responsible for what happened and i cannot say who that is but i know it is not me. i? but i know it is not me. # tonight. — but i know it is not me. # tonight, tonight, it all began tonight... #. and it's regularly voted the greatest musical of all time — can steven spielberg's remake of west side story improve on the multi—oscar winning original? hello and welcome. the world health organization is warning that all countries must prepare for coronavirus surges linked to the new omicron variant. the who says travel bans can delay but not prevent the variant from arriving in more countries. in germany, authorities have announced major restrictions on anyone who is not vaccinated against covid—i9, banning them from all but essential shops to try to fend off a 4th wave of the virus. and the chancellor angela merkel says vaccines may become compulsory from february. cases of omicron have now been confirmed in 2a countries. in the united states, tighter restrictions have just been announced. the new variant of covid stretches from coast—to—coast but few cases reported in california, colorado, minnesota, new york and hawaii. president biden is pushing for booster shots and vaccine for the young to be taken up as well as requiring international passages vaccinated or not to test for the virus, extending mask requirements on planes, trains and buses and promising millions of at home tests for free. �* ~ , , ., free. but... widespread vaccination _ free. but... widespread vaccination and - free. but... widespread vaccination and booster| free. but... widespread - vaccination and booster should be tested a lot more. germany is experiencing _ be tested a lot more. germany is experiencing its _ be tested a lot more. germany is experiencing its most - be tested a lot more. germanyj is experiencing its most severe covid wave so far and to fight all additions are targeting unvaccinated people, allowing only those who have had the jab or recently recovered into restaurants, cinemas and many shops. the prospect of mandatory vaccines in our family on the plan. translation: i family on the plan. translation: , ., translation: i believe that thin . s translation: i believe that things will — translation: i believe that things will move _ translation: i believe that things will move robert - translation: i believe that things will move robert and | translation: | believe that| things will move robert and i am confident that parliament will make such a decision. in norway, with more cases of omicron, all incoming travellers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated must take a test within 2a hours of arrival. in areas of high infection rates such as the capital, oslo, face mask must be one in crowded places and rules requiring working from home are being stepped up as the world health organization wants country to prepare the potential new surges because of omicron with travel bands at best only delaying its spread. mark labelle, bbc news. —— lobel. south africa, which recorded some of the earliest instances of the omicron variant, is seeing a major increase in cases. over the last week, the daily number of new covid infections has increased fourfold, from less than 3,000 to more than 11,500, three quarters of which are omicron. so far hospital admissions remain low and symptoms of the new variant are reported to be mild. but early figures suggest an increase in the number of people who've had the virus are becoming reinfected. our africa correspondent andrew harding has more. it's summer time here in south africa, but a shadow looms over the beaches and holiday season. a fourth wave of covid infections is spreading fast, driven by the new variant. are you worried about this new variant, omicron? the new one, i am worried. i'm worried. we don't know what the new variant's like. what the symptoms are, i how bad the symptoms are. how it could affect us now and it makes you really scared. at their laboratory here in durban the scientists who first identified the omicron variant are racing to unlock its secrets, and now the first hints are emerging of what the mutations on the virus mean. i think the epidemiological evidence is that we think you're more likely to get reinfected if you've had covid before, so that is because of the mutations on the spike protein. we don't know much about transmissibility but i think looking at the mutational formation we think it may be more transmissible than even delta. in terms of clinical problems, we have no evidence that this is a more severe virus than let's say delta, alpha, or even beta. that bears repeating. although hospital admissions are rising sharply here, it won't be at all clear at least for another week or two whether the omicron variant is more severe, more dangerous. in the meantime, above all in rural south africa, another problem lurks — vaccine hesitancy. this builder tells a visiting health worker that he won't get a jab even with the new wave of infections. do you find it frustrating, people saying no? it is frustrating because we believe that if all of us have already had vaccinated, we will be safe. as this virus spreads fast now across south africa the real problem here is not a lack of vaccines, it's the fact that younger people seem very reluctant to get a jab, which is where these activists come in. trying to persuade the public in a country where so far only a third of adults are fully vaccinated. the guys said they would like to get their vaccination after we had a talk. success. that's a success and we thank them by clapping hands. one small victory, but south africa has a fight on its hands. andrew harding, bbc news, durban. here in the uk, the conservative party has been facing a test of its popularity after allegations of sleaze. and a few hours ago, the party won the parliamentary seat of old bexley and sidcup in the south—east of london and retains its hold on the borough, but with a much reduced majority. the by—election had been held after the death of the former cabinet minister james brokenshire. here's the winning candidate, louie french, paying tribute to his former colleague. first of all i would like to pay tribute to my good friend james brokenshire who represented the seat for over ten years and thoughtful people every single day. he made an enormous impact on everyone that lives here and as a member of parliament apple tirelessly to build on what he has achieved. how much is five cathy has meant to me, i cannot put words to. her strength and bravery has been inspiring. thank you, cathy and it has been an honour to pay tribute to my good friend tonight. our political correspondent matt cole has been at the declaration in bexleyheath. 11,189 votes to the winning candidate. contrast that to james brokenshire, the former mp who passed away from cancer two months ago. when he won this seat back in 2019, he had just shy of 30,000 votes — almost three times the number. labour's vote down too to 6,711. compare that to just over 10,500 last time round. so votes all around down. the turnoutjust 34% compared with just shy of 70% last time. so, fewer than half the number of voters out this time. so, the conservatives very much pointing it to being the weather, the time of year, people feeling it's a safe seat, not needing to come out because it's not a general election. opposition parties, though, labour and the reform party, which had been the brexit party previously, changed its name, rebranded, nigel farage used to be the head man there. their candidate, richard tice, came third here. they and labour both say this is a rejection of borisjohnson. that is why the numbers have gone down, they say. they say the claims of corruption around the government of sleeze, recent claims, for example, at christmas, were taking place at downing street whilst covid restrictions were in place last christmas. they say all those factors played in, and they say this is a rejection of boris johnson, so they're trying to talk up their loss as a positive just as the conservatives were claiming this is a good win. let's get some of the day's other news: us lawmakers have approved legislation to continue funding the government until mid—february, averting a shutdown. the vote came late on thursday, after a small number of republican senators tried to delay the measures in a protest against president biden's vaccine mandate for businesses. and we'll have more on that in about 20 minutes. top us military official, general mark milley, says he is a little bit more concerned about the risk of russian action in ukraine than he had been previously. he said that ukraine's sovereignty is important to the united states and nato. general milley declined to speculate on the type of action the us would take. the american actor, alec baldwin, has said he does not feel guilt about accidentally shooting dead a cinematographer on a filmset, because he does not feel responsible. in an exclusive interview with abc news anchor george stephanopoulos, the actor said he'd assumed that a gun he was holding during a scene rehearsal did not contain live bullets, and described how the shooting had affected him. i don't want to sound like i am affect them. again, we have two clear victims here. is affect them. again, we have two clear victims here.— clear victims here. is this the worst thing — clear victims here. is this the worst thing that _ clear victims here. is this the worst thing that has - clear victims here. is this the worst thing that has ever- worst thing that has ever happened to you?- worst thing that has ever happened to you? yes, yes. because _ happened to you? yes, yes. because i— happened to you? yes, yes. because i think _ happened to you? yes, yes. because i think back - happened to you? yes, yes. because i think back and - happened to you? yes, yes. because i think back and i l because i think back and i think of what could i have done. ., ., ., , ., think of what could i have done. ., ., ., done. your emotions are so clearly right _ done. your emotions are so clearly right there _ done. your emotions are so clearly right there on - done. your emotions are so clearly right there on the i clearly right there on the surface. you felt shock, anger, sadness. d0 surface. you felt shock, anger, sadness. , ., ., sadness. do you feel guilt? no, no, i sadness. do you feel guilt? no, no. ifeel— sadness. do you feel guilt? no, no, i feel that _ sadness. do you feel guilt? no, no, i feel that there _ sadness. do you feel guilt? no, no, i feelthat there is... - sadness. do you feel guilt? no, no, ifeelthat there is... i- no, ifeel that there is... i feel that someone is responsible for what happened and i cannot say who that is but i know it is not me. honest to god, if i felt i was responsible, i might have killed myself if i thought i was responsible. that was the actor alex baldwin talking about the accidental shooting that took place on the set of the film rust. the us has reinstated a controversial trump—era migration policy on the orders of the supreme court after president biden tried to scrap it. the remain in mexico programme orders asylum—seekers to stay on mexican territory while they wait for their applications to be processed. mexico has now agreed to accept the policy, in exchange for concessions such as a shorter turnaround time for asylum decisions. our central america correspondent will grant reports. inhumane, counter productive and amoral and national shame, thatis and amoral and national shame, that is our president biden described the remain in mexico programme. described the remain in mexico programme-— programme. now his administration - programme. now his administration is - programme. now his i administration is ringing programme. now his - administration is ringing it back, not because they want to, they insist but because the supreme court gave them no choice. ~ ., supreme court gave them no choice. ~ . ., supreme court gave them no choice. . ., ., choice. we are in a situation where we — choice. we are in a situation where we are _ choice. we are in a situation where we are abiding - choice. we are in a situation where we are abiding by - choice. we are in a situation l where we are abiding by court ruling and that is what we are working to implement at this point in time. there are some key changes and exemptions. the department of homeland security announced them this morning and can perspective but our view of the programme has not changed and we are working to implement the court order.— the court order. critics say the court order. critics say the biden _ the court order. critics say the biden administration i the biden administration welcomes the return of remain in mexico to help bring down migrant numbers which reach a 21 year high injuly. alongside mexico, development funds will be sent to central america under a plan, be sent to central america undera plan, of be sent to central america under a plan, of opportunities to dissuade migrants from living in the first place. i 180 days for asylum cases to be heard was added. advocates say despite the tweets, it is a seal of the inhumane policy one which obliges migrants to live in precarious conditions in mexico while they wait for the day in the us court. after the country spiralled to political and economic as they travelled. translation: i and economic as they travelled. translation:— and economic as they travelled. translation: i do not know how or what is going _ translation: i do not know how or what is going on. _ translation: i do not know how or what is going on. we _ translation: i do not know how or what is going on. we are - or what is going on. we are living like animals. the children have fever cough. every single person has been sick for almost a week, two weeks. we have been standing in line, no—one visits us. we really do not want to stay here. we want to have a document that helps us work and solve our problems.— solve our problems. mexico has aareed solve our problems. mexico has a . reed to solve our problems. mexico has agreed to implement _ solve our problems. mexico has agreed to implement the - solve our problems. mexico has| agreed to implement the policy, showing that once again immigration tops the political agenda between the two neighbours and in the meantime, those already on the road must cope with new obstacles as they attempt to reach the us. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: how religious content on tiktok, is growing faster than average as religions reinvent themselves on social media. 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 11:00 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 news, the latest headlines: the who warns of a global covid surge as omicron cases are confirmed in 2a countries, and germany says jabs could become mandatory from february. religions are reinventing themselves on social media. from nunsjumping on the latest online trends, to imams and otherfaith leaders preaching on instagram. now research commissioned by the bbc shows that religious content, especially on tiktok, is growing faster than average. our global religion reporter sofia bettiza has the story. religion is adapting to new social media trends, fast. short videos like these are becoming popular. on tiktok this hashtag has 9 billion views. hashtag the wily has over 2 billion. the hashtag islam, more than 60 billion hits. these nuns dedicate their entire lives tojesus christ. but after they finished praying, this is what they get up praying, this is what they get up to. they are making a video on tiktok. don't you think that some people might not take you seriously? i some people might not take you seriousl ? ~ ., some people might not take you seriousl ? ~' ., ., seriously? i think there are a lot of stereo _ seriously? i think there are a lot of stereo types _ seriously? i think there are a lot of stereo types about - seriously? i think there are a l lot of stereo types about nuns out there. there is an idea that you lock yourself into an institution like all of the rules, or that you are giving up. so when we share those videos we really want to show that we are human and we live. and to say that they are fun is an understatement. they do pranks. orjump on the latest tick—tock trend. what kind of comments do you get? tick-tock trend. what kind of comments do you get?- comments do you get? they ranue. comments do you get? they range- their _ comments do you get? they range. they range. - comments do you get? they range. they range. a - comments do you get? they range. they range. a strand| comments do you get? they l range. they range. a strand of folks who don't even know how they got on this but they are here to stay.— they got on this but they are here to stay. they got on this but they are here to sta . ., ., _, ., here to stay. from a convent to a mosque- — here to stay. from a convent to a mosque- and _ here to stay. from a convent to a mosque. and this _ here to stay. from a convent to a mosque. and this is - here to stay. from a convent to a mosque. and this is the - a mosque. and this is the biggest in the uk. the thousands of years people have come into places of worship to learn more about their faith. but now, religious messages are echoing through tiktok, instagram and other social media platforms and that means they are reaching people who may never come to a place like this or speak to a priest, and in mum or a this or speak to a priest, and in mum ora rabbi. this man decided to become any mum he was only 17. i decided to become any mum he was only 11— was only 17. i don't want to ever give — was only 17. i don't want to ever give un- _ was only 17. i don't want to ever give up. to _ was only 17. i don't want to ever give up. to start - was only 17. i don't want to i ever give up. to start reading one first the day.— one first the day. thanks to his videos, _ one first the day. thanks to his videos, people - one first the day. thanks to his videos, people have - one first the day. thanks to i his videos, people have found him online and have come to him with all sorts of problems. it has been a platform where people turn to me with questions that may not relate to faith. they might be dealing with drug abuse, they might be dealing with relationship issues and i try to help them to the best of my ability. it is happening in every major faith around the world. in china, these buddhist monks have gained such a large following on the chinese version of tiktok that tourists travel to their temples just so they can meet them. the nuns pray for everyone who comments on the video. would you pray for someone who left a hateful comment?— for someone who left a hateful comment? a, a, ~ , for someone who left a hateful comment? . , ., comment? more. more. we put our senior sisters — comment? more. more. we put our senior sisters on _ comment? more. more. we put our senior sisters on those _ comment? more. more. we put our senior sisters on those ones. - senior sisters on those ones. fascinating. let me know what you think about that on our twitter feed. you think about that on our twitterfeed. time now for all your sports news. hello, i'm tulsen tollett and this is your sports news where we start with football and cristiano ronaldo who scored his 800th career goal in the 3—2 win over arsenal. the match saw interim manager ralf rangnick watching on before taking over for sunday's game at home to crystal palace. victory for the home fans but after the match caretaker manager michael carrick who's been in charge since ole gunnar solskjaer left the club, announced he'll be leaving the old trafford outfit. i told my family that when i finished playing i would have some time before i retire and have a breather because coming into coaching is tough. i am really looking forward to, itjust really looking forward to, it just feels, really looking forward to, itjust feels, like the right time. life sometimes takes you in certain ways. a good feeling i had over recent days was that it is the perfect night to finish on. i could not have hope for anything more. tottenham are up to sixth in the table after a comfortable 2—0 win at home to brentford. the opener was an own goal from sergi canos that came from a ricochetjust 12 minutes in and the second saw son heung min put a pass from sergio reguillon in the net from just six yards out to keep the unbeaten league record for antonio conte since he took charge of the north londoners. major league baseball has entered its first work stoppage in 26 years after it imposed a lockout on its players. the collective bargaining agreement between mlb and the major league baseball players association, which had run forfour years, expired on wednesday. while the lockout is in place, clubs can't sign or release major league players — or offer them new contracts. it also means players can't even communicate with their teams — but they are allowed to workout on their own. there's no immediate threat to the 2022 mlb season, which is scheduled to begin in march after a month of spring training. to my disappointment i have to report that effect if at 12:01am this morning we instituted a lockout of major league players. we took this action with the support of all 30 clubs after we failed to reach a new agreement with the players association despite our very best efforts. we came to texas to make a deal and we committed to the process and made proposals and itjust did not happen. lewis hamilton says he's not comfortable racing in saudi arabia this weekend as a result of the country's human rights record. saudi arabia is hosting its inaugural race on a new street track in jeddah. the world champion says "it's not my choice to be here. the sport has taken a choice to be here." he also confirmed he would again be wearing the helmet he wore at the last race in qatar, which is painted with the rainbow flag in support of lgbtq+ rights as he looks to retain the title with two races remaining, despite trailing red bull's max verstappen by 8 points. the russian tennis federation are through to the davis cup quarter—finals after a convincing win over sweden in madrid on thursday. world number two and us open champion daniil medvedev made sure of the result winning his singles match in straight sets for an unassailable 2—0 lead in the best of three tie. earlier andrey rublev won his match and his team now go on to play germany in the semi—finals on saturday. you can get all the latest sports news at our website — that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, tulsen tollett, and the rest of the team, that's your sports news for now. the reviews are out — and the new film adaptation of the american musical west side story has been judged an �*artistic triumph'. the man responsible for bringing it to the screen is steven spielberg — arguably one of hollywood's most influential filmmakers. tom brook reports. west side story was given a big launch a short distance from where the film is that on the upper west side of new york in the 1950s. inspired by shakespeare's romeo and juliet it is a love story that takes place among warring teenage gangs. it is a landmark work first made into a film in 1961. it has always interested steven spielberg who has never directed a musical before. i think i wanted director musical because i knew i could not sing and dance. it is a tremendous way of throwing myself into a genre that physically i would never be a part of except to be able to tell a story in that indium. a? able to tell a story in that indium. ~' ., able to tell a story in that indium. ~ ., , indium. # i like to be in america _ indium. # i like to be in america # _ indium. # i like to be in america # 0h _ indium. # i like to be in america # oh to - indium. # i like to be in america # oh to be - indium. # i like to be in america # oh to be in l indium. # i like to be in - america # oh to be in america. the 1961— america # oh to be in america. the 1961 film adaptation of the musical was a huge hit and it won ten oscars. it is a revered classic. the new film is seen as more intense.— as more intense. there is bloodshed, _ as more intense. there is bloodshed, brutality - as more intense. there is bloodshed, brutality and, as more intense. there is- bloodshed, brutality and, yet, it manages to do a very tricky thing which is there are these incredibly realistic and powerful scenes and then it becomes operatic. it becomes musical theatre. the becomes operatic. it becomes musical theatre.— musical theatre. the 1961 film was criticised _ musical theatre. the 1961 film was criticised for _ musical theatre. the 1961 film was criticised for having - musical theatre. the 1961 film was criticised for having them | was criticised for having them new members of a puerto rican gang portrayed by white actors. for this movie we just wanted to get it right in a way that we wanted every single person who plays a puerto rican to be from a letter next community. another was the mandate from the get go. another was the mandate from the get go-_ the get go. the launch of west side story _ the get go. the launch of west side story in — the get go. the launch of west side story in new _ the get go. the launch of west side story in new york - the get go. the launch of west side story in new york this - side story in new york this week has been bittersweet for steven spielberg and his cast because the film's lyricist, american musical theatre legend stephen sondheim died at the age of 91 just prior to the film's big monday night premier. i film's big monday night premier-— film's big monday night premier. , ., premier. i showed him the film back in february _ premier. i showed him the film back in february this _ premier. i showed him the film back in february this year - premier. i showed him the film back in february this year and i back in february this year and he loved it and could not wait until monday night. he wanted to see it with a bigger audience and of course when we got the news on, i believe, on saturday that he had passed, it was devastating and it is still devastating. a? was devastating and it is still devastating.— devastating. # tonight, tonight- _ devastating. # tonight, tonight. sondheim's - devastating. # tonight, - tonight. sondheim's talents live on for all to hear in the new film which has been getting excellent reviews. it seems poised to become a big oscar contender. musicals can be a challenge to sell at the box office. new york could do with west side story being a hit. its familiar songs could be a bit of a panacea but the city that make for the city as it struggles with anxieties of life in the covid—19 aero. era. tom brook, bbc news. good morning. this week, it's been quite a fickle weather story to tell, undulating from cold and crisp back to milder and sometimes wet. and that's the story we've got first thing this friday morning. milderfor all of us, but by the time head towards the weekend, once again, we turn back into that cold bright story with some showers turning increasingly wintry on the hills. but for the here and now, we have got these weather fronts pushing in from the atlantic. they bump into colder air, so for a time, we will see a wintry mix. however, behind it, you can see this pizza—shaped triangle of yellow colour — that's the milder air tucking in behind those weather fronts. so, an early wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow to clear from the southeast corner, but then a legacy of cloud behind much of england, wales and northern ireland, perhaps northeast england and much of scotland are bright with some sunshine before scattered showers arrive during the afternoon. generally, a milder story. widely, we'll see temperatures into double figures, but by the end of the afternoon, something a little heavier into south wales running along the channel coast will continue to drift its way eastwards during the early parts of friday evening. then into saturday, the wind direction changes to a northwesterly, driving in a rash of showers behind which have the risk of turning increasingly wintry once again into the far north of scotland. so, it's going to be a chilly start to saturday. and we see this area of low pressure dominating with the wind direction swinging around to a northwesterly once again. the wind direction will make a difference with the feel of the weather. we're going to lose that milder air and the blue colours are set to return as we head into the weekend. once again, noticeably colder for all. so, we start off on saturday with some early showery rain once again easing from the southeast, and then a case of sunny spells and scattered showers. some showers will be of sleet and snow, perhaps even for some at lower levels as temperatures sit around 4—5 degrees. further south of that with a little more sunshine, perhaps not quite as cold — 7—9 celsius the high. quieter day on sunday better chance of seeing more on the way of sunshine with a few scattered sharp showers perhaps just drifting in off north sea coasts, noticeably cooler once again for all of us. that's it, take care. with robert fagg, his opposite numberfrom dover. this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. governments ramp up restrictions to contain the rise of omicron but at what economic cost? cambo capitulation — shell abandons its controversial shetland oil project, saying the economic case isn't strong enough. shutdown averted — the us government won't run out of money this weekend — as congress passes a stopgap funding bill plus pulling the plug on wall street. ride—hailing giant didi is to delist its shares from new york amid growing scrutiny of chinese tech giants