is considering its verdict in the trial of ghislaine maxwell. she denies sex trafficking allegations. desperate attempts to get aid to those hit by typhoon rai in the philippines — more than 375 people are now known to have died. and how about this for a creepy—crawly nightmare? fossil evidence of the eight—foot long millipede that weighed 50 kilos and was the size of a car. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the world health organization is warning people ahead of the christmas holidays they may have to cancel some of their plans to reduce the spread of the omicron variant of coronavirus. the head of the organisation warned it was "unwise" to assume at this stage the variant caused less serious infection, and called on people to make tough decisions to protect loved ones, saying, "an event cancelled is better than a life cancelled." in the united states, the omicron variant has become the dominant strain of coronavirus, less than a month after the country registered its first case. health officials say it accounted for nearly three quarters of new infections last week. and here in the uk, the ggvernment is under fire from the hospitality industry for failing to clarify what, and when, covid restrictions will be introduced. —— the government is under fire. the prime minister borisjohnson has stepped back from announcing tighter measures in england, but said the government was "not ruling anything out" as cases of the virus continue to soar. we'll have more on the uk situation in a moment, but first, here's mark lobel. texas was bracing itself for an omicron storm, now it reports what's believed to be the usa's first related death. look how quickly, over the past week in the states, omicron, in purple here, has taken over the delta variant, represented in orange, in new cases. three, two, one, happy new year! so with ten days until 2022, its dominance — including 90% of new cases here in new york — will no doubt feature injoe biden�*s stark warning for the country's unvaccinated in an address expected later on tuesday. but in boston, there is anger that only the vaccinated will soon be allowed to enter restaurants, and that compulsoryjabs for all city employees will be dished out. in washington, it's indoor mask wearing that's back on the menu, like in california and new york. such is the spread of omicron, keeping the country's borders closed to southern africa is now looking fruitless. we likely are going to pull back on that pretty soon because we have enough infection in our own country and we are letting in people from other countries that have as much or more infection than the southern african countries. south africa's government believes that vaccines and high levels of prior covid—i9 infection are helping to keep the disease milder, but scientists warn against complacency as... just a month ago, africa was reporting its lowest number of cases in 18 months. last week, it reported the fourth highest number of cases in a single week so far. so alarm bells are ringing across europe as the eu approves a fifth vaccine, this one from us firm novavax. the new german chancellor, visiting his italian counterpart, warns a booster campaign is not enough and more restrictions will be needed even for the vaccinated. all as the head of the world health organization pushes for difficult decisions to be made sooner, with his blunt new message in the run—up to christmas warning the world that an event cancelled is better than a life cancelled. mark lobel, bbc news. well, more on the situation in the us, cbs's courtney kealy gave this update to my colleague kasia madera a little earlier. president biden will speak today, again urging americans to get vaccinated and their booster shots, but according to the white house he will adopt a sterner tone, a more negative tone, a dire warning, actually, because the omicron variance is hitting so hard in the us, especially here in new york, it is making up at least 70% of coronavirus cases in the us. imilli coronavirus cases in the us. with cases so high _ coronavirus cases in the us. with cases so high in _ coronavirus cases in the us. with cases so high in new _ coronavirus cases in the us. with cases so high in new york, our hospitals concerned they will not be able to cope? hospitals concerned they will not be able to cape?— hospitals concerned they will not be able to cope? absolutely, since last week we had _ able to cope? absolutely, since last week we had seen _ able to cope? absolutely, since last week we had seen a _ able to cope? absolutely, since last week we had seen a complete - able to cope? absolutely, since last i week we had seen a complete change in the cases spiking, long lines stretching for hours. the new york city mayor has said it is here now, they are trying to get rapid testing to community areas, trying to lower the lines, by getting people tested, and they are bracing for patients in hospitals here in new york across the country. new york was the epicentre in march 2020 and right now it seems like the omicron variance is going through all of new york city at a very rapid pace. we are hearing about testing shortages, what can you tell us? the? are hearing about testing shortages, what can you tell us?— what can you tell us? they are 'ust overwhelmed �* what can you tell us? they are 'ust overwhelmed because i what can you tell us? they are 'ust overwhelmed because this i what can you tell us? they are just l overwhelmed because this happened within the weekend, from december 13-18 within the weekend, from december 13—18 we are seeing a 73% of all cases being omicron, it is a densely packed city, lots of people don't have symptoms or have mild symptoms so there is a search of testing and also testing because people want to get home for the holidays, schools and universities have closed, people want to get home to see their relatives and be tested ahead of the holiday this weekend, so it is all happening at this crux while the lines are getting longer, they are saying they will maybe get half a million tests out into the communities. the governor of new york has said they will not be nailing any at—home testing but they will try to make sure they micro target the hardest hit neighbourhoods and communities. that re ort from neighbourhoods and communities. that report from cbs. the us vice president, kamala harris has been speaking to cbs about the spread of omicron in the states. if you have not been boosted, get boosted. you have the public today to go and get vaccinated, that will have an impact on where we end up tomorrow. i5 have an impact on where we end up tomorrow. , ., ., tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? _ tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? i— tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? i don't - tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? i don't think - tomorrow. is it the fault of the | unvaccinated? i don't think this tomorrow. is it the fault of the i unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment — unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to _ unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to talk _ unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to talk about _ unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to talk about fault, - unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to talk about fault, it | unvaccinated? i don't think this is| a moment to talk about fault, it is no one's felt that this fibres hit our shores or hit the world, but it is individual responsibility and the decisions everybody has the choice to make. and we'll have more of that interview with the us vice president — including her remarks on the stalemate over president biden�*s build back better plan — later in this hour. dr margaret harris from the world health organization says that events over christmas that cannot be considered safe should be delayed or cancelled. certainly not cancel christmas but have a careful christmas so you can have notjust a happy new year but many happy new years. the head was actually referring to a reception that we have postponed over and over again forjournalists, we have a get—together with journalists and we have not been able to have that now for two years, we cancelled it and he was explaining why. we all have to be really careful right now. what is the latest data telling us about omicron? we certainly know, there is consistent evidence, that it has a big growth advantage over delta, it is spreading significantly faster than delta, and given the available data it is expected it will replace delta where community transmission is occurring, you are very much seeing that in the uk right now. we know it spreads quickly but is it milder? the reason i ask is because south africa and other countries are reporting lower hospitalisation rates. this is one of the critical things and it is important for decision—makers, what is happening in your hospitals? you have the advantage of a highly vaccinated population and we know the vaccines are holding up against the severe disease and preventing deaths, we know the vaccine has prevented more than 400,000 deaths in europe in the last year, but if you have huge numbers of people infected, the small percentage of people who get the severe end of the disease translates to a large number of people, so the critical thing is to really watch what is happening in your hospitals. what about reinfection, people who have had covid and are getting it again with omicron? this is one of the reasons we put it on the variant of concern list, in south africa studies showed 80% of people had been infected with previous versions, reinfection is happening, large numbers of those people might be asymptomatic but it means they can bring it to a gathering and transmitted to somebody much more vulnerable and likely to get the severe disease. i wanted to end by asking you to give us some light at the end of the tunnel and i wondered if and when you thought there might be a point where you and i could be having a conversation about covid as being a relatively mild disease. i would really like to be having that conversation with you, and in person, i would love to be able to do that. it always seems hardest, the the old saying is it is darkest before the dawn and i know it has been a really difficult time for absolutely all of us, but we are vaccinating the world, even the resource poor countries that we were struggling to vaccinate we are now getting volumes and getting the vaccines into the arms, so even though it seems very difficult now, have a careful christmas, look forward to 2022 so we can all truly celebrate together. dr margaret harris from the world health organization. she spoke to us a little earlier. there've been protests outside parliament buildings in bucharest, as romanian legislators debate making covid passes mandatory for all employees in the workplace. eastern european countries, where vaccination rates are low, have been experiencing some of the highest death tolls in the world, with hospitals overrun in bulgaria and romania. new zealand will delay it's re—opening plans until the end of february as the government tries to stop a rapid spread of the omicron variant. anyone now entering the country must stay in quarantine facilities for ten days instead of seven. here in the uk, hospitality and entertainment firms are pressing the government to make a clear decision on whether they can expect further covid restrictions in england. the prime minister says the data is being reviewed "hour by hour" — and that he is "not ruling anything out." meanwhile the number of covid infections in the uk continues to soar: there were another 91,715 new cases reported yesterday — the second highest daily total on record. a number of venues have had to close temporarily — including edinburgh castle and london's natural history museum. half of london's west end theatres have cancelled some performances, and the mayor of london sadiq khan has called off this year's new year's celebration in the capital because of public safety fears. this report from our political correspondent damian grammaticas. under the microscope now, not the virus, but the government's approach to tackling it. where many were hoping for clarity ahead of christmas, there is instead uncertainty. covid cases are surging and borisjohnson and his cabinet met yesterday, but they have yet to decide on any of the key questions. are new covid measures required for england? if so, how soon and how severe? we agreed we should keep the data from now on under constant review, keep following it hour by hour. and unfortunately i must say to people we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public. so for now, the vaccination drive goes on, but no new restrictions. several ministers in mrjohnson�*s cabinet are reluctant to see more enacted, concerned about the effect on the economy and wanting more data on how this new covid wave is impacting hospitals. labour says there's a vacuum of leadership. instead of being hamstrung by his own cabinet and hiding from his own backbenchers, it's time that borisjohnson stopped putting the politics of the conservative party ahead of public health and levelled with the country. it's understood the health secretary, sajid javid, is in favour of cutting the length of isolation for people who have tested positive for covid from ten days to seven if clinical advice supports the change. it would help organisations seeing rising staff absences. and already businesses are being hit by the advice people should work from home and suggestions it's prudent to prioritise who you have contact with. some in hospitality and entertainment, a warning they need clarity soon. they face critical decisions in the coming days about whether to go ahead with events planned in the coming weeks. the businesses have got the data, they've got the cancellations, they've got less turnover. they're not making profits. they're carrying the staff and carrying the costs. so that evidence is there about omicron and what it will be in the future, we might not know. but the damage is being done now. but for now, they're waiting for the government and a decision that could come at any time. damian grammaticas, bbc news, westminster. so what are the rules at the moment around the uk? in england there are no limits on socialising, but plan b restrictions have been introduced. that means face coverings are mandatory in shops and public transport. covid passes are needed for many venues and events and you're being told to work from home where possible. in scotland, nicola sturgeon says there won't be new rules for christmas day but you're being advised to limit socialising to just two other households before and after. businesses must take reasonable measures to minimise transmission, like one—way systems and app—based ordering. and again face coverings are mandatory in most public indoor settings, including pubs and restaurants for wales, there's advice to limit socialising before christmas. but tougher rules have been announced for after christmas. from the 27th, social distancing will be legally enforced in offices and nightclubs will be closed. and all sport will be played behind closed doors from boxing day — more on that coming up in our sport bulletin. and in northern ireland, a maximum of 30 people can meet indoors but should social distance where possible. face coverings are mandatory in most indoor venues. and covid passports are needed for venues like nightclubs, bars and cinemas as the prime minister is urged to make a clear decision on new restrictions in england what effect can a delay have on mental health? let's talk to the nottingham trent university psychologist dr juliet wakefield. thank you forjoining us, very good to see you. what do we know about the impact of uncertainty on people's health and well—being? goad people's health and well-being? good mornin: , people's health and well-being? good morning, rebecca. _ people's health and well-being? good morning, rebecca. i— people's health and well—being? (limo. morning, rebecca. ithink people's health and well—being? (limo. morning, rebecca. i think there people's health and well—being? (limo. morning, rebecca. ithink there is morning, rebecca. i think there is real potentialfor this morning, rebecca. i think there is real potential for this new situation to have a very negative effect on mental health, we know that anxiety and feelings of depression are often worsened by feeling like you have a lack of control over the situation and also a sense of uncertainty, with the government not being able or available to make a decision at the moment in terms of locking down or not before christmas, i think people will feel very unsure, which will create a great deal of extra anxiety. and that coupled with the fact that many people were not able to have christmas with friends and family last year means many people are pinning their hopes on having christmas this year and not knowing if that will happen or not will create even more anxiety for many people. in create even more anxiety for many --eole. , ., ., people. in terms of the mental health impact, _ people. in terms of the mental health impact, what _ people. in terms of the mental health impact, what is - people. in terms of the mental health impact, what is the - people. in terms of the mental- health impact, what is the evidence around uncertainty on the one hand and feeling locked down and restricted and not able to go out and see people on the other? itrailiidi and see people on the other? which is worse? i — and see people on the other? which is worse? ithink— and see people on the other? which is worse? i think both _ and see people on the other? which is worse? i think both are _ is worse? i think both are particularly detrimental to mental health, we know having a sense of connection to others is exceptionally important for mental health and we need to feel we have that sense of belonging and connection to families and friends. it is important we can still do that over zoom online even in these difficult times, i would urge people to continue that connection to boost mental health. when we feel locked and unable to go outside, there is a sense you have no control, a sense of being stuck. whatever way this happens there will be real problems for people's well—being. i understand people want to be in control, but as the prime minister once said, when facts change, you have to change, and isn't this also cultivating adaptability and resilience? i cultivating adaptability and resilience?— cultivating adaptability and resilience? ., �* , resilience? i think the british ublic resilience? i think the british public has — resilience? i think the british public has shown _ resilience? i think the british public has shown it _ resilience? i think the british public has shown it is - resilience? i think the british - public has shown it is exceptionally resilient, there has been a huge number of real changes and situation changes over the last year, the number of lockdowns we have been through, i think people have coped well and been exceptionally resilient. i think there is an argument to be made for telling the british public as as soon as possible what will happen over the next few days to give them more uncertainty, with nicola sturgeon in scotland telling people things will not change on christmas day, people in scotland can have more certainty and started make plans, i think borisjohnson could follow and started make plans, i think boris johnson could follow that advice and help people feel more secure in what is happening. we don't have much time, but what would your advice to people be? you already mentioned keeping up connections online. connecting with eo - le, connections online. connecting with people. even _ connections online. connecting with people, even online, _ connections online. connecting with people, even online, is _ people, even online, is exceptionally important. we know exercise is exceptionally beneficial for mental health and if you could do that outside in nature it is even more beneficial, so try to get outside, really important. helping others is more useful too, so checking on neighbours, donating to the local food bank or feeling you are helping others can boost mental health in this difficult time. dr juliet wakefield from nottingham trent university, many thanks. the jury have begun their deliberations in the trial of ghislaine maxwell in new york. she denies grooming girls for abuse by the wealthy sex offenderjeffrey epstein. the prosecution allege that she is a "sophisticated predator," but ms maxwell's defence team argue that she's been made a scapegoat for epstein, who died in prison. from new york, barbara plett usher sent us this report. jurors have to decide which version of events to believe. the prosecution has argued that ghislaine maxwell was crucial tojeffrey epstein's operation. they say that she made the teenagers feel comfortable. she was posh, smiling, age acceptable, a cover really for mr epstein's behaviour, and that she knew exactly what she was doing when she sent them into a massage room with him. the defence says, "no, she didn't know because mr epstein kept secrets from her. and in fact, she's being punished for his crimes. she's a scapegoat." the other issue is the credibility of the four women who have accused ghislaine maxwell of complicity in the abuse. the defence says they didn't mention her alleged role in their initial interviews with law enforcement, and they're only doing so now because they're motivated by money. the prosecution says the similarities in their stories actually show the playbook by which ms maxwell operated to recruit and groom them, and that, in fact, these women had already received payouts from jeffrey epstein estate. so if their motivation was money, they wouldn't have gone through the hell of testifying at this trial. we don't know how long it's going to take for the jury to come back with a verdict, but we may get one by christmas, which is ghislaine maxwell's 60th birthday. barbara plett usher. police in the philippines say the number of people who've died after a super typhoon hit last week has risen to more than 375. the red cross says it's "carnage" in many areas, with no power, no communications, and very little water. thousands of military, coast guard and fire service personnel, have been deployed to help in the relief operation. our philippines correspondent howard johnson is in shargao island and gave us this update. it's a scene of absolute carnage and devastation everywhere. more than 90% of the buildings here have been affected, many of them with their roofs torn off, lots of trees stripped, shredded, broken in half. i can see a piece of corrugated iron wrapped around a tree around 15 metres up, and you can see the fact these trees snapped, the power of this super typhoon. people here are slowly trying to rebuild their lives, you might be able to hear banging in the background, peoplejust trying to repair their buildings but it is pretty bad here. they say the electricity will not be restored for three months and that is going to impact also on electricity, on the pumping of water and the provincial governor said more help must be sent this way. logistically, it's in a very remote place, it's difficult to get to. but they are appealing here for more water, rice, and help with technicians and doctors to come here to help the people of shargao. the internet here is down, so no one is really able to get across their frustrations with the speed at which aid is being handed out. the provincial governor today told me he's seen his internet account while he was in manila, he flew off there, and he said the people here are saying the aid is not being handed out fast enough but he says it's issues with the docks, when the tide is low, they cannot get the ships in. today, we saw a ci30 military plane fly and with some supplies so we do know aid is coming here and we have seen it being put in small bags that will be distributed later but people need clean water and they need electricity and they need as many technicians to come here to help rebuild the grid because as i say, they believe it will be down for at least three months here. i flew in with the international federation of the red cross, that's supported by money from all around the world but they do have their own chapter, the philippine red cross who are here as well and they are just upping their operations at the moment. they'll be handing out aid and offering support for people here but apart from that, i don't see any other international aid agencies. i do see some domestic agencies here but i think the scale of the devastation means there is going to be more need for the international community to support what has happened here. howard johnson. japan has executed three prisoners by hanging for the first time since 2019. the prisoners had been on death row for several years since being convicted of multiple murders in the early 2000s. our tokyo correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes has more. japan has a very unique system, and certainly human rights groups and people campaigning for the abolition of the death penalty here have said that it is a very cruel and unusual system. in large part, notjust because of the use of hanging and japan, along with the united states, the only major industrialised country that continues to use execution as a form of punishment. but japan has this very specific way that it is done which is that the inmate on death row may spend many years not knowing if this day, which day, is going to be their last day before they are put to death. they are only told, literally, on the morning that it happens. so these three men, they were all men, would have been woken up this morning before dawn and told you are now going to your execution this morning and that's the first they would have known of it, and they would have sat there for many years not knowing exactly when it was going to happen. rupert wingfield—hayes. a bbc investigation has found that the incident in which 27 people drowned last month, while trying to cross the english channel from france to the uk in a small boat, occurred in french waters. the investigation has identified 20 of those who were on board the boat, all of whom were from iraqi kurdistan. bbc persian's soran qurbani reports. it was an overcrowded boat, at the mercy of the channel's freezing water. 29 lives were lost that night, and a bbc investigation has identified 20 of them, all from iraqi kurdistan. from the testimonies and messages to their friends and families, we can also piece together their tragic last few hours. this is the voice of this 30—year—old man, nearly five hours after the boat set off on its journey. within 30 minutes of his message, the boat had completely submerged. once in water, people desperately tried to call both the uk and french authorities for help. phones fall into the water before passengers can send the details. just hours later, all but two of at least 31 people are dead. through shipping data and emergency response details our investigation concludes that the boat was in french waters when it sank. in kurdistan, families still can't find closure. this man lost his entire family on that boat, his wife and three children, the youngest of which was only seven years old. the french authorities have recovered their bodies, but he is still clinging to a desperate hope they might return. translation: no, | i still don't believe it. they could be in a camp or a hospital. i don't believe anyone until i see it with my own eyes. if they bring their bodies, i will check all of them to know, but until then, i won't believe it. i went to calais to find out what drives people to make these deadlyjourneys. this is the makeshift camp where most of those who were on the boat lived. abbas and his group from iran say taking a boatjourney is playing with death. when i ask about what is his plan, he says if there is a dinghy here, he is going to try tojump on it and try his chance to cross to the uk. four months pregnant lana and her husband, from iraqi kurdistan, nearly died on a previous attempt to cross. she says she is doing this for her baby. translation: we will try again. our life here in this cold isn't far better from being in the sea. if my baby was born, it would have been more difficult, but now i carry him or her with me. if i die, the baby dies with me too. it is hard to imagine the level of desperation that drives people to deadly sea journeys, but without much hope for a betterfuture, the loss of life isn't going to end. soran ourbani, bbc news, calais. on our website you can find all the data and evidence the bbc has obtained in this investigation of the boatjourney. that's at bbc.com/news. the headlines on bbc news... the world health organization urges caution over the festive season to save lives — as the omicron variant continues to spread globally. certainly not cancel christmas, but have a careful christmas so that you can have notjust a happy new year but many happy new years. omicron now accounts for nearly three—quarters of new coronavirus cases in the united states. president biden is to outline plans to try to tackle the variant. as borisjohnson refuses to rule out new covid measures — british businesses call for clarity on the rules. the uk government says there'll be news on financial support today in other news: ajury in new york is considering its verdict in the trial of ghislaine maxwell. she denies sex trafficking allegations desperate attempts to get aid to those hit by typhoon rai in the philippines — more than 375 people are now known to have died. earlier this hour, we brought you comments from the us vice—president kamala harris on the spread of omicron in the us. let's listen to the full interview now. she was speaking to cbs's hilary brennan and she began by asking her about the row over president biden's budget plans which have been blocked by us senatorjoe manchin. do you feel senatorjoe manchin is playing fair with you? he went on television and said no, pretty definitively. i television and said no, pretty definitively.— television and said no, pretty definitively. television and said no, pretty definitivel . ~ , .,~ , ., definitively. i think the stakes are too hiuh definitively. i think the stakes are too high for _ definitively. i think the stakes are too high for this _ definitively. i think the stakes are too high for this to _ definitively. i think the stakes are too high for this to be _ definitively. i think the stakes are too high for this to be in - definitively. i think the stakes are too high for this to be in any - definitively. i think the stakes are too high for this to be in any way | too high for this to be in any way about any specific individual. it is about any specific individual. it is a 50-50 senate. _ about any specific individual. it is a 50-50 senate. the _ about any specific individual. it is a 50-50 senate. the stakes - about any specific individual. it is a 50-50 senate. the stakes are i about any specific individual. it is l a 50-50 senate. the stakes are so hieh. i a 50-50 senate. the stakes are so high- i refuse _ a 50-50 senate. the stakes are so high. i refuse to _ a 50-50 senate. the stakes are so high. i refuse to get _ a 50-50 senate. the stakes are so high. i refuse to get caught - a 50-50 senate. the stakes are so high. i refuse to get caught up - a 50-50 senate. the stakes are so high. i refuse to get caught up in l high. i refuse to get caught up in what might be personal politics. when the people who are waking up at 3am worried about how they are going to get by couldn't care less about the politics of washington, dc. you don't feel betrayed? i _ the politics of washington, dc. you don't feel betrayed? i don't - the politics of washington, dc. you don't feel betrayed? i don't have i don't feel betrayed? i don't have any personal— don't feel betrayed? i don't have any personal feelings _ don't feel betrayed? i don't have any personal feelings about - don't feel betrayed? i don't havej any personal feelings about this, this is about let's get the job done, lets talk with families who say they cannot afford to do the basic things that i need to do as a responsible adult —like care for my children, my older parents or afford to get life—saving medication like insulin. to get life-saving medication like insulin. ., ., ., ., insulin. how do you do that without joe manchin? _ insulin. how do you do that without joe manchin? you _ insulin. how do you do that without joe manchin? you do _ insulin. how do you do that without joe manchin? you do not _ insulin. how do you do that without joe manchin? you do not give - insulin. how do you do that without joe manchin? you do not give up. l joe manchin? you do not give up. medical experts _ joe manchin? you do not give up. medical experts project _ joe manchin? you do not give up. medical experts project we - joe manchin? you do not give up. medical experts project we could | joe manchin? you do not give up. i medical experts project we could see as many as 1 medical experts project we could see as many as1 million infections per day because of this omicron variant. is our health care system prepared? we are prepared. is our health care system prepared? we are prepared-— we are prepared. particularly in the north-east. — we are prepared. particularly in the north-east. we _ we are prepared. particularly in the north-east, we see _ we are prepared. particularly in the north-east, we see hospitals - north—east, we see hospitals overwhelmed with the delta variant, inflation is real, it will be with us as long as the pandemic dominates. when can you tell the american people this will end? we have american people this will end? - have the power today to go out and if you have not been boosted, go get boosted, the power today to go and get vaccinated. and that will have an impact on where we end up tomorrow. i5 an impact on where we end up tomorrow-— an impact on where we end up tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? _ tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? i— tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? i don't - tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? i don't think - tomorrow. is it the fault of the | unvaccinated? i don't think this tomorrow. is it the fault of the i unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment — unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to _ unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to talk _ unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to talk about _ unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to talk about fault. it | unvaccinated? i don't think this is| a moment to talk about fault. it is no 1's fault this virus hit our shores or hit the world. but it is more about individual power and responsibility and it's about the decisions that everyone has the choice to make, no doubt. there are 100,000 russian _ choice to make, no doubt. there are 100,000 russian troops _ choice to make, no doubt. there are 100,000 russian troops on - choice to make, no doubt. there are 100,000 russian troops on the i choice to make, no doubt. there are l 100,000 russian troops on the border with ukraine, will be see a hot war in europe in the next few weeks? we are in europe in the next few weeks? - are having direct conversations with russia, we are very clear that russia, we are very clear that russia should not invade the sovereignty of ukraine. we are prepared to issue sanctions like you have not seen before. does prepared to issue sanctions like you have not seen before.— prepared to issue sanctions like you have not seen before. does that mean sanctionin: have not seen before. does that mean sanctioning to — have not seen before. does that mean sanctioning to vladimir— have not seen before. does that mean sanctioning to vladimir putin - sanctioning to vladimir putin directly? i sanctioning to vladimir putin directl ? ., ., ~ ., directly? i will not talk about secifics directly? i will not talk about specifics but _ directly? i will not talk about specifics but we _ directly? i will not talk about specifics but we are - directly? i will not talk about specifics but we are making. directly? i will not talk about i specifics but we are making that clear to him. let's return to the uncertainty here in the uk around whether or not the prime minister will bring in further restrictions. robert west is emeritus professor of health psychology at university college london. and hejoins us now. good to have you with us. we are seeing lockdown in european countries, here in the uk the message from some politicians at least is trust the people to decide. i wonder what is the evidence that people can be trusted to make the right decisions? people can be trusted _ to make the right decisions? people can be trusted and _ to make the right decisions? people can be trusted and there _ to make the right decisions? people can be trusted and there is - to make the right decisions? people can be trusted and there is very i can be trusted and there is very good evidence from earlier on in this pandemic people can be trusted when they have the opportunity to do the right thing and the capability to do it and one of the biggest issues throughout the pandemic in the uk has been the inadequacy of the uk has been the inadequacy of the financial support for people to self—isolate when they have got symptoms or when they test positive and that's been a big issue for us all along. and so it isn't really just a question of putting all the responsibility of the on to people, yes, individually we have responsibility but everyone has to take responsibility and that includes governments in order to make it possible for people to do the right thing.— the right thing. what difference does it make _ the right thing. what difference does it make if _ the right thing. what difference does it make if guidance - the right thing. what difference i does it make if guidance becomes rules? do people take more notice? yes, they do. part of the reason for thatis yes, they do. part of the reason for that is that when things become rules, you get sanctions and some people are influenced by the prospect of those. but actually, probably more important, it sends a signal to the population that this is something that is serious and everybody will be doing it and should be doing it and that it's sort of normalising it so when you have rules that cannot necessarily be fully enforced, they can still have a big impact on people's behaviour. i5 have a big impact on people's behaviour-— have a big impact on people's behaviour. , . , , , , behaviour. is there any sense people aet fed u- behaviour. is there any sense people get fed up with _ behaviour. is there any sense people get fed up with being _ behaviour. is there any sense people get fed up with being told _ behaviour. is there any sense people get fed up with being told what i behaviour. is there any sense people get fed up with being told what to i get fed up with being told what to do? ., ., . , get fed up with being told what to do? ., ., ., , , , get fed up with being told what to do? ., ., ._ , do? no, not really. it depends on who is telling _ do? no, not really. it depends on who is telling them _ do? no, not really. it depends on who is telling them and _ do? no, not really. it depends on who is telling them and what i do? no, not really. it depends on i who is telling them and what reasons are given. what we have seen again throughout this pandemic and you see this and other situations as well, is that when people understand why it is that they have to do particular things and the benefits of it and the risk associated of not doing it, then they do obey the rules. to quite a remarkable extent, when you think about how hard it is and how much suffering it causes to do so. but it's a question really for people which most people understand of which is the least bad option. understand of which is the least bad 0 tion. ~ ., understand of which is the least bad otion. ~ . ., option. what the impact of the onauoin option. what the impact of the ongoing discussion _ option. what the impact of the ongoing discussion in - option. what the impact of the ongoing discussion in the i option. what the impact of the ongoing discussion in the uk i option. what the impact of the i ongoing discussion in the uk about parties at downing street? is there any evidence people are less likely to obey the rules if they think those in authority are ignoring them? n ., , those in authority are ignoring them? a . , ., those in authority are ignoring them? n . , ., ., those in authority are ignoring them? a . , ., ., �*, them? actually, at the moment, it's a bit early to — them? actually, at the moment, it's a bit early to tell _ them? actually, at the moment, it's a bit early to tell in _ them? actually, at the moment, it's a bit early to tell in terms _ them? actually, at the moment, it's a bit early to tell in terms of - a bit early to tell in terms of survey data for this particular round but going back to when we saw the famous dominic cummings incident, we did see a lot of trust incident, we did see a lot of trust in government and that was associated with a reduction in adherence to the rules so i would not be surprised to see that would make a difference. but at the same time, i think it's complicated because there will be some people who say, well if they are not obeying the rules then i won't but there are many other people who say i don't obey the rules for them, i'm not doing it for them, i'm doing it for myself and my family and people around me. so whatever they do, that is their problem. and obviously they need to be held to account for it. but not by me shooting myself in the foot. it’s but not by me shooting myself in the foot. �*, , but not by me shooting myself in the foot. , foot. it's complicated, as you say. professor. — foot. it's complicated, as you say. professor, really _ foot. it's complicated, as you say. professor, really good _ foot. it's complicated, as you say. professor, really good to - foot. it's complicated, as you say. professor, really good to talk i foot. it's complicated, as you say. professor, really good to talk to i professor, really good to talk to you. thank you. a £3—million fund is being made available to clubs and venues in wales after it was announced all sporting events would be held behind closed doors from boxing day. the welsh government said the spectator ban would apply to all indoor, outdoor, professional and community sports events. let's talk to the welsh economy minister, vaughan gething. good to have you with us and i wonder if you could tell us what the data is in wales that has led you to make this decision? the data is in wales that has led you to make this decision?— make this decision? the data as of esterda make this decision? the data as of yesterday was _ make this decision? the data as of yesterday was 640 _ make this decision? the data as of yesterday was 640 odd _ make this decision? the data as of yesterday was 640 odd omicron i yesterday was 640 odd omicron identified cases but the overall rate rose to about 550 per 100,000. the challenge is omicron has succeeded in every health board area in wales and by boxing day, we expect to have several thousand cases of omicron identified with the real fear of it being cases of omicron identified with the realfear of it being much higher. we have already indicated as you heard from our first minister on friday that there will be a new legal regime of protective measures in place for the 27th so we had to decide do we go ahead with all the boxing day fixture is that we know are socially important and make a big difference to all those clubs at community level and then introduce different restrictions the following day? and what would it mean to have those events taking place, notjust in the grounds but all of the travel to and from, mixing around the venues as well? we took the difficult but i think the right decision to give clarity at this point that there would be restrictions, those fixtures can go ahead but without spectators. what ahead but without spectators. what evidence is there _ ahead but without spectators. what evidence is there by _ ahead but without spectators. what evidence is there by putting sport behind closed doors that that makes any difference to the spread of omicron? we any difference to the spread of omicron? ~ ~' ., any difference to the spread of omicron? ~ ~ ., ., . ., , omicron? we know omicron is even more transmissible _ omicron? we know omicron is even more transmissible than _ omicron? we know omicron is even more transmissible than the - omicron? we know omicron is even more transmissible than the delta l more transmissible than the delta variant, we know it is more likely to evade the vaccine response as well and there's no confidence at all that it is a sufficiently milder version of covid if it is indeed manner at all, not to cause significant harm so you have to seek notjust significant harm so you have to seek not just the event significant harm so you have to seek notjust the event it is taking place on the field and in the stadium but actually all of the mixing that goes on around that when people will be travelling and moving around and mixing with each other. and that's a really big challenge that we face. where is the balance to strike? you heard your previous guest talking about the difficulty of some of the choices we had to make. i think providing clarity now helps us to get there and it's also about recognising if you say on the 26th people can go out freely and mix in their thousands but the next day there will be significant restrictions, that in itself is a point of difference in difficulty but as i say, we expect by boxing day, there will be several thousand identified omicron cases in wales with the real number being much higher and we do therefore need to think about the last mixing taking place around these events, notjust in the stadiums. it is place around these events, not 'ust in the stadiums.i in the stadiums. it is a few days until boxing _ in the stadiums. it is a few days until boxing day _ in the stadiums. it is a few days until boxing day and _ in the stadiums. it is a few days until boxing day and we - in the stadiums. it is a few days until boxing day and we are i in the stadiums. it is a few days i until boxing day and we are talking to the manager of the ice hockey team, the cardiff devils after 11am and he is telling us they are playing a game on boxing day in coventry, it will be sold out in front of 3000 fans. many fans will travel. then it's back to wales for a game the next night in front of no fan so how does that make sense? it is a relative different governments making different choices and we said on friday that we would resolve the issues around boxing day in particular because of its importance in the sporting calendar, we did that, i met directly with stakeholders including the manager of the cardiff devils yesterday before cabinet had a discussion, they were then briefed by my officials about the outcome of that yesterday so they had as much time as we could reasonably give them stop but we have made a choice, we haven't refused to make a choice because we do know that if you wait until there's cast—iron evidence about the level of harm you're going to have, harm will have already been caused in large part as well so i think we know enough now to know we are going to need to intervene, that is why the first minister set out what he said on friday, that is why there will be more restrictions coming in to protect people in wales on the monday. i would much prefer it if all governments in the uk had an agreement on how we take measures to protect the people we are responsible for. but as you have seen, the uk government has not been able to include their own discussions and we cannot wait to protect the people of wales with the undone discussions taking place by the uk government. i undone discussions taking place by the uk government.— undone discussions taking place by the uk government. i know you have announced a — the uk government. i know you have announced a £3 _ the uk government. i know you have announced a £3 million _ the uk government. i know you have announced a £3 million fund - the uk government. i know you have announced a £3 million fund to i the uk government. i know you have announced a £3 million fund to helpl announced a £3 million fund to help clubs and venues, to help support them. is that really going to be enough? i'm thinking about the smaller grassroots clubs, once you have dealt with rugby and football? we are thinking about the initial phase of this, because we have more protections that we are likely to introduce from the 27 onwards, we are going to have to see what that means for the period of time it could happen. i have already announced £60 million to go towards businesses affected by the measures we are going to confirm over the coming days. and we will then see what the initial money we are providing sporting organisations will actually mean for that longer term. in all of this, as you heard on your previous guest, there is lots of uncertainty about how long we are going to need to take more protective measures but we will do the right thing to trying to do everything we can, notjust for sporting clubs but for the wider economy as well. we really think we will be helped in doing that if there was a return to furlough and we would be confident more protective measures would be needed to keep people safe, alive and well and more that, prevent people and services from collapsing under the weight of a large wave of omicron infections which we are all, i am afraid, expecting.— infections which we are all, i am afraid, expecting. vaughan gething, thank ou afraid, expecting. vaughan gething, thank you for— afraid, expecting. vaughan gething, thank you for your _ afraid, expecting. vaughan gething, thank you for your time. _ as we've been hearing, there's still no confirmation about whether further restrictions are about to be imposed or not in england. tim muffett has been in central london to weigh up the public mood. �*tis the season to be... ..uncertain. it's very frustrating, yes, because nobody knows what the heck is going on. would you rather some clarity now? definitely. then at least we know what the plans are going to be. there's no point leaving it until christmas eve and then telling "you can't actually meet your family and friends and everybody else." it's really frustrating, because we are planning to go to family in kent for christmas. if all of a sudden they decide tomorrow, "oh, no, you can't travel for christmas," then all of our christmas plans have gone topsy—turvy. i don't have a turkey in the fridge, you know? what are we going to eat for christmas if we are stuck at home? they are dilemmas currently faced by so many households. do you know what you are going to do on christmas day? we've got a pretty good idea but, i mean, everyone seems to be sort of nervous about doing anything in the lead up to it, which sort of ruins... ruins the whole sort of festive season. how unsettling is it not knowing for sure what we can do? imean, very. i think we've gone through this, haven't we, the last year and a bit, and i don't know, i think it would be nice to know in advance, i think, you know what i mean? so we are a bit more... we can plan ahead and stuff like that, because i feel like there is still a little bit of lost in translation with the messages that are coming out of, you know, kind of the news and government and stuff as well. it's less than a month since the omicron variant was first reported in south africa, and it is that sudden change in expectations surrounding christmas which seems to be so unsettling for many. it's pretty unnerving, actually, not knowing where you are going to be, and it is upsetting for people who have made plans over the last couple of months. daniel runs a burger van. he needs to order stock and arrange shift patterns for staff, but it is proving hard. any kind of certainty right now would help us a lot with our planning. everyone seems to be very festive and in a good mood and carrying on as usual, however obviously there is that kind of uncertainty around whether we will be able to open in a few weeks after christmas. matthew's pedicab hasn't been hailed as often as he'd hoped. if restrictions are coming, he'd prefer to know now. so i could decide when and if i am visiting my mother, when and if i'm working over the next two weeks. and even harder for the theatres, restaurants, bars and everything, not knowing what's going on. you would have thought surely they should know exactly what they are going to be doing by now, so let people know. but forsome, uncertainty is now the norm, something we need to get used to. i think it's about just taking each day as it comes and sort of being ready to change your plans if necessary. i think the government's, you know, struggling, i trying to work out what's happening and waiting for the science - to come back in so, actually, i they are probably being as reactive as they can be. we are very used to it now, it's been going on a long time, everyone knows what. .. we know the drill. do you know what you are going to do on christmas day? yeah, we will be with family, yeah. yeah. unless they tell us we can't! a christmas day plan that will sound familiar to many. tim muffett, bbc news. the hospitality and entertainment industries in england have called for more clarity about the government's position. louise chantal is the chief executive and artistic director of the oxford playhouse theatre. good to have you with this. i wonder, first of all, no new restrictions, do you actually welcome that? we restrictions, do you actually welcome that? ~ ., welcome that? we welcome as an indust , welcome that? we welcome as an industry. and _ welcome that? we welcome as an industry, and the _ welcome that? we welcome as an industry, and the oxford - welcome that? we welcome as an i industry, and the oxford playhouse, anything that keeps our audience, staff and actors are safe, first and foremost. what we are actually looking at now is being closed down by stealth, as an industry, because obviously we don't know what's going to happen, we haven't been given a definite lead by the government. we were one of the many theatres in the country that brought in mandatory mask wearing before government made a decision because we knew that was a decision because we knew that was a very popular thing to do with our audience. and we wanted, as well as all the things we are doing to keep people safe, unwelcome people safely into the theatre —like fogging, really good air conditioning, all these things, wearing masks was a really visible and tangible thing that people could do to give people more confidence to come back and feel safer. so while we don't want to be closed down, we do want very clear guidance so that as an industry, we can make a decision together and we are not left alone together and we are not left alone to have to do that. we had to do that last march. everybody in the theatre industry is just having to make those decisions unilaterally which is very hard.— make those decisions unilaterally which is very hard. when you say you want clear guidance _ which is very hard. when you say you want clear guidance to _ which is very hard. when you say you want clear guidance to clear- which is very hard. when you say you want clear guidance to clear up i which is very hard. when you say you want clear guidance to clear up the i want clear guidance to clear up the uncertainty, what is it that you want to hear?— uncertainty, what is it that you want to hear? well, we all have heard these _ want to hear? well, we all have heard these rumours _ want to hear? well, we all have heard these rumours about i heard these rumours about restrictions coming in immediately after christmas. we are now in a situation where there are thousands and thousands of actors up and down the country, for example, in pantomimes, they are hundreds of miles away from their families, they don't know if they are going home on christmas eve right now to be back in 36 hours to perform on boxing day? or whether they are going home for good. they have got rent to pay and takes to organise and all of those things, they've got to get home, are they going home with an overnight bag or taking everything that they've had for two months to live away from their families? these are really practical decisions stop from a theatre point of view, we have put so much effort into making the theatre safe, and we have staff that need, we need to let them know what they are doing, so many staff across the cultural sector are freelancers. they need to plan for both their income and their workload. and we don't know, we are still literally going from day—to—day and of course so many theatres have had to cancel simply because of illness in the company, notjust because of illness in the company, not just on because of illness in the company, notjust on stage but off stage as well. have to make the decision every day and for every performance, hour by hour, whether it's still practical to deliver a show safely and to a standard that is acceptable.— and to a standard that is acce table. ., , acceptable. last time there were restrictions. _ acceptable. last time there were restrictions, the _ acceptable. last time there were restrictions, the government i restrictions, the government produced a generous package of support with its cultural recovery fund. we know there's less money what kind of support would you need this time? , . this time? currently, the culture recovery fund — this time? currently, the culture recovery fund has _ this time? currently, the culture recovery fund has had _ this time? currently, the culture recovery fund has had a - this time? currently, the culture recovery fund has had a very i this time? currently, the culture i recovery fund has had a very narrow eligibility, you actually need to be on the verge of bankruptcy to apply. and we would like that eligibility to be widened to people who are really suffering financially from this uncertainty as people were re—funding. the advances up and down the country for christmas shows, this year, were way up, we ourselves were way beyond our target by the end of last week. everybody wants to come to the theatre, everybody wants to get out and enjoy themselves and people are not turning up, they are either cancelling tickets or they are just not turning either cancelling tickets or they arejust not turning up. mira; either cancelling tickets or they are just not turning up.- are just not turning up. why is that, do are just not turning up. why is that. do you — are just not turning up. why is that, do you think? _ are just not turning up. why is that, do you think? because i are just not turning up. why is i that, do you think? because they have been _ that, do you think? because they have been told _ that, do you think? because they have been told to _ that, do you think? because they have been told to restrict - that, do you think? because they have been told to restrict their i have been told to restrict their social mobility, they have been told to restrict socialising, not least in order to have a safe christmas with her family. in order to have a safe christmas with herfamily. and that in order to have a safe christmas with her family. and that is in order to have a safe christmas with herfamily. and that is having a huge impact. to go back to the package that is required, yes, the culture recovery fund was unbelievable in terms of the support it gave the sector but there was a whole package that was brought in, 5% vat on tickets, business rate relief, thejob retention scheme was a game changer, higher tax for theatres, tax relief, all those things need to be reintroduced as soon as possible.— things need to be reintroduced as soon as possible. louise, we must leave it there. _ soon as possible. louise, we must leave it there. good _ soon as possible. louise, we must leave it there. good to _ soon as possible. louise, we must leave it there. good to talk - soon as possible. louise, we must leave it there. good to talk to i soon as possible. louise, we must| leave it there. good to talk to you. some news just in. leave it there. good to talk to you. some newsjust in. the ruler of dubai has been ordered to pay around £550 million to his former wife and the two children and what's not to be the largest award of kind ordered by an english court. the 70 two—year—old sheik will now have to pay £251.5 million to his sixth wife who is 47, as well as making ongoing payments for the two children aged 14 and nine years old. the award comes after the princess fled the united arab emirates for england in early 2019 with her children claiming she was terrified of her husband. the total award is believed to be the largest ever ordered by an english court following a divorce. following the ruling, a spokesperson for the sheikh said he had always insured his children are provided for. the court has now made its ruling on finances and he does not intend to comment further. researchers have found the largest ever fossil of a giant millipede. analysis of the discovery by cambridge university suggests the creature was as long as a car and weighed about 50 kilos. the species crawled across the earth more than 300—million years ago. although millipedes typically feed on decaying plant matter, scientists say it might have been carnivorous let's look at some of those incredible pictures. the millipede was found by a scientist who wasn't actually out looking for it, just happened to stumble across it on a winter walk. and i think he was as surprised as anyone but what i find it to stumble upon! that millipede, just shows you, you've got to keep your eyes open. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. after today, the weather is turning more unsettled as we head towards the christmas period, but today there is still a fair bit of cloud around, it is breaking from the west so more of us will see sunshine than we did yesterday. we still have a weak weather front across the north of scotland producing some patchy rain, and still breezy across south—west england and also the channel islands. our maximum temperatures, 2 to about 9 degrees. now, through this evening and overnight we will continue to see the cloud break, and under clear skies we will see a return to some low cloud, mist and fog forming, especially around the home counties into the south—east, the midlands, that kind of area. also looking at a widespread frost. not so across northern ireland, and that is because we have got a new system which is coming our way, bringing in some rain. so tomorrow the high pressure slides away, low pressure in the atlantic starts to dominate and all these blobs of rain you can see are connected to this area of low pressure and they are all coming our way. so on wednesday morning we start off on a cold and frosty note with some patchy mist and fog, that will lift, allowing some sunshine, and then the cloud builds in from the west ahead of this band of rain and a strengthening breeze. and as this rain later in the day bumps into the cold air across the highlands and grampians we will see some snow, even at modest levels. it is going to be a cold day for most of us, but behind this band of rain it does turn milder. now, as we head from wednesday into thursday, here is that band of rain continuing to push northwards. then another system comes in from the atlantic and isobars telling you you will notice a breeze during the course of thursday. so a murky start, cloudy and wet, all that rain moving northwards and eastwards and as it clears away, what will happen behind it is it is going to brighten up with some sunshine. noticeable south—westerly breeze, still an easterly in the north of scotland, so here it will be cold but very mild for the time of year across northern ireland, england and wales. the average is about six to eight, north to south. as we move from christmas eve into christmas day, we have got this battle going on between the cold air and the milder air. it looks very much like milder air will remain across many parts of england and wales, the colder air will continue across scotland. so what does that mean for a white christmas? well, we could see a white christmas across the north of scotland, especially in some of the hills, but we might see some snow later on christmas day in northern ireland and northern england. this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. the headlines at 11... as borisjohnson refuses to rule out new covid measures, businesses call for clarity on the rules. the uk government says there'll be news on financial support today. they've got cancellations, they have got less turnover, they are not making profit. they are carrying the staff and carrying the cost, so that evidence is there. about omicron and what it will be in the future, we might not know, but the damage is being done now. omicron now accounts for nearly three—quarters of new coronavirus cases in the united states. as the variant spreads globally, the world health organization urges caution over the festive season to save lives. certainly not cancel christmas, but have a careful christmas so that you can have notjust a happy new year but many happy new years. a court in london has ordered the ruler of dubai, sheikh mohammed, to pay his ex—wife around £550 million in what is thought to be the largest divorce settlement in british history. desperate attempts to get aid to those hit by typhoon rai in the philippine, more than 375 people are now known to have died. and how about this for a creepy—crawly nightmare? fossil evidence of the eight—foot—long millipede that weighed 50kg and was the size of a car. the chancellor rishi sunak is expected to give more details of government support to businesses hit by the spread of the omicron variant. it follows reports that the business secretary kwasi kwarteng is meeting businesses today to discuss the challenges they're facing. but there's still no further clarity on whether the government is going to impose more restrictions to combat covid in england ahead of christmas. meanwhile the number of covid infections in the uk continues to rise rapidly. there were another 91,743 new cases reported yesterday — the second highest daily total on record. a number of venues have had to close temporarily — including edinburgh castle and london's natural history museum. the welsh government has banned spectators at sporting events from boxing day. and the mayor of london sadiq khan has called off this year's new year's celebration in the capital because of public safety fears. let's hearfrom our chief political correspondent, adam fleming. looks like we're going to get an update from the chancellor and the treasury later on financial support for business. that's interesting, because yesterday the word i'd been hearing was that the treasury wants to wait until there was more clarity on whether there'd be further restrictions before announcing any support. looks like they're deciding to go ahead without that clarity. although i wonder if it could be about spending previously allocated support that has remained unspent thus far rather than new money being announced. so, let's read the small print once that announcement comes, if there is an announcement. in terms of further restrictions to deal with the omicron variant in england, we're still in a holding pattern. the government is waiting for more data about the severity of the disease and how often people who contract omicron end up in hospital before they make a decision about any further measures. there's talk about more data being available tomorrow, potentially an update to the modelling from the scientists tomorrow as well. but the government's decision to not make a decision has received the backing this morning of one of the top scientists in the uk, sirjeremy farrar, who runs the wellcome trust, the biomedical research charity. he's a former member of sage, he's been pretty vocal and critical of the government in the past and in fact, at one point threatened to resign from sage because the government wasn't acting fast enough, in his view. he's just been on the radio saying it is reasonable for ministers to wait 24 hours or 48 hours to look at the data, particularly the data on hospitalisation rates in london, which has become the omicron epicentre. so i think ministers will be relieved that something last night or this morning that might have looked like indecision is now getting the thumbs—up from a scientist and that actually not doing something was a decision rather than indecision. as adam mentioned, we're due to hear from the chancellor rishi sunak this afternoon on financial support for businesses. joining me now is pauljohnson, director of the institute for fiscal studies, which has been calling on mr sunak to offer more support to businesses. what kind of support should businesses be given by government given this at the moment is a kind of self—imposed lockdown or self imposed restrictions by many people who are not going to the pub or theatre, cancelling parties and so on? it is not by government mandate. that makes it much more difficult thanit that makes it much more difficult than it was in the past. when government was locking down businesses and telling us we were not allowed to open, then it was very queer case for the furlough scheme, but even then, the furlough was available to anyone who claimed it, it wasn'tjust was available to anyone who claimed it, it wasn't just available to those businesses that had been closed down. and i think therein lies the problem. they will want something that is really quite targeted. how will you target something when you don't actually mandate who closes? well, you could decide to targetjust the hospitality sector or perhaps retail in city centres or something like that, but it is a genuinely difficult thing to do. you could get the support if you close your premises or if your turnover falls by a certain proportion. going back to the sort of thing the chancellor's officials will have been sweating over for the last couple of weeks. at}! been sweating over for the last couple of weeks.— couple of weeks. of course the government — couple of weeks. of course the government and _ couple of weeks. of course the government and the _ couple of weeks. of course the j government and the chancellor couple of weeks. of course the i government and the chancellor are under huge pressure from business, hospitality, the entertainment industry, all sorts of sectors to be generous. can rishi sunak afford to be generous in terms of what is in the coffers? he be generous in terms of what is in the coffers?— the coffers? he can, the affordability _ the coffers? he can, the affordability isn't - the coffers? he can, the affordability isn't the i the coffers? he can, the i affordability isn't the issue, in terms of the overall cost of support over the last 18 months has been in the hundreds of billions and support for a select part of the economy would be a very small number and would be a very small number and would be a very small number and would be for a short time. so i think the issue is much less and it can be afforded, it is rather can it be properly targeted? and i suppose the chancellor may also be thinking, we have got inflation at 5%, which may be going up and is it a good time to be pumping more money into the economy, does that increase the risk that the bank of england will increase interest rates? that is a sort of thing is to wait up. he has been weighing — sort of thing is to wait up. he has been weighing this _ sort of thing is to wait up. he has been weighing this up _ sort of thing is to wait up. he has been weighing this up for- sort of thing is to wait up. he has been weighing this up for a i sort of thing is to wait up. he has been weighing this up for a while | been weighing this up for a while now, for several days, ever since omicron hit, and lots of businesses say he has taken too long, they should have had measures in place from the government already. l should have had measures in place from the government already. i think that is one of — from the government already. i think that is one of the _ from the government already. i think that is one of the concerns _ from the government already. i think that is one of the concerns to - from the government already. i think that is one of the concerns to stop i that is one of the concerns to stop it is only a few days but i think the problem is that working out a way to do this in a targeted fashion and that is something that the treasury set their face against all the way through this pandemic, lots of people suggesting by this summer that things should be of people suggesting by this summer that things should he been much better targeted because the furlough scheme was open to everyone when most of the economy was fully open and time after time the treasury was against targeted support in that way, so i think the issue was they had nothing up their sleeve, no ready—made solution to the problem. so i think they have probably been working round the clock ever since omicron struck the stop ——. working round the clock ever since omicron struck the stop --. thank ou for omicron struck the stop --. thank you for being _ omicron struck the stop --. thank you for being with _ omicron struck the stop --. thank you for being with us. _ omicron struck the stop --. thank you for being with us. some - omicron struck the stop --. thank you for being with us. some news| you for being with us. some news coming in about the dup leader sir jeffrey donaldson, leader of the democratic unity is to party who has tested positive for coronavirus, tweedy said he was croaky, had a sore throat, said he felt symptoms coming on when he returned to northern ireland from london. he says he will continue to work whilst isolating and will attend a virtual meeting with the foreign secretary liz truss today to discuss brexit matters including the northern ireland protocol. omicron now makes up nearly three—quarters of new coronavirus infections in the united states. president biden will be outlining additional plans to tackle the spread of the variant later today. in some areas, including new york city, the omicron is responsible for nine out of ten cases. the vice president, kamala harris, has been speaking to cbs news about the spread of the variant we have the power today to go out and if you have not been boosted, go get boosted, the power today to go and get vaccinated, and that will have an impact on where we end up tomorrow. is it the fault of the unvaccinated? i don't think this is a moment to talk about fault. it is no—one�*s fault that this virus hit our shores or hit the world, but it is more about individual power and responsibility and it is about the decisions that everyone has the choice to make. dr margaret harris from the world health organization says events over christmas that �*cannot be considered safe�* should be delayed or cancelled. certainly do not cancel christmas but have a careful christmas so you can have notjust a happy new year but many happy new years. a doctor was referring to a reception we postponed over and over again for journalists, we were to have a get together and we haven't been able to haveit together and we haven't been able to have it for two years and we cancelled it so he was explaining why, we all have to be really careful right now. let's return to the situation in england where there's still no confirmation about whether further restrictions are about to be imposed. and if they are, when. dr helen salisbury is a gp and a member of independent sage, a group of scientists working independently of government to suggest measures to tackle the pandemic. if you are running the government, what would you be doing now in terms of restrictions?— of restrictions? independent sage and saae, of restrictions? independent sage and sage. we _ of restrictions? independent sage and sage, we are _ of restrictions? independent sage and sage, we are all— of restrictions? independent sage and sage, we are all sane - of restrictions? independent sage and sage, we are all sane exactly| and sage, we are all sane exactly the same thing that we need to have some restrictions now, and picking up some restrictions now, and picking up on your last guest, he was talking about targeted support and people that need the support are low paid workers mainly because if you test positive but you are not feeling terribly ill, can you afford to self—isolate? probably not, and there are lots of people who if you wanted to slow the spread, the first thing to do was to make sure that if you test positive, you can of phage to stay off work and that is really important. i think we need to have some protections in place now because already lots and lots of people are making their own decisions and they are not going to hospitality venues and theatres, it is disastrous for those industries, so we need are some rules in place so we need are some rules in place so people can't be compensated. but we also need some rules in place to try to help people be... people are being sensible, so that we restrict our mixing. at the moment, we know that the doubling time for omicron is two days and that is really, really fast. if you wait for micro days, you are urged —— you have got four times as many cases. and that just goes up. they have made a decision and they don't really mind if omicron spreads and spreads. the? if omicron spreads and spreads. they sa that is if omicron spreads and spreads. they say that is because... _ if omicron spreads and spreads. they say that is because... for one thing, they don't know how severe it is. let me quote you on esther mcvey, a conservative mp for tatton, she said the government are now listening to their backbench mps and for once have pushed back on the scaremongering by lockdown fanatics. i think that is really unfair on the scientists of sage and independent sage to call them lockdown fanatics, they are careful scientists and they are saying what we see. what we see is a very rapidly spreading virus and what we don't know is how serious the outcome of the virus will be. the more benign end of it, it could bejust will be. the more benign end of it, it could be just that loads of staff of sick and just that would make it difficult for the hospitals to cope. at the more severe end, and even if this is a harvard is quite as bad as delta, the rate at which it spreads, i think it is very difficult to see a scenario where we don't see hospitalisations going up and unfortunately it is very likely that death rates are going up. remember it is on top of delta and we hadn't got rid of the previous variant, thatis got rid of the previous variant, that is still there, we have just got lots of the omicron cases on top. i can see there is a political will not to change things, make things difficult for people and to be popular, they want to be popular, so they don't want to say, scale back your christmas, but actually thatis back your christmas, but actually that is not a sensible, is it? that is what you _ that is not a sensible, is it? that is what you are _ that is not a sensible, is it? that is what you are saying _ that is not a sensible, is it? that is what you are saying as - is what you are saying as independent sage, that is what sage are saying, it is what you are saying sage is saying.- are saying, it is what you are saying sage is saying. from last thursda , saying sage is saying. from last thursday. yes- _ saying sage is saying. from last thursday, yes. that _ saying sage is saying. from last thursday, yes. that is _ saying sage is saying. from last thursday, yes. that is what - saying sage is saying. from last thursday, yes. that is what the | thursday, yes. that is what the scientists are saying and we were told the government follows the science. j told the government follows the science. ., , ., ., told the government follows the science. ., i. ., science. i do you are saying government _ science. i do you are saying government ministers - science. i do you are saying government ministers are l science. i do you are saying i government ministers are not following science?— government ministers are not following science? that is what it looks like- _ following science? that is what it looks like- it _ following science? that is what it looks like. it is _ following science? that is what it looks like. it is difficult _ following science? that is what it looks like. it is difficult to - following science? that is what it looks like. it is difficult to say - looks like. it is difficult to say it be science because scientists are not always in complete unity for stuff i think at this point, there is an enormous amount of consensus that this could be our full, we don't know and we should act in a precautionary wave because at the moment we don't knowjust how bad it will be. a cautionary way. there moment we don't knowjust how bad it will be. a cautionary way.— will be. a cautionary way. there are hints that there _ will be. a cautionary way. there are hints that there could _ will be. a cautionary way. there are hints that there could be _ hints that there could be restrictions but not until after christmas. to what extent in your view would that be too late? if we view would that be too late? if we think they are _ view would that be too late? if we think they are needed, _ view would that be too late? if we: think they are needed, the problem really is the lag between people getting infected and the people needing hospital care and another long like this people die. if you decide to say let's wait and see how many people die, by the time you have done that, you may have had seven or iii doubling is, an enormous rate of growth and it is too late, you need to shut the stable door a little bit before the house has bolted. even if we are waiting now another week or whenever they intend to think again about implementing some of the protections, we will still have vastly more cases. one of the problems at the moment as we don't know how many cases we have got. i think there were lots of people who cannot get hold of lateral flow device tests or they do the men they are positive and they just self—isolate themselves and there is lots of reinfection is and we infections do not count in the figures was that if you had delta and you now have omicron, that does not count. the thing we should have been looking at is positivity rates. if you look at the number of, the rate of positivity in september, it was about one in every 23 people who had a pcr. now it is about one in six. so the positivity rate is really going up. we six. so the positivity rate is really going urn-— six. so the positivity rate is really going up. six. so the positivity rate is reall uu-oinu. :, ., ~ :, really going up. we good to talk to ou for really going up. we good to talk to you for thank— really going up. we good to talk to you for thank you _ really going up. we good to talk to you for thank you very _ really going up. we good to talk to you for thank you very much - really going up. we good to talk to you for thank you very much for. really going up. we good to talk to i you for thank you very much for your analysis. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, there will be no fans at sporting events in wales from boxing day as part of efforts to control the spread of the omicron covid variant. the welsh government says it will apply to all indoor, outdoor, professional and community sports events, with restrictions expected to stay in place until at least the seventh of january. louisa pilbeam reports. wrexham famously have the support of hollywood, with owner ryan reynolds, but there will be no supporters at their stadium for their game against solihull on boxing day. the club say they are disappointed at the welsh government's decision to hold all sports events behind closed doors but understand why the announcement has been made. the same day, cardiff versus scarlets in the united rugby championship is closed to fans. the welsh grand national at chepstow the following day will also be held with no spectators, despite more than 6,000 advanced ticket sales. every sport at every level in wales will be impacted from amateur to professional, indoors and out, with no end date confirmed. in a statement, the welsh government said the decision was made after latest figures showed the number of confirmed cases of omicron rising steeply. they've announced a £3 million fund to support clubs and venues. louisa pilbeam, bbc news. so, welsh sport moving behind closed doors from boxing day, but around 400,000 fans are still expected to attend premier league matches on the same day. yesterday clubs in the top tier, ended talks of a possible postponment of matches, opting to push on with the season — despite record numbers of covid cases once again. at the start of the month, there were 12 new cases reported within the premier league. thatjumped to 42 new cases the week after — at the time a new record. but in the last week, that has more than doubled to 90 new cases and the risk again of clubs being un—able to fulfil fixtures. well, some managers and players at clubs are clearly not happy that the premier league opted not to enforce a break on fixtures over the festive season. chelsea manager thomas tuchel, for one, has claimed the safety of his players has been overlooked. radio 5 live commentator and analyst pat nevin agrees with him. purely from the players' point of view, it is worrying, exactly what thomas tuchel said, if you have a limited number of players and you start pushing players that are not quite ready then those small injuries can become much more serious and it can have a longer effect in the entirety of the season. you don't want to affect sporting integrity, that is what could happen. you want as many people getting these boosters and allow them a week or two to take effect, when that happens we are in a much better position to fight against this virus. it is a race against time, my suspicion is things will look very different on boxing day and afterwards. phil foden and jack grealish have been warned about their behaviour after being left on manchester city's bench last weekend for attending a night out. it followed their big win over leeds five days earlier. pep guardiola said he pays a lot of attention to behaviour on and off the pitch, and when it is not appropriate, they won't play. and australia have added uncapped fast bowler scott boland to their squad for the third ashes test in melbourne. boland comes in as cover, while fellow pacemen pat cummins and josh hazelwood also return. as for england, they'll need to re—group after going 2—0 down yesterday. australia's stand in skipper says his side have no intention of letting their advantage slip. england are a good side and capable of playing really good cricket, so we have to keep working hard as a group and gelling together and playing well for the rest of the series, it will be a great occasion as it always is when you play for your country, a boxing day test match, the guys are really excited and hopefully we can keep the momentum we have created in these first two test matches and keep moving forward. that is all for now. you can keep up to date about covid and football fixtures over the festive period on the bbc sport website. we have more on that story about sport in wales going back behind closed doors from boxing day. todd kelman is the managing director of the ice hockey team, the cardiff devils. thank you for being with us. explain how this will hit you and the cardiff devils. it how this will hit you and the cardiff devils.— cardiff devils. it will hit us financially, _ cardiff devils. it will hit us financially, we _ cardiff devils. it will hit us financially, we have - cardiff devils. it will hit us financially, we have been| cardiff devils. it will hit us . financially, we have been told cardiff devils. it will hit us - financially, we have been told from the 26th we cannot play home games with crowds, we pretty much sell out every game, we don't have a huge stadium but it holds 3100 people and we have been selling well every game, so i know lots of other sports, christmas is their busiest time and they get bumper crowds. we get pretty much the same crowds at all of our games. but it is a big financial hit, but it is what it is. it is not something that is just an ice hockey problem or a sporting problem, it is something facing all of the uk. l’m problem, it is something facing all ofthe uk. �* ,, .,~ problem, it is something facing all ofthe uk.�* ,, ., ., :, of the uk. i'm speaking about all of the uk, the — of the uk. i'm speaking about all of the uk, the league, _ of the uk. i'm speaking about all of the uk, the league, you _ of the uk. i'm speaking about all of the uk, the league, you play- of the uk. i'm speaking about all of the uk, the league, you play all. the uk, the league, you play all over the uk, sol the uk, the league, you play all over the uk, so i think our next fixture, is it coventry? so there will be fun there but there cannot be found is the home games. we etch the have be found is the home games. we etch they have a — be found is the home games. we etch they have a home _ be found is the home games. we etch they have a home game _ be found is the home games. we etch they have a home game tomorrow- be found is the home games. we etch i they have a home game tomorrow night and we were sold out for that and then on the 26th we play in coventry in front of what should be the biggest crowd of the year and about 3000 people and then we play the exact same team in wales in front of nobody. so, yes, frustrating, buti think sometimes the different governments choose to act at different times and usually in the end they all end up doing the same thing anyway. maybe we are a few days ahead of england.— thing anyway. maybe we are a few days ahead of england. when you're -la in days ahead of england. when you're play in front — days ahead of england. when you're play in front of— days ahead of england. when you're play in front of nobody, _ days ahead of england. when you're play in front of nobody, you - days ahead of england. when you're play in front of nobody, you have . play in front of nobody, you have talked about how that affects you financially, but what about in terms of performance, because i know is a liverpool supporter in terms of football, not having sons had a huge impact. —— not having fans. football, not having sons had a huge impact. -- not having fans. everyone -a s impact. -- not having fans. everyone pays bigger— impact. -- not having fans. everyone pays bigger with _ impact. -- not having fans. everyone pays bigger with a _ impact. -- not having fans. everyone pays bigger with a bigger _ impact. -- not having fans. everyone| pays bigger with a bigger atmosphere because of our league is the only ice hockey league in the world actually shut down all of last season, so when people talk about how important the funds are,, we are a bums on seats organisation, we don't have huge tv deals or a sponsorship to play behind closed doors and not worry about ticket revenue, so it is huge. it isjust not the same. at every level it is more fun playing at... the only reason you can do that is because of the crowds that come. hour reason you can do that is because of the crowds that come.— the crowds that come. how long do ou think the crowds that come. how long do you think the _ the crowds that come. how long do you think the restrictions _ the crowds that come. how long do you think the restrictions might - the crowds that come. how long do you think the restrictions might go | you think the restrictions might go on far? l you think the restrictions might go on far? :, �* ~ :, :, :, on far? i don't know how long, i ho -e it on far? i don't know how long, i hope it is _ on far? i don't know how long, i hope it isiust — on far? i don't know how long, i hope it isjust for _ on far? i don't know how long, i hope it is just for the _ on far? i don't know how long, i hope it isjust for the two - on far? i don't know how long, i hope it is just for the two weeks that they said, but this is a bigger issue than sports. we are doing our part and happy to obey the rules and hopefully this is part of the solution. i think the bigger picture is making sure the people that work for the nhs can get through this and make sure the country gets through this period and if it means we have to play behind closed doors, so be it. we don't won't to do this forever but the welsh government said they will support us financially and as soon as that comes through, we will be fine. if it goes on too long, i don't think it goes on too long, i don't think it isjust a it goes on too long, i don't think it is just a sporting issue, i it goes on too long, i don't think it isjust a sporting issue, i don't think the government can support us all for ever. the bigger picture is looking at the focus of the nhs, that they can get through and treat the patients, for covid and everything else. i think that is the message we are adhering to, that this is part of the solution and we are happy to play our part. understood. if i let you go, where are you in the league at the moment? second place. shall are you in the league at the moment? second place-— second place. all to play for! good luck to you — second place. all to play for! good luck to you for— second place. all to play for! good luck to you for the _ second place. all to play for! good luck to you for the rest _ second place. all to play for! good luck to you for the rest of - second place. all to play for! good luck to you for the rest of the - luck to you for the rest of the season. as we've been hearing, pubs, restaurants and entertainment venues say they need more guidance on whether covid restrictions will be tightened in england in the coming days. let's get the thought of carly heath, the night—time economy advisorfor bristol. first of all, what is happening, in terms of cancelling going out and so on? we have seen absolute massive drop off in terms of festive bookings, over the last couple of weeks, since that stay at home directed weeks, since that stay at home directe: :, weeks, since that stay at home directe ., :, . directed dilate -- home directive was issued- _ directed dilate -- home directive was issued. the _ directed dilate -- home directive was issued. the hospitality - directed dilate -- home directive| was issued. the hospitality sector has seen tumbleweeds really come through the door when there has usually been revellers. i have been speaking to people taking as little as 30% as they usually word and the past three weeks is usually the busiest three weeks of the year and it is the revenue we make in these three weeks that leads us into january, february, march, to sue to lose out on the money is to been —— has been catastrophic. there isjust not the numbers coming through the door to warrant paying all of the wages of the staff. without government support, it is a difficult position. and we may hear something about government support today. something about government support toda . ~ :, something about government support toda . ~ ., :, something about government support toda .~ ., :, ~' today. what would you like the chancellor _ today. what would you like the chancellor to _ today. what would you like the chancellor to do _ today. what would you like the chancellor to do in _ today. what would you like the chancellor to do in terms - today. what would you like the chancellor to do in terms of. today. what would you like the | chancellor to do in terms of the industries you represent in bristol? the level of— industries you represent in bristol? the level of support _ industries you represent in bristol? the level of support we _ industries you represent in bristol? the level of support we have - industries you represent in bristol? the level of support we have seen, | the level of support we have seen, reducing vat rates, hospitality is a 12.5%, earlier on we were 85, that was a great relief to many people, that you need customers coming through the door for that to be of benefit. rates really. we are seeing people get rid of temporary staff and people from zero—hours contracts and people from zero—hours contracts and low wages. we need to make sure we are not losing people from the sector yet again was up just three weeks ago, our bookings were full, so it has been a complete pivot far those at the worst possible time. any sort of financial support that can see the hospitality sector through the next couple of months would be really key to not see the sector tumble. thank you very much indeed. the ruler of dubai has been ordered to pay around £550 million to his former wife and their two children, in what is thought to be the largest divorce settlement ever ordered by an english court. princess haya, the sixth wife of 72—year—old sheikh mohammed, fled the united arab emirates in 2019 with her two children, saying she was "terrified" of her husband. he'll now have to pay her more than £251 million, as well as make ongoing payments the number of people who've died after typhoon rai struck the philippines last week has risen to more than 375. the red cross says many areas have no power, no means of communication, and very little water. thousands of military personnel,have been deployed to help in the relief operation. researchers have found the largest ever fossil of a giant millipede. analysis of the discovery by cambridge university suggests the creature was as long as a car and weighed about 50 kilos. the species crawled across the earth more than 300 million years ago. although millipedes typically feed on decaying plant matter, scientists say it might have been carnivorous hello again. for many of us