hello, i'm ros atkins. this is outside source. let me take you straight to bloomington and delaware, where president—electjoe biden ‘s publicly introducing the health team —— wilmington delaware. publicly introducing the health team -- wilmington delaware. as all of you know, i know that out of our collective pain, we're going to find collective pain, we're going to find collective purpose to control the pandemic, to save lives and to heal asa pandemic, to save lives and to heal as a nation. today, i'm pleased to announce the team members who will dojust announce the team members who will do just that. a team of world—class

experts at the top of their fields, crisis testing, defined by a deep sense of duty, honour and patriotism. already ready to jump m, patriotism. already ready to jump in, they've been advising for a long time and they're going to be ready on day one to spare not a single effort to get this pandemic under control so we can get back to work, get back to our lives, get back to oui’ get back to our lives, get back to our loved ones. they'll leave the covid—i9 response across the government to accelerate testing, fix our supply chain and distribute the vaccine. they will work with my economic team because controlling the pandemic, delivering better health care and reviving the economy go hand—in—hand. they'll work with my foreign—policy and national security team because we can't only beat the virus here at home, it must beat the virus here at home, it must be obedient everywhere or it will come back to us again. —— it must be

beaten. i'm announcing in consultation with tony fauci, we've developed the first three initiatives once. initiatives my developed the first three initiatives my first 100 days will in the covid—19 virus. i can't promise that. but we did not get in this mess quickly, we aren't going to get out of it quickly. but i'm absolutely convinced that in the 100 days, we can change the course of the disease and change life in america for the better. first, my first 100 days will require a masking plan. everyone for the first hundred days of my administration to wear a mask. it will start with my sign in order on day one to require masks where i can under the law. federal buildings, travel on planes,

trains and buses. i'll also be working with governors and mayors to do the same in their states and cities. we're going to require masks wherever possible. but this goes beyond government action. so, as new president, i'm going to speak directly to the american people. we need your help. wear a mask forjust 100 days. it's the easiest thing you can do to reduce covid cases, hospitalisations and deaths. help yourself, your family and your community. whatever your politics are point of view. mask up for 100 days once we take office. 100 days to make a difference. it's not a political statement, it's a patriotic act. it won't be the end of our efforts, but it's a necessary , easy of our efforts, but it's a necessary, easy beginning, an easy start. secondly, this team will help

get at the last 100 million covid—19 vaccines, at least, in the arms of american people in the first 100 days. 100 million shots in the first hundred days. we'll follow the guidance of science and get the vaccines of those most at risk. that includes health care professionals, people in long—term care and as soon as possible, we'll include educators. this will be the most efficient mass vaccination plan in us history. i credit everyone who's gotten up —— us up to this point. but developing a vaccine is only one herculean task. distributing it is another herculean task. vaccines in another herculean task. vaccines in a file only work if we're injecting them into ourarm, a file only work if we're injecting them into our arm, and especially those most at risk. this will be one

of the hardest, most costly operational challenges in our nation's history. we need congress to fully fund vaccine distribution to fully fund vaccine distribution to all corners of the country. i'm encouraged by congress around a $900 billion economic relief package, which i've said is critical, but this package is only a start for more action early next year. we must also focus significant resources on direct public health response to covid—19. 0ur preliminary view of trump administration's vaccine distribution plans confirms media reports, without urgent action by this congress this month, to put sufficient resources and the vaccine distribution and manufacturing, which the... there is a real chance that after an early round of

vaccinations, the effort will slow install. let me repeat, we need congress to finish the bipartisan work under way now for millions of americans may wait longer to get the vaccine. much longer than they otherwise would have to wait to get the vaccine. look, we will need additional action next year to fund the rest of the distribution efforts. we also need the trump administration to act now, though, to purchase the doses it has negotiated with pfizer and maternal. and work swiftly to scale manufacturing to the us populations and the world —— pfizer and moderna. this can be fixed. if it is, my team will be able to get at least 100 million vaccinations done in my first 100 days. the third thing i'm going to ask in a hundred days, it

should be a national priority to get oui’ should be a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school. if congress provides them in school. if congress provides the funding we need to protect students, educators and staff, if states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all follow, then my team will work to see the majority of our schools can be opened by the end of my first 100 days. that's right. we'll look to have the most schools open that we can possibly in 100 days if congress provides the funding we need. it's not a secret how to do it. masking, vaccinations, opening schools. these are the three key goals for my first 100 days. i will still have much to do in the year ahead and sadly, much difficulty as well. we'll be far, farfrom done. yet, it's possible

that in 100 days, will be in —— will not be much further along in this fight. i'm grateful to the members of my coven team introduce to you now. “— of my coven team introduce to you now. —— covid team. i'm really proud of this group. the secretary of health and, i nominate javier. studio: all go back over what he was saying. all go back over what he was saying. a series of ambitious targets over his first 100 days in office. let's listen to it a little bit more. america's largest and most diverse cities. javier spent a career finding to expand access to health care, reducing racial health disparities, protecting the affordable care act and taking on powerful special interest to pray on

profit, from manufacturers to big tobacco. he will prevent tech to the sta cy‘s tobacco. he will prevent tech to the stacy's —— he will protect the safety. and he stood up for homeowners trying to pay their mortgages during these devastating economic times. there are things that he's already fought for and accomplish. as secretary, he will skilfully oversee the cdc and the fda, medicare and medicaid. no matter what happens in the supreme court, he will lead our efforts to build on the affordable care act, and work to dramatically expand coverage and take bold steps to lower drug costs. he is a key leader who leads a key agency, and charge of protecting the help of american people. he's also a first latino in

the hhs, the son of a working class family that came from mexico. a true public servant. who dedicated his career and service to the people in the service of this country we all love. the service coordinator of the covid—19 response team, i'm turning world —class covid—19 response team, i'm turning world—class manager and leader. known jeff world—class manager and leader. knownjeff for a world—class manager and leader. known jeff for a long time. world—class manager and leader. knownjeff for a long time. from the first and last it days of the obama— bite and white house. —— obama— biden white house. acting director for office of management and budget. he was there during the great recession as he went from crisis to recovery to resurgence in recession as he went from crisis to recovery to resurgence in eight yea rs. recovery to resurgence in eight years. he was there to lead the team and help the affordable care act and

get health care .gov up and working. that was a monumental vision, experience, fortitude and real expertise. well respected across the aisle and around the country. chairman of the board of children national medical centre, one of the world's talk children hospitals, jeff knows how to build and lead a team. how to identify and solve problems and how to fully immobilize the federal government on behalf of the federal government on behalf of the health, safety and prosperity of the health, safety and prosperity of the american people. thank you for be willing to do this. the surgeon general, i know mckay a man who could do any of these dogs, doctor murphy. —— any of these jobs. he could do any of these dogs, doctor murphy. —— any of thesejobs. he is a renowned physician and research

scientist. for me, a trusted adviser. this will be the second time serving as america's doctor having served in this role under president obama. during his tenure, he took on some of the most pressing public health issues we faced. excuse me. from the opioid crisis to threats to america's mental health. i've asked him to serve again as surgeon general. but with expanded responsibilities he will be a key public voice in the covert response to restore public trust. when you speak, people listen. they can see it in your eyes it's a really, really important thing to communicate now. he will also help

lead all government approaches to public health issues. we've talked a lot about the need to increase the focus on mental health. addiction and substance use. social and environmental detriments. the health and much more, so i'm really looking forward. i believe as well as any person, that can help resort the micro store faith in this country is a place of possibility. the son of indian immigrants who raise their children always believing in the promise of america. doctor murthy will be one of the most trusted advisers and i'm gratefulfor your new continuing to stay in public stores. —— public service. iappoint

rochelle wilensky. she is chief of investec ‘s disease in one of the country's most pre—eminent hospitals. a distinguished professor of harvard medical school in a world —class of harvard medical school in a world—class physician. one of the nation's foremost expert on te testing and eradication of viruses. she has served on the front line of the coven from conducting ground—breaking research including how to reach underserved communication. doctor walensky will work is instrumental. inspired her asa work is instrumental. inspired her as a young doctor to pursue her primary research in virus

containment. now, she will use her expertise against covid—19. she's uniquely qualified to but restore morale. to turn the tide. i concluded that i want it, we need it, covid—19 equity task force. the chair that, i appoint doctor marcella munoz smith, one of the country's foremost expert on health ca re country's foremost expert on health care disparity. a professor of medicine at yale school of medicine, founding director of yale's equity research centre and co—chair of my covid—19 transition advisory board. doctor nunez smith will provide care

to the communities most in need and affected by the pandemic. she will a nswer affected by the pandemic. she will answer that fairness and equity are at the centre of every part of our response. this is a centralfront in ourfight against response. this is a centralfront in our fight against the pandemic, and i'm grateful that doctor nunez—smith will lead us. finally, as both head of my national institute of allergy and infectious disease and my chief medical adviser and covid—19, i'm pleased to say doctor tony fauci will be a member of my coven team. he needs no introduction. the seventh president he will have served —— my covid team. we've known each other for served —— my covid team. we've known each otherfor a long time. almost before he asked, he said yes. i've

seen him take on hiv—aids, zeke, every infectious disease in between. —— zika. doctor fauci as truth telling, a fake tree it. —— a patriot. he tells me what i need to know, not what i want to know. this is my core covid health care team. before january 20, we will be adding more to oversee vaccine distribution, supply chain, testing and other key functions. to each of you on this team, you have my gratitude, and i mean that, for answering the call to serve and to yourfamilies, answering the call to serve and to your families, many of you are making real sacrifices. thank you. to yourfamilies, making real sacrifices. thank you. to your families, i making real sacrifices. thank you. to yourfamilies, i say making real sacrifices. thank you. to your families, i say thank you directly. we couldn't do this without them or without you, the

families supporting us. and to the american people, i know we've all had a lot of sleepless nights this year. so many of you have stared at the ceiling at night, worrying what happens? what happens if i move my insurance? what happens? going to be 0k? will insurance? what happens? going to be ok? will my family be ok? all i can tell you is the truth. we're in a very dark winter. things may well get worse before they get better. the vaccine may soon be available. we need to level with one another. it will take longer than we will like to distribute it to all corners of the country. we'll need to persuade enough americans to take the vaccine. many of them have become very cynical about it. it's daunting, but i promise you that

we'll make progress starting on day one. we didn't get in this mess quickly, it's going to take time to fix, but we can do this. that's the truth. i'm telling you the truth. it's what this team, vice president—elect harris and i always do. give it to you straight. this is the toughest challenge america's ever faced, the toughest challenge america's everfaced, and the toughest challenge america's ever faced, and we the toughest challenge america's everfaced, and we know the toughest challenge america's ever faced, and we know we can ove rco m e ever faced, and we know we can overcome and heal together as one nation. to all of you on the front lines, the health care professionals, first responders, grocery store workers, delivery truck drivers, educators, parents, i say thank you. we can do this. we can do this. and i thank you for everything you've done to get us through this crisis so far. we're never going to give up on you, i

promise you. and we'll never give up on our country. we can do this. there's nothing we've ever failed to do when we decided to do it together. that's america. to all those who have lost in the pandemic, all those who are sick and suffering, our hearts go out to you. many of us know what it's like. god bless you all and may god protect our troops. thank you for listening. i'd like to turn it over to the team, starting with our next secretary of health, javier. president—electjoe biden introducing his health team. he's already outlined his approach to tackling the pandemic. the three goals he set himself or the first hundred days of his presidency, getting americans to mask up. he says it wearing a mask is a patriotic act. his second goal is to get 100 million shots of the

covid—19 vaccine used in the first hundred days. he wants congress to provide funds. his third goal is to get kids back to school, he said the majority could be going back to school by the end of his first 100 days. he's asking congress to provide funding to support that and states to put in public health measures to support that. let's bring in the bbc‘s gary o'donoghue and washington, dc. quite a lot to ta ke and washington, dc. quite a lot to take in. what do you think is the most significant? those three main aims you just outline for the first 100 days, i really a sort of federal approach to mitigation and control. but we haven't seen that under the trump presidency. i think also a very stark warning he gave that if there isn't more money, he thinks there isn't more money, he thinks the plans at the moment risk a stalling of the roll—out of the vaccine if congress doesn't approve the money is looking at this month, and then more money next year. and

then really, sort of the overarching theme was a kind of imploring tone, i kind of pleading tone with the american people, sort of coaxing and encouraging them to do this together and to get past this in a way that we haven't seen at any point from donald trump in the last eight or nine months. and attempts to encourage people to draw back together and make a combined effort. gary, thank you very much. this is donald trump signing an executive order. there been questions and perhaps i can bring you in, gary. there have been questions about this orderable work in practical terms because some senior officials as a he doesn't have the power to ensure vaccine go to americans. yeah, it is

confusing because part of the executive order is also talking about how to distribute vaccines around the world to allies and to countries that need it. administration officials have been talking about this as being part of the america first strategy the president has vaunted right through his presidency. these are commercial contracts that these vaccines are being distributed under, and it's very difficult to say how the president put into theory... let me jump president put into theory... let me jump in because the president is about to say a words. thank you all. any questions? yes please. i'm wondering what your messages to the

american people given all the increasing cases so far. cdc puts out there guidelines, but i think the vaccine was goal. that was numberone the vaccine was goal. that was number one because that was the way it ends. once you do have an immunity you develop an immunity over the period of time, and immunity you develop an immunity overthe period of time, and i hear we're close to 15%. that is terrific, that's a very powerful vaccine. just tremendous progress has been made. one of the reasons we do show so many... and i've been saying this for a long time, so many cases, we have 200 million test. i think india is actually in second place wasjust a think india is actually in second place was just a fraction of that number. we're many times greater than the second country and india hasi.4 than the second country and india has 1.4 billion people, where our testing programme has been

incredible. we are actually coming out with new test very shortly that will make the process even easier, and you won't need doctors unnecessarily to do the tests. so, we have some incredible tests coming out ina we have some incredible tests coming out in a very short period of time. have encouraged americans not to travel in large gatherings. across the street, there have been holiday parties with many feeling some not wearing masks. they are christmas parties and frankly, we've reduced the numbervery parties and frankly, we've reduced the number very substantially. i see a lot of people wearing masks, and i would say i look out at the audience of those parties and i think it's a good thing. please, overhear.‘ of those parties and i think it's a good thing. please, overhear. a lot

of the distribution... why not include members of the bite and transmission team as part of this summit? we will have to see the next administration is because we one in swing states — — administration is because we one in swing states —— we won. so we have to see who the next administration is but whatever it is, will really benefit by what we've been able to do with this incredible science, all of the people that came up to lab technicians. the work that's been done has been incredible and it will be incredible for the next administration, and hopefully the next administration will be the trump administration. you can't steal hundreds of thousands of votes. you can't have frauds and deceptions and all the things they did and slightly when a swing state, and you just have to look at the numbers, look at what's been on tape, look at all the corruption and we'll see. you can't win an election like that, so hopefully the next administration will be the trump

administration, a continuation which has led us to the best employment numbers we've ever had. a rebuilt military, if you look at the tax reductions, they're the greatest in history. the regulations reductions, the greatest in history. it leads us to space force, which no one thought was possible. all the things we've done, and we were rewarded with a victory. let's see whether or not someone has the courage, whether it's a legislator or legislatures or whether it's a justice of the supreme court or a number of justices. let's see if they have the courage to do what everybody in the country knows is right. i received almost 75 million votes, the highest numberof almost 75 million votes, the highest number of votes almost 75 million votes, the highest numberof votes in almost 75 million votes, the highest number of votes in the history of our country for a sitting president. 12 million more than the 63 million we received four years ago. president obama received 3 million

less and one easily. i received 12 million more, which is a record. —— and won easily. they said that when the numbers came out, and the numbers came through machines and all those ballots were taken away and added, all you have to do is turnit and added, all you have to do is turn it on your local television set and you'll see what happened with thousands of ballots coming out from under tables, with all of the terrible things you saw. all you have to do is take a look and if somebody has the courage, i know who the next administration will be. i'll tell you what, life will be much easier for this country because of what we've done right now, and because of a lot of the people in this room, the job we've done to get the vaccine has been an modern—day miracle. and it's really been acknowledged as such, and i want to thank you and give you my love and thanks because you're very special people. good luck. you really set records, just like we've been doing

for four years. thank you very much. applause studio: at the president taking three questions. one was why didn't he invite the biden team. let's bring gary o'donoghue back in. the president asked about the biden team and then went on a riff about unsubstantiated claims on the election. it's astonishing. they are in mine, these are the very rare public comments he's making nowadays, and he's spent more than half of his time there reiterating the claims on the general election, which he did not win. reiterating some of the false claims that have not been substantiated in court, saying that he still hopes to be the next administration, talking about thousands of ballots being taken out from underneath the table. this is a vaccine summit, and the president is

still even a month on, repeating these conspiracy theories. i think it's quite an extraordinary display by the leader of the free world. before that risk, the first questions were relating to christmas parties and how people should gather at christmas itself. again, the president really declined to offer any advice on how americans should behave. he said they should follow the cdc guidelines, that's correct. he was asked about christmas parties at the white house. he said he sees at the white house. he said he sees a few people wearing masks. he said that was a good thing but he didn't go anyway to suggest people alter their behaviour. so really putting all their eggs in one basket, whereas all the scientists tell us

even though the vaccines are rolling out, we still have months of mitigation to do to really keep down the numbers of infections and keep down the numbers of deaths. white mentions some further questions about the unsubstantiated claims about the election from have we seen any shift among senior republicans about what he's saying isn't true? not a great deal. i mean, one of the newspapers here question, sent a questionnaire out to every republican member of congress, and about 10% acknowledged thatjoe biden had won the election. so, people are still, republicans are still in some sense frightened of the presidents, and what he can do in terms of their electoral prospects in the future. he still has a hold of this republican party in that important sense, and that's why i think you're seeing this reluctance to recognise

reality. all right, gary, think of a much indeed. so we heard two quite different statements, one from president—electjoe biden outlining his three main goals for first hundred days of his presidency starting in january. hundred days of his presidency starting injanuary. we then heard from president trump who said spends most of his statement talking about the election which he still thinks he's one. as we have just been discussing, donald trump has spent the last 35 days trying to prove that widespread fraud delivered joe biden his victory, he is yet to offer any evidence to back up that claim. and now the process of this election hits a crucial deadline. this is something called the safe harbour provision. it's the date by which all state—level election challenges like recounts and audits have to be completed. it means that after today, state courts will be more likely to throw out any new lawsuit challenging the election results. to be honest, that's been happening anyway, the term campaign of already lost or challenges that in michigan, pencil bennett,

wisconsin, georgia, arizona, nevada, indeed, in georgia this week, the result has been recertified after a second recount. for third time, joe biden is the winter. this was the moment it was announced yesterday. we are passing today per se partner status commits not done as an election, but it's getting very very hard, especially without any evidence being offered to show the results may have been different. —— we have now counted legally cast ballots three times. and the results remain unchanged. the 14th of december is when they meet in the capitals to formally cast their votes. presidents are elected by winning states can remember coming in taking the electoral college votes that come with those states. then 6january is when congress enters electoral votes into the record, and the senate

president announces the vote tallies. and finally we get to 20 january which is inauguration day. professor rebecca green, william and mary law school in virginia. thank you very much for your time. you don't make it simple in the us. know come i'm afraid it's incredibly income to get it. —— comp look at it. i assume when they go to the bell box on november three that they are infact bell box on november three that they are in fact casting about for president, but that is not however system works. explain to us the concept of safe harbour for most of our viewers, and i confess myself, where learning about it for the first time. yes, so federal law gives states the ability to kind of walk in their results if they have finished all of the cases and challenges that may come after elections by today. and so it's a strange deadline because it's not actually a deadline after which electoral votes no longer count, it's just sort of a safe harbour provision where states can voluntarily kind of wrap things up

and require congress to accept the results that are sort of finalised by that date. as we have just been hearing, the president still very much believes that he won this election. still intends to contested, but what routes are available to him now that we've reached the safe harbour point. so, there is no reason that states processes that offer candidates ways to challenge results can't continue, but it is the case that courts and other political actors will sort of start to look more and more askew as each day passes, and particularly since we've passed the safe harbour deadline after today. sorry, so doesn't stop litigation, it's not like all litigation must cease, but it becomes much harder as each deadline passes. then we move forward to this moment when the electoral college representatives cast bareboat. is it certain that they will all cast the vote in line

with how states voted? yes. so very happily, we had a

at the us all the evidence has simply not been critical, as any court has found. all the evidence has simply not been critical, as any court has foundm is extraordinary that i'm still having to say this to you. but having to say this to you. but having shown you the president of america saying how the coronavirus event that his policies had rewarded him with a victory. all right, let's leave at the moment and turned to brexit. to brexit now still no trade deal —

but here's a tweet from president of the european commission ursula von der leyen saying... partnership agreement being another way of describing a trade deal. so mrjohnson is brussels—bound tomorrow. today, he had this to say. it is hopeful, but there did come a moment when we did have to acknowledge it is time to draw sumps, and that's just the way it is. we will prosper mightily, as i've always said, under any question. no crediting phrases for germany's ministerfor germany's minister for europe, germany's ministerfor europe, but the message was similar today, no—deal is an option for the eu. it's good that every effort is undertaken to find a sustainable and good solution. we want to reach a deal, but not at any price. what we need is political well in

london. let's bring in jessica parker, with us for westminster posed adjust cup. what do we know about the format in brussels tomorrow? not like him i have to say. we know that borisjohnson will head off to brussels and there will bea dinner head off to brussels and there will be a dinner with him and her ursula von der leyen, the european commission president. now, of course, they have been having a number of phone calls recently, there was one last night and there was one on saturday night, which really didn't lead to any kind of breakthrough in terms of these talks come in the familiar sticking point on fisheries, governance and competition rules when it comes to trying to forge this future relationship trade agreements between the uk in the eu remains. so, they are going to try and see if they can make some progress in person by meeting over this dinner. now, the contents presumably of what they're going to talk about will be they're going to talk about will be the same because those issues have been the same for a number of weeks,

if not months now. but i suppose it's all part of that final push, and it is a final push because by tomorrow, i think it will be about three weeks and one day before the transition period ends. that's the point at which the uk stops following you rules and regulations and would revert to what's known as wto rules if a trade deal isn't reached. yet, time is getting very tight as did? stay with us, a couple of other things to ask about. another development today is that one of the stumbling blocks to reaching a deal has been removed. the uk and eu have reached agreement in principle on all issues in the withdrawal agreement — including the last remaining issues around the irish border. the uk has removed controversial clauses from legislation that would have over—ridden parts of that agreement. it's now said it won't do that. the cabinet minister michael gove says the threat was worth making. it's not saying it's not going to do that. absolutely. we needed to be sure that if we didn't secure an agreement with the european commission on these important questions

that we reserve the right, as a fail—safe mechanism, to safeguard northern ireland's position within the united kingdom. that was always our aim, to safeguard the territory with the integrity of our country to make sure that we protect the fact that northern ireland was in the uk's customs territory. mr gove said he was "delighted" with the agreement. this news is being cautiously welcomed in northern ireland, here is emma party. after some decisions and agreements, means they now have something they are able to plan for, but really, the devil is going to be in the detail that will be revealed tomorrow. so as we were just hearing, remember, from january tomorrow. so as we were just hearing, remember, fromjanuary come in northern ireland enters these special arrangements where it remains closer to the eu than the re st of remains closer to the eu than the rest of the uk, no matter what happens, it means ports here in northern ireland are gearing up for new paperwork and new checks that they never had to deal with before. now, previously, borisjohnson once famously said to people who are worried about the i receive order, don't worry, guys, but the time we are through with all of this, you

will be able to check some of that paperwork in the bin. now, tomorrow, we will find out if that's really the case come and just to much of the case come and just to much of the burden of extra red tape on traders has been reduced, and why thatis traders has been reduced, and why that is important is because it has a knock on effect for the prices of the goods that people here pay for on the shelves. jessica in westminster come if we can bring you back income of this is long been one of the big conundrums come has dick was mccarty avoid border checks on the island of ireland, but knowing they have to go somewhere if the uk believes that using a market. do we have any clues as to how they would manage to resolve this? well, look, as anna was outlining there, we are expecting further details tomorrow. michael gove, the cabinet office minister is going to give a statement to the house of commons. —— emma. i think there will be a huge much of interest as he outlined some of that detail some of the tomato pick we are going to get everything come i don't think we are going to get legal test for example tomorrow, but there will be a huge amount of scrutiny over what has

been agreed here, and what it means for northern ireland, but more broadly, in terms of what it means for the negotiations as a whole, it has been something of a cloud as far as the eu was concerned, that the uk are pushing these controversial measures, which by ministers on admission from a broken tree national law, albeit in a limited and specific way. the fact that they have not reach an agreement of the uk government has decided to remove those controversial clauses from legislation will no doubt be welcomed by many. it really is only just one part of the puzzle. so, i think still those issues that have to be resolved in terms of the wider trade negotiation which has bennett discussed by a separate group of people to the group of people who have been discussing the northern ireland protocol, all of those things still need to be resolved. just got, they can very much indeed. just got, they can very much indeed. just alluding to there are a few key issues separating the two sides. one is what's known as the level playing field. now that's a set of common rules and standards that prevent businesses in one country gaining a competitive advantage over those operating in other countries.

let's try and understand this a little bit better with the help of andrew walker from the bbc‘s business unit. andrew, i was hoping to speak to about this, because i wa nted to speak to about this, because i wanted to understand what the eu is demanding of the uk is unusualfor trade negotiations? well, i think the degree of comfort that that you would like about the future of the uk in this area, probably is goes rather further than trade agreements tivoli do, and subsidies and labour regulation and environmental regulation, but having said that, those kinds of areas do increasingly appear in international trade agreements. you can go right back to the early days of postwar trade legalisation it was all about ta riffs legalisation it was all about tariffs and the stuff wasn't really there, but increasingly, it is. the european union, the united states have been particularly keen to try

and ensure that their own businesses are not put at a competitive disadvantage by others who may gain advantages in terms of relaxed regulation or subsidies. so i think that you was looking for something relatively hard in terms of the degree of commitment that's involved, but it's not a new area. so when we cover the us china trade talks or we talk about donald trump renegotiating nafta, the north american free trade agreement, or other made two major trade deals, with this level playing field that you have also cropped up in those talks? well, it's certainly the case that, you mentioned us and china, one of the big underlining anxieties of the united states has is shared with many others is that china's 70s for its industry. i mean, that's not the direct focus of what the us china dispute was about, but it was in there, and if you look at the us,

the new version of the north american free trade agreement that president from's team negotiated, that does actually include some specific provisions to try and ensure that good stuff made in mexico in particular are at an increasingly large share of it is made by workers with relatively high pay by mexican standards. so these themes are there on a kind of very much case—by—case basis with individual partners in these negotiations looking for specific commitments that have addressed specific concerns they have with the other side in the talks. answer, just before illegal, briefly, if you went to you thinking, how does once i checked that the other is still sticking to the deal? well, if you are looking at labour it market regulations, i guess it's relatively obvious if the regulations are being changed, although, you know, you

will want to have very close information about the extent to which they are being enforced and often, there are provisions in these negotiations too, you know, to ensure that regulations are properly applied, with subsidies, again, it can get really difficult because subsidies can be done in a way that's very subtle. and so you will need to have arrangements come some sort of enforcement arrangement that gives, that enables a third party, an arbitrator to decide whether the rules had been complied with or not. thatin rules had been complied with or not. that in itself is a very contentious area. andrew, thank you very much indeed. so, with enterprise makeup them with just as help, emma vardy, we work through some of these issues run brexit talks. much more background online at online at to iran now. it had been struggling to access to covid vaccines because of nervousness about breaking us sanctions. but the us treasury has now made it clear that banks processing payments for humanitarian aid to iran

will not be penalised under curent sanctions. in this instagram post the governor of the central bank of iran says iran... and last week iran's foreign minister mohammad javad zarif warned that the us sanctions were preventing iran from making an initial advanced payment to covax — that the body created by the world health organization to make sure the vaccine is distributed fairly. iran has ordered 16.8 million vaccine doses through covax. that would would cover around 10 percent of its 80 million population. and this is urgent. iran it has the largest outbreak of covid—19 in the middle east with over a million confirmed cases and more than 50,000 deaths. and these sanctions which have impacted iran's response are part of donald trump's so—called maximum pressure policy. these pictures are from 2018 when the president signed withdrew

the us from iran 2015 nuclear deal — which was brokered by the previous obama administration. now to be clear — transactions involving medical and humanitarian goods have always been exempt from these sanctions. but foreign banks were uncomfortable were wary of being penalised if processing vaccine related payments. that's now been cleared up. let's bring in the bbc‘s‘s rana rahimpour, bbc persian. she's alerted us to the story come i'm quite surprised iran wasn't able to expand to these banks of the sanctions worked and how they weren't going to be punished. the problem arises that many of the banks are too afraid of taking risks. a statement today from the treasury, it's nothing new. from the beginning of trump's withdraw from the nuclear deal, treasury us treasury made it clear that they wa nt treasury made it clear that they want humanitarian goods to be sent to iran, but in practice, it's not

happening. we've spoken with a number of humanitarian activists who have been trying to send medicine to iran and they say in practice, no bank is ready to take risks, and the statement today is not going to change that. there is a political will, there should be some pressure on these banks, so the statement alone is not going to change that. banks have to be pressured to allow iran to have access to this vaccine. we know as you mentioned, thousands of iranians have already died, and more will die if they don't have access to those vaccines, so it's quite urgent for iran. but who does iran want to pressure these banks? because it's hard to imagine this being the top of the trumpet ministration's priority list. yes, well, we have to remember that iran, as we mentioned, is a hotbed in the middle east, many pilgrims travelling to iran, and iran was one of the first countries in the middle east that was hit by the pandemic, and then a large number of countries received pilgrims or travellers from

iran, and that's how it expanded. it's true that trump administration might be reluctant to put pressure on the banks, but the fact is, if iran does not vaccinate its population, this pandemic will not be contained. so they have to find a political way of dealing with this global problem. thank you very much indeed. those of you watching them if you speak farsi, you can get coverage of that story on bbc persian dots comp. let's go back to the big story from earlier in the day — the uk becoming the first country to begin using a fully trialled covid vaccine. last week, pfizer and biontech vaccine was cleared for use. today a 90—year—old woman margaret keenan became the first patient to receive it. hugh pym has the story. an early morning hospital appointment, at first glance nothing out of the ordinary. but this was unlike anything before. margaret, aged 90, was the very first patient to receive the newly approved coronavirus vaccine. applause.

there was a well deserved round of applause, and intense interest amongst media and health officials at this hospital vaccination clinic in coventry. she seemed to take it all in her stride. so, margaret, first of all, tell us, how was it for you? it was fine, fine. i wasn't nervous at all. it was really good, yeah. and what do you say to those who might be having second thoughts about having this vaccine? i say go for it, go for it, because it's history, and it's the best thing that's ever happened... ..at the moment. so, do please go for it. that's what i say, you know? if i can do it, well, so can you. the matron who administered the historicjab said this significance only sunk in afterwards. i do this all the time. i've done hundreds of vaccinations, but never with such interest, and people like wanting to know what's

going on and wanting to actually witness it, so it was really surreal. it's a world first, it represents extraordinary progress by science, but for the nhs, this is a huge achievement, turning research into reality. around the uk, there were similar stories. in glasgow, the vaccine was delivered to the sec centre, with nhs staff among the first to receive the jabs. it's really exciting, lovely. you feel like you are a wee bit of history in the making. it's really lovely. in belfast, health staff queued to get theirjabs. the policy is for those doing the vaccinations to be vaccinated first. the health service in general has struggled throughout the fight with covid—19, so it feels like a momentous day. very privileged. at this vaccine centre in cardiff, one of seven in wales, more than 200 people have been booked in every day till friday. it's a good day for

the whole country. the prime minister on a visit to a london vaccination centre, wanted to rein in people's expectations. i urge people to contain their impatience. it is a very exciting moment but there's still a lot of work to be done and a lot of discipline to be maintained. the head of nhs england was urging people not to turn up without appointments. wait to hear from the nhs. we will make contact with you. the vaccine is being made available to us from the manufacturers ona phased basis, so the bulk of the vaccination is going to be in january, february, march and april. the priority groups now include the over 80s. harry and ranjan, who spoke to arsenal yesterday, had theirjabs together in newcastle, with badges to prove it. applause. margaret certainly won't forget her vaccination, nor will nhs staff on a dramatic and momentous day

which they can only hope marks a turning point. hugh pym, bbc news, coventry. just before we wrap up this hour, let me play you a little bit more about what president—elect biden has been saying about the us fight against covid. he's been introducing the health team that will lead his administration's efforts and explaining just what an important job they have to do. last week, covid—19 was the number one cause of death in america. black, latino and native americans were nearly three times as likely to die from it. covid—19 is a mass casualty. for families and friends left behind, its a gaping hole in your heart that may never be fully healed. as a country, we've been living with this pandemic for so long, we're at risk of becoming numb to its toll on all of us. you know, we're resigned to feel

that there's nothing we can do and we can't trust one another, that we must accept death, pain and sorrow. bye— bye. hello there. there was some sunshine earlier today through the midlands, southeast england and east anglia. it's still quite a cold day, an awful lot colder though where the fog persisted here and there. there wasn't too much of that around this afternoon, but over the past few hours, it has been thickening up. further north, a good day to have an umbrella handy, really, with rain tumbling down. it's been quite wet, actually, across the northwest of england, north wales, showers in scotland and for a while in northern ireland. that wetter weather is moving southwards into the midlands. heading towards the southeast, where ahead of that rain, we have got some fog and an early frost, perhaps, across parts of east anglia and the southeast of england. but that will tend to lift as that rain comes in, washing things away, the rain could be quite heavy for a while. showers then do follow on behind,

but we will get some clearer skies for northern ireland, wales and the southwest. maybe a few pockets of frost, but generally speaking, it should be frost—free by the end of the night. the wetter weather from earlier in the night will move away from east anglia, and then we will have a few showers, but those showers will be diminishing, and for many, it will be brightening up, there will be some sunshine, but we will see the cloud increasing in northern ireland, wales and the southwest and through the afternoon, we will start to see some rain marching in as well. ahead of that, though, it is still quite cold air, the winds will be fairly light and temperatures at sixes and sevens. that wetter weather coming into the western side of the uk probably won't reach eastern parts because the main driver of the rain is going to push the wet weather down into france and the weather front sort of breaks off into two. so here is some overnight rain to clear away, and then we are left with this patchy rain in western scotland, it could turn wintry as it reaches the highlands. a few pockets of drizzle here and there to the east, but even if it does brighten up, it's quite cold here, temperatures 5 degrees in eastern

scotland, northeast england. those temperatures beginning to rise out to the west with the next band of rain arriving in northern ireland by the end of the day. this will be accompanied by some stronger winds overnight, pushing the rain eastwards. again, the heaviest of the rain will head its way southwards into france. we are left with some light and patchy rain and drizzle for the most part, a lot of cloud, mind you, on friday, may well brighten up across northern ireland, wales and the southwest later, as we start to see if you showers. signs of some milder air here, 11 degrees in plymouth, but ahead of that in the east, it's still around six or seven.

this is bbc news with me, tim willcox. the headlines at 8pm. 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. 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.