the philippines on friday is now known to have killed at least 31 people. hello and welcome if you re watching in the uk or around the world. the french prime minister, jean castex, has likened the spread of the 0micron variant of coronavirus to lightning, as he announced new measures to slow its advance. mr castex said major public parties and firework displays on new year s eve would be banned. the rapid spread of 0micron has seen a raft of new restrictions brought in across europe. lucy grey has this report. as countries across europe brace themselves for a sharp rise in cases due to the 0micron variant, hospitality and travel are the main targets for the new restrictions. the 0micron variant of the covid 19 virus is exploding throughout europe. it is here, it is in our country. and we are going to see a massive rise in infections. in ireland, all restaurants, bars, cinemas and theatres will have to close at 8pm from sunday, although weddings for up to 100 people will be a
now on bbc news it s time for dateline. hello and welcome to the programme which brings together some of the best known columnists on uk newspapers, bbc specialists, and the foreign correspondents who write, blog and broadcast to audiences back home from the dateline: london. this week, record breaking daily increases in covid infection hit the uk. pleas, not lockdown, are the order of the day, though the public are already voting with their feet. borisjohnson s pleas are ignored by 100 of his own mps, and by voters in a previously loyal part of england. is he now leader of the party and the country only in name? henry chu is long serving foreign correspondent and deputy news editor at the la times. polly toynbee is a veteran columnist on the left of centre guardian newspaper. and simonjack, the bbc s business editor, is here in the studio. good to see you, simon, and good to have you bothjoining us from parts around the uk while we maintain all our social distancing forjust
Hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: tighter covid restrictions across europe as nations battle to contain the spread of the new omicron variant. uk government scientific advisers warn that tougher covid restrictions are needed very soon to prevent a big rise in hospital admissions in england. shopping centres and football stadiums will be among nearly 3000 venues in england offering booster jabs this weekend. some will open round the clock. the uk s top civil servant steps down from running an inquiry into downing street parties because of an event in his own office. the british socialite, ghislaine maxwell who denies sex trafficking charges in the united states has told the court she won t be giving evidence.
Hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: tighter covid restrictions across europe as nations battle to contain the spread of the new omicron variant. uk government scientific advisers warn that tougher covid restrictions are needed very soon to prevent a big rise in hospital admissions in england. shopping centres and football stadiums will be among nearly 3000 venues in england offering booster jabs this weekend. some will open round the clock. the uk s top civil servant steps down from running an inquiry into downing street parties because of an event in his own office. the british socialite, ghislaine maxwell who denies sex trafficking charges in the united states has told the court she won t be giving evidence.