welcome to bbc news — i'm lewis vaughan jones. our top stories: election officials in georgia confirm that mr biden beat president trump in the state. america's hospitals try to cope with 50% more covid patients — asjoe biden says the president won't co—operate. it will be another incident where he will go down in history as being one of the most irresponsible presidents in american history. shuggie bain by douglas stuart. and douglas stuart's novel about growing up in glasgow wins one of the world's top prizes for fiction.

georgia's secretary of state, brad raffensperger, has announced a hand audit of ballots has confirmed joe biden as the winner of the presidential election in georgia. mr raffensperger said there's "no doubt" the state will certify biden‘s victory on friday. i'm joined now by our north america correspondent peter bowes in los angeles. remind us, what has been happening in georgia? hi. as expected the recount has confirmed what the original result was, thatjoe biden won the state, becoming the first democrat to take georgia since bill clinton in 1992. according to officials, very few discrepancies were found, perhaps in some counties a

handful of perhaps in some counties a ha ndful of votes perhaps in some counties a handful of votes and in most places no changes at all so the result stands. but in the last hour we received a statement from the trump campaign that disputes that i will read you pa rt disputes that i will read you part of it it said that georgia recounted all of the illegal ballot that had been included in the total. they do want to say that we continue to demand that georgia conduct an honest recount including signature matching and we intend to pursue all legal options to ensure that only legal ballots are counted. the results will, as you said, likely to be certified later this week and under the law up the president does have the right to ask for another recount and if that we re another recount and if that were to go ahead, my understanding is that all those paper ballot would be scanned and the entire process would start again. and where does this leave, overall, the presidential race? i think at the moment most people are thinking thatjoe biden will get 306 electoral college votes

when it all shakes down. is that looking the most likely outcome? yes. it makes absolutely no difference and does not change the number. joe biden is still on 306 electoral couege biden is still on 306 electoral college votes. and that does depend on the certifications coming in from all states around the country. there is no reason to believe that the states will not be certified as they have been projecting. 0ver they have been projecting. 0ver the last few weeks. so really, no changes. in wisconsin, the president has also asked for a couple of recount in a few highly populated counties. generally dominated by democrats. so it does not look as if there will be any material change when those recou nts material change when those recounts are finished. well, earlier i spoke to dr ralph reed, the former chair of the georgia republican party, looking ahead to the georgia senatorial run—offs.

i asked him what he made of what has just happened in georgia. but what we do know is whether or notjoe biden ultimately prevails — and certainly, he is ahead in those states right now — and the trump legal team is attempting to reverse those gains. or if donald trump were to prevail, there is no question that if these two senate seats in georgia are of apocalyptic dimensions for both parties. because should joe biden prevail, losing both of these would mean that he would not have control of the senate, mitch mcconnell would control the us senate, and that could have huge consequences for court appointments, for his executive appointments, and for legislation. there is absolutely no doubt

of the significance — i have never heard a senate race being described as apocalyptic! it is certainly significant. how do you view both candidates' chances now then in january? well, i think that we have to assume that this is basically a rerun of the general election that we just had. you know, the separation between president trump and joe biden is 13,000 votes and change out of 5 million. the votes separating senator david perdue from his challengerjon 0ssoff is 86,000 out of 5 million. and the governor's race was decided in this state two years ago by only about 50,000 votes out of 4 million. so it is going to be very close. very competitive. hard—fought. it will go all the way down to the wire and be a photo finish. a photo finish. are you prepared

to call the race? no. my organisation, faith and freedom coalition, which is a faith—based evangelical christian organisation in the united states, we will knock on 500,000 doors, make over1 million phone calls, and put 500,000 voter guides in about 2000 churches in the state. we expect a huge turnout of conservative, socially conservative evangelical christians and roman catholic allies. i think that will make the difference on january 5th. in a sign ofjust how serious the coronavirus pandemic has become, the us center for disease control has urged americans not to travel during next week's thanksgiving holiday, america's most important family holiday of the year. the number of patients hospitalised with covid—19 in the united states has jumped nearly 50% in the last two weeks. in california, the state's department of public health has

ordered an overnight curfew in most areas. here's the head of infectious disease in the us, dr anthony faucl we're not talking about shutting down the country. we're not talking about locking down. we're talking about intensifying the simple public health measures that we all talk about — mask wearing, staving distance, avoiding congregate settings, doing things to the extent that we can outdoors versus indoors. if we do that, we'll be able to hold things off until the vaccine comes. that news conference followed one by the president—elect, joe biden in which he laid into president trump for blocking the transition which he said would make fighting coronavirus more difficult. and there is no excuse not to share the data and let us begin to plan.

because on day one, it's going to take us time — if we don't have access to all this data — it's going to put us behind the eight ball by a matter of a month or more, and that's lives. how many would be lost as a consequence of that? i can't tell you. across the atlantic, the world health organization is warning one person is dying every 17 seconds in europe from coronavirus. 0ur science editor david shukman reports on the global second wave. intensive care in italy is under pressure yet again as the second wave of coronavirus breaks across europe. medical staff have learned new ways of caring for covid patients, but they can't save them all. last week, europe registered over 29,000 new covid—19 deaths — that is one person dying every 17 seconds in the european region from covid—19. un, deux, et trois...

as in many countries, doctors and nurses in switzerland are exhausted from the first wave, and they're now stretched again. the numbers being admitted to hospital with covid—19 give a good sense of how serious things are. these lines show how in france, spain and belgium, there was the peak earlier this year, then a drop in the summer. next, a second wave and, more recently, signs of numbers starting to fall again. for comparison, this is what has been happening in the uk. hospital admissions are still rising. and let's take a look at the united states — numbers there still climbing very fast. in maryland, huge lines for coronavirus testing and the grim certainty that among the people infected, some won't make it. in el paso in texas, mobile morgues have been brought in. the covid death toll across the nation is set to rise. unless there is a concerted effort by all the governors in all the states to get on top of this virus quickly,

within the next 60 days, we're going to see widespread death, suffering, sadness. there are countries getting things right. in taiwan, the new normal means masks everywhere and rapid tracing of new infections. the total today, just eight — the result of responding quickly. by moving very early on in the pandemic, it did help them probably continue to have a hold on the virus within their country. but i think what this virus is showing us is that you just can't become relaxed, you cannot become complacent. in south australia, the whole city of adelaide is in a six—day lockdown after a new cluster of cases. it's one of many different approaches while we wait for the vaccines. david shukman, bbc news.

researchers in oxford in southern england who are working with the pharmaceutical company astrazeneca say coronavirus vaccine trials have so far shown a promising immune response, for people in their 60s and 70s. final data on how well it works should be ready by christmas. britain has ordered 100 million doses of this vaccine. here's our medical editor, fergus walsh. it is volunteers like ian, from southampton, who are crucial to vaccine trials. how are you feeling today? we were there injuly when he received the first of two doses as part of the oxford astrazeneca trial, but we're only finding out today how the over—70s are responding to the jab. why did you sign up for the trial? i've become aware that the side effects of this disease are so much more than just a respiratory illness. you know, if i can help, here i am. the phase two study involved 560 volunteers.

240 were aged 70 or over. they were given two injections a month apart. the results showed the covid vaccine produced a robust immune response across all ages, including the over—70s. older adults reported fewer side effects, which were, in any case, generally mild, and included sore arms, fatigue and headaches. as you get older, your immune system becomes less effective and that leaves you more vulnerable to infections, and it usually means that you're also less able to respond to vaccines. so our results are really, really encouraging, because this means that we might be able to offer protection to the vulnerable age groups, the elderly, who are particularly susceptible to severe disease. vaccines work by training the immune system to recognise and remember the enemy — in this case, coronavirus.

the oxford vaccine stimulates the creation of specialist y—shaped proteins known as neutralising antibodies. in the event of future exposure, these should latch on to the coronavirus and prevent infection. it also stimulates the creation of t cells, another key part of the immune system. these should sweep up after the antibodies and destroy any cells that have become infected. but we don't know yet whether the oxford astrazeneca vaccine actually protects against disease. those vital results from bigger trials are due soon. if it works, there could be three effective covid vaccines coming on stream before christmas. we need about 60—70% of the population to take up the vaccine. so once the vaccines get approval, it's really important to get the message out that these vaccines are safe and we do need people to have the vaccine in order

that we can start to relax all these social distancing measures in the new year. astrazeneca said tonight it has delivered 4 million vials of its vaccine for the uk. the government's ordered 100 million doses, which cost around £3 each. it's cheaper, easier to produce and store than the pfizer and moderna vaccines, but they're both more than 90% effective. the hope is the oxford astrazeneca jab will work just as well. fergus walsh, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: the island in a sea of mud — a ‘state of calamity‘ is declared for luzon in the philippines. benazir bhutto has claimed victory in pakistan's general election and she's asked pakistan's president to name her as prime minister.

jackson's been released on bail of $3 million after turning himself into police in santa barbara. it was the biggest demonstration so far of the fast—growing european anti—nuclear movement. the south african government has announced that it's opening the country's remaining whites—only beaches to people of all races. this will lead to a black majority government in this country and the destruction of the white civilisation. part of the centuries—old windsor castle, one of the queen's residences, has been consumed by fire for much of the day. 150 firemen have been battling the blaze, which has caused millions of pounds worth of damage. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: georgia's secretary of state

has announced that a recount of ballots by hand confirms joe biden as winning the presidential vote. americans are urged to stay at home for thanksgiving, asjoe biden lashes out at president trump for failing to co—operate over covid—19. philippines president rodrigo duterte has declared a ‘state of calamity‘ for the entire island of luzon after it was hit by devastating typhoons gonni and vamco. luzon, the country‘s largest and most populous island which is home to the capital manila, has been badly affected by widespread flooding. more than 70 people have died. 0ur correspondent howard johnson was one of the first foreign reporters to have visited the worst affected region of cagayan in the north of the island.

there was water on the seventh and not a single crop insight that be taken to market. i also visited a town where you could see the mud had made its way to people‘s homes, direct a marketplace where, there was nothing left, it just overturned all the stalls along this marketplace and some of the stall owners said that their houses had been destroyed, their livelihoods are now completely devastated and they were searching for funds to get their lives back and running again, and at the moment, let‘s not forget this as the country that has been hit by a very long lockdown as a result of covid—19 and that has caused the economy to go into recession so many people are needing financial support. we did see the philippine red cross handing out cash aid of around $75 per family but there are families there who still need support. the damage is

devastating, we are seeing pictures as you talk us through it, just how prepared is the country for events like this? normally they are well prepared, they have a disaster counsel that is ready to deal with stuff like this and also a lot of evacuation centres but that has just been storm after storm and speaking to the chairman of the philippine red cross, he believes that climate change has caused these storms to become increasingly more aggressive in the last 50 years of his career, he said that he saw more storm surges, of his career, he said that he saw more storm surges, high winds and now the big threat is that with all this water on the fields and on the streets there isa fields and on the streets there is a concern that there might bea is a concern that there might be a raise and dendy cases, a mosquito borne disease that affects this region at this time of yearand affects this region at this time of year and now we see a lot of the region covered in water there is a concern that that could be the next big

threat. what has been the president‘s response? threat. what has been the president's response? the president's response? the president has been having a spat with the vice president about who got there first, the vice president actually did get there first but he has declared a state of calamity which means more funds can be pushed to this region to support them to get back on their feet and the economy kickstarted again. let‘s get some of the day‘s other news. the us secretary of state mike pompeo has become the first top us diplomat to pay official visits to both a jewish settlement in the occupied west bank and to the golan heights, seized by israel from syria in 1967. the trump administration has taken a staunchly pro—israel position, both on settlements and onjerusalem in defiance of international law. negotiations on the future trading relations between britain and the european union have been suspended after a member of the eu team tested postive for coronavirus. the british team is returning to london and the talks — which are at a critical stage —

will continue remotely. so president trump‘s supporters are defiant, despite overwhelming evidence they‘ve lost. what can‘t be denied though, is donald trump has attracted more than seven million new supporters in this year‘s record vote turnout. so where does the republican party go from here, can it survive as the "party of trump" without the president in the white house? jane 0‘brien has been finding out. the rugged coastline of new england hasn‘t changed much since abraham lincoln campaigned in1860. but if america‘s first republican president returned to the region today, he‘d find the party he led utterly transformed. the republican party has got to decide if they are the party of trump or the party of lincoln. they cannot be both. jennifer horn is a republican who co—founded the lincoln project, an organisation dedicated to defeating donald trump and his

brand of populist government. 0ur party system is broken. it does not serve the voters, it has become only about holding onto power and not at all about public service. and the republicans should be getting that message. they paid a price in this election. democratjoe biden may have won the popular vote in a record turnout, but president trump also attracted millions of new supporters, such as karlyn borysenko. the evolution that the gop, the republican party, has undergone under trump is incredibly good. she left the democratic party in march after political tensions within her knitting circle and is now an active trump campaigner. he has effectively created a third party in this country, a party that is about populism, that is about opportunity for everyone and, frankly, a lot of the old—school neocons, or rinos, they don‘t like that. there needs to be a new influx of blood into the republican

party with people like me. the split within the republican party is evident in the town of bedford, new hampshire. in 2016, residents voted for donald trump over hillary clinton. this year, he was narrowly beaten byjoe biden, but bedford voters still like the republican party, choosing republicans for governor, congress and state representatives. we hear it quite a few times that people did not like the tweets and the tone, but very few people opposed his policies. so i think if we can embrace the policies and put perhaps a friendlierface on those policies for the good of the american people, i think we would be just fine. there‘s no doubt donald trump has changed the republican party and galvanised voters in unprecedented numbers. but it‘s still too early to gauge his lasting impact. after all, what is trumpism without trump? the republican party

now has four years until the next election to work it out. jane 0‘brien, bbc news. it is the story of a young boy growing up in glasgow in the 1980s with an alcoholic mother. shuggie bain was written by the scottish writer douglas stuart — based on his own childhood. it is his debut novel and itsjust won him the uk‘s most prestigious literary prize — the booker. 0ur arts editor will gomperz has been speaking to him. covid restrictions meant the champagne wasn‘t flowing and the shortlisted authors weren‘t present, but the booker prize show still went on, and with a sense of occasion, as the winner was announced. shuggie bain, by douglas stuart. the glasgow—born author now lives in new york, where he‘s a successful fashion designer. douglas, congratulations. that looked like a genuine surprise? i was incredibly surprised. i think part of the reason that it took me so long to write the book is because i felt

like an imposter. i've felt that way since i was a young man, to be honest. books were never really seen as something that a boy from the east end of glasgow should be doing with his life. i wasn't sure that my voice would be welcomed within publishing circles. and so this isjust beyond my wildest expectations. douglas stuart‘s novel, shuggie bain, which took him a decade to write, is a compelling, moving, unflinching account of working—class life in 1980s glasgow. at its heart is a relationship between the alcohol—dependent agnes and her young son shuggie, who has his own issues to resolve. shuggie stood on the bed and put his arms on her shoulders. they swayed that way for a while. she kissed his nose, he kissed her nose. the chair ofjudges said the decision to give the award to shuggie bain was unanimous. if you like fine writing, read it. if you like to connect emotionally with the characters, read it. shuggie bain is a character that is unforgettable. the 2020 shortlist was the most diverse in the prize‘s 52—year history —

a reflection, according to last year‘sjoint winner, of a publishing industry changing, albeit very slowly. we shouldn‘t be seduced into thinking that the publishing industry has revolutionised its practices simply because i won the booker, and because the list this year is very diverse, and because we know that there have been breakthroughs. because when you do look at the statistics, you realise there is still a very, very long way to go. shuggie bain will no doubt go on to enjoy the famous booker bounce, with a significant increase in sales. those readers will discover a troubled love story set in a bleak landscape, told with remarkable compassion. will gompertz, bbc news. congratulations to douglas stewart there. that‘s just about it from me, i will be back with the headlines in a couple of minutes. you can reach me on twitter —

i‘m @lvaughanjones. i‘m lewis vaughan jones i‘m lewis vaughanjones and this is bbc news. hello there. the short—lived cold snap, it‘s on its way out now, as we start to see mild air making inroads off the atlantic but laden with moisture. we‘ll see a lot more cloud and outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards across the country during the course of today. you can see the cold air still looms across the eastern side of the country to begin today, but gradually, that milder air will move in on a strengthening west—southwesterly breeze. so it starts off dry and chilly, maybe some early brightness in the east. very soon, the cloud thickens, with patchy rain spreading eastwards. mainly light and patchy, a few heavier bursts across scotland, perhaps even some brief wintriness briefly over the higher ground, before that mild air moves in. the winds also picking up, particularly out across the north west, gusts of a0 to 45 miles

an hour into the evening. and here, it will be turning milder by the end of the day — 12, 13 degrees — but further east, still quite chilly under that cloud and rain. but as we head through the course of tonight, it does look like it‘ll turn milderfor all. it stays rather cloudy, but drier for england and wales. scotland, northern ireland, a new cold front will be sinking southwards, bringing outbreaks of rain. behind it, it will turn cooler with some blustery showers, but double figure values for most. so into the weekend, then, we‘ve got that new cold front sinking southeastwards across the country gradually. behind it, the air will be turning cooler. and along that cold front, there will be a band of cloud and some patchy rain moving out of northern ireland and southern scotland and heading south into england and wales through the day. behind it, skies brighten up. we‘ll see sunny spells but some blustery showers for scotland and northern ireland. it‘ll be very windy here, particularly northern scotland, with widespread gales. so, turning a bit cooler later in the day across the north, but mild for england and wales. quite a bit of cloud around, 13—14 degrees. that cold front then moves southwards and ends up lingering across southern england on sunday, but behind it, you‘ll notice we‘re

in that cooler air mass, so it could be cloudy across southern england throughout the day. but for much of the country, actually bright on sunday with some good spells of sunshine. but it stays breezy in the north, with further blustery showers across northern and western scotland. winds lighter in the south. those temperatures lower than on saturday — eight to around ten or 11 degrees in the south. and then as we head on into next week, it looks like it turns milder again, with south—southwesterly winds moving in, but a low—pressure system will bring outbreaks of rain, particularly to the north and the west of the country.

this is bbc news, the headlines georgia‘s secretary of state, brad raffensperger, has announced a hand re—count of ballots confirms mr biden as the winner of the presidential election in the state. around 15,000 votes out of a total of five million separated mr biden and president trump, prompting a recount as per state—law. the number of patients in american hospitals with covid—19 hasjumped nearly 50% in the last two weeks. it comes as people are urged not to travel during next week‘s thanksgiving holiday. president—electjoe biden has called for unity in what he described as a national emergency. philippines president rodrigo duterte has declared a ‘state of calamity‘ for the island of luzon after it was hit by devastating typhoons gonni and vamco.

luzon is the country‘s most populous island, and is home to the capital manila. now on bbc news, panorama. america is in turmoil. what's your iq? a country dangerously torn. when i go shopping, i carry a 9mm with me, because i wear a trump mask and a trump shirt, and i'm afraid some bleep is gonna come up and smack me behind the back of the head. joe biden has been elected president. you know your lies are lies. but donald trump and his supporters won‘t concede. prove it. prove that you won. you want that... you want it that badly, then prove that you won it fair and square. prove it.