we arejust von der leyen and borisjohnson. we are just waiting von der leyen and borisjohnson. we arejust waiting for von der leyen and borisjohnson. we are just waiting for the prime minister to make his way in the car to that building. and jessica parker, a lot ofjokes about what is going to be on the menu at this dinner this evening. note fish at all because they would argue about whose waters they were caught in. all because they would argue about whose waters they were caught inlj think there will be a lot of interest and maybe what they have to eat this evening over this dinner but the format as i understand it going forward in the next couple of hours without is a borisjohnson now en route to the commission to meet with ursula von der leyen. they will have a short meeting before they actually sit down to dinner we think with their chief negotiators, michel barnier and lord frost, president and then dinner joined barnier and lord frost, president and then dinnerjoined by a small number of officials and that will be the moment. that will be the hour where the two of them w

has come out and today is that borisjohnson has come outand said, today is that borisjohnson has come out and said, nope, i am today is that borisjohnson has come outand said, nope, iam not today is that borisjohnson has come out and said, nope, i am not could you change the law. he came out three weeks ago with this plane for christmas, these christmas bubbles we re christmas, these christmas bubbles were three households would be allowed to mix for those five days of christmas, the 23rd to the 27th, next week, and because it is so short notice now, he has basically cited he is not could you change the law but he is changing the advice and he is saying there is this gap now between what the government wa nts you now between what the government wants you to do and what you are legally allowed to do. yes, so it is the guidance, isn't it? a lot of the papers, anna, picking up on this. the mirror, very strong front page, where coward is highlighted and it is talking about this, the prime minister's christmas bubbles leading to more deaths. and i wonder if we could see inside the paper be

i am borisjohnson delivered was a real brexit. iam inclined borisjohnson delivered was a real brexit. i am inclined to think whatever boris johnson signs brexit. i am inclined to think whatever borisjohnson signs up to will be something that most of them a nyway will be something that most of them anyway will be willing to accept. borisjohnson is anyway will be willing to accept. boris johnson is easily anyway will be willing to accept. borisjohnson is easily one of the most hardline brexiteers in the cabinet. when he was on those backbenchers, he was —— on those backbenchers, he was —— on those backbenchers, it was over brexit, he didn't think theresa may was delivering enough of a brexit. he has his finger on the pulse of what those mps will be thinking. but is that right, he wrote two letters, one saying he was in favour of brexit and one against? yeah, i don't think any of us know the prime minister pulse mccart but we can speak to his actions over brexit specifically, and i think it is a good point raised that they ha

which has a picture of borisjohnson daily mail. which has a picture of boris johnson with daily mail. which has a picture of borisjohnson with his thumbs up next to someone getting a jab and it is not him. two giant leaps to freedom, a bit cribbed from a neil armstrong. is that how the delete mirror might see it? i think we would probably have sort of a mixed view on that. i mean, i think as you pointed at the picture, there is an image on the front page of a woman having a vaccine, obviously huge news today where with the approval of the oxford/astrazeneca jab, which can has been hailed as a game changer and really will help this country to accelerate our vaccination programme so that's a huge moment. so when that sense, thatis huge moment. so when that sense, that is a great leap for our freedom from the virus, but with that has come huge restrictions and further restrictions on the lee life in terms of greater numbers of people being put into tier 4. so it's a mixed feeling there and i think for us on mixed feeling there and i t

borisjohnson boris johnson gave borisjohnson gave a slightly longer statement after that conversation. let's listen to a bit more of it now. the idea was that when we went out oi'i the idea was that when we went out on wednesday, the hope was that we we re on wednesday, the hope was that we were going to be able to finish things off today, there was a deal to be done. as things stand, and this was basically what ursula and i agreed, i this was basically what ursula and i agreed, lam this was basically what ursula and i agreed, i am afraid we are still very farapart on agreed, i am afraid we are still very far apart on some key things but where they is life, there is hope, so we are going to keep talking in the uk certainly won't be walking away from the talks. i think people will expect us to go the extra mile. i repeated my offer, which is, if it's necessary to talk to other capitals then i am very happy to do that. the commission are very determined to keep the negotiations the way that they have been done, between us and the commission. that's fine, but i have got to repeat, the mo

with borisjohnson and the talks go on. the outstanding question is, has anything changed? when ursula von der leyen says talks we re when ursula von der leyen says talks were constructive, is that because there is now some sort of path towards a deal that involves compromise on both sides? is there some way they may be able to solve thoseissues some way they may be able to solve those issues which have so far proved completely unsolvable? the truth is, at this stage but we do not know. up on a point, there has not know. up on a point, there has not been another deadline mentioned. it does suggest these talks may have some way to go over the next few days. they are not saying in 48 hours we are going to take stock and see where we are, there is no talk of difficult conversations. both sides on the edge of my show this morning they're saying, let's go as far as we need to to try get a potential deal. we will hear from borisjohnson later potential deal. we will hear from boris johnson later and it potential deal. we will hear

borisjohnson has signed britain's post—brexit trade agreement with the european union. in brussels, ursula von der leyen signed the deal on behalf of the eu. the agreement also won the backing of british mps in the house of commons. and rescuers in norway are still searching for people missing following a landslide. houses were crushed and buried in mud after the landslide hit a village near oslo after heavy rain. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are sam lister, deputy political editor at the daily express and lizzy buchan, political correspondent at the daily mirror. tomorrow's front pages. the daily telegraph reports that borisjohnson has said britain is in a race to roll out a freshly approved covid vaccine in order to avoid a third national lockdown, as the new variant of the virus surges across the country. the ‘i' reports the oxford/astrazeneca jab will be rolled out from next week, with enough vaccines on order to cover all uk adults. the daily mirror says covid has claimed its highest daily death toll

that is borisjohnson what i told the cabinet. that is boris johnson speaking in what i told the cabinet. that is borisjohnson speaking in the last few minutes, commenting on the agreement to keep talking with the eu in an attempt to agree a very last minute trade deal between the eu and the uk. you are watching bbc news. the pioneering black country music star, charley pride, has died from coronavirus complications. he was 86. in the 19705, charley pride became the best selling performer for rca records after elvis presley. he was inducted to the country music hall of fame in 2000. singer dolly parton said she was heartbroken at the news, and called him one of her oldest and dearest friends. good afternoon. borisjohnson and the european commission president, ursula von der leyen, have agreed to continue talks to try to break the deadlock over a post—brexit trade deal.

we know that borisjohnson likes got over the line. we know that boris johnson likes his got over the line. we know that borisjohnson likes his one—to—one diplomacy, perhaps, just perhaps, number ten are trying to set up a situation in which borisjohnson goes to brussels and these political issues are solved, perhaps there is a way through that we've not been told about yet. but look, as things stand just now, if we had spoken this time last week, there was optimism in this place, a lot of people who thought a deal was possible that potentially we would get towards it. now, there is pessimism, a warning from a senior government source tonight that things might not get there. the key question is might stop they are still talking, anything is possible. nick andi still talking, anything is possible. nick and i thank you very much indeed. the talk will be taking place face—to—face, boris johnson going to brussels later this week to meet ursula von der leyen, the president of the european commission, the part of the european union t

at the moment, in borisjohnson's words, it is a failure of statecraft. that is a long shot. i was talking to a former cabinet minister last night who was on the remain side and he thought this was very, very unlikely. as for extending it beyond the 1st ofjanuary, again, he thought that was unlikely. i think marc was right, this issue of sovereignty. it wasn't front and centre at the beginning of the referendum but it has emerged as the big one. because, if you think of the uk and the eu being like this in terms of standards, the uk says, "we're not going to do this but if you do this, for example, lower the average working week, we are not prepared to move or be threatened with tariffs if we don't do the same thing". to them, that is not only unacceptable, it's almost humiliating. that is not sovereignty. other people would say this idea of sovereignty is an illusion. even in the world trade organization, if you don't play by the rules, you get tariffs. witness the ding—dong between airbus and boeing. when a government does whatever it wants, there are sanctions applied. f

how much pressure do you think borisjohnson is underfrom pressure do you think borisjohnson is under from his pressure do you think borisjohnson is underfrom his brexiteer wing? pressure do you think borisjohnson is under from his brexiteer wing? he is under from his brexiteer wing? he is under from his brexiteer wing? he is under pressure and from mps in his own party and perhaps many voters as well who voted for the conservatives at the last election, gave boris johnson conservatives at the last election, gave borisjohnson a huge majority in the house of commons and a big mandate to deliver his promises to get brexit done. there have been various backbenchers, giving warning shots if you like, putting boris johnson on notice not to give too much, if anything away. thank you very much indeed. david herszenhorn is the chief political correspondent for politico. thank you for being with us. what is your reading of the situation at the moment? do you think a deal is possible in the next few days? there isa possible in the next few days? there is a deal possible but it is extremely diff

british prime minister borisjohnson and european commission president ursula von der leyen have agreed the uk and eu will continue talks on a post—brexit trade deal after meeting in brussels, but that a "firm decision" should be taken about the future of the discussions by sunday. germany's chancellor angela merkel says a deal is still possible. but she stressed the importance of a "level playing field" to protect the eu's single market. canada has approved the pfizer/biontech vaccine — paving the way for distribution across the country. meanwhile people in britain with a history of significant allergic reactions are being advised not to have the new pfizer biontech coronavirus vaccine. and the us federal trade commission — and 48 states — have sued facebook — saying that it broke antitrust laws. regulators are accusing the company of buying up rivals to become a social media monopoly. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are the chief leader writer at the observer, sonia sodha and the chief political commentator at

borisjohnson deludes eu may have put... on this as well. boris johnson deludes himself that he has this mystical charm that he can work upon these people. but every single account you hear... the dinner with ursula von delay and was a car crash. —— ursula von der leyen. that is what they have said the whole way through this process. johnson it has always thought that he could kind of, wriggle his way out of it towards the end and that is why i say to you earlier, i think they are holding very firm. they don't want to deal. they recognise that they no deal would be a disaster for them but even worse for the uk. they don't want a no deal. but they believe thatjohnson is incompetent and out of his depth and some of them think that he has wa nted some of them think that he has wanted the possibility of all along because that is the only thing the people who have put it him in power want. even though members of his cabinet didn't necessarily vote brexit, he seems to have the support of that. and in terms of his positioning and the statements

both borisjohnson and the moment. both borisjohnson and the eu president want this physical meeting with negotiators to write down what is left but every day we seem down what is left but every day we seem to get some new demands from both sides, ten years now access to uk waters from the french, the dutch, pulling in behind the french as well and then the british saying they want to go with a northeast atla ntic they want to go with a northeast atlantic deal which would cut europe... this stuff is just appearing at the last minute or stuff that has been overlooked over the last 4.5 years? i think what you're seeing a more pushback from the member states then we have seen before expressing their own personal interest in this and in that sense, the eu has a slightly harder time on its hands perhaps for the first time that boris johnson its hands perhaps for the first time that borisjohnson will feel confident if and when he signs or not size but signs up to a deal that he will be bringing something back that broadly he

a warning to borisjohnson — relaxing coronavirus restrictions this christmas will lead to a third wave of infections. angela merkel announces tighter coronavirus restrictions in germany — to run through christmas until january the 10th. borisjohnson and the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen, have said they'll "go the extra mile" to try to reach agreement in post—brexit trade talks. the two leaders said negotiations between the uk and the eu would be extended beyond today's deadline. let's hear reaction from the prime minister. the idea was that when we went out on wednesday the hope was that we we re on wednesday the hope was that we were going to be able to finish things off today, if there was a deal to be done. as things stand, and this is basically what we agreed, i and this is basically what we agreed, lam and this is basically what we agreed, i am afraid we are still very farapart on agreed, i am afraid we are still very far apart on some key things, but where there is life, there is hope. we are going to keep talking to see what we can do. the uk cer

hails new chapter for deal as borisjohnson hails new chapterfor britain. deal as borisjohnson hails new chapter for britain. it is quite surprising to see the opposition leader, a prominent person who wa nted leader, a prominent person who wanted to stay in the eu, voting alongside members of the european research group he wanted to leave. is that right that that's happening? that looks as if it's going to happen tomorrow. we will be in parliament voting on this new deal, and the point here i think is that the country and the parliament are facing just two choices. it's a binary choice. you either have this deal or no deal. no deal would be absolutely catastrophic. so even if you don't particularly like this deal, you need to vote for it to stop us leaving without a deal at all. and it is a very hard brexit, this deal. it's much better than no deal but it's a very hard brexit which is why the brexiteers are ok to back it. so if you wanted a hard brexit and you were an extreme brexiteers and you are satisfied with this deal, that gives you a flavour of how hard a brexit this will be.

on the european side they are saying borisjohnson had to give are saying borisjohnson had to give a lot of ground and particularly on something that became symbolic, the issue of fishing and access to waters and fish catches. that has been pushed not quite to the never—never but a five year or so agreement which grants rights, but then we'll have another look at it. it is better than letting it hold up the deal i think it will be the equivalent of the codwars from the 19705. this will be the first of many deals that lie ahead and some will be very cumbersome. what you think about more broadly the relationship the uk will have with the eu? boris johnson relationship the uk will have with the eu? borisjohnson spoke about how we will remain culturally close to europe and of course geographically close. what can we expect in the years to come?” geographically close. what can we expect in the years to come? i think it is good that he said that and good that both borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen, on the eu side, in what we must now call the eu, "the other side". we are still european

borisjohnson is no a puritan. in the 17th century, the festival had become an excuse for licentiousness, or — to use the argo of 2020 — failing to observe social distancing. this week, the welsh government departed from the uk—wide consensus brokered just last week — up to three households able to meet indoors. in wales, it will be two households. mrjohnson didn't sing it, but he did plead with people around the uk to "have yourself a merry little christmas". celia, is this a case of boris johnson wanting to have his christmas cake and eat it? it's tricky, we are seeing political leaders around the world struggling with its issue. in some issues, germany, we've seen these pre—christmas lockdown is being imposed, but other countries are really struggling, too. the philippines in particular, really what we are seeing borisjohnson struggling with, we are seeing the philippines leader struggling with this as well. the philippines is 94% christian, so christian is a really big deal. for weeks now, he has been

that is something borisjohnson will be pitifully small. that is something boris johnson will be looking to increase. one of the interesting things is, in order to have that relationship, you will see that people from india are the top of are getters into the uk. they realise that india has lots of highly qualified engineers, very strong in software and in other technological areas, which the uk really wants to foster. i see that memorandum of understanding i will expect as well as ashis was saying, will be something along the lines of bilateral investment, these are cooperation, technology. ithink those personal connections that you mention, the chancellor being married into one of the richest families in the world, notjust india, who knows, that could also help. and yet, marc, we're still not at the point where we know exactly how the brexit story is going to end. politically, how big a moment does it feel? obviously, we are about this in the context of a global pandemic, where huge change has come to all of us and everyone isa has come t

a uk cabinet meeting is being held now — following this morning's call between borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen. today was supposed to be the final day to agree a settlement before the end of the transition period during. but both sides still appear to be deadlocked on the issues of fishing rights and how closely the uk should be tied to eu standards in the future. the european commission president said it was worth "going the extra mile". good afternoon. i had a constructive and useful phone call with a prior minister borisjohnson and useful phone call with a prior minister boris johnson and and useful phone call with a prior minister borisjohnson and we discussed the major unsolved topics. our negotiation teams have been working day and night over the recent days and despite the exhaustion after almost one year of negotiations, despite the fact that deadlines have been messed over and over, we both think that it is responsible at this point in time to go the extra mile. we have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue the tasks and to see whether an agreement can be reac

borisjohnson will say it isa telegraph. borisjohnson will say it is a massive u—turn by him, but one that has been forced on him by the mutation in the virus that is making it so much more infectious and transmissible? this is going to be the key political fallout discussion, if you like, from this. he was saying in the downing street press c0 nfe re nce he was saying in the downing street press conference yesterday, the circumstances have changed. we have to change as well, policy has to change as well. probably most people would agree with that principle. the decision here is a did not change clicking. it was clear to keir starmer, it was clear to many scientists weeks ago that this was problematic, a major opening up, an armistice at christmas where people could mix with families. they were saying, it wasn‘t looking like a very sensible idea. but he said, it would be inhuman to cancel christmas, only on tuesday they said they would go ahead with these plans. the problem was, and what will be examined closely, is whet

one front page that borisjohnson will your wouldn't. one front page that boris johnson will definitely your wouldn't. one front page that borisjohnson will definitely like in the morning is the son's, if he gets a chance to see it, because it's got him dressed up as santa with a big goodie bag going down the chimney in the union flag colours, the night before but xmas is the front page. oh, i am sure that he has already probably seen that front page right now, because somebody in numberten will page right now, because somebody in number ten will have put it directly in front of him. now, who wouldn't, as prime minister, want to look like sa nta cla u s as prime minister, want to look like santa claus with a big set of goodies, in this case, 2000 pages of a brexit deal to trumpet and to celebrate, obviously, the sun back brexit, they backed boris, so unlike some of the other newspapers, they are really, really going to push this moment. but, look, it is, whatever you think of brexit, whatever you think of brexit, whatever you think of br

borisjohnson's leadership is under great scrutiny. days after he had repeatedly said he wouldn't change the government's plans to relax covid rules at christmas, he did just that. weeks before that, he'd denounced the idea of a national lockdown, days later he brought one in. and criticism is coming from normally supportive papers. borisjohnson has been a columnist and foreign correspondent for the daily telegraph. it's been a big supporter. it "concedes that these are difficult times for the government" but added that "this dismal pattern of promising the sun, a rupert murdoch owned tabloid paper and normally supportive voice, says... so, some perhaps unexpected critics there. here's a more likely source of criticism, the opposition labour leader, sir keir starmer. i have faith in the british people to once again step up to the challenges, as they've done at every stage of the pandemic. but they expect the government to do the same. we can have no more overpromising and false hope, no more confused messages and slow decision—making

we are still european, as borisjohnson said. if your whole campaign has been built around separation and uk sovereignty, in what way, then, do you still consider yourself connected? what does it mean to be european and not in the eu? it's a perfectly reasonable question, one the eu has struggled to answer. what do you do with countries firmly in europe who share western democratic values and belong in the security and defence architecture very closely togetherfor one thing, and it's not all that of course determines culture and cultural ties, but it is important in a very dangerous world. you still have to show what that means. i'm pleased to see the government is saying there will be a replacement for that exchange programme of students that was so valued, the erasmus programme. but we don't really know what it is. i'm always worried when one thing gets replaced with another that the value might be less. from the government's point of view, it will be more ambitious, more global. but we need to watch we don't become... victoria

borisjohnson, in his statement, said that he was happy to talk to other european leaders. europe doesn't want that to happen, they have been united behind michel barnier. also, i'm not sure what you're hearing about the fish supper with a ursula von der leyen on wednesday which really didn't go at all well in terms of the language and the british prime minister trying to reach out for a compromise. that was met with a black wall. it is interesting. i would be wary of going down the road of over interpreting these changes in mood. this supposedly very difficult dinner took place a very short time ago with two people who just had a much more constructive telephone call where they agreed to continue negotiating, so, it is certainly possible that there are these wild emotional swings in mood. it is likely that there are leaks in briefings which talk up difficulties at difficult moments. and essentially, there is some kind of functioning political relationship between ursula von der leyen and boris johnson. you're right, she is the person delegated by the european union to hand

it's on—site borisjohnson will be making that trip in the coming days as well. how long can this timetable keeping extended and extended? it's excellent question. so often, we have stood here and said this is the crunch moment commits a crucial week, it's not completely clear what the final deadline is, i think thursday is a big day because there are some on the european side who are some on the european side who are very adamant that they wanted to see something on the table on thursday, something that they could discuss european leaders and see whether it met their demands. we know that there are some european leaders who have different opinions on leaders who have different opinions o n exa ctly leaders who have different opinions on exactly how this should go over the next few weeks, but the ultimate deadline is the 31st of december. that's when the transition period ends, that's when the rules are definitely going to change. there are many in the uk government as well who think that ultimately, if there isn't going to be a deal, if these differences between

borisjohnson is no puritan. in the 17th century, the festival had become an excuse for licentiousness, or — to use the argo of 2020 — failing to observe social distancing. this week, the welsh government departed from the uk—wide consensus brokered just last week — up to three households able to meet indoors. in wales, it will be two households. mrjohnson didn't sing it, but he did plead with people around the uk to "have yourself a merry little christmas". celia, is this a case of boris johnson wanting to have his christmas cake and eat it? it's tricky, we are seeing political leaders around the world struggling with this issue. in some issues, germany, we've seen these pre—christmas lockdown is being imposed, but other countries are really struggling, too. the philippines in particular, really what we are seeing borisjohnson struggling with, we are seeing the philippines leader rodrigo duterte struggling with this as well. the philippines is 94% christian, so christmas is a really big deal. for weeks

where borisjohnson he seems to get tact. we all understand that. where boris johnson he seems to get a wrong is that when he can see the elephant traps coming to him he didn't seem to be able to avoid them. so i'm thinking in terms of free school meals. you could see that the whole exam system wasn't going to work. that he had a u—turn ona going to work. that he had a u—turn on a levels, now we have a situation where by this mutant virus has none about november and maybe earlier than that from some scientists and he should have been able to see this one coming. now he is cancelling christmas with less than a week ago we re christmas with less than a week ago were as he could have looked at it and said there to go with christmas, and said there to go with christmas, and that would've meant if he had did something back in november, a lot of people would have not have had to make preparations, pay a lot of money out on plans for the christmases which now they will use. what do you think, jo coachella do you agree? i do. he has had ample opportunit

you heard borisjohnson it appears to be amicable. you heard boris johnson saying it appears to be amicable. you heard borisjohnson saying earlier the uk is still link to europe, it is not like the two sides are never going to talk again, so leaving this in a place where they are in a good place and thing are amicable would make it easier. you were listening to that news conference, there was a lot of flourishes, but he was asked a couple of simple question, would uk be better off this, would we be safer after this? so what were his a nswers ? safer after this? so what were his answers? he was asked a lot about this deal, as he went through. some of the other specifics were for example where the uk had given more, in terms of fishing, you heard, he said that the uk wanted a three year transition, the eu wanted 14, they settled on fivement he was asked more about what would happen in terms of retaliatory tariffs if for example the uk chose to change its rules and the eu didn't agree. he said there could be the possibility of that but i

the headlines: borisjohnson promises big changes following his brexit trade deal, with a pledge to focus on spreading opportunity and delivering for those left behind. the roll—out of the pfizer biontech covid vaccine begins for millions of people across the eu, starting with italy and the czech republic. storm bella brings gusts of more than a hundred miles an hour, with roads in parts of wales, and devon and cornwall blocked by falling trees. before the papers, sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn watson. good morning. bryony frost should have been getting back into the saddle today after her history—making win in the king george vi chase yesterday, but the welsh grand national meeting at chepstow has been abandoned due to storm bella, causing parts of the course to be waterlogged. as for yesterday, frost became the first female jockey to win the king george on 20 to 1 shot frodon. joe wilson reports. boxing day sport, jockeys in facemasks. perfectly 2020. the horses have no idea what tier kempton may be, but as ever, they race. the king george's box

the eu commission president ursula von der leyen and borisjohnson will talk today and decide whether it‘s worthwhile continuing with negotiations. theresa may‘s de facto deputy when she was dealing with brexit at number 10 was urging both sides to keep talking. it is hugely in britain‘s interest, and the european union‘s interest, for there to be a deal at the end of this. so although it is long and painful and difficult, it is worth keeping talking. but some in borisjohnson‘s party are calling on him to stand firm. no deal will be some short—term disruption until markets readjust. no deal will mean some short—term disruption until markets readjust. but the long—term effect of signing up to a bad deal will be for decades, possibly even perpetuity, and that will be hamstringing our democracy and our economy going forward, and we can‘t do that. previous brexit deadlines have come and gone but after today‘s talks in brussels, it‘s possible that there will be an answer to the question — deal or no deal? iain watson, bbc news. bbc europe correspondent kevin connoll

borisjohnson is no puritan. in the 17th century, the festival had become an excuse for licentiousness or — to use the lingo of 2020 — failing to observe social distancing. this week, the welsh government departed from the uk—wide consensus brokered just a week ago of up to three households able to meet indoors. in wales, it will be two households for christmas. mrjohnson didn't sing it, but he did plead with people around the uk to "have yourself a merry little christmas". celia, i wonder, is this a case of boris johnson wanting to have his christmas cake and eat it? it's tricky. we are seeing political leaders around the world struggling with this issue. now, in some countries — italy or germany — we've seen these pre—christmas lockdown is being imposed, but other countries are really struggling, too. and the patch that i watch, the asia—pacific, and the philippines in particular, really what we are seeing borisjohnson struggling with, we are seeing the philippines leader rodrigo duterte strugglin

nce to what borisjohnson said in his press conference “— to what borisjohnson said in his press conference —— press conference. so many other aspects of oui’ conference. so many other aspects of our national life are going to change. and i think it‘s interesting, your interview with the lawyer there, i remember being a journalist at the time of the treaty, and i come you know, the tiniest line and the tiniest proposal, than those mps who have fought hardest for brexit, they were the first to say that this has to get proper parliamentary scrutiny, andi get proper parliamentary scrutiny, and i think that if labour were to say, frankly, without even having time to go through the detail about as none of us have that they are likely to back it. i think they will regret it. is there an of pragmatism, in an ideal world, they would‘ve seen the detail and scrutinised and so on, but with faced with the alternative which is if they would‘ve contributed to the deal not succeeding, higher prices in the shops, more delays of the port on top of what‘s already happening. with that be even wo

of course we were and when borisjohnson asked the shortly. of course we were and when boris johnson asked the five shortly. of course we were and when borisjohnson asked the five day break, there were an awful lot of people said are you sure you want to do this, prime minister and i we learned that these newspapers from month ago, the sage visor suggested something like tier 4 and it was rejected and that things are looking sticky and they're going to have to pull out and start thinking about it. really interesting and looking at the figures come in 2000, we had 240,000 hospital beds and england and this year, we have but hundred 65,000 beds because the numbers have been cut for a variety of reasons. for the average winter, they have between 8595% capacity if there is 95% capacity, and a normal winter, does not much slack in the system, 9000 beds spare for the nhs to deal with coronavirus but of course, it is the hospitals as well. at the moment, as of today, is 18,000 covid—i9 moment, as of today, is 18,000 covid—19 cases and english hos

well, borisjohnson is urging world leaders to set ambitious environmental targets for reducing carbon emissions ahead of a virtual climate summit next weekend. the british prime minister has vowed to reduce emissions by 68% by the end of the decade. here is our environment a nalyst. here is our environment analyst. as wildfires swept the globe this year, politicians have started to tackle climate change with increasing urgency. they need to radically cut planet eating emissions this decade, so boris johnson planet eating emissions this decade, so borisjohnson says the uk will reduce its emissions by 68%, that is based on 1990 levels. it won't be enough to stop widespread ice flooring in the arctic and antarctic, but it does pose a challenge to world leaders joining a virtual climate summit he is roasting next

that is a sentiment borisjohnson has echoed this morning. in terms of actual timelines, i know it is very, very ha rd to actual timelines, i know it is very, very hard to pin this down, do we know when boris johnson very hard to pin this down, do we know when borisjohnson is going to brussels and what is the last moment at which an agreement could be struck realistically? businesses have got to prepare and many are already saying it is already very difficult? there has been a real relu cta nce difficult? there has been a real reluctance to put a date on that, because businesses do need to prepare. the government has been absolutely clear, it is not going to extend the transition period. on the 1st of january the uk will be out of the single market and out of the customs union. that is a point boris johnson has been stressing again, things will be different onjanuary the 1st and businesses need to prepare. businesses are saying, we need to prepare for what? time is running short and it is also running short politically in terms of getting any

borisjohnson is right now trying to find out if he can still pull off a trade deal. he's meeting with the president of the european commission. we will be taking back control, and we have already taken back control, of our money, our borders and our laws, and we will seize all the opportunities that brexit brings. translation: we are working on it, but we are also prepared for conditions that we cannot accept. we'll bring you any developments from that dinner in brussels. also in the programme — a massive strike by farmers in india is continuing. it's been nearly two weeks now, and there's no sign they're backing down. and this is cher singing to an elephant. we'll hear how this came about in a bbc world exclusive interview with her. returning now to our top story, brexit. these trade talks are proving so hard to resolve because despite how we describe them, this isn't just about trade. neither side defines success solely by whether the best financial outcome has been achieved. far from it. this is about deeply held ideas. or as the bbc‘s europe editor katya adle

they are going to be talks between borisjohnson and still on tomorrow. that's another big development. caroline, what do you make of intervention by the german chancellor angela merkel? is she going to be the want to bang heads together for want of a better phrase? that actually brings both to the table new deal they can agree on is going to be down to her in the end? you have to remember that all of the leaders at the moment have skin in this game. and whatever happens the outcome of these negotiations are going to be friction to the european union with the dealer without a deal. of course the dealer without a deal. of course the german car manufacturing industry is essential to the german economy. we heard consolatory language before from angela merkel. but it's interesting that we are seeing a very contrasting message come from the french president who appears if you read some of the other stories to be causing some friction largely around one of the main sticking points of the negotiations. which has been on the fishery. and it's been that he's putti

less than a mile from downing street, borisjohnson is intensive care tonight. in a personal fight against the virus that the government and the country is trying to beat. as the first world leader to test positive for coronavirus, the prime minister was out of action in intensive care at a time of acute national crisis. borisjohnson would later reveal that it was 50—50 whether he would be put on a ventilator used to treat the most serious of cases. mercifully, borisjohnson recovered and in time to see the birth of his son, wilfred, at the end of april. but others were not so lucky. the number of debt continued to rise, soon surpassing the figure of 20,000 that the government's chief scientific adviser had said would be a good outcome. official statistics are only now starting to give a sense of the scale of what's happened in england and wales. 10% of all deaths connected to the virus are happening in care homes. critics claim the government was struggling with key tasks, sourcing reliable and adequate supplies of protective equipment for hospital staff, and

borisjohnson said that both sides orfarapart on key borisjohnson said that both sides or far apart on key issues. borisjohnson said that both sides orfar apart on key issues. we are going to pause unlike at the latest weather. good afternoon, it is a 5°99y weather. good afternoon, it is a soggy sunday out there and there's more of that as we come through the neck 7—10 days, low pressure staying close by, with rain at times and here is one, not particularly inviting picture from out there today, but there will be some sunnier moments as we go through the week ahead. this is the area of low pressure that is bringing these weather fronts across us and bringing the ring and even when the persistent rain has cleared away, there will be showers following, and this is the past few hours of cloud and rain. i am this is the past few hours of cloud and rain. iam led this is the past few hours of cloud and rain. i am led to believe that the uk is under and we are all seen a bit of the rain of the afternoon goes on, brighter colours out there indicating whether there are heavier bursts out the

it follows a meeting between borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen in brussels. as thousands more people in the uk get the pfizer vaccine — a new warning goes out to those with serious allergies. a new uk government report says the route to net—zero carbon emissions could be much cheaper than previously thought. struggling to survive. how climate change, destruction of habitat and australia's recent bushfires have left koala's on the brink. —— have left koalas. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world — iam i am kasia madera. stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. britain and the european union have agreed to continue trying to reach a post—brexit trade deal for a few more days. after face— to— face talks between the british prime minister, borisjohnson, and the european commission president, ursula von der leyen, a source in mrjohnson‘s office said he didn't want to leave any possible route to a deal untested. —— face—to—face. our political correspondent jessica parker is

when borisjohnson finally appears, waving a piece of paper in his hand, saying we have got a deal, he will be saying that it delivers on his manifesto promise to return control of our borders and our economy to the uk. that is what he will claim to stop some on his own side in the conservative party, in the brexiteer european research group say they will get through this with a fine tooth comb to see if his policies and sovereignty will be delivered, and he has been calling some members of that group to brief them on the deal in advance. 0nce some members of that group to brief them on the deal in advance. once we get as far as that, we are not there yet, and time seems to be slipping this morning, but once that happens, parliament will be recalled next week, but eyes expect substantial labour support for any deal even if they are critical of it is opposed to no—deal, and with many tory mps just glad to get brexit done, to coina just glad to get brexit done, to coin a phrase, it will go through the british parliament and the european parliament will have to retrospectively ratify it

in the years since borisjohnson secured his place here, our world has turned upside down. the prime minister himself fell victim to the virus that he was in charge of tackling. his recovery was short, the economies and societies will take far longer. where and how we go from here with britain in a new relationship with the eu are the crucial political questions for the year ahead and beyond. good evening. the sun has set on what was a chilly final day of 2020. temperatures for some barely got above freezing. there was a covering of snow on the ground in places, and this is how it looked from space. this is the recent satellite picture. you can see speckled shower clouds that have been moving across parts of wales and the south west as those showers clear away. we could see some icy stretches here. through the night, we've got a band of cloud with some rain, sleet, and hill snow moving across northern england into north wales. i think it will mostly be over high ground that we see the wintry weather. at lower levels, it'll mainly be rain. some slightly less cold air tied in

in the years since borisjohnson secured his place here, our world has turned upside down. the prime minister himself fell victim to the virus that he was in charge of tackling. his recovery was short, the economy's and society's will take far longer. where and how we go from here with britain in a new relationship with the eu are the crucial political questions for the year ahead and beyond. hello, it's a cold and bright day for many of you, but for others it really has been a winter wonderland today. we have seen snow as far south as the cotswolds and even in the downs this afternoon, and we are going to continue to see some further bouts of snow across the country. in different areas from one day to the next, but it is always going to be a fine balance for some between snow, rain and sleet. but either way it is going to be cold, frosty and icy by night. now, today it is cold out there, strong winds down the western flank, rain, but a little bit of sleet and snow mixed in over the higher ground towards pembrokeshire and cornwall. rain, sleet, snow mix clearing away from s

borisjohnson is no puritan. in the 17th century, the festival had become an excuse for licentiousness, or — to use the argo of 2020 — failing to observe social distancing. this week, the welsh government departed from the uk—wide consensus brokered just last week — up to three households able to meet indoors. in wales, it will be two households. mrjohnson didn't sing it, but he did plead with people around the uk to "have yourself a merry little christmas". celia, is this a case of boris johnson wanting to have his christmas cake and eat it? it's tricky, we are seeing political leaders around the world struggling with this issue. in some issues, germany, we've seen these pre—christmas lockdowns being imposed, but other countries are really struggling, too. the philippines in particular, really what we are seeing borisjohnson struggling with, we are seeing the philippines leader rodrigo duterte struggling with this as well. the philippines is 94% christian, so christmas is a really big deal. for weeks n

in the year since borisjohnson secured his place here, our world has turned upside down. the prime minister himself fell victim to the virus that he was in charge of tackling. his recovery was short, the economies and societies will take far longer. where and how we go from here with britain in a new relationship with the eu are the crucial political questions for the year ahead and beyond. hello. after a night of wind and rain, sunday won't be as windy. there will be showers around but also sunshine, too. but right now, it's still very wet and very windy out there for some of us. from this area of low pressure, storm bella as named by the met office to raise awareness of the impacts from the wind and rain but not just that. in areas that have seen the back of the rain and the strongest winds overnight, the colder air moving in — and for some of us in scotland and northern ireland icy, and a few wintry showers around to start the day. damaging winds from storm bella could cause some disruption, particularly into parts of england and wales and there will be more heavy ra

will borisjohnson sign up toa coming. will borisjohnson sign up to a trade deal or are the two sides to a trade deal or are the two sides to farapart? to a trade deal or are the two sides to far apart? tonight in brussels he will meet the european commission president to see if they can give fresh life to the negotiating process. a good deal is still there to be done... but talks have been stuck for some time and mrjohnson told mps that there are still significant issues. our friends in the eu are currently insisting that if they pass a new law in the future, with which we in this country do not comply, or don't follow suit, then they will have the automatic right, mr speaker, to punish us and to retaliate. i don't believe that those are terms that any prime minister of this country should accept. it is notjust competition rules. there are still disagreements on fish, how much can eu boats catch in british waters, and enforcement, who polices the deal? labour said getting an agreement is essential and even keir starmer, s

here's borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen. there are two key things that we cannot seem to make progress and that is the wretched clause to keep the uk locked in to whatever they want to do in terms of legislation which, there's the whole issue of fish where we have to be able to take back control of our waters. i examined this issue of sovereignty with jill rutter, a senior research fellow with the uk in a changing europe group. i began by asking, "didn't countries have to give up a degree of sovereignty by entering into any trade deal or agreement with other nations? " you could say you're making a sovereign decision to give away a bit of his sovereignty for significant benefits and that is the treasurer making it can come out of and basically, if you go to ursula, she is saying, and the future, you will have every right to diverge from us, but if we think it will come at a price. the question is, for borisjohnson, come at a price. the question is, for boris johnson, do come at a price. the question is, for borisjohnson, do

our top stories: britain and the european union remain far apart as talks between borisjohnson and eu chief ursula von der leyen in brussels end without agreement. but despite no deal, negotiations to break the trade talks deadlock will continue, with a firm decision expected by sunday. the us passes another coronavirus milestone — reporting its highest one—day increase in deaths since the start of the pandemic. facebook is facing a major us lawsuit that could force the company to sell off instagram and whatsapp. for the first time ever, human—made objects are about to outweigh all animals and plants on the planet. hello, welcome to the program. talks to try to agree a post—brexit trade deal between the uk and the european union have concluded with both sides saying there are major differences to bridge. the british prime minister, borisjohnson and the european commission president, ursula von der leyen, met over dinner in brussels. both have agreed talks on a deal will continue until sunday, when a firm decision will be made. a source in mrjohnson's office said he didn't want

you're right, between ursula von der leyen and borisjohnson. you're right, she is the person delegated by the european union to handle those face—to—face contact with boris johnson. union to handle those face—to—face contact with borisjohnson. in terms of following the roller—coaster of coverage, don't forget, yesterday, all the headlines were about the royal navy being deployed to protect the british fisheries and potentially to arrest or in pounds french fishing vessels. things feel a lot more positive than they did at that point. to what extent those shifts of mood in the media genuinely affect or reflect shifts of mood between the principles is very ha rd to of mood between the principles is very hard to say but clearly, certainly among the negotiations at least, there is a businesslike relationship underlying the whole thing. let's find out how businesses are reacting to the news that pots—brexit trade talks between the uk and the eu are to continue. i'm joined by our business correspondent, katy austin. some relief i suppose.