This is bbc news. Our top stories. Brexit talks are to resume after last nights phone call between borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen. Sources tell the bbc its a final throw of the dice. Donald trump makes his first public speech since losing the us president ial election, urging crowds in georgia to vote republican in Crucial Senate run off elections. And in cricket, the First One Day International in south africa is abandoned after two members of hotel staff test positive for coronavirus. Hello and welcome to bbc news. The uks chief negotiator, lord frost is to travel to brussels this morning to resume talks with his eu counterpart Michel Barnier over a post brexit trade deal. Sundays meeting follows a phone call yesterday between the uk Prime Minister and the president of the European Commission, which failedto deliver an agreement. Our Political Correspondent chris mason reports. The Prime Minister on the phone last night, trying to see if a brexit trade deal is possible. He was talking to ursula von der leyen, the president of the European Commission. Big differences remain between the two sides. And afterwards, she said. Whilst recognising the seriousness of these differences, we agreed that a further effort should be undertaken by our negotiating teams to assess whether these issues can be resolved. This time yesterday, the eus chief negotiator Michel Barnier was leaving london for brussels. This morning the uks chief negotiator lord frost is doing the same. Talks will resume in the belgian capital later. The mood does seem downbeat, but both sides still want a deal if they can get one. Often, the darkest hour comes just before dawn, one person in government told me. But, bluntly, there is barely any time left and there is an acknowledgement in whitehall that there may be no deal and, with it, huge implications for how the uk trades with its nearest neighbours. Four and a half years on from the referendum, we are now approaching the endgame. Chris mason, bbc news. President trump has again falsely insisted that he won the us president ial election. He was speaking at a rally in georgia his First Campaign event since last months election,
which was won byjoe biden. He was there to support the states two republican senators, who need to win runoff elections injanuary if republicans are to hang on to control of the senate. Peter bowes reports. It is my pleasure to welcome the president of the united states, donald trump. A rare appearance by melania trump, marking her husbands return to the campaign trail. Speaking for almost two hours, donald trump received a rousing reception from his supporters in georgia, a state he lost tojoe biden. Hello, georgia. We did a greatjob. You know we won, georgia, just so you understand. We love you chanted the crowd as mr trump, without providing any evidence, again claimed the election was stolen by the democrats. The rally was staged to promote two republican senators standing
for re election injanuary. At stake is the balance of power in the senate and much of Donald Trumps legacy. The most important run off election in American History according to the president. Georgia, like many states, has seen a huge surge in coronavirus cases in recent days. Yet few in the trump crowd were wearing masks. The Democratic Candidates for the senate in georgia have also been campaigning. We need to be thinking about the americans over the last several months who have perished, not only from the virus we call covid 19 but more especially from the virus we call indifference. Thank you, georgia. Get out and vote. The results of the Georgia Election will shape american politics asjoe biden as joe biden enters asjoe biden enters the white house. For now, donald trump remains a polarising force and true to form he is not going quietly. You are watching bbc news. Lets return to those brexit negotiations. And following their talks yesterday, the Prime MinisterBoris Johnson and president of the European Commission ursula von der leyen outlined key differences between the two parties that have still yet to be resolved. So what are the main sticking points . Fisheries are a small part of the uks Economic Activity but a symbolic one, with disagreement over the level of access the eu will get to fish in uk waters. Perhaps the Biggest Issue is fair competition, also known as the level Playing Field. The eu says the uk must stick to agreed rules on government aid to british firms, so that theres no unfair advantage. And then theres whats known as the governance of the deal if an agreement is reached, who will police it . With me is our Political Correspondent, jonathan blake. More negotiations today. Very little time now. What is the latest state of play . The two sides are still talking. Whilst that is the case, there is a chance of a deal being done but, as you suggest, time is increasingly tight as people have been pointing out that the deadline is december the 31st, when the transition period we are in at the moment comes to an end. Any agreement would have to take effect after a ll agreement would have to take effect after all we would revert to World Trade Organization rules to do business with the eu in the future. There was a phone call between Boris Johnson and the European Commission president last night. A difficult conversation by all accounts. They spoke for around an hour but did in the end agreed to get negotiating teams back together to see if a deal can be done. A source on the uk side
close to the talks saying this is the final throw of the dice. There isafairdealto the final throw of the dice. There is a fair deal to be done networks of both sides but it will only happen if the eu is willing to recognise the fundamental issues of sovereignty and control. As for the uk, they still do not think the eu has got it, that britain needs to make its own decisions and set its own laws in future, free from any forced alignment, if you like, with eu rules and regulations. The eu may see it differently, saying it is trying to protect it Single Market and customs union. Some people talking up the chances of a deal. Theresa mays former chief of staff lord ba rwell, theresa mays former chief of staff lord barwell, has said this morning, it is still entirely possible a deal can be done but both sides will need to give ground. The eu needs to compromise predominately on the fishing side, where it is trying to say everything will stay the same after brexit and on the level Playing Field side,
i think the uk will have to move because you cannot realistically expect the eu to give the uk completely tariff free access to its market unless it sure that on things like state aid its going to be a fair basis for competition, so both sides, youre quite right, are going to have to compromise if were going to get a deal. Someone else who is saying that a deal is more likely than not is the Irish Foreign minister, who said it is 97 or 98 done and it is his very strong view that agreement can be reached, whilst also running the uk it is not credible to suggest a no deal outcome can be managed. Ireland has been consistently keen and enthusiastic for a deal because of the impact on the countryeconomy without a deal. Interestingly pushing for that outcome at this point. Various voices commentating on negotiations due to restart in brussels soon. I do not think we will get any bigger updates today, more likely tomorrow evening will be
their next major milestone. How much pressure do you think borisjohnson is underfrom pressure do you think borisjohnson is under from his pressure do you think borisjohnson is underfrom his brexiteer wing . Pressure do you think borisjohnson is under from his brexiteer wing . He is under from his brexiteer wing . He is under from his brexiteer wing . He is under pressure and from mps in his own party and perhaps many voters as well who voted for the conservatives at the last election, gave Boris Johnson conservatives at the last election, gave borisjohnson a huge majority in the house of commons and a big mandate to deliver his promises to get brexit done. There have been various backbenchers, giving warning shots if you like, putting Boris Johnson on notice not to give too much, if anything away. Thank you very much indeed. David herszenhorn is the chief Political Correspondent for politico. Thank you for being with us. What is your reading of the situation at the moment . Do you think a deal is possible in the next few days . There
isa possible in the next few days . There is a deal possible but it is extremely difficult. We can really understand here there was no indication coming out of this phone call yesterday between the Commission President and Prime Minister borisjohnson that anything has shifted. They are sending their negotiators back to talk today. Fundamentally we are in a situation where it is hard to see a win win. Some of the differences are irreconcilable and, at that point, somebody has to give ground. If that is the case, it is very hard. There has been no trade negotiation ever like this where what the two sides are trying to do is take things away that they had a close relationship and are trying to separate it. Normally trade deal you are adding an adding in, there is benefit. Hear what is being done is a detriment to both sides. We have a situation of who is willing to lose, how desperate are they too had a or, did
a segment we must let the deadline go and come back and a month, two months go and come back and a month, two m o nths left go and come back and a month, two months left three months and figure it out then . There is a lot of talk of splits in the eu camp between hawks and doves. France and president macron are being like hawks and not wanting to give too many concessions, especially on fishing. The uk side has had a very ha rd fishing. The uk side has had a very hard time understanding during the brexit debate. They have a hard time negotiating with one voice. Michel barnier is that one voice. What it means when they are dealing with all these different interest behind the scenes when it comes to the table, he has very little room to move. You heard there is pressure on borisjohnson to move. You heard there is pressure on Boris Johnson not to move. You heard there is pressure on borisjohnson not to give him too
much. The pressure on Michel Barnier is trivial, he cannot move. The 27 had all agreed on what is the rock bottom line. On some issues, we are not just near the red bottom line. On some issues, we are notjust near the red line, we are at the line. There is no more to give from their side. Otherwise you had pales among the 27. It is not down to Michel Barnier himself, it is more a political decision from european capitals as to how much they are prepared to concede. We had to keep in mind that the uk as a single, sovereign independent government has more flexibility if a deal is really worth it. It is much more possible for borisjohnson to be nimble, for him to pin it and say, here is what we had to do to get the deal done. Thank you very much for being with us. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Hospitals will receive their first deliveries of the new Coronavirus Vaccine tomorrow, as the uk prepares to begin its largest ever immunisation programme. The firstjabs are expected to be administered on tuesday at 50 hospitals in england. Jon donnison reports. In these freezers, chilled to 70 celsius, is what everyone has been waiting for. The Pfizer Biontech vaccine has now arrived in the uk and is being stored in secure locations. Tracking data covering every boxs journey from belgium will be downloaded to check that the vials have been kept at the right temperature. Around the country, nhs teams are working through the weekend to get everything ready. In england alone, 50 hospital trusts will initially serve as hubs administering the vaccine. Among the first to get vaccinated, from tuesday, will be people over 80 years old. Individuals will be offered a jab if they attend hospital as an outpatient, or are being discharged after a stay. Others will receive calls asking them to come in. Care home staff will be prioritised too. And any remaining time slots will go to Health Care Workers deemed at high risk. All those vaccinated will need a boosterjab 21 days later. As more doses of the vaccine arrive, more hubs will be set up. Gps and primary care staff are being put on standby to deliver vaccinations in the coming weeks, followed by a plan for mass distribution in pharmacies, sporting venues and conference centres. It will be the largest Vaccination Programme the uk has ever seen. John donnison, bbc news. The headlines on bbc news. Brexit talks to resume, after last nights phone call between borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen. Sources tell the bbc its a final throw of the dice. Donald trump makes his first public speech since losing the us president ial election, urging crowds in georgia to vote republican in crucial
senate run off elections. Hospitals will receive their first deliveries of the new Coronavirus Vaccine tomorrow. The firstjabs are expected to be administered on tuesday. Englands First One Day International against south africa has been called off for a second time after two members of the england teams hotel staff tested positive for coronavirus. The game in paarl was due to be played on friday, but was abandoned after a unnamed south african player tested positive. Sundays game was called off just 30 minutes before the game was due to start. The former england captain, sir alastair cook, said the safety of the players must come first. Extraordinary circumstances. They definitely made the right decision. Player extraordinary circumstances. They definitely made the right decision. Player safety extraordinary circumstances. They definitely made the right decision. Player safety has extraordinary circumstances. They definitely made the right decision. Player safety has to extraordinary circumstances. They definitely made the right decision. Player safety has to come extraordinary circumstances. They definitely made the right decision. Player safety has to come into extraordinary circumstances. They definitely made the right decision. Player safety has to come into it. Extraordinary circumstances. They definitely made the right decision. Player safety has to come into it. I can imagine what the players are going through now in the dressing
room, the uncertainty that is going on, the meetings with the south african cricket board. It is not a great situation. All they want to do is play cricket. First and foremost they will be thinking, can we get home for christmas . As safe are we . How safe. Dean wilson is the cricket correspondent for the daily mirror, who is in paarl. It isa it is a bit ofa it is a bit of a mess with lots of uncertainty. Absolutely. For the second time, we have had matches called off on the morning of the game and high level talks are currently ongoing, discussing the future. In the first instance it was a south african player, we understand, who tested positive and the first game was postponed. Now today, we have reports of two members of hotel staff where the two
teams are sharing and two members of the england touring party also testing positive for coronavirus. They are having those england tour party test verified. At the moment they are describing them as unconfirmed positives. They want to double check and make sure they are not false positives. Absolutely real uncertainty surrounding the rest of this tour. What are the knockon effects do you think for the following matches . There is no guarantee that any matches will be taking place now. As i say, there are talks ongoing. There are supposed to be three games. They managed to move one into monday. Monday was supposed to be a fallow day but they managed to move the friday game into monday. They were supposed to be playing today, tomorrow and wednesday but only now room for the two games. Hard to
imagine they would try to squeeze three games in on monday, tuesday and wednesday but of course go very desperate times for cricket south africa. This tour is worth a huge amount of money for them, a decent seven figure sum, so they will be very keen to get the games on if possible. Absolutely the safety of their players does come first. You would think as well there would be huge concern within the england camp just over how secure they are. They managed to go through the entire summer managed to go through the entire summer in the uk playing series against west indies, pakistan, ireland and australia without a single positive test. Right now, so close to christmas, a lot of players looking to get home to their families. Some due to leave and go to australia and play in the big bash as well. Lots of knock on effects. The england camp at this
moment will be quite concerned. A video of an incident in which a sikh boy was kicked and punched outside his school in telford has sparked an outpouring of messages of support and a campaign by young sikhs sharing pictures of themselves with the caption proud to wear my turban and be a sikh. West Mercia Police have been investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Our correspondent rajeev gupta has been speaking to sikhs who have shared their experiences of being targeted across the generations. Emboldened by the incident which took place earlier this month, thousands of sikhs have taken to social media to show solidarity and pride in their appearance. Its good that people stick with you. Ii year old balraj singh says he has suffered discrimination for wearing a turban and he and his father are just two that have joined the campaign. This is one of the things that has come out of this incident, the number of people who have said
that they found it very frustrating that they went through it on the assumption that their children wouldnt have to. Similarly, growing up in bradford in the 705, i remember getting my patka pulled off on the top deck of a bus once. I remember at school, lots of hassle and its something that unfortunately became normalised. This is something that was going to happen as a result of looking different. The first time people abused me, they tried to take my patka off, but i didnt let them. So, yeah, people have tried it before. Have you come to terms with that . What do you use to build up strength to keep wearing your patka . If you stop, then theyve just completely won. They have got to you. I wouldnt feel myself without my patka. Its good that finally people are not scared to show they are different. They dont just try and look like everyone else. They are proud to be different, they are proud to stand out. Tell me about the significance of wearing a patka for you . Sikhs wear patkas, so if youre in a crowd of people, you always know that you can come to a sikh because they will help you. Thats why you cant just suddenly stop wearing it just because of one or two incidents because it is your heritage. It reminds me every day to act in a particular way, as well. Its not just an external symbol, its an internal symbol for myself to understand what kind of values i should be upholding. Are we one step closer to discovering how life began . What looked like a shooting star landing in the australian desert was in fact a japanese space capsule carrying the first samples of rock from an asteroid which could help explain the formation of the solar system as mark lobel reports. Coming from right side and it is getting brighter and brighter. Entering the earths atmosphere. That fireball on your screen moving from right to left is a closely watched space capsule, whose contents could help
explain the creation of our solar system. Applause there was joy and relief at the Japanese Aerospace exploration agencys Mission Control as the soil sample sent from the japanese space craft hayabusa 2, part of a six year mission, parachuted down safely in the australian desert. Scientists are expecting about 0. 1 of a gram will be returned for examination at their laboratory near tokyo from the asteroid ryugu, which lies some 300 million kilometres away. They will measure the rocks age, what it is made of and how it is formed, potentially offering vital clues as to how the sun and planets came to be. This one is special because this one is going to an asteroid that we think is really rich in organic material and water so in the very earliest history of the earth we think it may have been pelted with asteroids like that
and that is what gave us the water and the carbon to form our oceans and to enable life to flourish on earth. It is an exciting prospect after a successful landing following what one member of the space agency here described as a Perfect Mission with many more to come. Translation i had jotted down the dates when the probe adjusted its orbit. If there is a hayabusa 3 or 4 or even 5, i would like to be involved in the mission. That next mission on this mothership, having launched its first capsule, will boldly go examining near earth asteroids where no one has gone before. The duke and duchess of cambridge are beginning a tour across britain by train, to personally thank people who have
gone to exceptional lengths to help out during the coronavirus epidemic. During the three day trip, theyll be greeted at pre arranged stops by care home staff, School Children and volunteers. Greg mckenzie reports. The duke and duchess of cambridge will board the royal train and travel 1250 miles across the uk over the next three days. It will be a chance for them to thank community workers, front line staff, schoolchildren and volunteers. Some of whom have been dubbed coronavirus heroes. A Kensington Palace spokesman has said the morale boosting tour will give the royal couple the chance to share their gratitude on behalf of the nation ahead of the christmas holidays. Prince william has used the royal train a number of times, but it is thought to be the first time kate has travelled on it. Wed love to hear from you guys, really, about what the challenges are that everyones facing at the moment. Both william and kate have taken a high profile during the pandemic. Here, talking to Mental Health charities. There are so many factors at play here. The uk arts sector, which has been badly hit during the pandemic, will also be celebrated, with a number of festive performances. Hello, everyone. Ive got some really exciting news. And at the request of the royal couple, the trip has been immortalised in a drawing by schoolboy artistjoe whale. Better known as the doodle boy. Joe found worldwide fame during lockdown with his youtube tutorials. The royal tour will end on tuesday. Greg mckenzie, bbc news. The changing face of the nhs over the last a0 years has been caputured in a series of photographs, taken by a former paramedic. Chris porsz started his career as a hospital porter in 1974, before joining the Ambulance Service and has spent decades snapping pictures of colleagues and patients. As a tribute to the nhs, hes compiled them all into a book as emma baugh reports. Look this way. Hes been capturing colleagues on camera for more than a0 years, charting the changes of the nhs. Its a thank you for decades of dedication, but most of all for this, most difficult of years. Its my tribute to the staff, the doctors, nurses, the cleaners, everybody. Theyve made an amazing contribution, theyve got us through this at great sacrifice, at great personal sacrifice. Ive got the greatest of respect for them. Its been an incredibly difficult year. Ill be honest, were dreading going through it again, the nurses, doctors, theyre exhausted. And ijust make this plea to the public really, you can really help them. Its not too hard wearing a mask. We have to wear one for ten to 12 hours. Kay preston has spent years caring for others and working through the pandemic. 12. 5 hour shifts, its a long day. But it goes really quickly and at the end of the day, you do feel that youve done something worthwhile. Its been hard work for everybody. The staff i know have done as much as they possibly can. Theyve felt tired but theyve still been coming to work and hopefully this will soon be behind us. The tribute looks at how times have changed, but yet, how much has stayed the same. Weve probably relied on one another to sort of help us through the difficult, you know, phases like theyre going through presently. Im sure they need time to discuss things and support one another through the difficult times. My heart goes out to them. I think its very difficult for them, i cant imagine the pressure that theyre under because its so continuous and so long. Its my beloved nhs, its an amazing institution, the best in the world and weve got to look after it and protect it and ive been proud to serve it and im going to miss it. Most of all, the message is, if you can be anything, just be kind. Emma baugh, bbc news. The Christmas Lights have been switched on in bethlehem, marking the start of this years festivites. These pictures are from manger square, outside the church of nativity south ofjerusalem in the west bank. There was also a firework display, but celebrations have been pared back due to coronavirus restrictions. Now its time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. Are weather is going to stay on the
cold side today and into the first pa rt cold side today and into the first part of the working week as well. Hold at the moment with rain in the east. The whole there has been brought to us by the dip in the jet strea m brought to us by the dip in the jet stream you can brought to us by the dip in the jet stream you can see brought to us by the dip in the jet stream you can see with cool weather spreading across west europe into the north west of africa. This morning we had seen a widespread frost. Temperatures have got down to 4 frost. Temperatures have got down to 11 macro. The frost has been pretty widespread. We have seen some rain around as well. This is the radar picture showing the majority of rain affecting eastern areas of the uk. We have a variety of weather from place to place. We have seen light and patchy rain crossing the midlands. Heavy showers will continue around the Scottish Borders and northumberland. A few showers for the west of wales, the west of cornwall and the isles of scilly. The best in west and central scotla nd the best in west and Central Scotland and northern ireland. In
the sunnier moments it will stakeholder put up overnight it will get colder. A widespread frost on the way. We will have to watch out for icy surfaces. There will be barely any wind around on monday and the weather will be very slow to change. There will be some very dense and widespread mist and fog patches to start the day. Some of that will linger into the afternoon, perhaps all day in places. Where that happens temperatures wont get much above freezing. The weather will tend to cloud ever in the ease as we head into the afternoon. The temperatures three, up to six celsius. Monday will be another cold day. They rain from this next area of low pressure moves in and some of the rain will turn to snow for a time ever the high ground of scotla nd time ever the high ground of scotland and Northern England as well. This low pressure becomes centred right over the top of the
uk. It means