tonight at ten. scientists around the world express optimism following successful early trials of a vaccine against coronavirus. the vaccine developed by pharma giant pfizer and its partner biontech has been tested on tens of thousands of people with no safety concerns being raised so far. i feel we are on the cusp of one of the biggest medical advances for society and mankind in the 100 years that have passed here. in downing street the prime minister and his advisers were keen to add a strong note of caution to news of a breakthrough. if the pfizer vaccine passes all the rigorous safety checks and is proved to be effective, then we will begin a uk wide nhs led programme of vaccine distribution.

we'll be asking how likely it is that a vaccine might be available by the end of the year as we report on the continuing pressure on the nhs. we visit a hospital trust in derby where nearly 600 staff are currently off sick or self—isolating because of coronavirus. in america president—elect biden appoints a coronavirus task force and strikes a notably different tone to the president on face coverings. please, i implore you, wear a mask. do it for yourself. do it for your neighbour. a mask is not a political statement. and a quarter—century after the uk's landmark disability rights legislation many young people tell us they still can't lead independent lives. and in sport later on bbc news... non—league oxford city hope to seal their place in the fa cup second round — if they can get past league one northampton town.

good evening. the world's leading scientists have expressed their delight along with a strong note of caution following the news that a vaccine against coronavirus has proved 90% effective in early results. the vaccine developed by pharma giant pfizer and its partner biontech has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries with no safety concerns being raised so far. england's deputy chief medical 0fficerjonathan van—tam said he was hopeful the first vaccine might be available by christmas and there would be a much better horizon by next spring. the prime minister borisjohnson said that one significant hurdle had been cleared but there were several more to go. and some experts pointed out that this announcement was made on the basis of very early analysis

with the vaccine not yet formally approved. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh reports on the optimism and the caution which greeted today's news. this is a huge day for science, and perhaps the world. for the first time, a covid—19 vaccine has been shown to protect against the disease. plenty of caution is needed, but the preliminary results of the pfizer—biontech trial are highly promising. there were more than 43,000 volunteers on the trial, which began in july. half got the coronavirus vaccine, half a dummy, or placebo jab. interim results showed 94 of the volunteers fell ill with coronavirus — nearly all in the non—vaccinated group. as a result, pfizer says the vaccine is more than 90% effective. it's such a great day for science and humanity. you know, i've never felt, professionally, such a moment ofjoy.

and we werejustjumping up and down with joy for humanity, joy for medical advances, to put an end to this dreadful pandemic. the vaccine uses a tiny amount of the genetic sequence of the spike protein which sits on the surface of coronavirus. synthetic material, known as rna, is injected into muscle cells in the arm. this stimulates the creation of antibodies — y—shaped proteins, which should bind onto coronavirus, preventing future infections. killer t cells are also produced. these should identify and destroy cells which have become infected. scientists around the world have moved at an extraordinary pace to develop coronavirus vaccines. there are 47 in human trials. the uk government has advance orders for six of them, including 40 million doses of the pfizer—biontech vaccine.

that's enough to immunise 20 million people, as you need two doses. pfizer says by the end of the year, 50 million doses will be available globally, but only a minority will come here, to the uk. the government's also ordered 100 million doses of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. we're still awaiting their results. it's thought around four million doses will be available here by the end of the year. at the number ten press briefing, there was a sense of cautious optimism. of a significant moment in the fight against covid. i have to say that this is really a very important scientific breakthrough. i'm certain of that. but the prime minister said there were several hurdles to clear before the vaccine could be used. and he urged people not

to slacken their resolve. we cannot let our enthusiasm tonight run away with us, folks. i'm very sorry to say this. it's more vital than ever now that we follow the basics, that we wait and see whether this vaccine lives up to its promise, we continue with the measures we have in place. and many scientists agree that we can't be sure yet if this vaccine is a game changer. these are very early results. what we really need to wait for is the longer term follow—up of all these participants in the trial to understand how effective this vaccine is say, four, six months after receiving the dose. pfizer will apply for emergency authorisation for the vaccine. if regulators give approval, the first doses could be used here before christmas. a small first step towards ending the pandemic. and fergus is here. a lot of talk about optimistic

theories based on the results and of course lots of talk about being careful and caution. where is the balance? it is a rare moment i've been able to sit through this pandemic and give you good news and thatis pandemic and give you good news and that is one of these occasions. the results are that is one of these occasions. the results a re really that is one of these occasions. the results are really very promising indeed and the auger well for other coronavirus vaccines that use the same approach, this spike protein, to build immunity. but the results are very early and what they need to know is we know the vaccine stops people getting symptoms and falling ill but does it go further and stop all infection completely including asymptomatic infection? that would be hugely important in building what we call herd immunity. we also do not know how long any immunity would last, we may need to have a booster vaccine and we do not have the crucial safety data. given those

conditions you mentioned what does the path ahead looked like in the next few months? if it is approved and that is a big if, we could get a few million doses of this vaccine before the end of the year it needs to be stored at —80 degrees. so roll—out will not be straightforward, first in line would be older residents of care homes and ca re be older residents of care homes and care home staff and then the over 80s and front line health workers and then progressively younger people. we should not expect the vaccine to change the way we live this winter. we are not out of the woods yet but we might finally have found the right path. many thanks once again, fergus walsh. international stock markets climbed following today's announcement by pfizer. in london, the 100 share index closed almost 5% higher with similar increases across europe. among the companies to benefit were airlines, hotels and travel companies which had been hit hard by coronavirus. our business editor simon jack

is in central london. to what extent was the talk of caution in downing street reflected on the financial markets? not really at all, i think caution was not the word but euphoria. we had some incredible moves in share prices today, the parent company of british airways 26% and pub companies up 26%, easyjet up 33% but these of course are some stocks that have been most budget on by the virus. as you said the market in the hell up 596 you said the market in the hell up 5% we had some losers, the state and so—called stocks that drive joint lockdown, things like zoom was down 1596 lockdown, things like zoom was down 15% and the online delivery company a paddle down 9% but overall this is about sentiment. markets just need to believe that tomorrow is going to bea to believe that tomorrow is going to be a little bit better than today

and that delivered a syringe full of that kind of optimism, then use today. they know this is not beaten yet but the point is it is beatable and that is what the markets focused on and before long they will have something else to worry about but today euphoria and a very significant day in the financial markets. simon jack, many thanks. while the possibility of a new vaccine can give people hope , the immediate pressures on the nhs remain. with many wards already full, health unions say staff are complaining of feeling exhausted by this second wave. the department of health says it's committed to giving the nhs in england the resources it needs. 0ur health editor hugh pym and camera operator harriet bradshaw have been to the university hospitals of derby and burton nhs trust, where nearly 600 staff are currently off sick, or self—isolating, because of coronavirus.

everyone is on edge at the moment and wondering if it will get to that level again. the general state of exhaustion and burn—out is still there. for some people it has come asa there. for some people it has come as a shock almost like they've been to warand got as a shock almost like they've been to war and got ptsd. the faces behind the masks. they work through the first wave and now they face the 2nd. kelly and as a nurse in the intensive care unit at royal derby hospital. she says that they are feeling the strain. for us it is scary, it was a struggle the last time. ithink scary, it was a struggle the last time. i think we are all running on adrenaline at this point. even looking back at the last wave feels a bit like a dream or nightmare. we are exhausted and it will be a struggle. the atmosphere here is calm, the staff are simply getting

on with theirjobs as professionally as ever but that can conceal their private concerns aboutjust what this second wave could mean. caroline is the sister in charge of the intensive care unit. this section for covered patients is almost full. how do you feel personally? i'm ready and willing but very tired and i'm concerned that my staff are also very tired and stressed out. we have a lot of sickness due to either burn—out or just they're not well themselves. dawn is one of the intensive care patients, she is 61 and she has no underlying health conditions. she wa nts underlying health conditions. she wants people to see how serious covered is. at first you think you are going to be ok but then as things progress you cannot breathe.

it is quite frightening. frightening forfamily, my it is quite frightening. frightening for family, my husband it is quite frightening. frightening forfamily, my husband is devastated. it has just floored me. so it can happen to anyone. another patient has suddenly changed condition. greg, a consultant, is called over to help. so this patient, their oxygenation levels dropped this morning and the question is why is that happening. four members of staff at the trust our health care assistants, doctors two and a cleaner, lost their lives in the first wave of coronavirus and memories of that are still raw. we are rarely in a position of having to look after someone who's a colleague, friend or acquaintance and you do you realise how mortal we all are because suddenly it is a

personal thing. staff say they feel well supported by the trust. hospital levers are sympathetic. hard, properly hard. they say the workload is more intense than before as they are trying to keep all types of care going. my anxiety is it will be harder than in the first phase, we are fighting on multiple fronts and that is almost how it feels. we are relying on staff bringing the energy again and their focus and concentration to the whole of winter. how are you? back in the coronavirus ward nick has good news for his wife, he is about to be discharged after almost a week in hospital. i've had the best treatment here, fantastic, they looked after me well. looking forward to getting home, the first time we've been a part in 54 years. stories like that are encouraging for staff but they know that there

isa for staff but they know that there is a long road ahead. we have done it before and we will do it again. we just have to support each other and get through it. yeah. they are tired and often stressed but they know that people are relying on them and many others to keep the nhs going this winter. putin, bbc news, derby. the latest government figures show there were 21,350 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. that means that the average number of new cases reported per day in the last week is now 22,786. 1,487 people have been admitted to hospital on average each day over the week to last thursday. and 194 deaths were reported, that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. it means on average in the past week, 341 deaths

were announced every day. it takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 49,238. in wales the 17—day lockdown has ended but experts say it will be another fortnight before the full impact of the restrictions is known. the lockdown has given way to a new regime of restrictions throughout wales allowing nonessential shops to reopen and giving permission to up to four people from different households to meet both indoors and outdoors. 0ur wales correspondent hywel griffith has spent the day in merthyr tydfil, which still has one of the highest rates of infection in the uk. unlocked, but still uncertain. as businesses reopen, people here in merthyr tydfil are all too aware that the virus is still spreading. margaret and mavis are meeting again for the first time since the firebreak.

we're a bit wary, frightened really. we've maybe put ourselves into something by coming up here today. maybe we'll have to go back into lockdown. you know, before christmas, or let's. .. let's go and buy some stuff now! you're filling your shopping bags while you can? yes! definitely. laura's noticed people starting to stockpile — shopping while they can, sensing things could all change again. we're optimistic. we're hoping, and fingers crossed, and hoping we can make it through to christmas, and then we'll tackle next year next year! the buzz of getting back to work is mixed with having to learn a new set of national rules. for example, pubs can now welcome four individuals, but they must stay two metres apart. they are reopening with coronavirus rates across wales higher than they were before the firebreak, but numbers have been falling in recent days.

provided people in merthyr, as in the rest of wales, do the things that we are asking people to do as we come out of the firebreak period, we can have some optimism. but the path we are following in that part of wales is showing the advantages of the fire break period we have just completed. but some here are anxious and think local lockdowns would help. dr dai samuel lives and works in merthyr tydfil. he says the pressure on the front line is too great to hesitate. things are changing so quickly in our hospitals and in our communities. even within a few days, we're seeing the number of cases coming into hospitals increase exponentially. i think it will only take a few weeks, once those figures climb even more, for us to have to go back into lockdown. a further firebreak hasn't been ruled out but, for now, the hope is that communities can make it to christmas before any shutters have to come down again. hywel griffith, bbc news, merthyr tydfil. in america the us president—elect

joe biden has started asembling his team to prepare for taking over the presidency at the end of january. he spent the day appointing members to his coronavirus task force. he said tackling the pandemic was key to rebuilding the us economy. the current occupant of the oval office, president trump, is still refusing to concede victory to mr biden despite pressure from fellow republicans, as our north america editor jon sopel reports. donald trump at his rallies repeatedly said that once the election was over, you'd not hear much more about covid. covid, covid! covid, covid, covid, covid! a plane goes down, 500 people dead, they don't talk about it. it's covid, covid, covid, covid. by the way, on november 4th, you won't hear about it any more. it's true. covid! fat chance. there's a fresh infection outbreak at the white house... because we follow the science... ..with his chief of staff and the person leading the legal

fight against the results among those to have gone down with it. 10 million americans have now been infected. and from the president—elect today, a markedly different message. it doesn't matter your party, your point of view. we could save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months. not democrat or republican lives, american lives. shares in the us have soared on news from pfizer on the vaccine, an announcement welcomed byjoe biden and donald trump. but how the president must have wished it had come to weeks ago. wished it had come two weeks ago. the president spent the weekend playing golf, and while we know no more about his future, he today fired his defense secretary mark esper by tweet. well, not fired, he was terminated. donald trump hasn't spoken on camera since thursday, probably a record for this presidency. but his close aides are appearing,

and to the question will he concede, this is the answer. that words not even in our vocabulary right now. we're going to go and pursue all of these legal means, all of the recount methods. we're going to continue exposing and investigating all these instances of fraud or abuse and make sure, again, that the american public can have full confidence in these elections. as donald trump vows to explore all legal avenues to continue the fight, some around him are beginning to consider another option. it is that he eventually concedes, but then runs again in 2024. it's happened once before. in the late 19th century, president grover cleveland lost and fought again and won. with a crane appearing on the skyline today, it's perhaps confirmation that one way or another, donald trump is facing removal from the white house. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. in the past, joe biden has made no secret of his opposition to brexit

and to the government's approach to leaving the eu. mr biden has also insisted that the future peace of northern ireland cannot in his words be a casualty of brexit. today, talks between the eu and uk restarted to try to reach a trade deal before the end of the year. 0ur political editor laura kuenssberg is at westminster. let's start with events at westminster. we have been expecting a potentially significant vote in the house of lords which could have a big impact on the government's talks with the eu. it could do. joe biden doesn't much like the way the government has been pursuing brexit, and neither does the house of lords, talking tonight angrily in particular about ministers‘ plans to give themselves the ability to break international law, to take more control over what happens in northern ireland if they cannot reach a joint agreement with the european union. this has been hugely controversial, condemned by lots of

people, and the house of lords is likely to kick it back to the house of commons tonight. number ten is sticking by its view that these are necessary parts of what has to be put in law, to be in there they would even say to safeguard the union and the peace process in northern ireland. and meanwhile the talks are up and running again, michel barnier in town today. how are they going? that controversy in the house of lords tonight injoe biden‘s brain is part of a wider jigsaw of what is going on here. michel barnier and his officials will be locked in a room with uk negotiators for the next few days, and given we are meant to be leaving the status quo that we have been in since we left the european union at the end of december, it doesn‘t take a genius to get a calendar and look at the fact time is running out here. but talks are stumbling over familiar issues. what is a fair

share of fish for fishermen at home and abroad? how does the eu and uk share rules and regulations to do business with each other at the end of the transition period at the end of the transition period at the end of next month? there is a sense that in the next week or ten days, they will have to be some kind of conclusion to this if there is a chance of having at the beginning of january something that looks like a smooth, significant change to how things work or perhaps risk the process falling into something more chaotic. laura kuenssberg, many thanks. president—elect biden has made the fight against climate change one of his top priorities, calling for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 0ur science editor david shukman looks at the possible impact that a biden presidency could have on global efforts to tackle climate change. the battle to save our planet by getting climate under control. joe biden believes the changing climate is an urgent threat, unlike donald trump, who withdrew from

the only international agreement to tackle it. the united states will withdraw from the paris climate accord. now there‘ll be a huge push for renewable energy — on an epic scale, says mr biden, for the us to be carbon neutral by 2050. a difficult challenge, but climate experts say it‘s needed. biden understands time is short and intends to act vigorously and with the greatest ambition of any us president ever, internationally where he has huge authority. and that means huge incentives for other countries to reduce their emissions even as he tries to regulate us emissions ourselves. oh, my god. fires, droughts and all kinds of extreme weather are set to intensify as global temperatures rise.

so mr biden promises action on his very first day in office. his pledge to rejoin the paris agreement. negotiated five years ago amid great celebrations, it was then abandoned by mr trump. the agreement is about cutting the gases that are heating up the atmosphere, and many hope that it will make all the difference to have america, the world‘s largest economy, taking part once again. unless we all address climate change, we will all be vulnerable to climate change, so it is very refreshing to know that we are going back into a collaborative frame of mind that helps everyone. but coal mining and many heavy industries are at stake. joe biden is offering greenjobs instead, but he‘s bound to face opposition in the senate and maybe the courts as well. this comes as more than 100 countries are now talking of going carbon—neutral around

the middle of the century, and america‘s new leader will be working to make that happen. david shukman, bbc news. two british diplomats have been expelled from belarus, accused by the authorities in minsk of "activities incompatible with the status of a diplomat". tonight the foreign secretary, dominic raab, said their expulsion for legitimately observing the recent protests in minsk was wholly unjustified. local reports suggest they were collecting information about the internal political situation from human rights organisations following august‘s disputed presidential election. the bbc has promised to launch an independent investigation into claims made by earl spencer — brother of the late diana, princess of wales, that he was deceived by the reporter martin bashir ahead of the princess‘s explosive

television interview in 1995. earl spencer says the former panorama reporter had used false bank statements as part of his attempts to encourage the princess to grant him an interview. the bbc‘s director—general says the corporation is taking the matter very seriously. 0ur correspondent jonny dymond reports. it was one of the biggest tv interviews of all time. princess diana laying bare her loveless marriage, her love for another man, her suffering. you always think you‘re prepared for anything, and you think you have the knowledge of what‘s coming ahead... butjust how did martin bashir get the interview? diana‘s brother, charles spencer, says martin bashir showed him forged bank statements suggesting that one of his staff was selling secrets. it was a tumultuous time for diana. she thought she was being spied on, that her life might be in danger,

that she was being briefed against by prince charles‘ staff. well, my husband‘s side were very busy. martin bashir‘s forged bank statements looked like evidence of dirty tricks. it was, her brother says, an attempt to win access to diana. and matt wiessler, the graphic artist that created those bank statements, has now spoken out. i got home from work and i got a phone call from martin bashir, and he wanted me to do a favour for him and it was really urgent and really important. martin asked me to make up a couple of bank statements that he needed the following day, and he did say that they were just going to be used as copies. so, on that night, i wasjust making some props forfilming purposes. charles spencer says he‘s speaking out now, 25 years later, because he found out recently that the bbc knew about

the forged bank statements. the bbc did hold an inquiry in 1996 when the bank statements were first made public. never published, it cleared martin bashir of wrongdoing. the men and women who ran bbc news in the ‘90s have all moved on. the new director—general has acknowledged the deceit and promised an independent inquiry. there are a lot of questions. but so far, no answers from martin bashir — now the bbc‘s religion editor. seen up and about this weekend, the bbc says he is recovering from heart surgery and is unable to answer questions. jonny dymond, bbc news. it‘s 25 years since the disability discrimination act was passed. the landmark civil rights legislation protecting disabled