Plus, women changing the face of US politics
| Doctors 'standing ready' for vaccine |
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| | | Plans are being drawn up for clinics to run 12 hours a day, seven days a week to get a coronavirus vaccine to as many people as possible as soon as it's available. The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, says GP practices are ready to step up to the challenge. The BMA was responding to the news that a vaccine - developed by US firm Pfizer and German-based BioNTech - could prevent 90% of people getting Covid-19. Senior government scientists say they're hopeful some vaccine may be available before Christmas, but warn it's unlikely to make any difference to the current wave of infections. Boris Johnson also urged caution and implored the public to continue adhering to social distancing and other rules. BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle says the vaccine still has many hurdles to overcome, including proving its safety and its ability to stop transmission between people, not just prevent disease in an individual. If and when it is rolled out, prioritising those most in need will be crucial - we look at that issue and others in our Q&A. | |
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| The pandemic has seen most children in England slipping back with their learning, and some have regressed significantly with their social skills too, for example, forgetting how to use a knife and fork. Those were the findings of inspectors from education watchdog Ofsted, who visited 900 schools, colleges, nurseries and social care providers across England during the past two months. Some older children had lost their "stamina" for reading, as well as physical fitness, and some showed signs of greater mental distress, including an increase in eating disorders and self harm. Children with special educational needs have been particularly badly affected, Ofsted said, with services like speech and language therapy unavailable. There were also children who found lockdown a positive experience - children, from supportive but not necessarily well-off backgrounds, Ofsted suggested - but the Department for Education said the report was proof of just how important it was to keep schools open. | |
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| The government has vowed to overturn a heavy defeat inflicted on its Brexit legislation in the Lords. Peers voted overwhelmingly to strike out clauses in the Internal Market Bill which would allow ministers to override the withdrawal agreement and break international law. Our political correspondent Nick Eardley said the Lords defeat was a reminder that there's significant discomfort in Parliament about the move, including among a number of Conservative grandees. The government says it will reinstate the clauses when the bill - explained in detail here - returns to the House of Commons next month. Ministers argue they're a crucial safety net to protect the UK in the event a post-Brexit trade deal can't be reached with the EU. Talks about that deal continue in London, and by the time MPs get their hands on the bill again, it should be clearer whether one is likely to be struck. | |
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| | | | | Much of the focus of the US election has been the battle for the presidency between two white men. But the nationwide ballot also saw Kamala Harris set to become the first woman vice president and a record number of women voted into Congress - the part of the US government that writes and passes laws. Republican women have made particular progress this election after struggling to replicate the recent success of the Democrats. The 2020 election has also seen women of colour solidify presence in the two chambers. | |
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| | Lucy Rodgers | BBC Visual Journalism team | |
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| | | | The positive news on a coronavirus vaccine is met with jubilation and relief on the front pages. The Daily Mirror calls it "Our little bottle of hope", while the Metro describes the breakthrough as a "shot in the arm to beat Covid". For the Daily Mail, it's "one small jab for man", as it quotes scientists hailing the success as a giant leap for humanity. The Daily Express declares it an "early Christmas present". The Times says the trial results were "better than anyone could have dared to hope" - and owe a lot to the 44,000 volunteers who took part across three continents. It does point out, though, that experts haven't seen all the data, so some caution is needed. The Daily Telegraph agrees, and science editor Sarah Knapton says politicians and experts tried "to keep a lid on the wild excitement". She warns there are "huge logistical challenges" associated with keeping and transporting the vaccine in ultra-cold storage, and some people may be reluctant to take it "because they feel it has been rushed out in just a few months". Those caveats didn't stop a "jolt" on stock markets around the world though, according to the Financial Times, with struggling sectors like aviation among the biggest winners. | |
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| | | | | 'Inhuman' Restraint use on disabled adults criticised |
| | | | Emmerdale Show defends Down's Syndrome storyline |
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| If you watch one thing today |
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| If you listen to one thing today |
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| If you read one thing today |
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| Need something different? |
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| Xbox introduces its next generation of console worldwide today, but Microsoft's head of gaming tells BBC Newsbeat why the company is promising to carry on making games for the devices people already have in their homes too. Elsewhere, the cycling industry is coming up with innovative ways to deter bike crime, including a lock that emits a gas so foul smelling it induces vomiting. Find out more. And finally, ever had a really bad start to a new job? BBC Three hears some day one disasters. | |
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| | | 1960 Bookshops across England completely sell out of DH Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover after a ban on its publication is lifted - watch how the public reacted |
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