On teacher assessments. The president elect joe biden says Donald Trumps refusal to concede the election is an embarrassment. How lockdown has widened the Digital Divide amongst children learning at home. And coming up in sport on bbc news. Almost 600 days after winning the masters title again, tiger woods has been describing his emotions as he prepares to defend the green jacket at augusta. Good evening. The Health Secretary, matt hancock, says the nhs should be ready to roll out a Coronavirus Vaccine by the start of december if it is approved. But he urged caution, warning that it would be an enormous logistical task and it wasnt clear how many people would have to be vaccinated in order for life to return to some sort of normality. If regulators decide that it is safe and effective, the vaccine will be offered to the most vulnerable patients first in what would be a seven day a week operation. It comes as the uk recorded its highest daily death toll today since the middle of may 532 more people have died. Heres our medical editor fergus walsh. This is liquid hope, the first Covid Vaccine proven to be effective, in production in germany. If regulators approve it for use, a few million doses of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine should be available in the uk before the end of the year. The Health Secretary said the military and nhs staff would be on standby to roll out a vaccine from the start of december. The uncertainties are real, and the scale of the job is vast. But i know that the nhs, brilliantly assisted by the armed services, will be up to the task. So, who will get it first . Put simply, the older you are, the sooner you will be eligible for a Covid Vaccine. Currently in pole position are elderly care home residents and staff. Then people aged 80 and over, plus front line nhs workers. The vaccine will then be allocated to younger age groups in bands of five years. But that is dependent on it being effective in older adults, and were still waiting for that data. Adults under 65 with Underlying Health conditions will also be given some priority. There should be enough doses of the Pfizer Vaccine to immunise 20 Million People, so younger adults may have to wait for other vaccines to come through. The pfizerjab is not intended for children. Vaccinators go into care homes to immunise vulnerable, older residents. Gp surgeries will play a crucial role, some may be open seven days a week. Large venues, like sports halls, are also likely to be used for mass immunisation. The Pfizer Vaccine trials were mainly conducted in the United States and germany. Initial findings suggest its 90 effective at preventing covid 19. Caution is needed, but the early results are surprisingly good. Even the optimists amongst us were hoping for 50 or 60 , so this puts this vaccine straight up at the top of the league in terms of vaccines that we have and how effective they can be. Traditional vaccines use a weakened or inactivated whole virus, but the pfizer covid jab uses only a tiny amount of genetic code found in the spike protein on its surface. This synthetic rna is what prompts the immune system to recognise and remember coronavirus. This bodes well for other Covid Vaccines, which also use the spike protein to create immunity. Results from the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine trials are expected in a matter of weeks. How do you feel . I feel fine. If they, too, are also positive, it would be another decisive step out of the shadow cast by this pandemic. And fergus is with me now. This will be rolled here in the uk injust three weeks time if its safe. Is three weeks long enough to know . Safety is absolutely crucial and pfizer say they should have two months of follow up data on all of their volunteers before it applies for emergency authorisation for use in the uk and europe and the United States and we have been told there have been no adverse effects so far, but we should expect that this vaccine will have side effects. Every medicine from aspirin upwards does, and no vaccine is 100 safe. You have to balance that against the risks from covid, more than 500 covid related deaths today and then there is the issue of rom covid which has left tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of people in the uk would linger Health Problems long covid which has left. How long will immunity last . We dont know because the trials only began in july we dont know because the trials only began injuly but the manufacturers hope it should provide protection for at least a year or two and then we may need a booster dose, and if the virus starts to meditate so it can evade the system might need a slightly different vaccine, a booster, like we did with the flu jab every winter, but that is for the future. For now, we remain group of this pandemic, and we cannot lower oui remain group of this pandemic, and we cannot lower our guard. Thanks for joining we cannot lower our guard. Thanks forjoining us. The latest government figures show 532 deaths were reported in the latest 2a hour period, thats people who died within 28 days of a positive covid 19 test the highest figure since the 12th may. It means on average in the past week 360 deaths were announced every day. It takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 49,770. Meanwhile, plans to carry out more mass testing from the end november have been announced, including all University Students in england. With more, heres our Health Editor hugh pym. Getting students home for the Christmas Holiday without risking the virus spreading its a logistical challenge. Today, its emerged a week of mass covid testing at universities in england could start at the end of the month. So, what do students think . The way students have been treated at university has been abborhent. Kidsjust trapped inside one room. I want to go home to see my family so that would be awesome. I cannot see them getting it out to tens of thousands of students across the country in a couple of weeks. Rapid testing kits like this with results back in one hour will be used in universities, and from this week nhs staff in england will have regular testing using the same technology. Making it more widely available is one of the governments priorities for trying to curb the virus. But the established test and trace system in england has been criticised for problems getting bookings, delays receiving results and difficulties reaching contacts of those testing positive. Baroness harding, do you still believe test and rrace is working . And trace is working . Today, the head of test and trace faced questions at a commons committee, with one mp setting out what was said to be shortcomings with the system. Given this catalogue of failures, should you be reconsidering your position . Thank you for that report card. If we step back and compare what weve delivered versus what we said we would at the end ofjuly, we have met the vast majority of our commitments. We committed to building Testing Capacity to half a million per day by the end of october. Testing capacity today is over 500,000 a day. Its been hard for the testing system to keep up as cases and hospital admissions have risen steadily. The latest daily reported death toll was above 500 for the First Time Since may, though other figures out today for the last week in october give a broader picture. One way of assessing the covid impact is looking at the total number of deaths from all causes. This line shows the five year average for uk weekly deaths and heres whats happened so far this year. You can see a sharp spike in april at the time of the first wave. The red area shows covid deaths. There are other excess deaths. Some could be linked indirectly to covid because people did not seek hospital treatment. Then it falls back towards the average before picking up again, although its still nowhere near where it was at the time of that first wave. Heres what has been happening in recent months. Since october the death toll has gone back above that five year average. Reducing cases and saving lives is the aim of lockdown restrictions. Health officials hope that will also allow test and trace to be more effective at controlling the virus. Hugh pym, bbc news. The head of the football association, greg clarke, has resigned after using out dated and offensive language during a meeting with mps while discussing diversity in the sport. He has apologised for using unacceptable words while describing black players. Our Sports Editor dan roans report includes language some viewers may find offensive. Footballs been through a lot lately, the loss of fans sparking financial crisis. Today in parliament, the sports leaders were asked to provide some answers, but instead a new controversy. During questions on diversity, the man at the very top of the english game said this. If you go to the it department at the fa there are a lot more south asians than there are afro caribbeans because they have different career interests. But that wasnt all he said, clarke then referring to black players using an offensive and outdated term. High profile coloured footballers and the abuse they take. A few minutes later came this. Would you want to withdraw that language . Cos isnt that exactly the kind of language that means that inclusion is not a reality even though football is very diverse . One, if i said it, i deeply apologise. Secondly, i am a product of having worked overseas. I worked in the usa for many years, where i was required to use the term people of colour cos that was a product of their diversity legislation and positive discrimination format. Sometimes, i trip over my words. Clarkes no stranger to controversy. In 2017, a year after being appointed, and in front of the same committee, he had to apologise after referring to institutional racism as fluff. The chairman survived that episode, but todays comments, coming amid efforts to tackle discrimination, immediately led to calls for him to step down. Its a sort of grisly compilation album of ignorant stereotypes. So, i think that says that theres an underlying attitude and thats the problem. I think its legitimate to ask the question, is that the right person to be leading this organisation . Tonight, the fa dramatically announced that clarke had stepped down after what he called unacceptable words that did a disservice to our game. This has been another grim day for the sport, greg clarkes resignation, the last thing english football needed, after what was already a period of crisis. With the grassroots game suspended and turnstiles still shut, agreement over a bailout to help clubs survive has proved elusive and theres increasing tension over the future structure of the club game. The hope was that footballs authorities would join forces today. Instead, its reeling from an episode that, for many, is indicative of why the game has struggled to move forward. Dan roan, bbc news. Students in wales will not be taking gcse, as or a level exams next summer. Instead, the Welsh Government has decided to base their grades on assessments made by their teachers. Ministers are worried that, because of the impact of the pandemic, it might not be possible to guarantee a level Playing Field for all students. Hywel griffith reports. Ive just taken a snippet out of an actual gcse question. Studying past papers will soon be a thing of the past for these year 11 pupils in cardiff. Today, they learnt their exams have been scrapped. Instead, they will face a series of teacher led classroom assessments in the spring. For these two pupils, there is obvious relief but concern, as well. Ifeel like its beneficial to us. We havent had the time to learn all the coursework. It wouldnt be possible. The stress level is way better. Im not stressed any more, so i feel like its beneficial. I want to be a doctor when im older. If they see it differently when it comes to the qualifications to take a specific course, so thats what im scared of most. Exams are still going ahead in england and northern ireland, leading to concerns that welsh results could be seen differently by employers and universities. The Education Minister believes they will be recognised. We have consulted with universities before making this decision. What about employers . Yes, of course, because once theyve been awarded they are a qualification that is exactly the same, of equal worth in years before and in years to come. This decision is based on the disruption and lost learning for pupils, notjust last year but right now. At this school this term they have already had an entire year group had to self isolate and stay at home for two weeks, but moving to a different system brings another challenge. The head here says he needs more detail on how external assessment will work for those with learning difficulties. Particularly around youngsters with special consideration, about how do we ensure they have a fair process, but like most schools we adapt. With scotland and now wales opting out of exams, there is renewed pressure on downing street to scrap exams in england and keep the class of 2021 on the same page. Hywel griffith, bbc news, cardiff. Three Council Areas in scotland are to move to level 3 of coronavirus restrictions. Angus, fife and Perth And Kinross will face tougher regulations from friday. Restaurants and pubs will be banned from selling alcohol and must close at 6pm. Scotlands first minister said the move was necessary and precautionary to address sharply rising cases. The us president elect, joe biden, has said its an embarassment that donald trump has not accepted defeat in the election and it will reflect poorly on his legacy. Speaking earlier, he said the transition process was well under way. Our north america editor, jon sopel, at the white house. How frustrated is joe biden how frustrated isjoe biden about the progress with transition . You know, it is exactly for years to the day that barack obama welcomed donald trump to the white house and said, how can i help you, is there anything i can do to make the transition easier . Nothing like that is happening now. I thoughtjoe bidens voice today was of a bedside Doctor Holding the hand of the republican patient and saying, i know you have been through a terrible shock, you will come to terms with it sooner or later. He said the Republican Leadership was mildly intimidated by donald trump, mildly. I would say they are mockingly scared of donald trump and thatis mockingly scared of donald trump and that is why they are going along with this whole recount business. The president himself is tweeting out to say watch for massive counting abuse. We are a week on from the vote and the massive it is, the evidence has not been brought forward. I thinkjoe biden wants to lower the temperature and be patient and say to the rest of the world, we are back on the world stage. And meanwhile, joe biden made a call to borisjohnson, what meanwhile, joe biden made a call to boris johnson, what was meanwhile, joe biden made a call to borisjohnson, what was said . Meanwhile, joe biden made a call to boris johnson, what was said . think it was really interesting. We had a readout from the british side at the american side and a lot of it is blah blah blah. The british are pleased it was the first call to a european leader, special relationship, box ticked. They talked about defence, nato, security that trade is the really interesting one and this is where its worth a bit of contextual analysis was done on the british side are just that we talked about trade. On the american readout it said we talked about trade and reasserted the importance of the good friday agreement. That isa of the good friday agreement. That is a warning shot to britain about withdrawing from this Withdrawal Agreement and jeopardising the good friday agreement, that that might jeopardise any future us uk trade deal and that is something to watch with caution in the weeks and months ahead. Jon sopel, thank you. Redundancies reached a record high between july to september, pushing the uk Unemployment Rate to 4. 8 , according to figures from the office for national statistics. 314,000 people were made redundant between july and september. The number of people out of work rose by 243,000 in the same period the largest increase since may 2009. There are now 782,000 fewer people in payrolled employment, compared to march this year. And 2. 5 Million People are still on furlough the scheme which has been extended until march. Our Business Correspondent sarah corker reports. Dusk at Coniston Water in cumbria. This beauty spot, like the rest of england, is now locked down for a second time. Its been quiet. Its only going to get quieter in the next few weeks. During the first lockdown, joanne and husband sean both lost theirjobs as coach drivers with holiday firm shearings. Hes found new employment, but its 450 miles away in cornwall. It is a financial stretch. It costs me £100 to come home for the week, if i come home for a weekend. I try and keep what i spend right down to a minimum, but emotionally, it is having an effect on me. Joanne is working again too, but the couple are now £7,000 a year worse off and the pandemic has taken its toll. Its devastated me. I cant. |m trying not to cry, but its devastated me. And i am struggling. I am struggling. Sorry. The travel and Tourism Industry has been at the sharp end of this economic crisis. In the west midlands, sian lost herjob as a travel consultant in july. Shes applied for hundreds of roles. Its been really, really hard to be re employed because firstly, instead of 50 applicants for a role thats suitable for me, theres over 500, sometimes 1000, applicants. So the employers can actually afford to be very, very picky and choosy. A record 314,000 people were made redundant in the three months to september. Companies laid off staff as they expected the furlough scheme to finish at the end of october. At the 11th hour, it was extended until the end of march, but that extension came too late to save somejobs. Patricia and andrew lost theirjobs when travel company shearings went into administration in may. They used their redundancy money to set up a new travel business. More and more companies were going out of business and the opportunities just didnt seem to be there, so myself and tricia, we decided that for us the best way forward and to stay in the travel industry was to take it up ourselves, really. But a second shut down wasnt part of their planning. You just kind of sigh and just think, wheres it all going to end . You know, its been a catastrophic year anyway, that you just think, can people weather the storm . Back on Coniston Water, and lockdown Restrictions Mean holidays are effectively banned until december. Economists warn further big rises in unemployment are likely in the months ahead. Sarah corker, bbc news, in south cumbria. The head of the Catholic Church in england and wales has been heavily criticised for putting the reputation of the church ahead of its duty to survivors of child abuse. The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse examined more than 3000 accusations up to 2015. It said Cardinal Vincent nichols had not shown compassion towards victims in the recent cases that it had looked at. Sangita myska reports. Westminster cathedral, the home of the Catholic Church in england and wales, part of an institution so preoccupied with its reputation that it catastrophically failed children in its care. The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse says that over half a century, 900 alleged victims reported over 3000 instances of abuse perpetrated by priests, monks and other church staff. The true scale of the abuse, the report says, will never be known. That the evidence that i give. Shall be the truth. Cardinal vincent nichols, who gave evidence to the Public Inquiry into 2018, was singled out for stinging criticism. The report says he should have shown leadership, bringing about swift change in the culture of the church that had at times turned a blind eye to perpetrators of abuse. A survivor, whos asked us to maintain her anonymity, is, along with others, calling on the cardinal to quit. I think he must resign. I think its the only decent thing to do. I think there needs to be a point where he says hands up, i got this wrong and therefore my position is untenable. The report, which is almost 150 pages long, says the Catholic Churchs moral purpose had been betrayed. Of Cardinal Nichols it said there was no acknowledge of any personal responsibility and that he did not demonstrate compassion towards victims of recent cases. Speaking to the bbc, Cardinal Nichols says hes committed to change and that he has the popes backing. I offered my resignation to pope francis and his answer has come back very clear, very unambiguous, he wants me to stay in the post. The inquiry has warned that abuse within the Catholic Church is not an historical problem but one that it must continue to address with a change in culture. Sangita myska, bbc news. Russia is deploying hundreds of peacekeeping troops to Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding territories, after it brokered a peace deal between armenia and azerbaijan. Over the last six weeks, more than 1000 people have been killed most of them were Ethnic Armenian fighters. More than 100,000 have been displaced. The region is internationally recognised as azerbaijans, but it has been run by Ethnic Armenians since 1994. The deal triggered celebrations in azerbaijan, and angry scenes in armenia, where protesters called for the resignation of the prime minister. Our international correspondent, orla guerin, reports from the azerbaijani capital baku. A nation buoyed up by victory. No social distancing in baku. For azerbaijanis, there is plenty to celebrate in the overnight peace deal signed, sealed and delivered by russia. And just look at the president , ilham aliyev. Hes mocking the armenian prime minister, nikol pashinyan. What has happened, pashinyan . , he asks. This will probably be the talk of the town for many years. In the armenian parliament, it was more of a scandal. Protesters cried betrayal. Attacking hthe prime ministers nameplate. The prime ministers nameplate. He said the deal was unspeakably painful but there was no other choice. So azerbaijan gets to keep the gains made in battle in recent weeks. That includes the second largest city in Nagorno Karabakh but not the capital. Armenia has to withdraw from swathes of territory it occupied around the disputed region. Russia gets boots back on the ground in this corner of the caucasus. Its peacekeepers and its tanks already rolling between the two sides. Tell all the world werejust coming home. Thats a home she has never seen. Her parents were pushed out of Nagorno Karabakh nearly 30 years ago. So, could she live there now with armenians who remain . Yeah, we can live. Like, what is the problem with us . But, actually, it takes a long time. Maybe years . Yeah, maybe years, maybe, i dont know, decades. Maybe only our own sons, our daughters, our sons will see this. Crowds are coming and going here, young and old, family groups. People have been gathering to celebrate and there is a real sense here that a key victory has been achieved after many long years of waiting. Its notjust the end of the past six weeks of fighting, its the recovery of territory that is seen here as a missing piece of the homeland. Many on both sides fought and died for that territory in the last war in the 1990s. Today, plenty of visitors at the alley of the martyrs in baku. The peace deal does not return all of Nagorno Karabakh. So, for azerbaijan, its not a complete victory but, for armenia, it is a comprehensive defeat. Orla guerin, bbc news, baku. One of the key palestinian figures of the past 30 years, saeb erekat, has died after contracting covid 19. He was 65. Saeb erekat was the chief palestinian negotiator in talks with israel for more than two decades, strongly advocating full palestinian statehood. The palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas described his death as a huge loss. Ofsted says children in england have regressed in basic skills and learning during the pandemic. It says many children have notjust fallen behind since march, but have also lost basic skills like holding cutlery. A lack of resources enabling children to learn at home has been one factor. The government has supplied laptops to schools in england, but has struggled to deliver the amount originally promised to many schools this term, as our education editor, bra nwen jeffreys, reports in schools across england an invisible, Digital Divide. I am truly angry about it. They talk about levelling up this isnt levelling up, this isnt equity, this is unfair. For parents, the fear their children will fall behind. That is my worry, that theyre going to miss out on a lot and it is affecting them. Salmas five children share one tablet, not a problem until this year, with many parents struggling to send work back to school online. Salma told me they cant afford another device. Just in sheffield, 11,000 children are in the same position. We had the choice of if you could only manage doing one piece of work, we could upload that. So, they lost out on the rest because my priority was to upload that one piece of work. What ive actually seen in my children is the areas where they were quite strong in, they have. Ive seen them become a little bit weak in them areas. Right from the first lockdown, schools realised there was a huge Digital Divide. Some families only had a couple of mobile phones to share between parents and children, making it impossible for pupils to learn at home. But now if a school shuts, they have a legal obligation to provide the same education remotely. So, whats the situation with laptops from the government . More than 500,000 will have reached the schools this year, say ministers. But many schools are angry after a cut of up to 80 in the number they were allocated this term. I think its been a real struggle over this last few months. This primary head teacher was promised 35, then told they would only get seven. It falls so far short because we have 100 children who are eligible for free school meals