friends _ steps to keep themselves safe and friends and family safe. fire engulfs the parliament building in south africa after its sprinkler system failed. and the kenyan anthropologist and politician _ and the kenyan anthropologist and politician richard leakey famous for fossii— politician richard leakey famous for fossil discoveries which shed light on human— fossil discoveries which shed light on human evolution has died at the a-e on human evolution has died at the age of— on human evolution has died at the age of 70~ — hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. secondary schools in england have been told that children should wear face coverings in classrooms — to help stop the omicron covid—19 variant from disrupting the new term. the move brings england into line with the rest of the uk. unions have welcomed the advice — while also warning that staff shortages could once again lead to some children being taught at home. sanchia berg reports. in scotland, pupils have been wearing masks as they learn with the windows open for the last few months. the picture is similar now in northern ireland and wales. next week, english secondary students will follow suit as the government tries to reduce the spread of covid in schools. around half of children over 12 have been double—jabbed — not enough to keep the virus out. the face coverings is very much a short—term measure, simply to the 26th of january when it will be reviewed because we recognise it is not something many children will want to wear. it recognises the priority of ensuring face—to—face education is made available — that's our number one priority. some are worried that this could affect children's learning, which has been so disrupted for the last two years. thank goodness, there's very low risk to children so i'm very wary — i will listen to what the government says — but i am very wary about imposing masks on children in schools because i worry about their well—being, anxiety and mental health, which has already suffered because of school closures during lockdown. but it's backed for now by the teaching unions. if this is a short—term fix as the government says, and one of a number of different measures including ventilation and moving ofsted to the sidelines, if that's going to do what we all want and keep young people in their school or college, then that will, i think, be a price worth paying. what difference will it make to transmission in the classroom? masks work in several ways. first of all they trap the virus if you are infected and don't know it. they protect you from incoming virus if you are not infected and don't know that you're talking to someone who is infected. but also, the masks, if you wear them, stop you from picking your nose, scratching and picking your lip and self—inoculating that way. so the masks have several benefits and also if you are wearing a mask it is actually, people tend to be more careful. but being more careful can come at a price for education. it's helpfulfor some parts and it's not helpful because when you're asked a question and the teacher doesn't understand what you're saying, they're going to have to tell you to repeat and repeat, until the point where you have to take your mask off and repeat it, and then they'll understand. but it's helpful because the covid is spreading a lot and affecting a lot of people in the uk. nobody wants another lockdown, where even with support from schools children fall behind with their lessons, become vulnerable, isolated, even put at risk. but across england, head teachers are looking at contingency plans. they will only know next week whether to put them into effect when they can see how many staff and pupils are absent with omicron. sanchia berg, bbc news. the shadow leader of the house of commons — thangam debbonaire — and gave labour's reaction to the government's decision. obviously we all want children back in school, we want children learning and we want them with their friends but we want to do it safely. masks are an additional layer of protection and with omicron raging around the country is this important to make sure we do everything to help children learn safely but it is unfortunate the government has failed to heed the warnings from sage, last may, not even 2021 by 2020, that ventilation in schools is vital because i haven't addressed that. it is also important they address the other factors involved in the spread of omicron so that children can get back to learning as safely as possible. here we are one year on from skills being told one thing and then another right at the end of school holidays just about to go back to school, so whilst i am pleased that children will be able to continue learning in person because learning at home is not good for their mental well—being and it is deeply unsafe and unsatisfactory, it is concerning we still don't have everything set up because the government, by failing to give warnings about ventilation, sick pay and other factors are unfortunately still letting children down and that is not acceptable. that still letting children down and that is not acceptable.— is not acceptable. that said the government — is not acceptable. that said the government is _ is not acceptable. that said the government is making - is not acceptable. that said the government is making 7000 i is not acceptable. that said the | government is making 7000 air purifying units available to schools and colleges?— and colleges? yes, but there are 27,000 schools _ and colleges? yes, but there are 27,000 schools and _ and colleges? yes, but there are 27,000 schools and it _ and colleges? yes, but there are 27,000 schools and it is - and colleges? yes, but there are 27,000 schools and it is a - and colleges? yes, but there are 27,000 schools and it is a bit - and colleges? yes, but there are| 27,000 schools and it is a bit late and they are not the whole answer. we have been calling on the government to sort out proper ventilation for months. 7000 air purifiers will not cut it, it is a help, but will only help 7000 classrooms into which they go so that will not answer the problem for children all across the country and surely we want all children to be able learn safely. drjulian tang is a clinical virologist and honorary associate professor at the university of leicester. i asked him if this move to have masks worn more extensively in schools will make much of a difference. we have been asking this question for the _ we have been asking this question for the last two years about mask wearing. — for the last two years about mask wearing, how effective they are. a lot wearing, how effective they are. a tot of— wearing, how effective they are. a tot of data — wearing, how effective they are. a lot of data now showing that masks work in _ lot of data now showing that masks work in the — lot of data now showing that masks work in the laboratory and also epidemiologically in the population level so— epidemiologically in the population level so they will work in the skills— level so they will work in the skills to _ level so they will work in the skills to some extent. how well they will work— skills to some extent. how well they will work as— skills to some extent. how well they will work as hard to assess because you need _ will work as hard to assess because you need to — will work as hard to assess because you need to schools exactly the same. — you need to schools exactly the same. one _ you need to schools exactly the same, one with masks and one without as a controt— same, one with masks and one without as a control and you will never get that because every school is a different — that because every school is a different dynamics we have to trust the science — different dynamics we have to trust the science that is already there. we are _ the science that is already there. we are constantly hearing, not just we are constantly hearing, notjust any school setting but generally that for masks to be effective they have to be worn properly over the nose and mouth. does it render them useless if it is not done like that out is that a sliding scale of effectiveness depending on how they are worn. it is effectiveness depending on how they are worn. , ., ., , ., are worn. it is going to be a slidin: are worn. it is going to be a sliding scale _ are worn. it is going to be a sliding scale essentially - are worn. it is going to be a sliding scale essentially sol are worn. it is going to be a i sliding scale essentially so the nose _ sliding scale essentially so the nose and — sliding scale essentially so the nose and mouth together with both year bands in the correct position and hopefully fitting to the nose if you have — and hopefully fitting to the nose if you have glasses. if you merge them 'ust you have glasses. if you merge them just over— you have glasses. if you merge them just over your mouth it is much less effective _ just over your mouth it is much less effective because most of us breathe through— effective because most of us breathe through our knows, which means you can't _ through our knows, which means you can't really _ through our knows, which means you can't really eat but you shouldn't be eating — can't really eat but you shouldn't be eating during class anyway. you will take _ be eating during class anyway. you will take the mascot during dinner time and — will take the mascot during dinner time and that is where most of the transmission will occur. some of the transition _ transmission will occur. some of the transition clip my transmission may be mitigated during lessons but during _ be mitigated during lessons but during break time there is a risk if you take _ during break time there is a risk if you take the mask off to eat and drink _ you take the mask off to eat and drink. �* ., ,., ., , drink. and there are so many different types _ drink. and there are so many different types of _ drink. and there are so many different types of mask - drink. and there are so many different types of mask out l drink. and there are so many - different types of mask out there now. there are various interpretations of it which are most effective and which are most environmentally friendly. where does the balance line terms of most useful but most long lasting ones that you think of the most significant impact on stopping the spread of the virus?— spread of the virus? studies have been done _ spread of the virus? studies have been done with _ spread of the virus? studies have been done with cloth _ spread of the virus? studies have been done with cloth masks - spread of the virus? studies have been done with cloth masks that| spread of the virus? studies have i been done with cloth masks that are reusahte _ been done with cloth masks that are reusable and washable and these masks _ reusable and washable and these masks are — reusable and washable and these masks are mainly thinner with fewer tayers— masks are mainly thinner with fewer layers of— masks are mainly thinner with fewer layers of cotton between the mouth and outside air and over time the washing — and outside air and over time the washing tends to reduce the effectiveness of the mask but again something is better than nothing so if you _ something is better than nothing so if you are _ something is better than nothing so if you are wearing a washable mask and you _ if you are wearing a washable mask and you do— if you are wearing a washable mask and you do wash it quite a few times over several — and you do wash it quite a few times over several months that are still tfetter— over several months that are still better than nothing. they are the most _ better than nothing. they are the most environmentally friendly so you have to _ most environmentally friendly so you have to strike a balance between reusahte — have to strike a balance between reusable masks and the environment. we are _ reusable masks and the environment. we are also— reusable masks and the environment. we are also hearing about this idea of a ventilation units are air cleaning units that are being made available, 7000 of them are liable to schools and colleges and so on. do those make much of a difference is itjust do those make much of a difference is it just as do those make much of a difference is itjust as effective if not more so to open a window?— is itjust as effective if not more so to open a window? there are many studies looking _ so to open a window? there are many studies looking at _ so to open a window? there are many studies looking at these _ so to open a window? there are many studies looking at these portable i studies looking at these portable air purifiers in classrooms. also in clinics _ air purifiers in classrooms. also in clinics as— air purifiers in classrooms. also in clinics as well. the study show that they are _ clinics as well. the study show that they are effective in a small volume and if— they are effective in a small volume and if you _ they are effective in a small volume and if you have a large volume classroom _ and if you have a large volume classroom you need two or three. if you open— classroom you need two or three. if you open up— classroom you need two or three. if you open up windows as well that will add _ you open up windows as well that will add to— you open up windows as well that will add to the ventilation on top of these — will add to the ventilation on top of these air purifiers. the airflow is quite — of these air purifiers. the airflow is quite complex in that situation but open — is quite complex in that situation but open doors and windows with air purifiers— but open doors and windows with air purifiers is— but open doors and windows with air purifiers is better than nothing. well, due to the holiday period, the government's latest coronavirus figures aren't complete, but there were 137,583 new infections recorded, in the latest 24—hour period in england and wales alone. 73 deaths were recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test in england and wales. public sector leaders have been told to prepare for the worst case scenario of up to a quarter of their staff being off work because of covid. the uk has seen record numbers of daily cases over the festive period. ministers have been tasked with developing "robust contingency pla ns" for workplace absences. here's our business correspondent, katie prescott. this cumbria care firm has been short—staffed and finding it tough to recruit for a while. bosses say they've got enough work for at least another a0 people. now omicron has decimated their rotas. it's going to be difficult. we may be in a position as a care sector where not everybody is going to get the care they need. in fact, the unfortunate truth, we are not going to be able to provide care for everybody that needs it, and that's obviously a major worry. this lack of carers has a knock—on impact on hospitals too, as people are unable to be sent back home once they are well enough. it is what happening there that's a real worry. to try and keep vital services like hospitals open, public sector leaders are being asked to make contingency plans for having ten, 20 or even up to 25% of their staff off at any one time. solutions to that could include drawing on pools of former workers, former teachers in schools for example, or prioritising certain services. shortages are also hitting the hospitality industry. this popular italian restaurant had to shut before christmas as staff fell ill. we got to a point at the end of the first week where we were very short—staffed but managed to work a rota and managed to get remaining staff to pick up shifts. but around the 22nd we finally reached the critical mass of casualties and of 2a staff we ended up with just five who were negative, me included. when it comes to businesses such as restaurants and bars, ministers across the uk are being asked to look atjust how bad things could get and to work out what they need to keep going through this time. labour says this announcement shows the government is leaving contingency planning to the very last moment. the most recent restrictions in england, set out in the government's plan b earlier in december, are expected to be reviewed this week. katie prescott, bbc news. our political correspondent damian grammaticas is here. the government still saying nothing in the data to warrant further restrictions in england at the moment but all eyes on wednesday? yes, so this week we have a review which is three weeks into the latest measures brought in early december before christmas, you will remember those were facemasks in england worn in indoor places, theatres, shops and things like that. work from home and things like that. work from home and the covid passes. the government says when it brought those and then there was a lot of opposition at the time that they would be reviewed. that is coming up when mps go back sometime this week, wednesday we think. the likelihood is those measures can be in place until the end of january when they would expire so there is a review this week looking at that situation and separately, a question of do they need to do more? could they be going further? ministers have been saying they do not at the minute feel inclined to do that. their instincts are not to go towards more restrictions and this is what the cabinet minister said today. taste cabinet minister said today. we don't think the data supports that at this— don't think the data supports that at this stage and we keep the data under— at this stage and we keep the data under review. we are seeing significant behaviour change as a result _ significant behaviour change as a result the — significant behaviour change as a result. the widespread use of testing — result. the widespread use of testing is— result. the widespread use of testing is an illustration of the fact the — testing is an illustration of the fact the british public are taking sensible — fact the british public are taking sensible steps to keep themselves safe, _ sensible steps to keep themselves safe, to _ sensible steps to keep themselves safe, to keep their friends and family— safe, to keep their friends and family safe. that is why there has been _ family safe. that is why there has been such— family safe. that is why there has been such a — family safe. that is why there has been such a demand for testing in recent— been such a demand for testing in recent weeks, so that combined with the buster— recent weeks, so that combined with the buster programme is a key way that we _ the buster programme is a key way that we will avoid the need for further— that we will avoid the need for further measures. find that we will avoid the need for further measures.— that we will avoid the need for further measures. and at the same time, the government _ further measures. and at the same time, the government is _ further measures. and at the same time, the government is warning i further measures. and at the same i time, the government is warning the public sector organisations and businesses to plan, to model for staff shortages of up to 25% of the workforce being absent. yes. staff shortages of up to 2596 of the workforce being absent.— workforce being absent. yes, so couled workforce being absent. yes, so counted with _ workforce being absent. yes, so coupled with what _ workforce being absent. yes, so coupled with what we _ workforce being absent. yes, so coupled with what we were i workforce being absent. yes, so coupled with what we were just | coupled with what we were just hearing about restrictions so not minded to go further but equally still pretty concerned about the situation and what they have asked all departments to look at and talk to private sector, public sector bodies about, is a range of scenarios. so a quarter of the workforce is the very worst case and they are saying that its contingency planning for the worst eventuality, also looking at 20% and 10% absences. there are of course many warnings already and we are hearing from the health service under real pressure because of staff absences combined with the increasing number of admissions but also worries across other sectors, so education notably as well, what will happen when schools go back. one concern in the background of all of this is what is going to change in the dynamic of this, the spread of omicron, because of christmas and new year mixing. a lot of that effect is still going to be seen and when people go back to work, more mixing again so a lot still uncertain in the picture. the latest headlines on bbc news. secondary school pupils in england are being asked to wear face masks in classrooms to reduce the spread of omicron. unions welcome the move. warnings of a worst case scenario of quarter of staff in the public sector being off work because of covid. government ministers say there's nothing in the current covid data to suggest more restrictions are required in england. south africa's houses of parliament in cape town have been severely damaged by a fire which tore through the building after its sprinkler system failed to activate. it was described as a "terrible, devastating event" by the country's president, cyril ramaphosa. an investigation is underway and a 51—year—old man has been held for questioning. our southern africa correspondent nomsa maseko sent this report. a historic building on fire. plumes of smoke engulfing south africa's parliament. more than 60 firefighters battling to extinguish the blaze. the fire started on the third floor offices and quickly spread to the national assembly chamber. the damage is extensive and there are fears some parts of the structure built in the late 1800s could collapse. the entire parliamentary complex and severely damaged. waterlogged and smoke damaged. there is going to be damage extensively. the roof above the old assembly chamber, assembly hall, is completely gone. many high profile south african politicians including president cyril ramaphosa were in cape town for the funeral of archbishop desmond tutu which took place at st george's cathedral, a block away from the parliamentary precinct. this is devastating news, a terrible and devastating event, particularly after we gave the arch what i would call the best sendoff yesterday. the minister responsible for government infrastructure say firefighters managed to contain the blaze from spreading further. this is a very sad day for our democracy because parliament is the home of our democracy. parliament is also a strategic key point. no injuries have been reported that there is no indication of what may have started it. fire and rescue service officials have said it could take longer to put it out completely due to carpets and wooden floors. denmark says it hopes to end the use of fossil fuels on domestic flights by 2030. the danish prime minister says flying must be made green but acknowledged the target would be hard to meet. denmark had already announced plans to reduce carbon emissions by 70% of 1990 levels by 2030. sudanese security forces have reportedly killed two protesters in the city of omduram, during demonstrations calling for the military to leave politics. in the capital khartoum, soldiers fired tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters calling for an end to military rule. mass protests have been taking place in the country since a military overthrow of civilian prime minister in october. he was reinstated a month later but demonstrations have continued. ajudge in the united states has thrown out prince andrew's attempt to halt proceedings in a civil lawsuit against him. the duke of york's lawyers had argued that virginia giuffre, who has accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager, lives in australia, so is not a us resident. prince andrew has consistently denied the allegations. aruna iyengar has this report. seen here at the age of 17, virginia roberts, now giuffre, with prince andrew on the left and ghislaine maxwell in the background. ms giuffre has accused prince andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager at the homes ofjeffrey epstein, the convicted child sex offender, and ghislaine maxwell. prince andrew has consistently denied the allegations. the civil lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. two efforts to stall the case were blocked on saturday. us federaljudge lewis a kaplan told the prince's lawyers they must hand over key legal documents before a crucial court hearing in new york on tuesday. he also rejected arguments by the prince's lawyer, andrew brettler, that the lawsuit should be dismissed because ms giuffre, a us citizen, no longer lives in the us. this comes after ghislaine maxwell was convicted this week of recruiting and trafficking young girls to be sexually abused by her boyfriend, the late american financier jeffrey epstein, between 1994 and 200a. on tuesday, judge kaplan will hear oral arguments to decide whether virginia giuffre's lawsuit against prince andrew will proceed. aruna iyengar, bbc news. 20 conservative mps and peers have called on the prime minister to tackle the spiralling cost of living. five ex—ministers are among those who have written to the sunday telegraph arguing for a cut in environmental levies and the removal of energy taxes. their call follows big rises in wholesale gas prices. the government says it is meeting suppliers and the regulator regularly to work out how to help consumers. a second 15—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder, following a stabbing in south london. zaian aimable—lina, who was also 15, died after being stabbed in the heart at ashburton park in croydon on thursday. another 15—year—old boy who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail. thousands of people in amsterdam have been protesting against the dutch government's coronavirus lockdown measures. riot police were used to break—up the gathering. the netherlands went into a sudden lockdown on december 19th with the government ordering the closure of all but essential shops as well as restaurants, hairdressers and gyms football supporters at this afternoon's match between chelsea and liverpool will be the first to take part in a safe standing trial. standing terraces were banned at most grounds in 1994, following the hillsborough stadium disaster. ministers say safety is paramount, some police chiefs have expressed concern about fans moving into standing areas from other parts of the stadium. i think it is a significant moment for football. i think it is a significant moment forfootball. these were i think it is a significant moment for football. these were part of the measures brought in after the hillsborough tragedy and the taylor report on those measures have served as well to keep football say for 30 years so anything we do to alter those measures is really significant. it is the start of the pilot today, saying that is a misnomer, it has been in place since the start of the season and clubs have had to put the engineering works in. we are seeing some positive experience but also challenging experiences. from our perspective on policing way think there is an opportunity to implement this but do it in a way that is really safe, meets the needs of the fans but keeps everyone safe. unfortunately some of the recommendations we have made has not been implemented yet. some of the concerns we have our if crowds are stood up it is easier to throw missiles and engage and hit chance and racism, sneak in alcohol, and in many of the modern stadiums you can migrate all around the stadium so they concern as they get overloaded and you get crushing issues and it becomes quite an exclusionary crowd. how do you get to become a film stuntman? before you jump off tall buildings or take part in high—speed car chases, you have to pass a series of gruelling tests. our reporter talia slack has been to meet a group of aspiring stuntmen during their training. what do a free—runner, personal trainer and a tiktok star all have in common? let's do the stunt man thing. i will do diving in heels any day. chuck a stiletto on me and i'll do any of the sports in stilettos. i'll try it, i like to push that boundary. these men are all training to become stuntmen. very rarely you'll be diving in speedos. you will be diving in whatever the, if you're doubling, the actor would be wearing. they are all at various stages in their stuntman journey. it's my second session. a lot of this for me, i think, is faith, and trusting coaches. in order to qualify for the british stunt register they need to pass tests in six different disciplines. i'm here today because i'm training the high diving. curtis tolbert has already done his martial arts. ticked that one off. i've done gymnastics in trampolining. i'm doing rock climbing, swimming. it's really tough. louis is 18. he's wanted to be a stuntman since he was 11. obviously everyone my age was going to uni and doing the whole school thing, but i was watching the james bond films and i thought, well, i want to do that. the dream is to have fun, do the crazy stuff, travel the world and get paid. phil passed his diving skills test but still needs to train. i've completed all of the six requirements and ijust submitted for the stunt register, so then it goes to the committee and they decide whether i've made it onto the register or i need to come back and look at other skills. so i'm just waiting to find out whether i'm on the register or not. the stuntmen have to train in a different way to traditional divers. they are just trying to land on their head and pass the skill to qualify to be a stuntman. whereas when i'm teaching to dive you're obviously looking at the pretty stuff like the pointed toes, the straight legs, the tummy tight, the posture. make it look nice! so it is very different in terms of technique. charlie is part of the group because he loves diving. i think it's probably my favourite thing now. it's one thing i'm quite passionate about now. and i don't know what i would be without it. he often likes to serenade his fellow divers by playing the violin. when he came to me for the first time he was really nervous, and he struggled a lot, so he gave me a piece of paper and it said, my name's charlie. and you fast forward to now, we have good conversations, he plays the violin for me. the group love him, he's such a good energy. the whole crew hopes to end up in a major blockbuster film, or perhaps stand in for a famous fashion designer. i want to be a stunt double for donatella versace. i think that's like my true goal. just to get there and just walk out was that i'd love that. that would be the best. that's what i would love to do. that was talia slack reporting there. the kenyan anthropologist and conservationist richard leakey has died at the age of 77. he was renowned for his extensive fossil discoveries that shed light on human revolution in africa. in a statement this evening the kenyan president said that i have this afternoon received with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing of doctor richard leakey, the kenyan former head of public service. time for a look at the weather with tomasz schafernaker hello. still very mild out there with a scattering of showers and some showers have been quite heavy. this weather will continue through the rest of the evening and tonight. let's look at the big picture for the next few hours or so. this weather front approaching the north of scotland and behind the weather front you can see northerly winds so this is cold out here that will be reaching the northern half of scotland overnight. ahead of its winter in thisbut south of that, in scotland and further southin of that, in scotland and further south in cardiff and plymouth the temperature at 8—9 saw a mild start to the day across england, wales and northern ireland. some sunshine around and here we have the weather front preceding that colder air from the north and some sleet and snow particularly across the hills but overall still mild. this is still above the average for the time of year with the temperature around 10 celsius. this is bbc news, the headlines: secondary school pupils in england are being asked to wear face masks in classrooms to reduce the spread of omicron. unions welcome the move. warnings of a worst case scenario of quarter of staff in the public sector being off work because of covid. government minsiters say there's nothing in the current covid data to suggest more restrictions are required in england. fire engulfs the parliament building in south africa after its sprinkler system failed. and the kenyan anthropologist and conservationist, richard leakey — renowned for his extensive fossil discoveries that shed light on human evolution — has died aged 77. now on bbc news, it's time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm sarah mulkerrins. coming up on the programme... a breathless four goal thriller at stamford bridge had