More talks, but less and less time. The brexit trade negotiations enter the end game. Uk and eu representatives are back around the table in brussels ahead of a crucial phone call between the Prime Minister and the European Council president this afternoon. He was very downbeat, i would say he was very gloomy. A deal can be done. Well be getting the latest, live, from brussels and westminster. Also this lunchtime. Final preparations for the first Covid Vaccine jabs to be administered in the uk tomorrow. The key thing that we know from other vaccine programs is actually making sure that people come back for that second dose. Hashem abedi, brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, admits his involvement in the conspiracy for the first time. The days of snowball fights and snowmen could be over for much of the uk by the end of the century,
according to the latest met office research. And. Hes made it. Leeds rhinos Kevin Sinfield completes seven marathons in seven days, raising more than £1 million. Right at the start we were worried we might not make seven grand, let alone what weve done. So, i cant thank people enough. Weve all been so proud of wearing this vest, just for our good mate rob burrow and his family, but also for the mnd community. And coming up in the sport later in the hour on bbc news. A bio bubble too far for englands tom curran. He opts out of the big bash to be with his family. Good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc news at one. With the clock ticking, both sides in the brexit trade negotiations agree on one thing were entering the end game. Lord frost and his eu counterpart Michel Barnier are meeting in brussels in what is a final push to see if they can break the stalemate. The Cabinet Office minister michael gove is there too for seperate talks. No one outside the talks really knows where theyve got to, but the mood music suggests theres still considerable discord. At four oclock Boris Johnson and European Commission president ursula von der leyen will talk on the phone and assess whether a post brexit trade deal can be salvaged. Nick beake reports from brussels. Have you made progress . Good morning. Three good mornings but there are three big problems to solve if there is to be a brexit trade deal. Michel barnier gave what was described as a gloomy update on the state of the talks to the
ambassadors of the 27 eu countries. They say they want an agreement but not one that gives the uk and unfair trading advantage. Having heard from Michel Barnier this morning, really, the news is very downbeat, i would say he was very gloomy, and obviously very cautious about the ability to make progress today. At the moment, these negotiations seem stalled, and the barriers to progress are still very much in place. Lord frost, the top british negotiator, is also finding the path ahead is not straightforward. Still working very hard. Though apparently not impossible, according to those in london. A deal can be done. There is opportunity to get a deal that works in the uk National Interest but works for the eu. The one thing we have learned from negotiating with the European Union is, these
negotiations often go to the last minute or the last day. Last night, as the talks dragged on in brussels, there were claims that a deal was nearly done on fishing, what eu boats will be able to catch in uk waters. But downing street said that story had been made up. Even in the cold light of day it is really hard to know exact what is going on behind closed doors, but generally, it is not sounding good, and this is why. Boris johnson it is not sounding good, and this is why. Borisjohnson wants the uk to be free of eu rules and regulations but the eu says the uk must agree to some common principles if it is going to get special access to the single market. There is no easy way to solve this conundrum. All the while, more warnings of what no deal would mean on the things we buy clothes, cars, food, becoming more expensive because of new taxes on goods moving between the uk and eu and vice versa. Those in business
are increasingly nervous. Businesses across the uk do want to see a deal happen, they do want to see the two sides keep talking, but theyre running out of time to implement whatever may be agreed or not agreed in brussels, and that ticking clock, that worry, is at the back of many businesses mines today. With talk ofa businesses mines today. With talk of a final push, senior government minister michael gove has already arrived in brussels. 4. 5 years after the referendum, what happens next will determine what brexit really looks like. And nick is in brussels for us now. One last push . Thats right, simon, and of course, this being brexit, we can surely expect a few more twists and turns. I can tell you the talks have resumed, they are ongoing. There are no cameras in the room, there is no official commentary, so for the next few hours we are expecting more rumours and
speculation, certainly up until four oclock british time when Boris Johnson speaks again with ursula von der leyen, the European Commission president. I would stress at this point that it is notjust two sides, the uk versus the eu, if you want to make it that confrontational you have got 27 countries within the eu and all of those leaders have to be happy with a deal. We saw france last week saying in no Uncertain Terms that if they do not like whats on the table, they will simply reject it. So i think that is one thing we need to bear in mind. Also being reported this lunchtime, although it is not confirmed, that Michel Barnier has suggested that by wednesday, if there is no progress one way or another, the talks will finish. Whether or not that is accurate, the logic might be that on thursday, youve got eu leaders here, and the hope was that they may be able to look at some sort of deal. But really it is anyones guess whether or not there will be anything written on the piece of
paper. We wait and watch, we know that brexit breakthroughs have come very, very quickly before, but there is generally, genuinely, i can say, a sense of pessimism here in brussels this lunchtime. Nick beake, thank you very much. Lets speak to our Political Correspondent helen catt. While there are talks, there has to be hope . In brussels there is a lack of optimism, and there is considerably less optimism here, too, compared with where we were la st too, compared with where we were last week. One thing that you government the uk government does agree on is what they dont agree on. Those sticking points, the schedules, fishing rights, and how to enforce any deal. This lunchtime, though, downing street is saying that it though, downing street is saying thatitis though, downing street is saying that it is prepared to negotiate for as long as we have Time Available if we think an agreement is still possible. Does that mean that the transition period could be extended beyond 31st december . No, the Prime Ministers official spokesman has been clear that the uk will not change its mind on that date. Also
reiterated what downing street has consistently said, which is that it believes the uk would prosper even without a deal. So while those talks continue in brussels, there is a bit ofa continue in brussels, there is a bit of a controversial proposal coming back before parliament this afternoon, which the eu is very unhappy with, that is this internal market bill which would override bits of the Withdrawal Agreement which borisjohnson bits of the Withdrawal Agreement which Boris Johnson signed bits of the Withdrawal Agreement which borisjohnson signed with bits of the Withdrawal Agreement which Boris Johnson signed with the eu last year. The law took out the controversial bits, the commons want to put it back in, they say it is a necessary safety net in case there is not a deal, and we may know how likely that is, or a bit more, because of course there is that phone call at four oclock between borisjohnson and phone call at four oclock between Boris Johnson and ursula von der leyen. Helen catt, thank you very much. Dozens of hospitals across the uk are receiving batches of the new coronavirus vaccine, with the first jabs to be given tomorrow. Front line health staff, those over 80, and care home workers will be first to get it. The government says the army could be used to help transport further stocks
of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine. Heres our Health Correspondent sophie hutchinson. Military personnel running a mass Coronavirus Testing Centre in liverpool. Now they may be asked to help again, this time in transporting stocks of the vaccine from belgium to the uk, in what has been described as a significant challenge. We are looking at non commercial flight options, so we will ensure. I mean, this is such an important product probably perhaps the most important product so we will look to ensure that those supplies are available in the uk in whatever circumstance. In total, the uk has bought a0 million doses of the pfizer vaccine, enough to protect 20 Million People. A small proportion of that around 800,000 doses are expected to be available this week. The vaccine has to be stored at extremely low temperatures in special freezers and its
hospitals that have them, so elderly people attending outpatient appointments will be the first to be immunised, followed by 80 year olds in the community who will be invited to receive the jab. Its given in two doses. The key thing that we know from other vaccine programmes is actually making sure that people come back for that second dose, and making sure that we factor that in with the appointments that people are given, because its a 21 day gap between the first dose and the second dose of the vaccine. So i think thats the key challenge. Patients will be given a reminder card to ensure they return for a second jab. This has led some to speculate the card might become an immunity passport to allow for more freedoms, but the government has said this is not part of their plan. We are going to run through the assessment process now. Nurses have been undergoing training in how to give the vaccine, in what the government says is the largest vaccination
campaign in uk history. So how are they feeling about the task . Nervous. Excited that theres something out there that can protect us as well as our patients, and hopefully we will see less cases coming in to critical care, and the vaccine will be of some benefit. 50 hospitals will act as hubs to store and administer the vaccine in this first wave of immunisations, which is set to begin tomorrow. Sophie hutchinson, bbc news. Trials of rapid coronavirus testing in care homes have started in scotland. 14 care homes in five local Authority Areas are taking part. Its hoped it will help relatives visit their loved ones safely. But concern about the accuracy of lateral flow tests has prompted some homes in england to stop using them. Our scotland correspondent Alexandra Mackenzie reports. The first minister spent the morning at the western General Hospital in
edinburgh, one of 23 Vaccination Centres in scotland. For those living in care homes, visits from family and friends have been very limited throughout this pandemic. Both of alisons parents have dementia, and are in a care home. Through a window or in a doorway, four metres away with mum stretched out trying to see me, trying to touch me, trying to be with me, and a care worker pulling her back, saying, no, you cant do that, all of that feels wrong, completely wrong. The Scottish Government hopes the introduction of Rapid Testing of ca re the introduction of Rapid Testing of care home visitors will mean more people can be reunited over christmas. 14 care homes across scotla nd christmas. 14 care homes across scotland are taking part in the trial of rapid, or lateral flow, tests for visitors. They dont need to go to the lab for analysis and it ta kes to go to the lab for analysis and it takes about half an hour for the
results to come back. But the Scottish Government has said that it doesnt replace the additional layers of protection against coronavirus such as ppe. But the medicaljournal said a reviewing a Community Pilot in liverpool showed the tests only picked up half of the cases detected by the current pcr test, raising concerns about safety. Others have defended its use. Test, raising concerns about safety. Others have defended its usem test, raising concerns about safety. Others have defended its use. It can find this virus in some people, what it doesnt do is find all of the virus in all of the people. But it is better than not testing, and the technology is improving all the time, so we are going to test it just ina time, so we are going to test it just in a small number of homes to try and remove this horrible, horrible thing weve got where people cant see their elderly relatives. And then if we think it is working there, we will introduce it in more homes over time. More than 100,000 people in scotland have now tested positive for coronavirus. It is hoped that the arrival of the
vaccine and the new tests signal the beginning of the end of these dark and challenging times. Alexander mackenzie, bbc news, glasgow. The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber has admitted his involvement in planning the attack for the first time. Our correspondent Damian Grammaticas is here. This news came out in the Public Inquiry . Yes, it did. Hashem abedi is in prison serving 55 years in prison, multiple life sentences, and in the Public Inquiry today, it came out indirectly because the qc to the inquiry was questioning the Police Officer who led the investigation, and he said, you will be aware that on the 22nd of october, hashem abedi, being interviewed in prison, admitted that he played a full part andknowing in the preparation, and the Police Officer acknowledged that. There were no more details at all given, and that is all that we
have heard from them. But what is interesting to say is that at the time, hashem abedi fled the country, he fought extradition, and when he came back, he denied involvement. In court he didnt give evidence, he only gave a witness statement. He didnt appear at the sentencing in front of the families. So i think the families would feel that at every turn he denied involvement, he told the police that he knew nothing about it and even if he had known, he would have reported this to his family to try to stop it. So, with no more details, i think this will simply add to a sense of frustration and pain and angerfelt by the families that he never confronted what he had actually done, and that of courses now the of the inquiry, to inquiry, to get to the bottom of the events and what happened there. And that is what the families are looking to for answers. Our top story this lunchtime. More talks but less and less time. The brexit trade negotiations
enter the end game. Coming up 60 years on the cobbles. Stars and fans prepare to celebrate corries landmark anniversary. Coming up in the sport in the next 15 minutes on bbc news. A late finish in milton keynes, as Neil Robertson wins the uk championship on a deciding frame to win his first triple crown title in five years. To win his first triple crown if youre dreaming of a white christmas, scientists think it could soon become a thing of the past in the uk, as Climate Change takes hold. The findings of a met office study shared with the bbcs panorama project what could happen if no action is taken to kerb global emissions. Heres our chief environment correspondent, justin rowlatt. Nothing evokes winter like a thick blanket of snow. And sledging, snowball fights and snowmen too, of course. But, says the met office,
scenes like this will become a rarity across most of britain in the decades to come if Greenhouse Gas emissions continue to increase as they have been. Were saying by the end of the century much of the lying snow will have disappeared entirely except over the highest ground. Heres how the met Office Projections suggest our winters could change. This is the average temperature of the coldest day across the uk over the last two decades. Everywhere in blue is below zero, and the bluer the colour, the colder it is. This map shows how things could have changed by the 2040s. As you can see, most of england now rarely gets sub zero days. Now look at this. By the 2060s, only very high ground and some parts of northern scotland are likely to still experience these freezing days. Temperature changes will be much less dramatic if the world succeeds in cutting emissions, and there has been good news on that front. Just last week, the uk
government announced ambitious targets for cutting carbon, and more than 100 countries including the uk, china and the eu have committed to going net zero by mid century. If those promises are not honoured we can expect more of this, the met office says. Its new data gives unprecedented detail, showing how the climate could change in every neighbourhood in the uk. As well as being warmer, our winters will get wetter. All right . How are you doing . Panorama has followed the wingfield family from doncaster. Can we come in and have a look . You can do by all means. Thank you very much. I dont give a monkeys no more. The wingfields home was flooded in november last year when a months worth of rain fell over South Yorkshire in a day. Look at this, theres just water through the whole house. Yeah. This is my father in laws room downstairs. This is terrible. Look at the room. Yeah. Grandpa ken suffering from dementia had to be carried out of the home safety. Are you all right . Yeah, im fine. Our summers will be a dramatic contrast to our wetter winters. Theyll be hotter and drier if emissions are not curbed. The warning is clear unless the world succeeds in cutting emissions, intense weather like this could become more common. Justin rowlatt, bbc news. You can watch panorama britains wild weather at 7pm this evening on bbc one, and visit the bbc news website to see how Climate Change might affect your area. The First Service station in the uk to cater only for electric vehicles has opened in essex. Up to 36 cars at a time can recharge their batteries at the site in braintree. Among the facilities are shops and a gym with exercise bikes that
are linked to the forecourts electrical grid, so motorists can help to generate the electricity for their vehicles. The families of four dead children, whose identities were used as back stories by undercover Police Officers, have begun legal action against the metropolitan police. The identities were used by officers when they infiltrated political movements and protest groups between the 1980s and early 2000s. Our Home Affairs Correspondent june kelly is here. This sounds shocking. It is, simon. Viewers that have seen the day of the jackal will have seen the main character adopting the technique of taking the identity of a dead child, but families who have gone through it in real life say it is devastating to learn their childrens names have been used in this way and thats why they say they want a proper apology from scotla nd they want a proper apology from scotland yard. Its believed more than a0 childrens names were used by officers. There were four
families involved in this case, and these were children who died in the 19605 these were children who died in the 1960s and 1970s. Baby rod richardson lived for just two 1960s and 1970s. Baby rod richardson lived forjust two days. Kevin crossland who was killed in a plane crash with his mum and sister, neil martin died after his sixth birthday, he was badly disabled, then a teenager Michael Hartley who fell from a fishing trawler and his body was never found. Fell from a fishing trawler and his body was neverfound. The fell from a fishing trawler and his body was never found. The officers who took their names, they were operating in the 1980s to 2000s but the families only got to know a couple of years ago and they discovered the officers were researching the childrens backgrounds, in some cases visiting their graves and applying for passports and driving licences in the childrens names. We obviously have spoken to scotland yard, but they say they cannot comment while they say they cannot comment while they are investigating. But for the families, they say this revelation has made their grief very raw once again. Thank you very much. Forty Million People in california have been been ordered to stay at home as a strict new coronavirus lockdown comes into force in most parts of the us state. Many businesses will be closed, and people will be banned from meeting anyone from outside their household. Cases are continuing to rise in california and across the united states. Meanwhile, Donald Trumps personal lawyer, rudy giuliani, is in hospital after testing positive for the virus. Mr giuliani, whos seventy six, said he was getting great care and feeling good. There are fresh hopes of saving thousands ofjobs at debenhams. Mike ashleys Frasers Group has said its in talks to buy the Department Store chain, which is due to close by march. Lets speak to our Business Correspondent emma simpson. Emma, just how likely is this to happen . Yes, could mike ashley really co m e happen . Yes, could mike ashley really come to the rescue at the 11th hour . It does all come down to price and just how credible an offer he makes. Remember, last week we
we re he makes. Remember, last week we were told the business was starting to be wound down. That closing sale is already under way. Although the administrators said the end of the initial sales process had taken place, they would always look at any alternative offers. So now they are in talks with Frasers Group. It did put ina in talks with Frasers Group. It did put in a bid in october which was rejected because it was too low, so hes having another go. Mike ashley has been here before, he tried to buy debenhams last year and ended up losing his entire £150 million stake in doing so, as the chain ended up in the hands of its lender. So could this be the final throw of the dice for him . In a statement this morning, Frasers Group said it hoped a rescue package could be put in place and jobs saved. But things had also been complicated by the colla pse also been complicated by the collapse of arcadia, which is debenhams biggest concession holder, so there is no certainty any
transaction or deal would take place. There is a bit of hope for the workers, but nothing definite yet for sure. Emma, thank you very much. After a difficult year for communities across the uk, the duke and duchess of cambridge are travelling across the country to thank people for their efforts during the pandemic. Over the next three days, william and kate will travel more than 1,200 miles on the royal train to try and bring some festive cheer. Our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell reports. Edinburghs waverley station, the first stop for the rail train on a 1200 milejourney first stop for the rail train on a 1200 mile journey around the first stop for the rail train on a 1200 milejourney around the uk first stop for the rail train on a 1200 mile journey around the uk to give the duke and duchess of cambridge a chance to meet different groups of key workers, and in the words of kensington palace, to pass on the nations sincere thanks and gratitude for all their efforts to keep people safe and keep the country going during the pandemic. The Scottish Ambulance service handles more than 1. 5 million
emergency calls every year, and like Ambulance Services everywhere theres been considerable extra pressure on it caused by covid 19. William and catherine met members of the Ambulance Service staff in newbridge. The visit fell on a day when the service was remembering a member of staff who died recently from coronavirus. The cambridge journey began last night with a musical sendoff from londons at euston station. The duke and duchess met transport workers who kept Services Running throughout the pandemic. Then to the royal train, the first time its thought catherine has used it, for a journey as well as meeting key workers will also highlight those who have raised community spirit. In some ways by artwork, like this created specially
for their trip. Its by schoolboy artistjoe wale, who was asked by his dad to create Something Special for the journey. He gave me a little brief of some things to include, like to say thank you to all of the front line workers and nhs, but apart from that ijust did what i wa nted apart from that ijust did what i wanted really. And those thank yous to key workers will continue over the next 36 hours as william and catherine continue theirjourney around the united kingdom. Nicholas witchell, bbc news. 1a6 deaths, 131 weddings and endless servings of hot pot coronation street is celebrating 60 years on our screens. When introduced in 1960, corrie broke the mould, invented the modern uk soap opera and provided some unforgettable moments. And as both stars and fans celebrate, our entertainment correspondent Colin Paterson has been chatting to some of the streets longstanding residents. 60 years of coronation street. From the fights between ena sharples and elsie tanner. Now look here, youll only move me out of this house when i want to go. In the meantime, gojump in the cut . To the campaign to free the weatherfield one. I didnt do anything. And those classic one liners. Whats that lipstick taste of . Woman, stanley. Woman. You see this smile, betty . Its not really a smile, its the lid on a screen. Do i dress a bit tarty . Give over. Too demure altogether, i reckon. Theres some days we hardly see your knickers at all one man has been there throughout william roache, playing ken barlow, who, in that first episode, was a student. Sauce, ken . No. No, thank you. Oh, but i got specially. Oh, but i got it specially. You always loved it when you was little. Did i . And hes hugely proud that both he and corrie have reached this landmark. Whats up . Nothing. Considering that when it started, it was only going to run for 11 weeks. And also, i didnt want to be in it. And when you think about that, it would have been a life changing thing if id insisted on not doing it. But apart from that, once we got on air, we were the First Kitchen sink drama, and the reaction was instant and amazing. And we shot straight up into the ratings, and weve been there ever since. The character whos appeared in the second most episodes, a,369, is gail platt. Keeping count of how many husbands shes had is tricky. Is it for when i married twice, is that it . I think thats it. What is the secret . Why has it lasted 60 years . I think itjust might have something to do with the fact that children watch it with their parents. I hope we just go down the generations. Coronation street over 60 years, there have been 57 births, 131 weddings, 1a6 deaths. And knowing corrie, it wont be long until theyre adding to those totals. Coronation streets all right. Colin paterson. Mind, theres some youll have to watch. Bbc news. Now look at this for something pretty extraordinary. This is rugby leagues Kevin Sinfield in the blue hat the former leeds rhinos captain completing a marathon in oldham this morning, which is actually the seventh marathon that he has run in as many days. Hes done it to raise money
to tackle Motor Neurone Disease and to support his friend and former team mate rob burrow, who has the condition. Well, Kevin Sinfields achievement hasnt gone unnoticed. Hes raised so far more than a milllion pounds. At the start we were worried we might not make seven grand, let alone what we have done, so i cant thank people enough. I tell you what, weve all been so proud of wearing this vest, just for our good mate rob burrow and his family, but also for the mnd community. A remarkable achievement from a remarkable man. Time for a look at the weather. Heres darren bett. Thank you, it is another call today, and across some parts of lincolnshire, the midlands and south east england temperatures are still below freezing. This mist and low cloud is still around. There is a sunshine across many other parts of the uk but still temperatures are only at four degrees. Some showers
around