as thousands of people enter their second week without power following store., communities are rallying to provide hot meals and shelter. —— storm arwen. # don't stop me, cos i'm having a good time # having a good time, yeah!# and it's panto season — oh, yes, it is! we find out how performers and theatre—goers are feeling about christmas shows against the backdrop of covid. and coming up on the bbc news channel: big changes at yorkshire county cricket as 16 members of staff, including the director of cricket, leave in the wake of the racism scandal. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. british scientists studying seven covid—19 vaccines have found that pfizer and moderna are the most effective to use as boosterjabs. it's the first study of how well boosters work, and the researchers found promising signs that a third jab also protects against illness and death from the new omicron variant. our health correspondent dominic hughes has the details. amid the uncertainty around the omicron variant, some good news. further confirmation the boosterjab is being used in the uk are safe and effective. a study involving nearly 3000 adults saw booster is given about three months after second doses of astrazeneca or pfizer and seven vaccines were studied in all but the two used for boosters in the uk, pfizerand but the two used for boosters in the uk, pfizer and moderna where the best. we uk, pfizer and moderna where the best. ~ , ., best. we saw very encouraging results from _ best. we saw very encouraging results from all _ best. we saw very encouraging results from all the _ best. we saw very encouraging results from all the vaccines i best. we saw very encouraging | results from all the vaccines we tested, in terms of the magnitude of the booster antibodies but also in terms of how the body remembers the vaccine and then is able to respond in future to the long—term memory. boosters can cut the risk of infection by more than 93%. the plan is to offer them to all adults aged over 18 in the uk before the end of january, and it will usually either bv pfizer or moderna jab, while scientists at finding out more about the omicron variant. much of that work is taking place in south africa where omicron is driving a rapid growth in infection rates. very early evidence suggests there may be a higher risk of reinfection from omicron compared with the alpha, beta or delta variants but it is hard to say yet whether it will lead to more hospitalisations or deaths. at the moment, we are not seeing very high rates of community transmission but it is early days yet. what is important is to continue to observe and monitor and hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will have a much better picture. weeks we will have a much better icture. . ., picture. the emergence of the omicron variant _ picture. the emergence of the omicron variant has _ picture. the emergence of the omicron variant has prompted picture. the emergence of the - omicron variant has prompted big changes to the uk's vaccination programme. as well as offering boosters to more people, the time between second dose and booster has been slashed from six down to three months so the encouraging news on how effective they are is welcome. the data on the boosters is fantastic because it is suggesting that if you have had your first and second shot, followed by the booster, you have got supercharged immunity and this will help us to at least deal with some of the effects of omicron when it really takes off here. . , , ., of omicron when it really takes off here. . , , , here. there have been some problems, dela s in here. there have been some problems, delays in changing _ here. there have been some problems, delays in changing the _ here. there have been some problems, delays in changing the legal _ delays in changing the legal framework to accommodate the new plans have seen some people turned away from walk in clinics or unable to book appointments. now millions of people are being urged to wait to be called for theirjab rather than trying to contact the nhs. little wonder that health officials described the uk's vaccine roll—out programme as the greatest logistical exercise the health service has faced since the war. dominic hughes, bbc news. our health editor hugh pym is here. where are you with getting everyone that there jab? fin is here. where are you with getting everyone that there jab? everyone that there “ab? on monday it was announced — everyone that there jab? on monday it was announced by _ everyone that there jab? on monday it was announced by the _ everyone that there jab? on monday it was announced by the expert - it was announced by the expert committee advising ministers, the jcvi that as a response to the threat posed by the new variant, the gap between the second dose and the booster would be reduced from six months to three and it would be available to the under 40s and people have been turning up at walk in vaccination centres hoping that it will happen straightaway and it hasn't and some have been asked to go away and just come back when they are invited. there are some key messages. don't come in for your booster unless you are invited. but secondly, the mechanics on the national booking website are not there yet. and the vaccinators and there yet. and the vaccinators and the people running the vaccine centres have not got the legal framework that they need to be entitled to change the protocols. that might all sound rather bureaucratic but it does take time to get it in place and as we heard in that report, scotland's national clinical director, professorjason leitch, said it is the greatest challenge, the overall vaccination programme, for the nhs since the war. i am told it could take another few days and it may well not begin in earnest, certainly in england, until the 13th of december, monday week. gps are also involved in this, talks need to take place with them. they are ongoing, about what other type of work they may be suspended, less urgent work so they can focus on vaccines. it is a huge ask of the nhs and all the vaccinators and leaders of the nhs in the different nations and it does need a bit more time to set up. there has been a slight increase in the number of covid—19 infections across the uk, according to the latest official data. estimates from the office for national statistics suggest that just over one million people in the uk would have tested positive for coronavirus in the week ending 27 november, up slightly from the week before. a father and his partner are being sentenced for killing his six—year—old son in solihull. thomas hughes and emma tustin had beaten and starved arthur labinjo—hughes before his death from a head injury injune last year. tustin was convicted of murder yesterday while hughes was found guilty of manslaughter. our correspondent phil mackie is outside the court in coventry. yes, there is a brief adjournment in the sentencing hearing. thejudge will come back and hand down the sentences in about ten minutes and it will probably take about half an hour until we get to the point where we hear how long emma tustin and thomas hughes will have to serve in prison. emma tustin faces a mandatory life sentence but of course, thejudge mandatory life sentence but of course, the judge will decide what the minimum tariff is, how long she will have to serve in prison before she is eligible for parole. we have had victim impact statements this money, first from joanna hughes, arthur's paternal grandmother who described arthur as a happy, joyous and exuberant six—year—old child. she added that arthur was failed by the very authorities that we as a society are led to believe are there for the safety of everyone. there is an investigation into potential failings that will go on and report next year. we also heard from madeleine halcrow, the other grandmother, the mother of olivia, arthur's natural mother, who described him as their baby bear and said she was suffering permanent sadness as a result of this. as i said, sentencing will resume in a few minutes and we should know how long both will end up in prison for in about half an hour. phil mackie, thank yon — the conservatives have won the old bexley and sidcup by—election, holding onto the stronghold in south—east london with a much reduced majority. the contest was triggered by the death of the former ministerjames brokenshire, who died of lung cancer at the age of 53. a local tory councillor, louie french, succeeds him, as our political correspondent ione wells reports. wrapped up warm to deliver ballot boxes. turnout was expected to be low in this cold december by—election, and only 34% of voters turned out. it meant the tories�* majority was cut from 19,000 to about 4500. but their candidate, louie french, still got more than half the vote, although there was a 10% swing to labour. and reform uk, formerly the brexit party, came third. 11,189. the result was not surprising in this safe tory seat, even if the opposition had hoped recent negative headlines about so—called sleaze could chip away at their strong majority. people look at the westminster issues, they see a number of issues and allegations being thrown around at different parties, you know? it wasn't something that was coming to me, people know i'm not involved. i haven't been in westminster, you know? people have said, "louie, we need to get in and deliver on these priorities," and that's what i'm fully committed to doing. labour are encouraged by this result, with their candidate, daniel francis, arguing a swing like that could translate into future gains for them elsewhere. well, it's been an incredibly good result tonight for labour here. we had a swing of over 10%. if that swing was replicated across the country, we would be making significant gains from the conservatives and on a path back to government. but tory party chairman oliver dowden says a solid hold midway through an election term, when the government might expect a knock, is a good result for them. obviously it's very difficult for governing parties to do well in midterm by—elections, but we secured over 50% of the vote, and i think that is thanks to a good campaign run by the local candidate. tory cheer here in bexley, but in north shropshire, nerves are growing for the by—election there in two weeks' time, with parties feeling there is a lot more to play for. ione wells, bbc news. "drunken, drugged—up thugs" is how the author of an independent review into the disorder at england's euro 2020 final against italy describes the ticketless fans who forced their way into wembley stadium injuly. our sports correspondent natalie pirks is at wembley. this is a damning report? very much so. it describes _ this is a damning report? very much so. it describes a _ this is a damning report? very much so. it describes a near _ this is a damning report? very much so. it describes a near miss - this is a damning report? very much so. it describes a near miss amid - this is a damning report? very much so. it describes a near miss amid a l so. it describes a near miss amid a perfect storm, baroness casey, the order of the report de jager author of the report, called the actions of ticketless, drunken and drugged up thugs shocking and intolerable, with cocaine a key factor. it says a match which should have been a glorious national occasion became a source of national 2000 ticketless fans got into wembley that day. there were 17 mass breaches of gates. one fan pretended to be a steward in order to separate a disabled fan from his father and push his wheelchair through a disabled gate. the report adds remarkably, it could have been even worse, with a loss of life or serious injury. if england had won that night, there were up to 6000 ticketless fans waiting to storm into the stadium. one london emergency official quoted in the report said if england had won the game, i think it would have been horrific, i can guarantee we would have been on our knees. the authorities are not to let off the look. the report says there was a collective failure with opportunities missed to understand just how big the match was and police arrived far too late. the police arrived far too late. the police have said in the last hour its officers and stewards faced unprecedented challenges and unacceptable levels of violence but added they vowed to work with the fa to learn what went wrong and will take on board the recommendations in this report. those recommendations include that the government to designate a new class of fixture for matches of this national significance, which would demand a greater response from police, and that the fa lead a campaign to bring about a sea in attitudes. the fa has apologised today, saying collectively, we must never allow this to happen again.— fraudsters have stolen billions of pounds by abusing the government's bounce—back loan scheme, which was designed to help small businesses survive during the covid pandemic. a new report from the national audit office says more than one in ten of the loans may have been fraudulent — costing the taxpayer nearly £5 billion. the nao says that measures put in place to prevent fraud were implemented too slowly. angus crawford reports. a hard stop. police arrest a drug dealer, a member of a manchester gang that used a front business to hide their crimes. and this is it. from a couple of portakabins, they planned to take over the local cocaine market. but what's really extraordinary is they managed to get a £25,000 bounce—back loan to help their business through the pandemic. and they weren't the only ones. it's a bounce back loan application that's been approved for £50,000. last year, this undercover investigator showed us how criminals were setting up fake companies to exploit the system. it seems to be free money for the scammers. it's going to cost us billions. 4.9 billion, according to today's report. anti—fraud measures, it says, were implemented too slowly to be effective and are inadequate. well, today we announced a brand—new loan scheme for the smaller businesses... designed as a life—saver forsmall firms, more than £47 billion was handed out. but how much of that will legitimate firms ever pay back? it's going to be horrendous. it's a nightmare. i'm worried. i've asked the government to set up a helpline. mike runs an online support group for business owners who took out a loan, and now fear they may go bust. they've now got the repayments starting. and a lot of people simply have not bounced back, which was the whole idea of the scheme. as soon as they're due, it is going to be a tidal wave. it will be. there is no ifs, bunts or shunts about that. the nao says £17 billion may never be repaid. and 100,000 loans are already in arrears. i've had to contact my doctor about having some anti—depressants. i haven't been able to properly sleep for the last 20 months. £50,000 seemed like a life—saver for anne—marie and her printing firm. it now feels like a millstone. the bounce back loan is hanging there over our heads at the moment. you know, at the time, i guess, i had two choices. we either take on a loan and carry on and try to just ride through the storm, or we close the doors. but the storm isn't over? well, this is the thing. it'sjust about starting, i think. loans that kept hundreds of thousands of firms alive became a dead weight for others, and a cash cow for criminals. angus crawford, bbc news. the time is 13:15pm. our top story this lunchtime: there are promising signs that covid boosterjabs will protect people against the new omicron variant, with researchers finding that the pfizer and moderna vaccines give the best overall booster response. coming up: a home in the uk, finally, for one afghan family — although thousands more are still waiting. coming up on the bbc news channel: the new manchester united interim manager ralf rangnick says he won't rule out staying on in charge beyond his initial six months. rangnick was speaking at his first press conference at united. a week after storm arwen, thousands are still without power and the army is being deployed to help. 130 troops have been sent to the grampian region of northern scotland, and around 100 to north—east england. durham county council says that as of last night, between 4,000 and 5,000 properties in the county were still cut off, and a major incident has been declared. luxmy gopal reports from butterknowle in county durham. warm shelter and hot meals, basics provided by volunteers offering a lifeline to those without power in butterknowle in county durham where a major incident has been declared, with around 100 army personnel being sent to help. tommy, a volunteer coordinator, has been visiting people in the community, including 92—year—old cecil. joanne is a nurse and ledson harbottle in northumberland. she still has no power, no water and no into —— and lives in harbottle. i power, no water and no into -- and lives in harbottle.— lives in harbottle. i am sleeping in here, lives in harbottle. i am sleeping in here. which _ lives in harbottle. i am sleeping in here. which is— lives in harbottle. i am sleeping in here, which is not _ lives in harbottle. i am sleeping in here, which is not ideal, _ lives in harbottle. i am sleeping in here, which is not ideal, eating . here, which is not ideal, eating what i can, boiling pans of water on the log burner. you can only take so much, i burst into tears, i am the log burner. you can only take so much, i burst into tears, iam not ashamed to say. much, i burst into tears, i am not ashamed to say.— much, i burst into tears, i am not ashamed to say. japan is relying on ashamed to say. japan is relying on a nearby community _ ashamed to say. japan is relying on a nearby community centre, - ashamed to say. japan is relying on a nearby community centre, alongl a nearby community centre, along with her neighbour anne. taste a nearby community centre, along with her neighbour anne. we have 'ust been with her neighbour anne. we have just been forgotten _ with her neighbour anne. we have just been forgotten about, - with her neighbour anne. we have just been forgotten about, i - with her neighbour anne. we have just been forgotten about, i am i just been forgotten about, i am worried — just been forgotten about, i am worried about the emergency services _ worried about the emergency services. there is no signal and no internei. _ services. there is no signal and no internet, how would somebody needed an ambulance get hold of it? about the military has been helping out up to the _ the military has been helping out up to the council put out an urgent request — to the council put out an urgent reuuest. �* ., :: :: :: to the council put out an urgent retuest. �* ., i1 i1 i ., , to the council put out an urgent reuuest. �* ., :: :: :: ., , ., to the council put out an urgent reuuest. �* ., 11:11: ., , ., , request. around 4000 homes are being visited to offer— request. around 4000 homes are being visited to offer support. _ request. around 4000 homes are being visited to offer support. the _ visited to offer support. the infrastructure _ visited to offer support. the infrastructure is _ visited to offer support. tie: infrastructure is pretty visited to offer support. tte: infrastructure is pretty fragile, the weather has not helped, high winds have weakened some places. we are hoping it gives them the reassurance that somebody is looking out for them. reassurance that somebody is looking out forthem-— out for them. despite this help, numbers of— out for them. despite this help, numbers of residents _ out for them. despite this help, numbers of residents are - out for them. despite this help, - numbers of residents are struggling, without power for a week. the? numbers of residents are struggling, without power for a week. they must know when they _ without power for a week. they must know when they are _ without power for a week. they must know when they are going _ without power for a week. they must know when they are going to - know when they are going to reconnect my house. instead of telling — reconnect my house. instead of telling me — reconnect my house. instead of telling me every day that it will be hours _ telling me every day that it will be hours i_ telling me every day that it will be hours. i could have prepared for the lon- hours. i could have prepared for the long wool. — hours. i could have prepared for the long wool, not the short hole. or the camping equipment, glasses, coal has been _ the camping equipment, glasses, coal has been in _ the camping equipment, glasses, coal has been in short demand. many --eole has been in short demand. many peeple are _ has been in short demand. many people are still _ has been in short demand. many people are still left _ has been in short demand. many people are still left without - has been in short demand. tj�*ia�*ty people are still left without power orany people are still left without power or any certainty about when it will return. ~ ., or any certainty about when it will return. ~ . , .,, ., ., return. we have people on the ground and working — return. we have people on the ground and working with _ return. we have people on the ground and working with the _ return. we have people on the ground and working with the local— and working with the local authorities and local resilience forum is to support customers, we are making proactive calls out to vulnerable customers, people who have been in touch with us that we know they are in vulnerable situations.— know they are in vulnerable situations. ,, ., . , ., situations. some have been told it could be december— situations. some have been told it could be december the _ situations. some have been told it could be december the 8th, - situations. some have been told it could be december the 8th, 12 - situations. some have been told it. could be december the 8th, 12 days after the power first went out. here in butterknowle around 250 villagers are entering the second week without power, but thankfully that might have remained on in the village hall, which is why it has become an emergency refuge. we have seen families, children and vulnerable people come in for a hot breakfast, and as you can see, volunteers are stepping up efforts to provide more hot meals, including lunch. the community has rallied, it has been a big community effort and one vitalfor local has been a big community effort and one vital for local residents left in the dark about exactly when that power will come on. luxmy gopal, thank you. at least 26 million people are struggling to access food in the horn of africa, due to persistent poor rainfall. drought conditions in northern kenya, much of somalia and southern ethiopia are expected to last well into next year, putting millions of lives at risk. wild animals are dying in their hundreds and herders have reported losing up to 70% of their livestock. the bbc�*s senior africa correspondent anne soy reports from wajir in northern kenya — and a warning, her report contains images from the start that viewers may find upsetting. the devastating impact of drought. this is wajir in northern kenya, a predominantly pastoralist community which coexists with wildlife. neither has been spared. water pumps long dried up. and the impact can be seen almost everywhere. this is every pastoralist�*s wealth. this man has lost a lot of it, 140 cattle, hundreds of goats. and he fears that whatever is remaining here could be lost because the drought is still ongoing. you can see this calf. she is too weak to stand up and so she has to be fed right here. a few times every day, neighbours help to lift the remaining livestock so they can stretch their already weak muscles. translation: the loss is devastating. - i can't do anything more to save them. it is god's will. ijust pray for rain to come. livestock is everything for me. he has to balance between buying food for his family and livestock whenever he gets money, mostly from well—wishers. the local chief also comes to help. he shows me where he moved ibrahim's dead livestock to. translation: ibrahim was deeply affected. i his blood pressure rose. so i took him to my house to calm him down. even deep in the wild, conditions are no better. in sabule conservancy, rangers told us hundreds of animals had died. they now bring them water every day, but there is no pasture. the animals are starving. their immunity is getting weaker, so more deaths are expected. the drought isn'tjust in northern kenya. neighbouring somalia has declared a humanitarian emergency. southern ethiopia is also hit hard but there is little focus on it, due to the conflict in the country. experts warn that things could get worse in the region. the period of recovery between one drought to the next, or one flood to the next, is becoming shorter and shorter. so how this translates is that local communities, for example, are having very, very short periods to be able to recover. like many pastoralists, ibrahim is hoping some of his livestock survives. he will keep trying everything until conditions change, but every day brings him more losses and heartbreak, and he is barely surviving himself. anne soy, bbc news, wajir. formula 1 team mercedes has been criticised for signing a deal with a firm that made part of the cladding used for grenfell tower. survivors of the grenfell tower fire, which killed 72 people injune 2017, said the team's sponsorship by kingspan was "truly shocking," while housing secretary michael gove and his labour counterpart lisa nandy both condemned the partnership. kingspan and mercedes said the manufacturer fully supports the ongoing public inquiry into the fire. yorkshire county cricket club has announced a series of departures, as it continues to deal with racism allegations made by former player azeem rafiq. director of cricket martyn moxon and coach andrew gale have now left the club, along with all members of the coaching team and the backroom medical team. club chair lord patel said difficult decisions were required to build a progressive and inclusive culture. an afghan man who worked as an interpreter for the british armed forces has a new home in the uk after escaping from the country. burhan vesal feared for his life after the taliban regained control of afghanistan in the summer. like thousands of other afghans brought to the uk, mr vesal and his family have spent the last 100 days living in a hotel. but unlike many of their fellow afghans, the vesals have been offered a home in aberdeenshire — and by a total stranger. our special correspondent lucy manning has the story. oh, i'm so pleased to meet you at long last! kindness often repeats itself. sometimes, it only takes one person to change the lives of others. the vesal family, at the end of their long journey to a home. i am so pleased to meet you! when kabul collapsed, we were just left behind in a dark room. we first spoke to burhan, a former interpreter with british forces, when he was hiding in afghanistan, fearful for his life. a day before the suicide bomb at the airport, he risked the crush there, and managed to get his family out. how are you and all the family doing? everyone is ok and now we are in safety. our bbc reports about burhan resonated. 75 years ago, another british army interpreter was given refuge from germany — helga mcfarlane's mother, helene. i saw the report of the afghan refugees coming in from kabul on the army plane, and the story of the vesal family, and my mother, who had been a refugee during the second world war and fled from her home, and she only survived through the kindness of people along the way. and ijust felt i had to do something and give back something for the kindness and the humanity that helped my mother and her family survived. after 100 days in a hotel room together, the night before their move, sepehr and his family, so far from their life in afghanistan, are finally about to start a new one. sepehr, how do you feel about going to aberdeen? good. what are you excited about? i'm excited about toys. this is your new house. from the taliban, a dangerous evacuation, a new country, cramped hotel rooms, to his own bedroom. look in there! what do you see? toys! narcis left everything behind, her work as a gynaecologist, her relatives. now she must start again. and you make it the way you want it, you change anything, make it the way you want it. thank you so much. your generosiy and your kind help, we will never forget it. you're so... no, no words express it, but... still, we have good humans inside this world. yeah. and you are an example. thank you so much. you are part of our family now. thank you so much. you are so welcome. that report from lucy manning. panto season has arrived — oh, yes, it has! it's a hugely important period for theatres, many of which make a fifth of their annual income in the weeks before christmas. but there is uncertainty this year for the teams that run theatres and the performers, against the backdrop of covid. our entertainment correspondent colin paterson has been watching rehearsals. # don't stop me cos i'm having a good time. # having a good time, yeah #. rehearsals for cinderella at southampton's mayflower theatre with a familiar face readying himself for his role as the wicked stepmother. craig, tell us where we are. well, we are in where all the dresses are, darling — all these wonderful frocks, look at them. so if you put a bit of covid weight on, darling, you'll need to have them extended, like me. the 2020 panto season was wiped out by covid, so craig revel horwood is thrilled that this year everything is still set to go ahead. and he knowsjust how crucial this is for venues all round the country. panto is so important to theatre as a whole because it provides, actually, the money that is necessary to get the theatre through the rest of the year — for the entire year. it will pay for that whole season. i'm talking about all the people backstage, the lighting, the ushers, everything, every part of it, the box office staff. i mean, it's endless. are you ready, boys and girls? yes! then i give you cinderella. debbie mcgee plays the fairy godmother and wishes she could cast a spell to ensure everything goes ahead, because she fears if what happened last year is repeated, it could be curtains from many venues — and not in a good way. i've done a lot of touring in the provinces and a lot of the tiny theatres that i've worked in over the years have gone. i mean, it's quite heartbreaking. it is, because life is changing. and i think it would be really sad if we lost live theatre. so, you know, wejust pray and hope that we all get through this winter. early reports suggest that panto ticket sales are down, but not by as much as expected. and many theatregoers, but not all, are ready to return. the one we're going to is local. so i think it's not going to be very crowded there. frozen! frozen the musical! it's the jack and the beanstalk in a village hall. i feel safe around everyone, and if you wear a mask and whatever. i haven't caught the covid thing yet, so... yeah, it's all right. it's all right. ijust think it's too much of a risk, even though i've been triple jabbed and i've had covid. but i still don't want to get in that environment. it's tradition, isn't it? it's a lovely tradition. oh, yes, it is! there are changes this year. audiences are being asked to wear masks and most shows have axed the children's ensemble from the cast to reduce risks.