hello and welcome. i'm sean ley standing in for christian fraser. the drama surrounding the british prime minister borisjohnson has added fresh scenes — and new characters. after the claims about a rules — breaking christmas party, there are now questions over whether he misled an investigation into refurbishments at his downing street flat. if that wasn't enough, some conservative mps are furious over his new coronavirus restrictions. and to cap it all, mrjohnson�*s wife carrie, hasjust given birth. our political editor laura kuenssberg has been following it all. nightmares on downing street. behind every window, a different dilemma. what's the truth about last year's christmas party in the building? who paid for thejohnsons�* expensive interior design upstairs? how can they control another surge in the pandemic? can they keep their own party under control? when thejohnsons moved in upstairs, they had thousands of pounds of renovations. when the lavish expenses emerged, this was the prime minister's claim. who initially paid for the redecoration of his downing street flat? he should know that i paid for downing street refurbishment personally, mr speaker. yet the tories have been fined thousands for breaking spending rules after a wealthy businessman tried to set up a special trust to pay for doing up the flat. the real tangle is whether boris johnson has been straight about what happened. he told a previous investigation he hadn't known exactly where the cash came from until february this year. but today's report showed he sent a wealthy donor a whatsapp about the cash several months before. downing street's defence? it suggested he knew this wealthy donor was overseeing the money, but not that he was directly providing the cash himself. boris johnson's taking the british public forfools. he's not only broken the law but made a mockery of the standards we expect. and even though there's been tears — and a resignation — number 10's hardly recovered from denials about parties under its roof. i am truly sorry. was there a party in downing street? are you planning to resign? other staff caughtjoking about what happened are still trying to move fast enough to hang on. willa formal investigation catch up with what really happened at not one, not two, but three of what the government is still calling gatherings? a gathering at number 10 downing street on 27 november 2020, a gathering at the department for education on 10th december 2020 and allegations made of a gathering at number 10 downing street on the 18th december 2020. but it is the emptying of offices next week, the return of tighter covid restrictions, vaccine passports to get into venues, that is starring strong feelings. dozens of tory mps have already vowed to vote against the plans next week, and this is all provoking private questions about the prime minister's future, with a warning from the past. the mood in the conservative party is a sulphurous, and what we need now is a bit of grip from number 10. it's no good having the stories dragged out by the media. the government needs to make a clean breast of it. the conservative party history is littered with ruthlessness on these occasions, but i'm confident that boris will get a grip. there is exasperation within the tory party about what has been happening and near—universal agreement that someone, somehow, has to take control of what's happening here. but a universal belief that that will certainly happen? that's a different matter. downing street will soon be home for a new baby girl, born happy and healthy to thejohnsons this morning. but what many conservatives also want to see is rigour and clear logic in residence behind that famous door. i was clearly thinking of something else when i said borisjohnson�*s wife gave birth to a baby son because it was a girl. maybe i was thinking of our political correspondent, rob watson, who is a chap! why heaven promises of an enquiry drawn a line under some of these concerns over christmas parties at downing street? —— having promises of an enquiry. i was ”uttin promises of an enquiry. i was putting it _ promises of an enquiry. i was putting it all _ promises of an enquiry. i was putting it all together, - promises of an enquiry. i was putting it all together, all- promises of an enquiry. i was putting it all together, all the things that the prime minister is facing it reminded me of that eagle sun life in the fast lane which i know is a reference to illicit drug taking their —— eagles song like in the fast, dominic lane. truth? taking their -- eagles song like in the fast, dominic lane. why hasn't it ut the the fast, dominic lane. why hasn't it put the dead _ the fast, dominic lane. why hasn't it put the dead might _ the fast, dominic lane. why hasn't it put the dead might bed _ it put the dead might bed allegations of an enquiry? i think because the opposition party sent blood on his own party and perhaps this is the most important thing of all, his own party is thinking is this guy really fit for high office. and, thirdly, because this is the kind of stuff that resonates with the public. why? because it is the heart charge of hypocrisy, the idea one rule for those in power and wonder of the vest was on that would matter on some things were because it is about covid—19 it is about people thinking hang on a minute, last year when they were having parties i wasn't allowed to go and visit my dying mum or brother or whatever, you can see why this is a massive problem and why it won't die down. 0ne down. one of the prime minister's backbenchers doubt it of his face on wednesday accused him of introducing further restrictions on covid—19 or announcing them as a diversionary tactic. if it was, it is a pretty high—risk one, isn't it, given the strength of frustration and anger that i have about restrictions on the conservative parliamentary benches already? you the conservative parliamentary benches already?— the conservative parliamentary benches already? you know, i was watchin: benches already? you know, i was watching that _ benches already? you know, i was watching that in _ benches already? you know, i was watching that in prime _ benches already? you know, i was watching that in prime minister's l watching that in prime minister's questions yesterday, sean, and i must say, like a lot of people inside the chamber i was taking an intake of breath because it goes back to that point i was making a second ago. in many ways, the real problem that borisjohnson has is that sense of his authority and his support in the governing conservative party ebbing away. now, of course the prime minister will say, has said, indeed he said yesterday that this wasn't a diversionary tactic and he was just acting according to the science. well, that hasn't silenced his critics inside his party or beyond. again, you see what it emphasises that we are expecting a huge number of conservative mps simply not to support this, not to support the government enacting new restrictions in order to prevent the spread of covid—19 and if you think about it, thatis covid—19 and if you think about it, that is pretty major. and, if he is going to get ten, 20%, may be more of his own mp saying, you know what, we don't support you on the biggest issue of our times, that will give you a sense, sean and everybody watching, of the real problem mr johnson has in terms of his leadership and his standing in the conservative party. bab leadership and his standing in the conservative party.— leadership and his standing in the conservative party. bob watson, as ever, conservative party. bob watson, as ever. good — conservative party. bob watson, as ever. good to _ conservative party. bob watson, as ever, good to see _ conservative party. bob watson, as ever, good to see you. _ conservative party. bob watson, as ever, good to see you. you - conservative party. bob watson, as ever, good to see you. you can - ever, good to see you. you can continue watching all the development on bbc one. for now, thanks very much. an unofficial tribunal in london — investigating china's treatment of the uyghur minority — has found evidence of, crimes against humanity and genocide. the findings detail, systematic human rights abuses — including forced labour and torture. the chair of the tribunal, sir geoffrey nice, explained how women were sterilised without their consent, and families deliberately separated. witness statements also described rapes and assaults in detention camps. pressure is growing on beijing, after both the us and many other countries announced diplomatic boycotts of the winter olympics in beijing. the us house of representatives has also approved legislation, banning imports from xinjiang. human rights groups believe china has detained more than1 million uyghurs over the past few years. caroline hawley has been talking to one man, an ethnic kazakh, who gave evidence to the tribunal. he was detained in 2017 and subjected to forced labour, political indoctrination and violent beatings. this is a first—hand witness of china's oppression of turkic muslims in xinjiang. he's an ethnic kazakh, one of dozens of former detainees who gave evidence at hearings in london about what they went through. he was arrested in 2017, accused of installing whatsapp, which is blocked in china, and of watching videos about islam. the first prison was the worst. he says he was once punished for complaining he was hungry, and remembers being put in something called a tiger chair. this is where he says he was held before being removed to a re—education camp. what was china's aim, do you think, in putting you through this in xinjiang? he sniffs. towards the end of his incarceration, he told me he was forced to work in this building, where he would sew trousers and uniforms. then, before his release, he said he had to sign papers promising not to reveal what had happened to him. he's one of at least one million uyghurs, kazakhs and other ethnic minorities believed to have been detained in xinjiang. caroline hawley there. here's the chair of the �*uyghur tribunal�* delivering the verdict that found evidence of, crimes against humanity and genocide. 0n the basis of evidence heard in public, the tribunal is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the prc, by the imposition of measures to prevent births, intended to destroy a significant part of the uyghurs in xinjiang. as such, it has committed genocide. the tribunal is satisfied that president xi jinping and other very senior officials in the prc and ccp bear primary responsibility for acts that have occurred in xinjiang. the tribunal recognises that the perpetuation of individual criminal acts that may have occurred, rape or torture, will not have been carried out with the detailed knowledge of the president and others, but the tribunal is satisfied that they have occurred as a direct result of policies, language and speeches promoted by president xi jinping and others. furthermore, that these policies could not have happened in a country with such rigid hierarchies as the prc. without hierarchies as the prc. the implicit or explicit authority without the implicit or explicit authority from the very top. we asked china's embassy in london for a comment — a spokesman told us. it's been two weeks since the 0micron variant was detected — and so far, the eu medicines agency says, that cases of the strain appear �*mostly mild'. but the world health organization has expressed concern, that wealthy countries will start to hoard coronavirus vaccines, in response to the rapid spread of the variant. its vaccine director — kate o'brien said, it could threaten supplies to nations where most people have still not been vaccinated. while one country is pursuing a transmission reduction approach there the health care workers who are literally dying on the job in other countries because there has not been access to vaccines. they are not going to get out of this unless we actually have true vaccine equity and distribution of vaccines in a timely fashion to every country around the world and i think this latest example of a mccrum, a sort of, puts a fine point on that. that was kate o'brien _ of, puts a fine point on that. that was kate o'brien of— of, puts a fine point on that. that was kate o'brien of the _ of, puts a fine point on that. that was kate o'brien of the who. professor rashida ferrand, an epidemiologist and professor of international health at the london school of hygiene & tropical medicine she explained why vaccine supply is still an issue in less economically developed countries. currently, the fact that 0micron variant that has just emerged has led to, for example, a start in a third booster vaccinations and more recently decision—making around children. that certainly puts some stress in terms of vaccine supply being made available to low income settings. where i am based, live and work we see very steep rises in numbers of cases in the past week or so. almost like south africa where the 0micron variant was first reported. even in the previous waves we have seen a lack of two or three weeks —— a lack of two to three weeks —— a lack of two to three weeks compared to the writers in south africa. we have gone from 20 to 38 cases a data about 5000 cases a day. in terms of hospitalisations the number of hospitalisations have increased but not to such a large level as that observed when we had the third wave of the delta variant. for example, about 200 hospitalisations in the whole country in the face of such large numbers and only a small proportion of that soap, for example, out of 215 about 30 of them are severe cases so we haven't yet seen a massive, sort of, deluged on the health system.— health system. professor on bbc news. health system. professor on bbc news- still— health system. professor on bbc news. still to _ health system. professor on bbc news. still to come _ health system. professor on bbc news. still to come we - health system. professor on bbc news. still to come we head - health system. professor on bbc news. still to come we head to l news. still to come we head to america's top center school to get some tips on how to be the best father christmas this season —— centre school. —— santa. scotland's finance secretary kate forbes has delivered her budget speech at holyrood with pledges to tackle the climate emergency, support economic recovery and reduce inequalities. she told msps that income tax rates would remain unchanged. 0n income tax, this government's priority has been to make the tax system fairer and more progressive and to protect low— and middle—income taxpayers. with increases in the cost of living and rising fuel prices likely to impact lower income families the most, i believe that these principles are more important than ever. i can therefore confirm that income tax rates next year will remain unchanged. the starter and the basic rate bands will increase in line with inflation and the higher and top rates will remain frozen at their current levels. 0ur progressive income tax policy means the majority of scottish taxpayers will continue to pay less income tax than if they lived elsewhere in the uk, while those who earn more will pay more. new zealand is looking to bring in legislation that will stop young people from ever buying cigarettes even as they age into adulthood. the goal is to make the whole country smoke—free. lucy grey has more. new zealand is looking to bring in legislation that will stop young at the moment, you have to be 18 to buy cigarettes in new zealand, but under planned new laws, anyone under the age of 1a will never be able to buy cigarettes legally. the age limit will then be increased every year until the whole country is smoke free. we want to make sure young people never start smoking. so, we are legislating for a smoke—free generation by making it an offence to sell or supply tobacco products to those aged 1a, when the law comes into effect. the government particularly wants to help maori smokers kick the habit. i reckon it's a good move, really. because, right now, there's a lot of young kids walking around with smokes in their mouth. how are they getting these smokes? and it's also good for myself, too, so i can save more money. if people still want to smoke, well, they can just grow their own, which they are doing. maybe it's a good idea because, at the end of the day, _ smoking is bad for you - and it's really hard to quit. the new legislation, being introduced to parliament next year, will also only allow cigarettes with low levels of nicotine and reduce the number of shops selling them. vaping won't be affected. the aim is to get all ages to stub out the habit by 2025. lucy gray, bbc news. let's look at some of the day's other news hong kong media moguljimmy lai and two other prominent activists have been found guilty for taking part in a vigil to mark the tiananmen massacre in beijing. the trio argued they had not incited other to join the rally and were among thousands who defied a ban and took part in that vigil. they face a maximum of five years in prison new york's attorney general is seeking to question donald trump under oath as part the state's fraud investigation of the trump 0rganization, according to people familiar with the matter. the attorney general wants trump to appear in court injanuary. if there is evidence of wrongdoing civil lawsuits could be filed, but no criminal charges could be placed now it's the most wonderful time of the year, and for santa the busiest. and even santa needs a little training which is why thousands across america have become students at the charles w howard santa claus school — called the harvard of santa schools by the new york times. this year things are a bit different, they've also been getting to grips with being santa over zoom. it all happens under the tutalage of tom valent who joins us now. tom, forgive me. thank you very much for being with us. it is a bit premature to wish you were very happy christmas but i can start by saying what is different for would—be santas this year? well, you know, last year we had some real covid—19 restriction so we didn't really get too close to the children, and here in the united states we put them on an e—book last year we didn't do that. we stayed away from that. —— put them on our knee. there is not going to be a lot different other than that. each community has its ways of how to the covid—19 restrictions so i think we are going to be fine. i like to ask the kids who wear the mask to take it off when they talk to me so that you can understand them. so, you know, they will have their mask on this year but it is really important to understand what that child says and what mum and dad say. i like to visit the whole family at one time. i have to say, you have to watch out for the cheeky one saying i'll take my mascot if you take your bed of! love that must be in some ways one of the fun things about being a centre, isn't it? the unpredictability of children. yes, children are _ unpredictability of children. yes, children are great. _ unpredictability of children. yes, children are great. they - unpredictability of children. 1a: children are great. they are very unpredictable, you're right. you know, they have a look. they are not competitive, they share everything. whoever has the best idea, they all pitch in and go with it and to get them to talk and communicate is always a little challenge but it is fun once they get going and if you ask the whole family and you get the whole family talking that is even better. ~ ., ,., whole family talking that is even better. ~ ., ., whole family talking that is even better. . ., ., , whole family talking that is even better. ~ ., ., , ., better. what sort of thing is to teach people _ better. what sort of thing is to teach people at _ better. what sort of thing is to teach people at the _ better. what sort of thing is to teach people at the harvard i better. what sort of thing is to teach people at the harvard of| teach people at the harvard of center school is, as your organisation has been described? well, we like to teach what we call the harder centre which is the spirit of santa claus. the santa claus spirit, that is what is out there —— the heart of santa. that is why you and i are out there because there is a real interested in in it and it is like that in every country that has in most countries have a vision of santa claus of father christmas or whatever that most well—known character in the world is. you know, he is there and his spirit is the same. he stands for all good things. tell spirit is the same. he stands for all good things.— spirit is the same. he stands for all good things. tell us, if you are santa claus _ all good things. tell us, if you are santa claus now— all good things. tell us, if you are santa claus now and _ all good things. tell us, if you are santa claus now and i _ all good things. tell us, if you are santa claus now and i was - all good things. tell us, if you are santa claus now and i was little i all good things. tell us, if you are i santa claus now and i was little boy and had been talking to me about what i hoped for christmas. how would you lend on the same. you can't give me a hug or pat me on the head. how would you leave me with a memorable thought of old santa? here we have the ho. _ memorable thought of old santa? here we have the ho, ho, _ memorable thought of old santa? haze: we have the ho, ho, ho. memorable thought of old santa? f122 we have the ho, ho, ho. ialways we have the ho, ho, ho. i always would lead with that. but i would ask them if they would help me give gifts because they need to go that santa claus spirit in their hearts and have that remembrance. they are going to remember this conversation with santa claus for the best of their lives. i with santa claus for the best of their lives-_ with santa claus for the best of their lives. , ., , , their lives. i shall remember this conversation _ their lives. i shall remember this conversation too, _ their lives. i shall remember this conversation too, tom. - their lives. i shall remember this conversation too, tom. thank i their lives. i shall remember this | conversation too, tom. thank you very much and thank you very much also for all that you and your fellow censors do and i'm sure you wouldn't make the mistake and you tell me they wear gloves leave the blood is on —— you and all your fellow sa ntas. blood is on —— you and all your fellow santas. —— if you wear gloves, leave the gloves on. the reason i found out my dad was centre was because i saw my father's signet ring because it was too hot at the christmas party! don't spoil the illusion too soon. and before we go tonight — we have breaking news from an unusual beauty pageant. more than a0 camels have been disqualified from a contest in saudi arabia because they had been given botox injections — and other cosmetic enhancements. breeders had given the animals longer droopier lips, bigger noses, the offending camels weren't ready for their closeups just yet, so here are some previous photos from the event — which is said to be the biggest camel festival in the world. it is clearly now turned into the biggest camel carnival in the world. botox humps! whatever will they think of next? don't forget, you can get in touch with others on the team at bbc world news dot—com. we have got a big change in our weather patterns over the next couple of days as we replace chilly feeling weather with whether that is going to become very mild indeed for december. now there was a beautiful start to the day. we have a number of these sunrise pictures sent was this morning. the sunrise eliminating this cloud that has been moving in ever since and this cloud will be bringing some rain our way followed by colder air, north—westerly winds pushing on friday but that will be the last of the cooler days for a while. 0vernight, this band of rain must push its way eastward slowly claiming way from east anglia and kent in what follows later on in the night is a number of showers and some of those will be wintry into north—west scotland with some sleet and a little bit of hill snow and there will be a risk of some icy patches as temperatures slip down low enough to give some touches of frost. chilly north—westerly winds are driving the show was through. sleet and hill snow in those northern areas with showers getting pushed across north—west england, north wales, and down to the midlands and perhaps one or two each in the far south of england, temperatures still around 6—7 c but as we head on the weekend we get the wins changing to a south—westerly direction increasingly dragging up some mild air. pushing it northwards and eastwards across the uk so saturday probably starting off on a murky note with some mist and fog patches around the hills across the south—west and probably around the coast as well. some rain around, quite heavy across western areas but not really amounting to too much across eastern areas. starting to get signs of mild and they're working in the temperature 12 in plymouth, cardiff and belfast were still quite chilly around eastern scotland the temperature 6—7 was getting to sunday the south—westerly winds extend further. could be quite strong winds that we have across parts of the far north—west of the uk with ray never far away here. i lost a cloud around but this temperatures will continue to climb and highs of 1a degrees in cardiff, london and norwich which is warmer thanit london and norwich which is warmer than it has been so far this month and still something a little bit cooler because of an office in scotland and even deep into next week we're going to keep those mild weather conditions as we get a bit closer to christmas. this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a political storm continues to rage around borisjohnson , with calls for his resignation if he misled parliament over christmas parties. president biden pledges that the united states will launch initiatives to promote democratic renewal around the world because he says freedom is in retreat. a headache for spotify as comedians demand higher royalties from the streaming service. we speak to one of america's top comedians. hello and welcome. a political storm continues to rage here in britain surrounding the prime minister... borisjohnson. he's facing yet more scrutiny over claims of multiple christmas parties that would have violated covid restrictions. and now there are fresh questions over whether he misled an investigation into how refurbishments to his downing street flat were paid for. all this as the public are being asked to adhere to stricter covid measures to combat the 0micron variant. but what has been the reaction in the country? earlier i spoke to patrick english, political research manager at the polling company you gov — who told me what the public had been saying. we have been looking into the story quite in—depth over the last week or so and what we are finding is the public did not believe what boris johnson is saying why the government is saying in regards to these christmas parties. 80% of the public believe that parties that happen and that includes 70% and again 73% think that if they were parties they should be involved so the public — the public not believe it is happening in their — angry and frustrated about what's going on. in terms of the kind of specifics of this, i was looking at some of the figures you supplied us to help me prepare for his interview and you acknowledge stop pulling and inevitably snap pulling has to be taken with a certain degree of caution and you need to see if there is a trend but you do talk about a longer—term trend that has been developing about the public confidence in their prime minister and his support levels among the general public. telus can you put this into context of fact? figs general public. telus can you put this into context of fact?- this into context of fact? as you sa , we this into context of fact? as you say. we have — this into context of fact? as you say, we have done _ this into context of fact? as you say, we have done some - this into context of fact? as you | say, we have done some porting recently and once you have a longer—term picture prime minister is presnel ratings but we are seeing their taking a hit. now the prime minister presnel ratings and the consecutively has been going down and getting my negative since december. this is a right impacting of increasingly concerned and having increasingly lack of confidence and trust in the government if you think about things in terms of inflation and supply shortages and immigration policy failures the public has been getting more and more frustrated and it is if there is a test and a big mixing pot of issues which the public is growing more frustrated with the government and boris johnson's making siding down. in terms of this specific period at the moment the government has just announced a version of plan b to increase some restrictions in england at least for the foreseeable future, is there any evidence about public attitude and restrictions of that kind in light of the allegations that have been made about what happened in the impacting in downing street last year? let about what happened in the impacting in downing street last year?— in downing street last year? let me find is the british _ in downing street last year? let me find is the british public— in downing street last year? let me find is the british public are - find is the british public are generally very supported of measures such as facemasks or is appointed as a letter of vaccine passport and also of increasing social distancing wills and what we have found is a free ask hypothetically let would be supportive or i would be calling him with wills regarding not mixing inside with different households there is some resistance to that. when we ask people they wouldn't be so keen for those measures maybe might not be searching and might not go along with those measures 150 of them cited specifically the christmas parties at downing street last year is the reason. president biden has pledged that the united states will launch initiatives to promote democratic renewal around the world because freedom is in retreat. he told a virtual summit for democracy involving more than a—hundred countries that democracy faces �*sustained and alarming challenges�*. he says autocrats are trying to advance their power by creating social division and public dissatisfaction with democratic governments. barton gellman is a staff writer with the atlantic and joins me now. it's it�*s a very important subject. your story is a cover story for atlantic on the current issue. you have written and also about the challenges that democracy faces at home. some of those have been part of today�*s senate and have sent to the president or at least thought it. we may have got problems but you have got problems too. the it. we may have got problems but you have got problems too.— have got problems too. the president would do well — have got problems too. the president would do well to _ have got problems too. the president would do well to look— have got problems too. the president would do well to look at _ have got problems too. the president would do well to look at home - have got problems too. the president would do well to look at home and . have got problems too. the president would do well to look at home and he j would do well to look at home and he has done so and we made a big speech injuly he said connections subversion in the united states has become the greatest test of democracy since the us civil war. he has not leapt into action with those words. �* , ., ~' has not leapt into action with those words. �* i. ,, ., , words. and you think action is needed because _ words. and you think action is needed because after- words. and you think action is needed because after all- words. and you think action is| needed because after all quite words. and you think action is . needed because after all quite an important election in november of next year and less than a year away a campaign is beyond for some time. are you worried some of the challenges that were made by donald trump and his supporters may yet be made at the end of elections? there was a sustained _ made at the end of elections? there was a sustained and _ made at the end of elections? there was a sustained and coherent - made at the end of elections? ii22 was a sustained and coherent plan by donald trump to steal the election in 2020 to overturn the verdict of the voters. and since that time trump and his operatives around the country have made some progress in enabling him to do so again with more effect in the next presidential election. �* , . ., more effect in the next presidential election. �*, ., ,, ., election. let's talk about international _ election. let's talk about international situation i election. let's talk about| international situation we election. let's talk about i international situation we had election. let's talk about - international situation we had this week, president biden, talking to president putin in russia and the key aspect that they would both discuss is the status of ukraine. ukraine is a democratic country but part of which was annexed with a fake display of democracy as many would claim the referendum on whether people wanted to be part of russia and out skepticism about that just as there was about how communist is elections to gain control of countries in what became the eastern block after the second world war. you think america is sufficiently alive to the threats to democracy even in a continent like europe? democracy even in a continent like euro e? �* , . democracy even in a continent like euroe? �*, ., ., ., . europe? there's a lot of concern about the _ europe? there's a lot of concern about the backsliding _ europe? there's a lot of concern about the backsliding of - europe? there's a lot of concern i about the backsliding of democracy around the world. in countries that seem to be well established democratically and now are sipping and i know in the biden administration there is concern in particular about poland and hungary along those lines. the particular about poland and hungary along those lines.— along those lines. the writer of this atlantic _ along those lines. the writer of this atlantic cover _ along those lines. the writer of this atlantic cover story - along those lines. the writer of this atlantic cover story about i this atlantic cover story about democracy, thank you so much for being with us. ajapanese billionaire has become the latest space tourist. yusaku maezawa was welcomed on board the international space station — along with his assistant and a russian cosmonaut. he�*s due to spend 12 days orbiting the earth — as the bbc�*s tim allman reports. for most of us, our holidays begin with is checking into a hotel and making sure we have got our room key. things were a little more complicated for yusaku maezawa who had to contend with a carefully coordinated docking 350 kilometers above the earth surface. but he certainly got a friendly welcome as he floated on board the international space station. and lift off. a few hours earlier, he had blasted off from the space station. the first tourist russia had taken into space in more than a decade. the exact price for the trip remained a secret but some speculate he may have spent somewhere in the region of $50 million for his high—altitude holiday. space tourism is a relatively new business. it was in 2001 that russia flew the first tourist into space. the american entrepreneur dennis tito. ten years later, nasa retired its shuttle programme and needed to use russian rockets to reach the space station which meant there was no room for any cosmic tourists. but in 2020 with the successful docking of elon musk�*s space x dragon capsule nasa could ferry its own astronauts to the iss and russia once again could offer wealthy holiday makers a trip to the stars. but there�*s competition now for those tourist dollars. jeff bezos and sir richard branson launching their own rival businesses although they don�*t go as far as the international space station. as for yusaku maezawa he had the opportunity to speak to friends and family back home. once this trip is complete, he says he wants to fly around the moon. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: why spotify is no laughing matters for comedians — we�*ll talk to top us comedian lewis black next. the omicron variant and the efforts involved in stepping up the booster jabs is piling yet more pressure onto the nhs. it comes as the number of people waiting for non—urgent medical treatment in england has hit its highest level since records began. our health editor, hugh pym, reports from newcastle�*s royal victoria infirmary. is she quite sick? does she need any respiratory support? the pressure rarely eases. it�*s all the running around we do. record numbers of patients are coming through the doors. here, they believe there�*s been a fundamental change in people�*s health needs. i think it�*s the pent—up demand in health care that has exploded, and our system isjust being overwhelmed at every point. yeah, it was a bit concerning, sitting waiting. tricia had to wait two hours for an ambulance. she�*s had heart attacks before, and feared she was having another one, but doctors reassured her. i�*ve come in and been sorted. i can�*t complain, honestly. no waiting around or anything. yeah. the aim is to ensure that patients like tricia are seen quickly unless urgent cases are directed to other parts of the hospital. those arriving at a&e are expected to answer questions about their condition on touch screens. some could be asked to see a gp. it�*s made the system more efficient, but the pressure is still intense. and all of this is before any impact from the new variant. the message is that hospitals are at full stretch now, and any marked rise in covid patients could create significant strain. it must have been very frustrating. lorraine and other patients like her have had long waits for operations postponed last year because of the pandemic. the pain just gets worse and worse. the uk is sending too much of its unwanted rubbish to romania — that�*s what the authorities in bucharest say. they�*re demanding that british officials step up export checks — to stop to stop illegal waste from getting through. the uk government says it�*s pledged to bring in tougher controls. angus crawford reports. british household waste along long way from home, tonnes and tonnes of it is covered by customs officers that report in romania. environmental police state its worthless junk which cannot be recycled. to be she practicing here than disposing of a property in the uk. this made me feel that romania is the landfill of europe. this was one of many shipments and other containers to get through. the authorities believe some of the waste came here, a vast private landfill, now under police investigation. we can�*t get inside this site so we�*ve driven around the back. miles of rubbish stretch into the distance. the operators say it�*s only romanian waste but the environmental bard insist is rubbish from across europe and that includes from the uk. we had to anything with local campaigners. we are being followed the hallway. but when we get to the village ahead of them security follows us and calls in the site manager. we want to talk about british waste landfills. we have nothing to do with any waste brought from the uk or any type of foreign race. villagers say that�*s nonsense. i don't know but that's british waste over there. it is immoral, illegal and outrageous. and all the time security is watching. so what�*s the romanian government doing about british waste. we are shutting the door at all the amount of legal waste. what more can the british government do to stop these illegal exploits? i believe that the british government should have also increased the check in at their border regarding the exports. we are doing whatever we can in our part. still, the shipments come. this time it�*s old fridges from the uk. look at the dirt and mold. with no safety certificate say the authorities. there is money to be made from broken electricals. we are on our way to a village that leaves off the tread, bringing them to extract copper and aluminium. illegal and they are hostile. we need a police escort. in the field around, mounds of waste, most of it from romania but some from abroad. this is what�*s left over after a bonfire of plastic. we had told every night they set fire is here burning old television sets, cables, computers, they still quite an unpleasant smell in the air and the i told of the things they burn in here have been sent all the way from the uk. a dirty business polluting the land. it�*s destroying the quality of the water and the quality of the soil and the quality of the air and the quality of life. and still the burning goes on, and environmental crisis made in romania fueled in parts by waste from abroad. now — for years musicians have been rallying against music streaming services like spotify. they say that they aren�*t being paid a fair rate for their music — which after all is why many of us subscribe to sites like spotify in the first place. the company doesn�*t reveal how much it pays artist but its understood that they pay less than one cent a stream in fact it�*s nought point nought nought three one eight cents to be exact — meaning for every 1,000 streams an artist is paid just over three dollars. it�*s long been an issue that only musicians have complained about, but now comedians are getting on the act too, demanding that spotify pay them more for their work. the move didn�*t go down well with spotify who�*ve removed the works of comedians like kevin hart, tiffany hadish and john mulaney. jim king is the ceo of spoken giants who manages a number of comedian�*s relationship with spotify, and lewis black is one of america�*s most famous comedians. they both joined me earlier to talk about their battle against the music streaming giant. it�*s a collective organization make comedy and we are in negotiations with spotify to create a licensing arrangement with them for the underlying literary works for comedians and out of the blue on thanksgiving eve they took down hundreds of comedians works and we are working to give back to the table because they don�*t understand why they took this aggressive move. they say the talks should continue and that�*s what they are seeking further negotiations. you are saying this is a kind of preemptive strike? yes it is penalizing our great comedians like louis and so many others that we represent and i just don�*t fathom why they would take this move. we had a friend than a royalty—free license to move forward during negotiations and nothing has happened so we are looking forward to talking to them again. aha, happened so we are looking forward to talking to them again. b. lat happened so we are looking forward to talking to them again.— to talking to them again. a lot of --eole to talking to them again. a lot of people have _ to talking to them again. a lot of people have found _ to talking to them again. a lot of people have found their - to talking to them again. a lot of people have found their work i to talking to them again. a lot of. people have found their work taken of spotify as a result of this dispute. which prisoner but he was not the intention when it began. . that was not the intention. what is odd is that my work was taken off and then they took of bunch of folks and then they took of bunch of folks and a lot of peoples up and they put me back on. which is strange. i guess they thought i was replacing all comedy. it�*s very odd, and disturbing and it really is kind of one of the things thatjulie and because you kind of wondering about your own and you don�*t really pay attention spotify this or that and they went to wait, look at these, this is people we are writing in. we are not seeing your stuff. and so it was important to check in on this. we write these things. these are written and there are hundreds of comic, young comics especially. this is the way in which they are found and the way in which they are able to make an income and survive in a think spotify reallyjust has to bring us back on it and allow folks to be heard and let us sit down and negotiate and what i really would like to do at this point is to bring myself down off of there because it seems odd that i am on there and they have taken and i would like to be off there until they bring everybody back because they have done it in a mishmash kind of way and it does not seem to have anything to do with it, there is no idea why they did what they did. you are demanding that spotify take down your work unless they are prepared to treat everybody in the same way? yes, that�*s important. i think i don�*t know if that has any effect on anything but my initial reaction when i was looking around i was going there are people, robin williams is not on there. well you know, he should be on there. and i am on there. and there are hundreds i started noticing were not on there and i think it�*s wrong. and if i am on there it looks odd. and that only looks odd, it�*s wrong. i think that i have to stay off if they have been put off i have to get off.— put off i have to get off. there are some great _ put off i have to get off. there are some great monologues _ put off i have to get off. there are some great monologues that i put off i have to get off. there are l some great monologues that people think of some great fine american comedians who are known for their monologues and then when they get recorded of course on records and the good old days you get royalties but presumably that�*s the problem here. with this kind of system at the moment, if you write lyrics for a song or if you record something like that for a commercial release you automatically get the money, the system is there, presumably at the moment there is not a system. we are modelin: moment there is not a system. we are modeling the — moment there is not a system. we are modeling the after _ moment there is not a system. we are modeling the after the _ moment there is not a system. we are modeling the after the music- modeling the after the music industrx _ modeling the after the music industry. and it collects for songwriters and composers and they resist _ songwriters and composers and they resist and _ songwriters and composers and they resist and we are the equivalent and what's _ resist and we are the equivalent and what's happening is mediums are being _ what's happening is mediums are being paid fortheir what's happening is mediums are being paid for their sound recording but they— being paid for their sound recording but they are not being paid for their— but they are not being paid for their writing and for the last seven or eight— their writing and for the last seven or eight decades songwriters have been _ or eight decades songwriters have been paid — or eight decades songwriters have been paid for both and it's but only fair and _ been paid for both and it's but only fair and appropriate that the people we represent in so many more should be paid _ we represent in so many more should be paid for— we represent in so many more should be paid for their original creative works _ a new milestone has been reached in the construction of barcelona�*s famous basilica, la sagrada familia. just in time for christmas, a colossal 12—point star, with a width of more than 7 metres has been illuminated, perched on top of the newly completed tower of the virgin mary. tanya dendrinos reports. an imposing icon of the barcelona skyline. and this the newest piece of the sagrada familia puzzle. the completed tower of the virgin mary adorned with 800 windows. on its pinnacle, a five and a half tonne 12—point star, illuminated for the first time. below, a sea of onlookers, thankful to witness history. translation: it is like - an opening for everyone, a light of hope for everyone, with no exception. translation: it was very emotional, because it has been under _ construction for such a long time and, little by little, it is coming to fruition. even the eyes of the vatican were on the occasion. translation: peace and good wishes _ and this cordial- franciscan greeting. i join all of you from i rome at this moment. sagrada familia is the masterpiece of architect antoni gaudi. construction began in 1882 and almost 140 years on, it�*s still going. the aim was to have it complete by 2026, to mark the centenary of gaudi�*s death. but it�*s been further delayed after construction was halted due to the pandemic. when the elusive completion date does eventually roll around, it will be the tallest church in the world, bringing gaudi�*s vision to life. tanya dendrinos, bbc news. it was unfinished when he said my clients _ it was unfinished when he said my clients is — it was unfinished when he said my clients is not in a hurry. french heritage officials are meeting with representatives of the catholic church, to decide on how to proceed with the restoration of the notre dame cathedral in paris. the building was severely damaged by fire in 2019. proposals include softer lighting, and installations of street art. one architect said they would risk turning the cathedral into a theme park. those are the headlines. he would be few pictures inside the cathedral. thank you for your company. we have got some big changes in our weather pattern of it next two days. it will replace the chilly weather with something mild about before those details another excuse to that at some of the dazzling sun rise pictures he had since thursday morning. it on satellite picture, you can see here it�*s associated with weather fronts. taking you can see here it�*s associated with weatherfronts. taking rain across the uk and behind that week at cold airand across the uk and behind that week at cold air and northwestern winds flailing aim for friday. this is what we have got weather—wise. we will see sunshine in most areas some of them will follow seeds or hill snow. some of the show as we move across northwest england and wales all the way down into the midlands and broadly similar to what we had been used to excite seven celsius eating chilly in the northwest wind. it will be milder along with that across western areas will have some funk patches and perhaps murky around the coast as well eastern areas cold eastern areas of england. it will be short lived but we have milder weather spreading in on the strengthening southwestern brings. it's strengthening southwestern brings. it�*s a big turnaround in the weather patterns that we�*ve seen over recent times we have rain in the forecast and heavy at times across western areas but mild air and temperatures up areas but mild air and temperatures up to 12 in belfast, cardiff and plymouth and holding onto something cooler around the eastern areas of land in scotland but this sunday will continue to push up temperatures as the mild air continues to spread north and east. some ran around with strong winds potentially affecting the far northwest but for most of us on sunday we will see temperatures climbing into double figures which is warmer than december average price of 1a in london in cardiff and for norwich as well. from monday, there is a degree of uncertainty in there is a degree of uncertainty in the forecast. the uncertainty is how strong this area of low pressure gets and it would have an effect on how strong the winds are but it�*s likely we will see rain somewhere across central areas of the uk and it could be happy at times and the rain band marks mild air that we have in the north and the temperatures around 11 from the very mild air we have south with temperatures reaching around 1a degrees ourselves. that is a bit of uncertainty in the forecast for monday but beyond that into next week uncertainty fades but we are in this run for the most part of southwestern brings with mild air on the incursions of cool conditions will be running into the far north. now for next week temperatures with the double figures with some cloud but at times in the early stages of the week it will bring some rain. in the week it will bring some rain. in the north, again temperatures above average for the most part around 10 or 11 celsius in the cooler moments you might see temperatures in the far north chopping down into single figures. but not cold for december. tonight at ten — the prime minister faces yet more accusations over christmas parties, covid rule confusion and the downing street flat renovations. new claims about a christmas party at number ten — it�*s now understood borisjohnson�*s director of communications was involved. and fresh scrutiny over the downing street flat refurbishment — did borisjohnson mislead an investigation into how it was paid for? the prime minister is facing pressure on many different fronts after a torrid few days there is no sign of his political storm abating. also on the programme tonight... more than 800 cases of the omicron covid variant in the uk now, as public health scotland urges people to cancel their christmas parties. thejockey robbie dunne is banned for 18 months after a disciplinary panel found he�*d bullied his fellow rider bryony frost.