian region. they're not in the business of repairing _ they're not in the business of repairing infrastructure or whatever re pairing infrastructure or whatever else _ re pairing infrastructure or whatever else their — repairing infrastructure or whatever else. theirjob is to get out to the communities and say, you are not forgotten — communities and say, you are not forgotten about, this is what is going _ forgotten about, this is what is going on — forgotten about, this is what is going on. because a lot of people are without communications and that is unnerving. in are without communications and that is unnerving-— is unnerving. in rural cumbria they say military _ is unnerving. in rural cumbria they say military assistance _ is unnerving. in rural cumbria they say military assistance would - is unnerving. in rural cumbria they say military assistance would have j say military assistance would have been welcomed days ago, but now it is too late. and once again, it is the community that is filling in the gaps. this evening, some villagers in south cumbria are anxious, and they're angry. they've seen a major incident declared in neighbouring county durham today, something they have been calling for since saturday. and that means that more support can be provided on the ground. but that's because northern power grid there say they can't confirm when electricity will be restored to all homes. here it is a different story. northwest electricity have set an ambitious target, hoping to get the remaining 2000 or so homes back on the grid by tomorrow, and people say it couldn't come too soon. more freezing weather is expected. it is the seventh night for some of them without electricity. fiona trott, thank you. thousands of disabled people are struggling to recruit personal assistants, who help them live independently, because of pressures in the social care system. pas, as they're known, help with vital day to day tasks — but with more than 100,000 vacancies in the care sector, many disabled people are finding it difficult to get the suppport they need. 0ur disability news correspondent nikki fox reports. when you have a disability, independence is crucial, and it usually requires a bit of support. one option is to take control yourself. like thousands of other disabled people, i employ personal assistants like holly to help me do the things that i can't, like get my battered old scooter out of the back of our car. if i didn't employ pas, there is no way i would be able to work to the extent that i do, let alone have a life. did we have any more adverts? sian uses pas too. the 18—year—old a—level student gets funding from her local authority for support throughout the day and night. but at the moment, she's struggling to recruit the full team she desperately needs. we advertise, and it is a very good rate of pay. but it's still, like, you can't get anyone. what impact does it have on you? 0n the days i don't have them, i don't really do a lot. i sort of watch tv or something because i can't physically do anything. i kind of feel a little bit trapped. sian's mum has a lot on her plate. she rents out stables, runs a caravan park and has two other children. the time she spends filling in to help sian puts a strain on the family, both financially and emotionally. there isn't anyone. you can go to an agency to fulfil the shortfall. that's the other option. but i know from contacting some myself, they wouldn't be able to fulfil it. how many shifts are you doing this week, then? four. daytime or night—time? i think they're mainly night. so you're not going to get to sleep much at all, then? no. sian and her mum are not alone. there are currently more than 100,000 vacancies in the care sector. campaigners are calling for urgent changes to immigration rules, but experts say that's only one part of the problem. there is the brexit issue, _ in which some people are not moving into the uk and able to pick on this work _ there is the issue of wages combined with cost of living, _ so that perhaps you can't really. afford to do the job that you like. so there are a number of factors creating this perfect storm. - who would not want the job of your pa? 0ne, you're just really cool. and two, you've got miniature horses. the government says it's investing an additional £5.1t billion into social care over the next three years. but the body representing councils across england and wales says that while extra funding will help, more investment is needed now to retain hard—working care staff. yeah. i come and live with you. sian just wants to go to uni. but given all the problems she's having now, she's worried she won't have enough support to make her dream of studying psychology a reality. nikki fox, bbc news. the women's tennis association has suspended all tournaments in china amid concern for chinese tennis player peng shuai. peng disappeared from public view for three weeks after accusing a chinese official of sexual assault — leading to fears for her safety. she has since told sports officials she is safe and well, but the wta say they have serious doubts that she is not subject to intimidation. now, move over richard curtis — there's a new christmas rom—com in cinemas this year, and it's the first british one with an all—black cast. the london—born actor amel ameen has written and directed boxing day, and stars in it alongside the little mix singer leigh—anne pinnock, in her first film role. they've been speaking to our community affairs correspondent adina campbell. i wanted to introduce you to my fiancee. melvin! georgia is your ex—girlfriend. i've wanted to make a version of a kind of comedy slash everyday life of black people for about a decade. ijust wanted to play characters that were slightly outside of the, um, the genre that was really popularised, which is the street genre. wow. one of the things i really like about our film is that we have a black, opulent family who are professionals, and then i'm massively into romcoms like my best friend's wedding, notting hill. this is a film mainly set in london, led by an all black cast, something you don't see very often. this is obviously the first of its kind, and it'sjust so needed. it's needed notjust for our culture, but for everyone. we have people from around the world in this film. diversity is a buzzword, but it's just genuinely we found great people and we made a concerted effort to lift up really talented people that had not yet got the opportunity. boxing day is a british film first. if we can export that to the world and show the best of us, that's an amazing thing. how excited were you when you saw the script? i felt like georgia was a little bit like me anyway, so i thought, you know what, if this is going to be my first acting job, if i'm going to audition for this, then maybe this is actually fate. you had so much fun making this film. two moments that stand out are the dancing in the living room to reggae. oh, yeah. and the ca ke—throwing. it was literally like hanging out with your family. what you see in the movie is what it was. it was so much fun. it didn't feel like work. it was just us all hanging out, catching a vibe. catching a vibe. what are you doing? and the film really explores honesty and authenticity. is that something that you reflected on with some of the personal experiences that you've gone through? yeah, definitely. i think everyone has been in that situation where they have a sort of attachment to someone, they're comfortable with someone. and that sort of love is still kind of there. but actually, you do need to let go to grow. could this be the end of little mix, then? no, don't say such a thing! little mix for ever. they are my everything. here's the test. favourite little mix song, then? # shout out to my ex! oh, lord. you really love that one, don't you? it's the only one he knows. leigh—anne pinnock and aml ameen ending that report with adina campbell. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. we are all over the shop with the weather at the moment! today it has been glorious for many of us, clear blue skies but lighter winds, bitterly cold. this is buckinghamshire earlier this afternoon, temperatures struggling to getjust afternoon, temperatures struggling to get just a afternoon, temperatures struggling to getjust a couple of degrees above freezing, but we are flip—flopping once again tomorrow, a lot more in the way of cloud but unfortunately that doesn't mean it will be milder but a bit grey as well. so let's take a look at what is happening. it is these weather fronts spilling in off the atlantic. ahead we will see an early frost into eastern england, but almost shaped like a pizza slice, this triangle of frontal systems, the boundary of milder air that will spread its way through. as it bumps into that cold air on the leading edge, we will see a combination of rain, sleet and snow. it will turn back to rain quite readily, a wintry mix into the south—east, and actually temperatures rising through the night. so first thing out of the west, a relatively mild start with 8-10 . west, a relatively mild start with 8—10 . chilly into the south—east, the showery rain easing away, perhaps northeast england and scotland, some sunshine coming through and a scattering of showers, but as you see by the end of the