blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic. rather than ending it. by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage. in other news, the un security council votes to allow aid to afghanistan — finding a way round sanctions against the taliban. and we report from kyrgyzstan — where environmentalists are trying to save reindeer from the brink of extinction. daily covid cases in the uk have topped 100,000 for the first time since mass testing began. 106 thousand, 122 daily cases have been recorded, passing the previous record of 93 thousand on the 17th of december. these numbers are driven by the rapid spread of the 0micron variant. here's our political correspondent ben wright. we correspondent ben wright. are still within a rising v infections. we are still within a rising wave of infections. searching across the country. this is what ministers and officials had expected. but we have seen is a fracturing of these figures across the uk. governments in wales, scotland and northern ireland and tighter curbs for peoples activities after christmas day. where as we wait to see if that is the path that the westminster government is going to go down for england at the moment. they have said no new restrictions in england until or before christmas day and after that, there remains a huge? . this is a graph of uk cases in december. 8 of the 10 highest daily totals have come since 15 december. dr kit yates is a mathematical biologist and a member of the �*independent sage�* group of scientists. government modelling suggested we'd be past 200k cases a day by now — why aren't we? we saw case numbers flat enough little bit over the weekend and we usually see peaks and friday and then falls over the weekend in that slowly ramps back up to a peak on friday. so, this will what we're seeing today it has gone up to about hundred thousand. in fact, we are missing a huge number of cases and it's possible that we can actually be seeing three or 400,000 cases out there in the community in the uk health security agency still suggesting that omicron is doubling every two to three days and we came into this of the background of 40 to 50,000 cases of delta and so, we should be expecting to see the lower case numbers doubling the number of omicron case numbers doubling every two to three days and that's weird seeing these big rises again. but we are talkin: seeing these big rises again. but we are talking about _ seeing these big rises again. but we are talking about cases, _ seeing these big rises again. but we are talking about cases, is - seeing these big rises again. but we are talking about cases, is everyonei are talking about cases, is everyone actually giving them their results when they do their tests? that actually giving them their results when they do their tests? that is a really good — when they do their tests? that is a really good question. _ when they do their tests? that is a really good question. there - when they do their tests? that is a really good question. there could l when they do their tests? that is a i really good question. there could be reasons why we are seeing this dipping pattern at the moment. we know that we faced initially with lateral flow to the week before this. the number of positive cases divided by the number of tests taken is rising steeply, which we know means that we are missing cases out there in the community. it doesn't seem to wear them reaching capacity for pcr tests yet. they said they're still capacity there, but the resume marissa and sleigh changes could be due to behavioural changes, people taking initiatives for themselves. it could be the impact of plan b that was brought in. it could be the fact that schools broke up on friday although it is probably a little bit early to see that effect. also confounding factors which might be throwing numbers off a little bit. it's only today's rises not been unexpected. it's only today's rises not been unarmed-— it's only today's rises not been unexected. �* ,.,, ., unexpected. are we in the position move we will _ unexpected. are we in the position move we will be _ unexpected. are we in the position move we will be able _ unexpected. are we in the position move we will be able to _ unexpected. are we in the position move we will be able to keep - unexpected. are we in the position i move we will be able to keep up with the number of people testing? it seems like we do have enough capacity and we are further away from capacity than we have men in the past. but that said, people are going to be testing more often because they're going to be more cases when this continues to grow so we will continue to struggle to keep up we will continue to struggle to keep up with testing capacity in the future, but i will be relying on the daily to his figures too much and the guide is the most up—to—date thing we have. a randomised test studies and infection services the commodity week, it's probably going to give us a better guide and unfortunately that is led by about ten days and so, by the time to figure out what's going on there, i think we will have already changed. what should we be looking out for because there is huge concern and psychologically, the figure of 100,000 daily cases is a difficult one to comprehend. the 100,000 daily cases is a difficult one to comprehend.— 100,000 daily cases is a difficult one to comprehend. the people that said back in — one to comprehend. the people that said back in the _ one to comprehend. the people that said back in the autumn _ one to comprehend. the people that said back in the autumn that - one to comprehend. the people that said back in the autumn that we - said back in the autumn that we would never see hundred thousand cases, obviously not banking on the omicron variant. i think of things to look out for the random service infection survey in the positively rates if you see the positivity rates if you see the positivity rates climbing in the number of test coming back positive divided by the number of tests being done, that is a bad sign. that means things are getting out of control and attesting enough and we're just not able to keep up with testing capacity. yes, we are already seeing rates rising and hospitalisations are big things that we need to look out for and we have seen the rise and the search of omicron and the rest of the country, restrained into the rise in other regions but those hospitalisations are elected by about ten days is what we are to some degrees, flying blind to the heart of the storm. fin blind to the heart of the storm. on those blind to the heart of the storm. 0n those words we will leave it there. but forget to talk us through this. thank you. in other covid news, uk government advisers have recommended vulnerable 5 to 11—year—olds should be offered a vaccine. a low—dose version of the pfizerjab has already been given to 5 million children in the us, and has now been approved by the uk drugs regulator. its chief executive, drjune raine, says "no new vaccine for children would have been approved unless the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness have been met." also, england has changed its isolation rules for people who get covid. here's the health minister. looking up the difference between ten days in the lateral flow test on six enddate seven. if you get a negative lateral flow test on day six and a seven, and you can then leave isolation and we are still telling people to be cautious. but they basically looked at that and said that's a risk of you another three days in your bedroom but producing testing more effectively now we're using testing as a tool to enable people to limit the disruption and to be able to get on with their lives and theirjobs. wales and northern ireland have followed scotland in announcing new restrictions from boxing day. in wales the rule of six will be applied again in pubs, cinemas and restaurants. hywel griffith reports from cardiff. 0nce once again, the welsh government has chosen the most careful path through the pandemic. raising the alert level at as a precaution before really knowing where omicron will lead us. from boxing day, families are advised but not bound by law to limit how much they mix in each other�*s homes. and the persons family feels very last minute, giving people dilemmas over who to choose. it’s giving people dilemmas over who to choose. �* , ' . ., giving people dilemmas over who to choose. �*, , . ., . choose. it's difficult to choose because we — choose. it's difficult to choose because we have _ choose. it's difficult to choose because we have large - choose. it's difficult to choose | because we have large families choose. it's difficult to choose - because we have large families and they've literally had to change the plans of the last minute. last christmas _ plans of the last minute. last christmas give _ plans of the last minute. last christmas give a _ plans of the last minute. last christmas give a similar- christmas give a similar heartbreaking decisions to make, would be in your bubble, who will be left out in the cold. and there is no last lockdown, but there is the same uneasy sense that the rules are changing day by day. today, the announcement is the third in wales in less than a week it even more measures could follow. it in less than a week it even more measures could follow.- in less than a week it even more measures could follow. if we need to do more, measures could follow. if we need to do more. the — measures could follow. if we need to do more, the welsh _ measures could follow. if we need to do more, the welsh government - measures could follow. if we need to do more, the welsh government willj do more, the welsh government will not stand _ do more, the welsh government will not stand back. we never have. these are difficult_ not stand back. we never have. these are difficult decisions, they're not always— are difficult decisions, they're not always popular. are difficult decisions, they're not always popular-— always popular. which direction wales takes _ always popular. which direction wales takes next _ always popular. which direction wales takes next feels - always popular. which direction wales takes next feels very - wales takes next feels very uncertain. now, the focus isjust on getting to the new year. in northern ireland, restrictions will come in on the 27th december. numbers will be limited in hospitality venues and people will be advised to limit meeting inside private homes to three households. chris page has more from belfast. this christmas in belfast, many much missed things have returned, but the pandemic is returned for another season. and this requires a response. season. and this requires a response-— season. and this requires a resonse. . ., , .,, response. the executive house has sent response. the executive house has spent considerable _ response. the executive house has spent considerable time _ response. the executive house has spent considerable time creating . response. the executive house has spent considerable time creating a | spent considerable time creating a proportionate package of measures based on the basis of evidence that we have available at this time. this intervention is scientific advice thatis intervention is scientific advice that is taking advantage of the wider societal impacts. the streets sa s it wider societal impacts. the streets says it doesn't _ wider societal impacts. the streets says it doesn't have _ wider societal impacts. the streets says it doesn't have much - wider societal impacts. the streets says it doesn't have much to - says it doesn't have much to celebrate during the festivities that have not really happened. people were all reduced getting used to going out to clubs and gigs again, but there is no uncertainty about that too. events promoters are worried that the live scene may not recover. ., �* ., ., , , recover. you're looking at a pretty lona term recover. you're looking at a pretty long term effect — recover. you're looking at a pretty long term effect of _ recover. you're looking at a pretty long term effect of these - long term effect of these restrictions and closures on business _ restrictions and closures on business and it is a huge concern. belfast _ business and it is a huge concern. belfast is — business and it is a huge concern. belfast is in — business and it is a huge concern. belfast is in a relatively vulnerable position for touring acts because _ vulnerable position for touring acts because it's a relatively small market — because it's a relatively small market. , . ., , , because it's a relatively small market. , . , because it's a relatively small market. , , , market. unpredictability has become routine. market. unpredictability has become routine- itut — market. unpredictability has become routine. but northern _ market. unpredictability has become routine. but northern ireland - market. unpredictability has become routine. but northern ireland is - routine. but northern ireland is returning to the standstill of lockdown. whether or not more severe restrictions will be brought in here would depend on how much illness omicron causes and how many people get their booster jabs. the united nations security council has passed a resolution to allow aid to afghanistan — without breaching sanctions against the taliban. the resolution could unlock desperately needed help for millions of aghans facing hunger this winter. the taliban's spokesperson welcomed the move as "a good step" which "can help afghanistan's economic situation". lyse doucet is our chief international correspondent. this aid is desperately needed, but in terms of unlocking it, just talk of the process that they went through of the process that they went throu: ., . ., of the process that they went throu- ., . ., ., of the process that they went throu: ., . ., ., .,, through the real challenge of those arencies through the real challenge of those a . encies of through the real challenge of those agencies of people _ through the real challenge of those agencies of people want _ through the real challenge of those agencies of people want to - through the real challenge of those agencies of people want to help - agencies of people want to help afghanistan, the taliban leaders under the united nations or sanctions linked to terrorism charges. if you give money to those individuals, oryou charges. if you give money to those individuals, or you somehow run afoul of them by giving money to ministries that they lead, you could actually face crippling sanctions and penalties. so, this move by the united nations and also by the united nations and also by the united states as well to clear the way for aid which meets the basic needs as they call it, of afghans, does not, day too soon. it will become its biggest humanitarian operation in the road next year and what a tragic distinction to have. 22 million people will need aid to survive, including 10 million now set to be a step away from starvation. this is an important step in the right direction, but it is not enough. this moment paid the salaries of civil servants, including the teachers and the doctors in the country where before the taliban took charge, 75% of the government budget was provided by foreign aid, provided by governments around the world and multilateral organisations. that aid is not resuming. the banking system has all but collapsed and then there is the issue of the financial assets of the central bank of afghanistan which are in the united states and they are in the united states and they are now frozen. again, locked off in financial sanctions. so, are now frozen. again, locked off in financialsanctions. so, one step and so the united nations relief coordinator has said that the road ahead is neither easy nor straightforward.- ahead is neither easy nor straightforward. ahead is neither easy nor straiuhtforward. ~ ., straightforward. when the taliban welcomed this, _ straightforward. when the taliban welcomed this, whether— straightforward. when the taliban welcomed this, whether any - welcomed this, whether any obligations put upon them? agreed, thatis obligations put upon them? agreed, that is what the chief said that a lot of this aid will depend on the cooperation of the de facto authorities and that underlines that the taliban have not been recognised internationally yet, which is one of their main demands. the money will not go through the taliban leadership. it will go through the united nations and aid agencies who still have employees on the ground and the capacity to deliver aid. and there still risks involved with this process, but there are risks worth taking a look at the desperate situation facing afghans and even before the taliban took charge, there were warnings for many months that some of the afghans faced a winter of hunger and dying from starvation. but the economic collapse in afghanistan is such that we now see stories of collapse in afghanistan is such that we now see stories 0— we now see stories of professors were selling _ we now see stories of professors were selling their— we now see stories of professors were selling their libraries - we now see stories of professors l were selling their libraries because they don't have any money. journalists are now selling vegetables on the streets. teachers were shining shoes on the streets. nobody has any money. so, 95% of households right across the country, right across economic sectors of society are all struggling to find out whether the next meal is coming from? out whether the next meal is coming from. countries across the globe are speeding up — and expanding — their vaccination campaigns because of a new wave of infections, driven by 0micron. we're going to spend the next few minutes looking at the pandemic in europe. first, the world health organization says there should be enough vaccines for all adults globally, to be jabbed in the next three months. but there are caveats. here's the head of the w—h—0. about 20% of all vaccine doses administered every day are currently being given as boosters or additional dose. plaintiff booster programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic rather than ending it. by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage. giving the virus more opportunity to spread. no country can boost its way out of the pandemic. in boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with the planned celebrations without the need for other precautions. brute planned celebrations without the need for other precautions. we will look at the — need for other precautions. we will look at the pandemic _ need for other precautions. we will look at the pandemic in _ need for other precautions. we will look at the pandemic in europe. . many european leaders have brought in restrictions — once again, because of a wave of 0micron cases. take a look at this graph. you can see the huge spike in cases in the uk, france, netherlands, portugal, germany and finland. all of them have brought in new controls. germany and portugal have announced post—christmas curbs and greater social distancing measures. in finland, bars and restaurants will have to close at 10pm on 24 december. the netherlands is three days into a strict lockdown. all non essential stores, bars and restaurants are closed until the 14th of january. 0micron is in 38 countries in europe — prompting this warning from the w—h—0's top officialfor the region. we can see another storm coming. 0micron is becoming, or already has become dominant in several countries, including denmark, portugal and the united kingdom. where it's numbers are doubling. everyone one and a half to three days, generating previously transmission rates. within weeks, omicron will dominate and more countries of the region with a threat to push already overwhelmed health systems for the to the brink. france has warned the country could see 100,000 cases of covid—19 infections a day because of the 0micron variant. on tuesday it recorded nearly 73,000 cases, that's one of the worst figures since the pandemic began. here's a government spokesperson. translation: it is estimated that. 2096 of the cases detected in france are linked to the 0micron variant. i would like to remind you that a few days ago, this weekend, it was 10% and therefore probably, as we are seeing everywhere, it is a share that will double in the next two or three days. staying in france — it's begun vaccinating children between the ages of five and 11. lets hear from our paris correspondent, hugh schofield. the figures that came out today showed the number of critical beds is now 3000, which is a high point in the last spring. so all sorts of alarm bells are going and so, looking at the chart of covid—19 infections just a week ago, it was just a tiny sliver at the top, but that has now become a stain at the top of the graph and in a few days' time, this what everyone is saying, it will become the majority of cases. and as we have all been saying, the transmissibility is such that they're preparing for a big rush in the days and weeks ahead. meanwhile, spain is requiring everyone to wear masks outdoors again. the government tomorrow is expected to approve of the reintroduction of mandatory use of facemasks when you are outside in the streets. it is measured as previously in place untiljune of this year and then it was lifted from the summer onwards. and the secret has been reintroduced. so if you walk around most towns and cities in spain at the moment, including madrid, use of the moment, including madrid, use of the most people are wearing masks in a way out on the streets and so, thatis a way out on the streets and so, that is not seen as a major intervention by the government. fight! intervention by the government. and what are the — intervention by the government. and what are the figures like when it comes to spain in terms of omicron cases? that comes to spain in terms of omicron cases? �* ., ., ., cases? at the moment, we are told that around — cases? at the moment, we are told that around half— cases? at the moment, we are told that around half of— cases? at the moment, we are told that around half of the _ cases? at the moment, we are told that around half of the new - cases? at the moment, we are told that around half of the new cases i that around half of the new cases being reported are omicron. that is number which is extremely sharply over the last few days, just a week ago, that percentage was down below 5% or so and so it's been extremely sharp rise in the government has said that the measures it's taken in terms of introducing facemasks and trying to expand vaccination, those are aimed specifically at the spread of omicron which is seen as a real worry. but we don't have exact figures for omicron cases, we just know that it is spreading extremely sharply. share know that it is spreading extremely sharl . �* , . sharply. are we expecting the sanish sharply. are we expecting the spanish government - sharply. are we expecting the spanish government to - sharply. are we expecting the spanish government to bring | sharply. are we expecting the. spanish government to bring in sharply. are we expecting the - spanish government to bring in any other measures?— other measures? well, the central government _ other measures? well, the central government is _ other measures? well, the central government is extremely - other measures? well, the central government is extremely reluctant other measures? well, the central i government is extremely reluctant to introduce strict measures over the christmas period. the prime minister said that spaniards will celebrate christmas this year and they're quite adamant about them. spaniards have resisted and they will celebrate and he has been a number of great deal of pressure from tourism industry not to introduce strict measures again because the feeling is that would be so bad for the economy and can be disastrous and the feeling is any strict measures will be extremely unpopular as well. so, we are not seeing tough restrictions being introduced, i think we could see a tough restrictions introduced after the christmas holiday period. let's turn to madagascar. at least 64 people are now know to have died in a boat accident on monday, off its northeastern coast. a helicopter rescue misson sent to inspect the site, also crashed at sea. there is though, a remarkable story of survival. this government minister managed to swim to shore after twelve hours in the water. he was one of three survivors from the helicopter crash, and used one of the helicopter�*s seats as a flotation device. he's been speaking about his experience. we did not expected at all. it was an accident. the helicopter was hit by gusts of winds and we crashed. it happened because of gusts of wind. it was not the pilots faults, it wasn't the mechanical failure either. nomsa maseko is injohannesburg with the reaction. an incredible story. if you look at the footage for the first thing he saysis the footage for the first thing he says is that it was not his time to die, it isjust literally says is that it was not his time to die, it is just literally incredible scenes in hopes that many more people would have survived and someday they will be found and rescued. according the country they saw that a cargo ship that was carrying out to 30 people sank and apparently due to water going into the engine room and that is what caused so many people have survived in more than 20 years still unaccounted for but for now, 64 confirmed dead but they have one that many more others could die or that many more others could die or that there could be others who are found dead already as the search and rescue mission continues. lets turn to kyrgyzstan in central asia. reindeers once thrived here, however in the past hundred years their numbers have plummeted. however environmentalists are hoping a new plan will help save them bring them back from the brink of extinction. the bbc�*s ermek maksutova reports. 0ver over a century ago, this was a land filled with thousands of reindeer. now, they're a little over 400 reindeer left in kurdistan. 0nce now, they're a little over 400 reindeer left in kurdistan. once a sacred animal, reindeer were mercilessly poached. the reindeer that are left are mostly here and the reservation where they're protected by high rocks and the fast river. he now tracks in regards to reindeer herds in the reservation. to be honest, i shut the reindeer and i thought it was dead, but he did not die straightaway. i did not have the bullets to finish it. i could not stand to be there, so i walked behind some trees and waited for edsall to leave his body. my heart ache. i regretted it. in our forest and mountains, there were many reindeer. there were hundreds of them in the name of this place, reindeer herds. i asked the old people and they told me that in 1926, my forefathers took resources from the red army, killed the last nine or 11 reindeer. from the red army, killed the last nine or11 reindeer. he from the red army, killed the last nine or 11 reindeer.— from the red army, killed the last nine or 11 reindeer. nine or11 reindeer. he now worked to boost the _ nine or11 reindeer. he now worked to boost the reindeer— nine or11 reindeer. he now worked to boost the reindeer population. l to boost the reindeer population. reindeer are taken from this reservation and reintroduced to other parts of the country. they hope the reindeer breed and flourish in their homes. so one day soon, reindeer will once again filled this land. i will be back very shortly. good evening. as we head towards the christmas weekend, the weather theme is on the change. we could see that with the feel of the weather. first thing on wednesday morning was our cord and as low as —10. and it was frosty with her. let's to thursday morning and what a difference in some places, a good 10 degrees and thatis some places, a good 10 degrees and that is because for the southerly wind, this was a friend is going to drive some milder air across the country. fora drive some milder air across the country. for a time, as it bumps into the colder air during the early hours, we could have some icy stretches across eastern scotland in northeast england. some have your rain pushing into northern ireland as well. as you go to the day. it's going to be a chilly start for some, but nowhere near as cold as wednesday morning in double digits to 11 or 12 degrees. 0n wednesday morning in double digits to 11 or 12 degrees. on thursday, we will see some rain, heavy through northern ireland, northern england and moving up to the scottish borders into the south of that, we will keep that milder air. so, temperatures from here five to 9 degrees. double digits quite expected. prep speaking at 13 degrees in the far southwest. slowly above or they should be for this time of year. it could be a spell of snow up to the far north of scotland for a time before that with the front eases away. at christmas eve on the whole start with some white patchy rains in higher ground in scotland. south of that, we have some cloudier conditions and the weather front struts to show its hand into the southwest of england and also into whales. in terms of the feel of the weather, we are still keeping double figures down to the southwest but still in the chilly side to the far northeast with just a maximum chilly side to the far northeast withjust a maximum of chilly side to the far northeast with just a maximum of four or 5 degrees. and it is where these two air masses meat that could potentially cause is a bit of a headache for christmas day because thatis headache for christmas day because that is the dividing line between the mixture of rain and sleet and snow. there could be a bit of a wintry mix into northern ireland, northern england, north wales, may be the north mittens for a time, the best of the function on christmas day is likely to be across the northeast of scotland letter and milder conditions continuing to northern ireland, wilson southwest england. that was a friend will continue to push its way steadily in the northeast with a bit of winter in this scotland to the night but then that eases away and on the whole, boxing day quieter. hello, i'm kasia madera, this is 0utside source. more than 100,000 people tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours. but as cases rise as more evidence that the omicron variant is less likely to put people in hospital. many countries are bringing back restrictions. spain is making masks mandatory outside again while in china 30 million people are not down. .,. while in china 30 million people are not down. ., , ., , not down. each household will be allowed to have _ not down. each household will be allowed to have one _ not down. each household will be allowed to have one person - not down. each household will be allowed to have one person go i allowed to have one person go outside every two days to buy essential supplies long—distance bus station in fact all nonessential services are being closed. we report from the philippines _ services are being closed. we report from the philippines where - services are being closed. we report from the philippines where this - from the philippines where this tourist island popular for its surf and beaches is unrecognisable after last week's super typhoon. you can see up there on the roof it's been completely torn off like a can of sardines. 90% of the buildings here have been damaged. many of them their rooms are missing. let's turn to the 0micron variant of covid—19. at least 375 people were killed and hundreds of thousands have been left without shelter. the red cross says there is carnage in many areas but no power and no communication and very little water. one of the worst affected areas was the popular tourist island and our correspondence sent this report. devastation as far as the eye can see. super typhoon first made landfall here last thursday packing winds in excess of 150 mph and dumping huge quantities of rainfall. a dramatic footage captured the moment the being of an evacuation centre was torn to shreds. there is no protection or no wall and we will need to be dying down there and entire nature was brash on us with full power and we had nothing. the covernor full power and we had nothing. the governor of — full power and we had nothing. the governor of the island estimates that 90% of buildings have been damaged. that 9096 of buildings have been damaued. , , , ., , that 9096 of buildings have been| damaged._ this that 9096 of buildings have been - damaged._ this man damaged. this is my house. this man chose me to — damaged. this is my house. this man chose me to wear _ damaged. this is my house. this man chose me to wear his _ damaged. this is my house. this man chose me to wear his home _ damaged. this is my house. this man chose me to wear his home in a - chose me to wear his home in a convenience store once stood. i’m convenience store once stood. i'm scared convenience store once stood. i“n scared because my children have no more food in my house is broken from the typhoon. i'm going to start again may store and my home. this is again may store and my home. this is a scene that — again may store and my home. this is a scene that we _ again may store and my home. this is a scene that we have _ again may store and my home. this is a scene that we have seen _ again may store and my home. this is a scene that we have seen many - a scene that we have seen many times. the roof has been ripped off like a can of sardines and the metal has been torn back in the glass has smashed up there and you can see the roof in tatters down here. many people are without shelter at the moment and people here are calling for more support. they need more aid and more water and more food and at the moment the supplies are coming through but they're not getting through but they're not getting through quickly enough. crisis for filtered bottled water has bottled —— has doubled in the last week forcing some to find other sources. this family are drawing water from an old well but it is not clean. bay area cases are on the rise here. it's bad for the stomach but we don't have a choice we need to drink, we don't have water for drinking. that drink, we don't have water for drinkina. �* drink, we don't have water for drinkina. . , ., �*, drink, we don't have water for drinkin.. . _, �*, , drinking. at the island's badly dama . ed drinking. at the island's badly damaged airport _ drinking. at the island's badly damaged airport it _ drinking. at the island's badly damaged airport it is - drinking. at the island's badly damaged airport it is getting. damaged airport it is getting through but in limited quantities. 0utside, residents have been waiting for up to three days for a flight of the island. it's leading to a sense of panic. the island. it's leading to a sense of anic. , ., , of panic. there is nothing. there is no system- — of panic. there is nothing. there is no system- we _ of panic. there is nothing. there is no system. we have _ of panic. there is nothing. there is no system. we have to _ of panic. there is nothing. there is no system. we have to figure - of panic. there is nothing. there is no system. we have to figure out i no system. we have to figure out ourselves. that's it. they real pandemic is not having a system. $5 pandemic is not having a system. as night falls, a newly arrived red cross team help islanders to speak with loved ones using their satellite phone. help is on hand here and why. 0micron has a lower risk of severe disease. we omicron has a lower risk of severe disease. ~ ., ., ~' omicron has a lower risk of severe disease. ~ ., ., ~ ., omicron has a lower risk of severe disease. ~ ., , disease. we look for people with whom a crime — disease. we look for people with whom a crime to _ disease. we look for people with whom a crime to those - disease. we look for people with whom a crime to those without l whom a crime to those without omicron and be found in this period there was an 80% reduced chance of versus not having omicron. she there was an 8096 reduced chance of versus not having omicron.— versus not having omicron. she also adds that i data _ versus not having omicron. she also adds that i data suggests _ versus not having omicron. she also adds that i data suggests a - versus not having omicron. she also adds that i data suggests a positive | adds that i data suggests a positive story of a reduced severity of omicron compared to other variants. the scientists cautioned they don't know why this is the case and they said it could be because omicron is less severe what could be connected to the young population in south africa with a median age under 30. or it could be due to high levels of prior immunity to infection or vaccination. a key indicator is the number of people in hospital. stuart mcdonald has been following the uk data on this critical sleep. admissions flag sometimes behind an infection and we already had a considerable number of driven hospital admissions which are not growing but we have seen rapid growth now and admissions that were over 300 hospital admissions in london reported today and the seven the average went up from about 100 hospital admissions in london per day to 200 through the first 18 days or so of december but that doubling is accelerating now as omicron variance and the admissions driven by that become more dominant. in the last couple of hours, two early studies on the severity of 0micron in the uk have been published. imperial college london has found people are 40 to 45% less likely to need to spend a night in hospital, compared to the delta variant. and early data from edinburgh university suggests a two—thirds reduction in the risk of hospitalisation for 0micron, compared to delta, although the sample of patients studied was very small. i'm joined by the edinburgh university study�*s lead author — professor aziz sheikh— what have you found? — since we have got to the core findings here and we have been in the fortunate position of being able to track the entire scottish population so the first is we have seen omicron run through scotland incredibly rapidly in the first case was towards the end of november, november 23 and in the three to four weeks and we have seen its november 23 and in the three to four weeks and we have seen it's become the dominant variant in scotland so it's up to the population very rapidly and the second is the unanswered question that we have been clapping with is what is the risk of severe outcomes and by that we mean covid—19 hospitalisations or deaths in what we have been able to show through analysis to the situation such as age, sex, underlying vaccination status is that with the relatively few cases we have got it seems like omicron is around two thirds less likely to result in hospitalisation so it seems to be a consistent finding across our analysis but that they believe that that is what is the impact of the booster vaccination doses and what we are seeing is the result of these protection against developing omicron associated covid—19 is substantially increased. it's not quite as high as delta but nonetheless that third dose is really helping. nonetheless that third dose is really helping-— nonetheless that third dose is reall helinu. , , really helping. this sounds positive or i naive really helping. this sounds positive or i naive in — really helping. this sounds positive or i naive in saying _ really helping. this sounds positive or i naive in saying that _ really helping. this sounds positive or i naive in saying that and - really helping. this sounds positive or i naive in saying that and when l or i naive in saying that and when it comes to severity do you know why thatis it comes to severity do you know why that is because we saw the studies from south africa saying they could not quite yet worked out why omicron is less severe? ih not quite yet worked out why omicron is less severe?— is less severe? in the entity your first question. _ is less severe? in the entity your first question. yes, _ is less severe? in the entity your first question. yes, i— is less severe? in the entity your first question. yes, i think - is less severe? in the entity your first question. yes, i think we i is less severe? in the entity your| first question. yes, i think we are cautiously optimistic. these are very early data. we've only had omicron and big uk for less than a month but these early data i think they very encouraging in that respect and in terms of why, it was difficult for us to because as you mention in the report the structure of the population is very different and it might be much more natural immunity for the exposure in south africa but the fact we are seeing very similar signals from different data sets and i think what and hoping is this is pointing to the fact that the virus and experience it in itself less severe. i think we need to be cautious and we need to tread carefully in the uk. our rates are high and what it would need is massive reduction in risk of severe outcomes if we are to end up in a situation where we don't 01 the nhs and that the potential concern here so we'll be tracking this carefully and will be feeding these estimates into revised modelling taking place across the uk.— across the uk. thank you for speaking _ across the uk. thank you for speaking to _ across the uk. thank you for speaking to us _ across the uk. thank you for speaking to us about - across the uk. thank you for speaking to us about your. across the uk. thank you for i speaking to us about your study across the uk. thank you for - speaking to us about your study and they appreciate that it's early days and we do get back. thank you. we will be speaking to someone from imperial college london later on. a lot of new data is coming out. israel has become the first country to offer a fourth covid vaccine as it prepares for a rise in infection rates driven by 0micron. it'll be offered first to people over the age of 60, and medical workers. here's the deputy director general of the israeli ministry of health. unfortunately with the rising numbers, most are still contacting travellers from the whole world but we are unfortunately seeing the community spread so we expect to have a major wave in two to three weeks from now. you have to rememberfor 60s and above from the end of july and they are reaching now six months and it seems although its preliminary they could benefit from those so it is now i would say a preliminary recommendation but we would discuss it and we have seen they would allow 60s and above and the medical personnel to get a false dose. well the decision has been wlcomed by the israeli prime minister, naftali bennett. next lets hearfrom tom bateman, injerusalem. what is the data behind this? we simply do not know because the expert committee have not published the evidential basis for all of this in one of the experience involved in the decision was on the radio and israel seen the simply do not have the information and they don't have the numbers yet for whether or not immunity rains after the third vaccine and if it does how long it takes and by how much so she described that as a complex decision and said nevertheless when you look at the way omicron is spreading its infectiousness elsewhere in the world she describes that as a particularly framing and acting that's what this decision was based on but there is politics around all of this and you mentioned there's always calls for business of ministry and as a lack of supply in poor countries in the world to that debate is always around but the prime minister stayed to his reputation on keeping the economy open and keeping kids and schools open for kids so that it's this joint interview with the vaccines rather than shutting down the economy. lets move to china. and 13 million people in the northestern city shayan have been ordered to stay at home as the authorities try to stop a covid outbreakjust weeks before the winter olympics begin. the city famous for its terracotta warrior sculptures is now in lockdown. all non—essential businesses and public facilities have been ordered to close. more than 85% of flights have been grounded. mass testing is underway and so—called disease control checkpoints are in operation. the city reported 52 new covid cases on wednesday. 0ur china correspondent steve mcdonell is in beijing. the way it's going to work is that each household would be allowed to have one person go outside every two days to buy essential supply long—distance bus station in fact all nonessential services have been closed and nobody is allowed to leave that city without special permission officials and it's interesting because until recently chinese officials have been able to control these outbreaks of the coronavirus with quite targeted lock downs so neighbourhoods and the like and we have not seen an entire large city lockdown for quite some time here in china and making the proximity of the olympics might have something to do it. it's not that far to the west of beijing and they'd seen omicron taking off in other parts of the world and it shows what china is prepared to do still sticking to this back to zero strategy. it's unclear whether the new cases are the 0micron variant. here's stephen mcd0nell again. there have been omicron cases at the airport but this was people who ended up going into a quarantine type situation but like i said already there are quite strict measures in place for moving from one city to another in china and the run—up to the olympics in beijing is a difficult place to come into and you have to do checks and things like thatjust avoid trains to come into the city and seeing an outbreak make this a belief by cracking down very quickly they can stamp it does not mean that for the long run they'll be lockdown. it could well be that after much testing of millions of people and the chinese officials have shown that they can do this that within a relatively short time they can ease up on those crepe tough restrictions but for the moment you are staying at home. stay with us on 0utside source — still to come. we turn to myanmar where dozens of people are feared dead after a landslide sweptjade miners into a lake. the nhs has recently opened the first treatment centre of its kind in the uk, for people who are addicted to video games. our technology correspondent marc cieslak has been allowed inside and spoke to some of the families being helped. having people around, you do feel a degree of embarrassment sometimes for the duration of the visit. he'll be just upstairs gaming all the time and he'll be shouting and cursing. stephen and louise are describing life with their 16—year—old son, who suffers from gaming disorder. until quite recently in the uk they would have to have sought help privately but now there is a special nhs clinic to help sufferers. based in west london it is part of the national centre for behavioural addictions. many families see it as a lifeline. parents are very worried and sometimes it can cause arguments. for parents trying to get people to stop aiming they may do things like turning off wi—fi and that can cause massive arguments and threatening behaviour. quite extreme in some cases. this is the first time tv cameras had been allowed into the facility. we've had well over 300 referrals since then, 200 just in 2021. people can struggle with anger, anxiety or low mood. also physical symptoms in terms of loss of sleep because they will be gaming at night to connect with gamers abroad. this is the only nhs clinic in the uk treating gaming disorder. the patients are spread out across england and wales and often treated to a video chats. that the condition is rare. a recent oxford university report concluded that gaming can have benefits for health and well—being especially in helping money to get through the pandemic. this is 0utside source live from the bbc newsroom. 0ur lead story is? daily coronavirus cases in the uk top 100,000 for the first time since mass testing began —, but as cases rise — there's more evidence the 0micron strain is less likely to put people in hospital. around 80 people are missing following a landslide at a jade mine in myanmar. the mine is in kachin state. waste from the mine is believed to have slipped down a hillside, sweeping people into a lake at the bottom. pictures from the scene show the aftermath. rescue efforts stopped earlier after searches failed to retrieve the bodies of those missing. let's listen to one of the rescue team. soe win than is from bbc burmese. in the early hour of today we got 4am in the morning when their minors it's not locally known as scavengers who work on that land trying to find scraps of this gemstone and why they are and the path fell and 200 where there so far one dead body was found and injured have been sent to the hospital very muddy and deep waters makes it very difficult for the rescue for people. myanmar makes 90% of the world's jade. searching through mounds of earth for fragments of the gems is a dangerous occupation. just last year more than a—hundred—and—seventy people died in a landslide in the same area. let's get more from soe win than. these companies after the date in their own path they would discard their own path they would discard the least onto bad damping areas so this is where the are working but they imposed a suspension of all the mining activities until the end of march next year so we could see his operation is not legal. it's very profitable lucrative business so the profitable lucrative business so the profit goes to the local military commanders and also this area is controlled by the independence army so part of the profit also because they are in the corrupt officials so very little goes into the state so it's not very properly regulated business. comedy is — obviously — about making people laugh — but what if the audience finds the joke offensive rather than funny? the actor and comedian, dame maureen lipman says comedy is on the verge of being wiped out because comedians are so worried about offending people and the impact that could have on their careers that they are just avoiding controversial subjects. it's all about the so—called cancel culture as our culture editor katie razzall reports. i'm depressed and suicidal. guess where i'm working? it's stand—up comedy night in manchester. new act faizan is telling jokes that some could find offensive. i was working at manchester airport in aviation security... laughter. a depressed, suicidal muslim at the airport... but who decides what's funny, and what will it end? — what will offend? and is this tension a reflection of what's happening in wider society, too? comedians are very paranoid that they might word something the wrong way and then that is out there forever. and then they are cancelled and will never work again. is this your idea of a joke, then? maureen lipman, starring in coronation street right now, has a dramatic prediction. i think it's a revolution. something has to be forbidden to make your really laugh. to make you really belly laugh. it's when you shouldn't be laughing. we are, literally, we are on the cusp of wiping out comedy. so, i'm not trying to offend anyone, but... comedian russell kane says comedy is in fact in rude health. i was good at dungeons and dragons, so... i don't think anyone is saying we can't be offended. - no one is saying that. what we are saying is you can't use hate speech that would prompt - a gender—related crime, a sex—related crime, - or a race—related crime. there has been a massive, much—needed shift in- ithe conversation around gender, l around men's attitudes to women, around consent, blah blah blah. the sort of ironic, loud humour of "yeah, she's up for it," - iwhich at the time i'm pretty sure| was delivered with irony by 99.9% of the people, but now, - irony or not, not appropriate. a poll suggests in normal life people are stopping themselves from saying what they really think on certain subjects for fear of being judged. 57% of those asked said they self—censor on topics including immigration and transgender rights, particularly if their opinions are seen as less politically correct. perhaps it is obvious that they don't speak openly with people they have just met. nearly half say they don't. but 40% keep views quiet at work and nearly a third don't tell friends their real views on these subjects either. i'm not worried about being judged. i would just far rather not say something because i don't think it's right. because at the end of the day, making offensive remarks is bullying. 0k, could you tell me the last time you are weighed, - what was your weight? eight pounds four ounces... what's happening on the comedy stage and in real life is a sign outdated views are being weeded out. or a worrying assault on free speech, depending on your perspective. culture often leads the way on the big issues of our time as we all navigate what we can say, and what it's best not to. katie razzell, bbc news, manchester. just to remind you of our main story. uk recorded more than 100,000 cases of coronavirus a single day for the first time in the pandemic. the british government is urging people to ensure that they are vaccinated to try to tackle the threat from the omicron variant. more than half the population has had booster vaccines. to early research studies suggest omicron may prove milder than delta but concerns are made a number of cases could still overwhelm. as we head towards the christmas weekend the weather is on the change. we can see with the weather first came on wednesday morning. it was a local best start of winter so fight with temperatures as low as —10. it was frosty as well. let's fast forward to thursday morning. what a difference in some places a good ten degrees milder. that is because of a southern wind that is associated with this weather front that will drive mild air across the country. as it bumps into the cold air during the early hours we could have icy stretches across eastern scotland. some heavy rain pushing into northern ireland as well. as we go through the day it will be a cold start for some but nowhere near as cold as wednesday morning. double digits in the west with 11 or 12 degrees. on thursday we will see some rain and some of it heavy through northern ireland. moving up into the scottish borders. in the south of that we will keep the mild air so temperatures here will be five through nine degrees and further south double digits are expected. perhaps peaking at 13 degrees in the far southwest. slightly above where they should be for this time of year. there will be some snow into the night in scotland for a time before the weather find easily but christmas eve will start with light, patchy rain. south of that we have dry and cloudy conditions and to let the funds will show its hand into southwest of england and also into whales. they are still keeping double figures down to the southwest and stayed on the cold site into the far northeast. the maximum of four orfive degrees. and it's where the air masses meat that could potentially cause a bit of a headache for christmas day because that's the dividing line between the mixture of rain and sleet and snow. that could be some winter in the night in ireland and wales where the north midlands and the best of the sunshine on christmas day likely to be across the far northeast of scotland. it would be more lax but mild conditions continuing in northern ireland and wales and southwest england. the and will continue to push north and east with some winter in scotland through the night. but it would easily and on boxing day it would be quiet. hello, i'm kasia madera. this is 0utside source. the uk has recorded its highest ever daily number of coronavirus cases in the pandemic. more than 100,000 people tested postive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours. but as cases rise, there's more evidence the 0micron variant is less likely to put people in hospital. many countries are bringing back restrictions. spain is making masks mandatory outside again, while in china, 13 million people are in lockdown. israel is the first country to offer a fourth covid—19 vaccine, as countries expand their booster programmes, prompting this warning. blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage. and in other news, we report from the philippines, where this island — popular for its surf and beaches — is unrecognisable after last week's super typhoon. you can see, up there on the roof, it's been completely torn off like a can of sardines. 90% of the buildings here have been damaged, many of them with their roofs missing. daily covid cases in the uk have topped 100,000 for the first time since mass testing began. 106,122 daily cases have been recorded, passing the previous record of 93,000 on the 17th of december. these numbers are driven by the rapid spread of the 0micron variant. here's our political correspondent ben wright. we are still within a rising wave of infection. it's surging across the country. and this is what ministers and officials had expected. what we have seen is a sort of fracturing of the response to these figures across the uk. so we've seen the governments in wales, scotland, northern ireland announce tighter curves for people's activities after christmas day, whereas we wait, of course, to see if that's a path that the westminster government is going to go down for england. at the moment, they have said no new restrictions in england before christmas day. after that, there remains a huge question mark. this is a graph of uk cases in december. eight of the ten highest daily totals have been this month. but government modelling had estimated the uk would be at 200,000 cases a day by now. i've been speaking about that with kit yates, a mathematical biologist and a member of the independent sage group of scientists. we saw case numbers flatten off a little bit at the weekend. we usually see peaks in reported cases on fridays and then it follows of the weekend, and then that slowly wraps up to a peak on friday, so this is what we are sort of seeing today. it has gone up to about 100,000. in fact, today. it has gone up to about 100,000. infact, we today. it has gone up to about 100,000. in fact, we are missing the huge number of cases, it is possible we could be seeing 300,000 400,000 cases out there in the community, and the uk health security agencies still suggesting that 0micron is doubling every two to three days, but we came into this with the background rate of 40—50,000 cases of delta, so we should not be up expecting to see the actual raw case numbers doubling, but the number of them across cases should be doubling every two to three days still. that is why we are seeing these big rises again. is why we are seeing these big rises aaain. �* , is why we are seeing these big rises aaain. . , , , ., again. and just help us to understand. _ again. and just help us to understand. when - again. and just help us to understand. when we - again. and just help us to understand. when we arej again. and just help us to - understand. when we are talking about cases, is everyone giving in the results when getting their tests? . , . the results when getting their tests? ., , ., , ., tests? that is a good question. there are _ tests? that is a good question. there are also _ tests? that is a good question. there are also the _ tests? that is a good question. there are also the reasons - tests? that is a good question. there are also the reasons we. tests? that is a good question. - there are also the reasons we could be seeing this big dipping pattern at the moment. we know we faced and issue would lateral flow tests the week before this, we know that positivity rates — the number of positive cases invited by the number of tests ta ken— positive cases invited by the number of tests taken— is rising steeply. we know we are missing cases out there in the community. we are not reaching capacity for the pcr tests, the government dashboard says there is capacity there, but the reason we are seeing slight changes is behavioural changes. it could be the impact of working from home, the plan b that was brought in, it could be the fact that schools broke up on friday. though it is probably a little early to see that effect. there are all sorts of confounding factors. today's rise was not unexpected. more evidence is emerging that while the 0micron variant of coronavirus is spreading faster than previous waves, it is less likely to put people in hospital. there are several elements to take you through here. let's start with an early assessment from south africa which suggests 0micron has a lower risk of severe disease. here's one of the study authors. we looked at people with 0micron, to those without 0micron, and you find that in this period, there was an 80% reduced chance of being admitted to hospital if you had 0micron versus not having 0micron. professor cohen also says... but the scientists cautioned that they don't know why this is the case. they said it could be because 0micron is less severe, or it could be connected to the young population in south africa, where the median age is under 30. or it could be due to high levels of prior immunity through infection or vaccination. in the last few hours, two early studies on the severity of 0micron in the uk have been published. imperial college london has found people are 40 to 45% less likely and early data from edinburgh university suggests a two—thirds reduction in the risk of hospitalisation for 0micron, although the sample of patients studied was very small. and imperial college london has found people are 40 to 45% less likely to need to spend a night in hospital, compared to the delta variant. peter 0penshaw is an immunologist at imperial college london. he didn't work on the imperial study but can talk us through its findings. so what is one message we need to take away from it? i so what is one message we need to take away from it?— take away from it? i think the study aenerall take away from it? i think the study generally are _ take away from it? i think the study generally are showing _ take away from it? i think the study generally are showing there - take away from it? i think the study generally are showing there is - take away from it? i think the study generally are showing there is a - generally are showing there is a reduction in severity, but i think that must not make us before it into thinking that this is just mutated into a mild cold. this is still a very nasty virus, and if you think about it, if the reduction in hospitalisation rate is 50% and it is doubling every two days, then just two days of more data would mean that the hospital numbers are just the same number so it is not going to mean that a hospitals are not going to see a large surge case numbers. but not going to see a large surge case numbers. �* ,., ., �*, not going to see a large surge case numbers. �* ., �*, , , numbers. but so that's the numbers side of it, in — numbers. but so that's the numbers side of it, in the _ numbers. but so that's the numbers side of it, in the sense _ numbers. but so that's the numbers side of it, in the sense that - numbers. but so that's the numbers side of it, in the sense that it - numbers. but so that's the numbers side of it, in the sense that it is - side of it, in the sense that it is spreading, the numbers are high, but in terms of the severity, does it mean that... have you been able to work out, is it people who are unvaccinated corporate on mentally ending up with 0micron? what is the logic there, or is itjust too small —— kind of ending up with? it logic there, or is it just too small -- kind of ending up with? it looks like previous _ -- kind of ending up with? it looks like previous infection _ -- kind of ending up with? it looks like previous infection is _ -- kind of ending up with? it looks like previous infection is causing i like previous infection is causing some reduction in hospitalisation rates, maybe 50% or so, and if you have been vaccinated with three doses, then that is causing a very significant reduction, so that is the best way to be protected against the best way to be protected against the severe disease, so i think that we should reemphasize the message about getting boosters, and fortunately many, many people are now adding the booster doses. 50 fortunately many, many people are now adding the booster doses. so are we in a position _ now adding the booster doses. so are we in a position or _ now adding the booster doses. so are we in a position or of _ now adding the booster doses. so are we in a position or of a crime - now adding the booster doses. so are we in a position or of a crime is - we in a position or of a crime is basically targeting those people who have not been vaccinated —— is 0micron basically? i have not been vaccinated -- is omicron basically?— have not been vaccinated -- is omicron basically? i think we can say severe _ omicron basically? i think we can say severe disease _ omicron basically? i think we can say severe disease is _ omicron basically? i think we can say severe disease is very - omicron basically? i think we can say severe disease is very much i omicron basically? i think we can - say severe disease is very much more likely to affect people who have not yet been vaccinated at all or, for various reasons, have waning immunity or or have medical problems that mean there not respond to the vaccine, so i think all of that is still true, and that vaccination is absolutely vital to get these rates down, but all the other measures work as well. i down, but all the other measures work as well-— work as well. i wonder, when it comes to _ work as well. i wonder, when it comes to severity, _ work as well. i wonder, when it comes to severity, is _ work as well. i wonder, when it comes to severity, is it - work as well. i wonder, when it comes to severity, is it just - work as well. i wonder, when it comes to severity, is it just too j comes to severity, is itjust too early to say whether it is less severe than the delta variant or other variance? we're desperate to have some kind of glimmer of hope. is it possible to say that so categorically, with your study, with the impure college study? this categorically, with your study, with the impure college study?- the impure college study? this is not my study. — the impure college study? this is not my study, this _ the impure college study? this is not my study, this is _ the impure college study? this is not my study, this is new- the impure college study? this is . not my study, this is new ferguson's study —— imperial college. i hope they don't mind me speaking about it. this study, the study from scotland, the study we are seeing from south africa, they're opening in the same direction — that it is less likely cause possible —— to cause hospital admission. that is good news, that is not more severe, but it does not mean that it is mild. it has not changed into a common cold. that would be the wrong interpretation of these studies. well, we really appreciate you speaking to us about the studies. professor peter 0penshaw, very good of you to speak to us. professor peter openshaw, very good of you to speak to us.— it's nearly a week since the philippines were hit by a typhoon — the strongest they've had this year. at least 375 people were killed and hundreds of thousands have been left without shelter. the red cross says there is "carnage" in many areas, with no power, no communications and very little water. one of the worst affected areas was the popular tourist island of siargao. from there, our correspondent howard johnson sent this report. devastation as far as the eye can see. super typhoon rai first made landfall here last thursday, packing winds in excess of 150 miles an hour and dumping huge quantities of rainfall. this dramatic footage captured the moment a new sports hall doubling as an evacuation centre was torn to shreds. there was no protection, there was no roof, there was no wall. we was literally lying down there. and the entire force of nature was bashing on us with full power, with full force. we had nothing there. the governor of the island estimates that 90% of buildings have been damaged. this is my house... this man shows me to where his home and convenience store once stood. i'm scared because my children, there's no more food, and my house is broken from the typhoon. i don't know how i'm going to start again my store and my home. this is a scene that we have seen many times. the roof has been ripped off like a can of sardines. the metal�*s been torn back. glass has smashed up there. and you can see the roof in tatters down here. and so many people are without shelter at the moment, and people here are calling for more support. they need more aid, they need more water, more food. and at the moment, the supplies are coming through, but they're not getting through quickly enough. prices for filtered bottled water have doubled in the last week, forcing some to find other sources. this family are drawing water from an old well, but it isn't clean. diarrhoea cases are on the rise here. it's bad for the stomach, but we don't have a choice. we need to drink. we don't have safe water to drink. at the island's badly damaged airport, aid is getting through but in limited quantities. 0utside, residents have been waiting for up to three days for a flight off the island. it's leading to a sense of panic. there's nothing. there's no system. we have to figure it out ourselves. that's it. the real pandemic is not having a system. sorry. as night falls, a newly arrived philippine red cross team help islanders to speak with loved ones using their satellite phone. help is on hand here, but there needs to be a lot, lot more. howard johnson, bbc news, siargao island. stay with us on 0utside source. still to come: we turn to afghanistan. the un security council votes to allow aid into the country, finding a way around sanctions against the taliban. uk government advisers have recommended vulnerable 5—to—11—year—olds should be offered a vaccine. a low—dose version of the pfizerjab has already been given to five million children in the us and has now been approved by the uk drugs regulator. also, england has changed its isolation rules for people who get covid—19. here's a health minister, gillian keegan. well, they've looked at the difference between ten days' isolation or doing a lateral flow test on day 6 and day 7. and if you get a negative lateral flow test on day six and day 7, then you can then leave isolation. we're still saying to people, "be cautious," we're telling everyone, with a threat to push already overwhelmed health systems further to the brink. france has warned the country could see 100,000 cases of covid—19 infections a day because of the 0micron variant. it's recorded over 84,000 cases in the past 24 hours. here's a government spokesperson. translation: it is estimated that 2096 of the cases _ translation: it is estimated that 2096 of the cases detected - translation: it is estimated that 2096 of the cases detected in - 20% of the cases detected in france are linked to the omicron variant. i would like to remind you that if you days ago, this weekend, it was 10% and therefore probably as we are seeing everywhere, it is that would double in next two or three days. meanwhile, spain is requiring everyone to wear masks outdoors again. guy hedgecoe is in madrid with the details. the government tomorrow is expected to approve the reintroduction of the minotaur use of facemasks when you are outside in the street. —— mandatory. that was a measure previously in place untiljune this year, and it was lifted from the summer onwards. it is a measure that is priestly been in place and has been reintroduced, but if you walk around most towns and cities in spain at the moment, including madrid, you will see that most people are wearing masks anyway out on the streets, so that is not seen as a major intervention by the government. at the moment, we are told that around half of the new cases being reported are omicron. that's number which has risen extremely sharply in the last few days. just a week ago, that percentage was down below 5% or so, so it has been truly sharp. guy had to go in madrid. —— guy hedgecoe in madrid. here's the deputy director of the israeli ministry of health. u nfortu nately we had unfortunately we had seen a rise in numbers, we have had to contact some travellers from the whole world. but unfortunately we are now also seeing communities spread, so we expect to have a major wave in two to three weeks. you have to remember that we have given the third vaccines for those 16 and above from the end of july, it is six months now. although it is preliminary it seems they could benefit from a fourthjoe's, i would say it is a preliminary recommendation that we would discuss it and we would allow 16s and above and medical personnel to get an early fourthjoe's. —— fourthjoe's. next to nigeria — and these pictures out of abuja. these are covid—19 doses being destroyed because they'd expired — there are over a million here. scientists say this is a blow to nigeria's vaccine rollout — around 4% of adults are fully vaccinated. let's move to china. and 13 million people in the northeastern city of xi'an have been ordered to stay at home, as the authorities try to stop a covid outbreakjust weeks before the winter olympics begin. the city, famous for its terracotta warrior sculptures, is now in lockdown. all nonessential businesses and public facilities have been ordered to close. more than 85% of flights have been grounded. mass testing is under way and so—called disease control checkpoints are in operation. the city reported 52 new covid cases on wednesday. our china correspondent steve mcdonell is in beijing. the way it's going to work is that each household will be allowed to have one person outside every two days to buy essential supplies, long—distance bus stations, in fact, all nonessential services have been closed. nobody�*s being allowed to leave that city without special permission from officials. and it's interesting, because, until recently, chinese officials have been able to control these outbreaks of the coronavirus with quite targeted lockdowns — so neighbourhoods and the like — and we haven't seen an entire large city lock down for quite some time here in china. and i think the proximity of the olympics might have something to do with it. i mean, xi'an is not that far to the west of beijing, and they have seen omicron taking off in other parts of the world, and itjust shows what china is prepared to do with it's still sticking to this zero covid strategy. the united nations security council has passed a resolution to allow aid to afghanistan without breaching sanctions against the taliban. the resolution could unlock desperately needed help for millions of afghans facing hunger this winter. the taliban's spokesperson welcomed the move as "a good step" which "can help afghanistan's economic situation". here's our chief international correspondent lyse doucet on how aid will be delivered. the difficulty, the real challenge for those aid agencies, people who want to help afghanistan, is many taliban leaders are under united nations or us sanctions linked to terrorism charges, so if you give money to those individuals or you somehow run afoul of them by giving money to ministries they lead, you could actually face crippling sanctions and penalties, so this move by the united nations and the united states too to clear the way for aids which meets the basic needs, as they call it, other afghans, does not have a day too soon. the un says afghanistan will become its biggest humanitarian operation in the world next year, what a tragic distinction to have. 22 million people will need aid to survive, including 10 million said to be a step away from starvation. this is an important step in the right direction and it is not enough, it will not pay the salaries of civil servants including teachers and doctors in a country where before the taliban took charge them 75% of the government budget was provided by foreign aid, provided by government around the world and multilateral organisations, that is not resuming. the banking system has all but collapsed and that there is theissue all but collapsed and that there is the issue of the financial assets of the issue of the financial assets of the central bank of afghanistan which are in the united states and now frozen, again, locked up in financial sanctions, so one step, but as the united nations relief coordinator said, the road ahead is neither easy nor straightforward. said, the road ahead is neither easy norstraightforward. studio: said, the road ahead is neither easy nor straightforward. studio: itruiheh nor straightforward. studio: when the taliban welcomed _ nor straightforward. studio: when the taliban welcomed this, - nor straightforward. studio: ligament the taliban welcomed this, were there any conditions or obligations put upon them? about the united nations humanitarian chief has said a lot of the age will depend on the cooperation as a lot of the age will depend on the cooperatio— cooperation as he put it of the de facto authorities, _ cooperation as he put it of the de facto authorities, underlining - cooperation as he put it of the de| facto authorities, underlining that the taliban have not yet been recognised internationally, which is one of their main demands. the money will not go through the taliban leadership, it will go through the united nations and other aid agencies who still have employees on the ground and have the capacity to deliver that age, so there are risks involved in this process. studio: our chief international correspondence leads to site. —— lyse doucet. the authorities in hong kong have dismantled and removed a statue which commemorated the 1989 massacre in tiananmen square. these are some pictures we have on file of the artwork, called the "pillar of shame". construction workers worked overnight behind plastic sheeting to dismantle the eight—metre high copper statue. much more as always on our website, thanks forjoining me. good evening. as we head towards the christmas weekend the weather theme is on the change and we can see that with the feel of the weather. first thing on wednesday morning, the coldest start of the winter so far, with temperatures down as low as —10. quite widespread, the cold, in actual fact. and it was frosty with it. fast forward to thursday morning and what a difference. in some places a good 10 degrees milder and that is because of a southerly wind that is associated with this weather front that will drive some milder air across the country. for a time as it bumps into the colder air during the early hours we could have some icy stretches across eastern scotland and north—east england. some heavy rain are pushing into northern ireland as well, as we go through the day. it will be a chilly start for some but nowhere near as cold as wednesday morning. double digits out to the west, 11—12. on thursday, then we will see some rain, some of it heavy through northern ireland, northern england, into the scottish borders, and to the south of that we keep the milder air, so temperatures 5—9, further south double digits quite widely expected, may be peaking at 13 degrees in the far south—west. slightly above where they should be really for this time of year. there could be a spell of snow in the far north of scotland for a time before that weather front eases awake by christmas eve on the whole will start with some light, patchy rain, some snow to higher ground into scotland. south of that we've got some drier but cloudier conditions and the weather front starts to show its hand in the south—west of england and also into wales. in terms of the feel of the weather, we are still keeping double figures down into the south—west and we are still on the chilly side in the far north—east with just a maximum of 4—5. and it is where these two air masses meet that could potentially cause a bit of a headache for christmas day because that is the dividing line between the mixture of rain, sleet and snow, so there could be a wintry mix into northern ireland, northern england, north wales, may be the midlands for a time, and the best of the sunshine on christmas day is likely to be across the far north—east of scotland. wetter but milder conditions continue into northern ireland, wales and south—west england. that weather front will continue to push its way steadily north and east, a bit of wintriness perhaps in scotland through the night but that eases away, and on the whole boxing day quieter. this is bbc world news, the headlines... daily covid—19 cases in the uk have exceeded 100,000 for the first time, as the omicron variant continues to spread. it's the highest daily reported number since mass testing began in may and june last year. the wave of omicron appears to be milder according to preliminary studies published in the uk and south africa. early evidence suggests fewer people are needing hospital treatment than with other variants. the head of the world health organization has warned world leaders that no country can boost its way out of the pandemic — and they should divert supply to countries where there are vaccine shortages. more than 13 million people in the chinese city of shay—an have been ordered to stay at home as authorities attempt to tackle a covid outbreak there. china has a strict zero—covid strategy, using mass testing and lockdown to stop outbreaks. that's it

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