this is bbc news i'm lukwesa burak with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the us says it hopes to approve — and start distributing a coronavirus vaccine in less than three weeks time. the second the authorisation is approved, they will issue their recommendations for who will get the vaccines. the british the government signals that families could be allowed to celebrate christmas together — in what it calls ‘a limited and cautious way.‘ the australian state of new south wales prepares to reopen its border with victoria — after covid case there fall to zero. mass protests continue in poland — against plans for a near complete

ban on abortion. only a small number of doctors are still prepared to carry out the proceedure. i hope that the karma will save me andi i hope that the karma will save me and i will not go to jail. the head of the us covid—i9 vaccine programme says the first americans to receive the vaccine could get it as soon as december 11th — less than 3 weeks from now. dr monsef slaoui says he hopes to be able to ship vaccines to immunisation sites, within 2a hours of regulatory approval — by the us food and drug administration. our washington correspondent, lebo diseko, has more.

as the us battles to deal with coronavirus at last, some welcomed news. the head of the government vaccine programme saying that immunisation could start in less than three weeks. the second the emergency authorisation is approved, they will issue recommendations for who will get the vaccines on a priority basis. that is very likely to be health care workers, first line workers, individuals that are very high risk. elderly. infection rates are rising at alarming rates across the country. but immunisation efforts risk being undermined by lack of trust in the process. a recent poll showed less than 60% of americans would take up a covid—i9 vaccine. that is up to 50% in september, but still less than the 70% needed to achieve herd

immunity. there are a few things are going to the effectiveness of the vaccine programme. a highly working vaccine and we have two of them to have a 95% efficacy. the other part of the equation is how many people get vaccinated. if you have a highly efficacious vaccine and only a relatively small 40—50% of the people get vaccinated, you're not going to get the herd immunity that you need. with days until thanksgiving, they're preparing for a holiday season unlike any other. turkey giveawayse happen every year, but with pandemicjob losses, the scale of those in need is just one thing that makes it very different. i came out to give out free turkeys, free groceries and especially during this pandemic, we need it. another is the one from the top health authority not

to travel to spend time with friends and family. friday saw more than a million people travelling through america's airports. it is less then half the volume of last year. but still bound to raise alarms about the virus being spread. for donald trump, another day spent on the golf course. he still refuses to concede thatjoe biden is president—elect. and he's blocking the sharing of sensitive information, including on the vaccine. mr biden‘s team says it puts distribution of it in jeopardy because it is they, rather than donald trump's team, that will be responsible for any roll—out. we can now speak to our north america correspondent david willis we have been speaking on this in terms of the 11th of december if it all goes through. what is the reaction

been like in the united states to this? i think a lot of excitement and we are talking about 70% of the american population potentially being vaccinated by the spring, may of next year. this is really lightning speed, the first vaccinations mentioned over two weeks away, potentially bet is the us regulatory body, the food and drug administration a pproves food and drug administration approves those vaccines when it meets on the 10th of december. there are two, and one from 95% effective in our priority report is to saying that it will be given to health workers front—line workers as they are called here and two members of the elderly. the elderly population indeed, very exciting development indeed. it is still worrying that 10% of people saying they are not

going to take up the vaccine when it is offered to them and the doctor has said that when it was turned around so quickly, record timing. instead of ten years, less than a year. the effectiveness should not worry people, the effectiveness is there but the safety should not worry people. are americans like me to take this on board? i think like me to take this on board? ithinka like me to take this on board? i think a lot of them will. they're still those who are very doubtful about vaccines in general and a lot of conspiracy theories continue to rage in that regard. but many will take to heart the word of the health worker who has personally said that he will be taking the vaccine when it becomes available. but, this is the time of conspiracy theories raging on all sorts of things in the united states, not least

to do with the election and its outcome. so, there will be a lot of people saying that i do not believe it is safe and there will also be a lot of people who will be very relieved to get the chance to ta ke relieved to get the chance to take it, i think. and of course, the distribution come next year could be hampered by a lack of a transition period. that is right and joe biden spokesman makes that point today, reiterating that point today, reiterating that point today that they are making claim that they need to get access to information and need to talk to people in order to find out what is in place in order to distribute the vaccine and when it becomes available. thank you very much indeed. chancellor merkel of germany says she's worried nothing has been done to give poor countries access to coronavirus vaccines, in spite of promises of help

earlier, i spoke to professor laurence gostin, director of the who center on public health and human rights, and i asked him about the issues surrounding the vaccination of children and adults. that is a huge gap in our covid—19 vaccination plan because children have not been pa rt because children have not been part of the clinical trials and they are not likely to be vaccinated and that put at risk save for school opening plans even wider herd immunity. and you exactly right. it is hard to get adults to get vaccinated my children. right now, the public polls show that there are public polls show that there a re low public polls show that there are low confidence, low trust in the vaccine and a hope that will change. but we have an enormous both logistical problems of getting into adults and also we have a lot of suspicion and conspiracy theories around the vaccine. so, we will have a huge challenge getting to herd immunity. there's artie been a lot of questions taking place

about vaccine nationalism and the fact that a lot of these vaccines have already been bought by the us, the uk and the question is, what about those countries that are on lower incomes. i know in conjunction with low income countries, what is in place and how many vaccines have been allocated? they are already have been advanced purchases for billions upon billions of doses from the united states, the uk, canada and india. and, this is meant that they have not been able to secure even close to the number vaccine dosesit close to the number vaccine doses it needs to distribute around the world. we are going to have the most monumental vaccine campaign that we have ever had in our history and the

poor countries will not get it. this is what i foresee. i foresee the uk, europe, us and some richer asian countries getting pretty much immunised by the summer, where as lower and middle income countries may not be fully immunised for two 01’ not be fully immunised for two or three years and that is going to cause a great deal of anger and distrust? chancellor merkel of germany says she's worried nothing has been done to give poor countries access to coronavirus vaccines, in spite of promises of help she was speaking after attending the 620 summit at which she and her fellow leaders committed themselves to the affordable and fair distribution of vaccines. mrs merkel said it was not enough to have the money in the bank, but something actually had to be done to help developing nations.

political leaders across the uk's four nations say they want to agree on a common set of rules this week to allow families to meet up at christmas. any easing of restrictions for the festive period is likely to be for what's been described as a "small number of days". there are set to be a series announcements this week including an overhaul of the tiered system of restrictions in england. for more on this i'm joined now by our news correspondent, paul hawkins. just saying that, it already looks a little bit confusing. so, what we know? are the four nations of the uk agreeing on what rules would be for the christmas period. that is still to be confirmed in mr boris johnson was hoping to announce that tomorrow, but the scottish

most governments are still discussing over with the agreed plan is. one suggestion is three family households could meet over a five day period and thatis meet over a five day period and that is still very much something we should find out what the exact plan is on tuesday and what we do know is that tomorrow, the prime minister will tell mps on the third tiered system comes back in the 3—tiered system and locked on but those tears will be different than what we had before, the restrictions will before, the restrictions will be tougher and more areas will

be tougher and more areas will be in the higher tears. gyms and nonessential shops in all areas are expected to be allowed to reopen and 10pm closing time for the pubs and restau ra nts closing time for the pubs and restaurants instead of ten p:m., restaurants instead of ten p: m., everybody at 10pm restaurants instead of ten p:m., everybody at 10pm with last orders and drink up until 11. it is also being reported the pubs and tier 3 will be open for take away and those must have substantial meals even throughout your customers which will lead to those tougher restrictions, but that is just reported at the moment. we have christmas easing for a few days and then we have these new tears once the lockdown is over. how long will that last? the tier system will last until

there is a significant increase in cases. a small gap over christmas and scientists are saying in an ideal world, there would not be in easing because he keeps the cases down. but the office for national statistics under the current markdown in england, the cases have been leveling up and so there can be an easing of the restrictions and there will be a little that at christmas but it's about balancing that with mental health and whether or not the country can come together christmas. and another thing those mentioned was the change in self isolation time as well? yes, math testing for those in tier 3, the highest tea rs those in tier 3, the highest tears will be following the liverpool trial with 200,000 people helping cases down there and on thursday, we will find out which regions are in which tea rs out which regions are in which tears and repeat testing will also be offered select close contacts also be offered select close co nta cts of also be offered select close contacts of confirmed cases may not have to self—isolate and stead every day, for a week and will need to isolate if they test positive and that repeat testing is starting tomorrow monday and if that works out, thenit monday and if that works out, then it will be in december and

then it will be in december and the general public injanuary. thank you very much for that. we will find out more in terms of the details for this week, so of the details for this week, so do stay with us on bbc news. air travel is resuming on one of the world's busiest routes between sydney and melbourne in australia, after being suspended for months during the pandemic. the states of new south wales and victoria shut their borders and cut most travel nearly five months ago, to stop covid— nineteen spreading. nearly ninety percent of australia's coronavirus deaths have been in melbourne and the state of victoria has endured some of the world's longest and toughest lockdown measures. 0ur australia correspondent shaimaa khalil has been at melbourne airport for us. the people have checked in and they're also at the departure gate, but is a big day for melbourne, it is a big day for the city and for the state, but really this is been such an emotional day for the families that we have met. so many

people we have talked to at the gate on their way to sydney for the first time in months, when you hear grandmothers were going to see their grandchildren for the first time, they could not travel, there were so excited, so emotional and some of them told us emotional and some of them told us that they had not slept through the night, waiting to get on that plane and reunite with theirfamilies get on that plane and reunite with their families returned to a mother and her three children and they could not see him for four and and they could not see him for fourand a and they could not see him for four and a half months and very excited and a lot of emotion, a lot of mixed emotion and relief and excitement but look ahead to what when the world's busiest roots and the leadership in the airport today is next is an exciting time, they are at 17 flights, it is a good start but also victorian melbourne are turning this very

important corner, 2a days now, 24 important corner, 2a days now, 2a consecutive days with zero new cases from that search of 700 back in july. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: the perfect present for a russian patriot: what a board game on sale in moscow, says about the increasing importance of patriotism in the country. president kennedy was shot down and died almost immediately. the murder ofjohn kennedy is a disaster for the whole free world. he captured the imagination of the world. the first of a new generation of leaders. margaret thatcher is resigning as leader of the conservative party and prime minister. before leaving number ten to see the queen she told her cabinet, it's a funny old world. angela merkel is germany's first woman chancellor. easily securing the she needed.

attempts to fly a hot air balloon into the had to be abandoned after a few minutes but nobody seemed to mind very much. as one local comic put it, it's not hot air we need it's hard cash. cuba has declared nine days of morning following the death of fidel castro at the age of 90. castro developed close ties with the soviet union in the 1960s. it was an alliance that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, the cuban missile crisis. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines. the us says it hopes to approve — and start distributing a coronavirus vaccine in less than three weeks time. the british the government signals that families could be allowed to celebrate christmas together — in what it calls ‘a limited and cautious way.‘ poland is seeing its biggest

protests in decades, with widespread fury at a decision to almost totally ban abortions. the country already has some of the strictest abortion laws in europe, but the ban would prevent even women whose foetuses have severe malformations from being able to terminate their pregnancies. the protests have delayed the law's implementation, but hospitals across poland have already stopped the procedure. 0ur europe correspondentjean mackenzie sent this report. weeks of rage pouring through the streets. women fighting to protect what little right to abortion they have against a government that is trying to take it away. but authorities have had enough now. police are brought in from across the country to break this up. they're just such a surprising number of police out here. disproportionate

to the protesters. the protests erupted after poland top call to announce a ban on abortion when the foetus is severely malformed, virtually the only terminations allowed. shocked by the backlash, the government has enforced this, believing women in limbo. the doctor is one of the few doctors still performing terminations and many hospitals have already stopped with fear of breaking the law. are you afraid? actually, i am not. i do not know why but i am not afraid. i mean, ifeel the pleas inside that i am doing the right thing and i hope that the karma will save me and i will not go to jail.

she introduces us to her patient. admitted in the morning, 21 weeks pregnant, the foetus is missing vital organs and will not survive. but she has been refused a termination three times. poland is strongly catholic the conservative government often portrays abortion as an attack on the countries faith. but even so, this new ban has very little support. have you picked the wrong fight? 0h, definitely not. this is a good fight because we want human life to be protected and so we are very open about this. i am sorry if anyone

is offended by it but, actually, we will not be apologising for it. back in march, the mood suddenly changes, police close in. a pensioner is dragged from the streets. others are beaten. and pepper spray. clementina is one of them. why they strongly to your protests? because they are scared, the fear they are losing their power. are you going to win this fight? we are winning. it does not look like it, but we are. the ban could be implemented in the day, but protesters know that this is a bigger battle over which direction the country takes. in the next hour, hong kong, pro—democracy activists, are expected in court on charges related to a siege of police headquarters injune last year. joshua wong, ivan lam and agnes chow face charges

of organising a protest against a controversial extradition bill, in which thousands of demonstrators surrounded the hong kong police building. they face up to 5 years in prison if found guilty. christmas is just round the corner. if you celebrate it — you might well be thinking about what presents to buy for your friends and family. 0ur moscow correspondent steve rosenberg has an idea for you. christmas is coming, and the big question, of course, is what to get the kids. well, i was in my local moscow supermarket yesterday, and in the toy section i spotted this. which says a lot, i think, about today's rusher. which says a lot, i think, about today's russia. it's a board game for children aged between five and ten, and it's called we are proud of our motherland. it's a very patriotic present. let me just read you a bit of the blurb. pride in and love for the motherland is the foundation of self—esteem and personal identity, and patriotism is the highest form of social consciousness, channelling the power of the people into creativeness and development.

anyway, let's play. basically, you have to find the patriotic pictures that match patriotic poems on these cards. for example, if our enemy comes at us with war, our army and navy will guard the door. planes, tanks, cannons, nuclear missile silos. enemies don't make us mad, we are the strongest in the world. nice. if you are lucky to have been dealt some of these images, you put them down. next poem. russia is invincible. we will defend russia from any aggressor. the japanese have fought wars against us, so have the greeks, the turks, the swedes, the lithuanians, the germans. we sent them all packing. 0ur enemies will never beat us, they never could and never will. you get the general idea. i think games like this reflect the growing emphasis the authorities here are placing on patriotic education in russia.

0k, time for one more card. russian sport. our top athletes defend the country's honour. 0ur cross—country skiers, wrestlers and bobsleigh teams, they're all brilliant. they have won lots of trophies and medals. no mention of russia's four—year ban from international sport for doping. oh, well, it's only a game. the world's deepest man—made diving pool has opened in the polish capital warsaw. the structure is 45.5 metres deep, and includes a small wreck for divers to explore and even some mock ruins. it's been able to open despite coronavirus restrictions because it is a training centre. as well as offering courses to diving enthusiasts, it will also be used by the army and the fire brigade. it might only hold the record for a few months though — there's a pool due to open next year in the uk which will be 50 metres deep.

you can reach me on twitter — i'm @ lukwesa burak. hello there. high pressure means a largely dry but rather a chilly start to the new working week with a touch of frost in place. however, a frontal system up to the northwest will eventually change things for some as we head on up through monday. but the morning starts off rather on a chilly note. temperatures down around freezing even a touch below first on. not as cold in the far south with some extra cloud, not as cold in the far west either. in the cloud in the west will roll its way eastwards through the day introducing rain into northern england, wales, the southwest. especially around the coast and over the hills the sunshine through the afternoon across eastern counties of england and perhaps some parts of northeast scotland.

windy, particularly towards the northwest. those are the average speeds. the gusts could touch 60 mph for the western isles. turning milder from the west. it will be a bit of a struggle with those temperatures in eastern areas after such a chilly start. as we go through monday night into tuesday that milder air will waft its way right across the british isles. by tuesday morning, double digits for most of us. still some rain across northern ireland and scotland with quite a lot of cloud elsewhere. as you go through tuesday with this frontal system we will see further pulses of rain across northern ireland and scotland. quite a wet day in prospect actually, on tuesday across northern ireland was up some heavy rain. across western parts of scotland. for england and well, drier conditions, some spells of sunshine, best of that towards the south and the east. tuesday will be the mildest day of the week. 11,12 or 13 degrees. that is set to change because as we move out of tuesday and into wednesday this wriggling frontal system will finally start to push eastwards. with it the rain along it will tend to weaken

but behind that weather front the cold front. we opened the door to so much colder air which will start to push in from the northwest rest of the remnants of this front are likely to linger across south england. perhaps southern coastal counties more generally through the day on wednesday with some patching rain. some showers in northwest scotland for stops sunshine in between. temperatures for many stuck in the single digits by this stage. and it stays rather cool by day and chilly by night as we head towards the end of the week. largely dry with some frost and fog in places.

this is bbc news,

the headlines. the head of the us coronavirus vaccine programme says he expects to begin an aggressive immunisation programme by the eleventh of december. dr moncef slaoui said he hopes two vaccines from pfizer and moderna could be ready to be shipped within 2a hours of final approval. the four nations of the united kingdon are drawing up plans to allow limited social mixing for a few days over christmas — in what's being called ‘a limited and cautious way.‘ a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions in england is being reimposed when the current lockdown ends next week. the australian state of new south wales is preparing to reopen its border with victoria — after covid case there fall to zero.

stayed with us because now