of its civilian prime minister, abdalla hamdok. and we report on how the queen will celebrate her platinum jubilee this year, becoming the first british monarch to reign for 70 years. hello, and welcome. the uk prime minister, borisjohnson, says there is no reason for further coronavirus measures in england — amidst the surge of coronavirus cases due to the omicron variant. it comes as the education secretary says the government is determined to keep schools open after learning a painful lesson from earlier closures. speaking at a vaccination centre, borisjohnson said current measures — which include compulsory mask—wearing in some settings, working from home where possible, and covid passes for some venues — will stay the same for now. the prime minister said that pressure on nhs hospitals is going to be "considerable" in the coming weeks as omicron continues to "surge" through the country — but he says omicron is "plainly milder" than other variants. meanwhile, the education secretary nadhim zahawi has defended the requirement for secondary school pupils to wear masks during lessons to tackle omicron. he also confirmed that all secondary pupils in england will be tested before returning this week. elsewhere, in france from today children aged six and over will be required to wear facemasks on public transport, shops and other venues. and in the netherlands, prime minister mark rutte and his government are meeting today with health advisers, to discuss whether schools should re—open this week. let's start in the uk. here's our political correspondent chris mason. happy new year, thank you very much for all you're doing. the prime minister in aylesbury in buckinghamshire this morning at a vaccination centre, as secondary schools in england are told to do what's already been happening in wales, northern ireland and scotland. pupils wearing masks in class. there is an increasing body of scientific support for the idea that facemasks can contain transmission. we don't want to keep them on, i don't like the idea of having facemasks in the classroom any more than anybody else does. we won't keep them on a day more than is necessary. this is what the start of term looked like in secondary schools in england in september, and it'll look pretty similar in the next few days, too, as pupils are tested at school before heading to lessons. this head teacher in solihull in the west midlands is a senior figure in the naht teachers�* union. it's going to be challenging. we are yet again going to slightly an unknown of knowing what the impact is, not only on students but i think, more importantly, on staffing and the ability to deliver the education that we want to deliver. i think i'd echo what everyone else has said. we want schools open, we want students in, but we are going into a little bit of the unknown. we have our staff to test, and we will be carrying out testing with students tomorrow, as the first day back. labour claimed the government hasn't done enough to make schools in england as safe as possible. 7000 air purifiers across hundreds of thousands of classrooms in england just isn't good enough. they clearly recognise there is the need to take action, but, for so many schools and so many head teachers, the answer has just been open windows and keep children in coats learning. well, you know, we are in the middle of winter here, it's january. i don't think it's an adequate solution. meanwhile, nhs leaders are warning that they are seeing increasing numbers of staff not able to work because of covid, just as they are dealing with what has been a big increase in people being sent to hospital with it. but there is some evidence from those running hospitals in london that things might be improving. so, i was talking to london chief execs last week. what they were saying is they were seeing some very concerning daily increases of the numbers of people coming into hospital. 9%,15%, 9% on the 27th, 28th and 29th of december — but interestingly, in the last two days, those numbers have dropped, the increases, to 1% and 2%. but remember, there is a time lag between people being infected and some ending up in hospital, and the government does expect a big increase in people being admitted in the coming weeks. that was our political correspondent chris mason reporting. protests have been continuing against lockdown measures and vaccinations in the netherlands. in amsterdam, at least 30 people were arrested at an unauthorised protest on sunday. anna holligan reports. the first major anti—lockdown demo of the new year, and the focus of their discontent was clear. four officers were injured when people tried to break through a barricade. a few protesters were hurt too. they object to the rules suddenly imposed by the dutch government a few days before christmas, to limit social interactions, protect the vulnerable in society, and relieve pressure on hospitals. thousands defied a ban on mass public gatherings designed to impede the rapid spread of the omicron variant. many people here believe the focus should be elsewhere. the problem here in the netherlands is that we don't have enough capacity in hospitals for the people, so raise that up, and i know it's not a thing that can be erased in two or three months, but we don't do anything about it, so maybe we should solve that problem and not put everybody inside the houses, make them unhappy, because unhappy people get sick. more than 85% of adults in the netherlands are fully vaccinated. infections were up 18% this week compared with the week before christmas, but hospitalisations have dropped considerably to their lowest point in two months. and after a slow start, the dutch booster programme is gaining momentum. everyone who wants a booster shot should be able to get one by next week. the lockdown will remain until at least the 14th of january. a decision on when to lift it is expected this week. children's rights groups are among the 60 organisations that have appealed to ministers to allow pupils to return to class as scheduled on the 10th. a few days then, and 2022 is already displaying familiar struggles many hoped would be over by this year. anna holligan, bbc news. young people in india aged between 15 and 18 have now become eligible for the coronavirus vaccines. it comes as the country records its sharpest ever weekly surge in infections. our correspondent in mumbai yogita limaye has more. india is in the grips of another wave of covid—i9. i've been speaking to doctors in both public and private hospitals who say that for now, the number of people needing medical care is low, but it is increasing. they also warn that if a large number of people get infected very quickly, that even if a smaller percentage need hospital beds, it could still overwhelm public health infrastructure really quickly. they are reminding people of the second wave which was devastating in this country. so many people died without even being seen by a doctor. the other thing they are raising concern about is boosterjabs have not yet been ruled out forfront line health care workers and many of them are falling sick which could further affect capacity. the government has announced that these vaccinations will be rolled out next week. today vaccines were rolled out for teenagers age 15 and 18. —— 15 to 18. the other thing that is happening in the country is mass campaign rallies for upcoming regional elections were tens of thousands of people are gathering many not wearing masks, many political leaders not wearing masks on stage. we have seen that including the prime minister. so doctors say the government need to get the messaging right. people need to be wearing masks and following social distancing protocols. sudan faces an uncertain political future following the resignation of its civilian prime minister, abdalla hamdok. he'd only been back in office for six weeks, after being ousted in a military coup in october. in a televised address, mr hamdok said that, without a new roundtable process to revive the country's transition to democracy, sudan risked sliding into disaster. stephanie prentice reports. gunfire. weeks of violent protests, the youth mobilised in the streets. and deadly confrontations with police. protesters here prepared to give up everything to demand democratic civilian rule but now a new year is bringing in new problems for them. the sudanese prime minister abdalla hamdok has confirmed he will now step down while thousands marched against his recent deal to agree to share power with the army, his absence leaves the army solely in charge. translation: i have tried my best to stop the country _ from sliding towards disaster. sudan is closing down a dangerous turning point that threatens its whole survival. on sunday, military forces staged another violent crackdown on dissent in khartoum. but that hasn't deterred many of those in the streets. translation: | think _ the international community does not have the final say, the street has the final say and the international community can move according to what the street wants. it's a defiance that hasn't waned since military abruptly took over from the civilian—led government even when they back—pedalled, reinstating mr hamdok. for the protesters, the prime minister must leave power entirely. —— for the protesters the military must leave power entirely. and while the people may be in the streets in hoodies and t—shirts against the heavily armed security forces, they have a powerful force in their corner. with us secretary of state antony blinken condemning the military and threatening punitive action. on social media, activists have said 2022 will be the year of the continuation of the resistance. translation: revenge is something generally associated _ with any military coup, this will only push the sudanese youth to continue their path to achieving all their demands. demands against an army that say they will not tolerate protest and within a country that's on the brink of total collapse. a legal document, which the duke of york's lawyer believes will stop the civil case against him in the us, is expected to be made public today. prince andrew's lawyers say a settlement made in 2009 between virginia giuffre and sex offenderjeffrey epstein will release him from liability in the case brought by ms giuffre, who accuses him of sexual assault when she was 17. he has consistently denied the claims. our legal correspondent dominic cacsciani explained what effect a ruling from the judge tomorrow could have on the rest of the case. i think we are going to have a lot of noise today, but then i think it is going to go to a judge in new york tomorrow to actually hear what this document really amounts to. this document has been a confidential secret document for more than a decade now. it is getting unsealed in the american language, which basically means it becomes public. now in her original action in florida, virginia giuffre, who brings these allegations against prince andrew, says that she was exploited notjust by epstein, but by his closest male peers, including in her words, royalty. now she has never defined who that is. prince andrew's lawyers say that all the allegations that she makes are completely baseless. they are not true, but even if they were, this document prevents her from bringing the action. and this is the critical point in this case, really, because if the judge rules that this document does effectively bar any action, then it is game over for her and the case stops. however, of course, if the document is a little bit legally open to interpretation, there's going to be a lot of legal argument and that is going to go on tomorrow. we are going to hear fervor arguments from the prince's lawyers that the case should be thrown out on all sorts of other grounds, including the fact that complaint and doesn't even live in the united states. meanwhile, she is saying she wants evidence that the prince himself does not sweat. if you remember, he said on newsnight that in in alleged meeting between them where she said he sweated profusely. he said it could not have happened because he does not sweat. so there there's a lot to go into in the next couple of days in the new york's court. that was our home affair correspondent. a reminder of our top stories... the uk prime minister says there is no reason forfurther measures in england despite a surge of coronavirus cases due to the omicron variant. let's return now to new measures for schools in england. pupils aged 11 and above are to wear masks during lessons and will be tested before returning to the classroom this week, as omnicron cases surge. joining me now is matt rooney — principal at st giles school in retford, in nottinghamshire, here in england. it's a school with children aged from three up to 18, who have special education needs and disabilities. we are very grateful for you joining us. good to have you with us here on bbc news. what is your main concern going into the new term? the bbc news. what is your main concern going into the new term?— going into the new term? the main concern is around _ going into the new term? the main concern is around community - concern is around community transmission and lots of the measures that have been suggested in the last couple of days are really difficult to apply in lots of cases to children with special educational needs and disabilities. wearing facemasks or face coverings, children with additional needs are exempt from that, vaccination testing, the tests are really invasive. have the capacity or physical ability to twice himself test a week that's rec to test themselves twice a week. i think we as school leaders are left, rightly, to ensure that parents�* confidence in us is high that their children are as safe as possible with us. there is a lot to do. i am possible with us. there is a lot to do. iam really possible with us. there is a lot to do. i am really grateful that we have a little bit of a break this year. i was really anxious about receiving lots of guidance every other day through the christmas break and that did not happen. it was quite nice to have a break this year. and then really sit and think about what the challenges would be around how we would manage an outbreak. the fact that a number of our children are death. some people have autism. being able to see faces for people to be familiar, is ever so important to them. and we are also anticipating a significant staffing issue. i'm getting messages to our three day from staff who have covid. there are going to be complexities around child care for staff because of the staggered starts that lots of other schools around us are doing. we are expected to open ready for children on the first day back. let to open ready for children on the first day back-— to open ready for children on the first da back. ., ., first day back. let me ask you about staffinu. first day back. let me ask you about staffing- how— first day back. let me ask you about staffing. how many _ first day back. let me ask you about staffing. how many do _ first day back. let me ask you about staffing. how many do you - first day back. let me ask you about staffing. how many do you fear - first day back. let me ask you about| staffing. how many do you fear could be off sick at the beginning of term? fist be off sick at the beginning of term? �* ., �* , , ., term? at the moment it's 'ust a little over— term? at the moment it's 'ust a little over 1196. i term? at the moment it's 'ust a little over 1196. we �* term? at the moment it's 'ust a little over 1196. we have h term? at the moment it'sjust a little over 1196. we have 100 - term? at the moment it'sjust a | little over 1196. we have 100 staff little over 11%. we have 100 staff for a children. little over 11%. we have 100 staff fora children. i little over 11%. we have 100 staff for a children. i think it's going to go up a little bit more. and then they're going to be people who have colds and who are not well enough to come into school. they will probably be a number of children who will be poorly and i know quite a few families are affected by covid following christmas and thanks. matt roone , we following christmas and thanks. matt rooney. we have _ following christmas and thanks. matt rooney, we have to _ following christmas and thanks. matt rooney, we have to leave it there. good luck to you and thank you for talking to us here on bbc news. a question for you now. a question for you now. what is the secret to a longer life? one region in southern italy is being studied by experts for its unusually high percentage of people who live past 100. sara monetta has more. hidden in the hills of southern italy lies one of the countries best kept secret that of long life. this region that combines mountain nc will life seems stuck in a less chaotic simpler past. people here live on average ten years longer than other italians and about one resident in ten this past 100. scientists from the university of san diego have been studying the area for years. but if you ask antonio is 98 the answer is simple. translation: the peace here is incomparable the people say hi, they know each other, they talk to each other. healthy food, pristine environment, lack of pollution are all believed to play a role. but also family. shejust turned 100, she says she never spends a day without her grandchildren. translation: i love all my grandchildren and they love me. they cherish me. every time they call me nona i hearing the voices that they are proud of me. maybe the key to a long life is just that. let's get some of the other news today... the annual rate of inflation in turkey has risen to more than 36%, its highest in nearly two decades. transport costs rose by more than half while the price of food and household goods increased by more than forty per cent. over the last year, the turkish currency — the lira — has lost nearly half of its value — despite government efforts to intervene in the market. legislators in hong kong have taken their oath of office for the local assembly that has now been stripped of pro—democracy voices. 90 members , all of them approved by beijing , took part in a ceremony that emphasised china's increased control over the territory. the renowned kenyan conservationist and fossil hunter — richard leakey — has died at the age of 77. his discoveries were crucial in shedding light on the evolution of modern humans. richard leakey also took a stand in the fight against ivory poachers in kenya. tim allman has more richard leakey helped tell the story of where we came from... ..but he was also concerned about where we're going. he made his name in the study of human evolution. his discoveries — including a famous turkana boy skeleton — helped transform our understanding of the origins of humanity. i think africa is beginning to recognise that our heritage is real. i think we are beginning to realise that blue—eyed guys like you, and the scandinavians, and people from all over the world, actually are part of the african diaspora. that's powerful. as was his commitment to conservation. in 1989, he was appointed head of kenya's national wildlife agency — his war against poaching symbolised by the public burning of tonnes of stolen ivory. the worst thing you could do with richard was to assume that he was british. he was a very proud kenyan and he was a good kenyan, and africa has lost a significant personality and an important personality. richard leakey was born in nairobi in 19114, the son of two famous anthropologists. he suffered throughout his life from ill—health, battling against cancer and needing a kidney transplant. he lost both his legs in a plane crash and he always suspected foul play — his fight against corruption creating many enemies. but those setbacks never got in the way of his love of scientific discovery and his love of africa. he was described as a visionary whose great contributions to human origins and wildlife conservation will never be forgotten. the conservationist — richard leakey — who's died at the age of 77. queen elizabeth will celebrate her platinum jubilee this year, when she becomes the first british monarch to reign for 70 years. the queen is set to pass the milestone on 6 february, the anniversary of the death of her father, king george vi, in 1952. our royal correspondent, daniela relph, looks at the significance ofjubilees. first came the silver. the gold coach was on its way to st paul's and a service of thanksgiving. band plays. trumpeters play. 25 years later, it was the golden. cheering. more recently, the diamond. the queen is a veteran of a jubilee. brian, christine and dave, neighbours on park street in salisbury, which looked very different ten years ago. the team photo, the residents of park street held a diamond jubilee street party in 2012. it was much more than that. the months of planning brought neighbours together. new friendships were made, community spirit was strengthened. it's your sense of identity, and belonging to this nation, as it were. you know what i mean? i'm welsh, but it didn't matter. she is our queen. it's that feeling, and getting together. a great big mishmash of everybody, one big family, as it were. one big memory is the colourful tables bending, groaning under the weight of the food. there was definitely no shortage of cakes and colourful foods. brian, no one has lived longer on park street than you have. but it was transformed that day. what was it like here on the day? well, not seeing any parked cars was rather nice. and on this nice big open street where we had tables and chairs and bunting and people enjoying themselves. the milford street bridge mural was created in salisbury for the diamond jubilee, after people here were asked for their royal memories. each image represents someone's recollection. a permanent reminder of royal history. this year, salisbury and communities across the uk will turn their minds to the queen's platinum jubilee, where much of the focus will be on creating a lasting legacy to mark the longest reign in british history. and this year, that lasting legacy wants us all to get planting. you stick all these things in. back in october, the queen met local schoolchildren, and launched the tree planting season on her balmoral estate. thank you very much, that's very kind. it's part of a uk wide project to get trees planted to mark the platinum jubilee. alongside a four—day bank holiday weekend injune, for a national celebration. jubilees are markers of history. they are also a chance to party, to remember and to connect. perhaps never more so than this year. daniela relph, bbc news, salisbury. and you are watching bbc news. hello. our weather is set to get a lot colder for many of us over the next 2a hours. if you look back to saturday, we had temperatures as high as 60 degrees. 15 and and and brought. across the board across... it's going to be a lot colder. in edinburgh, the change to colder weather has already started to take place. the winds will continue to come south across the whole of the uk reaching the south by tuesday. this afternoon, this is where the colder air is across scotland. it is moving into the far north of england. the last of the mild days temperatures reaching double figures through the afternoon, the temperatures will drop in scotland and highs of around 2 degrees for a time. overnight tonight, things turn ic which showers frequently moving into scotland. some of them will be snowy. miles across the far south. 7 degrees. otherwise the frost is going to be widespread, particularly in the countryside. a cold start on tuesday and frequent snow showers. may be around two to five cm. moreover the highest ground and the winds can get very strong for a time during the middle part of the day particularly in orkney. very blistering. temporary blizzard conditions over the high ground in scotland. wintry showers will be moving down the irish sea into the north of wales in northwest england. could see a little bit of sleet or snow mixed in. the snow showers will be across scotland. wednesday, more showers coming down the eastern coast of scotland and england. a few of those can be wintry and there will be frequent showers as well affecting north wales and northwest england. anotherfairly affecting north wales and northwest england. another fairly chilly day particularly in those cold winds. on thursday, whetherfront particularly in those cold winds. on thursday, whether front moves particularly in those cold winds. on thursday, whetherfront moves in. there will be a spell of snow on the leading edge of the system, but it will be confined to the high ground for many as milder air pushes in for a time. we could see some of the snow lasting for a while. there may be one or two issues but more especially over high ground. that is your weather. this is bbc news, the headlines: the uk prime minister says there is no reason forfurther measures in england despite a surge of cases due to the omicron variant. as he visited a vaccination centre, borisjohnson hailed the progress of the booster roll—out. health advisers to the dutch government are meeting today to discuss whether schools should re—open there next week, after closing early last term to reduce the risk of children infecting older relatives over christmas. india has begun vaccinating 15 to 18—year—olds, as the country records its sharpest—ever weekly rise in infections. cases almost tripled in the week to sunday, with 130,000 new infections registered. sudan's prime minister abdalla hamdok has resigned after another day of mass protests rocked the capital khartoum. thousands marched against a recent deal he'd struck to share power with the army, who staged a coup in october. now on bbc news, review 2021, we remember. prince philip, una stubbs, charlie watts, sarah harding,