hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are broadcaster john stapleton, and kate proctor, editor of politics home and the house magazine. parliament's magazine pa rliament�*s magazine of parliament's magazine of record. let's start with the front pages. the metro quotes the prime minister, who insists england can ride out the omicron wave, as he announced no new coronavirus restrictions at a downing street press conference. the express captures borisjohnson�*s hopes of not wanting to shut the country down, despite the uk recording more than 200,000 covid cases in the latest 24—hour period. in the times, borisjohnson pledges to stick england's plan b measures but acknowledged the battle against the coronavirus was "far from over". the i leads on 100,000 key workers involved in food, transport and borders will receive daily covid tests, says the prime minister. however, in the guardian, he admits parts of the nhs could be overwhelmed in the coming weeks, as hospital trusts declare critical incidents amid staff shortages and covid patients. the mirror continues, saying ambulance chiefs are asking patients with chest pain to get a lift to a&e, with emergency crews could take up to two hours to arrive. the daily telegraph claims covid testing rules are to be relaxed, as part of efforts to shorten the isolation period and solve staff shortages. i shouldn't say finally, because i've forgotten the ft. and the financial times pictures tech entrepreneur elizabeth holmes, who was found guilty of fraud, after tricking investors her health company could diagnose a range of medical conditions with a blood test. and a machine she called the edison. there is trading on a reputation that was rather better than hers now is. let's begin, kate, do you want to kick us off this time? shall we start with the metro? we can write it out," says the prime minister. the prime minister was in a very confident mood, i guess, when he delivered this. he is trying to say to england at least that we won't move to any further restrictions, looking at the data and every thing so far, looking at how the 0micron variant is panning out in terms of hospitalisations and deaths. he believes that it is actually not the time to put any more restrictions on the public. so he's saying we can write it out, but 100,000 tests a day for key workers in the food and transport sectors to try and make some of those supply chains keep going, he also talked to the education secretary about testing being available in schools, millions of tests being available for pupils, he also said the military could be brought in. so he has presented quite a confident image today that no more restrictions are needed because the threat when that happens is a huge damage to the economy and small businesses. so he is saying we can continue with the plan b measures, but with some of these added extra support measures. so this is what he will be going for tomorrow, then it will be reviewed in a few weeks�* time. i tomorrow, then it will be reviewed in a few weeks' time.— in a few weeks' time. i hate to say this, but having _ in a few weeks' time. i hate to say this, but having grown _ in a few weeks' time. i hate to say this, but having grown up - in a few weeks' time. i hate to say this, but having grown up by - in a few weeks' time. i hate to say this, but having grown up by the l this, but having grown up by the coast, i'm used to hearing people confidently saying they can ride the wave, then getting very wet. presumably there is a high risk to this strategy?— presumably there is a high risk to this strategy? louw there's a high risk to the strategy, _ this strategy? louw there's a high risk to the strategy, and - this strategy? louw there's a high risk to the strategy, and mindful i this strategy? louw there's a high l risk to the strategy, and mindful of the fact that there's a large group of backbench or tory mps who don't want any more restrictions, or even the hint of more restrictions. i wouldn't accuse them of putting lives in jeopardy over that, wouldn't accuse them of putting lives injeopardy over that, i mean that. lives in 'eopardy over that, i mean that. �* �* , ., lives in 'eopardy over that, i mean that. �* v ., , lives in 'eopardy over that, i mean that. �* , p that. but it's a very difficult balancing — that. but it's a very difficult balancing act _ that. but it's a very difficult balancing act in _ that. but it's a very difficult balancing act in fairness - that. but it's a very difficult balancing act in fairness to | that. but it's a very difficult. balancing act in fairness to the prime minister. but there's little doubt _ prime minister. but there's little doubt that we do not know enough about_ doubt that we do not know enough about this — doubt that we do not know enough about this yet, we don't know for sure _ about this yet, we don't know for sure whether this has piqued, we know_ sure whether this has piqued, we know it's — sure whether this has piqued, we know it's not as deadly as delta, not as— know it's not as deadly as delta, not as many people end up in hospitat _ not as many people end up in hospital. having said all that, we're — hospital. having said all that, we're not _ hospital. having said all that, we're not sure if it's piqued or not, _ we're not sure if it's piqued or not. it's— we're not sure if it's piqued or not, it's still very transmissible. in not, it's still very transmissible. in america. _ not, it's still very transmissible. in america, 280,000 in america, two hu-e in america, 280,000 in america, two huge cities _ in america, 280,000 in america, two huge cities in — in america, 280,000 in america, two huge cities in china incomplete lockdown, deli and lockdown, all over the — lockdown, deli and lockdown, all over the world. this is sweeping over— over the world. this is sweeping over countries at a rate we've never seen _ over countries at a rate we've never seen before. _ over countries at a rate we've never seen before. it's got to be a very confident— seen before. it's got to be a very confident manager to say we can ride it out— confident manager to say we can ride it out at— confident manager to say we can ride it out at this — confident manager to say we can ride it out at this stage. just confident manager to say we can ride it out at this stage.— it out at this stage. just picking u . it out at this stage. just picking u- on it out at this stage. just picking up on what _ it out at this stage. just picking up on what you _ it out at this stage. just picking up on what you are _ it out at this stage. just picking up on what you are saying - it out at this stage. just picking i up on what you are saying they're about the significance of those figures, on the front of the guardian, johnson says the nhs could be overwhelmed in the coming weeks. you mentioned hospitals in the northwest being concerned about what might been for them, but we spoke to you last time. it's interesting, because if we had these daily infection figures even six months ago, certainly nine months ago, we would've been talking about additional measures. the nature of this particular variant has really transformed where our debate is and how we react to it. but transformed where our debate is and how we react to it.— how we react to it. but we can't foruet how we react to it. but we can't forget this _ how we react to it. but we can't forget this is — how we react to it. but we can't forget this is the _ how we react to it. but we can't forget this is the worst - how we react to it. but we can't forget this is the worst possible time of— forget this is the worst possible time of year for the nhs under normal circumstances, where most people _ normal circumstances, where most people reportedly are going to hospital with respiratory problems, etc. hospital with respiratory problems, ete that's— hospital with respiratory problems, etc. that's still happening, they've -ot etc. that's still happening, they've got problems in hospital who shouldn't be there, could be released _ shouldn't be there, could be released but they've got nowhere to id released but they've got nowhere to go because there's insufficient care in the _ go because there's insufficient care in the community for them. and they've — in the community for them. and they've got covid on top of that. i think— they've got covid on top of that. i think it's 12 — they've got covid on top of that. i think it's 12 now have declared criticai— think it's 12 now have declared critical incidents, which means they are in— critical incidents, which means they are in a _ critical incidents, which means they are in a position where they can only— are in a position where they can oniyiust — are in a position where they can onlyjust about cope with an emergency, they may not be able to even do _ emergency, they may not be able to even do that. now even boris johnson said that _ even do that. now even boris johnson said that the hospitals, the nhs is on wrong — said that the hospitals, the nhs is on wrong footing. these talked about troops _ on wrong footing. these talked about troops being called in to help. confident he may be, best of luck to him, _ confident he may be, best of luck to him. i_ confident he may be, best of luck to him. i hope — confident he may be, best of luck to him, i hope he is right about this— but him, i hope he is right about this— hut i _ him, i hope he is right about this— hut i think— him, i hope he is right about this— but i think it's a confidence mile at the _ but i think it's a confidence mile at the moment.— but i think it's a confidence mile at the moment. ~ ., ., .,~ ., at the moment. what do you make of the guardian's _ at the moment. what do you make of the guardian's lead? _ at the moment. what do you make of the guardian's lead? the _ at the moment. what do you make of the guardian's lead? the guardian i at the moment. what do you make of the guardian's lead? the guardian or| the guardian's lead? the guardian or keen to push — the guardian's lead? the guardian or keen to push this _ the guardian's lead? the guardian or keen to push this line _ the guardian's lead? the guardian or keen to push this line of _ keen to push this line of questioning at the press conference today, and borisjohnson doesn't really want to admit there are big problems that he could help. so although the guardian said johnson admits the nhs could be overwhelmed in the coming weeks, he did actually say that some areas could feel temporarily overwhelmed, but it was something that could be overcome, i guess. so i think what he was pointing to is this emerging picture of a real geographical split. as we've said, some parts of the country are already suffering, greater manchester in particular has said they'll have to cancel nonurgent surgery and some appointments, other areas might cope better. although it was very, very serious before christmas and the numbers of people going to hospital has increased, the hospitals at least have not been overwhelmed at the stage. so there seems to be a real difference, depending on where you are in the country. so i think, you are in the country. so i think, you know, johnson said things could be temporarily overwhelmed. as we quite often see, chris whitty was much more frank about it, saying there will be very substantial pressure on the nhs. so what we will see is that return to nonurgent surgeries, appointments being pushed back again, we talked earlier on about it could be hip operations or scans, things people have been waiting for for months. it's not a great picture for the nhs, and i'm sure doctors and nurses listening to this are all tearing their hair out because they know it it's truly like on the wards. but the prime ministers saying right now if there are these incidences where things mmp are these incidences where things ramp up, they are temporary and it's possible to get over them.— possible to get over them. picking u . possible to get over them. picking u- on possible to get over them. picking up on what — possible to get over them. picking up on what the — possible to get over them. picking up on what the guardian - possible to get over them. picking up on what the guardian says, - possible to get over them. picking i up on what the guardian says, we've got a quote of a microwave or ambulance. ambulance chiefs in particular are worried about the impact on them, i suppose that's one area where you could see them called in sooner than anything else. this is a reall in sooner than anything else. ti 3 is a really horrifying headline, and apparently what's happened here, the mirror is reporting that in the northeast of england, the ambulances are saying if someone has chest pains, it would be quicker getting a family member or someone to drive the patient to hospital, they're saying that'll be quicker than an ambulance to get out to you. this leaves with so many questions about the state of people's health and them being left to try and —— left to their own devices to get to a&e. but i would just say, for people who have chronic illnesses or people who have chronic illnesses or people who have to call ambulances fairly regularly because of their own health needs, they're probably not too surprised by this. it does happen, you are told to make your own way to a&e rather than using an ambulance service. the own way to a&e rather than using an ambulance service.— ambulance service. the point i was auoin to ambulance service. the point i was going to make. _ ambulance service. the point i was going to make, because _ ambulance service. the point i was going to make, because we've - ambulance service. the point i was going to make, because we've all. going to make, because we've all seen _ going to make, because we've all seen these queues of ambulances outside _ seen these queues of ambulances outside hospitals not able to discharge their patients into the hospital— discharge their patients into the hospital because there's simply no room _ hospital because there's simply no room in _ hospital because there's simply no room in there, ergo a shortage of ambulances — i'm sure people have been _ ambulances — i'm sure people have been doing — ambulances — i'm sure people have been doing this may be for the last two years— been doing this may be for the last two years or longer. ambulance services — two years or longer. ambulance services cannot cope, it's not their fault _ services cannot cope, it's not their fault. �* ,, .,, fault. i'll say the last time i needed the _ fault. i'll say the last time i needed the amulet - fault. i'll say the last time i needed the amulet service | fault. i'll say the last time i - needed the amulet service wasn't many months ago, when i collapsed somewhere in public, it was a st john's ambulance that came because that was the nearest vehicle available, and that was in london, and i know the instance in rural devon, orambulance and i know the instance in rural devon, or ambulance times have increased and increased. i don't know if this has come up at westminister much, but there seems to be a problem unrelated to covid, covid is exacerbating it, but there is a concern widely and it goes up to scotland, it's notjust england, about the ambulance services and whether there are enough resources and ambulance services these days, and ambulance services these days, and why that problem has arisen. i don't think it's been addressed properly yet, but i think the pirates has dashed the virus has really put it into focus. the ambulances backed up, they can't just let people into the hospital and the paramedics can't leave a patient anywhere, they have to fully move them from the indolence into the hospital before they go to their next job. the hospital before they go to their nextjob. so it's about capacity, being able to have more ambulances and drivers, but fundamentally it's about that capacity in a&e and hospitals itself. it has been going on for years, way before the coronavirus crisis. i on for years, way before the coronavirus crisis.— on for years, way before the coronavirus crisis. i know there's been a lot _ coronavirus crisis. i know there's been a lot of _ coronavirus crisis. i know there's been a lot of discussion - coronavirus crisis. i know there's been a lot of discussion about i been a lot of discussion about reorganisation of ambulance services and planned regions and whether that has perhaps been as effective as people had hoped it would be. let's move on —john, do you want people had hoped it would be. let's move on — john, do you want to take us to the i? this is the new top line as it were out of the news conference today — daily test for key workers as pm sticks with plan bioo key workers as pm sticks with plan b100 thousand key workers identified over the next week who will be required by the government to test every day to try and act as a way of suppressing the virus before it spreads among key workers, among transport and energy. louw it was the only line out of that 45 minute press conference this afternoon, at least he's keeping people informed us to what's going on. i least he's keeping people informed us to what's going on.— us to what's going on. i wonder about this. _ us to what's going on. i wonder about this, because _ us to what's going on. i wonder about this, because it - us to what's going on. i wonder about this, because it could - us to what's going on. i wonder about this, because it could be| about this, because it could be counterproductive, if you've got 10-15% counterproductive, if you've got 10—15% testing positive. then counterproductive, if you've got 10-15% testing positive. then the situation becomes _ 10-15% testing positive. then the situation becomes even - 10-15% testing positive. then the situation becomes even worse. i 10-15% testing positive. then the l situation becomes even worse. on 10-15% testing positive. then the - situation becomes even worse. on the situation becomes even worse. 0n the other— situation becomes even worse. 0n the other hand. _ situation becomes even worse. 0n the other hand, how effective it will be is another— other hand, how effective it will be is another question. 100,000 people, i is another question. 100,000 people, i hope _ is another question. 100,000 people, i hope they— is another question. 100,000 people, i hope they can get the testing equipment because a lot of people can't get _ equipment because a lot of people can't get them, you try and get a laterai— can't get them, you try and get a lateral flow test from your local chemist, you'll be lucky. it's only scratching — chemist, you'll be lucky. it's only scratching the surface, 100,000 people _ scratching the surface, 100,000 people in— scratching the surface, 100,000 people in food service will hardly be a massive solution to the probient _ be a massive solution to the problem. we've got staff crumbs all over the _ problem. we've got staff crumbs all over the place, problem. we've got staff crumbs all overthe place, in the nhs, train services. — overthe place, in the nhs, train services, supermarkets, every walk of life _ services, supermarkets, every walk of life so _ services, supermarkets, every walk of life. so whether this alone is the answer, i'm not quite sure. kate? — the answer, i'm not quite sure. kate? |— the answer, i'm not quite sure. kate? ~ . . the answer, i'm not quite sure. kate? ~' , , ., , kate? i think this needs to be couled kate? i think this needs to be counted with _ kate? i think this needs to be coupled with some _ kate? i think this needs to be coupled with some clearer- coupled with some clearer information on when you can be released from your isolation period. if you can be released from your isolation period. if you're a critical worker and your testing negative on the lateral flow, will you be able to go back to work as soon as that daily lateral flow test says it's soon as that daily lateral flow test says its negative? i think the testing idea sounds good in practice, there needs to be more information on how exactly it benefits key workers getting back to the front line to do theirjobs. fin the front line to do their 'obs. on that, i the front line to do theirjobs. on that, i wonder if there's any suspicion that the reason the numbers are relatively modest, 100,000, is because that's the number of the government is confident it can actually be certain it can supply the tests for five weeks, and the risk of a more ambitious number of it not being able to deliver. that may be the scepticaljournalist in me, i don't know what you think. i scepticaljournalist in me, i don't know what you think.— scepticaljournalist in me, i don't know what you think. i think you are sot on. i know what you think. i think you are spot on- i don't _ know what you think. i think you are spot on. i don't know. _ know what you think. i think you are spot on. i don't know. and - know what you think. i think you are spot on. i don't know. and i - know what you think. i think you are spot on. i don't know. and i don't i spot on. i don't know. and i don't know, spot on. i don't know. and i don't know. it's — spot on. i don't know. and i don't know. it's a _ spot on. i don't know. and i don't know, it's a question _ spot on. i don't know. and i don't know, it's a question i _ spot on. i don't know. and i don't know, it's a question i would've l know, it's a question i would've liked to have asked. it’s know, it's a question i would've liked to have asked.— liked to have asked. it's a valid speculation- — liked to have asked. it's a valid speculation. i— liked to have asked. it's a valid speculation. i think— liked to have asked. it's a valid speculation. i think if— liked to have asked. it's a valid speculation. i think if you've i liked to have asked. it's a valid i speculation. i think if you've made such a huge _ speculation. i think if you've made such a huge commitment - speculation. i think if you've made such a huge commitment for- speculation. i think if you've made i such a huge commitment for testing of lateral flow tests and schools, which runs into the millions, than obviously as we know there is a shortage of tests at the moment, so they probably have aired on the side of caution and ramped up until more tests become available. i certainly can't get a hold of them! i've tried today and haven't gotten any ads yet —— any yet. i today and haven't gotten any ads yet -- an et. . today and haven't gotten any ads yet -- any yet-— -- any yet. i imagine you're doing all our -- any yet. i imagine you're doing all your work— -- any yet. i imagine you're doing all your work remotely? _ -- any yet. i imagine you're doing all your work remotely? we - -- any yet. i imagine you're doing all your work remotely? we are i all your work remotely? we are workin: all your work remotely? we are working from — all your work remotely? we are working from home. _ all your work remotely? we are working from home. that's i all your work remotely? we are i working from home. that's good. i'm 'ust working from home. that's good. i'm just curious — working from home. that's good. i'm just curious because _ working from home. that's good. i'm just curious because i've _ working from home. that's good. i'm just curious because i've easily - just curious because i've easily different organisations work in different organisations work in different ways, we have to be in the studio, certainly the bbc has reduced the number of people walking into its building, and that's why you at home may have noticed some changes to the schedule in recent. there's been no decision, there's never been a decision to say this will never happen again. i'm desperate to have you both back in because i actually think it changes the whole dynamic of the conversation. we do get dust don't get an opportunity to do this very often, they might wonder why me, as i have this terrible knack of interrupting people, again, years of political interviewing does that to you. the moment you do that, technically that cuts the microphone on the person you're talking to. so if i interrupt or even laughed at john at kate, that interrupts the microphone because my microphone is still live in the machine that controls the mike, you have to give way to them. that means you can't have a fluid debate or conversation. so we have to apologise to workers, but hopefully by the spring, we'll be back in one space again. let's talk about the telegraph, because you sort of alluded to this, testing rules to be allowed on staff shortages?— rules to be allowed on staff shortaues? . , ., , , rules to be allowed on staff shortaues? . , .,, , ., shortages? the telegraph has its own line, it's shortages? the telegraph has its own line. it's really — shortages? the telegraph has its own line, it's really interesting, _ line, it's really interesting, they're looking at trying to reduce they're looking at trying to reduce the amount of time that people have to isolate. so at the moment, you get a positive lateral flow test, then you get your pcr test and, once you got your pcr result, if it is positive, your isolation period starts from then. where is the plan here is to try and make sure that your isolation period starts from the moment you get that positive lateral flow result. and from speaking to friends over christmas, some people were waiting five days to get their result, which it confirmed they had covid, then they had to start their isolation. so all of this is to try and get out of this isolation period quicker, and i think it sounds like a good idea to me. at the moment, 1.2 million people are isolating, so all of this is about getting people, as soon as they test negative, to get back to work, school, and caring responsibility to speed things along. apparently we will hear more about this tomorrow, but at the moment it's a story which the telegraph has, which is why they put on the front page. ii telegraph has, which is why they put on the front page.— on the front page. if you do a lateral flow _ on the front page. if you do a lateral flow test, _ on the front page. if you do a lateral flow test, you - on the front page. if you do a lateral flow test, you can't i on the front page. if you do a i lateral flow test, you can't take a pcr test — lateral flow test, you can't take a pcr test unless you have symptoms? if pcr test unless you have symptoms? if your _ pcr test unless you have symptoms? if your lateral flow is negative, isn't it? ~ , , ., if your lateral flow is negative, isn't it? ~ , . . . isn't it? my understanding is lateral flow _ isn't it? my understanding is lateral flow is _ isn't it? my understanding is lateral flow is positive, i isn't it? my understanding is lateral flow is positive, then | isn't it? my understanding is i lateral flow is positive, then you need to get a pcr. whether you've got symptoms are not. it’s need to get a pcr. whether you've got symptoms are not.— got symptoms are not. it's if you have a negative _ got symptoms are not. it's if you have a negative test _ got symptoms are not. it's if you have a negative test and - got symptoms are not. it's if you have a negative test and you i got symptoms are not. it's if you | have a negative test and you have got symptoms are not. it's if you i have a negative test and you have no symptoms, then you don't need to get a pcr moment which seems illogical. speeding to the end, john and kate, it's great incentive to go out and buy an electric car? you it's great incentive to go out and buy an electric car?— it's great incentive to go out and buy an electric car? you have to do a lot more — buy an electric car? you have to do a lot more convincing _ buy an electric car? you have to do a lot more convincing for— buy an electric car? you have to do a lot more convincing for me. i i a lot more convincing for me. think it's a lot more convincing for me. i think it's really good, it's great. if you can do this and you can clear these instances, it will give people a lot more confidence. because that's the biggest complaint, what's the point of getting one if i can't drive to see my parents in scotland? so i think this is a really good move, this is mercedes—benz, they'll bring this car on the street in 2024. ., �* , bring this car on the street in 2024. ., �*, ,., _, , ., bring this car on the street in 2024. ., �*, , ., ., 2024. that's some competition for everybody- — 2024. that's some competition for everybody- lovely _ 2024. that's some competition for everybody. lovely to _ 2024. that's some competition for everybody. lovely to speak - 2024. that's some competition for everybody. lovely to speak to i 2024. that's some competition for everybody. lovely to speak to you | everybody. lovely to speak to you both, i hope not too many times in the future, we'll be doing this all together around the studio. have a great night, thank you for your company. sport and weather coming up next, then we are back to singapore. have a good night. good evening, this is your update from the bbc sport centre. chelsea striker romelu lukaku has apologised to his team—mates and is back in the squad for tomorrow's league cup semi final against tottenham. the belgian was dropped for chelsea's match against liverpool at the weekend, after saying in an interview that he was "not happy" under manager thomas tuchel. lukaku released a video apology to chelsea's fans, and tuchel believes it's now time to move on. for me, the most important thing was to understand and clearly understand and believe it was not intentional. he did not do this intentionally to create this kind of noise in front of a big game, and the second one was at the very first time. there was never the slightest behaviour against the team, and these are very important points to stay calm and understand it is not as big as maybe people want it to be, or you wanted to be. it's also not small, but it's small enough to stay calm, to accept an apology, and to move on forward. liverpool have requested that their league cup semifinal first leg against arsenal on thursday at the emirates be postponed. the club says it's due to further covid—19 cases and player availability issues since their draw with chelsea at the weekend. liverpool have had to cancel training today. southampton have been taken over by a company backed by serbian media mogul, dragan solak. the telecoms magnate's sport republic business is buying chinese businessman gaojisheng 80% stake in the club. gao took over at st mary's in august 2017. the former majority owner, katharina liebherr, is retaining her 20% stake. newcastle united have agreed a deal to sign kieran trippier from atletico madrid. the signing is set to be the first since the saudi—backed takeover at st james' park. newcastle have agreed to pay £12 million for the 31—year—old england international. and everton have signed rangers right back nathan patterson for an initialfee of £10 million. patterson, seen here on the right training with scotland, has signed a five—and—a—half—year deal at goodison park. the 20—year—old is everton's second signing of the january transfer window, after ukrainian left back vitalyiy mykolenko. novak djokovic says he will be defending his australian open title, ending months of speculation. he'd refused to reveal his vaccination status — and every player at the event has to be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption. djokovic announced on social media he was "heading down under with an exemption permission". 0ur tennis correspondent russell fuller says it still isn't clear exactly what happened to get djokovic this exemption. we are told the parameters by which the two independent panels decide whether anonymous individuals to them are deserving of a medical exemption. and they're quite stringent hurdles to overcome. 0n the face of it, you need to have had an inflammatory cardiac illness within the last three months, or have another acute medical condition. but it's not an exhaustive list, there's some wriggle room there. and, just possibly, the reason for novak djokovic's exemption is he's tested positive in the last six months. because under the rules, if you've tested positive for covid, even though he's not told anybody about that, you'd be able to defer the vaccination, and therefore he would be able to come into australia with an exemption to play in these australian open championships. a lot of the public and a lot of players will have thoughts that they will probably express. players may be a little bit more diplomatic. jamie murray was asked about it after great britain's loss in the atp cup earlier, and he said he felt if he was the one without the vaccine, he wouldn't be getting an exemption. there are some players — jamie murray's not in this bracket — who decided to have the vaccine just to compete at the australian open. and players are human beings, so they'll think there's lots of people will be thinking, "yes, one rule for one and a different rule for another, the number one has an exemption" — but as i pointed out, it is a stringent process, and the process is meant to be anonymous. as for the crowd, melbourne's lockdowns totaled 262 days. so we'll have to wait and see how they greet the nine—time champion when he makes the defence of his title a couple weeks from now. russell fuller there. cornelius kersten has become the first long track speed skater to be selected for team gb in 30 years. the 27—year—old will compete in the 1,000 and 1,500 metres in beijing next month. kersten has had a successful season, finishing 11th in the world cup series and says he's overjoyed at his selection. it's a childhood dream come true for me, to make the game and represent team gb. and to get this news today — it's official right now, which i'm chuffed, couldn't be more happy. everything feels good, training is going upwards — like, also during the world cups, every world cup, i've been able to improve, either in time or ranking. so yeah, onwards and upwards. paralympicsgb have named their first athletes for the beijing games in march — a five—strong wheelchair curling team. three debutants have been selected in the squad, along with gregor ewan and hugh nibloe, who was part of the british team in pyeongchang four years ago. if we all play our best, we know we can be amongst the best. we know that. we've got that belly, we know we are capable of it, the world championships we finished sixth. but i don't think any of us will come out saying we played well. so we know that, going into the paralympics, if we can actually show up and play our a game, then there's no reason why we can't be up there in amongst the medals. so we know what we're capable of, it's just delivering that performance on ice. that's all the sport for now. for the latest on the fourth ashes test in sydney, check out the bbc sport website — that's bbc.co.uk/sport. hello there. winter has certainly staged a return after the very mild start we had to this year. temperatures over the last couple days have been dropping, and some places have seen a covering of snow. so where we have snow on the ground and where we have seen wintry showers, there's the potential for ice to take us into wednesday morning. and with this little ridge of high pressure temporarily building in, well, that means wednesday's actually going to bring a lot of fine and dry weather. the greatest risk of ice will be across northern scotland and northern ireland through the first part of the morning. we will continue to see some wintry showers here, a few too into wales, the southwest of england, and a few grazing the east coast of england, as well. but for most places, we go through the day and the showers become fewer and further in between, we will see more in the way of sunshine, the winds will slowly ease — but it will not be a warm day by any stretch, top temperatures between 3—9 celsius. now as we go through wednesday evening, still some showers grazing the east coast, some out west for a time. things generally will be dry with long, clear spells. cloud tending to increase across northern ireland later in the night — that will lift the temperatures a little bit here, but for most places, a very cold night, —8 likely in some sheltered rural spots in scotland. but after that cold start, we bring in this frontal system from the west on thursday. there is, associated with this, going to be a very narrow wedge of milder air. so what we will see as this front moves in is initially a spell of snow, even to quite low levels across parts of scotland and northern england seeing the rain run into the cold air. some snow over high ground in wales, perhaps into the midlands, as well. but any wintry weather tends to turn back to wet weather as we go through the day, as that little wedge of milder air starts to work its way in. and then, cold air will return from the west later. it will be windy, gusts of 50—60 mph or more in some exposed western spots. and temperatures still stuck between 4—9 celsius for the most part. and then, into friday, we're back into colder air again. we will see some sunshine, but we will see some showers, too, these falling as a wintry mix of rain, sleet, and snow. it'll be a fairly breezy day in many places — our top temperatures again between 3—9 celsius. that's all from me, bye for now. welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... inside china's covid battleground — a city of more than1 million is under lockdown after three reported cases under the government's zero—covid strategy. that's a strategy that includes things like this — pop—up tents where you can get a booster on the way home and win prizes as well. but it also includes very, very harsh measures that can be imposed on a city in a matter of hours. as the us hits the highest number of daily infections ever recorded anywhere in the world, president biden urges people to get vaccinated. this continues to be a pandemic of the unvaccinated, so we got to make more progress. prince andrew's lawyers argue for the first time