hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the uk foreign secretary, liz truss, is to become the chief uk negotiator in talks with the european union. it comes after the former brexit minister, lord frost, resigned over the introduction of further covid restrictions. ms truss has the task of finding a solution to the trade status of northern ireland. the current arrangement — called the northern ireland protocol, avoids a hard border with the irish republic, which is the eu. but it has disrupted commerce between mainland britain and northern ireland. why does this matter? our political correspondent, damian grammaticas, is here. hello. let us just first start off with why lord frost resigned. hello. let usjust first start off with why lord frost resigned. well, he said in his _ with why lord frost resigned. well, he said in his resignation _ with why lord frost resigned. -ii he said in his resignation letter that was made public yesterday, that this was because he disagreed with the direction of travel of government policies and he pointed to taxes going up and spending. he said he was in favour of low tax and he pointed to covid restrictions and being made mandatory. he said he was against that sort of compulsion. what he didn't point to, interestingly, was areas in his own remit. there is not his remit in cabinet, his remit was the relationship with the eu and brexit negotiations. he had led this very sort of combative line towards brussels. what we had seen is that he had been insisting on this renegotiation, as you were just talking about, of the deal that he had done. he went back to brussels and said we need to change this. particularly all of europe and the european court ofjustice most of this week that the prime minister softened his position on the european court ofjustice having no part of the deal. now the uk is saying it could have a role in that. lord frost didn't mention any of that in his letter. but he talked about this direction of travel. that was what he put down as his reason. so, now we have the foreign secretary taking on responsibilities for those negotiations. tell us more about that. , , , , about that. yes, this is interesting because boris _ about that. yes, this is interesting because boris johnson _ about that. yes, this is interesting because boris johnson has - about that. yes, this is interesting because boris johnson has moved| about that. yes, this is interesting - because boris johnson has moved very because borisjohnson has moved very fast to replace lord frost i think to quell some of the disquiet that had arisen in his party. not all of the strains of the last couple of weeks about this resignation and move someone into the role. he has that liz truss, the foreign secretary, there. that is an expansion to her remit. similar to lord frost, interesting, she is very popular amongst conservative party members, amongst the top of popularity ratings, just as he was. so many tory mps were very sort of approving of lord frost's very combative stance towards brussels. and are looking to see who might replace him. they were talking about his resignation as a hero and that it was a disaster, they said. they might be reassured a bit by liz truss, because in her role, she has, first overseeing... doing trade deals, replicating eu deals, new deals, replicating eu deals, new deals that she was looking at, now as foreign secretary she has very much sung from a similar sort of hymn sheet about being... looking to what she was calling the opportunities of brexit. of what the uk's role in the world could be. that is reassuring for mps. what will be interesting, though, is how she handles the relationship with brussels. as foreign secretary, she is much more aware, i think a broader relationship with eu countries, that is part of her remit, then lord frost needed to be. will she be as combative? haw remit, then lord frost needed to be. will she be as combative?— will she be as combative? how will she approach _ will she be as combative? how will she approach it? _ will she be as combative? how will she approach it? thank _ will she be as combative? how will she approach it? thank you - will she be as combative? how will she approach it? thank you very i will she be as combative? how will. she approach it? thank you very much for that summary, thank you. the netherlands has embarked on a month—long lockdown, in response to an expected surge in cases of omicron, the first european country to introduce stringent measures in response to the new variant. nonessentialshops, bars, gyms, hairdressers and other public venues will be closed until at least mid—january. our correspondent, anna holligan, reports from the hague. silent high streets... a wholly locked down society. last christmas, the dutch thought covid would be under control by now. instead, the netherlands has become the first country in europe to lockdown in response to the highly contagious omicron variant. now, it feels like it's starting all over again, to be isolated and, yeah... it feels really bad. we're used to going to the cafe, to a bar and with this lockdown, it's impacted me a bit. so, yeah, it's going to be difficult. so, tomorrow i'm working just to throw away a lot i of fresh food, lots of... basically, everything - that we can't sell any more. so that's...uh... the dutch prime minister said the lockdown was an unavoidable response to the omicron variant, but the government's critics argue this covid crisis is partly of their own making. the slow response to the delta strain and the slow roll—out of the booster vaccination programme have meant that hospitals have no extra room to deal with an impending surge of omicron cases. across the border, germany is battening down the hatches. from this evening, most travellers from britain will be banned from entering the country in an effort to stall the spread of omicron. german nationals and residents will still be allowed to arrive from the uk. they must have a negative test and quarantine for two weeks. france has already introduced similar restrictions, as infections in britain swell. for many people this christmas, coming together will be harder and riskier than anyone would have wished. anna holligan, bbc news, in the hague. the uk health secretary, sajid javid, says he can't rule out further restrictions in england as he urged everyone to be cautious in the run up to christmas. more than 82,000 cases have been reported in the latest 24—hour period. mrjavid said the omicron variant is already the dominant strain in england — as well as scotland — so far 12 people have died having contracted this latest form of coronavirus. here's our medical editor fergus walsh with the latest in the uk. # driving home for christmas...# this christmas, the hot ticket for many is not to see a football match but to get a boosterjab. wembley stadium had 10,000 vaccines available today and many were keen to get them before heading home to the family. i would prefer to have it done before christmas. i've got an elderly grandfather, who's 90 years old, so i want to be able to see him. i am getting booster vaccination and my family members have already got the vaccinations, but i think it is best to be as contained as possible. so, it's the booster versus the variant. omicron infections are thought to be doubling every two to three days. the epidemic is growing so fast, the health secretary could not rule out fresh restrictions before christmas. there are no guarantees, in this pandemic. i don't think... at this point, we just have to keep everything under review. he urged people across the country to be cautious in the days ahead. if i'm going to see my mum, for example, who's elderly, like most very old people, she's more vulnerable than young people, i will take a test. i might, you know, just not have the usual amount of hugs i get from my mum! just take a bit of caution and that's a sensible response. but the most sensible thing anyone can do right now is to get boosted. ministers have been given a stark warning by sage, the scientific advisory group on emergencies, that without further intervention, the scale of hospital admissions due to omicron would almost certainly lead to unsustainable pressure on the nhs. the scenarios for curbing omicron are an echo of lockdown controls from earlier this year, including closing indoor hospitality and limits on mixing of households. i think the longer we wait, the more problematic this is going to be. we have learned from previous experience, surely, that if we dither and delay, we get ourselves into more trouble. the problem here is, of course, we don't fully understand the implications of the omicron pandemic and infection in this country, in terms of severe disease. and that is the dilemma for ministers — do they wait until the threat from omicron becomes clear and hope to avoid lockdown measures, or act now as a precaution and risk the wrath of many in their own party and beyond westminster? fergus walsh, bbc news. let's speak now with professor martin mckee, professor of european public health at the london school of hygiene and tropical medicine. it's good evening to you, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. what do you make of the latest figures, let's start in the uk?— you make of the latest figures, let's start in the uk? first of all, we need to _ let's start in the uk? first of all, we need to be — let's start in the uk? first of all, we need to be very _ let's start in the uk? first of all, we need to be very cautious, - we need to be very cautious, because, of course, we are getting data reported today, but many of these cases will have actually been detected earlier. if we look back to even as far back as last monday, we are still seeing 55,000 were reported saturday. since then, we have had backfilling of the numbers, now substantially higher. in due course, that figure will turn out to be much greater than what we are seeing today. be much greater than what we are seeing today-— be much greater than what we are seeing today. with that then match this exnected _ seeing today. with that then match this expected of _ seeing today. with that then match this expected of the _ seeing today. with that then match this expected of the doubling? - seeing today. with that then match i this expected of the doubling? yeah. we've not this expected of the doubling? yeah. we've got lots _ this expected of the doubling? yeah. we've got lots of _ this expected of the doubling? yeah. we've got lots of data _ this expected of the doubling? yeah. we've got lots of data to _ this expected of the doubling? yeah. we've got lots of data to show - this expected of the doubling? ia:i we've got lots of data to show that the omicron variant is doubling every two days or less, at the minute. so, yes, that's exactly what's happening. we got to remember that it does take time to get the tests, to get the data recorded, put into the system. there is inevitably a lagan that has been the case all the way through, despite the fact that we have an excellent reporting system. == that we have an excellent reporting s stem. ., , , ., that we have an excellent reporting s stem. , ., ., ., system. -- inevitably a lag and that. system. -- inevitably a lag and that- there _ system. -- inevitably a lag and that. there is _ system. -- inevitably a lag and that. there is talk _ system. -- inevitably a lag and that. there is talk of _ system. -- inevitably a lag and that. there is talk of a - system. -- inevitably a lag and that. there is talk of a circuit i that. there is talk of a circuit breaker perhaps in the new year. would that work? it’s breaker perhaps in the new year. would that work?— would that work? it's too late, reall . would that work? it's too late, really- for _ would that work? it's too late, really. for the _ would that work? it's too late, really. for the reasons - would that work? it's too late, really. for the reasons i - would that work? it's too late, really. for the reasons i have l really. for the reasons i have given. the figures are, we know, going to be higher than what we are getting at the minute. with a variant that is spreading as rapidly as this one, we really should have been acting before this. we should have been acting last week. leaving it until the new year, it is just going to be... it's going to be the repeat of what we have done so often before. we are going to be acting late and then we're going to have to do much more than we would have done if we had acted early, unfortunately.- if we had acted early, unfortunately. if we had acted early, unfortunatel . ~ ., ., .,~ ., unfortunately. what do you make of the measures _ unfortunately. what do you make of the measures that _ unfortunately. what do you make of the measures that some _ unfortunately. what do you make of the measures that some european l the measures that some european countries have taken? the latest we have talked about is the netherlands. they have gone into a lockdown. there have been restrictions put on some travellers heading from the uk into some european countries. i’m are really within a country. but what we are seeing is that they are adhering to what the regional directorfor europe of adhering to what the regional director for europe of the world health organization has said, which is that we need a vaccine plus strategy, not a vaccine only strategy, not a vaccine only strategy, which is the way we have been going in the united kingdom. that was a very clear statement that came out today from the council that is advising the new german health minister, himself an academic and public health professional. professor, let mejump in really quickly, could you just summarise for us what that means? that means that ou for us what that means? that means that you do — for us what that means? that means that you do everything _ for us what that means? that means that you do everything possible - for us what that means? that means that you do everything possible to i that you do everything possible to roll out the vaccine as quickly as possible, the boosters in particular. they are really important. we got off to a good start in the uk with the basic vaccine programme although we have stalled a little bit. we are doing really well with the booster programme and so are france and germany at the minute but you need other measures of a need to restrict mixing, you need to restrict the ability of people to transmit the virus within each other. it is basically a vaccination plus other restrictions.— basically a vaccination plus other restrictions. , ., ., restrictions. 0k, sorry to professor martin mckee _ restrictions. 0k, sorry to professor martin mckee interrupt, _ restrictions. ok, sorry to professor martin mckee interrupt, thank- restrictions. 0k, sorry to professor martin mckee interrupt, thank you | martin mckee interrupt, thank you very much indeed. plenty more coming up very much indeed. plenty more coming up on bbc news —— sorry to interrupt. do stay with us. polls have closed in the first elections in hong kong since china increased its control over the territory. but voter turnout has been very low. only candidates approved by beijing could stand, leading to calls for a boycott of the poll. that decision has been criticised by foreign governments and activists. our correspondent, danny vincent, gave us this update from one of the counts. the authorities here pushed quite hard to try to encourage people to vote during this election. they were obviously concerned that the turnout may be low and if it was low, and it seems that it is low, we haven't got the final figures yet, it indicates that there's a lack of legitimacy in terms of the public support for these electoral reforms. the electoral reforms mean that only candidates that are vetted by beijing and seen as patriotic can stand in this election. controversially, many of the very popular and prominent pro—democracy candidates that have won seats in years gone by, many of them have been imprisoned and many of them have fled the city and the remainder decided, essentially, not to stand in this election at all. many didn't even put their names forward, even though they would have been vetted by beijing. so, many critics say this is another example of the erosion of the political rights that hong kong was granted. many people say there's is no longer an election. many people say this is no longer an election. it's more of a selection process. and regardless of who wins, really, it's the establishment, the pro—beijing side that will be victorious. the headlines on bbc news... britain's foreign secretary, liz truss, will become the uk's lead negotiator with the european union on the northern ireland protocol following the resignation of lord frost. the netherlands goes into a tough new lockdown over christmas amid concerns over the omicron variant. the uk health secretary refuses to rule out tighter covid restrictions before christmas in response to the rapid spread of the omicron variant. he says it is time to be cautious about social interactions. at least 169 people have reportedly died after a powerful storm struck the philippines on thursday. super typhoon rai sent some 300,000 people running for safety when it hit the country's south—eastern islands. rescue teams have described "some areas looked like they were bombed "worse than world war ii". there have also been reports in the last couple of hours of sundanese authorities firing heavy teargas at protesters outside the presidential palace in the capital khartoum. hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets around the country to denounce the military and mark the third anniversary of protests that led to the overthrow of omar al—bashir. since a coup in october, there have been renewed calls for an entirely civilian political leadership. our africa regional editor, will ross, has more. this shows how well organised the protest are. there are these resistance committees that are basically set up in the neighbourhoods and they've rallied people to go out. and there's clearly a huge amount of support for this call from the military to, basically, get out of politics and get back in the barracks. so, what the protesters did today — they arrived in the city of khartoum from areas outside and converged, many of them, outside the presidential palace and that is where lieutenant general al—burhan, the man who carried out october's coup is based. they were there sending the message that they've had enough of the military interfering in the country's political scene. there was, as you say, quite a lot of tear gas fired. but protesters kept coming back to the site. and even now, as darkness has fallen already, there are still people out on the streets. smaller numbers now than the hundreds of thousands that were out there earlier. but the people who are there are certainly sort of still in a defiant mood and still charting antimilitary slogans and seem determined to carry the protests on. will ross. to chile, now. people are heading to the polls to vote for a new president in what is the most polarised run—off since the end of military rule over 30 years ago. there are two candidates — here is the former student protest leader gabriel boric, casting his vote. the other candidate is far—right lawyerjose antonio kast — who's been likened to donald trump. the country has traditionally been viewed as the region's most stable economy, but it's seen widespread protests in the past two years. president biden's flagship piece of legislation — known as build back better — looks in deep trouble after a key senatorfrom his own democratic party said he wouldn't support it. senatorjoe manchin, who represents the conservative state of west virginia, told fox news he'd tried to reach an compromise on the multi billion dollar bill. the finely—balanced composition of the senate means president biden cannot afford to lose a single democratic vote. in australia, police say a sixth child has died as a result of an accident with a bouncy castle in tasmania. the 11 year—old boy was among a group of children the 11—year—old boy was among a group of children who fell about 10 metres when the inflatable structure was lifted off the ground by a gust of wind. they'd been celebrating at an end—of—term school party. piers corbyn has been arrested on suspicion of encouraging people to attack mps' offices. the met police said the arrest related to a video filmed during saturday's rally in london against covid restrictions. he was arrested in south london in the early hours of sunday. the force hasn't named mr corbyn however it previously said it was assessing a video which appears to show him calling for direct action. a murder investigation has been launched, following the death of a woman in north belfast. she has been named locally as caoimhe morgan. her body was found in a house in harcourt drive on saturday morning. a 30—year—old man arrested on suspicion of her murder and remains in custody. richard rogers, one of the leading architects of his generation, has died. he was 88. he created some of the most talked about buildings of the last 50 years, including the pompidou centre in paris with its facade of pipes and ducts and the equally startling lloyds building in london. more recently, he was behind heathrow�*s terminal 5 and the millenium dome. our arts correspondent, david sillito, has been speaking to the leading british architect norman foster, who has paid tribute to richard rogers. my oldest and closest friend, collaborator, architect, humanist, extraordinary individual. for people who have may be only seen one or two of his buildings, what was it that he brought that was different from all the other thousands of architects? his own very personal signature of architecture, an optimistic, generous architecture in which, in the early buildings, those he is perhaps most well known for, the pompidou centre, lloyds, made a kind of bravado display, an order of the structure of the servicing of the building. huge variety, when you go from the pompidou centre to something like the millennium dome or terminal 5. was there a vision that ran through all of these buildings? oh, without doubt. if richard, as a personality, was generous and outgoing and, in a way, colourful, then his buildings reflected that personality. they were opening, welcoming, optimistic and elegant in turn. at a time when many people thought the inner cities and urban life were in continual decay in the 1970s, he was always optimistic about them. absolutely, yes, and vindicated, proved right by the survival of the city, certainly. and what was he like as a person, when you had dinner with him? we would banter, we would argue. but it was never acrimonious. i mean, i think we would almost deliberately take opposing points of view just for the hell of it. but we had a kind of private shared language, which was a shorthand, and it was really about the appreciation of architecture, the criticism of architecture. so, you know, the memories are very dear, very real, and totally positive. the winner of this year's strictly come dancing final was crowned last night. cheering. some 11 million people tuned in to watch eastenders actress rose ayling—ellis make history, as the first deaf winner of the dancing show. rose and her partner, giovanni pernice, beat tv chef john whaite and johannes radebe in the final. tv presenter, aj odudu, was forced to drop out of the final on friday due to an injury. liam o'dell is a deaf journalist and campaigner. hejoins us now. good evening to you, thank you for being with us here on bbc news. so many people are talking about the impact this is having, rose's when on the deaf community, could you put this into context for us, first off, please? absolutely. there are so many things that rose's when symbolises for deaf people like myself. first and foremost, it goes to show how, with the right support, deaf people can achieve anything. what people approached this series with was the idea that rose couldn't hear the music. in actuality, that showed that that didn't necessarily have to be an issue. because, instead, what it showed is that, through the brilliant connection that she had with her partner, giovanni, we got this —— these beautiful dances and wonderful connection between the two of them that led them all the way to the final. thatjust goes to show that, when deaf people are supported, and when accessibility is there, accessibility benefits everyone, notjust the person involved. everyone, not 'ust the person involved. ., everyone, not 'ust the person involved.— everyone, not 'ust the person involved. . ., _, involved. liam, i wonder if we could to back involved. liam, i wonder if we could go back to — involved. liam, i wonder if we could go back to the _ involved. liam, i wonder if we could go back to the fact _ involved. liam, i wonder if we could go back to the fact that _ involved. liam, i wonder if we could go back to the fact that dancing - go back to the fact that dancing requires hearing, listening, to the tempo, following the tempo, listening to the music. so, so many people are asking, how on earth did she do it? what do you understand about how she did it? it’s she do it? what do you understand about how she did it?— about how she did it? it's quite a feat, about how she did it? it's quite a feat. isn't _ about how she did it? it's quite a feat, isn't it? _ about how she did it? it's quite a feat, isn't it? yes. _ about how she did it? it's quite a feat, isn't it? yes. in _ about how she did it? it's quite a feat, isn't it? yes. in rose's- about how she did it? it's quite a. feat, isn't it? yes. in rose's case, if ou feat, isn't it? yes. in rose's case, if you actually _ feat, isn't it? yes. in rose's case, if you actually paid _ feat, isn't it? yes. in rose's case, if you actually paid attention to some of the dances very closely, you may see that rose is actually mouthing in time with the rhythm. you would actually see her going one, two, three, four, 5, 6, seven, eight to the tune of the music. there are other methods and adjustments they were making in the rehearsal room. unfortunately, i wasn't privy to the rehearsals! but you can see some small changes that helped to navigate the same issue or same challenge that everyone else is facing, just in a different way. as rose has said herself, that kind of difference, that kind of different take on a challenge, exactly what to make that it might make things unique and creative. that is certainly connecting with people. liam, you mentioned navigating, achieving anything if you put your mind to it. but i have also heard about the barriers that are there. those barriers need to come down. for somebody who is not deaf, what are the barriers that we would take for granted? film. are the barriers that we would take for granted?— are the barriers that we would take for granted? 0h, absolutely. there are so many _ for granted? 0h, absolutely. there are so many barriers _ for granted? 0h, absolutely. there are so many barriers that _ for granted? 0h, absolutely. there are so many barriers that deaf- are so many barriers that deaf people face. one of them is, absolutely, communication. ithink we are still at the point where deaf awareness could be better. i will always think it could be better. that extends to the use of british sign language, for example. it was fantastic that, during the time the rose was on the competition, searches for british sign language on search engines went up by 488%, which is an astronomical figure. it is really important that this interest in sign language continues now in the weeks and months to come. as well, next year, injanuary, at the end of january, as well, next year, injanuary, at the end ofjanuary, labour mp rosie cooper is introducing a british sign language bill to parliament. and mps will be voting on that. it is really important the momentum behind strictly continues going. and if they want to help us break down barriers, hearing people, that is fantastic, contact their mp to support the bsl act now campaign. we have heard that there has been a surge in interest, has an affair, taking up bsl? but i want to go back to the barriers and i back to the sort of awareness that we need to be made aware of. —— interest in bsl. interns are becoming aware, what do we need to learn? —— in terms of becoming. i we need to learn? -- in terms of becoming-— becoming. i apologise ifi didn't answer your— becoming. i apologise ifi didn't answer your question _ becoming. i apologise ifi didn't answer your question last - becoming. i apologise ifi didn't answer your question last time | becoming. i apologise ifi didn't. answer your question last time but people need to learned the art of patience. that sounds really easy when i put it like that. what we are currently in in the world and the state it is in, there is a temptation to be a bit impatient. there is a temptation to consume information and move on. we need to understand that some people need to take time to process something. i certainly will do. i often ask people to repeat information. but what you don't do in response to say, it doesn't matter or it doesn't —— don't mind. someone is interested in that conversation and wants to be part of whatever it is that needs to be discussed and don't disregard that. take time, explain it, repeat yourself if you have to. or if that doesn't work, find another way of communicating it, rephrasing the sentence, writing it down or using your phone. they are wonderful devices, you can use them to navigate, to use that word, a conversation in a different way. there are always ways in which you can make your conversations are to make yourself more accessible to deaf people. it is not a burden. it is not a significant challenge. they are small simple steps you can take that are not burdensome at all but just makes everyone feel included. like i say, accessibility benefits everyone. when you make a conversation more accessible to a deaf person, it means they can get involved in the conversation and they might have interesting things to contribute, as well. it is important that you include those people. important that you include those eo - le. ., important that you include those eo - le. . ., , important that you include those --eole. ., ., , important that you include those neale, ., ., , people. learning goes both ways, doesnt people. learning goes both ways, doesn't it? _ people. learning goes both ways, doesn't it? absolutely. _ people. learning goes both ways, doesn't it? absolutely. liam - people. learning goes both ways, l doesn't it? absolutely. liam o'dell, thank ou doesn't it? absolutely. liam o'dell, thank you very _ doesn't it? absolutely. liam o'dell, thank you very much _ doesn't it? absolutely. liam o'dell, thank you very much for _ doesn't it? absolutely. liam o'dell, thank you very much for that. - doesn't it? absolutely. liam o'dell, thank you very much for that. we i thank you very much for that. we will catch up with the weather, now. but across the hills of cumbria. low cloud and mistiness, exactly how the weather has been across the uk. lower areas, cloudy, weather has been across the uk. lowerareas, cloudy, misty and western and higher areas we have seen clear weather and sunshine through the whole day. overnight tonight, parts of scotland will turn cold and lowest temperatures could get down to —8 in some of the deeper glens. low cloud keeping frost free elsewhere but some mist and fog patches as we head into monday morning. it could be quite murky. this area of cloud coming into eastern scotland and eastern areas of england and it should be prone to more thinning and breaking. overall through the afternoon, you might find it more bright. around 6 or 7. this quiet weather will last into the middle part of the week but as we get close to christmas, more interesting, colder from we get close to christmas, more interesting, colderfrom the north and some of you might even see a bit of snow later the week. —— later in