this is bbc news, i'm simon mccoy. the headlines... a historic day in the global fight against coronavirus — 90 year margaret keenan is the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside trials. so begins the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs. we'll have the latest on the roll—out from across the uk — as hundreds follow in ma rga ret‘s footsteps. i would say go for it. go for it, because it is free and it's the best thing that's ever happened. at the moment. so, please, go for it, that's all i say, you know? if i can do it, well, so can you. we urge people to contain their impatience. it isa people to contain their impatience. it is a very, very exciting moment but there's still a lot of work to be done and a lot of discipline to

be done and a lot of discipline to be maintained. breakthrough in brussels as there's been agreement on the brexit withdrawal bill as the uk drops clauses in the controversial internal market bill. this means that both sides have agreed rules for trade across the border in northern ireland after brexit for issues including border control posts the archbishop of canterbury and the uk's chief rabbi talk about coping with death — having each lost a child themselves. the fightback has begun. the first person in the uk to be given a coronavirus vaccine outside of a clinical trial is a 90 —year—old woman. margaret keennan received the historicjab at university hospital in coventryjust after half six this morning. that was just the start, hundreds of other patients have been given the jab in the past few hours — as the biggest vaccination campaign in the history

of the nhs gets under way. borisjohnson has thanked health workers and scientists — but urged people to remain cautious. the uk has an initial supply of 800,000 vaccines to administer over the next few weeks. they'll be given to people on the high priority list — including the over—80s, care home workers and nhs staff. 50 hospitals in england have been chosen as vaccination "hubs" — sites where the jab will be administered. in scotland, there will be 23 vaccination sites, including all major hospitals and in the highlands. the welsh government is promising to administer 6000 doses of the vaccine by the end of this week. and in northern ireland, where there's currently a two—week lockdown, 25,000 doses of the vaccine have arrived. the firstjab has was administered in belfast to a 28 —year—old nurse. this report is from our health correspondent

sophie hutchinson — and a warning it contains flashing images. 90—year—old margaret keenan, being prepared for her coronavirus vaccine this morning. a modest scene at this hospital in coventry, yet one on which rests the hope, notjust of a nation, but also much of the world, to finally free ourselves of the virus and it felt good. all done. cheering and applause. it was fine, i wasn't nervous at all. it was really good. i'd say go for it. go for it, because it's free and it's the best thing that's ever happened... ..at the moment. so, please do go for it. that's all i say, you know. if i can do it, so can you. and becoming the first person to receive the jab in the uk's vaccination programme attracted quite the cry. i did this all the time,

i have done hundreds of vaccinations but never with such interest and people wanting to know what's going on and wanting to actually witness it. so it was really surreal. from nurses in belfast to 19—year—olds in bristol, the vaccination programme was rolled out across all parts of the uk today and for those who were behind it, it was a landmark moment. —— from nurses in belfast to 90—year—olds in bristol, the vaccination programme was rolled out across all parts of the uk today and for those who were behind it, it was a landmark moment. it was really, really emotional. i cannot tell you just how much emotion there was in that vaccination centre. this is a truly historic day, a turning point in this pandemic, another world first for the nhs, the start of the largest vaccination programme in our history. and to see the roll—out, the prime minister returned to saint thomas hospital in london where several months back, he

had been treated for coronavirus. latest figures for the office for national statistics, suggest deaths of a 20% above average in the last week of november and mrjohnson stressed the need for caution. i urge people to contain their inpatients. it is a very, very exciting moment but there's still a lot of work to be done and a lot of discipline to be maintained. cheering and applause. i think i will have a little rest after this when i go to the world —— ward and then i'll phone the family. i'm going home this afternoon. so that's it then. and the hospital, they are wonderful. i am going to miss them really. all the attention i have been getting. but margaret will be back in just 21 days for her second injection. that will give her the full protection and by the end of

the year, millions of other elderly people and health care workers will also be given the jab, perhaps the best possible gift this winter. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the uk government has confirmed it will withdraw controversial measures from its internal market bill — after coming to an agreement with the eu on all future aspects of the brexit withdrawal agreement — the so called divorce agreement. in a tweet, the cabinet office minister michael gove said that both sides had come to ‘an agreement in principle' with his eu counterpart, maros sefcovic on outstanding issues, including the northern ireland protocol. the internal market bill would have overridden parts of the withdrawal agreement, and could have resulted in a breach of international law. in a moment will talk to our europe correspondent nick beake in brussels. first to our political correspondent nick eardley at westminster — and just to be clear this is separate from talks on a trade deal. this is a big deal. it is. the deal but not the big one. this is the withdrawal agreement that was all agreed earlier this year. this is of particular parts of it that we are

contentious about how you avoid a ha rd contentious about how you avoid a hard border between northern ireland and ireland by having some checks on products which go from great britain and the mainland to northern ireland. that has happened. that is significant because it means the withdrawal process is complete and there is no agreement on what can happen. it is also significant because the uk will drop out of the really controversial brexit legislation which would have allowed it to break international law by basically ignoring parts of the withdrawal agreement if ministers in london want to do it. what this is not as an agreement on trade. the big talks that are going on, or have been going on between the uk and eu over the last few months have been how the all of the eu trade with the whole of the uk and vice versa after january when the transition period

ends. they are still ongoing so one box has been ticked today but it's the smaller box, and the big one which is about the future trading relationship, remains on to, and will do so until borisjohnson and ursula von delaine meet later this week. —— ursula von der leyen. let's go to belfast now and speak to our ireland correspondent chris page. trust has been at the start of —— heart of this. you'll make you mention what the forest minister —— foreign minister has said. -- you've heard what the foreign minister has said. that reflects what a lot of people in brussels and the 27 eu countries are saying about this. the talks on the eu side, they've told me they are always cautious but there seems encouraging and ijust

wonder whether this goes some way to repairing what the eu see as confidence and trust that was lost, the fact that the uk says now it will not break international law, it will not break international law, it will not break international law, it will not go back on the divorce deal that was agreed last year, when it comes to the internal market bill. i think the fact that the government is saying this is not a cause for huge celebration here in brussels but it is a relief because they say all the while that was hanging over the talks to get a trade deal and it made things really difficult indeed. cautious optimism and people are welcoming this, but it's hard to say whether or not this will lead sea mlessly to whether or not this will lead seamlessly to a trade deal being agreed, but over the next day or so, you will look in detail about what actually has been agreed within this joint committee to sort out the divorce deal, but interestingly, one element they apparently have agreed upon is state aid government subsidies. that does not mean it will translate to the problems over

state agencies and the free trade agreement. and whether it will have agreement. and whether it will have a positive effect in that way. ian wright is the chief executive of the food and drink federation. yes, in the past hour or so, they have given an initial very guarded welcome to news and the foreign minister. saying it is a breakthrough. but they have said they still need to see the detail. the details that have been reached in thejoint the details that have been reached in the joint committee with the european union, which covers a range of areas, for example border control

posts, so they are the inspection points for goods that are arriving here into northern ireland from other parts of the uk, checks will be carried out on products of animal origin if the —— as they are known, which means dairy products and so on, and those checks will be happening whether or not there is a trade deal, because whether or not there is, they will still be in the eu single market so checks to make sure the goods conform to standards will still be carried out and whether there is a trade deal or not is irrelevant. 0ne whether there is a trade deal or not is irrelevant. one other issue that is irrelevant. one other issue that is mentioned in this alongside several others is that the eu and uk recent agreement for the criteria of goods to be considered not at risk of entering the eu when they come here from the rest of the uk, which is significant because, as things stood, if there is not a trade deal, ta riffs stood, if there is not a trade deal, tariffs kick in on goods moving between the uk and european union

and the goods that come here will be deemed to be at risk of going over the land border with tariffs due, so the land border with tariffs due, so the criteria to discuss which of those goods will remain in the actress category have been agreed but what the criteria is, we don't know yet and that'll a major question for businesses in this part of the uk who they will hope to see a nswered of the uk who they will hope to see answered over the next 2a hours or so. food industry chief said they cannot be certain about the movement of food between the uk and eu from january 31. this comes from the food and drink federation. ian wright is the chief executive of the food and drink federation. this looks like a stark warning, what do you mean? my warning was on the basis that northern ireland this morning looked like a bit of a shambles in terms of the way it was going to work. if the announcement you trialled with chris in the last

2-3 you trialled with chris in the last 2—3 minutes are accurate and what will happen, that shambles has been cleared up a bit and it sounds like michael gove has reached a typically pragmatic resolution of the problems. what are the details you wa nt to problems. what are the details you want to see hammered out? we need to know exactly... as chris was saying, a whole load of checks which are going to happen one way or another. whatever happens, even if there is a deal, these will happen because northern ireland, as he said, is in both the customs union and the eu for all practical reasons. looking at the health certificates, those custom checks, all of them need to be properly managed and there needs to be the ability to do those. in a way that goods can easily flow. the last pa rt way that goods can easily flow. the last part is about the things that are brought into the republic and

into the eu proper and knowing what these criteria are for allowing goods to flow without worrying about thatis goods to flow without worrying about that is going to be very important because there is the thing of having them find their way into the republic. this would be a big barrier to the products going to northern ireland at all. we are talking about a deal agreed in principle one year ago and we are waiting for some sort of resolution to be free to talk. you must be needing to know what is coming from there as well. absolutely. only 14 working days to the deal being subject to whatever circumstances are pertained to it. i was talking to ca role are pertained to it. i was talking to carole king this morning in the way that it is too late because many members have decided they will not trade in northern ireland for the first few weeks because the situation is so uncertain. if the solution is to bring uncertainty, we

might see them change your mind and this means we will see consumers with a wider range of choice. let's be clear, there is no chance northern ireland is going to run out of food. it simply a matter of the choices available and the familiar brands which shoppers like so much also being on the shelves without interruption. thank you very much. we will keep our fingers crossed. the headlines on bbc news... a historic day in the global fight against coronavirus — 90 year margaret keenan is the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside trials. it's the first of 800,000 doses of the pfizer/biontech vaccine that will be dispensed in the coming weeks as part of the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs. the uk and eu reach a deal on the implementation of the brexit withdrawal agreement, as the uk drops clauses in the controversial internal market bill.

let's get more now on the news that the uk has begun its mass vaccination programme against the coronavirus. so, what do we know about the roll—out of this first vaccine, who will get it — and how does it actually work? here's our health correspondent anna collinson. you will have it in your left hand side... a vaccine has always been our best hope of life returning to normal. it'll be months before we see its positive effects, but it's hoped today will mark the beginning of the end. the pfizer vaccine needs to be stored in freezing temperatures, so initially the roll—out is taking place at hospital hubs across the uk. elderly patients, workers in care homes and nhs staff are first in line. what we want to make sure is that as many people as possible are vaccinated, but that's going to take some time. it is a marathon, not a sprint, so while you are waiting to be the social distancing rules. work is also taking place to safely transport batches of vaccines to those deemed most vulnerable —

care home residents. there are several versions of vaccines which attack the covid—19 spikes but in different ways. the pfizerjab uses the virus‘s genetic code found on the surface of the spike protein. this rna contains information about the virus, so when it's injected, the body is given a preview of what covid looks like. it means if a person is infected, their body knows to attack, stopping them getting sick. 0ne unknown is whether the vaccine will stop the virus spreading. its creators admit it will be months before they have answers. that's too early to say at the moment. what we can say is you take this vaccine and in 95% of the cases you don't get symptoms and you are protected from symptoms, and that's what we can say today. two doses of the vaccine are needed and they have to be administered at least three weeks apart. you won't be fully protected until seven days after the second dose, so patients are being urged to complete the process. along with pfizer, the uk

has also secured rights to six other vaccines, including the one by oxford university which is yet to be approved but is easier to store and move around. we, in may, did not know which if any of these would work, and of those seven, one has been approved and we are dosing, two we have phase three efficacy so we would expect they would get approved, and two more are in phase three trials with readouts next year. vaccinating the uk is a huge logistical challenge but it's hoped the majority of those who are most at risk will be protected by spring. after that, it could be broadened out to other adults, with the hope of a new normal beginning. anna collinson, bbc news. today's vaccinations are just the start of the uk's biggest immunisation programme in history. britain's medicines regulator, the mhra, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against covid—19 illness, is safe to be rolled out.

but england's deputy chief medical officer professor jonathan van—tam warned last week that "low uptake" of vaccines will "almost certainly make restrictions last longer". so what can the government do to ensure high uptake of the vaccine? let's get more on this and speak to professor stephan lewandowsky professor of cognitive psychology, specialising in behavioural science, at the university of bristol. thank you for your time this afternoon and how... good to see you. how do you persuade the majority of a population to take something like this up? first of all, the main thing you've got to do is make it easy to get. 0ne all, the main thing you've got to do is make it easy to get. one of the things we know from behavioural science is that access is a primary driver of vaccine uptake. now, by the looks of it, the nhs is doing exactly the right thing by saying it's your turn next. that is step

number one. step number two is reiterating how important it is to get vaccinated because at the moment, that is our only ticket out of the pandemic. it's our ticket to freedom. it's a ticket to get out of here, and the most recent survey i was involved in, which was led by daniel freeman at oxford, we found that about 22% of the british public, a large sample of 5000 people, 72% were willing to be vaccinated —— 72% of the british public. they recognise how important this vaccination was and i think we will not have a major problem with u pta ke if will not have a major problem with uptake if the roll—out and the logistics work—out. uptake if the roll—out and the logistics work-out. you're missing a trick. you should be an advertising because the phrase, your ticket to freedom, as a likely message got across, isn't it? what about the issue of trust in science. is that

been established and re—established in recent months? that's an interesting question and we have data on that because a survey was done earlier in the year in about may which showed that two thirds of the british public say they have increased trust and experts and scientists because —— increased trust in experts and scientists. we see that in many countries around the world people realise you cannot deal with a real problem through populist slogans or appeals to emotion but that you actually have to think about it and work through it, and make a very complicated and difficult trade—off, and the public has recognised that undoubtedly. how nervous are you when you look at what is happening on social media? because how influential is that in this modern age? it's certainly the case that the more people rely on social media for their information, the more misinformed they tend to be

about covid generally but also vaccinations in particular. we have a problem there, a very small number of people, 5—10%, who are resisting vaccinations and what we have to do their is help people debunk that misinformation just from the handbook about how to do that. however, i am handbook about how to do that. however, iam not handbook about how to do that. however, i am not too concerned about that in light of the fact that we've had 5—10% of the population in opposition to any vaccination forever. ever since vaccinations have been around. there has always been opposition to them. by a small number of people. some of whom are very vocal. that has never stopped us very vocal. that has never stopped us in the past to beat polio in most countries, eradicate small poor, saving millions of lives every year through vaccinations, so i think generally, overall, iam

through vaccinations, so i think generally, overall, i am fairly optimistic about this, provide that there are no unanticipated problems with logistics. when will you getting yours? as soon as i get the letter from the nhs. getting yours? as soon as i get the letterfrom the nhs. unless i can get it sooner. they havlike hotline ican get it sooner. they havlike hotline i can call? but we're not supposed to, we are supposed to wait for our letters a nd to, we are supposed to wait for our letters and i will do that. —— do you have a hotline? i suspect you are better connected and i am back thank you for talking to me. thank you for having me. —— make better connected than i am. german prosecutors say they remain convinced that a convicted paedophile, currently in prison for other offences, kidnapped and killed madeleine mccann. they're continuing to build a case against the man, known as christian b. from berlin, jenny hill reports. it's six months since german detectives made a dramatic revelation — madeline mccann, they believe, was kidnapped and killed by a convicted german paedophile. after this tv appeal, they received hundreds of tip—offs about christian b, who's in a germanjailfor drug smuggling and the rape of a tourist in the algarve. but they still don't have enough to charge him. even so, this prosecutor told us,

they're sure they have their man. translation: if you knew the evidence we have, you would come to the same conclusion as i do, but i can't give you details because we don't want the accused to know what we have on him. these are tactical considerations. the six—month investigation has yielded new evidence of other alleged crimes. christian b lived here in portugal on and off for years. prosecutors now believe he committed at least three other sex crimes here, two them against children. he may be charged early next year but progress on madeline mccann‘s case is slower. i can't promise, i can't guarantee, that we have enough to bring a charge, but i'm very confident, because what we have so far doesn't allow any other conclusion at all. there have been so many false leads, so many empty hopes, and still a family waits to find out

what happened to their little girl. scotland's education secretary john swinney is expected to brief holyrood on plans for next year's highers and advanced higher exams, in the wake of the pandemic. mr swinney says he's been looking at the issue of fairness, after some students have had to isolate repeatedly due cases at their school or college — while others have not. teaching unions are calling for a decision to be made as soon as possible. the gambling industry has welcomed a major review of uk gambling laws, which the government says will protect children and young people in a digital age. from next 0ctober, the minimum age for lottery players will be raised from sixteen to eighteen. ministers said the change would ensure the lottery does not become a gateway to problem gambling. a public inquiry into

a massacre by a white supremacist in new zealand has found that the security agencies had focussed almost all of their resources on potential islamist terrorism. 51 muslims died at two mosques in christchurch last year. shaimaa khalil reports. he is my hero, and he is a hero that society does deserve to have. aya al—umari, whose brother hussain was killed after challenging the gunman, welcomed the report, but said it brought back raw emotions. it's still very hard to refer to hussain in the past tense. but he was the backbone to ourfamily and to his circle of friends and society. i do hope that there are some learnings, notjust in new zealand but to other countries, that can implement and grow in a very quick, swift manner to mitigate such threats from happening. going to brussels where there is a briefing on the breakthrough with the uk. good afternoon, everybody, and thank you so much.

translation: this was the can ducting thread through all the council meetings during the german presidency and this withdrew what with this meeting this year in this format. so, we discuss the negotiations between the united kingdom and the european union on a future relations and we also prepared the european council which will take place on thursday and friday. the emphasis will be on the and our efforts to combat covid—19.

i want to thank president macron. as you all know, there is no substantial progress. as before, there are fundamental disagreements. the a level playing field, government and fisheries. the only thing that is new is this. the president of the european commission ursula von de leyen and borisjohnson will be meeting in the next few days to attempt once again to agree on the key subject to bridge the gap to bridge the agreement. will this succeed, ladies and gentlemen? as before, this remains totally uncertain. but today, we emphasised once again that

of course all 27 member states of the european union want an agreement but not at any cost. we will know what the cost would be for the european union and its member states, and the sound has been cut off. sorry, we seem to have a problem with the sound they are. we are just going to keep the picture going for a while because, if we can return to that, obviously it would help to update us on what is going on but the uk and the eu having reached an agreement... this is on how rules on the right to will be prevented, nothing to do with the trade talks. that is something borisjohnson is concentrating when he goes to brussels at some stage, possibly this week. issues such as border

control posts and supplying of medicines, and crucially the uk has dropped the segments of the bill which would have, in its own admission, broken international law. details have not been published but are expected to be rubber—stamped in the coming days and they will apply regardless of what happens in the trade deal, whether that is agreed 01’ trade deal, whether that is agreed or is not agreed. we've been hearing from the cabinet office minister michael gove, who said he was delighted with the progress of the top and has thanked marys sieve cove itch for his team's responsive approach. and the views were welcomed. —— thanked maros sef ovi . let's just return to what is happening in brussels.

you may have just picked up the apology for not being able to establish contact. 0rkut is here, which i'm going to get out of with the weather. we will return to brussels later with our brexit expert. —— monk awkwardness here. we'll stay with the awkwardness because it is rather entertaining to watch, but were still waiting to hear whether they re—establish the link. no, he's on his phone! we will leave them to sort that out and we will return a sinister reece establish that link. to catch as bills, a weather update with darren betts.

most of the fog has lifted through it but through the night it will lift around east anglia and kent ahead of the shabby rain coming down from the north, through the midlands and towards the first beat surrey and towards the first beat surrey and east anglia. some showers following behind, clear skies develop in northern ireland, wales and the south west where the winds are lighter, the risk of some pockets of ice but temperatures generally above freezing by the morning. rain early on in east anglia, the south east, moving away and then brightening up in many areas, sunshine into eastern areas out towards the west, clouding over and then later in the day, rain into northern ireland, west wales and the south west are of england. i about, temperatures around six celsius and for many eastern areas, those of the numbers we will keep over the days ahead. pretty cloudy by thursday and friday, patchy, mostly light rain around on the friday.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: a historic day in the global fight against coronavirus — 90—year—old margaret keenan is the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside trials. it's the first of 800,000 doses of the pfizer/biontech vaccine that will be dispensed in the coming weeks as part of the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs. i say go for it. because it's free, and it's the best thing that's ever happened at the moment, so do please go for it, that's what i say. if i can do it, so can you. ijust urge people to contain their impatience. it's a very, very exciting moment, but there's still a lot of work to be done and a lot of discipline to be maintained. fundamental disagreements remain on a trade agreement, but the uk and eu do reach a deal on the implementation of the brexit withdrawal agreement, as the uk drops clauses

in the controversial internal market bill. this means that both sides have agreed rules for trade across the border in northern ireland after brexit for issues including border control posts. the archbishop of canterbury and the uk's chief rabbi talk about coping with death, having each lost a child themselves. and now for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. the rugby world cup winner steve thompson is one of eight former professionals who claim the sport has left them with permanent brain damage, and they are ready to start legal action against rugby union authorities for negligence. they have all been diagnosed with early signs of dementia. the law firm representing them say they are working with over 100 other players as well. thompson, who is 42, was capped 73 times by england, but says he struggles to remember his greatest moment in 2003.

the his greatest moment in 2003. whole point of us dc to the whole point of us doing this is to look after the young players coming through. i don't want rugby to stop, it's been able to give us so to stop, it's been able to give us so much but wejust to stop, it's been able to give us so much but we just want to make to stop, it's been able to give us so much but wejust want to make it safer. it's the whole system, the way it was put together, the players training, playing, the governing body's got to be looked at, they had to come together and say, this is how players should train. teams a lwa ys how players should train. teams always wa nt how players should train. teams always want to get edges, it is the way the players are looked after, rather than being a bit of meat, you're there, when you're finished, don't worry about, there's conveyor belts, you're scrapped, not thought of, not needed any more, the new ones brought in. the players have got to be looked after before and after. that's down to a player having to have a brain scan every year and it costs the thousands of pounds it does, surely that's better

than having someone with dementia at 1:2 than having someone with dementia at 42 years old? leaving the sport, we hand back to simon. we go back to brussels, more under brexit divorce bill, now agreed in full by the uk and the eu, we rejoin the news conference, that is michael ross and this is the committee co—chair. they pretty much thought they'd sorted their sound problems out to. that shot tells you they really haven't! so, we are awaiting what's happening there. let's try, because he is speaking, wejust happening there. let's try, because he is speaking, we just can't hear

him. i don't know, maybe we have to... we can see you now. state minister, we can see you. would you mind saying something? could you imagine if the actual talks were conducted like this? we'll keep an eye on this, i want to bring chris morris, our relative check correspondence. . . morris, our relative check correspondence... i have already made a joke about the dialogue of the deaf! they are lauding this as a breakthrough, they are withdrawing the controversial aspects of the withdrawal bill which were causing problems in terms of trust. what we know has been agreed? the first thing to stress is, it's an agreement in principle. been a little coy, it is not directly linked with trade negotiations, but a lot of what the trade negotiations

might produce would be of great benefit to northern ireland as well. so it's not done and dusted, but it's a huge breakthrough, because this thing on for months and months and some of the most of got issues we have seen for the last four years have been around northern ireland. what they have agreed in principle is how northern ireland will operate in the slightly strange position it will be in whereby it will be part of the uk's customs territory but will remain in the eu single market for goods. what that means is they will have to be some checks on goods coming from great britain to northern ireland within the united kingdom. this race is that issue of customs posts and that was a no no? there won't be customs post but there will be border control posts, where goods coming from great britain into northern ireland, particular things like fresh fruits, meat and dairy, it has

to be checked. because by going into northern ireland, it will be going into the regulatory area of the eu single market. there been a lot of concerns from supermarkets, we heard earlierfrom concerns from supermarkets, we heard earlier from the food and drink federation, that they simply didn't know what the rules were going to be at this very late stage. if this agreement in principle becomes an agreement in principle becomes an agreement in principle becomes an agreement in practice, those rules will be clearer, but the one thing they don't know is independence on they don't know is independence on the trade negotiations between michel barnier and david frost, and seem to be borisjohnson and the president of the commission, will there be tariffs on trade between there be tariffs on trade between the eu and the uk is gutsy because if there are, there has to be agreement on whether some goods going from great britain into northern ireland have to be declared at risk of moving on into the eu and paying a terrace for that movement within the united kingdom. it's complicated process and all linked together, but i think we can look at

this as very good mood music but with the suggestion, potentially, that it could unravel a bit again if there were to be no trade deal. understanding always was, the controversial bit that broke international law, the argument from the uk was that they needed that in place in case there wasn't a trade agreement. so we pull that out over theirs, is, we're saying to the eu, we are serious about a trade agreement, perhaps some things are more likely than some suggested?m isa more likely than some suggested?m is a good sign of progress, it is a separate track of negotiation but there is clearly overlap because northern ireland has been so central to so many of the debates about how the eu trade after brexit. so, a very good sign, yes, as companies that have been crying out for more parity and have northern ireland will work in the future will soon get it, i hope. what we don't have in this statement is the precise detail, we say we have reached

agreement in principle on these broad areas, what businesses will have to fill in the forms and take trucks across the irish sea, they wa nt to trucks across the irish sea, they want to see line by line what has been agreed, and will have to wait a little while until that happens. is signa little while until that happens. is sign a trade agreement is more likely? perhaps, certainlya sign a trade agreement is more likely? perhaps, certainly a sign that a trade agreement is very much in play still. at the edge of the board has been central, we've talked about it goodness knows how many times, that is still the sign coming in from brussels, they haven't sorted out the communication issues, but were keeping an eye on that, and we will go back. i'm not going to point out any possible symbolism with a lack of communication here! what people want to know, we're looking at northern ireland, is also looking at northern ireland, is also looking equally, because these two most basic point of contact with the eu directly, they will also be

looking at that closely...” eu directly, they will also be looking at that closely... i see people! let's have a go. i can hear you, sebastian! ifeel so people! let's have a go. i can hear you, sebastian! i feel so privileged and honoured, sorry for the inconvenience and technical problems but it's not in my hands. translation: i think the last historic sentence i pronounced was there was an agreement but not at any price. we continue, thank you for your immense patients. yes, the vice president set coverage prices the state of play on the negotiations with the uk. we are deeply concerned about the internal

market bill and the taxation bill. these two bills in french fundamental aspects of the withdrawal agreement. —— in fundamental aspects of the withdrawalagreement. —— in french fundamental aspects, and their four flight fundamental aspects, and their four flight international law. what we expect from london is nothing less than the full implementation of the northern ireland protocol and the withdrawal of these elements of these two bills which flout international law. the council conveyed the following signal, there are not 27 different sets of bilateral discussions with the uk, there is one a discussion under the aegis of the chief negotiator michel barnier and the president of the commission, ursula von der leyen, and that will continue. i will not allow ourselves to be divided on this question. a further controversial but important subject is climate change. we're close to

the 2030 target of 55%. we want to revive the transatlantic dialogue, wa nt revive the transatlantic dialogue, want to open a new chapter, the european union will continue to make clear that our economy and our society have to be changed from an environmental point of view, certain questions remain open. we have to be more precise in laying down what support certain member states will receive in order to achieve their climate targets. covid—19 — there is great unity. we need intensive coordination. in the particular, on rapid tests. and

thanks to the careful work of the european commission, it would appear that we're going to have more vaccines than we need to protect our population. and on this basis, we shall then be offering vaccines, globally speaking, we've entered into a strong commitment. there is the vaccination alliance, so we as the vaccination alliance, so we as the european union shall shelter our global responsibility to protect citizens in this pandemic, we take this very seriously. 0ver citizens in this pandemic, we take this very seriously. over and above that, there are also other fundamental subjects, enlargement. as you know, we haven't got where we wanted to be. we wanted to be a long

time ago. that is embarking on accession negotiations with north macedonia and albania. so, we are waiting, no doubt questions will be faced here, but what are we looking at here? this in a press conference at here? this in a press conference at the end of the meeting between the 27 members of the eu states preparing for the summit later this week. what they've mentioned brexit there are also talking about things we are probably less interested in, like north macedonia, and covid vaccines and so forth, climate change as well. that's why people, if people thought this was a press conference specifically or northern ireland, these other issues being mentioned, imagine one of the first questions to mr sefcovic, who is mr gove's opposite number in the joint committee, will be on the issue we wa nt to committee, will be on the issue we want to hear a bit more about, northern ireland. you keep an eye on

that, we will pull away for a moment when we return to the issue of brexit. chris will keep an eye on that and we will return as soon as there are any development there. quite a big step in terms of talks between the uk and the eu on the withdrawal agreement, not to the trade talks, we make that point. back now to the coronavirus vaccine being rolled out across the uk. let's hear more from the first person to receive the jab early this morning — 90—year—old margaret keennan — and the matron who vaccinated her. here's damian grammaticas — and a warning his report contains some flash photography. last night, 90—year—old maggie keener nick preparing for her moment in the limelight with some moments of encouragements. i will be thinking about you! and at 615 this morning, maggie's entrance. ,

thinking about you! and at 615 this morning, maggie's entrance., is anything and on the experience hands of matron, she didn't feel a thing. it's just so strange and wonderful, really. this is an eye for a good cause, so really. this is an eye for a good cause, so i so pleased i had it done. this is a terrible disease, so we do want rid of it. so anything that helps. the matron has given hundreds of jabs but that helps. the matron has given hundreds ofjabs but never one with this level of interest. peri hundreds ofjabs but never one with this level of interest. per i just wa nt this level of interest. per i just want to make sure my patient is safe and she is comfortable and all right. it is the later part of the procedure, where everyone is asking how i felt, and i wasjust, oh! i just wanted to make her feel 0k, margaret is the top. main aim works in the respiratory ward, for her, maggie's patient to remember, ray of hope. it isjust to stop

maggie's patient to remember, ray of hope. it is just to stop the devastation and i want to see that happen. and maggie, she was the centre of attention, every news channel wanted to hear from centre of attention, every news channel wanted to hearfrom her. she'll be heading home for what she calls will be a quite 91st birthday, christmas with two children and four grandchildren, and a chance to reflect on the day she was asked to make history. i thought it was a joke to start with six i can believe it to. but i'm happy it happened and is now i've done it, and hopefully, other people will come along and do asi other people will come along and do as i did. try and do their best to get rid of this terrible thing. maggie keenan was some good news. with the number of deaths linked to coronavirus now over 60,000 in the uk, many bereaved families and friends will mourn loved ones this christmas. a special service will take place later at st pauls to mark the end

of national grief awareness week. justin webb spoke to the archbishop of canterbury justin welby, and the chief rabbi ephraim mirvis about the grief they experienced when they each lost a child. when i'm asked, how many children have you got? i say five because it avoids all kinds of complicated conversations, but we always think six. both the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby, and the chief rabbi, ephraim mirvis, lost their eldest child. through their roles as religious leaders, but also through this shared experience, they've become close friends. our experience has been that sometimes you're just caught by surprise. there are days that are predictable, and then there are other days when suddenly, something happens. it happened to me a couple of weeks ago and itjust, i suddenly thought, what would she be like? joanna wellby was seven months old when she died in a car crash in 1983.

ephraim mirvis's daughter leora died of cancer in 2011, aged 30, leaving behind a husband and two children. in your case, archbishop, with your daughter. it was sudden. in the case of your daughter, it was not, was it? did that allow a period before she died? no two bereavements are the same. if anybody comes along and says, i know exactly what you're going through, they don't, because grief is something personal. when one has suffered a deep loss, it's with one for the rest of one's life. and one thinks of the person every single day and there is sadness. joe biden is the president—elect of the united states, a man who has faced multiple griefs. is he president elect in spite of grief or because of it? it's not that he became president despite or because of. i think he will be a profoundly

different president because of his experience of grief, which is extraordinary. i think, for people around this country and around the world, more than a million dead around the world, this christmas there will be an empty chair and it will be painful, deeply painful. i think i'd want to say, be kind to yourselves, give yourself time, be honest about your grief and your loss, that you miss them. there's no harm in tears. what should people say and do to help others cope with grief? don't say i know what you're feeling, because you don't. i remember someone saying to us, i'm sure you can have other children. probably not the most helpful at the time. i remember a couple of friends took us out to dinner and i have

to confess it was quite a long and quite liquid evening, if i'm really honest. but theyjust had us in fits of laughter, which seems an odd thing. it was the very day of the funeral, but it was that they loved us enough to give us that time, to help us to find a release for all the strength of emotion. in the course of time, those who have suffered grief are hardly likely to remember the words you've said. i think we should primarily focus on two things. the first is to be there, be with people, give them that support, cocoon them within the warmth of your care. number two, practical help. what can you do to help? and there are tributes to some of the thousands of british people who have died in the pandemic at

bbc.co.uk/news, or on our news app. returning to the news that the uk and eu have reached an agreement on the rules of the brexit divorce bill. we know hearing from...? the rules of the brexit divorce bill. we know hearing from. . . ? marys second which, and michael gove have been discussing the northern ireland protocol. that's just been discussing the northern ireland protocol. that'sjust listening for a moment. there are quite a number of hands raised. to give all you the floor, but those who are given the floor, but those who are given the floor, please switch on your video and please tell us your name and the media you're working for and please lets us also know to whom you are directing your question, whether it's to the state minister or the president or both. and then let's

start right away. abc news, you have the floor. we can't hear you. so, they've got their technical problems back. chris, what we want to hear is the detail of what's been discussed. what we had so far from mr sefcovic is what's in the press release, we have an agreement in principle on all issues surrounding the northern ireland protocol, which he and mr gove have been talking about for some time. 0bviously, he was stressing the fact that he was a very happy that both the uk has agreed in principle to withdraw all the controversial provisions on northern ireland in the internal market bill and the upcoming taxation bill. these were the

sections that potentially broke international law, and that really caused a problem in terms of trust between the two sides? it really did. talking to people in brussels, they thought, how can we do a trade agreement, looking to the future, the uk is already breaking the agreement potentially, which we made less tha n agreement potentially, which we made less than a year ago. so did cause problems, perhaps concentrated minds as well, but the good news is, from today, the agreement in principle, which would seem to be taking one blockage out of the road, the two occupiers coming to a white agreements. and this has been watched very closely in northern ireland. extremely closely, particular by businesses who trade between northern ireland and great britain, who have been saying, up untilan hourago, we britain, who have been saying, up until an hour ago, we have no idea at the terms on which we are supposed to trade, the rules and which were supposed to trade in just a few weeks' time. and we may hear that tomorrow, because michael gove. . . ? that tomorrow, because michael gove...? michael gove is

that tomorrow, because michael gove. . . ? michael gove is addressing mps tomorrow, we may hear more detail, if they forget their sound effect for mr sefcovic today! we won't even give it a go at this stage, we will leave it for now. we will be back with that and more on the vaccination programme beginning its roll—out today, now the weather. hello there. we haven't seen this much fog around today but it hasn't gone away completely just yet. this was one part of the country that was foggy yesterday, but today, earlier on, we did have some welcome sunshine. further north across the uk, skies have looked different. some rain falling, a lot of cloud too. dominated by low pressure across northern parts of the uk, windy at times, some outbreaks of rain. quite wet still in parts of north wales, northwestern england, the rain heavier as it heads into the midlands this evening. ahead of that, fog thickens up in parts of east anglia, down to kent. that gets washed away by the rain moving down from the north, showers following on behind. clear spells developing in northern ireland,

wales, the south west, so perhaps a few pockets of frost here and the odd icy patch too, but by the end of the night, temperatures generally above freezing. tomorrow morning looking different across east anglia and the south east, milder with the chance of rain. we are left with sunshine and showers through the day, especially in eastern areas. out to the west, after it clouds over, we get rain into northern ireland, western wales and the south west later in the day. temperatures typically at sixes, the winds fairly light as well. the weather system coming in from the atlantic isn't going to get to eastern areas, just tends to bring most of the rain southwards into france. the weather front bringing it just gets cut in two, with rain moving southwards away from the uk and a bit of rain stuck in western parts of scotland. many places dry and cloudy, but pockets of light rain or drizzle across eastern coastal areas, temperatures only around 5 degrees. out to the west, closer to 8

degrees, with more rain in northern ireland by the end of the day. another system heading our way, stronger winds with it, but the heavier rain will move into france, where the warmest of the air will push away too. we're left with a lot of cloud on friday, pockets of mainly light rain or drizzle, sunshine rather limited, brightening up in northern ireland, wales and the far south west later with some showers, temperatures around 11, further east, around seven.

this is bbc news. the headlines... a historic day in the global fight against coronavirus — 90 year margaret keenan is the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside trials. so begins the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs. we'll have the latest on the rollout from across the uk — as hundreds follow margaret's example. i would say go for it. it is free and it's the best thing that has ever happened at the moment, so do please go for it. if i can do it, well, so can you. it was really emotional. i can't tell you just how much emotion there

was in that vaccination centre. this isa was in that vaccination centre. this is a truly historic day, a turning point in this pandemic. still disagreements on trade but the uk and eu do reach a deal on the brexit withdrawal agreement, as the uk drops clauses in the controversial internal market bill. this means that both sides have agreed rules for trade across the border in northern ireland after brexit — for issues including border control. the archbishop of canterbury and the uk's chief rabbi talk about coping with death — having each lost a child themselves. and the disco and soul legend, nile rodgers is to host a virtual christmas concert — featuring a few of his musical friends — we'll talk to him live at 3.45 the fightback has begun. the first person in the uk to be

given a coronavirus vaccine outside of a clinical trial is a 90 year old woman. margaret keennan received the historicjab at university hospital in coventryjust after half six this morning. that was just the start, hundreds of other patients have been given the jab in the past few hours — as the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs gets underway. borisjohnson has thanked health workers and scientists — but urged people to remain cautious. the uk has an initial supply of 800,000 vaccines to administer over the next few weeks. they'll be given to people on the high priority list — including the over—80s, care home workers and nhs staff. sites where the jab will be administered. in scotland, there will be 23 vaccination sites, including all major hospitals and in the highlands. the welsh government is promising to administer six—thousand doses of the vaccine by the end of this week. and in northern ireland, where there's currently a two—week lockdown, 25—thousand doses of the vaccine have arrived.

the firstjab has was administered in belfast to a 28 year old nurse. this report is from our health correspondent sophie hutchinson — and a warning it contains flashing images. 90—year—old margaret keenan, being prepared for her coronavirus vaccine this morning. a modest scene at this hospital in coventry, yet one on which rests the hope, notjust of a nation, but also much of the world, to finally free ourselves of the virus and it felt good. all done. cheering and applause. it was fine, i wasn't nervous at all. it was really good. i'd say go for it. go for it, because it's free and it's the best thing

that's ever happened... ..at the moment. so, please do go for it. that's all i say, you know. if i can do it, so can you. and becoming the first person to receive the jab in the uk's vaccination programme attracted quite the cry. i did this all the time, i have done hundreds of vaccinations but never with such interest and people wanting to know what's going on and wanting to actually witness it. so it was really surreal. —— from nurses in belfast to 90—year—olds in bristol, the vaccination programme was rolled out across all parts of the uk today and for those who were behind it, it was a landmark moment. it was really, really emotional. i cannot tell you just how much emotion there was in that vaccination centre. this is a truly historic day, a turning point in this pandemic, another world first for the nhs, the start of the largest vaccination programme in our history. and to see the roll—out, the prime minister her returned to saint thomas hospital in london where

several months back, he had been treated for coronavirus. latest figures for the office for national statistics, suggest deaths of a 20% above average in the last week of november and mrjohnson stressed the need for caution. i urge people to contain their inpatients. it is a very, very exciting moment but there's still a lot of work to be done and a lot of discipline to be maintained. cheering and applause. i think i will have a little rest after this when i go to the world —— ward and then i'll phone the family. i'm going home this afternoon. so that's it then. and the hospital, they are wonderful. i am going to miss them really. all the attention i have been getting. but margaret will be back in just 21 days for her second

injection. that will give her the full protection and by the end of the year, millions of other elderly people and health care workers will also be given the jab, perhaps the best possible gift this winter. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the uk government has confirmed it will withdraw controversial measures from its internal market bill — after coming to an agreement with the eu on all future aspects of the brexit withdrawal agreement — the so called divorce agreement. in a tweet, the cabinet 0ffice minister michael gove said that both sides had come to ‘an agreement in principle' with his eu counterpart, maros sefcovic on outstanding issues, including the northern ireland protocol. the internal market bill would have overridden parts of the withdrawal agreement, and could have resulted in a breach of international law.

0ur political correspondent is at westminster. we don't have the detail but in terms of mood music, this is the first positive news to come out for a while. that is a fair analysis for the people will be looking out for detail because for businesses in northern ireland, is going to really matter exactly what has been agreed. i don't think we will find out until probably tomorrow at the earliest but, yes, this is a significant step forward for the part around how the uk leaves the european union. there are big questions about how they would continue to have trade between great britain and northern ireland but not have a border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland when northern ireland was in the uk but the republic of ireland is of course part of the european union, so the fact they have managed to square that circle a significant but it's not the big trade deal that we've been talking about all week.

this is something, these talks have been going on for a long time and do thing still to be resolved without the whole of the uk will trade with the whole of the uk will trade with the whole of the uk will trade with the whole of the european union after brexit, which is what boris johnson is going to brussels later this week to week to ursula von de leyen, the president of the european commission about. what it does suggest is that some of these very difficult problems can be solved when there is a political will, when the politicians get involved in finding ways of crossing the and dotting the eyes, may be moving a couple of things about. moving things about to make sure both sides are happy. they hope is that boris johnson and ursula von de leyen can do that when it comes to the victory talks that have been going on but the nude music today remains pretty pessimistic. we are is from boris johnson this morning saying, yes, he is hopeful as he tries to be optimistic but at the moment, we just don't know whether those straight talks are going to get signed off or not. thank you.

germany's michael roth, who has just chaired a meeting of european affairs ministers who have been briefed by michel barnier and he said that no new progress has been made a the trade talks. the current state of play, as you all know, there is no substantial progress. as before, there are fundamental disagreements, the level playing field, government and fisheries. the only thing that is new is this, the president of the european commission ursula von de leyen and the uk prime minister borisjohnson will be meeting in the next few days in order to attempt once again to agree on the key

subjects to bridge the gap and reach the agreement. will this succeed? as before, this remains totally uncertain. but today, we emphasised once again that of course all 27 member states of the european union wa nt member states of the european union wantan member states of the european union want an agreement but not at any cost. in the past hour mr sefcovic, who co—chairs the eu—uk joint committee with michael gove, has been giving a press conference in brussels. given the limited time before the transition period ends, it was essential to reach a shared understanding on these questions so that the withdrawal agreement can be fully operational as of january that the withdrawal agreement can be fully operational as ofjanuary one, 2021. our objective has been clear all along, to protect the good friday belfast agreement, maintain

peace, stability and prosperity, and preserve the integrity of the eu's single market. 0ur europe correspondent nick beake is in brussels. it is difficult not to see these as linked because one had to happen to help the other. this is brexit, it's not straightforward. let's be clear, people are welcoming the fact that the divorce deal that was agreed, to exeter european union, the fact they have now come to an agreement the two sides on how to implement this withdrawal deal, the divorce deal, thatis withdrawal deal, the divorce deal, that is a good thing and everyone is saying that specifically on the issue of northern ireland, saying this protects the good friday agreement and also protect the integrity of the eu single market. the big question, as you are mentioning there, is to what extent this goodwill translates to the

trade talks and i think it's very ha rd to trade talks and i think it's very hard to tell because despite the good news we've had over the past 24 and was from this, there is a great deal of the consequence of this process because even though the uk government is now saying it will withdraw these very controversial elements of the uk internal market bill, which will have broken international law and would have broken the divorce deal, i think the bad blood and the ill feeling that created remains and i think it has tainted the talks. certainly that is the perspective of the eu, so we will wait and see whether this positive step today, how far it will go. 0ne positive step today, how far it will go. one of the people that we were talking to earlier, the state minister for talking to earlier, the state ministerfor europe talking to earlier, the state minister for europe said, talking to earlier, the state ministerfor europe said, yes, it is good that ursula von de leyen of the european commission and boris johnson will be meeting at some point this week, that is good news. he says, will like succeed? that

remains totally uncertain, so that sums up the unpredictable ability. we don't know what they they are meeting. redound. there was the suggestion that it might be tomorrow, it will not be thursday. that is because there is a meeting of the eu 27 leaders here in brussels on both sides don't want to see borisjohnson brussels on both sides don't want to see boris johnson coming brussels on both sides don't want to see borisjohnson coming on thursday and being perceived to be seen as gate—crashing in any way. that weekly friday is another option or possibly saturday, so take your pick from that. interestingly, i think other saw some division last week with france in particular saying it would veto a bad deal, today we had spokespeople going further than they've gone before and saying there is not a rush here. we can take our time to get this absolutely right because of course all the talk before has been that the clock is ticking and we need to get it sorted, and while i dodge from ——

what i read from that is the eu are trying to reassure the individual member state saying we are not going to be beholden to a london timetable on thisjust to be beholden to a london timetable on this just because borisjohnson might be coming over, we will not get something rushed through before this meeting on thursday, so once again it shows there are sensitivities, different priorities within the eu block although they a lwa ys within the eu block although they always like to present a united front. 0ur ireland correspondent chris page said that the news on the withdrawal agreement had been welcomed on both sides of the border. certainly businesses and some politicians here in the last hour or so since this news broke have given an initial very guarded welcome to news of the agreement, both the irish foreign minister and the irish prime minister saying it is a breakthrough but businesses here in northern ireland saying they still need to see the detail of what has been arranged now based on what the

government has released. the agreement that has been reached in thejoint committee agreement that has been reached in the joint committee covers a range of areas. for example, a border control post and they are the inspection points for goods arriving here in two northern ireland from other parts of the uk with cheques being carried out on products of animal origin as they are known. that is meat, dairy products and so on. those will happen whether or not there is a trade deal because whether or not there is a trait deal, we will still be in the eu single market for goods. the checks to make sure the goods conform to standards will still be carried out and whether there is a trade or not is irrelevant. 0ne and whether there is a trade or not is irrelevant. one other issue mentioned in this alongside several others is the eu and uk have reached an agreement on how the criteria for goods to be considered not at risk of entering the eu when they come here from the rest of the uk. that

is significant because as things stood, well, if there is not a trait deal, tariffs kicking on goods moving between the uk and european union and then goods that come here from the rest of the uk and are deemed to be at risk of going over the land border into the republic of ireland, therefore the, would have tariffs, so the criteria to decide which of those goods remain in that actress category has apparently been agreed and what that criteria is, we don't know yet and that would be a major question for businesses in this part of the uk who will hope to see it answered over the next 24 hours or so. all 11 areas living under scotland's toughest level four coronavirus restrictions are to be downgraded to level three. the changes, which will take place from friday, will allow nonessential retail and hospitality to reopen, two weeks ahead of christmas. the first minister said prevalence of the virus has "fallen

significantly" in all 11 areas in west and central scotland in level 4, but warned against complacency. 0ver over the past three weeks, 11 local authority areas have been under the very severe level for restrictions andi very severe level for restrictions and i am pleased to say prevalence in all 11 of these areas has fallen significantly. for example, in the week to friday the 13th of november, glasgow recorded 281 new cases for every 100,000 people in its population. by friday fourth december, the number had fallen to 450. in east dunbartonshire, the population has more than half from 224 to 104 and in both north and south lanarkshire, 224 to 104 and in both north and south la narkshire, case 224 to 104 and in both north and south lanarkshire, case numbers have fallen by well over a third. the following infection rates in this area “— following infection rates in this area —— in these areas which is the most highly populated in the country, have contributed to an improvement in the situation across scotla nd improvement in the situation across scotland as a whole. i'm joined by scotland's national clinical director, professorjason leitch. i want to come onto the vaccine in a

moment but what we have seen this afternoon has shown there are still afternoon has shown there are still a major problem with the virus in scotla nd a major problem with the virus in scotland and while many tiers have been brought down, there are still certain areas like aberdeen, aberdeenshire there are real issues. there is a global problem that with the virus, let's not pretend that the virus, let's not pretend that the vaccine uses anything but good but there remains a global pandemic with a novel infectious agent which we have all come to know as covid—19. it is still there, the virus hasn't changed. today is hopeful in scotland in two ways, not just the vaccine which we will talk about any moment but half of scotland's local authorities are coming down a level. they are not going back to normal, let's not kid ourselves, but they are coming down a level and that will allow nonessential retail to open in some places, hospitality to begin to open a little bit, not as much as they we re a little bit, not as much as they were like not as much as i would like frankly but it's were like not as much as i would like frankly but its progress. it's progress because the people are

following the guidance. the concern, andi following the guidance. the concern, and i think nicola sturgeon express this, is with all the good news coming out that the complacency may set in and that is something particularly given where we are in the winter, which to be avoided. you heard all of us be slightly cautious, all of the public health advisers from all four countries, and particularly at the festive break, about movement of people and mixing perhaps, so we've said come across all four countries, you can do it, there is an exception allowed, you are allowed to travel. it is not unlawful, but in scotland, we've been pretty strong with our messaging that you should think very carefully about that. don't do it u nless carefully about that. don't do it unless you really need to for isolation reasons or caring reasons. the hope is yourjust postponing... because science is getting is out of this and the pandemic will end, do you really need to make january more troublesome than it needs to be by taking that risk? after all these

months, let's end this on a positive note, the vaccine relief —— vaccination being rolled out today. if we went out this one out, we can summer anywhere. there is a sense that the fightback is under way. —— if we winter this one out. that the fightback is under way. —— if we winter this one outlj that the fightback is under way. —— if we winter this one out. i was moved when i saw the 90—year—old lady in coventry from ireland, northern ireland, given the new vaccine by a filipino nurse who has been here for years. is there any better representation of a global pandemic the global solution to that pandemic the global solution to that pandemic with resourcing, the who, scientists all around the world and scotla nd scientists all around the world and scotland getting its share of that this morning? we were able to give some vaccine. as i said earlier, that doesn't change behaviours quite yet. we are very hopeful that it will in the future but for now, behaviour should stay the same was that while just keeping an eye on that while just keeping an eye on that really hopeful news as we vaccinate the vaccinate hours and vaccinate the vaccinate hours and vaccinate some of the most at risk

from this disease, starting with those who are most likely to die. if you told me in april we would be doing that in december, i wouldn't have believed you. it'sjust fantastic. it is fantastic and quite remarkable, and underlining just how much work has gone in in the last few months. you only have to look at people's faces this morning. very senior scientist, professors, those taking part in the vaccination programme being openly into years underlining just how tired they were, i suspect, underlining just how tired they were, isuspect, butjust underlining just how tired they were, i suspect, butjust what a relief this is. it is. i'm not sure i took relief this is. it is. i'm not sure itook —— relief this is. it is. i'm not sure i took —— should talk about a competitor broadcaster today and i did one with sky news and they showed a video of the lady speaking in the interview and i'm notjoking, i had in the interview and i'm notjoking, ihada in the interview and i'm notjoking, i had a little tear in my own eye. it is massive for the population. it's also massive for the scientists. the scientists from belgium, france, edinburgh, 0xford, who have put together this enormous

collaboration across the world with governments, the private sector working on this global problem because remember, vaccination is not just a problem for scotland or the united kingdom, but also one for somalia, palestine, america. we need to solve this globally to get out of it. this is the beginning and there's a lot more work to do but it feels like we should take at least a day to celebrate before we start thinking about the negatives again. i don't want to put a downer on it but you still have to persuade people to take this vaccine. we do and i'm very comfortable doing that. iand and i'm very comfortable doing that. i and other voices that not everybody will listen to me, we will use celebrities, some of our elderly friends around scotland that we've already had... you can have a vaccine campaign without lulu telling you it's the right thing to do, so we will use all kinds of people around the whole of the world to help people understand how safe this is. this basic vaccine

technology has existed for 160 yea rs. technology has existed for 160 years. it is probably the single human invention that has saved more lives than any other except clean water and people should run towards it when they get the opportunity to do so. it is safe and it is a damn sight safer than covid, i will tell you that. lulu? yes, lulu. that is a scottish celebrity of a certain age, she won't like me saying that, but if lulu says it is safe to take the vaccine, it's a lot better than the national clinical director saying it is safe to take it. we are of a similar age but i don't think lulu says anything, she shouts it, doesn't she? she can shout to this as loud as she wants. isn't it nice to be able to smile and have a laugh between us? jason leech, thank you very much.

——jason —— jason leitch, thank you very much. german prosecutors say they remain convinced that a convicted paedophile, currently in prison for other offences, kidnapped and killed madeleine mccann. they're continuing to build a case against the man, known as christian b. from berlin, jenny hill reports. it's six months since german detectives made a dramatic revelation — madeline mccann, they believe, was kidnapped and killed by a convicted german paedophile. after this tv appeal, they received hundreds of tip—offs about christian b, who's in a germanjailfor drug smuggling and the rape of a tourist in the algarve. but they still don't have enough to charge him. even so, this prosecutor told us, they're sure they have their man. translation: if you knew the evidence we have, you would come to the same conclusion as i do, but i can't give you details because we don't want the accused to know what we have on him. these are tactical considerations. the six—month investigation has yielded new evidence of other alleged crimes. christian b lived here in portugal on and off for years. prosecutors now believe he committed at least three other sex crimes here, two them against children. he may be charged early next year

but progress on madeline mccann‘s case is slower. i can't promise, i can't guarantee, that we have enough to bring a charge, but i'm very confident, because what we have so far doesn't allow any other conclusion at all. there have been so many false leads, so many empty hopes, and still a family waits to find out what happened to their little girl. scotland's education secretaryjohn swinney is expected to brief holyrood on plans for next year's highers and advanced higher exams, in the wake of the pandemic. mr swinney says he's been looking at the issue of fairness, after some students have had to isolate repeatedly due cases at their school or college, while others have not. teaching unions are calling for a decision to be made as soon as possible. the gambling industry has welcomed a major review of uk gambling laws,

which the government says will protect children and young people in a digital age. from next october, the minimum age for lottery players will be raised from 16 to 18. ministers said the change would ensure the lottery does not become a gateway to problem gambling. the uk's broadcasting regulator says traditional public service broadcasting is unlikely to survive in the online world unless broadcasting laws and regulation are overhauled. 0fcom's report out today also says public service broadcasters need to transform for the digital age and create new partnerships to compete. the bbcs media editor, amol rajan, has been speaking to the chief executive of 0fcom, dame melanie dawes, in herfirst broadcast interview: you say the report published this week is a critical moment for public service broadcasters and we say it a lot that a new streaming services area lot that a new streaming services are a threat to ps bees. what exactly is the nature of that

threat? it comes from a number of things. it's partly competition which is a good thing. netflix is a great thing. i'm watching also of different programmes from different places these days but i think the thing that is... that we really need to watch is that increasingly the global platform on the west coast of america, google, amazon and so on, are actually controlling the interface between the viewer and tv companies. why does that matter? element because they are bigger and have more economic might than other companies. i'm talking here notjust about people who produce other tv, which is great although it doesn't provide the same as our terrestrial broadcasters, but about the platforms which increasingly control our interface, whether through youtube or things like amazon's smart stick, which is controlling who is prominent when you turn your smart tv on and whose content you see, so it's that kind of market and

balance which is also part of this. and you can hear the full interview on bbc radio 4 and bbc sounds tomorrow afternoon, and more on the bbc news channel this weekend. next, the weather with darren bett. hello there. most of the fog has lifted today but through this evening at the first part of the night, it will thicken up across parts of east anglia, down into kent. ahead of all the showery rain which is making its way down from the north to the midlands and eventually towards the south—east and east anglia, lifting the fog eventually. clear skies developing in northern ireland, wales and the south—west we are the winds are falling lighter and may be a few pockets of frost. generally, temperatures will be above freezing by the morning. we have some rain early on across east anglia, perhaps the south—east move away and things will brighten up in many areas with some sunshine, showers. that will come later in the day which will come later in the day which will come into northern ireland, the west

and the south—west of england. ahead of that, temperatures will be around 6-7 c of that, temperatures will be around 6—7 cand of that, temperatures will be around 6—7 c and for many eastern areas, those are the numbers we will keep ahead for the days ahead. staying cloudy, patchy, mostly light rain around on friday.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: a historic day in the global fight against coronavirus — 90—year—old margaret keenan is the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside trials. it's the first of 800,000 doses of the pfizer/biontech vaccine that will be dispensed in the coming weeks as part of the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs. i say go for it. because it's free, and it's the best thing that's ever happened at the moment, so do please go for it, that's what i say. if i can do it, so can you. ijust urge people to contain their impatience. it's a very, very exciting moment, but there's still a lot of work to be done and a lot of discipline to be maintained. fundamental disagreements remain on a trade agreement, but the uk and eu do reach a deal on the implementation of the brexit withdrawal agreement, as the uk drops clauses

in the controversial internal market bill. this means that both sides have agreed rules for trade across the border in northern ireland after brexit for issues including border control posts. the archbishop of canterbury and the uk's chief rabbi talk about coping with death, having each lost a child themselves. now for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. the rugby world cup winner steve thompson is one of eight former professionals who claim the sport has left them with permanent brain damage, and they are ready to start legal action against rugby union authorities for negligence. they have all been diagnosed with early signs of dementia. the law firm representing them say they are working with over 100 other players as well. thompson, who is 42, was capped 73 times by england, but struggles to remember his greatest moment in 2003. the whole point of us doing this is to look after the young

i cannot remember being a stroller at all, i can remember the whole situation of the world cup. i never watch the games, so i set into what some, there was like i was watching a game for england, i could see me playing but i wasn't there, because it wasn't me. it was just bizarre. i talk to the lads who were there and you pick up stories and you can talk about it, but it was not me being there, it's just about it, but it was not me being there, it'sjust gone. icon can mirror the games whatsoever, anything that happened to. that was such a big thing in my life and it's just not there. i spoke to a specialist about it, i said they way ican specialist about it, i said they way i can forward explain it is you're like a camera and someone has taken the film out. the camera there, it's just not recording it. other times, your head might be better, so the film goes back and ijust not recording again, then another ban, and then you're missing. that is not what happens, big slots are just not

there. it is understood a letter of claim, amounting to millions of pounds in damages, will be sent next week to the governing bodies for english and welsh rugby and also world rugby. the rfu say they are declining to comment because they haven't received any legal documents yet, and there has been a similar response from world rugby, but they say they back the processes that we have implemented in line with the latest evidence and science to protect players. staying with rugby union, just three games into the domestic season, sale sharks' director of rugby steve diamond has quit with immediate effect. he had been at the club for ten years and says he's taken the decision to step away from the business for personal resaons. they narrowly missed out on the play—offs last season but were seen as one of the main rivals to the champions, exeter chiefs. he says, "this is the perfect moment to hand over to someone else, "given the club is now stable and in a great position to compete "at the highest level." skills coach paul deacon will take over first—team duties. paul pogba's agent says the frenchman is unhappy,

can't express himself, needs a change of scene and the best solution would be for him to leave manchester united in the january transfer window. that's hardly what the club needs to hear ahead of a huge game in europe this evening. they need a point away at rb leipzig to be sure of reaching the last 16 in the champions league. they are level on nine points with the german side, and also paris saint—germain. if united fail to progress, they would drop down into the europa league. it's something that we want, games like these. it's traditional for man united, we never make it easy for ourselves. of course, we look to games, especially the away game in istanbul that we could have took three points, but that'sjust istanbul that we could have took three points, but that's just the way we do things, we do make it hard for ourselves, that's been ever since i played, that's a long, long time ago. that's all the sport for now.

i'll have more for you in the next hour. the us food and drug administration says the pfizer/biontech vaccine, which has today started being rolled out across the uk, is safe and effective. a briefing document from the fda states the jab's efficacy in preventing covid—19 is 95%. this raises expectations that the regulator could approve the vaccine for use in the us. we can speak to dr david nabarro, who is special envoy on covid—19 at the world health organization. really good to talk to you. everything seems to be pointing in the right direction and clearly there's hope that this approval on there's hope that this approval on the united states goes through sooner rather than later? of course, it's great news, a vaccine produced in super—a short time, and judged to be effective and safe by the regulators. to little problems, one, there's not a huge amount of the vaccine available right now, yet,

and secondly, it has to be kept super cold, otherwise it doesn't maintain its efficacy. they suggest that we need more vaccines that are able to be produced in larger quantity and are heat—stable, because the whole world needs be offered a vaccine, that's enough for 7.8 billion people. of course, not everybody will be vaccinated but it does need to go everywhere. and this will take quite a long time. i'm really excited, this being at day one of the first person getting vaccinated, but i'm going to be interested in when everyone's vaccinated, that's some way to go yet. i am in what you mean by quite a long time, we have the pfizer/biontech vaccine out there in the uk, works at the moderna and the astrazeneca jabs, which most people say will be game—changers for more

people because the astrazeneca one doesn't require that —70 degrees holding. how long do you think it's going to be before we can say all the vaccines are out there and they all work? well, you know, all records are being broken when it comes to covid—19. so let me give you the answer to your question viewed through my four mind—set. phone rings row viewed for my four mind-set. it is theirs, that i would be saying it would take three years for the world to be vaccinated, and that would require an awful lot of lock. quite safely, we've been quite trying to vaccinate the world against a number of diseases recently, against polio, and against malaria, measles in particular, it we've not succeeded.

polio is taking a very long time to com plete polio is taking a very long time to complete and measles is going backwards. so, if we were to be applying the normal rules, it would be three years, but we have all records being broken. so let's shim the people making the new vaccines are able to really ramp up production, let's assume the world does come togetherfor a production, let's assume the world does come together for a global immunisation campaign, perhaps it's two years, and wouldn't that be marvellous? because that would mean travel and tourism and all this other things that are broken could be got back to working again. it would be fabulous for the whole world. if i told you in january, when we first heard about this nightmare, covid—19, that we would be intercep at the same year talking about a 90—year—old woman, maggie keenan in coventry, receiving the first vaccine, you would have said i was mad. i would have. first vaccine, you would have said i was mad. iwould have. i did

first vaccine, you would have said i was mad. i would have. i did think, when this virus was first being talked about, that it was going to bea talked about, that it was going to be a brute, because we've always been shrinking about coronaviruses, and there is a particular feature of this particular coronavirus, the fa ct this particular coronavirus, the fact that it's got low fatality rate with very high infectiousness that make it really hard to deal with. essential, people don't take it seriously enough for them to actually react in a firm way. and that's what's because such a lot of problems, it's these uncertainties as to how seriously to take it. but iamso as to how seriously to take it. but i am so pleased that, within this space of 11 months, we've got a vaccine and indeed a number of vaccines that are thought to be effective and will be game—changers. there's a lot of things that we are having to eat our words over, and one of them is that we've got the vaccine been given to this lady in northern ireland today, and how

exciting that is. maggie from enniskillen, receiving the vaccine in coventry. what this does is it gives hope in what for many was a hopeless situation. but difficulty is, when you have hope, you can't be complacent, because there is a massive product to be done around the world. yes. i don't even talk about it as complacency, i say this, we know how to keep this virus under control, we've seen how countries do it, we've watch new zealand, australia, vietnam, thailand, cambodia, china, taiwan, we've see also finland and a number of other countries in the northern part of europe do really well. we are seeing it done. not everybody has quite worked out what that means, and so

we're saying to everybody, copied the ones who are doing well, because if you don't do that, you are going to be struggling still over the next year or even two years, and a lot of people will die. so please, please, keep following the instructions, it's worth it, and we've got the vaccine, so we know it won't go on for ever, and we will be able to return to some degree of normality. but must keep the pressure up now, otherwise we'll slid backwards, go back into more lockdowns, harder lockdowns, and lose more people who are dearto lockdowns, and lose more people who are dear to us. we also have long covid to worry about, that's what happens when people take time to recover after their covid infection, and nobody should underestimate that either. phone rings do you want to answer that? no, i'll stopped now, just a little problem, a busy day today, sorry. just one

more moment, it's seen you smile for the first time in i think 11 months, it's seen ministers almost in tears, professor is hugely emotional — this is quite a day, isn't it? of course! we have to be able to share our emotions with each other, with the people we have been talking to. we've not enjoyed the people who are ringing the bad news day after day. so it's wonderful that to be seeing and engaging with people all over the world who are beginning to have that sense of, it's not so bad after all. and we are learning so much through this, learning about the power of working together, learning about the power of science, learning about the power of science, learning about the power of science, learning about the power of real people, it's great. really nice to speak to you on such a positive note, thank you so much forjoining us. thank you,

bye— bye. the american government's most senior expert on coronavirus has warned the country faces a really dark time, with a million new cases over the last five days. dr anthony fauci says the situation could get even worse injanuary because of people mixing over christmas. peter bowes reports. some of america's darkest days. there's been a dramatic rise in the number of cases and deaths in several states. north and south dakota, texas and illinois are among the worst affected. across the country, 10.5% of coronavirus tests are coming back positive and in parts of california, the number is significantly higher. here, stay at home orders are in force across much of the state. i think it is a good thing just given, you know, the rapid rise in cases over the last week. that's a big, you know, big climb there. you're not going to get sick, you really aren't, if you're careful, and that's all there is to it. and they are ruining the economy. listen, i'm all for safety

and everything, i get that, but above and beyond i think it's overreaching and there's got to be a way to get these kids back in school. i don't feel safe. i think all of us, we have to work together to, you know, make it better. health officials are bracing themselves for more cases following the thanksgiving holiday, when many americans travelled to see their families. and there are fears it could get far worse before the end of the year. when you look at thanksgiving, that's a very brief period of time of travel and congregating. when you're talking about christmas, you go through christmas and hanukkah, you go through the week between christmas and new years, and then you have another celebration on new years. that extends that vulnerable period by two or three times what you do in thanksgiving. president trump is planning to sign an executive order to ensure that priority access for covid—19 vaccines procured by the us government is given to americans

before assisting other nations. and the president—elect, joe biden, has vowed that his administration will mobilise every resource of the government to combat the virus from day one of his term in office. the coronavirus pandemic means many of us won't be going to a carol concert this year, but there will be one concert everyone can attend. next tuesday, chic‘s nile rodgers is hosting a virtual carol service, with with appearances from the likes of sir cliff richard, florence welch and the who's roger daltrey. the free live streamed gig will feature readings, performances and festive messages filmed at the artists' homes around the world. the legendary musician nile rodgersjoins us now from westport in connecticut. a very warm welcome to bbc news. i first want to talk about the charity

thatis first want to talk about the charity that is benefiting from this, which is something very close to your heart yes, very close. when i was first introduced to them, i went to one of their centres and i was so touched and it just one of their centres and i was so touched and itjust so happened that that was the year that is my mom was diagnosed with alzheimer's, and we went through a very powerful experience with her sister with old—timers. she late in a coma for five years —— with her sister with alzheimer's. when went to see her, we sang the beatles songs, and she jumped up. i do believe deep down inside, she was enjoying it too. the charity works on the basis that music touches people in a way that nothing else can? true, because science tells us that the part of the brain that remembers music is

more robust, it works better than anything else, it remembers music more than it remembers language. and looking ahead to this concert, it's virtual, i will talk about how that works in a moment, but it's quite a line—up. works in a moment, but it's quite a line-up. yeah, incredible line-up, probably due to the fact that it's virtual, because we can now call on all these artists and they can perform for us where they are, in the comfort of their home or slows or wherever they live. i've seen some of the performances in advance and you'll see exotic locales, you'll see some very clever little devices that are used. i think people, because it's such a sombre time of year, not the type of christmas celebration, they really use their imaginations to make these performances fantastic. and what are

the practical difficulties in performing like this? everyone is having to do something different this year, so what difficulties does being virtual present to you? for me, it was really tricky, because i'm hosting the thing, so i have to do, as you well know in the business, i had to do wraparound is i have to host, and i'm performing, soi i have to host, and i'm performing, so i have to do at least three numbers, if! so i have to do at least three numbers, if i remember correctly. yeah, they want me to perform at three numbers, and i don't get a chance to do them until i'm doing the show! so for me, it's going to be really, really difficult, but do for others, it runs the gamut of difficulty factors, because some people are in very remote places, other people are just right in the

middle of london or los angeles or what have you, so it's tricky. i think people rose to the challenge because they decorated their little nooks where they performed, they did a really good job. i know in my house, my crew has already started bringing in all sorts of christmassy things, we'll see. and how difficult will it be without the audience as box i've seen you in concert and you thrive off that, so this will be very different? that's the part that is very difficult for me, because it many, is very difficult for me, because it any is very difficult for me, because it many, many years ago, i hosted a television show, and at the time, i was coached and my television coach, she was wonderful, and i try to recall some of the techniques that she taught me, but there didn't to

me as quickly. to say it's like riding a bicycle, well, this wasn't! i even made a joke with some of the people, because of the way that my houseis people, because of the way that my house is built and the way i want to stage it, i know i'm going to wind up stage it, i know i'm going to wind up being the lighting director and the gaffer and the whole bit because it's just tricky, my house is not set up for filming christmas specials. it's a recording studio, but a rock and roll pad, you know? i've no idea! i'll take your word for it! i do know you spend a lot of time in this country and i regard it as an anglophile anyway, because you very much involved with abbey road studios and they're involved this concert, and there is an irony that you and i are talking on this day, because it is 40 years ago that we lostjohn lennon, and that must be

going through your mind? it's really amazing, because i woke up this morning and they were talking about that. whenjohn morning and they were talking about that. when john lennon morning and they were talking about that. whenjohn lennon was shot, i was literally one block away and i still live there. i have a radio programme and! still live there. i have a radio programme and i was interviewing sir paul mccartney about a week ago, and we we re paul mccartney about a week ago, and we were just talking about all manner of things, and then ijust happened to bring up one interesting situation, and it wasn't aboutjohn being shot, it was aboutjohn doing some primal scream therapy. and i said, you know, paul, the place is right outside my window. and paul said, i remember when right outside my window. and paul said, i rememberwhen he right outside my window. and paul said, i remember when he did that! it's interesting that john said, i remember when he did that! it's interesting thatjohn lennon lived one block away from where i

lived one block away from where i live now, yoko still live there, and when i was at a restaurant on the corner, i saw all these people running to his building, they asked them what was going on, and they said john lennon was just shot. so we ran over to the building, which is one of the saddest things you can imagine. how much of an influence on you was he musically? huge. when i was talking to paul the other day, i said the very first song i learned to play on guitar was a day in the live, written by che and john, then he explained to me how the whole song came together, it was such a great interview. i have to say, i imagine me, a guy like me, coming from new york, really poorfamily, and then imitate at this age, i'm talking to sir paul mccartney as if we we re talking to sir paul mccartney as if we were the best of friends. and he

just opened up to me in a way what i would never have expected it. and it just so happened that the reason why i was able to share that story with him, because my girlfriend at the time, in the old days, we were really cool and liberal people, so my girlfriend also had another boyfriend! and her other boyfriends was a carpenter for the boyfriend! and her other boyfriends was a carpenterfor the lennons, and he was also into primal scream therapy, so he told john, and it was just fantastic how life had gone around and done a complete 360, and i was able to talk to paul mccartney about something no—one else in the world could have talked to him about. and actually, jules was really young, so even he didn't know about it, so this was something i could share with paul mccartney aboutjohn lennon that only paul and i knew, which was really fun. it's

fun that i'm sharing it with you now expect we should have been talking about the carol concert!|j expect we should have been talking about the carol concert! i know! what a great pleasure to talk to you, and good luck with it. thank you, and good luck with it. thank you very much, the concert will be wonderful and to the charity to support the cause is just wonderful, i hope lots of people tune in, but also know they are really hurting financially this year because they can't do what they normally do when it comes to fundraising, so thank you for having me. a great pleasure, thank you. the rugby league legend kevin sinfield has raised more than two million pounds, smashing his 77 thousand pound target, in his extraordinary effort to raise funds to tackle motor neurone disease. yesterday in 0ldham, he crossed the finishing line of his seven

marathon in seven days. he took on the challenge to support his friend and former leeds rhinos team—mate rob burrow, who has motor neurone disease. kevin sinfield completed each of the marathons in less than four hours. let's remind ourselves of his incredible effort. music you got a friend and me. to say it's unbelievable is a bit of an understatement. you're as fast as

my dad, but not quite. overdue to rememberthe my dad, but not quite. overdue to remember the good times, i want to get away from the dark moments. it's something from, i'm trying to be a good team— mate foxy something from, i'm trying to be a good team—mate foxy i know he would do it for me. if we can make their life a bit better in a bit more comfortable, that is a good thing to do. it's been incredible, so i think being here today, i had to carry on running. i had gone past, but i won't again. a remarkable achievement. next, the weather with darren bett. hello there. we haven't seen this much fog around today but it hasn't gone away completely just yet. this was one part of the country that was foggy yesterday, but today, earlier on, we did have some welcome sunshine. further north across the uk, skies have looked different. some rain falling,

a lot of cloud too. dominated by low pressure across northern parts of the uk, windy at times, some outbreaks of rain. quite wet still in parts of north wales, northwestern england, the rain heavier as it heads into the midlands this evening. ahead of that, fog thickens up in parts of east anglia, down to kent. that gets washed away by the rain moving down from the north, showers following on behind. clear spells developing in northern ireland, wales, the south west, so perhaps a few pockets of frost here and the odd icy patch too, but by the end of the night, temperatures generally above freezing. tomorrow morning looking different across east anglia and the south east, milder with the chance of rain. we are left with sunshine and showers through the day, especially in eastern areas. out to the west, after it clouds over, we get rain into northern ireland, western wales and the south west later in the day. temperatures typically at sixes, the winds fairly light as well.

the weather system coming in from the atlantic isn't going to get to eastern areas, just tends to bring most of the rain southwards into france. the weather front bringing it just gets cut in two, with rain moving southwards away from the uk and a bit of rain stuck in western parts of scotland. many places dry and cloudy, but pockets of light rain or drizzle across eastern coastal areas, temperatures only around 5 degrees. out to the west, closer to 9 degrees, with more rain in northern ireland by the end of the day. another system heading our way, stronger winds with it, but the heavier rain will move into france, where the warmest of the air will push away to. we're left with a lot of cloud on friday, pockets of mainly light rain or drizzle, sunshine rather limited, brightening up in northern ireland, wales and the far south west later with some showers, temperatures around 11, further east, around seven.

this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. the headlines... a momentous day in the global fight against coronavirus — 90 year maggie keenan is the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside trials. so begins the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs. we'll have the latest on the rollout from across the uk — as hundreds follow margaret's example. i would say go for it. it is free and it's the best thing that has ever happened at the moment, so do please go for it. if i can do it, well, so can you. it was really emotional. i can't tell you just how much emotion there

was in that vaccination centre. this is a truly historic day, a turning point in this pandemic. still disagreements on trade but the uk and eu have reached agreement on how rules in the brexit divorce deal will be implemented. this means that both sides have agreed rules for trade across the border in northern ireland after brexit — for issues including border checks. hello and welcome but first of all

we will take you to holyrood. scotland's deputy first minister and education secretary john swinney is making a speech on next year's scottish highers. lets cross over to the scottish parliament in holyrood to hear what he has to say. individual pupils will be submitted to the sqa by the 28th of may before certificates are awarded on the 10th of august. details will be published on the 2021 group today, a model that focuses on the work of young people during the year. let me be clear that no algorithm will be used in this exercise. it is a model that will be based on evidence subject to quality assurance and deliver a fair set of results. it's a model that has achieved a broad level of support across scotland was my educational personals and therefore announcing today that there will be no higher or advanced higher exams

in 2021 and instead we will adopt a new model that has been developed in base awards and teacherjudgment of evidence of learner assignment, which is safe, fair and better recognises the reality of the situation. i've taken action previously to support schools to respond with additional investment of £135 million which includes the recruitment of more than 1400 additional teachers and temporarily suspended inspections. however, an acknowledgement of the additional workload of assessment of national qualifications in this unique academic year in the absence of exams, i intend to make an exceptional one—off payment to teachers and lecturers who are critical in assessing and marking national five critical in assessing and marking nationalfive higher critical in assessing and marking national five higher and exact critical in assessing and marking nationalfive higher and exact —— advanced higher courses this year. you will progress this urgently with partners and lawyers, including discussing when and how the payment will be delivered. in addition, i

would ask that secondary schools prioritise all remaining in—service days' time to work together on this alternative model of certification for national convocations with many schools still having two or three of the five annual in—service days left. i will not state the future of our hire few with my pupils whether they get a place at college, university or work on whether they we re university or work on whether they were affected by covid. it could lead to unfair results for our poorest pupils. this could lead to people —— pupils mfuture is being blighted through no fault of their own which are simply not fair. that isjohn swinney own which are simply not fair. that is john swinney in own which are simply not fair. that isjohn swinney in the scottish parliament announcing there will be no hires or advanced highers next yearin no hires or advanced highers next year in 2021. we will have much more on that throughout the afternoon but now let's talk about the vaccine. it's being called v day — the long awaited start of the uk's

vaccination programme. at half past six this morning, at a hospital in coventry, 90 year old maggie keenan made history when she became the first person in the uk to be given a coronavirus vaccine outside a clinical trial. and that was just the beginning — in the hours since then, hundreds more people have been given the jab — as the national health service's biggest vaccination campaign gets underway. borisjohnson has thanked health workers and scientists — but urged the public to remain cautious. the uk has an initial supply of 800,000 vaccines to be given over the next few weeks to people on the high priority list — including the over—80s, care home workers and nhs staff. 50 hospitals in england have been chosen as vaccination "hubs" — sites where the jab will be administered. in scotland, there will be 23 vaccination sites, including all major hospitals and in the highlands. the welsh government is promising to administer six—thousand doses of the vaccine by the end of this week. and in northern ireland, where there's currently a two—week lockdown, 25,000 doses of the vaccine have arrived. the firstjab has was administered in belfast to a 28 year old nurse. this report is from our health correspondent sophie hutchinson — and a warning it contains flashing images.

90—year—old margaret keenan, being prepared for her coronavirus vaccine this morning. a modest scene at this hospital in coventry, yet one on which rests the hope, notjust of a nation, but also much of the world, to finally free ourselves of the virus and it felt good. all done. cheering and applause. it was fine, i wasn't nervous at all. it was really good. i'd say go for it. go for it, because it's free and it's the best thing that's ever happened... ..at the moment.

so, please do go for it. that's all i say, you know. if i can do it, so can you. and becoming the first person to receive the jab in the uk's vaccination programme attracted quite the cry. i did this all the time, i have done hundreds of vaccinations but never with such interest and people wanting to know what's going on and wanting to actually witness it. so it was really surreal. from nurses in belfast to 90—year—olds in bristol, the vaccination programme was rolled out across all parts of the uk today and for those who were behind it, it was a landmark moment. it was really, really emotional. i cannot tell you just how much emotion there was in that vaccination centre. this is a truly historic day, a turning point in this pandemic, another world first for the nhs, the start

of the largest vaccination programme in our history. and to see the roll—out, the prime minister returned to saint thomas hospital in london where several months back, he had been treated for coronavirus. latest figures for the office for national statistics, suggest deaths of a 20% above average in the last week of november and mrjohnson stressed the need for caution. i urge people to contain their inpatients. it is a very, very exciting moment but there's still a lot of work to be done and a lot of discipline to be maintained. cheering and applause. i think i will have a little rest after this when i go to the ward and then i'll phone the family. i'm going home this afternoon. so that's it then. and the hospital, they are wonderful. i am going to miss them really. all the attention i have been getting.

but margaret will be back in just 21 days for her second injection. that will give her the full protection and by the end of the year, millions of other elderly people and health care workers will also be given the jab, perhaps the best possible gift this winter. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. well we can now speak to someone who has had the vaccination. john pollard from brighton received it this afternoon at sussex county hospital. john and his daughter lynda join me now. just describe for us what it was like to be one of the first people in the country to get the vaccination. i was very pleased that at they rang and asked me to, for the vaccination because it enables

me to think there's a future there for me. i connected it all goes smoothly? just describe what it was like to have the vaccine. —— did it all go smoothly? it was well organised, yes. do you see this as a historic one? yes. there is a future now, we know that. linda, just tell us how you feel when seeing john get the vaccine. it's obviously a very important day for you and your family. i wasn't allowed to go in with him because of the covid situation but just with him because of the covid situation butjust a relief, really, that he can wander down the paper shop now and get his own paper which he hasn't done for months. he really has been quite isolated, so i think once he's had his second one, it will make things a little easier.

when is the second one? is it due in three weeks? yeah, 28. just describe what life has been like with all the restrictions that you had to endure for the last few months because of the coronavirus pandemic? very lonely. i've started talking to myself. do you feel like this is going to change things so that next year is going to be a much, better year is going to be a much, better year than 2020 has been?” year is going to be a much, better year than 2020 has been? i sincerely hope so, yes. i've got other worries as well, having a shoulder operation on the 31st of this month, so... that got put off because he was due to go... december is pencilled in.

it's less to worry about so it should be covered by then. just describe how important it is for you asa describe how important it is for you as a family. john told us how lonely it has been. will this help bring you altogether next year?” it has been. will this help bring you altogether next year? i hope so, yes. yeah. since the second lockdown, he's been in my bubble, so we have been able... i have been able to go into his house and he's been able to come to mind. it's not been able to come to mind. it's not been quite as bad as the very first one that no one was allowed. my foot son got food drops off as his doorstep because we couldn't go out. but we have this bubble and it's been a little easier. it's easier to get on the bus. there are people who say they are nervous about having the vaccine. people on social media

are spreading all sorts of conspiracy theories about the vaccine. what is your message out there to people watching you? go and get it. i've never worried about vaccinations, i've had plenty in my life, go for it. if it saves lives and we all get back to normal. how are you feeling? any after—effects? not yet. they say there could be a few but nothing serious. pleased to hear it. so good luck to you with the other operation you have mentioned as well. and many thanks to both of you for being with us. all 11 areas living under scotland's toughest level four coronavirus restrictions are to be downgraded to level three. the changes, which will take place from friday, will allow non—essential retail and hospitality

to reopen, two weeks ahead of christmas. the first minister nicola sturgeon said prevalence of the virus has "fallen significantly" in all 11 areas in west and central scotland in level 4, but warned against complacency. researchers have confirmed that oxford/astrazeneca covid vaccine is safe and effective, giving good protection. the paper, assessed by independent scientists, sets out full results from advanced trials of over 20,000 people and has been published in the lancetjournal. regulators, who will have seen the same data, are considering the jab for emergency use. our health reporter philippa roxby is here. explain the significance. we heard

the data from the phase three trials of the vaccine and now the floor data has been published. it confirms what we knew. this vaccine is safe and effective. it protects against illness in 70% of people and there is no hospitalisations or severe disease. this backs up what we thought we knew because they have ordered doses of this vaccine and it's how it will get through this process quite quickly. and they will be analysing it very carefully. there's a couple of things we didn't know, which is that most of the participants in the study of 23,000 people were under the age of 55 so at the moment, they don't have quite enough data to say how well it works in older age groups, but that is something they will be able to build up something they will be able to build up over time. the immune response...

there is a hint it could resist transmission of the disease which has been hinted at before and potentially they don't know how long that it they will analyse it over time. how long before we get full regulation of the oxford vaccine? we hope it will be in the coming weeks. the oxford researcher said today that they hope it will be soon, before christmas, and it will add to the pfizer vaccine which has been rolled out today and give the uk and most of the world a choice of vaccines which has only —— is only going to end the pandemic in the long run. the british government and european union have reached agreement on implementing the rules on the uk's withdrawal from the eu.

it means the british government will now remove controversial parts of its internal market bill which were criticised as breaking international law. in a tweet, the cabinet office minister michael gove said that both sides had come to ‘an agreement in principle' with his eu counterpart, maros shefcovic on outstanding issues, including the northern ireland protocol. the internal market bill would have overridden parts of the withdrawal agreement, and could have resulted in a breach of international law. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley is at westminster. just explain the significance in the context of the wider hopes for a trade deal. it's important to point that out. this is part of how the eu leaves the european —— uk leaves the european union rather than the bit you haven't figured out which is how we trade with them in the years to come. what has been sorted out today is the northern ireland protocol, which is basically how some of the

complicated relationships are going to work in the next few years. you rememberthe to work in the next few years. you remember the big questions last year, one of them was how we avoid a ha rd year, one of them was how we avoid a hard border in northern ireland and one of the ways that will happen is through this protocol which will allow some checks on goods which go from great britain to northern ireland and it's designed to stop checks at the border between northern ireland and the republic. for months, the uk government and european union have in trying to figure out some of the rules around that, and it looks like we... have not seen the details yet but they will matter to northern ireland businesses. the important thing is the two sides have agreed and that means these really controversial pieces of legislation which would have allowed the uk to break international law by making unilateral decisions which went against the withdrawal agreement, are now going to be dropped. that matters in the context of the other

pa rt of matters in the context of the other part of the trade talks, which removes one of the things europe was really unhappy about. they thought created a buyers will in these negotiations and led to some questions over whether the uk could be trusted. hopefully that will now allow some of that goodwill to return. however, as we were saying yesterday and seeing all day today, there are still some big stumbling blocks in the trade talks. we know fisheries and trade rules, the way some of those rules are governed are big stumbling blocks that remain. they are not going away. what matters now is whether there is a political will to try and overcome them. negotiators have been meeting today to set out things they cannot agree on. later this week, the prime minister, the european commission president ursula von de leyen will discuss them and the big question then is whether politicians are prepared to compromise in some way

that allows them to get the trade deal over the line. well as we've been hearing the deal over the withdrawal agreement is separate to the negotiations over a trade deal. germany's ministerfor europe michael roth chaired a meeting of european affairs ministers earlier, who were briefed by the eu's chief brexit negotiator, michel barnier. he told reporters that no new progress had been made in the trade talks. the current state of play, as you all know, there is no substantial progress. as before, there are fundamental disagreements, the level playing field, government and fisheries. the only thing that is new is this, the president of the european commission ursula von de leyen and the uk prime minister borisjohnson will be meeting in the next few days in order to attempt once again to agree on the key subjects to bridge the gap and reach the agreement. will this succeed? as before, this remains totally uncertain.

but today, we emphasised once again that of course all 27 member states of the european union want an agreement but not at any cost. in the past hour mr sefcovic, who co—chairs the eu—uk joint committee with michael gove, has been giving a press conference in brussels. given the limited time before the transition period ends, it was essential to reach a shared understanding on these questions so that the withdrawal agreement can be fully operational as ofjanuary one, 2021. our objective has been clear

all along, to protect the good friday belfast agreement, maintain peace, stability and prosperity, and preserve the integrity of the eu's single market. 0ur europe correspondent nick beake is in brussels. tina mckenzie is the chair of the federation —— 0ur europe correspondent nick beake is in brussels. does that change the mood music as we reach a climax of the conversations? it is certainly a good sign. the factory fat michael gove on the pressure site today and some of his counterparts treating photographs, the same ones of them standing shoulder to shoulder albeit ata standing shoulder to shoulder albeit at a socially distanced distance, with flags in the background, warm word saying, yes, we've done this, we had trade talks this year on this

very specific element. let's be honest. he's been frosty for most of this year. transitioning into the bigger talks, i don't think people are confident about them. it's a different kettle of fish because the two sides are not showing any indication in the eu is saying the uk doesn't so overcoming those two

fundamental thank you very much indeed. tina mckenzie is the chair of the federation of small businesses in northern ireland. 0ne one of the point —— what are the implications of this agreement today? it's been very worrying for business and the impact on the economy has been very negative because we didn't really know what would happen in three—week. to remove goods from gb into ireland and vice versa? understanding they have an agreement is reassuring that what we need to understand is how they've got around the issues, the really difficult issues that were there, but i have to say, the joint committee seemingly as they have an agreement on this until tomorrow.

what details will you be looking out for? we will be looking out for the actual detail around how is it that we protect the eu's internal market, how will they get into scotch whisky. how does the eu ensure we go —— make that doesn't go directly into the republic of ireland and into the republic of ireland and into the republic of ireland and into the eu's market? the easiest way to sort that out would be to have a full eu trade agreement which hasn't been announced yet. but we have this as a foundation that ensures the goods can move freely around the united kingdom but also north, south, any divide. what about a trade deal? do you see that is likely or possible, probable? it's

a lwa ys likely or possible, probable? it's always been possible but it was all surrounded desire to do the deal. every deal requires compromise on all sides and like most eels, northern ireland has gone to the wire over the deadlines previously on lots of deals being done around political scenario, so we are quite familiar with the of getting close to the wire and we like to see the prime minister come out with a trade deal that is substantive to really ensure that the united kingdom economy is not hit by being all off on its own and ensuring importantly for us northern ireland's small business economy is not left outside of both the united kingdom's advantage and the advantage of being pa rt advantage and the advantage of being part of the eu. we are quite unique. we are still part of the united kingdom in many other ways so they had to find a solution for northern ireland. i would expect it is the

prime minister who has to stand up and announce that one. really good to talk to you. we have just had in the latest coronavirus figures for the latest coronavirus figures for the united kingdom. 616 deaths with covid on the death certificate within 28 days of that, so 616 deaths, that is up from 189 yesterday although the monday figure is quite often lower, relatively low because of a lag in reporting every weekend, so deaths up to 616 and a number of cases actually down to 12,282 from 14,718, down to 12,282, so cases down but deaths up on yesterday. the scottish government has announced it is cancelling next year's higher and advanced higher exams. the scottish education secretary john swinney made the announcement this afternoon

in the scottish parliament. 0ur correspondent in glasgow is jamie mcivor. just talk us through the significance of this and how you think this announcement will be received. this is a major change indeed by the scottish government. this means of course there will be no exams and schools in scotland two yea rs no exams and schools in scotland two years ina no exams and schools in scotland two years in a row. the original plan was that there would be no exams for the national fives, the was that there would be no exams for the nationalfives, the collocations often obtained in fourth year, but there would still be exams for the hires in the golden standard exams, the ones which often lead to university entry. that's what the scottish government announced two months ago but today came a big change who no exams for the hires or ink -- -- change who no exams for the hires or ink —— —— advance tires this year. the reason the scottish government says it is doing this is for fairness to students. many students

have had their learning disrupter, perhaps because they've had to isolate all their teachers have been off self isolating. i've conditions who have so far lost as much as four weeks because of this however the majority of students have not actually faced disruption, so there will be some debate as to whether this is the right thing a lot because many of the problems which have been faced in recent weeks are problems which could have been anticipated by connect over however the largest teacher's union and some of the opposition parties in scotla nd of the opposition parties in scotland including labour, lib dems and scottish greens, handle in urging cancellation of the exams, —— had all been urging. they are going from teacher estimates instead but all we be no algorithm used which was quite controversial back earlier on this year when an algorithm was used to validate future's grades and

it was said it went against people in disadvantaged areas would lead to a swift change so people got at least the greater teacher recommended. thank you very much for that update. plenty more coming up in the next 30 minutes. now, darren bett has the weather. hello there. most of the fog has lifted today but through this evening at the first part of the night, it will thicken up across parts of east anglia, down into kent. ahead of all the showery rain which is making its way down from the north to the midlands and eventually towards the south—east and east anglia, lifting the fog eventually. clear skies developing in northern ireland, wales and the south—west we are the winds are falling lighter and may be a few pockets of frost. generally, temperatures will be above freezing by the morning. we have some rain early on across east anglia, perhaps the south—east move away and things will brighten up in many areas with some sunshine, showers. that will come later in the day which will come into northern ireland, the west and the south—west of england. ahead of that, temperatures will be around 6—7 c and for many eastern areas, those are the numbers we will keep

ahead for the days ahead. staying cloudy, patchy, mostly light rain around on friday. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: a historic day in the global fight against coronavirus — 90—year—old margaret keenan is the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside trials. it's the first of 800,000 doses of the pfizer/biontech vaccine that will be dispensed in the coming weeks as part of the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs. i say go for it. because it's free, and it's

the best thing that's ever happened at the moment, so do please go for it, that's what i say. if i can do it, so can you. let's return to news today that the uk has begun to roll out the pfizer/biontech vaccine, with the first person receiving their firstjab this morning in coventry. the health secretary has been to one of the hospitals involved in the roll—out in milton keynes. let's hear what matt hancock had to say. i've is my belief this vaccine was going to arrive. people throughout this year, it will never happen, no vaccine for coronavirus has ever been developed. i always believed the scientist would do theirjob and now the nhs is doing itsjob and

help is here. but there's still time to get this rolled out and it's so important that everybody sticks by the rules, what we know works to suppress this virus, while we get thisjob done. suppress this virus, while we get this job done. are you 100% confident this job done. are you 10096 confident that the distribution of this vaccine will be smooth in the coming weeks and months and won't be major delays? i have no doubt the nhs is up to the enormous task of rolling out to this vaccine, but we know it is an enormous task and the nhs hasa know it is an enormous task and the nhs has a vaccination programmes are all the time. the annual flu vaccination, this year reached 30 million people, but this is bigger and harder, so there will be complications and it will be challenging, but i have no doubt the nhs is up to it. are you worried that some have been claimant that britain is based with its vaccine deployment when we should be celebrating an international vaccine

effort? are really proud of what we have been doing to have this first roll—out of a clinically approved vaccine. it is based on the best international science, german scientist and an american company working with british regulators in the nhs to get this done, so it's a team effort. what we need to do now is to come forward when you are asked to by the nhs to get vaccinated and all stick by the rules, because it will take some time over the coming months to get this rolled out, to get manufactured, to get it into people's arms. in the meantime, we have to keep doing what we all know works to suppress the virus. what your plans to overcome scepticism the vaccine? i'm really glad to see, there are few months when we've been working on this, the proportion of people who say they will take the vaccine has been rising steadily, and international service to the uk

has one of the highest likelihoods of people saying they will take the vaccine. and that's good news. but clearly, we need people like me, but for clinicians who are the real experts in this to make sure people have the answers to the questions they want and the they need is. that's matt hancock on the latest on the vaccine and a historic day in the vaccine and a historic day in the uk's fight against coronavirus. now for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. world cup winner steve thompson is one of eight former professionals who claim the sport has left them with permanent brain damage, and they are ready to start legal action against rugby union authorities for negligence. they have all been diagnosed with early signs of dementia. the law firm representing them say they are working with over 100 other players as well. thompson, who is 42, was capped 73 times by england, but struggles to recall his

greatest moment, in 2003. i cannot remember being in australia at all. i can't remember the whole situation of the world cup. i've never watched those games, so i sat down to watch them and it was like i was watching the game of england playing, i could see me there are but i wasn't, because it's not me. it's bizarre, people talk about stories and since the world cup i talk to lads who were there, and you can pick up stories, but it's not to be me being there. i can't remember any of the games whatsoever. that was supposed to be in such a big thing in my life, and it'sjust not there. i spoke to a specialist, and he said the best way to explain it as it is like you are a camera and some on a stick in the film out. so the camera there but not recording. 0ther the camera there but not recording. other times, your head might get a bit better so the film goes back in

and starts recording again and then you get another band and suddenly you're missing, and that is what happens, there are big slots that just aren't there. it is understood a letter of claim, amounting to millions of pounds in damages, will be sent next week to the governing bodies for english and welsh rugby and also world rugby. the rfu say they are declining to comment because they haven't received any legal documents yet, and there has been a similar response from world rugby, but they say they back the processes that we have implemented in line with the latest evidence and science to protect players. the 13 barbarians players that breached covid protocols, causing the cancellation of their twickenham test against england in october, have been hit with a range of bans and fines and also ordered to complete community work. the former england captain chris robshaw was one of the party that left the team hotel in london over the course of two evenings and also lied about their whereabouts. he's been suspended for four weeks, fined two weeks wages and given 50 hours of community work. the rfu say, "the sanctions reflect the seriousness of the charges, "which include behaving in a way that ignored

"what the public at large and the rugby community "were complying with and deliberately "compromising an investigation being carried out." just three games into the domestic season, sale sharks' director of rugby steve diamond has quit with immediate effect. he had been in charge for ten years and says he's taken the decision to step away from the business for personal resaons. they narrowly missed out on the play—offs last season but were seen as one of the main rivals to the champions, exeter chiefs. he says, "this is the perfect moment to hand over to someone else, "given the club is now stable and in a great position to compete "at the highest level." skills coach paul deacon will take over first—team duties. could be a nervy night for manchester united in germany. it's their final group game in the champions league and they need a point away at rb leipzig to be sure of reaching the last 16. they are level on nine points with the german side, and also paris saint—germain. if united fail to progress, they would drop down

into the europa league. it is something that we want, games like this. it is a tradition for manchester united. we never make it easy for ourselves, of course. we look at the games, especially the away game againat istanbul, we could have taken three points, but that is just the way we do things! we do make it hard for ourselves, that has been ever since i played, and that is a long, long time ago. chelsea are also playing this evening, but no pressure on them, they are sure of topping their group whatever happens against krasnodar. that's all the sport for now. let's get more analysis on the breaking news that the uk government says it will withdraw controversial measures, including michel barnier, according to reuters, has told the european

affairs ministers today that a at no—deal outcome is more likely than sealing a new trade deal with the uk before the end of the year. so, michel barnier saying that a no—deal outcome is more likely than a deal. lot of talk about whether it's 50/50 or whatever, he's saying that the odds are there won't be a deal, effectively. according to reuters, quoting sources, so we haven't got that absolutely nailed down. let's get more analysis on the breaking news that the uk government says it will withdraw controversial measures, including those affecting northern ireland, from its internal market bill after coming to an agreement with the eu on all future aspects of the brexit withdrawal agreement. 0ur reality check correspondent chris morris is here with me now. more on that any minutes, but michel barnier, in terms of the wider trade deal, saying it doesn't look good? we know it's a difficult moment and

we heard last night from downing street that things are looking extremely tricky. we have to take it all with a pinch of salt, deep breath and see where it goes. we know they come down to some very tricky issues but the other news we hear today is that the mood music in some respects it is good, because we do have this agreement about the implementation of what was agreed on northern ireland in the brexit withdrawal agreement, which has been a separate negotiation between michael gove and his counterpart maros sefcovic. they have reached an agreement in principle and that is important. northern ireland just won't have a complex place in this new system where it will be part of the uk's customs territory but remain in the eu single market when it comes to goods. the whole point of this new system, where northern ireland is treated as a special case, is to avoid a heart border, we've been speaking about this since

2016, between northern ireland and the republic of ireland in the eu. —— avoid a heart border. they have reached an agreement in principle on how the protocol will operate in practice. we haven't had the detail yet, but i think for companies, that trade between northern ireland and great britain and northern ireland and the eu, it will be important news. what will it mean in terms of checks? one of the things they've say they've great is how goods arriving from great britain will be checked at northern ireland ports. that is one of things the northern ireland protocol says, particular there is emphasis on food of animal origin, so essentially meat and dairy produce, and huge amounts goes across dairy produce, and huge amounts goes a cross every dairy produce, and huge amounts goes across every day in supermarket lorries. would have to be checked at a border control posts in northern ireland, at belfast and the port of lana. today statement say they have a great and how that will happen, and the important thing about that

pa rt and the important thing about that part of the processes that are supposed to take place whether or not a free trade has agreed to. so for a that operate on that route, this will, very belatedly, give them more detail about how that's supposed to work. they say it is too late for them to implement a new system late for them to implement a new syste m o n late for them to implement a new system on the 1st of january already, but at least, hopefully tomorrow, michael gove will speak in the house of commons, they will have more practical detail about what they are expected to do. and this within the context of these continuing negotiations for a trade deal. how much time is left for that, realistically? not much. i think it's important to stress, if there were to be a free trade deal, it would help overall very much the situation in northern ireland, because one of the things they northern ireland protocol says is that if goods are sent from great britain into northern ireland and deem to be at risk of moving on into

the european union, into the republic of ireland and then perhaps on into continental europe, then it ta riffs have to on into continental europe, then it tariffs have to be imposed upon them. those tariffs could then be reclaimed if the goods stay in northern ireland, but this was a sensitive issue and again, they say in principle, they have agreed on how that system is going to work at how that system is going to work at how goods will be deemed to be at risk. another couple of things they have reached an agreement on, one is export declaration, but for goods moving the opposite direction. these are export summary declarations, forms which they northern ireland protocol technically says should be felt in every time you move something from northern ireland into great britain. the general election campaign last year, borisjohnson said that did not have to happen, which is not what the letter of the law says in the agreement. so either they have reached an agreement or he has persuaded them of a way in which

those fonts not have to be filled in. if that is a win for him, pledging me to companies in northern ireland that they would not have to fill in extra forms. finally, state eight in northern ireland, we almost lost it! this complicated issue we know is part of an overall free trade agreements, what are going to be the rules for subsidies for companies in northern ireland, to what extent or companies northern ireland have to follow eu rules on state aid, all wrapped up in the white argument about sovereignty. thank you. german prosecutors say they remain convinced that a convicted paedophile, currently in prison for other offences, kidnapped and killed madeleine mccann. they're continuing to build a case against the man, known as christian b. from berlin, jenny hill reports. it's six months since german detectives made a dramatic revelation — madeline mccann, they believe, was kidnapped and killed

by a convicted german paedophile. after this tv appeal, they received hundreds of tip—offs about christian b, who's in a germanjailfor drug smuggling and the rape of a tourist in the algarve. but they still don't have enough to charge him. even so, this prosecutor told us, they're sure they have their man. translation: if you knew the evidence we have, you would come to the same conclusion as i do, but i can't give you details because we don't want the accused to know what we have on him. these are tactical considerations. the six—month investigation has yielded new evidence of other alleged crimes. christian b lived here in portugal on and off for years. prosecutors now believe he committed at least three other sex crimes here, two them against children. he may be charged early next year but progress on madeline mccann's case is slower. i can't promise, i can't guarantee, that we have enough to bring a charge, but i'm very confident,

because what we have so far doesn't allow any other conclusion at all. there have been so many false leads, so many empty hopes, and still a family waits to find out what happened to their little girl. the gambling industry has welcomed a major review of uk gambling laws, which the government says will protect children and young people in a digital age. from next october, the minimum age for lottery players will be raised from 16 to 18. ministers said the change would ensure the lottery does not become a gateway to problem gambling. let's get more now on the news that the uk has begun its mass vaccination programme against the coronavirus. so, what do we know about the roll—out of this first vaccine, who will get it and how does it actually work? here's our health correspondent anna collinson you will have it in your left hand side... a vaccine has always been our best

hope of life returning to normal. it'll be months before we see its positive effects, but it's hoped today will mark the beginning of the end. the pfizer vaccine needs to be stored in freezing temperatures, so initially the roll—out is taking place at hospital hubs across the uk. elderly patients, workers in care homes and nhs staff are first in line. what we want to make sure is that as many people as possible are vaccinated, but that's going to take some time. it is a marathon, not a sprint, so while you are waiting to be called for your vaccine, please keep following the social distancing rules. work is also taking place to safely transport batches of vaccines to those deemed most vulnerable — care home residents. there are several versions of vaccines which attack the covid—19 spikes but in different ways. the pfizerjab uses the virus‘s genetic code found on the surface of the spike protein. this rna contains information about the virus, so when it's injected, the body is given

a preview of what covid looks like. it means if a person is infected, their body knows to attack, stopping them getting sick. 0ne unknown is whether the vaccine will stop the virus spreading. its creators admit it will be months before they have answers. that's too early to say at the moment. what we can say is you take this vaccine and in 95% of the cases you don't get symptoms and you are protected from symptoms, and that's what we can say today. two doses of the vaccine are needed and they have to be administered at least three weeks apart. you won't be fully protected until seven days after the second dose, so patients are being urged to complete the process. along with pfizer, the uk has also secured rights to six other vaccines, including the one by oxford university which is yet to be approved but is easier to store and move around. we, in may, did not know

which if any of these would work, and of those seven, one has been approved and we are dosing, two we have phase three efficacy so we would expect they would get approved, and two more are in phase three trials with readouts next year. vaccinating the uk is a huge logistical challenge but it's hoped the majority of those who are most at risk will be protected by spring. after that, it could be broadened out to other adults, with the hope of a new normal beginning. professor david salisbury is a former director of immunisation at the department of health and is now associate fellow of the global health programme at chatham house. thank you for being with us, and what a day. talk us through, from your point of view, the significance of this first vaccine being given to people in the uk? this is a really important start. it's going to give

us the chance now to protect people from this disease, stop deaths, stop the awful consequences of this infection, particularly in the vulnerable. there are going to be two strategies that have got to play through. the first is protecting the vulnerable, and that means that people who are older, people from 65 and upwards who have flu vaccine every year, they are the people we have to protect. people less than 65, with medical conditions, we need to protect them too. so, strategy one, protect the vulnerable, and when we've done that, it's one, protect the vulnerable, and when we've done that, its strategy two, stop the virus spreading. for that, we need to vaccinate younger, healthy people. what we need to do is match vaccine supplies against those ambitions. that is going to be tough. because we've got to know exactly how many doses are coming into the country every day, we've

got to know how many people are going to be eligible and we can get them to be vaccinated and they've got have to doses are. so the operational challenge is really big but it's a great start that we've actually got a vaccine that we've seen to be safe and seen to be effective. stay few days after we saw it get approval, it is going into people's arms, starting this morning in coventry, how impressed are you with the nhs logistics and actually rolling this out so quickly? there is a lot of people we are impressed with, we are hugely impressed with the scientists who have contributed to making this vaccine, hugely impressed with the clinical trials that have been done to show the vaccine is both safe and effective. the regulators have acted with great presence of mind to do thisjob as with great presence of mind to do this job as thoroughly as they

possibly can, and now the programme has started. this is the beginning. i would prefer to answer the question about how well the roll—out has gone when we have seen the impact on people are no longer time from coronavirus. indeed. and we need more than one vaccine, that is said time and time again because of the oxford vaccine, with hats and what it is about that today and its efficacy, and how hopeful are you that that is going to be rolled out soon and get regulatory approval? the regulators will want to pick over its very, very carefully, the result is that we've already seen today, and that were trialled a few days ago. and they are not that straightforward. we saw that, in the majority of the people in the trial, the vaccine was 62% effective, so six out of ten were protected. when they did so manipulation of the toes of the vaccine, then there were a

higher proportion of people protected, so that's all got to be unpicked, looked at very carefully, questions asked, do we need to figure studies, are there enough at data here to license the vaccine, who should be licensed for? and once those have been answered, then we had to make the decision about how to use the vaccine toxic so still some tough questions, they will get answered, we will know what to do. thank you forjoining us, many thanks. a nationwide strike in india has seen roads, railways and markets in parts of the country shut down, in support of farmers who are protesting against new agriculture laws. the government says the measures, which open the sector up to private players, will benefit farmers. rajini vaidya nathan reports from the protests near delhi. for days, farmers have

been protesting here at the delhi singhu border and thousands have gathered here. now, today, they are calling on the rest of india to join them in a national strike but why exactly is everyone so angry? farmers will become helpless. the whole control of the farming will go into the big corporates' hands. most of the people in the country's livelihoods are based on agriculture. that is why people are scared that they will control this food market and buy our crop at whatever price they want and sell at whatever price they want. the government says these new farm laws will actually open up opportunities but talk to people here, protesting, and they disagree. one of the big concerns is over pricing. at the moment, farmers generally sell their crops via wholesale markets which are controlled by the government and where they are offered

guaranteed prices, the msp, the minimum support price. with the markets opening up and farmers able to sell directly to big businesses, there is concern those guaranteed prices will, in the long run, end up going away and so will farmers' profits. the corporates will come, they will pay come, they will pay what they want to pay, not what the farmer wants to sell at. how do you feel that the future forfarming in india then? very scared. not just for me but for those farmers. they'll die. the protesters have been here for nearly two weeks and they've set up a camp and community here where they are giving out tea and biscuits for the morning. if you come with me, through the crowd, at a safe distance, you can see here as well that they are giving out supplies — toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps. you're sleeping in the cold, right? yes, we're sleeping in the cold.

how are you finding it? we have to be in this pain for the cause we are fighting. so far, talks between the farmers and the government seem to have failed to reach any sort of agreement and it looks like people here are going to be here for the long haul. they have set up community kitchens and people are cleaning the dishes. some people are staying on the back of their trucks, making them their temporary homes. hello there. translation: we've made this our home. we will fight for all our rights, whether it takes four years or more. we are here to stay. rajini vaidya nathan talking with farmers protesting near delhi. next, the weather with darren bett. hello there. most of the fog has lifted

today but through this evening at the first part of the night, it will thicken up across parts of east anglia, down into kent. ahead of all the showery rain which is making its way down from the north to the midlands and eventually towards the south—east and east anglia, lifting the fog eventually. clear skies developing in northern ireland, wales and the southwest, where the winds are falling lighter and may be a few pockets of frost. generally, temperatures will be above freezing by the morning. we have some rain early on across east anglia, perhaps the south—east move away and things will brighten up in many areas with some sunshine, showers. that will cloud over later in the day which will come into northern ireland, the west and the south—west of england. ahead of that, temperatures will be around 6—7 celsius and for many eastern areas, those are the numbers we will keep ahead for the days ahead. staying cloudy, patchy, mostly light rain around on friday.

this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. the headlines... a momentous day in the global fight against coronavirus. 90—year—old maggie keenan is the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside trials. the moment marks the start of the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the nhs. we'll have the latest on the roll—out from across the uk, as hundreds follow margaret's example. i say go for it. go for it because it's free and it's the best thing that's ever happened. please go for it, that's all i say, you know? if i can do it, well, so can you. ijust urge people to contain their impatience. it's a very, very exciting moment, but there's still a lot of work