Support for democracy despite being charged with fraud. We also would look at changes and what is used to be russias empire, to belarus and why they present a problem for the kremlin. Covid figures in the us have hit new record levels. Here the United States of america food here and Drug Administration the Gold Standard of regulation. They are doing it in a very careful way, appropriately. Because if we did anything that was cutting corners and rushing, we have enough problems with people being sceptical about taking a vaccine anyway. If we had jumped over the hurdle here quickly and inappropriately to gain an extra week or a week and a half, i think that the credibility of our regulatory process would be damaged and we would have had we would have had more people. You know, i love the brits, they are great, they are good scientists. But they just took the data from the Pfizer Company, and instead of scrutinising it really, really carefully, they said, ok, lets approve it, thats it, and they went with it. Is you would imagine, some push back saying that criticism is not fair. The nhra these were called it rolling review. Many data is analysed as is received we re many data is analysed as is received were not altogether at the end of the trial. We should point out that the trial. We should point out that the eu is not dismissing the findings, infact the eu is not dismissing the findings, in fact the regulator has asked that the uk show the conclusions. Without a direct response to the mhra. Lets talk to Gary Odonoghue who is life with us from washington. Gary, quite sharp words from mr fauci. Yes, really sharp criticism. Bear in mind Anthony Fauci is the scientific face of the fight against this pandemic. Notjust face of the fight against this pandemic. Not just in face of the fight against this pandemic. Notjust in the United States but he is known worldwide and has become known worldwide of the last few months. For him to launch this criticism of the uk and its process i think will sting. You have heard the response from the nhra in britain added detail response, currently but different from the cabinet ministers and he said its quicker because were better than the United States and germany, and that was his response but i think the background to this is that the american fda, the food and drug and in has been hauled into the white house and the last couple of days and asked where things taking so long . Because they are not do to meet to make a decision on this until the 10th of december, and i think in some ways the americans feel like they are lagging behind a little bit on this, hence this. And possibly the fact that the uk has approved this vaccine will have caused some consternation in the white house given President Trumps upset with the fda which is been well documented. Yes and we know the chief of staff had the head of the fda in the white house yesterday. We understand that was discussing the delays in the present of course is accused pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies of delaying their announcements about the vaccines and the efficacy of the vaccines and the efficacy of the vaccines until after the election to directly harm his prospects. So he was already not well disposed but i think this particular attack by Anthony Fauci is different in the sense that he does have this kind of, i wont say a saint like status in this world of epidemiology and all of that kind of thing, but he is so all of that kind of thing, but he is so well respected that i think this will sting in london, and thats why you seen such a rapid response. Having said all that, having said all that, come to december the 10th, if the fda were to reject pfizers emergency authorisation i think that will be a huge shock here. Thank you very much indeed. The context all of this in the us that the figures they are getting worse and worse. It set new records today, more than 2800 people died on wednesday. The highest daily figure thats been released since the pandemic began. Heres more of the data. The daily total of the deaths is no higher than in the initial peak of the spring, and there been more than 264,000 deaths in total. In addition, right night around 100,000 americans are in hospital thats the double the number at the start of november. More than 19,000 of those people are in intensive care. Meanwhile, the number of new infections is exceeding a million a week. There were more than 200,000 cases were recorded on wednesday alone. As youd imagine, the Healthcare System is under severe strain. And the surge in cases is expected to rise because so many people travelled for the thanksgiving holiday last week. Heres the director of the centres for Disease Control and prevention. We are potentially looking at another 150,000 to 200,000 people before we get into february. So this is really a significant time. President Electjoe Biden is now urged americans not to travel for christmas. Here he is speaking at a virtual roundtable event. We are likely to lose another 250,000 people dead between now and january. You hear me . Because people arent paying attention. Some states which have been under particular pressure are seeing case numbers fall. South and north dakota, nebraska, and iowa have seen infection rates drop but deaths continue to rise. Thats because it can take two or three weeks for those who become the most ill to be hospitalised. Infection rates remain high in states like new mexico, ohio and north and south carolina. And the situation is worsening in california it was the second state after texas to reach1 million total cases. Los angeles is a particular focus with over 5000 cases a day. The city is within in la county, where hospitalisations have increased 94 in two weeks. And las mayor has issued an emergency stay at home order. Here he is. My dont attend a gathering. And following our targeted safer at home order if you are able to stay home, stay home. So lets hear more about the impact of the lag time between infection and hospitalisations heres a professor of medicine and Infectious Disease specialist at the university of california san francisco. A surge on top of a surge, and when you think about christmas, thats a surge, on top of a surge, on top of a surge. So on thanksgiving that was a record travel day for the us for the year, with more than1 Million People travelling. So if you think about that, thats really going to be looking really bad in about two weeks. And thats notjust in la, but across the country. Heres dr craig spencer, whos been working on the frontline in new york city. Health care workers have been doing this for months, have been working in ppe, or physically exhausted, and mentally exhausted. And the problem is, that unlike march and april, when other places around the country could send help to us. Right now, the virus is everywhere. 100,000 people are hospitalised, and theres going to be even more in the coming days as we see the impact from a big travel over the last holiday weekend. We are not going to be able to share those resources, we are not going to be able to send the doctors and nurses throughout the country because they are needed where they are at. Theresjust not a lot of flexibility left in the system, and we are close to the brink. All this raises the question of why the us has been hit so hard by the virus. Heres one possible reason. This is a chart of the Different Reasons americans have given for not wearing a mask in the us. 40 responded to the survey by saying it was their right as an american to not wear one thats the section of the chart in red. Professor Edward Vargas did that research for the brookings institution. Youve been looking american attitude throughout this, have they changed . There has been some change while mask used with relatively low at the beginning we started back in march, we do see theres been an increase in mass queues, but has not been uniform. They re increase in mass queues, but has not been uniform. Theyre still about 20 to 30, at 225 of americans who dont wear, or refuse to wear a mask in public, and that has a lot of us really concerned. 0ne in public, and that has a lot of us really concerned. One of the main reasons is folks are saying they dont want to wear a mask because they commune 0k dont want to wear a mask because they commune ok with they feel is their right as an american to not wear a mask. That coupled with conspiracy theories has direct implications for the fight against covid 19 which i would argue has applications for a vaccine roll out. This will have direct implications for a roll out. This will have direct implications for a rollout. Tell me more about this conspiracy theories, however peoples attitudes towards different theories around covid changed . Right now the biggest conspiracy is our around 5g systems, the implementation of 5g towers, people are connecting that with covid 19. But we really need is a top down approach from state governors to lock states down, so for example here in the state of arizona our republican governor has not made any strides to try to kerb covid 19, has not passed a mandate across the state. Has not provided mayors really a ny state. Has not provided mayors really any direction and leadership on what they should be doing to try to kerb the infection rate. Touch me about american individualism, they are part of the fact that what the state of their lives, and make their own decisions, does that play into the attitudes you are recording . That directly connected. But we are finding in our research is that americans believe that local officials like mayors, local Public Health agencies are the best and most trusted form of information for them. Because they have not seen this at the national level. They have not seen President Trump really taking covid 19 crisis and pandemic as seriously as he should. Let me ask you finally about levels of concern, the numbers from america are shocking, ive been going through them just now. Having an impact on how americans feel about the threat of this virus . |j impact on how americans feel about the threat of this virus . I think americans, their direct connection with somebody, knowing somebody who has died, somebody we have, a big tractor truck cargo that are just morgues is basically. They dont know where to put the bodies of their putting them in these tractor trailers coolers. I think its a direct connection knowing somebody who has died and ourfamily we have lost somebody personally to covid 19. Americans are seeing it because they are experiencing it around them. That has been invaluable. Thank you very much indeed. Thats a situation in the us. Next lets talk about the situation in the uk, because here the number of people who have died has now passed a 60,000. At the start of the pandemic the worst Case Scenario predicted 50,000 deaths. By by able to figure was rising rapidly and thats when the government outlined its worst Case Scenario. Two months later, the number of deaths the past 40,000 with the daily loss of life been significantly reduced by the lockdown. Cases and deaths remained relatively low for the summer, but began to rise again in september and by early november england was back in lockdown. Less than a week later the uk became the first european country to pass 50,000 deaths. Earlier this week the second lucked out and earlier this week the second lucked outand did, earlier this week the second lucked out and did, it was replaced by a tiered system of restrictions and now today as ive been saying the uk has passed 60,000 deaths. Now the uk has passed 60,000 deaths. Now the uk has been criticised for its handling of the pandemic, and as regarding heard is not been criticised for its emergency approval of the Pfizer Vaccine as well. Notjust Anthony Fauci questioning the decision. The former head of the European Medical Agency has said this to an italian radio station. Personally, i wouldve expected. He went on to suguest that the emergency approval of the vaccine was a substantially political step that is not without risks. As we heard from gary 0donoghue one uk government minister has been offering another explanation for the speed of the vaccine approval process. Ijust reckon weve got the very best people in this country, and weve obviously got the best medical regulators. Much better than the french have, much better than the belgians have, much better than the americans have, that does not surprise me at all because we are a much better country than every single one of them. Heres how the eu responded to that claim. Let me say this. We are, of course, absolutely convinced that the regulators in the United Kingdom are very good, but we are definitely not in a game of comparing regulators across countries, nor on commenting on claims as to who is better. This is not a football competition, we are talking about the life and health of people. And heres nick beake in brussels with more on that. I was talking to one senior diplomat earlier on today, and he said, yeah, its great news that the uk has got this vaccine approved first of all, and i wish the uk well. But he said someone should tell Gavin Williamson that, actually, it was developed in germany by scientists of turkish background. It will be distributed with pfizer, of course, an american giant pharmaceutical company, and it will be manufactured in belgium and taken through france before it gets to the uk. So i think he was making that point, and i think thats been shared by some other members of the European Club today. Mr williamsons words arent representative of everyone in the uk, far from it heres the uks top scientific advisor yesterday praising the International Effort. And what a momentous journey, you know, International Effort it has been every bite to scientists who originally lived in turkey. Development by a german biotech company, involvement of a massive us pharmaceutical giant, and then involvement of our own uk mhra to bring home the goods in terms of the uk. What a fantastic journey. And the bbc has also learned that the first delivery of those vaccines to the uk is happening today. Heres nick again. And we hear that it will be transported both by lori and biplane, and this morning, actually, we have heard that the first of the batch going to the uk, the first of the vaccine doses will be travelling today through the euro tunnel. So thats to say that the system or you can get from northern france to the southeast of england, its from callais to folkestone if people have ever travelled on the route, or if they know it. And we believe the first of the vaccines will be going to today, but a huge logistical operation. In terms of the first wave can we think 800,000 vaccines will be arrived in the uk so that they can be rolled out next week. This is really the start of a process, and of course it will be a prototype, i guess. It will be a rehearsal for the rest of the world if indeed they follow suit and are able to get hold of the Pfizer Vaccine. Its nearly the the end of the week that was potentially going to deliver a brexit trade deal. No sign of one yet. And we think negotiations will again go late into this evening yesterday this was noticed by laura and the number of other people, a large delivery of pizza arrived to fuel the negotiations as they went into the night. As was that the department of business. Michel barnierfrom the department of business. Michel barnier from the European Department of business. Michel barnierfrom the European Union was back there for more talks. Not necessarily more pizza. The Ireland Foreign minister says the negotiations are at the very end and theres a good chance of a deal in the next few days. But he also said this. There two negotiating teams in this. There two negotiating teams in this negotiating, that there is the eu sidetracking for a deal now and theres the uk who we believe what a deal as well. But they dont always behave like that. And currently the talking london is of the introduction of new legislation next week which may breach the Withdrawal Agreement and then we would have two pieces of legislation that threatened to do that. Thats hardly consistent with the government thats looking to build a positive partnership and future relationship with its close neighbour in the eu. The uk governments bringing some of that legislation back into the house of commons on monday. The internal markets bill would affect the only land border the uk shares with the eu between Northern Ireland, and the republic of ireland. The republic is of course still a member of the eu. Britain including Northern Ireland left, signing a Withdrawal Agreement which among other things, governs what would happen if the two sides cant agree a trade deal. In that scenario Northern Ireland stays inside the eus customs union. And that would allow the irish border to remain open something everyone agrees is necessary for peace, given the history of violence between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland. And to allow that, borisjohnson agreed to let custom checks take place in the irish sea instead for goods passing between Northern Ireland and the uk. But the legislation his government is pushing through now, would let the uk opt out of that. Which ce was not happy about. Another fish remains one of the sticking points. The french prime Ministerjean Castex visited fishermen in boulogne earlier to hear their concerns. The uk has offered to let eu fishing boats keep 40 of the catches they currently make in uk waters. The eu insists it should be at least 80 . If theres no deal the french boats worry theyll get nothing at all. Translation we are 70 nautical miles from dover, so really close. Its imperative for us to have access to those waters. At the priority. If theres a loss in our quotas will be very difficult to manage. If we dont have a deal, for the local fleet, that would mean certain death. Michel barnier said yesterday the next 48 hours would be decisive but talks could still run on, a bit more. The next significant date is next thursday 10th december when eu leaders hold a european council. After that its really not long until the 31st december at midnight the transition period ends. Our europe editor katya adler has written this article, saying that with both sides unwilling to blink first, the horrified question in eu capitals is whether a deal might only emerge between christmas and new year. They would all have to cancel their holidays. The European Parliament wa nts to holidays. The European Parliament wants to vote on this deal before the end of the year. If there is a deal. But actually under eu law, a deal. But actually under eu law, a deal could sort of provisionally go into action from the 1st of january, and the European Parliament could vote on it in retrospect. What you would need by the end of this year on the eu side is for the 27 eu governments to sign off on it. Does that have to be leaders or angela merkel, or emmanuel macron, it could be that europe minister, or the foreign minister. They can sign off on the dealfrom foreign minister. They can sign off on the deal from the comfort of their homes. Im sure they want to be delighted to have two trawl through the document which is expected to be about 1800 pages long over the festive season, but if thats what they need to do then thats what they need to do then thats what they will have to do. But if they manage to do that before the end of the year then this treaty will be able to go into operation from the 1st of january. Just two things to point out on what youre saying, the general expectation here is not that it will be the 28th of december, but in fact we will see possibly a deal emerging over the coming days. The eu side predicts that the two sides would keep negotiating into the night tonight like they did last night. Yesterday they did not progress very well on one of the sticky but you mentioned, fish, today is the level playing field. Those competition regulations that are proving difficult between the two sides, on the eu side countries are getting jumpy. Not because they want to steal at any cost, but because they dont want their negotiator currently invited to give the too much away from the eu side. Just for the short term to get a deal that say thats not worth the long term pain. And that a costly uk deal would have for them. So theyre saying if we cant reach a deal this year than we can reach a deal next year. Or year afterwards. Theres nothing stopping them from talking as of the 1st of january or for the acrimonious split, they can sit right back down at the table together. For businesses its not just no problem, will be costly and chaotic. Everything about Truck Drivers will their goods will be crisscrossing between the uk and the European Union, if you think about fights over waters, overfishing. What will the uk do if danish fishermen decide to come into uk waters anyway from the of january . All sorts of problems. And for many reasons both sides would like to get this deal done and agree to, prefera bly this deal done and agree to, preferably as soon as possible. But there are no guarantees. Thank you. Just a minute left, we a lwa ys thank you. Just a minute left, we always do this was going to be painful but its proving particularly painful, why do you think it is that compromises are proving so difficult for both sides here with philip because a clash of ideologies basically. With the e wa nt to ideologies basically. With the e want to do first and foremost is not about fish, its about protecting the Single Market. Protecting the Single Market from the uk after brexit, giving it generous access, access it does not offer to any other non eu member state. Tariff and quota free. In order to do that they want with the eu calls fair competition regulations. So that the eve businesses and uk businesses to a greater extent also are on the same kind of footing. So itsjust proving very difficult to make the political compromises, protect the Single Market on the eu side, and on the uk side sovereignty. Why leave the uk side sovereignty. Why leave the eu if you are going to tie yourself to brussels regular and afterwards . Yourself to brussels regular and afterwards . If that clash of ideologies thats proving so hard to make those difficult political compromises. Thank you very much did indeed and i will speak to you in a couple of minutes time. Its been a cold day everywhere today. We have got a winter mix of weather to come tonight and into tomorrow. Certainly a wintry scene here in highland scotland. Some parts of scotland temperatures did not get much above freezing. For England Wales it was cold and wet and miserable and a lot of clouds streaming in from off the atlantic. The crowds coming town with see a stream of showers for west wales and the southwest of england. This serial public take what or whether through southee seca nt this serial public take what or whether through southee secant and it was supposedly discolored as it moves and lead is that icy cold so we are going to find snow falling in many places, some more snow over the northern pen nines. Widespread frost and ice over scotland and Northern Ireland, apache frost for england and wales. Into the morning and snow could be a big problem in scotland. Early on in the day some disruption manage the high level routes, some snow to the levels for a while but i think it will quickly turn to rain. In the ring to be a problem through the day particularly in eastern scotland, some heavy rain bringing flooding and then stronger winds will push the rain into Northern Ireland. Scales along the north coast. For england and wales what weather clears the south and east and moves up to Northern England. So that sleepy maybe snow but for the midlands and southern england it does become a lot drier and maybe some sunshine. A cold day though and it will feel colder because the winds will feel stronger. Stronger winds will feel stronger. Stronger winds around the area of low pressure that will ring the wet weather, that upside way over the weekend into france, and gradually over the weekend it will turn drier and quieter with the winds easing as well. But we are still in the cold air, temperatures are not going to improve. What weather around on saturday, particularly for england and wales. Maybe some sleet and snow over the peak district, the welsh hills and weather weather coming into eastern parts of scotland. Northern ireland and eastern areas of england should become drier, and a bit brighter as well. This temperature still struggling to five 7 degrees. Overnight is the winds drop in the skies clear youre going to have quite a frost around and there may well be some mist, fog and low cloud. That could linger its of central areas throughout the day, so cold here. For many will be a dry day was of that wet weather has gone, some such im coming through but still a cold day on sunday despite those winds, heights of six or seven. Hello, im ros atkins, this is outside source. The uks criticised for moving so quickly to authorise a coronavirus vaccine. I left the brakes, they are great, they are great scientists but they took the data from the Pfizer Company and instead of scrutinising it and being really careful they said lets approve it and they went with it. The comments from americas top Infectious Disease expert come as the uk defends its decision to go so fast. Also in the programme, still waiting for a breakthrough on brexit. Auk a uk government sites accuse the eu of making last minute commands. Jimmy lai the Hong Kong Media mogul says he wont back down on his support for democracy despite being charged with fraud. And well look at the sweeping changes in what used to be russias empire from belarus to georgia and armenia and why they present a problem for the kremlin. Lets get more on the global Vaccination Programmes. And while initial doses of the uk approved Pfizer Biontech vaccine could arrive in britain any moment now other countries are getting in on the act too. In russia, the mayor of moscow has launched a programme to vaccinate the citys residents, using the russian made sputnik vee vaccine. Moscow is the epicentre of the pandemic in russia, with 8,000 new cases , and 73 deaths , recorded today. The move comes a day after president putin ordered the start of a mass Vaccination Programme. Heres Sarah Rainsford in moscow. Its got to really interesting just as the uk was authorising the use of one vaccine there sometime next week president putin managed to say that russia would be having a large scale Immunisation Programme and now we heard from moscow where they said as of tomorrow people here in that capital can start signing up to be vaccinated and the first shots will be given on saturday. Parity has been given to those in the most high risk groups so they are talking about social workers and teachers initially being able to sign up to be vaccinated. It was interesting here what is specific to russia is these people will be getting a vaccine which is stated in the midst of efficacy trials. Its was this huge fanfare of russia announcing it had the first vaccine in the world to be registered but the trials had not begun and they are still under way and they appear to show results and show pretty good protection from covid 19 but those are still interim results and the number of people catching on the trail to allow people to and the data is still very low so its still pretty early but its pushing forward already and rolling out the vaccine. Next lets go to brazil and these pictures. They show the arrival of 600 litres of chinas coronavac vaccine at brazils Guarulhos International airport, for use in sao paulo. The doses will be stored in an undisclosed warehouse as the state awaits approval for use in brazil by the National Health regulator, known as anvisa. Lets go to sao paulo and speak to bbc brazils camilla mota. We talk about this before. This vaccine has become very political in brazil. It has. Going through a very particular situation the vaccine that you mentioned him at a chinese vaccine is lagged by a state initiative here in brazil and a Vaccination Programme in brazil became a political battle and we have on one side president xi both narrow and on the other side that government governor of the state who wants to run for president in 2022 so he has reached out to the chinese and negotiating with them for months now and he wants to get this vaccine out in the market as soon as possible. But when we are talking about the whole country, brazilians still dont know which vaccine they are going to take or how its going to be distributed. Earlier this week the minister of health was saying that they want to begin the Immunisation Programme in march but did not go much further than that and he did not give much more information about that and specialists are concerned because of the logistical challenge is to distribute a vaccine in a country so vast and they are not seeing the effort that they thought they should have to distribute a vaccine in a country that brazil and notjust logistics but also the production of syringes and needles so they are afraid may brazilians will get their vaccine a bit later than they should or could. Those are problems that the distributions are challenges that the distributions but you cannot distribute until you have permission. How long is it going to ta ke permission. How long is it going to take between all of this arriving at the airport and at some point it being pushed out of the country . That is another concern amongst specialists. Earlier today the governor was saying they want to begin immunisation here injanuary and that they want to finish phase three of Clinical Trials here in brazil in december and submit the vaccination, the chinese vaccine to federal approval but the thing is you need federal approval in order to get this vaccine in the market especially worried this would also get caught up in the middle of this political battle that the federal government could use this to stall ora government could use this to stall or a slowdown in the process of approval so brazilians are quite happy with the latest developments but still very apprehensive. Thank you very much. If you are watching and you speak portuguese you can keep up with that sterry on bbc portuguese. There are concerns about less developed countries getting access to the vaccines. Many countries in africa are now in the grip of a second coronavirus wave, but they may be last in the queue for a vaccine. Lets take a look at how covid 19 has developed on the continent. The first case was confirmed in egypt in february. Who officials warned of a huge coronavirus death toll with the virus quickly overwhelming fragile National Health systems. But the pandemic proved to be less deadly in africa than the rest of the world, with the combined total death toll atjust over 50,000 a number lower than the uk alone. Africa accounts forjust over two million of the more than 60 million confirmed cases across the world but in the past few weeks it has seen a rise in infections. The latest increase is driven by north african countries, where temperatures are beginning to fall as winter approaches. Other countries like nigeria, south africa, dr congo and kenya have also seen their number of cases rise. Drjohn n keng a song is one of africas top health officials, he leads the africa centres for Disease Control and prevention. Here he is speaking to us from kinshasa about when africa might receive the vaccines. Africa will certainly not be in a position to get the first wave of vaccines that will be available from pfizer and that is absolutely clear but we remain hopeful that as these vaccines, the new versions of the vaccines, the new versions of the vaccines become available that are easy to be stored and distributed and the continental get access to this vaccine and we have not given up this vaccine and we have not given up on work and continue to engage with pfizer to get it on the continent as we speak africa will not be expected to start vaccinating the people at the same time that countries in europe. Essentially the vaccination path which is the Distribution System we all know that the Pfizer Vaccine requires a storage of 25 celsius and meeting that photo of that becomes a big challenge to have their systems set up challenge to have their systems set up in challenge to have their systems set upina challenge to have their systems set up in a manner that can allow for rapid storage and distribution from and to and and i think that is a severe mutation of the challenge that we have rolling outs this daily vaccine and that we are actively preparing the continent for an eventual massive distribution by the First Quarter or Second Quarter of next year. The head of the africa centres for Disease Control and prevention talking there about the challenges posed by the low temperatures at some of the vaccines require to be stored at. Well today its emerged that the International Vaccine supply chain has been targeted by Cyber Espionage specifically the cold chain delivery, used to keep vaccines at the right temperature during transportation. Ibm says it tracked a campaign that was so sophisticated its most likely to have been carried out by a nation state. In a minute well be speaking to our security correspondent Gordon Correra about this but first, heres a reminder of how that cold chain delivery works. Did it go on to say which nation states might be inclined to do that . We did not get a man from states might be inclined to do that . We did not geta manfrom ibm. States might be inclined to do that . We did not get a man from ibm. They did not think it was a statement but its a Sophisticated Campaign that began in september when the research saw a group of hackers basically impersonate a Chinese Company which is part of that cold chain which has been involved for some time in working out how to deliver vaccines and we heard these very specialised conditions around the world for the International Alliance and having impersonated this company they then sent out e mails to other people within that supply chain to try and get information from them and what ibm think this is a pretty sophisticated espionage operation to try and gather information on their vaccine supply. It could have been trying to steer how its done. The intellectual property. It could be to try to gather intelligence about where vaccines might go and how quickly or it could have been blessed before disruption of that using cyber techniques although they are using cyber techniques although they a re less using cyber techniques although they are less confident of that being the case. Do we need to see that a pandemic notjust case. Do we need to see that a pandemic not just primary case. Do we need to see that a pandemic notjust primary Health Crisis but also something that has the potential to Impact National Security . Right from the start its been interesting that there has been a security dimension behind the scenes and we heard earlier in the year some countries accuse others of trying to steer vaccine research. So the uk accused russia, russia denied it, you as a key china and china denied it so you get a sense that the vaccine is important for health above all but also for countries and economies and therefore sometimes for their national advantage. Countries do want to be first and they want to have the vaccine and they want to have the vaccine and they want to know where its going and they want to know potentially intelligence about who else is doing what and how far along they are and where potential new threats to help security might come from self secondly you and Global Health also become a security issue and that worried some people who dont want to see and they are doing so. Sometimes to protect their own Countries Research and infrastructure and sometimes that they need to spy on other countries and find out what they are doing. The Hong Kong Media mogul and founder of the apple daily newspaper, jimmy lai, has been remanded in custody until april the 16th next year after being denied bail over a fraud charge. Two other executives of next media have been granted bail. Mr lai denies fraud and has repeatedly denounced beijings increasing controls over hong kong. In his final interview before being jailed he told the bbcs Danny Vincent that the charges brought against him are intended to scare other Anti Government activists. This is the moment billionaire media tycoon list taken into custody. Critics say is the latest example of political persecution in hong kong. Ijust finished. I was before his detention, he spoke exclusively to the bbc. The 73 year old is under investigation for violating the National Security law. He sensed he may be living on borrowed time. You have an induced fear in you. The easiest way to control you is the cheapest way to control you and the most effective way and they know it and theyre very good at it. In august he became one of the most high profile arrests on their age or colony and National Security law. More than 200 police raided his newspaper. They confiscated documents and sent to implicate him in fraud but National Security charges means he could face life in prison. He has long been an outspoken critic and targets of beijing. His paper apple daily is the most critical but best selling newspaper. He is seen as a rebellious base of the fence. Hes detention is seen by pro democracy campaigners as a warning. Activists say that hong kong is facing an unprecedented crackdown. Yesterday 24 year old joshua was sentenced to 30 months in prison for involvement in last years antigovernment protest. They continue to campaign after his arrest. To have the voice in support of the free world on our side and the free world will be on our side. The free world will be knowing that we are sharing the same value as tears. They know that we are fighting in the front tier for their value if we lose. That means their value if we lose. That means the defeat of the value system. Technically he was detained because of charges relating to fraud but he was denied bail because of accusations of breaking the National Security law activists say the law is citing thing they are sending a message to all the hong kong people. We have to satisfy myself and we cannot speak freely and we cant have any free anymore. The government has accused him of colluding with foreign forces. It says hong kong represents a gaping hole to the countrys National Security. And its brought security to the city that was once engulfed in often violent protests. Activists say what was once illegal in hong kong could not be punishable with life imprisonment. Stay with us on outside source still to come lots of people want to be vaccinated but some people are asking will be have to be vaccinated. We will look at that question in detail. Gcses and a levels will go ahead in england next summer. But therell be a range of special measures because of the disruption to pupils education, including more generous grades. Meanwhile in wales all exams have been cancelled. In scotland pupils will only sit highers and advanced highers. In Northern Ireland though all exams will go ahead. Heres our education editor, branwen jeffreys. Building theirfuture building their future job prospects, back after a two week school closure. In the town of kent mom more than half of all secondary peoples were home last week. Even so, harry, daniel, and joseph all wa nt to so, harry, daniel, and joseph all want to sit there gps the exams. So, harry, daniel, and joseph all want to sit there gps the examsm would allow us to know of a potential and no we have accomplished because it is a moment in our lives. The majority has been wasted on knock down and we have not had that much time to fully educate ourselves in terms of gcses. |j had that much time to fully educate ourselves in terms of gcses. I feel it and might think these are fake grades if we get higher so they might pick someone else for a job. Gcs eand might pick someone else for a job. Gcs e and a lever exams in 2021 will be made easier with my generous grading. Advance notice of topics and some study aids allowed. Measures the government says it will make exams fair. Everyone in all of our schools and colleges is working as hard as they can to make sure that no people loses out because of covid 19 and that the future they are dreaming of is still very much within their reach. I am determined that the coronavirus is not going to jeopardise that chances of this yea rs jeopardise that chances of this years pupils. He will need to convince parents. These mothers have kids taking a bash exams next year. It is the fairness of it. If you will change things for next year why didnt you change it for last year . No matter what happens it will be someone who is not happy. This is outside source live from the bbc newsroom. Our lead story is . Americas top Infectious Disease experts suggest that britain may have cut corners to become the First Western country to approve a coronavirus vaccine. Every week on outside source we make a video for the bbc website looking at one of the big issues of the week. This time were turning back to the coronavirus. The Pfizer Vaccine is coming to the uk, soon it will be heading to other countries as well and a huge operation is under way. 32021 we will provide 1. 3 billion doses. While many people want this as soon as possible, some are asking do i have to be vaccinated . That is be clear, the answer in the uk is now. I strongly urge that people take up the vaccine but it is no part of our culture or ambition in this country to make a vaccine mandatory. Thats not how we do things. We know some will be exempt for Health Reasons but for the vaccine to tame covid 19 around 60 to 70 of adults need to have one. Vaccines are useless if they are not used to vaccinate. That isa they are not used to vaccinate. That is a cause for concern. In france the Prime Minister says, my fear is not enough french people will get vaccinated. Which is why there will bea vaccinated. Which is why there will be a lot of encouragement and a range of forms. The first is to be insurance on the safety of the vaccine. Some politicians are offering to get the shots on tv. Vaccine. Some politicians are offering to get the shots on tvi thought it would help to do it. Next, immunisation cards are coming. The lush government says anyone who was vaccinated love that one and its likely in lots of countries he will need proof of vaccine to do certain things and we now in an International Travel pass is in development. It will be in the form ofa nap development. It will be in the form of a nap so the data, for example, coronavirus test result that is negative could be stored on your phone and also proof of a vaccine. The australian heretic airline is going further in suggesting it would only take passengers who have had the vaccination and airlines can exert pressure sucking country. We know this from the control of yellow fever. These countries in africa are ona fever. These countries in africa are on a long list of places you cannot miss it unless you have had the yellow fever vaccine. Something similar may happen with covid 19. Australias by minister says that can be options where people have the choice of two weeks of quarantine or being vaccinated. I think that will being vaccinated. I think that will be an incentive he adds. If that is how we will be encouraged in some countries the case for mandatory vaccines is also being made. Its may only apply to specific jobs vaccines is also being made. Its may only apply to specificjobs and there is a precedent for this. For example, some Health Workers in the us and van damme have to get a prelude shop. Authorities suggest the same could happen with cobit. More broadly to New York Times reports thatjoe biden plus plus Transition Team is discussing the possibility of mandating the vaccine in the us. By the government or by employers and schools. That too has precedent in australia, some state payments are tied to children being vaccinated and france and italy had a number of compulsory vaccines for children. While the laws have increased vaccination rates, they may also provoke a counter reaction. One french biologist told local media are concerned that every time i vaccines are pushed upon us there isa i vaccines are pushed upon us there is a greater resistance to them. Her argument being that mandates can drive and the vaccine sentiment. For now governments around the world are focused on showing this vaccine is safe and is the best routes back to normal life. They are focused on making this vaccine available because that is a member, it will be many months before everyone who is persuaded can say yes. Foeradimir putin, its notjust the coronavirus pandemic that is making 2020 a difficult year. In recent months the kremlin has faced a whole series of geo political challenges on its doorstep, including mass protests in belarus and war in the south caucasus. Our moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg assesses what these dramatic events mean for russias influence in its own back yard. Across russias from her empire, we are seeing seismic change. And that it was, people power is challenging a dictator who has been propped up by moscow. To the south, armenia and azerbaijan have been at war. At ten a revolution in kurdistan. And a new pro europe president s in moldova. And the result is one huge headache for the kremlin. Vladimir putin still receives much of this part of the world as moscow, its zone of influence. But is that influence ebbing away . Here in the south caucasus where russia has been the major power, for 200 years, today it has competition. From turkey. In the wire it was turkish support that helped azerbaijan defeats russias traditional ally in the region armenia. I think what happened is truly a geopolitical catastrophe for moscows influence. Not only in south caucasus but across what remains of the soviet space. Moscows grip of the region is becoming weaker and weaker. We talked to the russian peacekeepers here, they seem wary of turkish intentions. Traditionally, russia has guaranteed stability here, the peacekeeper says, while other countries, i mean turkey, try to destabilise the situation we tried to improve things. Russia wants to be seen as the key player in what he views as its own backyard and having the Russian Military here helps to do that. But in this form a part of its empire, moscow has a rival now, as turkey seeks to boost its influence in this region. And for moscow, the geopolitical challenges extend far beyond these hills. In moldova, a pro western politician has won the presidency, defeating the pro russia candidates. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in europe. But the kremlin still wants it in the russias orbits. Its soviet soviet past with close proximity makes it an inevitable stage for east, west rivalry. Recently, russia accused america of bucking a revolution here. Our objective is to get closer to the eu and hopefully one day to become a member of the European Union. But would russia let that happen . Would russia let your country join would russia let that happen . Would russia let your countryjoin the eu . It is our choice. Andy and it is the sovereign decision of our country. It is the decision of the republic of moldova. Moscow still has ways of exerting influence. Of slowing down change. In some parts of the old ussr. And yes, russia is changing. It is having to. It is on a journey from empire to nation state. That aims this edition of outside source. Thank you for watching. It has been a cold day everywhere today. We have another winter mix of weather to come tonight and into tomorrow. A winter season here in highland scotland and some parts temperature did not get above freezing. For england and wales it was cold and wet and miserable. Cloud streaming in from off the atlantic. Showers are coming down nbc showers far west wales and southwest of england. This area of cloud will take some wet weather into the southeast of england and east anglia and elect whether we see will spend its way into scotland. It moves into the icy cold so we will find snow falling in many places. More snow over the northern areas. A frost and ice in scotland and Northern Ireland and patchy frost for england and wales. Into the morning snow could be a problem in scotla nd morning snow could be a problem in scotland and early on in the day some disruption. There will be snow in the low levels for a while but it will turn to rain and then we and can bea will turn to rain and then we and can be a problem to the day in easton scotland some heavy rain bringing flooding and strong winds will push the rain into Northern Ireland and deals along the north coast for england and wales the wet weather colours and moves into Northern England with sleet and snow over the pen names but for the midlands and seven england it becomes drier with some sunshine. It will feel colder because the wind is stronger. Strong land around the area of low pressure brings wet weather and go over the weekend into five france. Over the weekend it will turn dry and quiet with the wind evening as well. But we are still in the cold air, temperatures will not improve. We have got wet weather around on saturday particularly for england and wales with sleet and snow over the district and heels and wet weather coming into eastern parts of scotland. Northern ireland and easton areas should become dry and bright as well but the temperature is still a struggle to 7 degrees. Overnight wind will drop and sky will clear and frost will be around and amy being based missed and proud and they could linger in central areas. Cold air and it will bea dry central areas. Cold air and it will be a dry day and wet weather has gone with sunshine coming through. It isa gone with sunshine coming through. It is a cold day on sunday despite wind. This is bbc news. Im kasia madera. The headlines at eight. Families left grieving. More than 60,000 people have now died in the uk with coronavirus. 79 year old Mickey Morris died within a week of falling ill. It will take us as individuals and family members and other country and asa family members and other country and as a whole world a long time to recover Something Like this. Four people have been killed after a blast at a Water Treatment site near bristol this Morning Police have declared a major incident. A levels and gcses will go ahead in england next summer but therell be more generous marking and advance notice of exam topics to make up for all the disruption