sir lewis hamilton, for services to motorsport. and — arise sir lewis! he may have lost his world title but britain's formula one hero is knighted at windsor castle. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the uk has recorded its highest ever number of confirmed covid infections. more than 78,500 people have tested positive for the virus, with the omicron strain causing considerable concern. south africa, where the variant was first identified last month, has also reported a record number of daily infections. italy and france also say they've seen record numbers. the us has confirmed cases in 36 states. while the philippines and cambodia have detected their first omicron cases. our health editor hugh pym has this report. with the rapid spread of the new variant, the booster programme has been given new urgency. here, a gp in oxford visits elderly patients in their homes to give them the top—up jab. but it will give you a very good protection and boost your immunity. with evidence of that good protection against omicron infection, the booster roll—out will continue. but according to recent research, there's much less of a shield a few months after a second dose, and there's high level concern about how much case numbers could rise. probably the most significant threat we've had since the start of the pandemic, and i'm sure, for example, that the numbers that we see on data over the next few days will be quite staggering, compared to the rate of growth that we've seen in cases for previous variants. even if most of the extra cases are mild, that could result in more staff absences from key sectors of the economy and public services. and while omicron may cause less serious illness than delta, a surge in cases would mean at least some extra hospital admissions. one group of modellers has come up with a range of scenarios, depending on what happens with the virus and the take—up of boosters. they say in the worst—case scenario in england, there could be more than 6,000 hospital admissions a day — compared with just under 4,000 at the peak last winter. in the best case, they say it would be around 2,000 admissions a day in england, and all of that assumes that previously announced restrictions haven't been changed. the picture seems bleaker, but vaccine coverage is much more widespread than in the january wave, deaths, for now, are a lot lower, and there are more therapies for covid patients. hugh pym, bbc news. across the world, governments have been reacting to the phenomenal increase in omicron cases. as we've mentioned, south africa has recorded its highest number of coronavirus cases in 2a hours since the start of the pandemic. since the start of the pandemic. and in europe, a vaccination drive for children under 12 has begun. louisa pilbeam reports. as omicron spreads, countries in europe are trying to stop it vaccinating young children. with children accounting the majority of cases in germany, spain, denmark and the netherlands, a handful of eu countries have approved vaccines for under 12's. in spain the health minister says the take—up has been extraordinary. translation: the res - onse extraordinary. translation: tue: response has extraordinary. translation: tte: response has been extraordinary and we are convinced that it will continue like this. as you know, 1.3 million doses arrive in our country on monday. we have about 3.3 million children in the group between five and 11 of age. in the group between five and 11 of ace. ., in the group between five and 11 ofaae. ., ., ,~ 11 of age. not many children aet 11 of age. not many children get severely _ 11 of age. not many children get severely ill— 11 of age. not many children get severely ill or _ 11 of age. not many children get severely ill or died. - 11 of age. not many children get severely ill or died. butl get severely ill or died. but infection spread quickly. in hungary, people have registered for children's jabs.— for children's “abs. since the riaht for children's jabs. since the right grandparents - for children's jabs. since the right grandparents and - for children's jabs. since the right grandparents and our l right grandparents and our family, it is safer to spend christmas with them if they are vaccinated. forthe christmas with them if they are vaccinated. for the time being, do not know a better solution. in germany, where there is more scepticism, the most vulnerable children are being jabbed first. translation: t’m children are being jabbed first. translation: i'm getting -hone first. translation: i'm getting phone calls _ first. translation: i'm getting phone calls from _ first. translation: i'm getting phone calls from friends - first. translation: i'm getting phone calls from friends and - phone calls from friends and acquaintances who have had so lots of parents like to have their children vaccinated because they are seriously concerned.— because they are seriously concerned. , , concerned. elsewhere there is concerned. elsewhere there is concern also _ concerned. elsewhere there is concern also on _ concerned. elsewhere there is concern also on different - concern also on different measures to hold omicron. in canada, citizens are advised against international travel. our government is officially advising canadians to avoid non—essential travel outside canada. to those who are planning to travel, i say very clearly, now is not the time to travel. tt clearly, now is not the time to travel. . , clearly, now is not the time to travel. ., , ~', clearly, now is not the time to travel. ., , ., ., travel. it was three weeks ago south africa — travel. it was three weeks ago south africa announced - travel. it was three weeks ago south africa announced the i south africa announced the emergence of the new strain of omicron to the world. they have recorded the highest number of cases in 2a hours since the start of the pandemic but the government insists cases of omicron are mild and other countries are panicking. let's talk more about this with dr anne rimoin. she's professor of epidemiology at the ucla fielding school of public health. she's in los angeles and joins us live now. the spread of omicron clearly a huge concern. christmasjust over a week away. what worries you about this and what can we do to educate against the virus taking hold even more?- taking hold even more? thank ou for taking hold even more? thank you for having _ taking hold even more? thank you for having me. _ taking hold even more? thank you for having me. i _ taking hold even more? thank you for having me. i think- taking hold even more? thank you for having me. i think the | you for having me. i think the things we need to be really worried about is that this incredible momentum that the omicron variant is now starting to gain. we decided to seek cases everywhere. people are already starting to travel for the holidays and have already made their plans and it is going to be very difficult to get people to pivot or change plans that we have to get very clear about what people can do to be as safe as possible and those things are getting vaccinated, getting boosted if you are vaccinated, wearing high quality mast, testing if you are going to be gathering with people, use rapid tests if they are available to you and be creative, open windows, doors and spread out and be thoughtful about how you're going to spending time with people and their risk factor because of this variant is a link contagious.— because of this variant is a link contagious. you have done work around — link contagious. you have done work around vaccine _ link contagious. you have done work around vaccine hesitancy. j work around vaccine hesitancy. why are some people hesitant about getting the vaccine? this is an interesting _ about getting the vaccine? tt 3 is an interesting question because i will not be able to give you just one answer. there are myriad reasons. some people are worried about side—effects. some people are worried because of his information spread about this vaccine. some people are concerned because of the experiences they have had stop it has been negative with the health system. some people do not have enough information so it is important to be very specific with communities and address their concerns individually and really be able to help people understand, from their perspective, what the vaccine can do for them, how it can help them get back to normal, how they could be helpful to their community and protect other people but a one size fits all strategy is not going to work.— size fits all strategy is not going to work. last year many eo - le going to work. last year many people could _ going to work. last year many people could not _ going to work. last year many people could not see - going to work. last year many people could not see family i going to work. last year many i people could not see family and friends over christmas. do you think there is a chance that even though they know the rest, some people might decide to take the gamble and have these family reunions?— family reunions? absolutely. i think a lot _ family reunions? absolutely. i think a lot of _ family reunions? absolutely. i think a lot of people _ family reunions? absolutely. i think a lot of people are - family reunions? absolutely. i think a lot of people are goingj think a lot of people are going to and it is going to be about risk fresher, what people are willing to risk. now we have so many tools at our disposal to be able to see people much more safely. as i said, vaccines is a fantastic way to see people. if you do get this virus, it is likely to be much less serious, less likely to be hospitalised and die if you are boosted for example. masks are a terrific tool. ventilation also should be used and testing also should be used and testing also should be used. if you're going to get together with your family, you have to reckon eyes there is risk involved but there are tools in the toolbox to make it as safe as possible. dr tools in the toolbox to make it as safe as possible.— as safe as possible. dr anne rimoin, thank _ as safe as possible. dr anne rimoin, thank you _ as safe as possible. dr anne rimoin, thank you for - as safe as possible. dr anne rimoin, thank you for being | rimoin, thank you for being with us. tt rimoin, thank you for being with us. , , , president biden visited kentucky on wednesday, to see for himself the damage caused by a series of deadly tornadoes. more than 70 people were killed and more than 120 people are still missing. our correspondent nomia iqbal is in kentucky and sent this report. this is one of the poorest towns in the state. it has been left in an apocalyptic ruin, many people are now wondering what's next. officials say 75% of the town has been destroyed. today president biden came to see the damage for himself. i intend to do whatever it takes as long as it takes, as long as it takes to support your state, your local leaders and recover and rebuild because you will recover and you will rebuild. you know, the scope and scale of this destruction is almost beyond belief. when look around here, it's almost beyond belief. these tornadoes devoured everything in their path. president biden has signed an emergency declaration for the state. it will provide funds for the emergency management agency known as fema to help with search and rescue and provide food, water and generators. but many have been relying on strangers for support. sally's managed to find her wedding ring and pictures of her children. she is trying to clear up as much as she can ahead of another storm that's being forecast. we've recovered more than we first thought. at first itjust looked like a big pile of rubble. as you dig through you are able to find some things and we have found some things that were very important to us. which makes me happier then, when you think everything is gone, it's quite heartbreaking. some people say they want more thanjust their neighbours helping. i went to a shelter earlier and some volunteers there who didn't want to speak to me on camera claimed that the government response by fema has been really slow. they also say they hope the president is notjust here for a photo op. the president has also visited the town of mayfield, an hour away. kentucky is a republican state — how he and his democratic administration respond to the disaster will be scrutinised by conservatives, the very people he's trying to reach. nomia iqbal, kentucky. more than 100 people had to be rescued from the top of a skyscraper in hong kong on wednesday, after a fire broke out. thirteen people were treated in hospital after the fire took hold in the world trade centre in the causeway bay area. our reporter martin yip sent this report from the scene. it was lunchtime when smoke started billowing into the shopping mall levels. this video shows diners in the buffet restaurant, not sure what to do. a shopper told the bbc she heard no fire alarm. the fire department confirmed later that builders had informed them that they had to turn it off for renovation works. as people made their way out, some found it hard to go down the staircase because of the smoke. instead, they went up onto the podium. some office workers ended up on the roof, more than 30 levels above ground but it did not take long before firefighters came to their rescue. the fire brigade spent around four hours to put everything under control. this renovation was built in the 1970s. it is a building that stands on the hong kong harbourfront overlooking the famous victoria harbour. our fireman discovered the fire was heavy smoke logged at the time of our arrival. so to a fireman, we find it... it is one of the reasons leading to the distress to the occupants inside the building. the fire department says it will investigate further to determine the cause of the fire. martin yip, bbc news, hong kong. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: it's beginning to look a lot like christmas but how is covid impacting the work of santa claus? saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people, ourwomen, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes, but they brought a formal end to 3.5 years of conflict — conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives. before an audience of world leaders, the presidents of bosnia, serbia and croatia put their names to the peace agreement. the romanian border- was sealed and silent today. romania has cut itself off from the outside world i in order to prevent the details of the presumed massacre - in timisoara from leaking out. from sex at the white house to a trial for his political life — the lewinsky affair tonight guaranteed bill clinton his place in history as only the second president ever to be impeached. this is bbc world news. the latest headlines: record figures for new covid infections in the uk. more than 78,000 new cases were reported in the past 2a hours. president biden has been visiting kentucky to see the devastation caused by this weekend's tornadoes. he described it as being "almost beyond belief". nearly 1,500 secret documents relating to the 1963 assassination of us president john f kennedy have been released to the public. the national archives and records administration released the documents in response to a white house directive. but some records remain classified and have not been released. joe biden is the first president to come close to acknowledging what many conspiracy theorists have long assumed — that there are documents relating to the assassination which are sealed away and might never be made public. we can now speak to larry schnapf, he's a lawyer and jfk assassination researcher. he previously sued for the government over the withholding of certainjfk documents. hejoins us from new he joins us from new york now. thank you very much for being with us. these recently released documents, what do they show and, crucially, what don't they show?— don't they show? well, we didn't really _ don't they show? well, we didn't really have - don't they show? well, we didn't really have much - didn't really have much expectation for these documents because these were the documents that, when president biden issued his executive order on 22 october, these were the documents he asked the agencies to release that they had no objections to withholding. so we never really believe that they would have much new information and, in fact, only about 31 of the documents of the total a new documents. the vast bulk of them are documents that were previously disclosed, but they were redone. so the real, there are 111,000 documents are still being withheld, and those are the ones that we really want to see them. and, just like president trump, president biden did not comply with the jfk records at comedyjfk records are provided that after 25 years, which would have been 20 october six, 2017, all the records had been released except those that present an identifiable harm to national security. and in postponing such records the government was supposed to explain what that harm was and how it outweighed the strong public interest in further postponement. president trump postponed twice, for six months and then 3.5 years, now president biden did the same thing. but in each of those postponements they did not do the record by record explanation. they did just a vast sweeping postponement. so it's become evident that the executive branch is either unable or unwilling to comply with the law.— with the law. the national archives — with the law. the national archives and _ with the law. the national archives and records - archives and records administration says there are over 5 million pages relating to the jfk assassination over 5 million pages relating to thejfk assassination and that the majority of them have already been released. so what questions do you still have? well, you know, we have learned so far how much the cia and the fbi and other intelligence agencies lied to the warren commission. we learned how the cia knew a lot more about lee harvey oswald than they admitted before the assassination. so we want to see the documents that pertain particularly to senior people in the cia that may have had knowledge about oswald and knowledge about oswald and knowledge about oswald and knowledge about things that were going on in new orleans when he was supposedly handing out leaflets as a pro— castro sympathiser and also what was going on in mexico city. there is not going to be a smoking gun saying here is how we kill president kennedy, because the people who ran the cia's executive action committee group were very adamant about not putting anything in writing. so there is not going to be a piece of paper saying this is how we kill the president, but there will be associations, the historians will be able to figure out and help complete the picture about what happened both on the day of the assassination and leading up to the assassination. �* , assassination. and, very briefly. _ assassination. and, very briefly. do _ assassination. and, very briefly, do you _ assassination. and, very briefly, do you think- assassination. and, very i briefly, do you think those documents will ever be released or will they be secret forever? well, you know, president biden and... that is why we are suing them, president biden said not only did they have until 15 december, 2022 to review the documents they are postponing now, but if for some reason they want to continue postponing them that they should give a date for when they might want to release them. so i think unless the court orders the government to release these documents that the cia and the fbi will continue to try to hold these documents.— continue to try to hold these documents. ., , ., , documents. 0k, larry schnapf, thank you _ documents. ok, larry schnapf, thank you for— documents. 0k, larry schnapf, thank you for being _ documents. 0k, larry schnapf, thank you for being with - documents. 0k, larry schnapf, thank you for being with us. . thank you for being with us. appreciated. thank you very much. the racing driver lewis hamilton has been knighted at windsor castle, just days after controversially losing out on a record eighth formula 1 world title. sir lewis received the honour for services to motorsports from the prince of wales. meanwhile, the sport's governing body, the fia, has announced an inquiry into sunday's race, saying the controversy around it is tarnishing the image of the championship. all this as f1's new world champion, max verstappen, has been celebrating his title with his red bull team at theirfactory in milton keynes in england. our sports editor dan roan reports. it may have been at a slower speed than usual, but formula 1's new world champion returned to a hero's welcome at his team's headquarters today. max verstappen able to celebrate with the entire staff at red bull's base in milton keynes. later the dutch driver telling me how it felt to have realised a lifelong ambition. yes, it is slowly sinking in, but also it has been very hectic all the way through, so i'm also pretty tired at the moment. anything what will happen now is a bonus. not much will change, but in the back of your mind you are a bit more relaxed because your big dream, you know, ultimate goal you have achieved already. verstappen's victory over lewis hamilton in the season's deciding race in abu dhabi has divided the sport. mercedes failing with two protests after the dutchman was given the chance to claim the race and title in the final lap after a restart. so has the controversy tainted the success? not for me and and also i don't think for the team. we raced when there was a green light, green flag and we beat them on the track. when you look over the whole season we had the most poles, most wins. we had ourfairshare of bad luck as well. mercedes have the option of appealing, they have until tomorrow evening to decide. would you like them now to just stop this fight and accept the result? it's difficult. i can't speak for them. i think, you know, races should be won on the track. we will celebrate regardless, but we at least won it on the track. sir lewis hamilton. having missed out on a record eighth title, hamilton, meanwhile, could at least celebrate receiving his knighthood today, verstappen full of praise for the man who pushed him on the way. it has been a real pleasure fighting against him. we had our moments throughout the year when we clashed but i think we really respect each other because we have pushed each other to the limit. despite the fallout, verstappen's victory marks a new era for a sport which is winning new fans and, aged just 2a, there could be much more success to come. dan roan, bbc news. two items linked to the birth of the online encyclopaedia wikipedia have raised almost a million dollars at auction at christie's in new york. wikipedia's founder, jimmy wales, sold the apple computer he used to develop the site 20 years ago for almost $200,000. the rest was raised by the sale of the image of the first words he ever typed on wikipedia, "hello, world". it was sold as a non—fungible token — a unique digital object that confers ownership through blockchain technology. it's little more than a week until christmas and the usual excitement is building up around the world. many children have sent their lists to santa. and parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles are shopping for that perfect present. covid has obviously had an impact, but there is one place where the festive spirit can never be extinguished, as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. # it's beginning to look a lot like christmas. # everywhere you go. in like christmas. # everywhere ou to. , like christmas. # everywhere ou to, , ., like christmas. # everywhere ou to. , ., ., you go. in this part of finland it really is _ you go. in this part of finland it really is christmas - you go. in this part of finland it really is christmas every i it really is christmas every day. in lapland they call themselves the official home of standard laws and here he is, honestly, truly, the real thing, notjust a honestly, truly, the real thing, notjusta man in honestly, truly, the real thing, notjust a man in a fake beard. father christmas hoping this year, of all years, he can bring somejoy to this year, of all years, he can bring some joy to the world. t bring some joy to the world. i have been hearing worrying news around the globe about well—being and coping of children and young people. now it is time to put these worries into plenty of goodwill. visitor numbers obviously took a big hit in the last two years as the pandemic took hold, sander�*s business representatives they people are coming back but they have to take precautions. translation: , , ., translation: the guests are re . uired translation: the guests are required to — translation: the guests are required to have _ translation: the guests are required to have corona - required to have corona passports when they arrive in finland, we ask all our guests to show their corona passport at the reception desk. and after that they are free to take part in all the activities.- take part in all the activities. ., , activities. but, of course, the most important _ activities. but, of course, the most important people - activities. but, of course, the most important people here | activities. but, of course, the i most important people here are the children. do most important people here are the children.— the children. do you like santa? _ the children. do you like santa? in _ the children. do you like santa? in a _ the children. do you like santa? in a few- the children. do you like santa? in a few days's i the children. do you like - santa? in a few days's time, after the _ santa? in a few days's time, after the dry _ santa? in a few days's time, after the dry run, _ santa? in a few days's time, after the dry run, father - after the dry run, father christmas will be back on his travels, in a much bigger slave. his ambition, he says, to make this christmas happy and unforgettable —— much bigger sleigh. tim allman, bbc news. that is it from us here in london. thank you very much for watching. we will see you next time. hello there. temperatures were as high as m degrees on wednesday, and the rest of the week will stay mild. i suspect many of us, though, will continue to see cloudy skies like this. there was some sunshine, though, across a good part of yorkshire and lincolnshire on wednesday, but these areas with those clearer skies are starting a bit colder on thursday morning. mild elsewhere underneath that blanket of cloud. could be some mist and fog patches with those clearer skies across parts of northern england, even down into norfolk as well. we'll see those mist and fog patches lifting, and the best of the sunshine more likely to be to the east of the pennines in the north—east of england. a lot of cloud around elsewhere. there's a bit of rain and drizzle across northern parts of scotland becoming more confined towards the northern isles. whether you've got the cloud or not, though, it's still a mild day for the time of year. temperatures widely in double figures once again. now, high pressure is building in across the uk. that's why it's so quiet, but that high pressure is bringing with it a good deal of cloud. now, the cloud could just be thick enough to give one or two spots of drizzle across more southern parts of the uk, whereas again a mild start on friday. a little bit chillier across some eastern parts of scotland, the north—east of england, perhaps even into the north west of wales, where there could be a few breaks overnight. but as you can see, not a great deal of sunshine on offer on friday. the winds are light in most places, just picking up a touch there in the far south—west of england. and again, it's mild. 8—9 degrees more typically across northern parts of england and scotland, this time temperatures are starting to ebb awayjust a little. this weekend, though, we're going to hang on the cloudy skies for most of the country. a lot of dry weather around as well, of course. limited amounts of sunshine means a limited amount of frost. it will be turning a bit colder as the weekend goes on. you can see we may have some sunshine across the north east of scotland, perhaps west wales, into the far south—west of england, where there's a bit more breeze on saturday. but otherwise, it looks cloudy once again. and we may just sneak those temperatures across southern parts in particular into double figures. there's the area of high pressure. it's really taking a shine to the uk. it's not going to move very far at all during this weekend. so, again, the winds are likely to be light, but as you can see again it looks like it's going to be quite cloudy. that cloud could be quite low as well, so some mist and some fog potentially over some higher parts of the uk. and those temperatures beginning to drop away a little bit. it will feel a little bit chillier on sunday. this is bbc news. the headlines: britain has registered a daily record of more than 78,000 cases of coronavirus, the highest since the pandemic began. the number exceeds by 10,000 the previous record injanuary. the uk's chief medical officer warned that many more records would be broken over the next few weeks. president biden's announced the us federal government will cover the entire cost of 30 days of clear—up in the state of kentucky following friday's devastating tornadoes. mr biden described the destruction there as "almost beyond belief." at least 71t people died in kentucky and 1a others in other states. firefighters in hong kong have extinguished a blaze that had trapped more than 100 people on the roof of a skyscraper. the fire broke out in a utility room on a lower level of the world trade centre in the causeway bay shopping district before spreading to bamboo scaffolding. women who were forced to give up their babies for adoption in the 1950s, �*60s and �*70s are among those due to give