as a series of devastating tornadoes strike the central united states, this has been the most devastating tornado event in our state's history and for those that have seen it, what it has done here in grace county and elsewhere, it is indescribable. and we'll be taking an in—depth look at the papers with our reviewersjoe mayes and ros altmann — stay with us for that. health officials have renewed their call for everyone who's eligible, to get their covid boosterjab. new modelling suggests the uk could be facing a bigger wave of infections, than back injanuary. a further 633 omicron cases have been recorded in the past 2a hours — the uk's biggest dailyjump in omicron infections so far. but there's still uncertainty, about how many people may need hospital care, and how much pressure will be on the nhs. here's our health correspondent, katharine da costa. at vaccine centres around the uk, including this one in grimsby, the race is on to get even more jabs into arms and boost our defences against what may become the biggest wave of covid infections we've seen so far. it's more worrying, i think, because we don't know exactly what's going to happen, so it's betterjust to be safe. ijust want to protect people as well that i'm going to be in contact with. the new variant, omicron, is spreading fast, doubling every 2.5 days. new modelling has looked at what that might mean for hospital admissions and deaths in england under plan b, with greater use of masks and working from home. it's early work, but researchers say further measures may be needed. what we do know is that very stringent restrictions come with their own downsides that can be devastating for individuals, for their families and for businesses especially leading into christmas, so i think policymakers have some very, very difficult decisions to make. so, what does this mean for cases? well, researchers expect there to be a substantial wave, bigger than last winter when daily cases peaked at more than 50,000. there is still a lot of uncertainty about how many people might end up in hospital because we still don't know whether omicron causes a more severe illness, and many people are fully vaccinated, which should help. by the end of april, deaths may range from 25,000 to 75,000 depending on how well vaccines perform, but scientists are hopeful they will still provide good protection against serious disease. we know that the booster doses do give very effective protection. we don't know how long it's going to last. it may not be very long—lasting, but those booster doses are going to be critical, but we can'tjust rely on the vaccine campaign to control this, we have to also wear masks and do all those other things that we have learned to do. this winter, we're in a better place thanks to vaccines, boosters and new antiviral drugs. the government says current measures in england are proportionate but won't hesitate to take further action if needed to protect lives and the nhs. earlier i spoke to professor rupert pearse, an intensive care consultant at a large london hospital, who was speaking on behalf of the intensive care society about how the nhs is coping this winter. it's not just covid. we are dealing with a lot of other problems, too. our emergency departments and hospitals are under huge pressure and there are long queues of patients waiting for beds in the hospital which makes things very busy in emergency departments. primary care, our gp colleagues are under a lot of pressure as well, so at the moment, this winter, it is notjust about intensive care and finding intensive care beds, it is about the wider strain on the nhs and how we juggle the range of problems, one of which is covid. and one thing knocks to another, presumably. one of the consequences you do not know yet is whether the restrictions imposed on care homes will delay discharge, for example, for elderly patients who perhaps need to go into a residential care facility and at the moment are still in hospital. there are so many unponderables with this, even before you get into whether or not omicron is more dangerous for patients than delta has been. that is exactly right. the problem that the nhs has its uncertainty. we have to be prepared for any eventuality, so it doesn't really matter so much what we think is going to happen. unless we can be sure of it, we still need to be prepared for a range of different eventualities which might include a big covid wave, but it might also mean that we still need to do whatever we can do to keep surgery going, so that patients who need urgent cancer care, for example, are still guessing that, and that is really the challenge, it's the uncertainty. the nhs needs to be as agile and as flexible as possible and i think it has been the most agile and flexible it has been in the last two years than i can ever remember, but still the challenges come. what proportion of the patients who are in icu at the moment are with covid, or the effects of covid, how many are vaccinated as opposed to unvaccinated? well, i can only tell you in my experience of where i work, it is about 20% or so, one in five patients who are vaccinated. what is notable at the bedside is they seem to be less ill, they do not seem to need a ventilator when other patients do, but certainly, i mean, this week i was looking after one patient who hasn't needed to be ventilated and had been extremely relieved to have had the vaccine and spoke very strongly of his initial doubts about getting vaccinated and how glad he was that he had done it, and so i think a big plea to everybody, we realise that sometimes there are worries about treatments like vaccinations, but it really is making a difference, it is saving a huge number of lives. do you understand how difficult it is for people to start to limit their behaviour on the possibility that this could be very bad, but not knowing at this stage whether it will make ay difference? —— any difference? do i understand? yes. i am a member of society, too. one of my daughters had her a—levels cancelled, one of my close relatives had major surgery delayed for some time, i have personally experienced all the challenges and difficulties that public health measures have brought for all of us, so, yes, of course, we understand, but i think we still need to be aware that the nhs is not going to function and be as reliable and be that safety net that we are used to if it gets overwhelmed during the winter. new guidance has been issued for care home visits in england — as a result of the surge in infections of the covid variant omicron. from wednesday, residents will be limited to three visitors in addition to one friend or relative nominated as their essential care giver. megan paterson reports. in care homes around the country, festive celebrations are well under way. but as well as the usual trimmings, for some families, fears about covid guidelines and separation from loved ones are making an unwelcome return. i run a family of seven and it is a limit of three, i run a family of seven and a limit three, so i'm very worried about how this is going to impact on them. the department of health say people living in care homes in england will only be allowed to receive visits from three people plus one essential care worker. staff will have to take three lateral flow tests and one pcr test every week. and there will be a £300,000,000 fund to recruit and retain care workers. and there will be a £300,000,000 fund to recruit and further clarity is expected on the guidance next week but for now it's up to care home staff to plan how they will implement the measures and to reassure the people they will affect. it will be disappointing for relatives, it will be extremely disappointing for the residents, but it's the world that we live in. we can't risk getting this virus back into our care services. the vaccination programme remains key to controlling the spread of omicron. extra resources will be sent to bolster protection but in care homes like this one in norwich, another change to visiting rules hasn't brought much cheer. i wouldn't like that. but i'd have to put up with it. once again, the delicate balance between offering covid protection but maintaining vital family contact comes into focus. the government insistent these guidelines will help manage growing risk. scientists warn the rapid spread of the new omicron variant could put the nhs under severe strain. renewed calls to get your boosterjab as soon as possible, to cut infections. more than 70 people are known to have died after 30 powerful tornadoes hit six us states. and it's winner takes all as lewis hamilton starts behind title rival max verstappen in tomorrow's crucial abu dhabi grand prix. good evening. health officials have renewed calls for anyone who's eligible to get their covid boosterjab. new modelling suggests the uk could be facing a bigger wave of infections than back injanuary. the omicron variant is spreading quickly, but there's still uncertainty about how many people may need hospital care and how much pressure will be on the nhs. here's our health correspondent katharine da costa. at vaccine centres around the uk, the race is on to get even more jabs into arms and boost our defences against what may become the biggest wave of covid infections we've seen so far. face people were lining up to that shocked this vaccine centre in grimsby. —— people were lining up to gratify shots at this vaccine centre in grimsby. it's more worrying, i think, because we don't know exactly what's going to happen, so it's betterjust to be safe. ijust want to protect people as well that i'm going to be in contact with. the new variant omicron is spreading fast, doubling every two and a half days. new modelling has looked at what that might mean for hospital —— for how things might turn out in england under plan b, which sets out a range for possible outcomes. what does that mean for cases? researchers expect a substantial weight, biggerthan researchers expect a substantial weight, bigger than last winter when daily cases picked up more than 50,000. there is still a lot of uncertainty about how many mate and “p uncertainty about how many mate and up in hospital because we do not know whether omicron causes more severe illness. many people are fully vaccinated, which should help. by fully vaccinated, which should help. by the and of april deaths may range from 25,000 to 75,000 depending on how well vaccines perform, that scientists hope they will still provide good protection against serious disease. the research also looked at the impact of introducing new restrictions. working from home was enough to reduce the impact of omicron in the most optimistic scenario, but in the most pessimistic edge with tape lockdown with schools open to prevent intense pressure on hospitals. irate with schools open to prevent intense pressure on hospitals.— pressure on hospitals. we know very strinuent pressure on hospitals. we know very stringent restrictions _ pressure on hospitals. we know very stringent restrictions have _ pressure on hospitals. we know very stringent restrictions have their- stringent restrictions have their own downsides, they can be devastating for individuals, families and businesses especially in the leadership to christmas so policymakers have very difficult decisions to make. u, , decisions to make. government focus now is on bumping — decisions to make. government focus now is on bumping up _ decisions to make. government focus now is on bumping up the _ decisions to make. government focus now is on bumping up the booster - now is on bumping up the booster campaign to half a million jabs now is on bumping up the booster campaign to half a millionjabs per day with more age groups expected to be invited to. scientists say three doses are needed to protect against omicron infection. we doses are needed to protect against omicron infection.— omicron infection. we know the booster doses _ omicron infection. we know the booster doses give _ omicron infection. we know the booster doses give very - omicron infection. we know the | booster doses give very effective protection, we do not know how long it will last, it may not be long lasting, but the booster doses will be crucial. it we cannotjust rely on the vaccine campaign to control those, we must work masks undo all the other things we have learned to do too. ., y w, the other things we have learned to dotoo. ., u, , do too. health officials say the small contagion _ do too. health officials say the small contagion variant - do too. health officials say the small contagion variant could i do too. health officials say the - small contagion variant could cause more significant pressure for the health service. the scottish government is considering further restrictions from next week, the westminster government says current measures in england remain proportionate but it will take further action if needed to protect lives and the nhs. katharine da costa, bbc news. the government's latest coronavirus figures for the uk show there were 54,073 new infections recorded, in the latest 24—hour period. on average, 50,803 new cases were reported per day in the last week, and nearly 7,500 people were in hospital with covid, as of yesterday. there were 132 deaths, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test, which means the average number of people who died in the past seven days was 119. on vaccinations, just over 22.5 million people, have received their boosterjab. our political corrrspondent chris mason is here. chris, it has been a difficult week to say the least for boris johnson and things could get stickier? yes. and things could get stickier? yes, in the last couple _ and things could get stickier? yes, in the last couple of— and things could get stickier? 1&1: in the last couple of minutes the sunday mirror has published a story, the mirror has made much of this in the mirror has made much of this in the last couple of weeks, suggesting a quiz to place in downing street this time last year, roughly, in which the prime minister popped in for a little while. i have been in touch with downing street in the lovely minutes and they acknowledge that. in one of the picture is a member of staff is pretty close to the prime minister with tinsel wrapped around his neck. the argument from downing street as this is primarily a virtual close but some staff were in the pending handling of the pandemic and took out from their desks, but awkward questions about that. four votes in the commons on covid restrictions in england, one on mandatory vaccines around front line nhs staff, labour will back the government, they did not use to like the idea but they now do given scientific evidence about the omicron variant, so that will pass easily, as will the three votes on plan b. the most contentious what is the idea of covid passports, around 60 conservative aunties including some ministers really do not like it but labour will back them so it will still manage to happen —— around 60 conservative mps. the political consequences that it will be awkward for the prime minister because whenever a government has to rely on the opposition to prop it up in the comments it leaves it looking feeble. ~ . , comments it leaves it looking feeble. , ., , feeble. many thanks, chris mason, our political _ feeble. many thanks, chris mason, our political correspondent. - president biden says the wave of tornadoes which has hit several states, is likely to be one of largest in us history. more than 70 people are known to have died, with the governor of kentucky, saying the level of devastation, is unlike anything the state's ever seen. our correspondent, nomia iqbal reports from kentucky. the scale of the destruction has been extraordinary. in the dead of night, dark funnel clouds rolled across six states in four hours at 220 mph, obliterated everything in their path. this small town of mayfield in kentucky has been hit hard. workers on christmas shifts up this candle factory were buried by several tornadoes that came hurtling in the dark. it is thought up to 110 people were inside, a0 have made it out. people were inside, 40 have made it out. , ., , people were inside, 40 have made it out. , . , , .,, out. this has been the most devastating _ out. this has been the most devastating tornado - out. this has been the most devastating tornado event i out. this has been the most| devastating tornado event in out. this has been the most - devastating tornado event in our state's history, and for those who had seen it, it is indescribable. at, had seen it, it is indescribable. a state of emergency has been declared in kentucky as a huge rescue operation gets under way, but authorities face huge challenges. a police station in mayfield has been destroyed and firefighters have lost equipment. there is no power. nearly 200 national guard troops are helping and more than half of the population in this town are without electricity and water in one of the coldest months of the year. millions of americans knew extreme weather was coming, they have been issued with weather alerts for several weeks. this country is used to tornadoes, there was one in kentucky earlier in the week, but this warmer tornadoes has stunned people due to its speed and ferocity —— this swarm of tornadoes. a nursing home was badly damaged in the southern state of arkansas, killing at least one person, injuring several and trapping more than a dozen inside. in the midwest state of illinois, amazon warehouse was ripped apart after the roof partially collapsed. at least two people are dead. president biden has called it an unimaginable tragedy. we president biden has called it an unimaginable tragedy.- president biden has called it an unimaginable tragedy. we still don't know how many _ unimaginable tragedy. we still don't know how many lives _ unimaginable tragedy. we still don't know how many lives were - unimaginable tragedy. we still don't know how many lives were lost - unimaginable tragedy. we still don't know how many lives were lost on . unimaginable tragedy. we still don't i know how many lives were lost on the full extent of the damage, but i want to emphasise what titled all the governors, the federal government will do everything, everything it can possibly do to help. everything it can possibly do to hel _ ., . ., , , everything it can possibly do to hel, ., , everything it can possibly do to hel. ., help. forecasters say the storm has now weakened _ help. forecasters say the storm has now weakened but _ help. forecasters say the storm has now weakened but americans - help. forecasters say the storm has now weakened but americans are i help. forecasters say the storm has - now weakened but americans are being urged to get whitey for more severe weather as the storms continue to sweep across the country —— get ready for more severe weather. a man has died after being shot during an incident involving armed officers in west london. the metropolitan police say they responded to reports of a man with a firearm entering a bank and bookmakers, before getting into a vehicle and leaving the area. armed police stopped the car near kensington gardens 15 minutes later and shots were fired. britain and america have expressed "deep concern," over russia amassing tens of thousands of troops on the border with ukraine. foreign secretary liz truss discussed the threat during talks with g7 foreign ministers in liverpool today. from liverpool, here's our diplomatic corresondent james landale. russian forces on manoeuvre near the border with ukraine. at least according to the russian government which says this is alljust regular training. western governments are not so sure. they estimate more than 100,000 russian troops are now massed on the border, enough, they claim, for an invasion. that is something these ministers say they are to eternity prevent. the foreign secretary and her g7 counterparts wanted to act together and put on a show of unity that russian aggression would be wrong and come at a high price. it aggression would be wrong and come at a high price-— at a high price. it would be extremely _ at a high price. it would be extremely serious - at a high price. it would be extremely serious if - at a high price. it would bej extremely serious if russia at a high price. it would be - extremely serious if russia were to take that action. it would be a strategic mistake and there would be severe consequences for russia. what we are giving this weekend is working with like—minded allies to speu working with like—minded allies to spell that out. the working with like-minded allies to spell that out.— spell that out. the options these ministers are _ spell that out. the options these ministers are considering - spell that out. the options these ministers are considering are - spell that out. the options these - ministers are considering are mainly economic sanctions against russia, sanctions diplomats described as being of a completely different order. so could they threaten to stop this, the new gas pipeline between russia and germany? funny late but yet to open. abandoning this would hit russia hard but here at�*s economy would suffer too. tomorrow the g7 foreign ministers are expected to issue what is described as a forceful statement warning against russian aggression. they will not spell out specific sanctions but diplomats say all options are on the table. certainly today the message was as united as the greeting was safe.— the greeting was safe. today, the treat the greeting was safe. today, the great democracies _ the greeting was safe. today, the great democracies that have - the greeting was safe. today, the j great democracies that have been gathering here had sent a strong message of support to ukraine. {iii message of support to ukraine. of course we are all very concerned with _ course we are all very concerned with the — course we are all very concerned with the military build up at the ukrainian — with the military build up at the ukrainian border, that is why we are calling _ ukrainian border, that is why we are calling for— ukrainian border, that is why we are calling for the escalation. they ukrainian border, that is why we are calling for the escalation.— calling for the escalation. they are all, one minister— calling for the escalation. they are all, one minister said, _ calling for the escalation. they are all, one minister said, in - calling for the escalation. they are | all, one minister said, in deterrent mode. the question is whether the messages being heard in moscow. on that, much depends. james landale, news, liverpool. now, with all the sport, here's olly foster, at the bbc sport centre. good evening. the climax to the formula one season is set up perfectly. lewis hamilton and max verstappen are on the front row of the grid for tomorrow's title deciding abu dhabi grand prix but it's the dutchman who is on pole. our sports correspondent natalie pirks is at the yas marina circuit. he has been here so many times before. but nothing quite like this. with hamilton and verstappen locked on the same points, qualifying was a chance to put down the first big marker. verstappen looked off the pace until the end, where he benefited, with a little help from a friend. the slipstream of red bull team—mate sergio perez helped him gain time. his pace was blistering. is that good enough to take provisional pole? trying to chase his time down, hamilton locked up and could only claim second behind his rival, exactly where red bull wanted him. crosses the line, he is not on pole. even for a sport well versed in drama, this has been something else. a fantastic lap in qualifying from verstappen to put him on pole. these are the moments lewis lives for. i'm still on the front row. we've got the difference obviously between the tyres. but i'm grateful i can see where he is! and then we can try and navigate from there. navigating rivalry is something alain prost knows plenty about. his infamous battles with the late ayrton senna lit up the sport in the 1980s and the frenchman believes verstappen and hamilton share a rivalry for the ages. i think it's maybe one of the best or maybe the best in a while. in my opinion, the human side is, you can view it even with more attention, you know. so that's why it's nice. but everybody has been waiting for that for many, many years. all eyes on them. locked on points. sporting history beckons for one of them. all the goals from the premier league and scottish premiership are coming up after the news but stay right here for the results. steven gerrard, who played for liverpool for 17 years, made his first return to anfield but the aston villa manager was on the losing side — mohammed salah's penalty giving liverpool the 1—0 win. manchester city stay a point clear of liverpool at the top after raheem sterling's penalty beat wolves. southampton lost at arsenal, chelsea's late winner against leeds also came from the spot and a cristiano ronaldo penalty won the game for manchester united at norwich. in the scottish premiership dundee united lost to livingstone. ross county are off the foot of the table after beating dundee. stjohnstone are now bottom after defeat to aberdeen. england's cricketers have lost the first ashes test by nine wickets. they started the fourth day in brisbane with high hopes, but a batting collapse left australia chasing just 20 runs for victory. here's our sports correspondentjoe wilson. it is not just it is notjust that it is not just that australia it is notjust that australia won this test match, it is that it all happened so quickly. oncejoe root was out in the first half an hour of saturday's play, england's ambitions unravelled. of course there are other good batters in the england team but there is only one ridge and the collapse to 297 all out was just what england had feared and perhaps, in truth, what australia had expected. one saturday's play began england had just opened the door, by lunch australia had slanted to close. i lunch australia had slanted to close. ~ , ., close. i think we showed good character. _ close. i think we showed good character, good _ close. i think we showed good character, good fight - close. i think we showed good character, good fight and - close. i think we showed good character, good fight and skillj close. i think we showed good i character, good fight and skill to get in position when we were still in the game coming into the morning, it isjust busily in the game coming into the morning, it is just busily —— bitterly disappointing. it isjust busily -- bitterly disappointing.— it isjust busily -- bitterly disappointing. it isjust busily -- bitterly disa ”ointin. ., ., , , disappointing. conditions will be different in adelaide _ disappointing. conditions will be different in adelaide and - disappointing. conditions will be | different in adelaide and england can change the team but by the time australia had completed the formality by scoring just 20 in the second innings to win this test, they were brimming with brisbane confident and that could be the hardest thing for england to change in the weeks of the ashes that remain. lot's more on the bbc sport website, including details of a shock result in the women's super league and all the european champions cup rugby results. clive? thanks, ollie. that's it. the education secretary, nadim zahawi, and the labour leader, sir keir starmer, will be among andrew marr�*s guests tomorrow morning. that's at nine o'clock, on bbc one. but from me and the team, have a very good night. hello there. after a very cold start to december and a cold end to november, we're moving into a milder, rather cloudy, wet phase. certainly through this weekend into next week, it stays relatively mild, but settles down thanks to high pressure. sunday's a very mild day, but it will often be cloudy with outbreaks of rain. now, the mild air has been working its way in from the west through today, tangled in these weather fronts, which have brought quite a bit of cloud and outbreaks of rain. you can see the milder colours spreading to much of the country, particularly across england and wales. now, through this evening, it stays cloudy, rather damp for england and wales, further pulses of rain running from west to east. further north, apart from a few showers around northern and western scotland, it'll be largely dry here with some clear spells. some temperatures in single digits across the north. compare that to tens and twelves across parts of england and wales, so we'll start off on a very mild note for england and wales sunday morning. a lot of cloud around. we'll have a weather front spreading northwards over the irish sea, affecting north wales first, then pushing into northern ireland, parts of northern england, then gradually across scotland as we head through the afternoon. it'll be slightly cooler and brighter to the north of it. to the south of it, double—figure values, very mild indeed for the time of year. could see 1a or 15 degrees, but there will be limited spells of sunshine. when we look to the west, this deep area of low pressure during sunday night skirts past the northwest of the uk, could bring a spell of gales, even severe gales to parts of western scotland. that will clear away, though, during monday morning, leaving a legacy of some fresher air across scotland and northern ireland. sunny spells, blustery showers for western scotland, wintry on the hills. england and wales will see a lot of cloud — a weather front trapped here, so some areas could be quite wet with persistent rain. but we will notice, despite the cloud and rain, temperatures of around 10—13 degrees. that weather front clears away for england and wales as we head on into tuesday. stays quite windy and wet for the north of the uk through tuesday and wednesday, but this area of high pressure will begin to build across the south. it'll settle things down. looks like it will influence the weather as we move towards the end of the week right across the uk, and you'll notice the milder colours sticking with us. so, temperatures will be above the seasonal norm for the upcoming week.