Jane Deith

There has been some encouraging early data – showing reduced transmission in people who’ve had the vaccine.

Reports suggest that people could be allowed to meet each other outdoors by Easter.

Scientists at Nasa’s Mission Control could barely contain their excitement as the Perseverance Rover sent back its first colour images of the red planet. 

More than half a million people received their first dose of the Covid vaccine yesterday.

The government’s announcement that it plans to vaccinate all people over 50 by the start of May came as new figures show infection rates falling.

The head teachers’ union has begun legal action against the government in a bid to make ministers reveal why they think it’s safe for schools to re-open on Monday – amid the rapid rise in coronavirus cases.

It comes as scientists at Imperial College Centre for Global Disease Analysis confirmed that the new variant of the virus spreads quicker.

The UK has reached a new daily record for coronavirus cases with more than 50,000 people testing positive in the last 24 hours.

Millions more people in England are now living under the strictest, Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions. Household mixing is banned while all non-essential shops are closed. Mainland Scotland and Northern Ireland have also begun new lockdowns with similar measures reimposed in Wales.

Investigative group Bellingcat has said Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny tricked a Russian FSB state agent into revealing details of an attack on him with the nerve agent Novichok.

Just four days ago the Prime Minister had said it would be “inhuman” to cancel Christmas. But in his latest press conference, warning of a rapid spread of a new strain of the virus, in effect he did just that for London and the South East of England putting them into a new Tier 4.…

More than 300 Nigerian schoolboys kidnapped last week are being reunited with their families – apparently safe and well.

Senior Conservatives have condemned the threat as “irresponsible”

Authorities in many countries are split over how to let families meet up over Christmas – if at all.

The same sticking points remain over issues like fishing rights and governance.