As fears grow over the Omicron variant more restrictions, including guidance to work from home, have been announced for England. The move to tougher measures, or Plan B, will be staggered with rules such as wearing face coverings in places like cinemas and theatres coming into force on Friday, while Covid passes for venues such as nightclubs won’t come into effect until Wednesday. Other UK nations have already brought in stricter restrictions like working from home and Covid passes. Curbs in England come as analysis suggests cases of the new variant could be doubling every 2.5 to three days, and indications show this could lead to a "big rise" in hospitalisations and "therefore sadly in deaths", says the prime minister. The new rules, which Boris Johnson describes as "proportionate and responsible", must be voted through Parliament. That takes place next week and despite a mounting backlash over the plan, they are likely to pass with support from Labour.
Meanwhile, anger is growing and questions are being asked about the timing of the announcement of these curbs, as they came not long after the leaked video of senior No 10 staff joking about a Christmas party during lockdown last year. Senior Conservative MP William Wragg suggested the announcement was a diversion while former Tory chief whip Mark Harper questioned why people at home should "do things that people working in No 10 Downing Street are not prepared to do?". Mr Johnson has since apologised for the clip and an inquiry has been launched. Police, however, say they will not investigate allegations of rule breaches due to "an absence of evidence", which Labour says is "simply implausible" given the existence of the leaked video. Despite anger surrounding the footage, the government's chief scientific adviser urged people to comply with the new rules. "It only works if we all do it," Sir Patrick Vallance said. New restrictions are on the way - but so too is a new revolt in Conservative ranks at Westminster, according to our political correspondent Iain Watson. The prime minister insists that the increased transmissibility of Omicron meant he had to act, he adds. So how big a threat is Omicron? Our health and science correspondent James Gallagher has investigated.

While the risk to people is very low, there is a "phenomenal level" of avian flu in the UK at the moment. So far tens of thousands of farmed birds have been culled and the "largest number of premises ever" in an avian influenza outbreak are infected, says the UK’s chief veterinary officer. This has "huge human, animal, and trade implications," according to Dr Christine Middlemiss. However, she says there "are not going to be any food supply issues, because of the overall large number of chickens and eggs and things we produce". But it is devastating for those companies involved and to people who keep yard flocks, she adds. An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is in place across the UK and all bird owners must keep their animals indoors. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs is strongly advising people not to touch diseased birds. The disease is largely spread by migratory wild birds which return to Britain - this season normally goes on until March.

Jamaican reggae artist Robbie Shakespeare who worked with musicians including Madonna, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones has died. Shakespeare - one half of the duo Sly and Robbie - died in Florida aged 68, where he had recently been in hospital for kidney surgery. The Jamaican-born two-time Grammy winner learnt to play bass under the guidance of Aston Barrett of The Wailers and is credited with revolutionising the sound of reggae and dancehall music. "[Sly and Robbie] took bass playing and drumming to the highest level as they made music for themselves as a group, and for many other artistes locally and internationally," says Jamaica's Culture Minister Olivia Grange, who announced his death. "When it comes to Reggae bass playing, no one comes close to having the influence of Robbie Shakespeare," the country’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness adds.

Tougher restrictions for England amid fears over the Omicron variant of Covid leads this morning’s papers, along with continued coverage of the leaked video of senior No 10 staff joking about a Christmas party, which saw the prime minister apologise for the offence caused. Boris Johnson triggers Plan B as "party scandal engulfs No 10", reports the Guardian. The Mail describes the situation as "one rule for them, new rules for the rest of us". The Financial Times also covers this story, saying Mr Johnson adopts Plan B as "anger festers over parties". The Daily Telegraph points out that the latest restrictions mean you "don’t go to work, but do go to parties", and the i suggests Mr Johnson performed a "24-hour U-turn" on the new curbs. Read the newspaper review in full here.

She won an Emmy for playing former prime minister Margaret Thatcher in The Crown. Now undertones from that character appear in her latest role - as a cat. Gillian Anderson is the voiceover for a terrifying feline, and admits there's a little bit of her in there. "Not deliberately, but yes - as I was getting into the dark, secretive, breathy tones I think she started to rear up," she says. Read more here.
Let’s move from a film star to a sports star who could end Lewis Hamilton's reign as Formula 1 world champion this weekend. Max Verstappen was a toddler when his Formula 1 driver father and accomplished kart racer mother realised he had the potential to become a racing driver. Once they were sure his father effectively programmed his son, now 24, as one. Here’s the story.
And staying with sport, did you know the most searched for terms on Google UK this year were related to football? Euros, Premier League and Christian Eriksen were the top three. Covid, which dominated last year, came fourth with the term Covid vaccine. Check out the full list.

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