The american makers of the novavax Coronavirus Vaccine have reported promising findings from a large scale trial in britain, raising hopes the jab could be rolled out in a matter of months, boosting global supplies. A study was Strong Enough to protect against a highly transmissible british variant of the virus. Heresjon donnison. Another scientific breakthrough in the fight against coronavirus. This time, from the us firm novavax. Results of the us firm novavax. Results of the Companies British Trial showed the first proven efficacy against the new more contagious uk variant. There were more than 15,000 volunteers on the trial throughout the uk. 0ver volunteers on the trial throughout the uk. Over half the cases of covid 19 recorded came from the new variant. It is very significant because we were able to show that the vaccine works well against both the old, the original strain and the new strain, that had 96 efficacy against the original covid 19 strain and yet still had 86 efficacy against the variant strain. find against the variant strain. And se arate against the variant strain. And separate trials against the variant strain. And separate trials have against the variant strain. And separate trials have also shown the vaccine works against a new south african strain. Is a south african strain. Is a fantastic south african strain. Is a fantastic result south african strain. Is a fantastic result because | south african strain. Is. Fantastic result because it shows that the vaccine is effective against both the uk variant as well as the South African Variant and has shown phenomenal efficacy and it is made locally so not only will be trial the vaccine to show it is safe and effective but we are also making it so we will be able to save lives in the uk. ,. ,. , uk. The vaccine minister, who took part uk. The vaccine minister, who took part in uk. The vaccine minister, who took part in the uk. The vaccine minister, who took part in the novavax uk. The vaccine minister, who took part in the novavax child | took part in the novavax child himself that it was great to see such encouraging results and is now awaiting approval from the regulator. The uk has 60 million doses of the new vaccine on order. Itll be a huge boost to the immunisation drive, which is already seen almost 7. 5 million across the United Kingdom receive a first dose of either the pfizer or astrazeneca vaccines. But a row continues with the European Union, which is much slower off the mark in ordering and approving vaccines. The eu now wants access to some of the uks supply of astrazeneca doses because of shortages on the continent. The eu regulator is expected to approve the astrazeneca vaccine today. Meanwhile, in germany, where the Pfizer Vaccine is being used, a National Vaccine committee has said that the astrazeneca jab for now not be given to people aged 65 and above because of insufficient evidence of how effective it is in older people. The government here has firmly rejected that. Our own authorities have made it very clear that they think the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine is very good and efficacious. They think that it is effective across all age groups and provides a good immune response across all age groups. The evidence across all age groups. The evidence of across all age groups. The evidence of how across all age groups. The evidence of how well across all age groups. The evidence of how well the Astrazeneca Vaccine Works in people over 65 is limited but leading scientists here say they are confident it will give strong protection. Jon donnison, bbc news. Protesters have torched a Government Building in the lebanese city of tripoli in a fourth night of unrest over the governments handling of the economy and the pandemic. The Lebanese Red Cross says more than a hundred people were injured in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. There were also angry demonstrations outside the homes of tripoli politicians. The protesters say a Strict Lockdown is compounding the economic misery caused by lebanons financial crisis. A team of experts from the World Health Organization are holding their first face to face meetings with chinese scientists in wuhan, the city where the coronavirus was first recorded more than a year ago. Theyve already spent two weeks in quarantine, speaking to their chinese counterparts by video link. The who says it hopes the team will now be able to visit labs, markets and hospitals in wuhan and to meet First Responders and patients. This weekend, britain will open its doors to potentially hundreds of thousands of People Living hong kong. A new visa system will give those with so called British National overseas status, the chance to live and work in the uk and potentially become citizens. China has accused britain of interfering in hong kongs internal affairs. Heres our diplomatic correspondent, james landale. After months of protests from pro democracy campaigners, Beijing Last Year imposed a tough new security law on hong kong. Britain said this deal was broken as they tried to protect the territories autonomy. So ministers are offering a way out for those British Nationals who want it. So for us in particular, weve made a promise to the people of hong kong when it comes to safeguarding and preserving their liberties and freedoms. Particularly as they are being restricted by the chinese government, and this is one of a kind, a bespoke visa route to provide freedoms, safety, security. So whos eligible for the new visa . Its open to anyone registered with British National overseas or bno status before 1997 when hong kong was handed over to china. It also includes children, partners, and dependent relatives. That potentially includes up to 5. 2 million hong kong citizens. Thats more than two thirds of the entire population. So what does the visa do . Well, it gives bnos the right to live, study and work for up to five years. They can then apply to settle permanently with the chance of citizenship after six years. In the process, they can use schools, the health service, but cant claim welfare benefits. Crucially, people can apply discreetly via a smartphone app, rather than go in person to a visa office where they could be identified by the authorities. The digitalisation of this process will obviously give people assurity, safeguards and protection when they make these applications, because clearly the environment is changing in hong kong and safeguarding the individuals freedoms, liberties and securities is absolutely vital for those individuals who go to this process. There are hurdles. Applicants have to show they have enough cash to survive the six months and theres a £3,000 health surcharge. So the government estimates only about 300,000 bnos will come to britain over the next five years. China is furious and has already threatened retaliation. Translation the british side has violated its promises, insisted on acting wilfully, repeatedly hyped the issue of British National passports, interfered in hong kong affairs, and interfered in chinas internal affairs. It will lift a rock only to drop it on its own feet in the end. But the British Government is determined to offer a lifeline to those in hong kong that it believes it has a moral duty to help. James landale, bbc news. Lets get some of the days other news officials in mexico say president Andres Manuel lopez 0brador is very well and making Good Progress in his recovery from covid 19. They say the 67 year old leader has only mild symptoms and continues to perform his duties from the national palace. Mr lopez 0brador announced his diagnosis on sunday. Mexico has registered over 155,000 deaths from coronavirus. The pentagon has accused the taliban of failing to keep its side of the peace deal they agreed last year with the us. The us withdrew a number of troops from the country towards the end of the Trump Presidency and while the Biden Administration remained commited to the deal, the taliban, the pentagon says, needs to honour its commitments. Portugal could become the latest country to decrimilise assisted suicide on friday after a legislative process that has lasted more than a year. The bill is an amalgam of five, which have already been passed by large majorities in parliament, and whilst this is expected to pass, the move could be vetoed by the president , who is known to oppose the bill. Theres been a second Night Of Street Protests in poland against a near total ban on abortion. Police in warsaw say they detained three people who entered the grounds of the Constitutional Court. Snow and freezing temperatures could not stop them, 700 protesters on the streets of warsaw chanting freedom, equality abortion on demand. These are the second Scan Night Of Protest taking a poland. 0n of protest taking a poland. On wednesday, the government decided to enforce a Constitutional Court ruling meaning that Women Cannot Abort babies with fatal abnormalities. Translation �. , abnormalities. Translation �. , translation all the way to form on the translation all the way to form on the doctors translation all the way to form on the doctors you translation all the way to form on the doctors you a form on the doctors you a difficult choice, they can lie to the government that the law has changed that the cases of fatal mail formations are prohibited and refuse an abortion and this case it will have a lawsuit and appeal to the European Court of human rights. All they can be brave and said that no statement changes the law and continues to do abortions. In this case they will be sued the state and we will help them. The they will be sued the state and we will help them. We will help them. The new ti. Hter we will help them. The new tighter restrictions we will help them. The new tighter Restrictions Mean i we will help them. The new l tighter Restrictions Mean that abortion is now only allowed in cases of rape or incest or when the pregnancy threatens the health of the mother. Translation i health of the mother. Tuna mom health of the mother. Translation . ,. ,. ,. , translation i do not want to leave here translation i do not want to leave here because translation i do not want to leave here because it translation i do not want to leave here because it is translation i do not want to leave here because it is my leave here because it is my country and i dont want someone by their actions to make me want to leave. Im going to fight for the country i want so much until i have the strength and the hope that things change. The strength and the hope that thins chance. , things change. The government should take things change. The government should take care things change. The government should take care of things change. The government should take care of the things change. The government should take care of the fight should take care of the fight against the pandemic and vaccines. Against the pandemic and vaccines against the pandemic and vaccines. ,. ,. , vaccines. The publication of this verdict vaccines. The publication of this verdict on vaccines. The publication of this verdict on such vaccines. The publication of this verdict on such an vaccines. The publication of| this verdict on such an issue when this verdict on such an issue when we this verdict on such an issue when we know it would lead to demonstrations is totally irresponsible. Demonstrations is totally irresponsible. Demonstrations is totally irresonsible. ,. , irresponsible. This ruling was made without Public Consultation or parliamentary debate. While polling suggests a clear majority of people here are against district abortion laws, pollens ruling party, however, is pressing on. Polands. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come lost and found, a danish woman discovers a stone age necklace while strolling on the seashore. The Shuttle Challenger exploded soon after lift off. There were seven astronauts on board, one of them a woman school teacher. All of them are believed to have been killed. By the evening, tahrir square, the heart of official cairo, was in the hands of the demonstrators. They were using the word � revolution. The earthquake singled out buildings and brought them down in seconds. Tonight, the search for any survivors has an increasing desperation about it as the hours passed. The new government is finally in control of the entire republic of uganda. Survivors of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp have been commemorating the 40th Anniversary of their liberation. They toured the huts, gas chambers and crematoria, and relived their horrifying experiences. This is bbc news, the latest headlines annie vaccine hasnt found to be highly effective against coronavirus against including south african variance. Pollen sees a second night of protest after the country brings a new total ban on abortions. Britain formally left the European Union a year ago, but it was only last month that it came out of the key economic institutions the eus Single Market and customs union. That was a Pivotal Moment of change for businesses on both sides. Just days ahead of that deadline britain and the eu did manage to seal an agreement. But it has not all been plain sailing, even allowing for disruption caused by the pandemic. Our economics correspondent, andrew walker, reports. A month ago, the European Union and britain signed a trade deal. And britain signed a trade deal and britain signed a trade deal. , it and britain signed a trade | deal. It means deal. There it is. It means british and deal. There it is. It means british and eu deal. There it is. It means british and eu goods deal. There it is. It means british and eu goods can l deal. There it is. It means i british and eu goods can be exported from one to the other free of tariffs or trade taxes. But there are new barriers. The issueis but there are new barriers. The issue is most acute for businesses that deal with perishable goods such as fresh seafood. A host of new checks and paperwork are required to sell into the eu. It was a very serious problem for the scottish supplier who spoke to the bbc and mid january. Thousand pounds a week that we are losing, we cant continue to lose that. We said stuff to europe last week. It took five days to arrive, and it arrived dead and rotten. Days to arrive, and it arrived dead and rotten. Even within the uk, the dead and rotten. Even within the uk, the special the uk, the special arrangements for Northern Ireland have led to delays and some supermarkets that initially struggled to fill their shelves. There are still some problems for some retailers. In england, an upmarket shoemaker is facing new difficulties with paperwork and tax stopping the Managing Director was relieved about the trade deal. Director was relieved about the trade deal trade deal. What we havent been prepared trade deal. What we havent been prepared for trade deal. What we havent been prepared for and trade deal. What we havent been prepared for and i trade deal. What we havent| been prepared for and i think that applies to any business and the uk is all the extra costs that have come from this. The barriers are also affecting some goods going from the eu to the uk. Some suppliers, mainly small ones, are temporarily refusing to ship to britain. Ive got the website here of one and finland that supplies Outdoor Clothing stopping at the top of the website there is no delivery to the uk just now. And here is a similar message from a belgian beer supplier. Some of the disruption is surely short term. Businesses will adapt. The british moment says the deal is a success. Weve taken back control of our laws and our destiny. Weve taken back everyjot and tittle of regulation in a way that is complete and unfettered. That sovereignty complete and unfettered. That Sovereignty Question is central for brexit supporters but it comes at the cost of more difficult trade with britains biggest commercial partner. The american actress, cicely tyson, has died at the age of 96. Seen here receiving the president ial Medal Of Freedom in 2016, cicely tyson became one of hollywoods best known black performers. Her breakthrough came in 1972, in the film, sounder, set in depression era louisiana, for which she won a golden globe and an oscar nomination. Lets cross live to newjersey now and speak with the actor mario van peebles, who worked with cecily tyson. Firstly, i am so sorry for your loss. You knew her very well. Tell me, what was she like . J tell me, what was she like . I think, first of all, i have to say, sometimes you look at people as both as a miracle and passing as a tragedy. I think the tragedy is not doing what you came to do with your life and let me tell you, cicely tyson lived a big, full life. I worked with her a couple of times. The first time, my father had written a script and she was acting and it and then the next time my work with her, my dad and i both worked with her on a film about the la uprising and all of us were keenly Interested In Social Justice and i think my father thought of put black power on the screen and cicely had an elegance and a very quiet nobility about her that i think� s represented civil rights on screen and you really got that sense that long before we saw people like al Vice President now or michelle obama, stacey abrams, people like that in political power, with on the screen and cicely always played it with a sense of knowing, it would get late and she would get silly and she was smart. She was one of those people that if you looked across the room, you know she gets the drug. If something happened, you knew she knew what. She had this wicked humour but she played characters that were not per se empowered. Economic power, political power stopping there was an elegance about her that you had the sense that she knew what was happening and just really brought it. What a lovely spirit. Really brought it. What a lovely spirit. She certainly was. Lovely spirit. She certainly was she lovely spirit. She certainly was. She wasnt lovely spirit. She certainly was. She wasnt one lovely spirit. She certainly was. She wasnt one to i lovely spirit. She certainly. Was. She wasnt one to just take the paycheck, was she . She was famously choosy about what she decided to take on and she refused to take on parts that demeaned black people and anyway. What did that stance mean to the Acting Community . I think, we want to be the success we see, and as a black woman in hollywood at that time, she had to make her way out of nowhere, and that is a challenge to play the kind of roles that she did with the elegance she did. I dont know how she pulled that off, its a struggle. I see young women today fighting to do the kinds of things that she got to do. But i think she had, and our business its notjust working with lighting or scripts, its working with people, and cicely tyson had mega People Skills and they dont you can underestimate that. She had a grace and she would never negotiate against herself, she would let you fill it out and you would go yeah, maybe you wouldnt do that. I have seen people fold in front of her without her doing anything. She was one of those people that made you want to be your better self. Is notjust that you care about someone, its also that you care about how you are with them and cicely brought that out and asked, when she is working with you off camera, she is always there, shes always an example of what we could be on the set, so she helped instill a climate of kindness on the set and i think right now, particularly in america with the divisive politics you see, that climate of kindness that cicely made will be missed. Will be missed. How do you think she will be missed. How do you think she helped will be missed. How do you think she helped shape will be missed. How do you think she helped shape the| think she helped shape the image of African Americans over the years in hollywood . She image of africanamericans over the years in hollywood . The years in hollywood . She was rare because the years in hollywood . She was rare because she the years in hollywood . She was rare because she is the years in hollywood . She was rare because she is a the years in hollywood . She was rare because she is a very, rare because she is a very, well, shes a beautiful woman, she started out in the fashion business, and moved on and i remember seeing her in sounder as a kid, and she was rare because she was physically attractive, she aged very well, took care of herself, but she made it a point to take roles that, think about Mother Teresa for example stopping im not saying theres a comparison, but Mother Teresa would never sign onto an and type what rally but she would join a pro peace rally. Stop issue the underside of what was positive and i saw cicely on the side of doing something positive and when you are a america, and you know that there is to americas common to have someone there that represents you well and with elegance is so important to our souls, because our kids will grow up wanting to be the success they see, so when they see cicely as ms jane pitman, or the next project where she aged through the years and had to take us through the years and she is someone you wanted to take that ride with. Youve got to care about who that person is emotionally or you dont care about anything else and she always found a way to bring us in and have a wonderful, quiet power about her. She wasjust like royalty. But not a royalty like, im trying to just. But not a royalty like, im trying to just. But not a royalty like, im trying to just. She was an extraordinary trying to just. She was an extraordinary woman trying to just. She was an extraordinary woman and l trying to just. She was an | extraordinary woman and as trying to just. She was an extraordinary woman and as you say she inhabited the roles that she played so completely and at 88 became the oldest person to win a tonys copy she was the thought of actress, really, that awards were made for. � ,. , really, that awards were made for. � , � really, that awards were made for. � , ~ , really, that awards were made for. Absolutely. And she always took the, she for. Absolutely. And she always took the, she was for. Absolutely. And she always took the, she was always took the, she was always gracious and you got the feeling that she was still surprised and enjoying the ride all the way. Sometimes we look at people that are a little bit ahead of us and we cant see their growth, but i could see her continuing to grow and learn, and she was old enough to be a dope teacher and young enough to be a terrific student and shes always learning, like, why are you doing this . When my dad was working there with her, she would say, why are you doing this, why did you do that . She would ask questions and laugh and just always, always interested in life. A student of life. She certainly life. A student of life. She certainly was life. A student of life. She certainly was thank life. A student of life. She certainly was thank you i life. A student of life. She certainly was thank you so much for talking about your experiences with cicely, she will certainly be missed. And inspirational woman and, as you say, a real student of my. Thank you for your time. Yeah, oure thank you for your time. Yeah, youre welcome. A piece of ancientjewellery has been discovered on a beach in denmark. A necklace, dating back to the stone age was found buried in the Sands Of Thorsminde in the north of the country. Its been described as a rare and insanely beautiful discovery. The bbc� s tim allman has more. Its amazing what you can find when you are out for a stroll. Inge marie was visiting a local beach when something caught her eye. I must collect it, she said. I stopped taking photos and picked it up and thought, � wow, what was this . this was an ancient piece of amber believed to be part of a necklace, around 10,000 years old and quite a revelation for the local museum. Translation normally we receive objects from | the bronze age, the iron age and middle ages. This is much older and much more rare. Its believed people in the stone age started making jewellery not long after they started making weapons. Necklaces, pendants, bracelets. They used shells, animal bones or stones. Then they got a little more ambitious. Translation amber proved as interesting for the ancient | people as gold, and just as useless. It cant be used for anything, but it has been considered magical. This magical necklace will soon go on display at the countrys national museum. Better than my windowsill, says inge marie. Homeschooling during the pandemic hasnt been easy for the majority of parents, including the Duchess Of Cambridge who has revealed that parenting during lockdown has left her exhausted. Im not surprised. Kate has spoken about the challenges she has faced during this time with a group of parents and joked about her children recoiling in horror when she became the new hairdresser. Next time, a promise, we will get you the sound on that, but nice to hear she is, like us, muddling her way through. My son hasnt been too keen on some of the hairdos that ive given him over the last few months. Anyway, do get in touch with me on twitter. We will have more news for you and a moment, including all the Business News and more on that story that keeps on giving, game stop, and the more of wall street taking on the traditional investors. I will have plenty more and about to minutes time. I will see you soon. Hello there. It can be a fine line between rain and snow here in the uk, and the battle lines are certainly drawn over the next few days. Cold air to the north east of us, milderairto the south and west. On that dividing line, which this weekend pushes its way southwards, this is where we could see that rain snow mix, particularly on saturday. This swirl of winds, a developing Weather System, developing area of low pressure, which pushes into that cold air. And on the Weather Fronts that reach the cold air, we could see some significant snow, parts of wales and parts of Southern England especially. The exact details on that, though, will change. Well keep you updated. Today, though, is a fairly quiet one. There will be plenty of cloud around and some showers. A cold start, too, across parts of scotland. Here, were seeing snow throughout the night, temperatures low enough for some ice and made to feel colder by strong winds. Stronger but milder winds across the south as well. Here, well see some early showers across wales, south west england, pushing across the southern half of england and wales. The odd rumble of thunder possible, Brightening Up later. Some mist and fog around the midlands, Northern England to begin with, Brightening Up but then clouding over as rain and eventually a little bit of hill sleet pushes in. Brightening up, too, to parts of the northern half of scotland, compared with what weve seen. Patchy rain and sleet into southern areas as we finish the day and that north south contrast, as far as temperatures. The colder air on the move further southwards, then, as we go through friday night into saturday, and as this Weather Front approaches off the atlantic, initially, rain, and quite a bit of rain could cause some minorflooding towards the south west and across some southern counties. Temperatures here holding up, but a greater chance of some frost. 7 to start the weekend in northern scotland. But as that rain pushes into the cold air, the potential for not only some heavy snow, but with strong winds, Blizzards Over The Welsh hills. At the moment, it looks like wales, into parts of the midlands, maybe South East England could see some snow. How much, of course, that will depend on exactly where that Weather Front will lie. Well keep you updated on that, and certainly worth watching the forecast. The further north you are, it does look like it should be a dry, bright, cold start to the weekend, but that frost will return with a vengeance as we go through saturday night into sunday. And as one Weather System clears, another one will be approaching, so whilst it will be a frosty, bright and, in places, icy start to sunday, this next Weather System, bringing rain initially to south western areas, could turn to snow as it pushes across england, wales and Northern Ireland later in the day. Keep checking your forecast here, though, on bbc news. Bye for now. This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Is it game over for gamestop . Outrage from amateur investors after brokerages step in to restrict trading in the soaring shares. Piling on the paperwork one month into britains new relationship with the eu, exporters say they are drowning in bureaucracy. Plus, brexit and the city Big Questions remain for the uks 130 billion finance industry. Plus, zero carbon investing should big funds dump shares in polluting companies . We hear from the boss of the worlds biggest money manager