chaos for travellers — 7000 flights cancelled around the world over the christmas weekend. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. tributes have poured in from around the world for south africa's archbishop desmond tutu who has died at the age of 90. archbishop tutu was a nobel peace prize laureate and considered one of the driving forces behind the anti—apartheid movement in south africa. former us president barack 0bama described him as a mentor and moral compass, while borisjohnson said he would be remembered for his spiritual leadership. 0ur africa correspondent, andrew harding, looks back at his life. raise our hands and we say we will be free. desmond tutu was an exuberant figure, an outspoken anglican priest who became one of the world's great moral voices. it was during south africa's long and violent struggle against white minority rule that he rose to prominence, condemning the apartheid government, comparing them to the nazis. the system of this country, apartheid, is immoral. the system of this country is evil. with nelson mandela hidden away in prison, tutu soon became the face of south africa's struggle for freedom and forjustice. he leaves behind a legacy, one of the last of the generation of people who told us that apartheid was wrong and stood up for human rights everywhere. and he never stopped doing that. in 1994, tutu was awarded the nobel peace prize and he used his global platform to criticise britain and america for being too soft on the apartheid government. eventually mandela was released, but the advent of democracy eventually, mandela was released, but the advent of democracy presented tutu with new challenges in a country that he now dubbed "the rainbow nation". often in tears, tutu presided over south africa's truth and reconciliation commission, seeking to expose and to heal the wounds of apartheid. he specialised in forgiveness, but with accountability. he was one of our nation's finest patriots. he was a man of unwavering courage, of principal conviction and whose life was spent in the service of others. he had many ways embody the essence of our humanity. he specialised with forgiveness and in accountability. he specialised with forgiveness, but in accountability. and that pursuit ofjustice continued, especially when south africa's democratic politicians plunged into corruption. of the apartheid government, we will pray for the downfall of a government that misrepresents us. inevitably, desmond tutu made enemies, but his genius was for winning people over, one could say for provoking love. he certainly wants that when he dies the epitaph will be very clear — that desmond tutu loved, he laughed, he cried, and that is what he was, he was always a man of tremendousjoy. the one thing that helps desmond tutu stand out and occupy this unique place in south african history is that he was there at every step of the way through this country's tortuous journey from apartheid to democracy and beyond, with that clear, moral, often angry, sometimes laughing voice, a man defined above all by his sense of hope. that was andrew harding. flags will fly at half—mast across south africa and a week of tributes, being organised to remember archbishop desmond tutu. many south africans have been gathering outside his homes in cape town and soweto to lay wreaths and light candles as a sign of respect to the man credited with playing such a significant role in the road to south africa's democracy. his funeral will take place on the 1st of january. 0ur correspondent nomsa maseko reports from soweto. paying their last respects, people from all walks of life dropped off flowers here at desmond tutu's soweto home, demonstrating what the 90—year—old stood for. he was the voice of reason, the face of reconciliation and south africa's moral compass. this is a dark day to us south africans because he is the light and the icon of this country. he used to be a father to us, his wife used to be a mother to us. it was desmond tutu, known affectionately as "the arch", who coined the phrase "rainbow nation" to describe south africa's ethnic diversity. more than any other, _ you know sometimes when you have some problems you just go to him and he willjust give you a prayer. and you go to the chapel- and hear him pray for us every day when we have problems. several memorial services are expected to be held in honour of desmond tutu over the next few days. for people here in soweto they remember the arch as a unifying figure who played a prominent role in south africa becoming a democracy. flowers were laid in cape town too where he died at his home surrounded by family and friends. a seven—day sendoff is being planned, including a lying in state and a mass to be held by the anglican church. nomsa maseko, bbc news, soweto. bishop trevor mwamba is a former bishop of botswana and now the president of united national independence party in zambia. he is an acquaintance of archbishop tutu. i'd say you are good friends, trevor. laughter. i remember you having a conversation with him and you're speaking to the archbishop. i think the welcome was, hey, arch, how you doing? it archbishop. i think the welcome was, hey, arch, how you doing?— hey, arch, how you doing? it was a ureat hey, arch, how you doing? it was a great man- — hey, arch, how you doing? it was a great man. amazing _ hey, arch, how you doing? it was a great man. amazing man. - hey, arch, how you doing? it was a great man. amazing man. you - hey, arch, how you doing? it was a. great man. amazing man. you often talk about how _ great man. amazing man. you often talk about how approachable - great man. amazing man. you often talk about how approachable he - great man. amazing man. you often | talk about how approachable he was. can you just tell us your experience of contact with him, particularly when you are in your student days? indeed. my mother once visited south africa, and she went there to tell them what i was doing. i was then at oxford. training to be a priest. she 0xford. training to be a priest. she told him that's what i was doing, and a couple weeks later i went to pick up a letter, and it had a stamp of the south african council church. i opened it and it was a letterfrom archbishop tutu. and what really moved me about that was simply that here was a man, very busy with the liberation struggle within south africa, and yet you would find time to write to an ordinary training to be a priest, and the substance was simply to say, "your mum mentioned you are training to be a priest, and ijust want to you are training to be a priest, and i just want to say to you, i am praying for you and i wish you all the best." that was very touching. he was a man who was down to earth. i think that sense of him being approachable always came across. i think one of the last moments, he was seen in public, when harry and meghan visited the country. trevor, can you hear me? i meghan visited the country. trevor, can you hear me?— meghan visited the country. trevor, can you hear me? i couldn't hear the last art. can you hear me? i couldn't hear the last part- i — can you hear me? i couldn't hear the last part- i was— can you hear me? i couldn't hear the last part. i wasjust _ can you hear me? i couldn't hear the last part. i wasjust talking _ last part. i was 'ust talking about the last part. i wasjust talking about the approachable _ last part. i wasjust talking about the approachable side _ last part. i wasjust talking about the approachable side to - last part. i wasjust talking about the approachable side to his - last part. i wasjust talking about. the approachable side to his nature. it was seen very clearly on the visit that harry and meghan made to south africa. figs visit that harry and meghan made to south africa-— south africa. as you saw and we all saw, he south africa. as you saw and we all saw. he was _ south africa. as you saw and we all saw, he was receiving _ south africa. as you saw and we all saw, he was receiving the - south africa. as you saw and we all saw, he was receiving the baby, . saw, he was receiving the baby, which was fantastic. but it's a joy in his face. it's the love oozing out, as you can see them sitting together, and it was amazing. but it was just desmond tutu. the other dimension i should say about him, what i came to discover, when i became the secretary of our church of the province of central africa, he was very good friends with the archbishop, and he would come to botswana and take time, but he would always join us for the prayers botswana and take time, but he would alwaysjoin us for the prayers in the mornings. and i realise this is behind the scenes that here was a man who was rooted in god, and that's where his strength and humour and energy came from, and that's something about desmond tutu. he was a very spiritual man. maw; something about desmond tutu. he was a very spiritual man.— a very spiritual man. many of the ounu a very spiritual man. many of the young today _ a very spiritual man. many of the young today certainly _ a very spiritual man. many of the young today certainly following i a very spiritual man. many of the i young today certainly following the story well not quite understand where archbishop desmond tutu fits into their history. regionally across africa, he played a huge role as well, didn't he? than across africa, he played a huge role as well, didn't he?— across africa, he played a huge role as well, didn't he? an immense role, es as well, didn't he? an immense role, yes indeed- — as well, didn't he? an immense role, yes indeed- he _ as well, didn't he? an immense role, yes indeed. he was _ as well, didn't he? an immense role, yes indeed. he was the _ as well, didn't he? an immense role, yes indeed. he was the president - as well, didn't he? an immense role, yes indeed. he was the president of i yes indeed. he was the president of the council of churches, which is all the churches in africa. headquartered in kenya, nairobi, and he was a man for the youth. he jelled with them and he resonated and he understood their dreams, their aspirations, so he was a man who was loved right across africa. in fact, the headquarters of african council of churches is named after him, desmond tutu house. and council of churches is named after him, desmond tutu house. and under unconditional— him, desmond tutu house. and under unconditional man _ him, desmond tutu house. and under unconditional man with _ him, desmond tutu house. and under unconditional man with a _ him, desmond tutu house. and under unconditional man with a tremendous| unconditional man with a tremendous sense of humour?— unconditional man with a tremendous sense of humour? almost want to say wicked sense — sense of humour? almost want to say wicked sense of— sense of humour? almost want to say wicked sense of humour. _ sense of humour? almost want to say wicked sense of humour. he - sense of humour? almost want to say wicked sense of humour. he was - wicked sense of humour. he was absolutely amazing. i recall one incident when he and archbishop kudu met, and archbishop tutu says to him," are you trying to sound sexy?" the three of us just started laughing. absolutely amazing. the three of usjust started laughing. absolutely amazing. bishop trevor mwamba, _ laughing. absolutely amazing. bishop trevor mwamba, thank _ laughing. absolutely amazing. bishop trevor mwamba, thank you _ laughing. absolutely amazing. bishop trevor mwamba, thank you very - laughing. absolutely amazing. bishop trevor mwamba, thank you very much for your time. thank you.— for your time. thank you. thank you very much- — israel's government has approved a $300 million plan to consolidate its control of the golan heights. this area is regarded by most of the world as occupied territory. it was captured from syria during the six—day war more than half a century ago and later annexed. the israeli prime minister, naftali bennett, told a special cabinet meeting held in the golan that the aim was to double the jewish population there to nearly 50,000 within the next few years. translation: first, it must be said, the golan heights are israel's. - there is no doubt about it. israeli law has been applied here since 1981. it's beyond all debate. trump administration first recognised this, and now, biden administration has made it clear that there is no change in this policy. tighter covid restrictions are now in force in wales, scotland and northern ireland with more changes due to come into force tomorrow. the measures include curbs on the hospitality industry and a reinforcement of social distancing rules. no further restrictions have been announced for england. tomas morgan reports. another festive holiday and another set of restrictions. social life will be curtailed yet again in wales, scotland, and northern ireland as the devolved governments bring back measures in an attempt to slow the spread of the omicron variant. and almost two years into the pandemic, this latest set of rules has been met with a mixed response in cardiff. generally, i'm on board with them. i think at the moment they make sense, bearing in mind what we know. people just want to be able to live their lives now. we're going to have to learn to live with covid. it's here to stay. having only reopened a few months ago, nightclubs have had to turn their lights off once again in wales and northern ireland. we've essentially had four| and a half months of trade and we're back here again. and the issue is, we're not clear when this will be lifted. - across hospitality venues, the rule of six and social distancing measures are back in force from today in wales. thatjust lessens our capacity, so we're almost half of where we were before, without restrictions. but what it does mean is staffing, if not stays the same, but also increases, because of the table service. spectators will be banned from large events and professional sports in wales, with a limit on attendances in scotland. and when it comes to household mixing, all three have guidance in place, not laws. while restrictions in northern irish and scottish pubs and restaurants come into force tomorrow, the stormont executive has said they will keep the measures under review. whilst first minister nicola sturgeon told the public theirs would be in place for at least three weeks. the welsh government's next three—weekly review into these restrictions is due at the end of january. but first minister mark drakeford has said that they will be looking at these rules frequently, leaving the gates open for a potential easing of restrictions sooner rather than later, if the spread of omicron is not as severe as originally thought. tomos morgan, bbc news, cardiff. our main headline on bbc news: tributes pour in for archbishop desmond tutu, nobel laureate and veteran of south africa's struggle against apartheid, who has died at the age of 90. more on that story. ndileka mandela is the first granddaughter of former south african president nelson mandela, a social activist and chair of the mandela foundation. she told me about her first memories of archbishop tutu. well, the first memory is when granddad was released. he hosted granddad was released. he hosted granddad at his house. it wouldn't be leers later until i met him —— years later. it was between lunches, but hardly ever sat and had a real conversation with him. what but hardly ever sat and had a real conversation with him.— but hardly ever sat and had a real conversation with him. what was he like? well, — conversation with him. what was he like? well, he _ conversation with him. what was he like? well, he was _ conversation with him. what was he like? well, he was a _ conversation with him. what was he like? well, he was a person - conversation with him. what was he like? well, he was a person that. conversation with him. what was he | like? well, he was a person that was full ofjokes- — like? well, he was a person that was full ofjokes. he _ like? well, he was a person that was full ofjokes. he loved _ like? well, he was a person that was full ofjokes. he loved laughing. - full ofjokes. he loved laughing. now, i know that you are a bit of a social activist. now, i know that you are a bit of a socialactivist. he now, i know that you are a bit of a social activist. he must resonate with your feelings as well because he didn't hold back, did he? lilo. he didn't hold back, did he? no, he didn't. i he didn't hold back, did he? no, he didn't- i know— he didn't hold back, did he? no, he didn't. i know recently, _ he didn't hold back, did he? no, he didn't. i know recently, in _ he didn't hold back, did he? no, he didn't. i know recently, in the - didn't. i know recently, in the recent past, he was very vocal about the production happening within the amc. there's a video tape of him saying that if we don't change our ways, he's warning us that people will stop voting for us. he did not hold back at all. he was authentic to his voice. hold back at all. he was authentic to his voice-— to his voice. how did he reconcile reliuion, to his voice. how did he reconcile religion. the _ to his voice. how did he reconcile religion, the church _ to his voice. how did he reconcile religion, the church and - to his voice. how did he reconcile religion, the church and politics? | religion, the church and politics? was he uncomfortable with that, where people around him? nope! i think he found _ where people around him? nope! i think he found it _ where people around him? nope! i think he found it very _ where people around him? nope! i think he found it very comfortable. j think he found it very comfortable. he's one of those clergyman that found a balance between religion and politics. often times, religious people, especially bishops, will be conflicted when it comes to politics. you know, balancing that within church views. but the arch did find a balance between those two. his church views and his political views. two. his church views and his politicalviews. i two. his church views and his political views. i would say that in my view, he was forward thinking, he was ahead of his time. mr my view, he was forward thinking, he was ahead of his time.— was ahead of his time. mr dead been tutu handed — was ahead of his time. mr dead been tutu handed over _ was ahead of his time. mr dead been tutu handed over the _ was ahead of his time. mr dead been tutu handed over the struggle -- - tutu handed over the struggle —— desmond. what was it like when he was first released and they got back together? and you just paint the picture for us? it together? and you 'ust paint the picture for us?— together? and you 'ust paint the picture for us? it was... i watched it on tv because _ picture for us? it was... i watched it on tv because i _ picture for us? it was... i watched it on tv because i was... - picture for us? it was... i watched it on tv because i was... from - picture for us? it was... i watched| it on tv because i was... from the pictures, i could see that it was a meeting of kindred spirits. and the warm embrace, you could see him stretching his arms out to embrace desmond to do, because he was someone who kept his hope alive. he was a brave man. there are images of him rescuing a black policeman in a township as well. you him rescuing a black policeman in a township as well.— township as well. you know, sometimes, . .. _ township as well. you know, sometimes, . .. your - township as well. you know, sometimes,... your fears, l township as well. you know, i sometimes,... your fears, your township as well. you know, - sometimes, . .. your fears, your quest sometimes,... yourfears, your quest forjustice overcome your fears. and i believe that would desmond tutu. the number of flights that have been cancelled worldwide over the christmas weekend because of the omicron coronavirus variant has risen to more than 7,000. flight operators said many pilots and crew were testing positive for the virus. here's our business reporter, jonathanjosephs. department boards full of disappointment, boris means cornavirus means a growing number of flights are not taking off as planned. in the us, many airlines are struggling to find enough proof to staff all the services, leading to frustration among those who want to spend the holiday season with loved ones. i'm only travelling because my father is sick and i don't know how much longer he has left, so i wanted to see him but other than that, i would stay home. i booked this in february and we had no idea we would still be dealing with covid. we don't normally. travel at christmas. it's our first time - and may be the last. as cases of omicron have surged in the us, so to the number of pilots, cabin crew and other airline staff forced to isolate. the boss of the world second biggest airline, delta, saw this coming out last week wrote to the us centres for disease control, urging them to cut the isolation period from ten days to five some staff, as he warned of significant disruption. while the number of flights that have been grounded are a small percentage of the total, it's more than normal, and no less frustrating for passengers. as in parts of the us, the problem injapan has been the weather. scenes like this have stopped many flights taking off. in china, the city of xian is still under lockdown as the authorities try to stop coronavirus spreading. its airport, along with those in beijing, shanghai and elsewhere, have seen some of the worst disruption, with the winter olympics with the winter olympics just weeks away, travel restrictions are regarded as crucial to keeping his numbers down. in the wake of omicron, governments across europe are also imposing new restrictions, so airlines there are also reassessing their schedules for the coming weeks. airlines around the world have lost billions through the pandemic so we'll hope the number of passengers starts to rise again soon. jonathanjosephs, jonathan josephs, bbc news. a man who was arrested within the grounds of windsor castle on christmas day, while in possession of a crossbow has been detained under the mental health act. the man entered the grounds but was not able to get into any buildings due to security. the 19—year—old man from southampton was arrested on suspicion of breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon. the queen is in residence at windsor castle. people in more than 100 cities in the philippines are without power, following typhoon rai, which ripped through the country ten days ago. disaster officials warn it may take till february to restore all electricity supplies. tens of thousands of homes were damaged and there's still a lack of food and clean water. 378 people are now known to have been killed by the typhoon, and about 60 are still missing. police in northern india have launched an investigation, after a statue ofjesus was vandalised at the entrance of a colonial—era church. the incident in the holy redeemer church, in the city of ambala, is the latest in a series of such attacks in recent months. newspaper editorials have urged the leaders of the governing hindu—nationalist bjp party to condemn hate speech and attacks on religious minorities. our south asia regional editor, anbarasan ethirajan, in delhi, has more. attacks on christmas day, they are unthinkable 20 years ago, but since 2014 after the bjp came to power, the hindu nationalist party, christian organisations say attacks against them have doubled. we have seen prayer halls being attacked, churches that are literally being burned, and also some of the pastors are being attacked by hindu right—wing youths. this is all happening for the past few years and putting this community in fear, they fear that they this community in fear — they fear that they are being persecuted. christians are a religious minority in india, about 2%, or 30 million people, but they have remained at the sidelines when you compare them with the other biggest religious minority, muslims. they feel the attacks are increasing, but the government denies that there is an orchestrated campaign against the christians, but many people would complain that the police officers are not taking enough action as and when these christian places of worship are being targeted. it is not only about the christians. the way the hindu right—wing people have started using hate speech that shocked many people. for example, a week ago in the conclave of religious leaders, hindu saints and some of the people linked to the governing bjp, they were calling for open violence against muslims. and in fact, they gave interviews for television channels afterwards standing by the statement. and this was again quite unprecedented, the level of hate speech against religious minorities. that's why many newspapers have been calling on the government, including the prime minister, narendra modi, to come out and openly condemn these incidents. otherwise the level of intolerance, the level of religious otherwise, the level of intolerance, the level of religious hatred will start growing. you're watching bbc news. hello there. a few of us got to see a white christmas, but for many more, it was too mild for snow. we had a lot of mist and murk and we had some outbreaks of rain. this stripe of cloud on the satellite picture brought rain and some hill snow in the north during boxing day. there's more cloud and rain waiting in the wings down to the southwest, but the big story, i think, for this week will be this surge of very, very mild air wafting up from the south, affecting all parts of the uk as we move towards the end of 2021. it will be turning increasingly mild this week, but with some wind and rain at times. now, many of us will start off monday with some cloud, some mist and fog, some quite murky conditions again. rain into the southwest of england, which will push northwards towards parts of wales, the midlands and east anglia through the day, tending to weaken as it goes. elsewhere, some of the mist and fog and cloud will tends to lift and break and we will see some spells of sunshine in the far north of england, northern ireland and scotland, albeit with some showers in the far north. temperatures ranging from 6 degrees in aberdeen to 12 in plymouth through the afternoon. and then through monday night, a bit more rain potentially down towards the south, another lump of wet weather starting to push into northern ireland, parts of northern england, southern scotland. the winds will start to pick up down towards the south and the west as well. very mild in the south, a little bit chilly up towards the north. and then as we go through tuesday, this area of wet weather will spread out of northern ireland, into southern scotland, northern england, parts of wales, perhaps into the midlands as well. we will see some sunny spells to the far north and to the far south, but it will be really quite windy across parts of england and wales. some of these western coasts could see gusts of a0 to maybe 50 mph. quite mild in the south, 12 degrees. further north, a little bit cooler, but those temperatures still quite respectable for the time of year. however, there is even milder weather on the way. as we move out of tuesday into wednesday, we see this next frontal system pushing in from the southwest, a band of rain that will drive its way north eastwards. some snow for a time over high ground in scotland, but this will mostly be rain, because that mild air will be working its way in. temperatures down towards the south on wednesday afternoon up to 16, maybe 17 degrees. still a little bit chilly for some northern areas, but as we move towards the end of the week and the end of the year, that mild weather spreads to all parts. there will still be some rain at times. this is bbc news. the headlines: tributes pour in for archbishop desmond tutu, nobel laureate and veteran of south africa's struggle against apartheid, who has died at the age of 90. he was a man of unwavering courage, of principled conviction and whose life was spent in the service of others. israel approves plans for a huge expansion of settlements in the golan heights, which most of the world doesn't recognise as israeli territory. new coronavirus restrictions come into force in scotland, wales and northern ireland — to try to limit the spread of the omicron variant. and omicron causes chaos for travellers — 7,000 flights cancelled around the world over the christmas weekend.