will be patches of mist and fog around. what little rain there is will be pushing away over the next few days. as we look at the satellite picture, we have got a mild south—westerly winds coming in ahead of the stick a band of cloud thatis ahead of the stick a band of cloud that is heading all the way across the atlantic towards northern parts of scotland. at the moment it is not moving very far, just sitting to the far north of scotland, patchy rain across western parts of scotland, many other areas of the uk will be dry, mild with south—westerly winds, a peep of sunshine here and there but generally cloudy. overnight, the rain becoming light and patchy as it heads across western scotland into northern ireland, the far north—west of england. across other parts of england, north wales, the midlands, mist and fog, temperatures down to 5 degrees. much milderfurther south across southern parts of england and wales, where it will stay grey and gloomy with some drizzle. out of that, sunshine for a while, and much of northern england, but through lancashire, cumbria, centraland lancashire, cumbria, central and schooled lancashire, cumbria, centraland schooled in scotland, northern ireland, cloud, patchy light rain. in northern scotland, some sunshine coming through. all areas will be breezy and very mild, ii or 12 degrees. what rain there across northern areas will get pushed away into thursday by this area of high pressure that is starting to build in, so a little bit of patchy rain heading up towards the northern isles. elsewhere, probably dry with a lot of cloud around, the best of the sunshine in the east, but still much milder than normalfor this much milder than normal for this time much milder than normalfor this time of year. and that high pressure continues to take charge, building into the uk as we head toward the end of the week, and once it is arriving, not moving very far at all. some stronger winds around it into the english channel, cornwall, western parts of scotland. more sunshine across northern parts of scotland, but for many parts of the country quite grey, misty and gloomy, and still quite mild, but temperature is beginning to drop away a little bit, and into the weekend, essentially more of the same, just feeling cooler. remind that's all from the bbc news at one, so it's goodbye from me, good afternoon. hello i'm sarah mulkerrins at the bbc sport centre. arsenal have stripped pierre—emerick aubameyang of the club captaincy and said he won't be considered for selection against west ham tomorrow night. aubameyang was dropped for saturday's win over southampton for what manager mikel arteta described as a disciplinary breach. reports suggest he returned late from a trip to france. the club said, "we expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed". manchester united defender viktor lindelof is undergoing tests after he suffered breathing difficulties during their win at norwich on saturday. he was forced off during the second half, but the incident isn't believed to be connected to the covid—i9 outbreak at the club. united said he had recovered well and was having a series of precautionary investigations. those covid cases at united have led to the postponement of tonight's game at brentford. united had already closed their training ground and delayed their trip to london. a record 42 players and staff across the premier league have tested positive in the last week, with cases reported at brighton, tottenham, leicester, aston villa and norwich — although the game between norwich and villa tonight will go ahead as things stand. also tonight, leaders manchester city take on leeds and amid further discussions about vaccination rates amid premier league players, manager pep guardiola says health and safety for everyone must come first. i'm concerned, not because we're going to cancel and break maybe the premier league, i'm concerned that society still is, the virus is here and people suffer and we have seen with tottenham first and after norwich, leicester, i think united, what i hear, so there are many. and some people here, the staff, they've got it. right now. and we have spoken with the players almost every day, be careful. the sports minister, nigel huddleston, has refused to rule out reducing capacities or even closing venues to spectators altogether in future. his comments came on the back of plan b coming into effect tomorrow, which will require fans to show proof of double vaccination or a negative test to attend sporting events with crowds of more than 10,000. clubs, like brighton, are telling fans exactly what they expect of them from tomorrow. we are also going to ask people to complete an online declaration in advance of the game, which will have to be done for match ticket holders for every game, but for season ticket holders hopefully just once. and then once they're inside the stadium, once again, we're asking people to be responsible, wear their masks when they're moving around and also ideally wear their masks in the stadium bowl. it seems to be a small price to pay for keeping each other safe, protecting the nhs, and hopefully keeping the stadium open with a full capacity. the second ashes test begins on thursday and despite the capitulation in the first, england captainjoe root believes there is reason to be optimistic. they may have lost by nine wickets and suffered two batting collapses, but root has stressed the positives heading into that day—night test match with australia in adelaide. without sounding too cliched, there were things there we just have to do for longer. and we could be looking at a very different scoreline. and that's the sort of confidence that you have to take forward. and i think that's why it doesn't feel like previous tours, leaving brisbane where we have been absolutely battered and completely on the wrong end of the result. i think we're actually leaving there with a slightly different perspective. that's all the sport for now but there's more over on the bbc sport website. and i'll be back later. the government is launching what it says will be common—sense reforms to the human rights act that will restore confidence in the legal system. others say the changes are an attack on our fundamental rights. so, what is the human rights act, and what's changing? the act includes basic rights to life, a fair trial, and freedom from ill—treatment. its wording comes from the european convention of human rights — a treaty agreed by almost every nation in europe after world war ii. the convention is enforced by a court in strasbourg, france, which includesjudges from the uk and all other nations. it's nothing to do with the european union. the proposed changes will mean the supreme court in the uk will have the final say on our rights. other changes will make it easier for the government to deport foreign national offenders, by introducing circumstances in which they can not claim a right to family life in the uk. the plans will see a new legal test which would allowjudges to block what the government calls spurious cases. earlier, we heard from thejustice secretary dominic raab about the changes. we have a proud tradition of liberty in this country. i'm hugely proud about it. it goes to our dna. i think we have an opportunity to look again, as we do periodically, over the centuries, how we strengthen our tradition of freedom, in particular, for example, freedom of speech. i think in various ways we have seen that whittled away, eroded. i think that should be strengthened, reinforced. that is a quintessentially british liberty. that shows how we can strengthen human rights. i think there are other areas, like trial byjury, which applies different ways across different parts of the uk. but i think some recognition of that. that is part of the british story. there are other areas where i think we have seen the expansion, elastic interpretations of human rights that damage the credibility. a particular example i would give is the frustration of deportation orders by foreign national offenders claiming the right to family life. i think there is a good example of elastic interpretations of rights that has resulted in what i would argue is abuse of the system. i think there is a broader democratic point, which we have seen the goalposts on human rights shift. if that is going to happen, it should be decided by elected lawmakers. it should not happen because of debate by lawyers in a courtroom. this is not a criticism of the judges, it is a criticism of the human rights act. we can strengthen our tradition of liberty, but add some common sense, and that is what our will achieve. the shadowjustice secretary steve reed told mps in the commons that the justice system was in crisis. if the secretary of state really wanted to restore confidence in the system, his priority would be sorting that out. but instead, he is choosing to fiddle with the human rights act instead of stretching every muscle and sinew to make sure that rapists and violent offenders are banged up behind bars where they belong. every time the government is in trouble politically, they wheel out reforming the human rights act. it is a dead cat distraction tactic by a government that doesn't know how to fix the criminal justice system they have broken and is desperate to divert attention away from the corruption scandals they started. this is little more than an attempt to wage culture wars because they have surrendered from waging war on crime and corruption. the secretary of state says he will restore the role of parliament and the uk courts in interpreting rulings from strasbourg. but they already have those powers under the margin of appreciation that gives national courts freedom to implement convention rights based on local laws and customs. so he is offering nothing new. he is telling us today it is not necessary to leave the echr to deport foreign criminals. so why hasn't his government done anything about that in the past 11 years in office? a quarter fewer foreign criminals were deported in the last year compared to the previous year. so it is clearly not the hra that is stopping foreign criminals being deported, it is this incompetent conservative government. scientists are warning of dramatic changes at one of the biggest glaciers in antarctica. they are calling it the domesday glacier. scientists warn a floating section in front of thwaites glacier which has been relatively stable could soon shatter like a windscreen. our science correspondent has the details. they have been throwing everything at it the past years. they are in the middle of a research programme, the united states and uk. they are putting people on the ice, studying it with satellites. they even have robots going under the glacier to look at what is happening at the floating front end. their assessment is they are about to see big changes in the next 5—10 years. they expect 1000 square kilometres section simply to shatter, because it has so many cracks. that will make all the ice behind speed up. this is a story about now, but it is also a story about the future, about what is happening in this warming climate we have on planet earth. if you think of an area the size of florida, great britain, there is enough ice in this drainage basin to raise global sea levels, from this one glacier, to raise global sea levels by 65 centimetres. which is a huge amount. of course, were that glacier to crumble away, it would probably bring the rest of west antarctica into play. there is much at stake with this particular glacier and because it is that keystone, the one that could as it were unplug that side of the antarctic, it is the glacier most studied now by leading researchers in the us and united kingdom. a lot of what i am describing is centuries away. do not expect thwaites to crumble away next week or the month after. but we are in the business now of looking long—term. if you have to plan for city defences in low—lying regions around the world, you plan on many decades scales, many century skills, and that is why it is important. many century skills, and that is why it is important-— it is important. more than 100 eo - le it is important. more than 100 peeple are _ it is important. more than 100 people are missing _ it is important. more than 100 people are missing in - it is important. more than 100 people are missing in the - it is important. more than 100 people are missing in the us l it is important. more than 100 - people are missing in the us state of kentucky after the series of devastating tornadoes. officials say at least 7a people have died. in mayfield, one of the worst hit areas, a candle factory was destroyed while more than 100 people were working inside. president biden will go to kentucky on wednesday to see the impact. cbs news are in mayfield and gave us the latest on the search for survivors. it is ongoing. in fact, look at this home right here behind me. you can see the orange spray paint that search—and—rescue crews have noted the date and the fact that they have gone through this home and found no inside, that's what the zero with a mark through it stands for. and they are going structure to structure, particularly in the daylight hours. it's pitch black right now, and they do stand down in the middle of the night. but we saw them going structure to structure yesterday, and they'll continue today, as they continue to look for more people who could potentially still be alive underneath the rubble that is apparent in this community and in the surrounding neighbourhood. just some numbers to give you — the latest we've heard is that 88 people are dead due to these tornadoes, and that stretches over five states. 7a people have been killed here in kentucky, and the death toll is expected to climb as they continue to identify people. and that was from cbs. you are watching bbc news. more on the omicron variant of coronavirus. the head of the south african medical association has been giving evidence to parliament. she said the variant should be tackled through vaccination and boosters and by ensuring people wear masks and avoid crowded gatherings. but she said she did not think wider restrictions on movement were necessary. if you look at what is happening at ground level. we don't have a problem. family practitioner spikes as well as in hospitals, then we do not see the need for restrictions. there is an economic downfall to it as well. and, again, people are already upset. we're going over now to the house of commons where mps are starting to debate new rules that the government wants while protecting liberties we hold dear. we have learned from our experience and from the experience of others and we are still of course learning. we can take huge pride that thanks to the defences we have built, so much of this year's, this year has been a year of recovery. we have enjoyed greater freedom than at any time in a pandemic so far. thanks to the rapid progress of the vaccination programme, investment in treatments, and our decision to open up treatments, and our decision to open up during the warmer summer months, we are in a far stronger position than last winter. but even as i stood at the dispatch box injuly, to announce the major milestone of taking step four in the road map, i said andi taking step four in the road map, i said and i quote, we know that the greatest risk to the progress we have made is the possibility of another new variant, especially one that can escape immunity and puncture the protective wall of our vaccination programme. we have always known variants have had the potential to knock us off course and we have built capacity to identify and respond to those that pose a threat. the majority of new variants present no risk. since the summer, there have been hundreds of new variants, but only one, omicron, has been designated a variant of concern. for example, last month, i updated the house on a y 4.2. a new form of the delta variant, which preliminary analysis showed at that time might be more infectious. i said then that we would keep it under review and that is what we decided and that is what we did and we took no action. but, omicron is a grave threat. we acted early to slow its spread. strengthening our testing regime and placing 11 countries on the red list. but despite those swift steps, the data over the past days has shown more cause for concern. i would like to reinforce with the house today to all why omicron represents such a risk to the progress we have all made so far together. i risk to the progress we have all made so far together.— risk to the progress we have all made so far together. i will, yes. i am grateful- _ made so far together. i will, yes. i am grateful- i— made so far together. i will, yes. i am grateful. i am _ made so far together. i will, yes. i am grateful. i am listening - am grateful. i am listening carefully to the comments and the fact he _ carefully to the comments and the fact he has— carefully to the comments and the fact he has brought these measures to the _ fact he has brought these measures to the house. i asked fact he has brought these measures to the house. iasked him fact he has brought these measures to the house. i asked him yesterday whether— to the house. i asked him yesterday whether if_ to the house. i asked him yesterday whether if the government had to bring _ whether if the government had to bring further measures in other than those _ bring further measures in other than those proposed today, during the recess. _ those proposed today, during the recess, whether he would give a commitment at the dispatch box to recaii— commitment at the dispatch box to recall the _ commitment at the dispatch box to recall the house so that we could be involved _ recall the house so that we could be involved on— recall the house so that we could be involved on behalf of constituents involved on behalf of constituents in making — involved on behalf of constituents in making that decision. he agreed to take _ in making that decision. he agreed to take the — in making that decision. he agreed to take the matter away to discuss it with _ to take the matter away to discuss it with the — to take the matter away to discuss it with the prime minister. is he able _ it with the prime minister. is he able how— it with the prime minister. is he able now to commit that if the government were to take further measures— government were to take further measures to deal with omicron during recess. _ measures to deal with omicron during recess. the _ measures to deal with omicron during recess, the government would recall the house _ recess, the government would recall the house of commons so that we are able to— the house of commons so that we are able to have _ the house of commons so that we are able to have all evidence and participate in taking decisions on behaif— participate in taking decisions on behalf of— participate in taking decisions on behalf of constituents? | of participate in taking decisions on behalf of constituents? i of course understand _ behalf of constituents? i of course understand the _ behalf of constituents? i of course understand the importance - behalf of constituents? i of course understand the importance of - behalf of constituents? i of course understand the importance of the | understand the importance of the question. as he said, he asked yesterday and understandably again today. i am yesterday and understandably again today. iam not yesterday and understandably again today. i am not able to give that commitment alone. it would not be a decision for me and my department but it is something the government would consider together seriously. i want i will. i’m would consider together seriously. i want i will. �* ., would consider together seriously. i want i will. �* . ., want i will. i'm grateful. iwonder whether he _ want i will. i'm grateful. iwonder whether he might _ want i will. i'm grateful. iwonder whether he might consider - want i will. i'm grateful. iwonder whether he might consider going | whether he might consider going further — whether he might consider going further. since the data is changing all the _ further. since the data is changing all the time, almost by the minute, it is inconceivable that in a week, and a _ it is inconceivable that in a week, and a week— it is inconceivable that in a week, and a week after that, we will be in the same _ and a week after that, we will be in the same place as today. this house needs— the same place as today. this house needs to _ the same place as today. this house needs to consider the information available — needs to consider the information available in real time so we could io available in real time so we could go away— available in real time so we could go away and consider whether it would _ go away and consider whether it would be — go away and consider whether it would be appropriate now to ensure the house _ would be appropriate now to ensure the house can consider these matters next week— the house can consider these matters next week and the week after that. i will consider that but... he next week and the week after that. i will considerthat but... he is will consider that but... he is right to point out it is a fast moving situation. it is right for the government to monitor and respond to that when necessary but i hope he would agree that here and now, the matter debated, regulations in front of the house, this is the best response that can be given by this parliament today. i will and then i need to make progress. i am crateful then i need to make progress. i am grateful for — then i need to make progress. i am grateful for giving _ then i need to make progress. i am grateful for giving way. if he is going — grateful for giving way. if he is going to — grateful for giving way. if he is going to consider these matters will haec include consideration of the issue _ haec include consideration of the issue that — haec include consideration of the issue that virus spreads if people are not— issue that virus spreads if people are not able to isolate. will he think— are not able to isolate. will he think about addressing the issue of statutory— think about addressing the issue of statutory sick pay, spreading the scope _ statutory sick pay, spreading the scope and — statutory sick pay, spreading the scope and lifting it to a proper rate _ scope and lifting it to a proper rate so — scope and lifting it to a proper rate so people can isolate, not spread — rate so people can isolate, not spread the virus and end up in hospitals? _ spread the virus and end up in hospitals? | spread the virus and end up in hospitals?— spread the virus and end up in hositals? , ., hospitals? i understand. he will know already — hospitals? i understand. he will know already currently - hospitals? i understand. he will know already currently there - hospitals? i understand. he will| know already currently there are measures in place such as the ability to get sick pay from day one. but i understand what he has said. he has asked us to look at that further and we will. all of these matters are under review. i want to turn to some of the information... i will take an intervention later. some of the things we have learned about the new variant and the first thing, these are things we know, it is fast moving, in the past week we have determined these things with a high degree of confidence. first, it is more transmissible than the delta variant. we can see the growth in omicron cases in the uk is mirroring the rapid increase in south africa and the current observed doubling time is around every two days. yesterday, we reported there were 4730 confirmed cases in the uk, the uk hsa estimate for the number of daily infections was 42 times higher at 200,000. scientists have never seen a covid—19 variant capable of spreading so rapidly, so we have to look at what we can do to slow omicron's advance. i will. i look at what we can do to slow omicron's advance. i will. omicron's advance. iwill. iam crateful omicron's advance. iwill. iam grateful to _ omicron's advance. iwill. iam grateful to him _ omicron's advance. iwill. iam grateful to him for— omicron's advance. i will. i am grateful to him for giving - omicron's advance. i will. i am grateful to him for giving way l omicron's advance. i will. i am grateful to him for giving way and he makes — grateful to him for giving way and he makes a strong point about why we need to— he makes a strong point about why we need to do— he makes a strong point about why we need to do more to address the threat _ need to do more to address the threat of— need to do more to address the threat of omicron but does he accept the government mixed messaging has been unhelpful, telling people a soon _ been unhelpful, telling people a soon army of omicron is on the way but at _ soon army of omicron is on the way but at the _ soon army of omicron is on the way but at the same time we can go on partying, _ but at the same time we can go on partying, undermines the message. will he _ partying, undermines the message. will he have the moral courage to say we _ will he have the moral courage to say we need to reduce social contacts _ say we need to reduce social contacts and will he make it possible _ contacts and will he make it possible for people to do that with sick pay— possible for people to do that with sick pay and ensuring businesses have _ sick pay and ensuring businesses have financial support needed if fewer— have financial support needed if fewer people are going into those business — fewer people are going into those business premises? what fewer people are going into those business premises?— fewer people are going into those business premises? what we need to do other measures _ business premises? what we need to do other measures in _ business premises? what we need to do other measures in front _ business premises? what we need to do other measures in front of- business premises? what we need to do other measures in front of the - do other measures in front of the house today and i hope the house will support those. those are the most important we can take right now. i most important we can take right now. ._ ., , most important we can take right now. ., ., , , now. i will give way. has he seen the statement _ now. i will give way. has he seen the statement from _ now. i will give way. has he seen the statement from the - now. i will give way. has he seen the statement from the head - now. i will give way. has he seen the statement from the head of. now. i will give way. has he seen i the statement from the head of the south _ the statement from the head of the south african medical board today who says — south african medical board today who says the government measures on lockdown _ who says the government measures on lockdown might be counter—productive and omicron is a mild form of covid-19. _ and omicron is a mild form of covid-19. it— and omicron is a mild form of covid—19, it will have huge benefits for herd _ covid—19, it will have huge benefits for herd immunity and protection, and delaying its spread might give time for— and delaying its spread might give time for a — and delaying its spread might give time for a more pathogenic and virulent— time for a more pathogenic and virulent variant to take hold in the uk? l _ virulent variant to take hold in the uk? 4' virulent variant to take hold in the uk? ~ ., . ., . , uk? i think ifi heard him correctly he talked about _ uk? i think ifi heard him correctly he talked about measures - uk? i think ifi heard him correctly he talked about measures on - he talked about measures on lockdown. i am he talked about measures on lockdown. iam not he talked about measures on lockdown. i am not sure where he has seen these measures because they are not here today presented by this government. on whether this is milder, i will come to that shortly. i give way. building on that point from _ i give way. building on that point from my— i give way. building on that point from my honourable friend, the question— from my honourable friend, the question is this. when would we know whether— question is this. when would we know whether omicron gives severe or mild disease? _ whether omicron gives severe or mild disease? therefore, if it is mild, how— disease? therefore, if it is mild, how quickly— disease? therefore, if it is mild, how quickly would the decision be made _ how quickly would the decision be made that this would be an advantage to get— made that this would be an advantage to get rid _ made that this would be an advantage to get rid of delta and get herd immunity— to get rid of delta and get herd immunity that does not create strong disease? _ immunity that does not create strong disease? if— immunity that does not create strong disease? ., ., ., disease? if he will allow me i am about to come _ disease? if he will allow me i am about to come precisely - disease? if he will allow me i am about to come precisely to - disease? if he will allow me i am about to come precisely to the i disease? if he will allow me i am i about to come precisely to the point he raises. the second thing about omicron i want to share is that although we do not yet have a complete picture of its severity, evenif complete picture of its severity, even if severity is significantly lower than the much higher transmissibility of omicron means it still has the potential to overwhelm the nhs. take the current observed doubling time. of two years... i am sorry. take the... let's take the current doubling time of two days, right? and let's say for argument�*s sake that omicron was only half as severe as delta. after the lag between cases and hospitalisation has taken effect, this would mean it would only buy you two days, before omicron hospitalisations reached the same level as delta. i will later. in england, ten people are confirmed to have been hospitalised with the omicron variant. i know some honourable members have said because confirmed hospitalisation is low, we do not need to act. but it is the fact omicron hospitalisations are low means it is now the best time to act and we have seen in previous waves. we have seen this. the lag between infections and hospitalisation is about two weeks, when infections are rising so quickly, we are likely to see a substantial rise in hospitalisations before any measure has an impact. so there really is no time to lose. i will give way. i thank him. i understand the point he is making. on forecasts, will he accept many academics — on forecasts, will he accept many academics have doubted the previous forecasts, _ academics have doubted the previous forecasts, describing them as hysterical, inflated, and severely flawed _ hysterical, inflated, and severely flawed. we have had a problem within accurate _ flawed. we have had a problem within accurate forecasts, would he accept that? _ accurate forecasts, would he accept that? , ., , , accurate forecasts, would he accept that? , i, accurate forecasts, would he accept that? , , ., that? yes, i absolutely accept that. with previous _ that? yes, i absolutely accept that. with previous variants _ that? yes, i absolutely accept that. with previous variants of _ that? yes, i absolutely accept that. with previous variants of covid - that? yes, i absolutely accept that. with previous variants of covid we i with previous variants of covid we have seen forecasts and estimates, from academics, think tanks, that have been completely off the mark. i would say gently thatjust because forecasts in the past have been wrong, it does not mean to say every forecast is always wrong and i hope he will note that. i forecast is always wrong and i hope he will note that.— he will note that. i will give way. i am he will note that. i will give way. i am grateful- — he will note that. i will give way. i am grateful. he _ he will note that. i will give way. i am grateful. he talks _ he will note that. i will give way. i am grateful. he talks about - i am grateful. he talks about hospitalisations and the danger they may cause _ hospitalisations and the danger they may cause to the nhs, but will he reflect— may cause to the nhs, but will he reflect on— may cause to the nhs, but will he reflect on the fact it is notjust hospitalisations but the length of stay in _ hospitalisations but the length of stay in hospitals that determines how many— stay in hospitals that determines how many beds are occupied? evidence from south _ how many beds are occupied? evidence from south africa suggests there are fewer _ from south africa suggests there are fewer hospitalisations, but people are in— fewer hospitalisations, but people are in hospital for a shorter time. is are in hospital for a shorter time. is that _ are in hospital for a shorter time. is that reflected in his calculations? it's not just about it's notjust about entering hospital but how long that individual will stay in hospital and with the delta variant i believe it's roughly around nine days and if that was cut for example to 56 days then of course that would help with capacity. first of all, we cannot assume that because what we are seeing in terms of the hospitalisation and the impact in south africa, hospitalisations are rising very rapidly and hundreds of people are on ventilators. it's hard to read across given that the average age of the south african population is about 27 years so it's hard to read that across. but i hope you would agree with me that similar to the point i have just made on severity that even if the hospitals stay is half of what it is at the moment at the rate this thing is growing and if it continues to grow at that rate that could be —— that benefit could be cancelled in two days. he