this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm kasia madera. borisjohnson isjoined by the eu — in saying they're unlikely to strike a post—brexit trade deal by sunday — with differing interpretations of how a new relationship might look. a wretched clause they've got in to keep the uk locked in to whatever they want in terms of legislation. they would remain free, sovereign, if you wish. to decide what they want to do. we would simply adapt the conditions for access to our market accordingly. scientists say they've identified genetic variants that make some people more likely to develop severe covid symptoms.

the hong kong pro—democracy activist jimmy lai is charged under the territory's new security laws —— we hear reaction from a prominent campaigner in exile. plus, making music, with online inspiration. how a classical musician used ambient sound from people stuck at home for her new composition. both boris johnson and the president of the european commission have spoken in gloomy terms about the likelihood of a post—brexit trade deal. in gloomy terms about the likelihood the two leaders have agreed to make a decision on the future of the negotiations by the end of the weekend. early this evening the british prime minister chaired a meeting with ministers to revisit contigency plans for how to manage no—deal. alex forsyth reports

it was a covid welcome for the prime minister today at a firm providing energy for the future. more immediate trade talks, though, must be on his mind. negotiators are still working out which way they'll go up as borisjohnson warned again reaching agreement with the eu looks doubtful. it's looking, you know, very, very likely that we'll have to go for a solution that i think would be, you know, wonderfulfor the uk. we'd be able to do exactly what we want from january the 1st, though obviously it would be different from what we'd set out to achieve. but i have no doubt that this country can get ready, and as i say, come out on world trade terms. so, for those affected, what does that mean? this farm exports barley to the eu. if there's no deal comejanuary, world trade rules kick in, meaning tariffs or taxes on goods moving between here and the continent,

which could push costs up. i think for the industry as a whole, it'll be disastrous. we've got a perfect storm approaching of these support payments being taken away, brexit, possibly no deal and covid—19. all these things have come all at once, and that is a massive problem. there's already congestion at ports as global supply chains struggle with demand and covid restrictions. brexit will mean more change for businesses whatever the outcome of trade talks. the government says it is prepared that no deal could mean more disruption. both sides say they want an agreement, but that may well not happen because the same sticking points remain — access to fishing waters and shared regulations and standards. and on that, number 10 says the uk has to be able to make its own decisions and not be tied to eu rules in future. from brussels today, the message was that's perfectly possible, but there'd be a price. they would remain free,

sovereign if you wish, to decide what they want to do. we would simply adapt the conditions for access to our market accordingly the decision of the united kingdom, and this would apply vice—versa. it's so neither side shifting yet, but the door isn't entirely closed. translation: we believe finding a solution in the talks is difficult, but possible. that's why we as eu will continue negotiations as long as the window is open, even if it's only a crack. the negotiations are still ongoing. and i think the implications are very serious for all concerned in the event of a no—deal, and i think all politicians in the united kingdom and across europe need to reflect on that. so in brussels, the mood may be gloomy, but until sunday, which is decision day, they are still talking. alex forsyth, bbc news. despite the imminent approval of a coronavirus vaccine for use in the united states, thousands of people are likely

to continue to die each day from the disease for some time. there have been nearly two thousand deaths counted today already. the us food and drug administration says it is working hard to issue an emergency use authorisation for the pfizer biontech vaccine. president trump has repeatedly criticised them for not speeding up the process. and today, he took to twitter to describe the organisation as a "big, slow, old turtle — and accuse them of playing games. final clearance is expected this weekend which means the first americans could get their inoculations early next week. i'm joined now byjesse goodman, professor of infectious diseases at georgetown university and former chief scientist at the us food and drug administration. weird yesterday was that this first

stage of the approval process was and had been cleared, the first hurdle had been cleared, after the committee hearing. how long can we expect to get final approval for this vaccine. there are two things here. one is fda outside advisory committee held this public meeting yesterday and the advisers said they felt the safety and efficacy support authorisation, based on that discussion, and some of the feedback meaning, it is currently working on the final terms and authorisation in other words, who could get the vaccine, with advice may go along with and what information, etc. an important to realise developments and in your country, as well as the fda's analysis and some are potentially once the need to be

monitored going forward and right now, that they're putting together that authorisation i presume you will be forthcoming shortly and then it's going to be several months of the additional follow—up that is going to be needed to ultimately resolve hopefully in full approval ofa resolve hopefully in full approval of a vaccine that meets the normal standards for any vaccine. there we re standards for any vaccine. there were two out of the thousands initiated in the uk of the vaccine, to people for shown allergies and they were not deemed as serious allergies and recovered. and the fda must be, they have called it a big slow turtle and we also heard that the reports that the white house ordered the head of the fda to consider resigning unless the

vaccine was approved by friday and he is denying that those allegations are not true petitions the amount of pressure that this organisation is under. just from someone that has beenin under. just from someone that has been in it how this must feel stuck below the good news is that the professionals in the vaccine group are truly remarkable group and dedicated in my working with them for many years, they work extremely ha rd for many years, they work extremely hard and when there is an emergency, they were day and night and it is ludicrous to accuse them of being slow on this. i think that kind of come of the good news is i think they stand up to that pressure and they stand up to that pressure and they are doing theirjobs and it has taken a lot of toll over the past several months of pressure from the white house and i'm glad they stand up white house and i'm glad they stand upfor high white house and i'm glad they stand up for high standards and i was of the pressure is frankly dangerous

and it is dangerous and that it is helped create an impression of people that corners may be cut and they cannot trust the vaccine and there is that whole obstacle that is to be overcome at the vaccine and in addition to that, you don't want the analysis of this by the independent experts to be hurried. you do not wa nt experts to be hurried. you do not want that to be hurried. there is information that you don't want mystics to be made they can end up hurting people. so that pressure is not a good thing. in the roll-out is going to be a massive undertaking and can you clarify that it's going to be free but the people who administer it, the organisations administer it, the organisations administer it, the organisations administer it, can they charge a fee for that particular aspect of it in the will be free though. we have a complex system but, my understanding is that the vaccine has been purchased by the government so the cost of that is covered in the administration of the vaccine will

be covered too. but we have not seen great details on that and we don't have the kind of depth of planninguk thatis have the kind of depth of planninguk that is needed for the actual vaccination as opposed to the vaccine. this is a challenging vaccine. this is a challenging vaccine and ultracold temperatures and used appropriately, once its taken others and used appropriately, once its ta ken others temperatures and used appropriately, once its taken others temperatures and environments, there is a way to go here, and another very important thing for people to realise is, the initial supply is very small. for example, the us is supplying we're hearing about 3 million doses initially and 3 million held for those people who going as a second dose, and while it is going to begin protecting people, hopefully it is going to be several months even if things go really well to where there is enough vaccine to on the pandemic. so, people, even in areas

getting the vaccine are going to really u p getting the vaccine are going to really up the ante and practice social distancing, wearing masks so they can stay healthy to the point of getting the vaccine. good advice on which to in this interview. thank you so much for your time, thank you. hong kong media tycoonjimmy lai will appear in court again in a few hours after being charged under the territory's controversial new national security law. the 73—year—old could face a lengthyjail term. earlier this month three activists received sentences of seven to i3—and—a—half months. when hong kong politician ted hui heard the news of those sentences, he announced he was leaving the democratic party and going into exile. i asked him why hong kong used the new security law againstjimmy lai. of course,jimmy light is of course, jimmy light is the enemy of the hong kong regime now. because he isa of the hong kong regime now. because

he is a symbol and the leading figure of the democratic movement and he is the one that has been most outspoken journalist and the regime will take every effort to throw him into jail, for sure. but what they're doing to activists and politicians like me and also, people from all walks of life, i think the aim is to eliminate all opposition power and from hong kong, make it disappear and that is the ultimate purpose of the regime, what it is doing now. i mentioned that you are in denmark when joshua doing now. i mentioned that you are in denmark whenjoshua wong and the rest received the sentences and you subsequently announced her exile and you felt that he had absolutely no choice. yes, i left with no choice really. as a politician, a legislator, i was facing nine

criminal charges that can put me to jailfor criminal charges that can put me to jail for years, criminal charges that can put me to jailfor years, of course, we are not afraid ofjail, hong kong people are not afraid ofjail, we are afraid we are losing her voice that can be heard internationally that is why i took that into consideration, i feel the need that after go out with the international community and understand that we are still struggling, and chanting very loudly against the regime that we are not afraid and we will fight on. the mass resignations after the hong kong government disqualified legislatures. is there any recourse of opposition within hong kong towards what is happening? people cannot now go onto the streets and do you have any effectively nonexistent with an the legislative council? how can people voice their concerns? it is a very tough questions for all hong kong people

nowadays you are right, there is no legal assembly ever allowed in hong kong under the national security law and the legislatures by disqualifying the democratic elections and i think it is more and more important that are international communities in the world will give a hand and have heavier and whiter sanctions of individual human rights violators and make stronger and make their voices heard against beijing to maximise the pressure and i think thatis maximise the pressure and i think that is very crucial in today's hong kong. stay with us on bbc news, still to come — why do some people with covid have no symptoms, while others become extremely ill? scientists are beginning to find the answers in our dna.

john lennon was shot at the entrance to the dakota building in the centre of new york. there's been a crowd here standing in more or less silent vigil, and the flowers have been piling up. the 14th cease—fire of this war ended at the walls of the old city of dubrovnik. this morning, witnesses said shells were landing every 20 seconds. people are celebrating the passing of a man they hold responsible for hundreds of deaths and oppression. elsewhere, people have been gathering to mourn his passing. imelda marcos, the widow of the former president of the philippines, has gone on trial in manila. she's facing seven charges of tax evasion, estimated at £120 million. she's pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are to separate. a statement from buckingham palace said the decision had

been reached amicably. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. leaders from the uk and the european union have warned the two sides are unlikely to reach a post—brexit trade deal by sunday's deadline. hong kong pro—democracy activist jimmy lai has been charged under the territory's new national security laws british scientists say they have identified genetic variants that make patients more likely to develop severe covid—i9 symptoms. the researchers analysed mutations in the dna of more than two thousand critically ill patients, finding several variants more common than in the control group. our science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. it's one of the pandemic‘s biggest puzzles — why some people

with covid have no symptoms, and others get extremely ill. now, one of the biggest studies of its kind has found possible answers in our dna. people who become desperately sick with any infection are genetically different from the rest of the population. what we are looking for is genes that tell us a bit of biological information that will enable us to come up with a better way of treating critical illness. the scientists looked at the dna of more than 2000 covid patients in intensive care. they scanned each person's genes, which contain instructions for every biological process, including how to fight the virus. and they compared this with the dna of healthy people, to pinpoint any genetic differences. they found one at a gene called tyk2. it activates parts of the immune response. but if that gene is faulty, the response can go into overdrive. what is particularly exciting about the tyk2 findings

is that there is already a whole class of drugs that inhibit that protein. so, they target very specifically the biological mechanism that we think is causing severe covid. this means existing anti—inflammatory drugs, including one used for rheumatoid arthritis, could be tried. but it isn't the only genetic discovery. one gene helps to kick—start the immune system as soon as the infection is detected to stop another plays a role in stopping the virus from making copies of itself. and it's revealing which treatments to use and also when to use them. it really is an example of precision medicine, where we can actually identify the moment at which things have gone awry in that individual. so, knowing where the gene is in that response to infection gives us an idea of whether this is an early response or a late response, and where we should be intervening.

vaccines will decrease cases of covid. but doctors around the world will be treating this disease for years to come, so new treatments are urgently needed, and these genetic discoveries could help in the race to find them. rebecca morelle, bbc news. here in the uk — the period of self—isolation for people who've been in contact with those who've tested positive for coronavirus is to be cut from 14 to ten days. the new rules take effect in the rest of the uk on monday. here's our health editor hugh pym. contact tracing in action here in peterborough. local authority staff going door—to—door to find people who've been recent contacts of those who test positive. they're following up after initial attempts by the national test and trace service. the numbers that they've obviously been given, they can't contact them on, so we just have to make that final call to their house. 0h, hello, i'm calling... for those contacted by the tracers, there's better news.

they won't have to self—isolate for so long, after a review by health officials of scientific studies. all of those combined together show that the tail end of infectiousness, if you like, is the one where an individual is least likely to transmit infection. so allowing somebody out of self—isolation a short time earlier than that is a reasonable balance between managing the risk to the public, but allowing us not to intrude on their lives. the self—isolation period will come down from 14 days to ten. that already happens in wales. it'll apply to contacts of those testing positive and people coming into the uk and needing to quarantine. it'll take effect on monday, though if someone's already started a 14—day isolation, it'll now be ten. if the r number is above one, it shows the virus is accelerating. today's update shows it's just below one, though back where it was two weeks ago, suggesting no clear

trend, though there are variations around the uk. the latest survey of community infections by the office of national statistics suggests that in england, one in 115 people had the virus last week, with case rates coming down in most areas, though they were on the increase in london and the east of england. in wales, it was one in 120 with the virus, with increases in recent weeks. in scotland, it was also one in 120, with case rates relatively stable. in northern ireland, one in 235 had the virus, with continued declines in case rates. in areas of south—east england, case numbers are rising fastest among 11 to 18—year—olds. at this school in dagenham the teacher is on her own in the classroom with pupils learning remotely. in birmingham meanwhile, covid marshals are patrolling the streets, reminding people that social distancing rules are as important as ever and that the virus is still a threat. hugh pym, bbc news. european union leaders have agreed

to set a more ambitious target for cutting greenhouse gases in the next ten years. the deal comes after more than 10 hours of gruelling negotiations, after the new proposal was met with resistance in some of the eu's 27 states. the new aim is to cut emissions by 55% from their 1990 levels, by 2030. until now that goal was a0 percent. for some context, by 2018 the eu had already reduced emissions by 23.2% from their 1990 peak. the deal also commits to a 70% reduction in coal use from 2015 levels, after a last—minute agreement with poland, to provide the coal producing country with extra funding. making music during lockdown has been an artistic endeavour for many during the pandemic. and classically—trained musician belle chen has embarked upon a grand project. she's asked people around the world to submit ambient sound recordings, which inspire her to improvise on the keyboard. take a listen to the results.

the sounds from home project was created in may 2020. it was during uk's covid lockdown, and i'm really accustomed to travelling for my music and connecting with people. so at about one or two months into the lockdown, i was starting to feel really kind of isolated from the world and a bit trapped, actually, as well. but i was really curious about how other people are handling the current situation as well. so, i started the #soundsfromhome project on social media. people were invited to share a sound recording from their neighbourhood. also, at the same time share their story and perspective. and then i would then improvise a soundtrack to go with this and then post it on social media. the process is usually i would

receive a recording and their story. music plays i will form an image in my head as well as get a sense of the core emotion that the sound and the story are communicating. at the same time when i'm listening, i'm kind of taking notes of the technical elements from the sound. for example, the pitches of church bells or the rhythm of footsteps, the textures of the traffic driving by, and decide what kind of instrument i want to use. once the image is set in my mind, i sit down and usually itjust flows. i think actually what is really fascinating and what has really touched me about this project, i really got a perspective on how the world events —

be it the pandemic or natural events or, you know, political events are impacting people in their everyday life. i miss playing live a lot. yeah, so much! so much. being on stage, i think is such a big part of both my career and my purpose, what keeps me excited. and so i think right now, we have to wait for the vaccine to have any chance of returning to maybe even just a small percentage of what we used to do before this pandemic broke out. don't forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter. i'm @bbckasiamadera.

do get in touch and thank you for watching. hello there. friday was another unsettled day, a day that brought many of us outbreaks of rain. the rain was most persistent in aberdeenshire but equally, there were a few brighter moments — for example, here in cornwall to allow these rather stunning rainbows to develop. we have at the moment a very slow—moving area of low pressure crossing the country. further patches of rain moving generally slowly eastwards and with the winds very light, again, we're starting to see some dense patches of fog form particularly across eastern england. visibility is already down to 100 metres in places with the foggy weather really from essex northwards into the east midlands, perhaps east anglia, lincolnshire, and yorkshire. that's where the poorest visibility is likely to be. whereas further west, the skies tending to clear.

this is where we'll see some of the lowest temperatures early on saturday morning. and saturday itself, it's a day where pressure is going to be rising across the whole of the uk. what that will do is it will squish this area of low pressure. so, in the next 2a hours, it won't exist at all, it willjust be gone. further west we get this ridge building in and that will have quite a big impact on the weather. it means across these western and southern areas, it's an improving weather picture with sunny spells developing but with that slow—moving area of low pressure close by, it stays pretty cloudy and there probably will still be some patches of rain well on into the afternoon across the north east. so, a mixed bag of weather. for many of us, though, saturday morning will be a rather grey start to the day. extensive cloud, some patches of light rain and drizzle. very slowly pushing eastwards because there's barely any wind to move those features along. but eventually, we'll get some sunshine. sunshine to start the day in northern ireland, that will tend to spread to south—west scotland, western areas of england, wales, the midlands, and much of the south of england as well. so, an improving weather

picture for some of you. now, the second half of the weekend is dominated by this next area of low pressure. there are more isobars on the chart. so, you'll notice the weather certainly turning a lot windier and also a lot wetter as well. yes, outbreaks rain spreading up from the south west, heavy as well, as it dives in across england and wales, pushes northwards across northern ireland into scotland through the afternoon. so, although it will be a dry start across northern and eastern areas, rain will arrive later in the day and it will be blowy as well. gales developing around our southern and western coasts and hills. the winds, though, coming from a south—westerly direction blowing in mild air. so, temperatures up to 13 in the south west.

this is bbc world news. the headlines.

hopes that britain and the eu can reach a trade deal by the year's end appear to be fading fast. the european commission president was quoted as saying that prospects for a deal were now in negative territory. british scientists say they have identified what could make some patients more likely to develop severe covid—19 symptoms. the researchers analysed mutations in the dna of more than 2000 critically ill patients. the pro—democracy hong kong—based businessman, jimmy lai has been charged with conspiring with foreign forces to endanger china's national security. he could face a life sentence, if he's found guilty. european union leaders have agreed to cut greenhouse gases by 55 percent on 1990 levels by the end of the next decade. the target aims to make europe climate neutral by 2050.