Cincunri Sakia

Senin, 07 Desember 2020

World War 3 warning: UK, France and Germany deeply concerned about Iran nuclear programme - Daily Express

Iran: MPs chant in Parliament after passing nuclear bill

The Iranian Parliament recently passed a law which if implement would expand Tehran’s nuclear programme and limit the monitoring access of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This comes amid growing tensions across the globe.

"If Iran is serious about preserving a space for diplomacy, it must not implement these steps," the three powers said in a joint statement.

This comes after Iran told the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog it plans to install three more clusters of advanced IR-2m centrifuges at its underground uranium enrichment plant at Natanz.

The agency wrote: “Iran informed thee Agency that the operator of the Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) at Natanz ‘intends to start installation of three cascades of IR-2m centrifuge machines’ at FEP.”

They added these were in addition to one of IR-2m machines already used for enrichment there.

World War 3 fears ignited over Iran legislation

World War 3 fears ignited over Iran legislation (Image: Getty)

But under Iran’s nuclear deal with major powers, Tehran can only use first-generation IR-1 centrifuges at the underground plant.

These are also the only machines Iran can accumulate enriched uranium with.

This latest move comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country will not agree to renegotiate elements of the international accord limiting its nuclear programme.

He said: “It will never be renegotiated. Period.”

The Minister also admitted Tehran will not agree to any curbs on its missile programme unless Western countries stop their “malign behaviour” in the Middle East.

He added: “As long as they’re not able to out up, they have to shut up.”

Under the Trump administration, the US imposed crippling sanctions on Iran after Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018.

Iran began publicly exceeding enrichment limits set by the agreement saying it would return to compliance if the US did the same.

Mr Zarif continued: “The US has been in grave breach of that resolution because the Trump administration has been a rogue regime.

“Now if President-elect [Joe] Biden wants to continue to be a rogue regime, then he can continue to be asking for negotiations to implement its commitments.

“The United States must stop, the United States must cease its violations of international law.

“It doesn’t require any negotiations.”

Mr Biden - who beat Mr Trump in the US election last month - has hinted the US will return to the deal.

He told the New York Times if Iran returned to compliance, the US would rejoin and he would seek to tighten Tehran’s nuclear constraints.

But this was met with criticism by Mr Zarif who argued they will not renegotiate a deal which they have already negotiated.

He said: “Last year, the West sold to the Persian Gulf more weapons than it sold to any other part of the world.

“Over $100billion worth of weapons were sold to this region.

“Is the West ready to stop this malign behaviour?

“When they are ready to deal with those problems of their own malign behaviour in the region… then they can start talking about other things.”

The two countries were on the brink of war back in January after US forces killed Iranian major general Qassem Soleimani during a missile strike in Iraq.

This is a breaking story. More to follow...

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2020-12-07 09:52:00Z
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Minggu, 06 Desember 2020

COVID-19: Joe Biden's inauguration plans rethought in age of coronavirus - Sky News

President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration next month is likely to be more subdued than previous ones - as the US public health advice is to avoid big gatherings and parties.

The ceremony is due to take place in Washington DC on 20 January and there are still many details to be confirmed.

But it is thought a giant parade along Pennsylvania Avenue - the road outside the White House - is unlikely, and fancy balls where the new president typically dances with their spouse could become virtual events.

The traditional post-ceremony lunch where politicians offer their best wishes, advice and words of wisdom to the incoming president, may not include food this year.

Despite speculation, the swearing-in ceremony will not be virtual - construction of the main platform on the Capitol's West Front started on 3 November.

It is believed the platform will not be as crowded as it typically has been in the past - and that guests will be expected to socially distance and wear masks.

Politicians are also considering making COVID-19 tests mandatory for anyone who will have authority to be near the president-elect, according to a spokesperson from the joint congressional committee tasked with overseeing the event.

The VIP platform can hold up to 1,600 people, while politicians are able to distribute tickets for other positions close by.

A big reviewing stand for the public is also being built in front of the White House.

No decisions have yet been made - but it is understood that the committee has been considering cutting down the numbers on both accounts.

President-elect Joe Biden said his priority is keeping Americans "safe".

He said: "My guess is there will still be a platform ceremony.

"But I don't know exactly how it's all going to work out. The key is keeping people safe. I can't do a super version of the president's announcement in the Rose Garden."

He was thought to be referring to Donald Trump's Rose Garden introduction of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett - which turned out to be a superspreader event with hundreds of people crammed together, many without masks.

Mr Biden said the ceremony will probably be similarly styled to his all-virtual nomination event in the summer.

He said: "I think you're going to see something that's closer to what the convention was like than a typical inauguration.

"First and foremost, in my objective, is to keep America safe but still allow people to celebrate - to celebrate and see one another celebrate."

It remains unknown which celebrity singer will perform at the ceremony - but one source close to the inauguration has hinted it may be someone who campaigned for the president-elect - including Lady Gaga, John Legend and Jon Bon Jovi.

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2020-12-07 00:52:33Z
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Coronavirus cover-up: Chinese scientist speak out over Wuhan outbreak - documents leaked - Daily Express

In leaked documents from whistle-blowers within the Chinese health system, data shows underreporting of the disease from the beginning of the outbreak. The documents revealed how health authorities marked documents as internal or confidential in order to stop the true cause of the disease being reported. Journalists were also issued strict reporting orders, blocking the true horrifying figures from being released to the world.

As shown by the documents passed to CNN, cases were split into “confirmed”, “clinically diagnosed” and “suspected” cases.

By doing this, health experts now claim it was near impossible to establish the true numbers of the coronavirus outbreak.

In one example, data showed official figures had reported 2,478 cases as of February 10.

In fact, 5,918 cases were identified on the day in what comes as one of the more significant leaks to emanate from China.

A laboratory technician told the Press Association it became “mission impossible” to confirm new cases of the virus in Wuhan while the Communist Party also forced local agencies to pass over any data to the central government.

Staff at the Centre for Disease Control also claimed practises were so abnormal they were convinced testing was being blocked.

A doctor at a Zhongnan Hospital raised the alarm over the obstruction of the data and criticised the criteria for how cases were reported.

Health officials at the hospital told government authorities of the worsening situation in January.

JUST IN: China launches bid for WORLD SUPREMACY with ‘fastest ever’ computer

China was the first country to report a case of the virus and currently has 86,619 confirmed cases.

However, world leaders have questioned the true outbreak of the virus in the country.

Outgoing US President Donald Trump has led calls for an independent investigation into the virus and had claimed to have evidence into an alleged cover-up – although the details were not released.

This week, Chinese officials announced they will speed up approval of its domestically made coronavirus vaccine.

China has five vaccines currently in production and are being tested in states such as Russia, Mexico and Egypt.

Officials, however, have not stated how they will role out the vaccine for the 1.4 billion people.

There has also been no word on the side effects of the drug from Chinese officials.

Over one million healthcare workers and others deemed high-risk have received experimental vaccines for emergency use.

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2020-12-07 00:00:00Z
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Donald Trump tweets that Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for coronavirus - Daily Mail

Trump tweets that Giuliani has tested positive for coronavirus while heading his legal defense to overturn Biden election victory

President Trump revealed the test results by Tweet on Sunday
Giuliani has traveled the country making Trump's case that the election was 'rigged'
He took over from David Bossie, who also tested positive for the virus, leading legal effort
Son Andrew Giuliani tested positive last month
Traveled to Philadelphia despite team lawyer Boris Epshteyn's positive test
Traveled to Arizona, Michigan, and Georgia last week alone
Known as 'America's Mayor' after Sept. 11th, Giuliani led efforts to push contents of Hunter Biden's laptop and overturn election in battleground states

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.s. Political Editor For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:28 GMT, 6 December 2020 | Updated: 21:16 GMT, 6 December 2020

Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for the coronavirus, the president tweeted Sunday about the official spearheading his claims of election 'fraud.'

Giuliani, 76, is just the latest person in Trump's circle to test positive for COVID-19, after Trump, the first lady, and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tested positive.

He has traveled the country making Trump's case that the election was 'rigged' and that that it was 'stolen' – even traveling to Pennsylvania hours after a member of his legal team announced he had tested positive.

He has appeared both at legislative hearings and at unofficial Republican-run quasi-hearings where witnesses claimed massive fraud, even as judges have tossed out dozens of lawsuits.

He has regularly appeared unmasked at the indoor events, despite numerous close calls and Centers for Disease Control recommendations.

Giuliani's son, Andrew, announced a positive test after attending a press conference with Trump's 'elite strike force' legal team last month.

Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for coronavirus, President Trump tweeted

GET WELL SOON! President Trump broke the news of Giuliani's test results in a tweet where he touted his work 'exposing the most corrupt election' in history

'@RudyGiuliani, by far the greatest mayor in the history of NYC, and who has been working tirelessly exposing the most corrupt election (by far!) in the history of the USA, has tested positive for the China Virus. Get better soon Rudy, we will carry on!!!' Trump tweeted.

Giuliani took charge of the legal effort after former Trump deputy campaign manager David Bossie himself testified positive shortly after being named.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, another top campaign advisor, also tested positive in recent months.

Giuliani attended debate prep along with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Trump shortly before Christie tested positive for the virus. He was one of multiple officials at the event marking the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett that soon became known as a superspreader event.

Giuliani led the battle for Trump to try to get judges or state legislatures to turn back results in an election where he trails President-elect Joe Biden by more than 7 million votes.

Giuliani has appeared regularly on Fox News to make claims of voter fraud

Giuliani could be seen sweating as apparent hair dye dripped during a Nov. 19 presser at RNC headquarters

He held an infamous outdoor press conference at Four Seasons Landscaping company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 7, 2020 shortly after the elections

Giuliani is pictured with his son, Andrew, who announced last month he tested positive but was experiencing mild symptoms

In this file photo taken on October 05, 2020 President Donald Trump takes off his facemask as he arrives at the White House upon his return from Walter Reed Medical Center, where he underwent treatment for Covid-19, in Washington, DC

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows tested positive for the virus last month

He has been touting 'bombshell' video evidence purporting to show voting fraud in Georgia, although the Republican secretary of state's office has said it amounts to nothing.

On Sunday it was revealed the star witness in Trump’s ‘voter fraud’ case in Michigan was recently released from probation after being accused of sending her fiance’s ex-wife pornographic videos and then attempting to frame her of stealing them, according to reports.

Mellissa Carone, 33, was sentenced to 12 months probation for the offense in Wayne County, Michigan, in September 2019.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani sit to the side during a news conference as President Donald Trump speaks at the White House, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Washington. Christie would later test positive, as would Trump. Giuliani flew on Air Force One to the first presidential debate in Cleveland

He traveled to Pennsylvania for another hearing-style event claiming fraud where Trump called in. He was seated unmasked next to lawyer Jenna Ellis, who played the tape on her cell phone.

He also appeared unmasked at a bizarre press conference at the Republican National Committee in Washington where he and then Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell laid out a conspiracy theory about election vote machines involving Venezuela, China, Cuba, and Democratic election officials.

As Giuliani sweat, his hair dye leaked down the side of his face – in an event Fox news host Sean Hannity recently mocked on his show while Giuliani, appearing as a guest, smiled.

Six days after that event, on Nov. 25, Boris Epshteyn, a lawyer who is part of the effort who appeared there, announced he had tested positive.

Despite the news, Jenna Ellis tweeted that she was 'Headed to Gettysburg, PA with @RudyGiuliani' for the election hearing-style event.

Ellis tweeted that both she and Giuliani had tested negative, and that the 'entire legal team will continue to follow the advice and protocols of our doctors.'

Ellis, 36, lacks the years of experience as a federal prosecutor, mayor, political candidate, and private lawyer – although Giuliani himself had not argued a case in court in years when he appeared before a federal judge in Pennsylvania last month.

If Giuliani were to be sidelined while in isolation or dealing with the virus, Ellis could take up more of the work – although she was recently revealed in profiles to have worked traffic court and fired as a prosecutor. Profiles by the The New York Times and Wall Street Journal failed to fine any court records to back up her claim to be a 'constitutional lawyer' even as Trump and Giuliani talk up the prospect of getting the a case to the Supreme Court.

Giuliani's legal efforts have won him regular praise from the president - but also some severe admonishments from trial judges and some of the election officials he has challenged.

Georgia's Lt. Gov. on Sunday blasted the 'mountains of misinformation' in election fraud claims, hours after Trump came to Georgia to claim the election was 'rigged.'

'I worry that this continues, you know, fanning of the flames around misinformation puts us in a negative position with regards to the Jan. 5 runoff,' Georgia's Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan told CNN's 'State of the Union.'

'The mountains of misinformation are not helping the process – they're only hurting it,' he said.

Giuliani sometimes seemed as if he had some special power making him immune from the virus.

He traveled with the president on Air Force One to the first presidential debate in Cleveland amid what was an unfolding spreader event at the White House.

The president, Christie, First Lady Melania Trump, and others had already tested positive.

Giuliani's test results come as the president's case enters a critical period – although he is already facing long odds of seeking to overturn the election results, where Joe Biden won 7 million more votes and has a 306 to 323 lead in the Electoral College.

The Electoral College meets December 15. Congress meets January 6 in special session to count the votes. Inauguration Day is January 20.

He has had almost no victories. The Trump campaign and allies filing suits in battleground states where he lost have lost or had 46 cases dismissed since the election, according to Democratic lawyer Marc Elias, who gleefully keeps track.

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2020-12-06 20:28:00Z
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COVID-19 one year on: The Taiwanese scientist who tried to warn the world of coronavirus - Sky News

The first reports from China of an unusual pneumonia in December 2019 worried Professor Chuang Yin-ching.

"We were very cautious about that," he told Sky News.

"Because Taiwan is so close to China. It's very important to prevent it, rather than treating it."

When he arrived on the ground in Wuhan in mid-January and spoke to Chinese officials, worry turned into alarm.

"I think, yeah, something is wrong," Prof Chuang said.

"The first thing is maybe they are not well prepared, maybe they are too busy or they want to hide [information]. They just don't want to present all the information to us."

Prof Chuang is regional commander for Taiwan's Infectious Disease Prevention and Treatment Network, established after the SARS outbreak of 2003 - an outbreak Prof Chuang dealt with first-hand.

As a result of his fact-finding trip, Taiwan introduced strict border controls and quarantines.

During the whole pandemic, the country has recorded just seven coronavirus deaths for a population of nearly 24 million.

Prof Chuang was initially reluctant to visit Wuhan. He and his wife were moving house.

"I also worried about the possibility I might carry some viruses and transmit to my wife."

When the director general of Taiwan's CDC called him directly, though, he agreed, understanding what was at stake.

"The first step for us to control this unknown epidemic, a very important thing was to know the detail of the outbreak at the first time," Prof Chuang told Sky News.

"And second, I wanted to know the transmission route. Because the transmission route is very important for us to do the prevention."

The most pressing question for Prof Chuang was the issue of human-to-human transmission.

At the time, China and the World Health Organisation (WHO) were both saying there was no evidence of this. Prof Chuang was sceptical of that.

From 13 to 15 January, his group, which also included scientists from Hong Kong and Macau, visited laboratories and hospitals, which were running "dirty" and "clean" zones - a sign of fears over human transmission.

Then, in a meeting, a Chinese official admitted that there were two family clusters based around the Huanan seafood market, initially thought to be the origin of COVID-19.

One patient's wife had been infected even though she did not visit the market.

"So that's an indirect, very important clue of human-to-human (H2H) transmission," Prof Chuang said.

Some junior officials tried to deny there was human-to-human transmission.

"But in my mind that means definitely there is human-to-human transmission. Because they tried to deny the possibility of H2H transmission and then the higher official at the meeting admitted that limited H2H transmission cannot be excluded.

"That means it is a human-to-human transmission disease, no doubt."

Prof Chuang made that call before probably anyone else.

It was not be until 20 January that both China and WHO announced evidence for limited human-to-human transmission.

Taiwan is not part of WHO.

China sees the country as its own, renegade province and works hard to prevent international organisations recognising the island.

Taiwan, locked out of WHO, didn't wait for it.

At the airport, Prof Chuang was met by CDC officers and asked his advice on travel regulations.

"I said no we need to upgrade not to downgrade, we need to do more regarding the quarantine, regarding how to prevent people from Wuhan or from China bringing this disease to Taiwan."

The next day, he and a colleague made their findings public at a press conference.

On 23 January, Wuhan locked down.

It took Prof Chuang by surprise.

"I cannot imagine the speed of the spread, spreading so quickly. Because they don't provide the scale of the outbreak. I only knew there were 41 cases."

A year on from the first registered COVID-19 case in China, there is much we still do not know. And there is a long way to go still.

"Right now people try to live their normal life," Prof Chuang told Sky News.

"But before we have an effective vaccine, before everyone can get the vaccine, you can only live a semi-normal life.

"They should follow the advice to wear a mask, to wash hands more. Every person has the responsibility to protect themselves."

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2020-12-06 18:40:15Z
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Saudi prince strongly criticises Israel at Bahrain summit - Al Jazeera English

A prominent Saudi prince harshly criticised Israel at a Bahrain security summit that was remotely attended by Israel’s foreign minister, showing the challenges any further deals between Arab states and Israel face in the absence of an independent Palestinian state.

The fiery remarks by Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud at the Manama Dialogue appeared to catch Israel’s foreign minister off guard, particularly as Israelis receive warm welcomes from officials in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates following agreements to normalise ties.

Left unresolved by those deals, however, is the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinians view those pacts as a stab in the back from their fellow Arabs and a betrayal of their cause.

Prince Turki bin Faisal opened his remarks by contrasting what he described as Israel’s perception of being “peace-loving upholders of high moral principles” versus what he described as a far-darker Palestinian reality of living under a “Western colonising” power.

Israel has “incarcerated [Palestinians] in concentration camps under the flimsiest of security accusations – young and old, women and men, who are rotting there without recourse to justice”, Prince Turki said.

“They are demolishing homes as they wish and they assassinate whomever they want.”

‘An open wound’

The prince also criticised Israel’s undeclared arsenal of nuclear weapons and the Israeli government’s “unleashing their political minions and their media outlets from other countries to denigrate and demonise Saudi Arabia”.

In unusually blunt language, he accused Israel of depicting itself as a “small, existentially threatened country, surrounded by bloodthirsty killers who want to eradicate her from existence”.

“And yet they profess that they want to be friends with Saudi Arabia,” he said.

The prince reiterated the kingdom’s official position that the solution lies in implementing the Arab Peace Initiative, a 2002 Saudi-sponsored deal that offers Israel full ties with all Arab states in return for Palestinian statehood on territory Israel captured in 1967.

He added: “You cannot treat an open wound with palliatives and pain killers.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, who spoke immediately after Prince Turki, said: “I would like to express my regret on the comments of the Saudi representative. I don’t believe that they reflect the spirit and the changes taking place in the Middle East.”

The confrontation and a later back-and-forth between Prince Turki and a confidant of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the summit highlighted continued widespread opposition to Israel by many inside Saudi Arabia, despite some state-backed efforts to promote outreach with Jewish groups and supporters of Israel.

Ashkenazi, meanwhile, reiterated Israel’s position that it is the Palestinians who are to be blamed for not reaching a peace deal.

“We have a choice here with the Palestinians whether to solve it or not, or to go to this blame game,” said Ashkenazi, an ally of Netanyahu’s chief rival, Benny Gantz.

Dore Gold, a Netanyahu confidant and former UN ambassador in the audience, implied Prince Faisal’s remarks were “accusations of the past – many of which are false”.

The prince later brought up Gold’s previous television appearances “denigrating the kingdom and using the most vile descriptions”.

“I think Mr Dore Gold should be the last one to talk about having previous beliefs and positions here,” the prince said.

Prince Turki led Saudi intelligence for more than 20 years and served as ambassador to the United States and the United Kingdom.

Though he now holds no official position, his stance is seen as closely mirroring that of King Salman.

However, the king’s assertive son, the 35-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is seen having a greater willingness to quietly engage with Israel to counter common rival Iran and boost foreign investment in the kingdom.

‘Not an easy ride’

Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, also on stage for the tense exchanges, sought to smooth over the differences in his remarks.

Still, he too stressed the importance of a resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on a two-state solution as envisaged by the Arab Peace Initiative.

“The path of peace is not an easy ride. There will be a lot of obstacles along the way,” he said. “There will be ups and downs. But the bedrock of that path, the path of peace, is the Israeli-Palestinian issue.”

In an apparent reference to Iran, al-Zayani added a resolution to the conflict would also remove the pretext to justify some of the threats made to regional security.

Despite Prince Turki’s blunt rhetoric, mutual concern over Iran has gradually brought Israel and Gulf nations closer, and Riyadh itself has quietly been building relations with the Jewish state for several years.

Reports last month that Netanyahu had held secret talks in Saudi Arabia fuelled speculation that a normalisation accord with the Gulf’s top power could be in the making. Riyadh, however, denied the meeting occurred.

‘Need to see a settlement’

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told the AFP news agency on Saturday the kingdom’s position remained resolute.

“We’ve been quite clear that in order for us to proceed with normalisation we will need to see a settlement of the Palestinian dispute and the formation of a viable state of Palestine along the lines envisioned in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative,” he said in an interview in Manama.

Asked whether that effectively ruled out the establishment of ties with Israel any time soon, he said he was “optimistic that there is a path towards a resolution between the Palestinians and Israelis”.

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2020-12-06 15:34:42Z
CAIiEMJf_b-HG-PsX6-zebCvntoqFAgEKgwIACoFCAowhgIwkDgw0O8B

Covid-19: Vaccine rollout 'ready' for any Brexit outcome - BBC News

The Covid vaccine will reach everyone in the UK who needs it - whatever the outcome of post-Brexit trade talks, the medicines regulator head has vowed.

Dr June Raine said officials had a clear "goal" and were "fully prepared for any possible outcome".

Asked about a no-deal situation, she told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "We have practised. We are ready."

The first jabs are being given this week and Dr Raine said people could have "real confidence" in their safety.

The EU and UK are trying to reach a trade deal before a 31 December deadline.

Dr Raine, chief executive of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said: "We are ready and we know that whatever the deal we will be able to ensure that people have access."

She said the "goal" of the MHRA was to "make sure that whatever the outcome, whatever the deal, that medicines and medical devices and vaccines reach anyone in all parts of the country in the same way without any interruption at all".

Responding to a question on the same issue, Environment Minister George Eustice told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: "We have got many contingency plans in place and there won't be any effect on the deployment of this vaccine from a no-deal Brexit."

Frontline health staff, care home workers and the over-80s will start getting the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the first jab to be approved in the UK, on Tuesday.

Refrigerated containers holding the vaccine doses have been arriving in the UK from Belgium, and are being prepared to be moved from secure locations to the hospitals.

About 800,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to be available initially.

A report in the Observer says millions of doses of the vaccine will be flown to Britain by military aircraft if there are delays at ports after 31 December, under plans being drawn up by the government.

The Department for Health and Social Care would not comment on the report but confirmed military personnel were working with its officials on the vaccine rollout.

Freezers, at a secure location in the UK, which can each hold more than more than 80,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine

Dr Raine said there "should be no doubt whatever that this is a very safe and highly effective vaccine", adding: "The highest standards of scrutiny, of safety and of effectiveness and quality have been met, international standards."

She said the vaccine "will help us turn the corner. There's really not one of us who hasn't been affected by this pandemic, and our organisation, like every other, has been completely focused on doing our job to be able to help defeat this terrible disease."

Graphic outlining how the Pfizer vaccine will be prioritised among different groups. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that people are given the vaccine in the following order, although there is likely to be some overlap between groups: 1. residents in a care home for older adults, and their carers 2. everyone aged 80 and over, and frontline health and social care workers 3. everyone aged 75 and over 4. everyone aged 70 and over, and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable 5. everyone aged 65 and over 6. people aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and death from Covid-19 7. everyone aged 60 and over 8. everyone aged 55 and over 9. everyone aged 50 and over

The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at around -70C and moved carefully, so at first it will only be administered from specific hospital "hubs" across the UK.

Asked about other vaccines, including the jab being developed by Oxford University and Astra Zeneca, Dr Raine said the MHRA was "working continuously, round the clock.... we can't give time frames".

How are vaccines authorised in the UK?

Regulator the MHRA assesses vaccine trial data for safety, quality of manufacture, and how effective it is at protecting people
It then advises the UK government whether a vaccine is ready to be used
It is part of the Department of Health, and employs more than 1,200 people
Independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation decide how best to use a vaccine and who should get it first
It has drawn up interim advice on priority groups for the Covid vaccine. It also considers how many doses to use
The JCVI has about 20 members - all are experts on vaccines

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How are vaccines authorised in the UK?