welcome to bbc news, our top stories. election officials in georgia confirmed joe biden beat president trump in the state. america's hospitals try to cope with 50% more covid patients as joe to cope with 50% more covid patients asjoe biden says the president will not cooperate. in another incident where he will go down in history, as the most irresponsible president in american history. and douglas stewa rt‘s novel american history. and douglas stewart's novel about growing up stewart's novel about growing up in glasgow it wins one of the world's top prizes for fiction.

hello, welcome to the programme. we'll start in the us where the georgian secretary of state brad raffenseperger has announced a recount of the ballot thatjoe biden is the winner in the state. here is a north america correspondent, peter bowes. as expected, the recount has confirmed what the original result was, and that was thatjoe biden won the state, in fact, was thatjoe biden won the state, infact, becoming was thatjoe biden won the state, in fact, becoming the first democrat to take georgia since bill clinton in 1990 do. according to officials, very, very few discrepancies found in some counties, a handful of votes in most places, no changes at all. so the result stands. however, in the last hour, we have received a statement from the trump campaign that disputes that. in

pa rt campaign that disputes that. in part of it is as georgia simply recounted all of the illegal ballots that had been included in the title. they go on to say we continue to demand that georgia conduct an honest recount which include signature matching. we intend to pursue all legal options to ensure only legal ballots are counted. now, the results will likely be certified later this week. under the law, both the president and mr trump have a right to ask for another recount. if that were to go i had my understanding is that all of those paper ballots would be scanned and the entire process would start again. and where does this leave over 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 at these that can still? it makes absolutely no difference to that. it doesn't

change that number. joe biden is still on 306 electoral couege is still on 306 electoral college votes. that does depend on the certification is coming in from all of the states around the country, but there's absolutely no reason to believe that the states won't be certified as they have been projected over the last couple of weeks. so, really, no changes. in wisconsin the president has also asked for a couple of recounts in a couple of highly populated counties. generally dominated by democrats. so again it doesn't look as if there's going to be any material change when those weekends are finished. we can speak now to a political science professor at moore university. thank you for coming on the programme. thank you. what difference does make that —— what difference does it make, this confirmation of the result that we knew in georgia. all of the recounts and litigation so far has not changed anything about what the vote is and what the electoral

couege vote is and what the electoral college vote is. at this point joe biden is still the presumptive president elect of the united states and that will be confirmed in the certification process and will be confirmed in the electoral couege be confirmed in the electoral college vote scheduled for december 1a. college vote scheduled for december 14. how long college vote scheduled for december14. how long do college vote scheduled for december 14. how long do you think these legal challenges will go on for? i think it is ha rd to will go on for? i think it is hard to say. president trump seems to be believed by his supporters who trust him more than they trust the electoral results and news reports. and he's going to try to do this until he has exhausted every legal option. what could actually accelerate his a cce pta nce actually accelerate his acceptance of the election count is being offered a way to exit somewhat gracefully within the context of how he has refused to concede up until this particular point, and it would also help if republican leadership particularly in the senate would meet with him and tell him that it is finally time for you to concede the election, it is finally time to

allow transition to happen, to allow transition to happen, to allow president elect biden and his administration to be able to have information and tools that they need to have a smooth transition. even if that does happen and that transition is smooth, the damage is already done, to america's reputation and democracy. the thing i'm most concerned about within the context of the united states is the number of people who don't accept the results of the election, so there was a poll that came out within the last couple of days that suggests that well over half of republicans believe that president trump actually won the election, and more than two thirds actually believe that the vote was unfair overall. and so that lack of trust in the system that has been exacerbated by president trump's speeches is something thatis trump's speeches is something that is going to have to be addressed. and it is a leadership question. and so the republican party is going to have to figure out how to

regroup, and how to exert some moral leadership to try to convince its supporters to accept the outcome of the election and to understand that some of the charges that have been made, most of them, actually are not founded by any data and should not be accepted as credible. great to speak to you. thanks for coming on. in a sign of how serious the coronavirus pandemic has become, the us centre for disease control has urged americans not to travel during next week's thanksgiving holiday. it is the most important family holiday of the year. the number of patients hospitalised with covid has jumped nearly 30% in the last two weeks. in california, the state department bear has ordered an overnight curfew in most areas. here is the head of infectious diseases in the us, doctor antony fowlerji. infectious diseases in the us, doctor antony fowlerji. we're not talking about shutting down the country and looking down,

we talking about intensifying the simple health measures that we all talk about, mask wearing, staying distance, avoiding congregate settings, doing things to the extent that we can outdoors versus indoors. if we do that, we will be able to hold things off until the vaccine comes. luke that news conference followed one by president—electjoe 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 difficult. and there is no excuse not to share the data and let us begin to plan, because on day one it is going to take us time, if we don't have access to all of this data, it is going to put us behind bya data, it is going to put us behind by a matter of a month and more, and that's lives. how many would be lost as a consequence of that? i can tell you. across the atlantic the who is warning that one person

is dying every 17 seconds in europe from coronavirus. david shulkin 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 20,000 new covid—19 desk, that is one person dying every 17 seconds in the european region from covid—19. as in many countries, doctors and nurses in switzerland are exhausted from the first wave, and they are 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 a peak earlier this year, then a drop in the summer, next, the second wave and more recently science of numbers starting to fall again. for comparison this is what has been happening in the uk. hospital admission still rising. at the united states, numbers they‘ re still very fast. in maryland, huge lines for coronavirus testing. and the grim certainty that among the grim certainty that among the people infected, some will not make it. in el paso, texas, mobile morgues have been brought in. the covid death all across the nation is set to rise. unless there is a concerted effort by all the governors in all of the states to get on top of this virus quickly, within the next 60 days, we are going to see widespread death, suffering, sadness. there are countries

getting things right. in taiwan, the new normal means masks everywhere, and rapid raising of new infections. the total today, just eight. the result of responding quickly. by result of responding quickly. by moving very early on in the pandemic, it did help them to have a hold on the virus within the country but i think what this virus is showing us is that you cannot become relaxed, you cannot become complacent. in south australia, the whole city of adelaide is in a six—day lockdown after a new case cluster. it is one of many different approaches, whilst we wait for the vaccines. 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. we were there injuly when he received the first of two versus, as part of the oxford astrazeneca trial, but we are really finding out today how do you 70s are responding to the jab. why did you sign up for the trial?|j had you sign up for the trial?” had become aware that these side effects of this disease are so side effects of this disease are so much more than just a respiratory illness. you know, ifi respiratory illness. you know, if i can help, here i am. respiratory illness. you know, ifi can help, here i am. the phase two study involved 560 volunteers, 240 were age 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 early 70s. 0lder ages, including the early 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 usually means you're less able to to vaccines, so, our results are able to to vaccines, so, our results a re really able to to vaccines, so, our results are 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. white vaccines work by trailing the immune system to recognise and remember the enemy. in this case, coronavirus. the oxford vaccine stimulates the creation of specialist macro to shape the proteins known as neutralising antibodies and in the event of future exposure these should latch onto the

coronavirus and prevent infections. it also stimulates the creation of t cells, another key part of the immune system. these should sweep up after the antibodies and destroy after the antibodies and d estroy a ny 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 vaccine is 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 is good to get the message out that these vaccines are safe and we do need people to have the vaccine in order that we can the vaccine in order that we ca n start the vaccine in order that we can start to relax social distancing measures in the new year. astrazeneca said tonight it has delivered 4 million vials of its vaccine for the uk. the government has ordered

100 million doses, which cost around £3 each. it is cheaper, easier to produce and store, than the fizer and moderna vaccines, but they are both more than 90% effective. the hope is that 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. she has urged pakistan's present to neymar as prime minister. jackson is being released on bail of $3 million after turning himself in to police in santa barbara. it was the biggest demonstration so far of the fa st demonstration so far of the fast growing european antinuclear movement. the south

african government has announced it is opening the country's the many whites only beachis country's the many whites only beach is the 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 residencies, 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 world 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 cooperate over covid—19.

south australia will come out of its snap six—day coronavirus lockdown earlier than expected, with most activities allowed from midnight on saturday. the decision was announced by state premier steven marshall. it's emerged health officials were misled so what's behind this change in strategy? let's speak to andrea nicolas, senior reporter with 7 news adelaide. nicolas, senior reporter thank nicolas, senior reporter you for coming on. what is thank you for coming on. what is happening down there?m thank you for coming on. what is happening down there? it is astonishing, really. the entire state was sent into a six—day lockdown as you say because authorities were not sure how covid—19 was spreading through a cluster in adelaide's northern suburbs, adelaide is the capital here in south australia and this cluster was spreading like wildfire. it was linked to a pizza shop in adelaide. they were concerned that the virus may have been being spread on the actual pizza boxes, that perhaps it

was then transported through the delivery process. and now it turns out that one of the people with covid—19 had actually lied about their link to this pizza place. initially, they said that they had ordered a pizza from this place that was late —— linked to the cluster when in fact they actually worked at the pizza place, as well as at a medihotel, where recent arrivals to south australia had beenin arrivals to south australia had been in quarantine. this initial cluster was linked to one of the medihotels and it is believed a cleaner had picked up believed a cleaner had picked up the virus in one of the medihotels, and that is how this strain was sparked, but the doubt was over this one case of a link to that cluster. and now it turns out back, rather than getting it through ordering a pizza from this shop, they work in the vicinity side by side with someone who

was a positive case. remarkable. just shows you the impact of one person's lie or mistake and information can have on such a large number of people. give us an idea of where we are with covid—19 across australia, more broadly. we had a big outbreak in victoria, which set victoria into a huge lockdown, more than 100 days they were locked down. and we were sitting pretty across in south australia, almost enjoying a normal life, beside some social distancing restrictions. things are pretty much bouncing back to normal. we could go to the gym, we could go and dine at restau ra nts, could go and dine at restaurants, functions were coming back online, weddings we re coming back online, weddings were allowed, numbers were being increased at events where there had been strict caps earlier in the year. we were pretty much the envy of australia, in some respects. we

had been performing very well at suppressing covid—19, and keeping numbers here are low, so keeping numbers here are low, so this cluster certainly sparked alarm with our authorities here, and then, when they were not able to work out how this cluster was spreading through their contact tracing, that had them worried, and, rather than let it escalate to a situation like victoria, they decided to shut things down very quickly. they called this a pause, a brief six day pose, telling people they were not allowed to leave their homes, all cafes were close, they were not even allowed to offer takeaway services this time. pubs and james and hairdressers were close. —— pubs and gyms. james and hairdressers were close. -- pubs and gyms. great for having you on to talk to us. thank you. 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 in the north of the island. he‘s now in manila. yesterday i saw this valley resembling a sea of mud. it was covering agricultural fields. resembling a sea of mud. it was covering agriculturalfields. i saw a cornfield that had been devastated. there was water on the surface and not the crop insight that could be taken to market. i visited a town where you could see the mud had made its way into peoples homes. it wrecked a marketplace where there was nothing left. itjust overturned all of the stalls along this marketplace. and i spoke to some of the stall

owners. they said their houses have been destroyed, that their livelihoods are now completely devastated, and that they were searching for funds, loans, anything to get their lives back and running again. and at the moment this is a 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 the economy to go into recession, so many the economy to go into recession, so many people are needing financial support. we saw the philippines red cross handing out cash aid of around $75 perfamily handing out cash aid of around $75 per family but there are remote —— remote parts of this valley and families who still need support. we are seeing pictures there 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 council that is ready to deal with stuff like this. they have lots of evacuation centres. but this has been storm after

storm. yesterday speaking to the chairman of the philippine red cross, he believes climate change has caused these storms to become increasingly more aggressive in the last 50 years of his career. he said he saw more storm surges, higher winds, and of course now the big threat is, with all this water on the fields and on the streets, there is a concern that there might be a rise in dengue cases, a mosquito borne disease that affects this region at this time of year, and now we see a lot of the area covered in water, there‘s concern that dengue could be the next big threat. what has been the president‘s response? the president has been having a spat with the vice president. there has been back and forth about who got here first. the vice president actually did get the first, it has been very political this week but he has declared a state of calamity and that means more funds can be pushed to this region to support them to get back on their feet and get the economy

kick—started there again. it is the story of a young boy growing up in glasgow in the 19805 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 it‘s just won him the uk‘s most prestigious literary prize — the booker. 0ur arts editor will gompertz 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 is just 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 19805 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‘s joint 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. that is about it from me. as always, there‘s plenty more online. do you go to the bbc news website. plenty more on all the stories we have been covering. if you are online you can get the bbc news app and you can get me on social media

too. i‘m lewis vaughanjones, and this is bbc news. goodbye. hello there. the short lived cold snap is on its way out as we start to see milder air making inroads of the atlantic but we will see a lot more cloud and outbreaks of rain spreading east across the country through the course of today. we can see that cold air looms across the eastern side of the country to begin today but gradually, that milder air will move in all a strengthening with south—westerly breeze. it sta rts south—westerly breeze. it starts off dry and chilly, early practice in these, with patchy rain spreading eastwards. if you have a few heavier bursts across scotland, perhaps some wintry this briefly over the higher ground before that milder air moves in. the wind is picking up across the north—west with gusts of 40—45 mph into the evening. here, turning milder

of the day. around 12 degrees. further east, still chilly under that cloud and rain. as we head through the course of the night, it looks like it will turn milderfor all. staying cloudy and dry for england and wales, scotland and northern ireland a new cold front sinks south bringing outbreaks of rain, and behind it turning cooler with blustery showers. but double figures for most. into the weekend, a new cold front sinking south eastwards a cross cold front sinking south eastwards across the country. behind it the air will be turning cooler. there will be a band of cloud and patchy rain, moving out of northern ireland and southern scotland and heading south across england and wales through the day. behind its guys brighten up with sunny spells and blustery showers for scotland and northern ireland. it will be windy here, particularly northern scotland, with widespread chaos. turning cooler later in the day across the north, but mild for england and wales with quite a bit of cloud around, at around 13 degrees. that cold front moves southwards and ends up lingering across southern

england on sunday. behind you will notice that we are in that cooler air mass. for much of the country, actually bright on sunday with some good spells of sunshine. staying breezy in the north with further blustery showers across northern and western scotland. the winds, later in the south. temperatures lower than on saturday, between 8—11 in the south. as we head into next week, turning milder —— milder again with south—south—westerly winds moving in and more low pressure bringing rain, particularly to the north and 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. more than 70 people have died in severe flooding. now on bbc news.