inews--2020-04-21--My late husband would have been 66 this year, can I still claim half his pension?

My late husband would have been 66 this year , can I still claim half his pension ?
Ask Gareth : The good news is that , yes , you can inherit some of your late husband ’ s state pension , but it ’ s not as simple as getting half My husband passed away on 12 September 2014 , the day before his 60th birthday .
If he was still here he would be receiving a state pension in September of this year .
Am I eligible to claim half of it ?
June Lewis I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reaching pension age is a milestone that many couples celebrate – for lots of people , it signifies the end of your working life and new opportunities to explore in retirement .
So his upcoming birthday must be especially painful for you .
Your husband , born in 1954 , would have reached state pension age on 6 September 2020 at the age of 66 , so would have qualified for the “ new ” state pension .
Until April 2016 , state pension payments were primarily made up of the basic state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone that had built up at least 30 years ’ worth of National Insurance contributions ) and the additional state pension ( a top-up based on your earnings ) .
The additional state pension was made up of two schemes : state second pension and the state earnings-related pension scheme ( Serps ) .
The basic state pension is currently £134.25 a week ( £6,981 a year ) .
The maximum additional state pension you can get on top of that is £179.41 a week .
If you reach state pension age on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting point for calculating what you get is the “ full level ” of the new state pension , currently £175.20 a week .
You will get this if you have 35 years ’ worth of National Insurance contributions , but the name is confusing , because you could get more or less than this amount .
If the amount of additional state pension and basic state pension you built up under the old system is higher than the “ full level ” , you will get the higher amount .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working life when you paid reduced National Insurance ( because you were “ contracted out ” of the additional state pension to build up a bigger private pension ) , this will be deducted from the full level .
It is going to be decades until all of this complexity is completely removed from the system , and people in their sixties are grappling with the impact of merging the payments right now .
The annual state pension is £9,110 a year in the UK ( Photo : Getty ) The amount you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this mean for your inheritance rights ?
The good news is that , yes , you can inherit some of your late husband ’ s state pension , but it ’ s not as simple as getting half of his entire payment .
The Government ’ s rules state that if your spouse was due to collect their state pension on or after 6 April 2016 , but died before that date , you can inherit a percentage of their additional state pension that they have built up , based on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the type of additional pension they had built up .
Most people in your age group would have built up a combination of Serps and state second pension .
You can inherit up to 50 per cent of any state second pension your husband built up .
The percentage of Serps that can be inherited from men who were born after 6 October 1945 and women who were born after 6 July 1950 is also 50 per cent .
So , you can inherit 50 per cent of your husband ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be added to your own state pension when you collect it in 2022 .
Again , the maximum additional pension amount you can get is £179.41 per week .

Dear Gareth,
My husband passed away on 12 September 2014, the day before his 60th birthday. If he was still here he would be receiving a state pension in September of this year. Am I eligible to claim half of it? June Lewis
Gareth says…
I’m sorry for your loss, June. Reaching pension age is a milestone that many couples celebrate – for lots of people, it signifies the end of your working life and new opportunities to explore in retirement. So his upcoming birthday must be especially painful for you.
Your husband, born in 1954, would have reached state pension age on 6 September 2020 at the age of 66, so would have qualified for the “new” state pension. Until April 2016, state pension payments were primarily made up of the basic state pension (a flat amount paid to everyone that had built up at least 30 years’ worth of National Insurance contributions) and the additional state pension (a top-up based on your earnings).
The additional state pension was made up of two schemes: state second pension and the state earnings-related pension scheme (Serps). The basic state pension is currently £134.25 a week (£6,981 a year). The maximum additional state pension you can get on top of that is £179.41 a week.
This changed on 6 April 2016 when the new state pension was introduced which aimed to simplify the state pension and collapse the basic and additional state pension into a single payment.
The new system
If you reach state pension age on or after 6 April 2016, the starting point for calculating what you get is the “full level” of the new state pension, currently £175.20 a week. You will get this if you have 35 years’ worth of National Insurance contributions, but the name is confusing, because you could get more or less than this amount.
If the amount of additional state pension and basic state pension you built up under the old system is higher than the “full level”, you will get the higher amount. However, if you had a period of your working life when you paid reduced National Insurance (because you were “contracted out” of the additional state pension to build up a bigger private pension), this will be deducted from the full level.
It is going to be decades until all of this complexity is completely removed from the system, and people in their sixties are grappling with the impact of merging the payments right now.
The amount you can claim could vary
What does all of this mean for your inheritance rights? The good news is that, yes, you can inherit some of your late husband’s state pension, but it’s not as simple as getting half of his entire payment.
The Government’s rules state that if your spouse was due to collect their state pension on or after 6 April 2016, but died before that date, you can inherit a percentage of their additional state pension that they have built up, based on their date of birth and yours, as well as the type of additional pension they had built up.
Most people in your age group would have built up a combination of Serps and state second pension. You can inherit up to 50 per cent of any state second pension your husband built up. The percentage of Serps that can be inherited from men who were born after 6 October 1945 and women who were born after 6 July 1950 is also 50 per cent. So, you can inherit 50 per cent of your husband’s additional state pension, which will be added to your own state pension when you collect it in 2022. Again, the maximum additional pension amount you can get is £179.41 per week.
But there is a caveat. You cannot inherit your spouse’s additional state pension if you remarry before you reach state pension age. It’s worth checking your state pension forecast online.
And if you want information about how much additional state pension you might inherit, call the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.
Gareth Shaw is head of money at Which? To have your question featured, email business@inews.co.uk


inews--2020-04-21--Baby racks up £20 Deliveroo bill for one pack of onions on father's phone

Baby racks up £20 Deliveroo bill for one pack of onions on father 's phone One-year-old managed to make Deliveroo order while playing with father 's phone Baby Alice Mitchell-Johnson racked up a bill of £20 after she ordered a pack of onions on her father ’ s mobile phone .
The one-year-old was fiddling with the phone , as usual , when she managed to make a Deliveroo order for a pack of three onions from supermarket Morrisons .
But there was an additional small order fee of £13.50 , a delivery fee of £4.50 and a service fee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £19.99 .
Dad Jamie Mitchell , who tweeted about the incident , told The Sun : “ When I took it ( the phone ) off Alice it said your phone has been disabled and I had to wait a minute before I could use it .
“ When I looked at it again it said your Deliveroo order is on its way .
“ When it arrived it turned out to be a pack of three onions - so better than a single one.
” Mr Mitchell , from Peckham , south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emergency services in the past , when playing with his mobile .
So the 40-year-old was quite surprised to discover she had managed this time to shop instead .
“ I could n't believe my eyes when I saw what she 'd done ” , he said , `` But it turned out that we were out of onions - so maybe Alice knew - and I was n't going to let the opportunity go to waste so I cooked us a curry with lots of nice crispy onions on top.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alice 's dad £20 once delivery charges were included ( Photo : Getty ) Mr Mitchell , who lost his job in marketing earlier this year , said the onion incident had provided a moment of levity for him and his midwife partner Kirsty Johnson .
“ We 'd love to send you the rest of the ingredients for a meal and some deliveroo credit.
” The firm gave him a £50 credit voucher , leaving him three onions up and £30 better off , proving it pays not to know you are @ @ @

Baby Alice Mitchell-Johnson racked up a bill of £20 after she ordered a pack of onions on her father’s mobile phone.
The one-year-old was fiddling with the phone, as usual, when she managed to make a Deliveroo order for a pack of three onions from supermarket Morrisons.
The pack of three large, mild brown onions came to £1.50.
But there was an additional small order fee of £13.50, a delivery fee of £4.50 and a service fee of 49p which brought the total to £19.99.
Eye-watering price
Dad Jamie Mitchell, who tweeted about the incident, told The Sun: “When I took it (the phone) off Alice it said your phone has been disabled and I had to wait a minute before I could use it.
“When I looked at it again it said your Deliveroo order is on its way.
“When it arrived it turned out to be a pack of three onions – so better than a single one.”
Cry for attention?
Mr Mitchell, from Peckham, south London, admitted his daughter has called the emergency services in the past, when playing with his mobile.
So the 40-year-old was quite surprised to discover she had managed this time to shop instead.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what she’d done”, he said, “But it turned out that we were out of onions – so maybe Alice knew – and I wasn’t going to let the opportunity go to waste so I cooked us a curry with lots of nice crispy onions on top.”
Out of onions
Mr Mitchell, who lost his job in marketing earlier this year, said the onion incident had provided a moment of levity for him and his midwife partner Kirsty Johnson.
It has garnered more than 159,000 likes on Twitter.
And a response from Deliveroo, which tweeted: “Hey Jamie, this is so sweet!
“We’d love to send you the rest of the ingredients for a meal and some deliveroo credit.”
The firm gave him a £50 credit voucher, leaving him three onions up and £30 better off, proving it pays not to know you are ordering onions.


inews--2020-04-21--A Country Life For Half The Price, Channel 5, review: A rare triumph for a 'change your life' show

A Country Life For Half The Price , Channel 5 , review : A rare triumph for a 'change your life ' show These programmes usually end in tears , but Sam and Lucy Auger-Forbes really did improve their lives in the country Kate Humble has made the leap from city to country herself ( Photo : Channel 5 ) A Country Life For Half The Price with Kate Humble , Channel 5 , 9pm ★★★★ Having moved from Chiswick to the Wye Valley , Kate Humble knows all about swapping commuting and urban sprawl for the self-sustaining rural life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , A Country Life for Half the Price , has proven an unexpected treat – perhaps because we captive viewers are yearning to roam free in wide-open spaces – and this third episode ( of six ) was a hoot .
Her subjects were Sam and Lucy Auger-Forbes from Essex , plus three-year-old son Harvey .
Sick of spending half the day stuck in traffic and finding that their home was increasingly surrounded by huge new housing developments , they decided to head for the Suffolk coast .
Sam , an account manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try his luck as a “ rural entrepreneur ” .
Finding themselves £100,000 in credit after selling up and buying a new five-bedroom house , they began rearing chickens , keeping bees and breeding “ posh cats ” .
They were especially excited about Sam ’ s project to create a mini-wilderness in a four-acre plot of woodland , with wild trails and hides where nature photographers could snap local rarities like the hawfinch and various aerial predators for a modest £75 a day .
Often , these “ change your life ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt , but it mostly went like clockwork , even if a spate of violent storms held up their woodland project .
Humble was able to declare triumphantly that Sam and Lucy had indeed doubled their quality of life while saving a wad of cash .
Watch out Suffolk , we ’ ll all be coming for you soon .

A Country Life For Half The Price with Kate Humble, Channel 5, 9pm ★★★★
Having moved from Chiswick to the Wye Valley, Kate Humble knows all about swapping commuting and urban sprawl for the self-sustaining rural life. Her current series for Channel 5, A Country Life for Half the Price, has proven an unexpected treat – perhaps because we captive viewers are yearning to roam free in wide-open spaces – and this third episode (of six) was a hoot.
Her subjects were Sam and Lucy Auger-Forbes from Essex, plus three-year-old son Harvey. Sick of spending half the day stuck in traffic and finding that their home was increasingly surrounded by huge new housing developments, they decided to head for the Suffolk coast. Sam, an account manager for a medical company, wanted to try his luck as a “rural entrepreneur”.


inews--2020-04-21--The Truth About Amazon, Channel 4, review: Alarm bells were sounded with thorough research

The Truth About Amazon , Channel 4 , review : Alarm bells were sounded with thorough research The Supershoppers special uncovered the lack of quality control , fake reviews and the unclear pricing on the world 's most valuable website Amazon had already been declared the world ’ s most valuable public company before Covid-19 struck , but under the current stay-indoors regime , its online retailing and streaming entertainment services have been given an astronomical extra boost .
In the USA , surveys have shown Amazon to be more trusted than the government , the police and even Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good to be true ?
In this Supershoppers special , The Truth about Amazon , presenters Helen Skelton and Sabrina Grant set out to find the chinks in the mighty monolith , with concerning results .
For a start , they cautioned , beware the popular myth that it is automatically the cheapest place to shop .
It trades on convenience and its enormous variety of products ( 120 million of them , allegedly ) , but its advertised prices are carefully massaged .
Using apps such as Keepa or camelcamelcamel , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sudden price hike then allows Amazon to trumpet a dramatic discount .
Shoppers can also hit back by using Amazon ’ s own price-matching app to challenge high street retailers to undercut them .
Helen Skelton and Sabrina Grant took a closer look at the fake products available on Amazon ( Photo : Channel 4 ) But Amazon is probably growing too vast for its own good .
Its creepy “ virtual assistant ” Alexa is Big Sister-ism writ large , and may be recording and analysing far more of your household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control can fail to weed out sub-standard products ( we saw children ’ s toys that fall to bits , and apparently counterfeit cosmetics ) , and boilerplate assertions that policy violations won ’ t be tolerated seem miserably inadequate .
Nobody here te accused Amazon of breaking any laws , but , in the case of the plague of bogus reviews plastering its sites , it suggested they must be close to the line .
One devious “ black hat ” practice is for sellers to post so many fake five-star raves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspicious and shut it down .
This was well-researched and rang some urgent alarm bells .
It was enough to make you think twice before hitting that oh-so-tempting “ Buy now ” button .
As one customer put it , “ I ’ ve learned to not blindly trust Amazon ” .

The Truth About Amazon, Channel 4, 9pm ★★★★
Amazon had already been declared the world’s most valuable public company before Covid-19 struck, but under the current stay-indoors regime, its online retailing and streaming entertainment services have been given an astronomical extra boost. In the USA, surveys have shown Amazon to be more trusted than the government, the police and even Tom Hanks, but is it all too good to be true? In this Supershoppers special, The Truth about Amazon, presenters Helen Skelton and Sabrina Grant set out to find the chinks in the mighty monolith, with concerning results.
For a start, they cautioned, beware the popular myth that it is automatically the cheapest place to shop. It trades on convenience and its enormous variety of products (120 million of them, allegedly), but its advertised prices are carefully massaged.
Using apps such as Keepa or camelcamelcamel, you can track price fluctuations and see how a sudden price hike then allows Amazon to trumpet a dramatic discount. Shoppers can also hit back by using Amazon’s own price-matching app to challenge high street retailers to undercut them.
But Amazon is probably growing too vast for its own good. Its creepy “virtual assistant” Alexa is Big Sister-ism writ large, and may be recording and analysing far more of your household conversation than the company claims. Quality control can fail to weed out sub-standard products (we saw children’s toys that fall to bits, and apparently counterfeit cosmetics), and boilerplate assertions that policy violations won’t be tolerated seem miserably inadequate.
Nobody here te accused Amazon of breaking any laws, but, in the case of the plague of bogus reviews plastering its sites, it suggested they must be close to the line. One devious “black hat” practice is for sellers to post so many fake five-star raves under a rival product that algorithms get suspicious and shut it down.
This was well-researched and rang some urgent alarm bells. It was enough to make you think twice before hitting that oh-so-tempting “Buy now” button. As one customer put it, “I’ve learned to not blindly trust Amazon”.


inews--2020-04-21--Coronavirus: Patients 'turned away' from London's NHS Nightingale Hospital due to lack of nurses

Coronavirus : Patients 'turned away ' from London 's NHS Nightingale Hospital due to lack of nurses London 's Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel centre in Docklands , where there is reported to be a shortage of critical care nurses ( Photo : Getty ) Patients with Covid-19 are being turned away from the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London due to a lack of nurses , it has emerged .
The hospital has been unable to admit around 50 patients needing ‘ life or death ’ care , according to The Guardian , some because of a lack of staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that more than 30 planned transfers of patients from other London hospitals to the field hospital at the ExCel exhibition centre in east London had to be cancelled .
All of the patients were already believe to be on ventilators .
One staff member at the Nightingale told the paper : “ There are plenty of people working here , including plenty of doctors , but there aren ’ t enough critical-care nurses .
They are already working in other hospitals and being run ragged there .
“ There are not spare people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
That ’ s the problem .
That leads to patients having to be rejected because there aren ’ t enough critical-care nurses.
” Critical care nurses are reported to be in short supply at London 's Nightingale Hospital .
( Photo : Getty ) This latest development has raised questions about the role and future of the hospital , which on Monday was reported only to have treated 41 patients despite having capacity for 4,000 .
An NHS London spokesperson told the Guardian : “ The most important point about staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their care and expertise , patients in that hospital are being successfully treated , discharged and ultimately having their life saved .
“ There remains spare capacity in the critical care network across the capital to look after all coronavirus patients and others who need our care , and while it is incredibly reassuring for both staff and patients to have backup capacity at the Nightingale to alleviate pressure on ICU departments where needed , patients can be transferred to other hospitals in the city if they are better placed to receive them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case .
”

Patients with Covid-19 are being turned away from the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London due to a lack of nurses, it has emerged.
The hospital has been unable to admit around 50 patients needing ‘life or death’ care, according to The Guardian, some because of a lack of staff.
Documents seen by The Guardian suggested that more than 30 planned transfers of patients from other London hospitals to the field hospital at the ExCel exhibition centre in east London had to be cancelled. All of the patients were already believe to be on ventilators.
Lack of staff
One staff member at the Nightingale told the paper: “There are plenty of people working here, including plenty of doctors, but there aren’t enough critical-care nurses. They are already working in other hospitals and being run ragged there.
“There are not spare people [specialist nurses] around to do this. That’s the problem. That leads to patients having to be rejected because there aren’t enough critical-care nurses.”
Critical care nurses
It is alleged a further 20 patients were rejected for transfer on medical grounds.
This latest development has raised questions about the role and future of the hospital, which on Monday was reported only to have treated 41 patients despite having capacity for 4,000.
An NHS London spokesperson told the Guardian: “The most important point about staff at the Nightingale is that thanks to their care and expertise, patients in that hospital are being successfully treated, discharged and ultimately having their life saved.
“There remains spare capacity in the critical care network across the capital to look after all coronavirus patients and others who need our care, and while it is incredibly reassuring for both staff and patients to have backup capacity at the Nightingale to alleviate pressure on ICU departments where needed, patients can be transferred to other hospitals in the city if they are better placed to receive them at that time – as is always the case.”


inews--2020-04-21--Coronavirus lockdown: Testing reaches just one fifth of Government 100,000 daily target

Coronavirus lockdown : Testing reaches just one fifth of Government 100,000 daily target Earlier this week the Government announced that testing would be extended to other frontline workers The Government is “ absolutely ” sticking to its target of 100,000 tests for coronavirus every day by the end of the month , despite latest figures showing just a fifth of that amount are currently being carried out .
There are just nine days for the Government to increase testing capacity to the figure set by Health Secretary Matt Hancock at the beginning of April .
At the daily Downing Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s terrific that we have managed to increase capacity to over 39,000 tests per day which is higher than our planned trajectory.
” Earlier , Boris Johnson ’ s official spokesman said : “ We are absolutely standing by the target [ of 100,000 ] , we are increasing capacity , making sure it ’ s being used and that ’ s what ’ s being worked on.
” Matt Hancock addresses the public during the Downing Street briefing on Tuesday Yet the latest figures show that , despite capacity being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 19,316 , were carried out in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday .
Some 13,460 tests were carried out by NHS , Public Health England and devolved administration laboratories , while 5,856 tests were carried out by commercial firms at 27 drive-through sites .
No 10 said a total of 50 sites would be open by the end of April .
The Government ’ s explanation for why testing is only at 50 per cent capacity is unclear .
No 10 said : “ Spare capacity should be used to test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the increased capacity should also mean other critical care workers can get tests .
The Government has suggested a lack of demand is the problem .
“ Efforts are made to try to get more people to undergo tests , ” the Prime Minister ’ s official spokesman said .
The shortfall could be simply those NHS and care workers getting access to sites – particularly if they are too unwell or do not have a car to get to drive-through sites or are unable to go into work .
Current NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.3 per cent for doctors and 8.3 per cent for nurses – which have dropped since the start of the month but still mean tens of thousands of staff are off work .
This suggests that the issue is not a lack of demand but a failure of access .
No10 said the Care Quality Commission had contacted almost 25,000 care settings to offer testing , “ so we want the capacity to be used ” .
Downing Street also said that the Prime Minister had “ full confidence ” in Mr Hancock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Telegraph that sources close to No 10 had said there were questions inside Government about the Health Secretary ’ s ambitious 100,000 target .
The Government said there were no plans yet to offer tests to the general public ( Photo : Clive Brunskill/Getty ) Earlier this week the Government announced that testing would be extended to other frontline workers , but there a date for when this will be rolled out has not been revealed .
A second “ mega-lab ” to carry out the testing opened in Alderley Park , Cheshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily figures to 100,000 by the target date of next Thursday , 30 April .
There is capacity for nearly 40,000 coronavirus tests to be carried out every day , but only half that amount are being fulfilled .
Here is who is currently eligible for a test : The Government is also extending tests to the following people , but this has not yet been rolled out :

The Government is “absolutely” sticking to its target of 100,000 tests for coronavirus every day by the end of the month, despite latest figures showing just a fifth of that amount are currently being carried out.
There are just nine days for the Government to increase testing capacity to the figure set by Health Secretary Matt Hancock at the beginning of April.
At the daily Downing Street briefing, Mr Hancock said: “It’s terrific that we have managed to increase capacity to over 39,000 tests per day which is higher than our planned trajectory.”
Earlier, Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “We are absolutely standing by the target [of 100,000], we are increasing capacity, making sure it’s being used and that’s what’s being worked on.”
Downing Street stands by target
Yet the latest figures show that, despite capacity being at 39,250, around half that amount, 19,316, were carried out in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday. Some 13,460 tests were carried out by NHS, Public Health England and devolved administration laboratories, while 5,856 tests were carried out by commercial firms at 27 drive-through sites. No 10 said a total of 50 sites would be open by the end of April.
The Government’s explanation for why testing is only at 50 per cent capacity is unclear. No 10 said: “Spare capacity should be used to test NHS care staff and families,” while the increased capacity should also mean other critical care workers can get tests. The Government has suggested a lack of demand is the problem.
“Efforts are made to try to get more people to undergo tests,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said. The shortfall could be simply those NHS and care workers getting access to sites – particularly if they are too unwell or do not have a car to get to drive-through sites or are unable to go into work.
Current NHS staff absence rates due to Covid-19 are 4.3 per cent for doctors and 8.3 per cent for nurses – which have dropped since the start of the month but still mean tens of thousands of staff are off work. This suggests that the issue is not a lack of demand but a failure of access. No10 said the Care Quality Commission had contacted almost 25,000 care settings to offer testing, “so we want the capacity to be used”.
Downing Street also said that the Prime Minister had “full confidence” in Mr Hancock, following a report in The Daily Telegraph that sources close to No 10 had said there were questions inside Government about the Health Secretary’s ambitious 100,000 target.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said the story was “wrong”.
Testing extended
Earlier this week the Government announced that testing would be extended to other frontline workers, but there a date for when this will be rolled out has not been revealed.
These groups include emergency workers like police officers and firefighters, as well as frontline benefits staff, people working with vulnerable children and adults, and prison officers.
A second “mega-lab” to carry out the testing opened in Alderley Park, Cheshire, which officials hope will ramp up the daily figures to 100,000 by the target date of next Thursday, 30 April.
The Government said there were no plans yet to offer tests to the general public.
Coronavirus testing — Who is eligible?
There is capacity for nearly 40,000 coronavirus tests to be carried out every day, but only half that amount are being fulfilled. Here is who is currently eligible for a test:
Patients with coronavirus symptoms in hospital
NHS and social care staff, including hospital, community and primary care workers, as well as support staff and volunteers
Police, fire and rescue service workers
Local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children, adults and victims of domestic abuse, as well as people working with homeless and rough sleepers
Defence workers, prison officers and probation staff, as well as judiciary
Frontline benefits workers
The Government is also extending tests to the following people, but this has not yet been rolled out:


inews--2020-04-21--Coronavirus in the UK: Dentists facing 'critical shortage' of PPE, with some using scuba diving gear

Coronavirus in the UK : Dentists facing 'critical shortage ' of PPE , with some using scuba diving gear Dentists say PPE is vital as they can be as close as 20cm from patients ' mouths when giving treatment A survey by the British Dental Association ( BDA ) found more than half of dentists ( 54 per cent ) reported shortages in protective gear had affected their ability to treat patients ( Photo : Peter Macdiarmid/Getty ) A survey by the British Dental Association ( BDA ) found more than half of dentists ( 54 per cent ) reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to treat patients at the newly created Urgent Dental Care ( UDC ) centres across England .
A further 58 per cent of dentists said they do not feel fully protected at the sites where they were working , nearly two-thirds of dentists reported shortages of FFP3 masks and gowns and up to a third of the UDC centres remained inactive .
Staff wearing PPE of gloves and face masks , as a preactionary measure against COVID-19 , disinfect an ambulance ( Photo : Getty ) The centres were established to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dental practices were told to halt face-to-face services on 25 March to slow the spread of coronavirus .
But dental staff surveyed at the new UDC hubs said masks and gowns are in short supply to the point some in the South East are exploring alternative sources of PPE , such as scuba masks , while sites in the East Midlands reported kit being requisitioned for use elsewhere in the health service .
Dentists say PPE is vital as they can be as close as 20cm from patients ' mouths when giving treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracting and spreading Covid-19 .
BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said : “ Many dentists have been redeployed , only to find their hands tied by a critical shortage of kit , and delays in training and fit-testing .
“ Patients are taking matters into their own hands , while desperate colleagues shop around for scuba gear in a bid to keep themselves safe .
One man from Axminster in Devon said he resorted to pulling out his own tooth the pain was so bad over the Easter holiday .
Aircraft fitter Billy Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I phoned my dentist .
They said they 're closed and will put me on an emergency waiting list , but they 're not sure how long it would take to see me .

A “critical shortage” of personal protective equipment (PPE) for dentists has seen some turn to scuba diving gear for protection while patients have resorted to taking out their own teeth.
A survey by the British Dental Association (BDA) found more than half of dentists (54 per cent) reported shortages in protective gear had affected their ability to treat patients at the newly created Urgent Dental Care (UDC) centres across England.
A further 58 per cent of dentists said they do not feel fully protected at the sites where they were working, nearly two-thirds of dentists reported shortages of FFP3 masks and gowns and up to a third of the UDC centres remained inactive.
Emergency dental treatment
The centres were established to provide emergency dental treatment for patients after local dental practices were told to halt face-to-face services on 25 March to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Chief dental officer for England Sara Hurley said 219 centres were open and each has “relevant PPE”.
But dental staff surveyed at the new UDC hubs said masks and gowns are in short supply to the point some in the South East are exploring alternative sources of PPE, such as scuba masks, while sites in the East Midlands reported kit being requisitioned for use elsewhere in the health service.
Dentists say PPE is vital as they can be as close as 20cm from patients’ mouths when giving treatment, putting them at high risk of contracting and spreading Covid-19.
‘Critical shortage of kit’
BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said: “Many dentists have been redeployed, only to find their hands tied by a critical shortage of kit, and delays in training and fit-testing.
“Patients are taking matters into their own hands, while desperate colleagues shop around for scuba gear in a bid to keep themselves safe.
“It is time for a genuinely national effort to get PPE to the NHS front line.”
One man from Axminster in Devon said he resorted to pulling out his own tooth the pain was so bad over the Easter holiday.
Aircraft fitter Billy Taylor, 33, told the BBC: “I phoned my dentist. They said they’re closed and will put me on an emergency waiting list, but they’re not sure how long it would take to see me.
“The pain was absolutely excruciating so I thought I’d take it into my own hands.”
He spent an hour and half extracting his own molar, a measure not recommended by dentists.


inews--2020-04-21--Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe allowed a second month out of prison in Iran due to coronavirus pandemic

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe allowed a second month out of prison in Iran due to coronavirus pandemic The mother of one has been allowed to talk to family for up to five hours a day The British-Iranian mother was freed from Evin prison in Tehran on 17 March in response to the Covid-19 pandemic , along with about 85,000 other prisoners .
The former aid worker from north London had been due to return to prison over the weekend , but her family said she has been given a reprieve to remain at her parents ' house in the country 's capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to spend as much as five hours a day chatting with her family since her release from an Iranian jail , her husband has said .
The dual citizen must still wear a tag on her ankle monitoring her location ; something other released prisoners have not been required to abide by .
Richard Ratcliffe , husband of British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe jailed in Tehran since 2016 ( Photo : Getty ) Downing Street has called on the Iranian authorities to use the opportunity to allow the 42-year-old to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radio 5 Live , Richard Ratcliffe said : `` Nazanin was out for three days back in summer of 2018 and we had a couple of calls then , but it was so tense and so uncertain and they were being harassed all the time .
This is a lot more normal . ''
`` We have been complaining about the prosaic of home schooling and normal parenting - it 's been nice to muddle our way through that together , '' he told the Emma Barnett Show .
`` It 's funny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing her on a Skype screen and being able to talk to her late at night and early in the morning .
It 's lovely . ''
Gabriella Ratcliffe , the daughter of the jailed British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ( Photo : Getty ) Mr Ratcliffe said their five-year-old daughter , Gabriella , had taken time to get used to seeing her mother again on such a frequent basis .
`` Gabriella was a bit disorientated when Nazanin first came out as to why she had n't come to the UK - why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but gone to granny 's house ( in Iran ) , '' he added .
`` She would be very happy to speak to her , but then have a meltdown after every phone call .
One of the ways she 'd been coping was not really talking to grandparents or mum in prison .
`` But that 's melted away , she has suddenly become a lot happier to share and engage .
It 's not all been plain sailing but I think it 's beginning to feel a bit more human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe , arrives with mother Barbara Ratcliffe and daughter Gabriella Ratcliffe ( Photo : Getty ) Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's official spokesman said : `` Our position on Nazanin is that she should not be in prison at all and that she should be allowed to return to the UK to be with her family .
We have repeatedly raised her case with the Iranian authorities and will continue to do so . ''

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been permitted a second month out of prison in Iran.
The British-Iranian mother was freed from Evin prison in Tehran on 17 March in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, along with about 85,000 other prisoners.
The former aid worker from north London had been due to return to prison over the weekend, but her family said she has been given a reprieve to remain at her parents’ house in the country’s capital until 20 May.
She has been able to spend as much as five hours a day chatting with her family since her release from an Iranian jail, her husband has said.
The dual citizen must still wear a tag on her ankle monitoring her location; something other released prisoners have not been required to abide by.
Calls for return to Britain
Downing Street has called on the Iranian authorities to use the opportunity to allow the 42-year-old to return to the UK permanently.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Richard Ratcliffe said: “Nazanin was out for three days back in summer of 2018 and we had a couple of calls then, but it was so tense and so uncertain and they were being harassed all the time. This is a lot more normal.”
“We have been complaining about the prosaic of home schooling and normal parenting – it’s been nice to muddle our way through that together,” he told the Emma Barnett Show.
“It’s funny how quickly that almost becomes normal again seeing her on a Skype screen and being able to talk to her late at night and early in the morning. It’s lovely.”
Daughter’s confusion about release
Mr Ratcliffe said their five-year-old daughter, Gabriella, had taken time to get used to seeing her mother again on such a frequent basis.
“Gabriella was a bit disorientated when Nazanin first came out as to why she hadn’t come to the UK – why had she not come to our house but gone to granny’s house (in Iran),” he added.
“She would be very happy to speak to her, but then have a meltdown after every phone call. One of the ways she’d been coping was not really talking to grandparents or mum in prison.
“But that’s melted away, she has suddenly become a lot happier to share and engage. It’s not all been plain sailing but I think it’s beginning to feel a bit more human again.”
‘Make it permanent’
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport while taking her young daughter to see her parents in April 2016.
The mother-of-one was sentenced to five years in prison, accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, which she denies.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s MP, Tulip Siddiq, tweeted on Tuesday morning: “Very happy to hear from Richard Ratcliffe that Nazanin’s furlough has been extended for a month – in line with other prisoners in Iran.”
The Labour MP added: “Now is the time for our Government to do all it can to make it permanent.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “Our position on Nazanin is that she should not be in prison at all and that she should be allowed to return to the UK to be with her family. We have repeatedly raised her case with the Iranian authorities and will continue to do so.”


inews--2020-04-21--Oil price explained: What negative prices mean for climate change and greenhouse gas emissions

Oil price explained : What negative prices mean for climate change and greenhouse gas emissions 'It ’ s a good time to introduce a tax on fossil fuels ' government climate adviser says Jaws dropped across the financial world when oil prices dropped into the negative for the first time ever .
On Monday the futures price for a barrel of Texas crude fell to minus $ 37 a barrel .
The dramatic turn of events is the result of a perfect storm for the oil industry .
A price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia has led to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just as demand for crude slumped due to the coronavirus lockdowns across the world .
That has left storage facilities full , and many oil producers facing an uncertain future .
A Bloomberg journalist put it well : “ Either the pandemic or the price war by itself would have rocked the energy markets .
Together they have turned them upside down.
” Although prices are now back in the black , most analysts expect oil to remain cheap for a while yet .
Low oil prices could provide a “ good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuels , ” according to Chris Stark , CEO of the government ’ s climate advisers the Committee on Climate Change .
Lower wholesale prices could give politicians the cover to artificially hike the cost of polluting products , he said , putting the UK on the right track for longer term decarbonisation .
Meanwhile , investors spooked by the volatility of oil prices could flock to invest in wind and solar farms , which provide low but steady returns .
That could accelerate the global switch to green power .
Companies like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ambitious climate targets will start “ moving and transitioning towards net zero infrastructure projects ” , Stark predicted during a Green Alliance webinar today .
This could be the moment that “ disruptive renewables… take all the growth ” , agreed Kingsmill Bond , new energy strategist at analyst house Carbon Tracker .
“ It is very hard fossil fuels to compete with renewable energy when renewables are on learning curves , ” he told i .
But if governments don ’ t use the oil price slump as an opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , green power and clean heat , the world will soon return to business as usual , warned Lorne Stockman of Oil Change International .
“ With no clear plan for using stimulus funds to make bold job-creating steps toward decarbonisation , the demand for fossil fuels will return with low prices stoking the fire even hotter , ” he said .

Jaws dropped across the financial world when oil prices dropped into the negative for the first time ever. On Monday the futures price for a barrel of Texas crude fell to minus $37 a barrel.
The dramatic turn of events is the result of a perfect storm for the oil industry. A price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia has led to a glut of cheap oil on global markets, just as demand for crude slumped due to the coronavirus lockdowns across the world.
That has left storage facilities full, and many oil producers facing an uncertain future. A Bloomberg journalist put it well: “Either the pandemic or the price war by itself would have rocked the energy markets. Together they have turned them upside down.”
Although prices are now back in the black, most analysts expect oil to remain cheap for a while yet.
A good time to tax
Low oil prices could provide a “good time to introduce a tax on fossil fuels,” according to Chris Stark, CEO of the government’s climate advisers the Committee on Climate Change. Lower wholesale prices could give politicians the cover to artificially hike the cost of polluting products, he said, putting the UK on the right track for longer term decarbonisation.
Green power boost
Meanwhile, investors spooked by the volatility of oil prices could flock to invest in wind and solar farms, which provide low but steady returns. That could accelerate the global switch to green power.
Companies like BP and Shell which have already committed to ambitious climate targets will start “moving and transitioning towards net zero infrastructure projects”, Stark predicted during a Green Alliance webinar today.
This could be the moment that “disruptive renewables… take all the growth”, agreed Kingsmill Bond, new energy strategist at analyst house Carbon Tracker. “It is very hard fossil fuels to compete with renewable energy when renewables are on learning curves,” he told i.
Uncertain future
But if governments don’t use the oil price slump as an opportunity to roll out low-carbon infrastructure like electric cars, green power and clean heat, the world will soon return to business as usual, warned Lorne Stockman of Oil Change International.
“With no clear plan for using stimulus funds to make bold job-creating steps toward decarbonisation, the demand for fossil fuels will return with low prices stoking the fire even hotter,” he said.


inews--2020-04-21--Lavender and olive imports halted to curb plant disease — here’s what you can plant instead

Lavender and olive imports halted to curb plant disease — here ’ s what you can plant instead Rules to prevent the spread of a plant-killing infection come into force in the UK Gardeners eyeing a new lavender bush or olive tree might be left disappointed this summer – even if garden centres reopen – after the Government tightened plant import rules to prevent the spread of a plant-killing bacteria .
Xylella fastidiosa has devastated olive groves in Italy and Spain since its arrival in Europe in 2013 .
Once a plant is infected , bacteria prevents water travelling from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wilt and die back .
Fears it could reach the UK prompted Defra to tighten restrictions on a host of popular plants coming from the EU , including olive trees and lavender .
Imports of coffee plants and the myrtle-leaf milkwort - or sweet pea bush - are now completely banned .
Olive groves across Europe have been devastated by the disease ( Photo : GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty ) The potential damage xylella could cause in the UK means the new rules have won the backing of the Royal Horticultural Society ( RHS ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the availability of certain plants in the UK .
“ Xylella ... would be so damaging if it came to the UK that we do need these regulations to protect us , ” Gerard Clover , the body ’ s head of plant health , told i. Dr Clover is also involved in the UK research initiative called BRIGIT , designed to monitor the Xylella pathogen .
He stressed the public should not be buying plants from overseas sellers , and advised gardeners to speak to their local nursery to find out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lavender is loved by bees - but Russian sage makes a good alternative ( Photo : Leon Neal/Getty ) What to plant instead So what should gardeners plant if they can ’ t get hold of olive trees or lavender shrubs ?
Try a pomegranate or a weeping silver pear in place of an olive tree , Dr Clover said .
Alternatively , a eucalyptus has similar colouring to an olive tree and is easy to grow , suggested Danny Clarke , garden designer and BBC presenter .
“ You can put it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and you can also display branches in a vase , ” he told i .
Meanwhile the scented Russian sage plant is a great substitute for lavender .
“ You can plant it like you would lavender along the side of paths .
It looks great planted as a block , ” Mr Clarke added .
“ And in the winter when the leaves drop you get the bonus of the nice white stem.
” But when in doubt plant grasses , according to Mr Clarke .
“ That is a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ They look great and they just partner virtually every other plant brilliantly well .
They just go with anything .
”

Gardeners eyeing a new lavender bush or olive tree might be left disappointed this summer – even if garden centres reopen – after the Government tightened plant import rules to prevent the spread of a plant-killing bacteria.
Xylella fastidiosa has devastated olive groves in Italy and Spain since its arrival in Europe in 2013. Once a plant is infected, bacteria prevents water travelling from roots to leaves, causing leaves to wilt and die back.
Fears it could reach the UK prompted Defra to tighten restrictions on a host of popular plants coming from the EU, including olive trees and lavender. Imports of coffee plants and the myrtle-leaf milkwort – or sweet pea bush – are now completely banned.
Industry backing
The potential damage xylella could cause in the UK means the new rules have won the backing of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), even though they will severely restrict the availability of certain plants in the UK. “Xylella… would be so damaging if it came to the UK that we do need these regulations to protect us,” Gerard Clover, the body’s head of plant health, told i.
Dr Clover is also involved in the UK research initiative called BRIGIT, designed to monitor the Xylella pathogen. He stressed the public should not be buying plants from overseas sellers, and advised gardeners to speak to their local nursery to find out a plant’s origin before buying.
What to plant instead
So what should gardeners plant if they can’t get hold of olive trees or lavender shrubs? Try a pomegranate or a weeping silver pear in place of an olive tree, Dr Clover said.
Alternatively, a eucalyptus has similar colouring to an olive tree and is easy to grow, suggested Danny Clarke, garden designer and BBC presenter. “You can put it in your garden and it looks great, and you can also display branches in a vase,” he told i.
Meanwhile the scented Russian sage plant is a great substitute for lavender. “You can plant it like you would lavender along the side of paths. It looks great planted as a block,” Mr Clarke added. “And in the winter when the leaves drop you get the bonus of the nice white stem.”
But when in doubt plant grasses, according to Mr Clarke. “That is a great alternative for any plant,” he said. “They look great and they just partner virtually every other plant brilliantly well. They just go with anything.”


inews--2020-04-21--Coronavirus lockdown: West End of 100 years ago offers a glimpse of what audiences can expect in the

Coronavirus lockdown: West End of 100 years ago offers a glimpse of what audiences can expect in theatreland once the pandemic is over

Coronavirus lockdown : West End of 100 years ago offers a glimpse of what audiences can expect in theatreland once the pandemic is over In 1918-19 , London ’ s West End theatres didn ’ t close despite the virus , and some megahit shows continued their successful wartime runs What will theatre be like after the lockdown is over ?
With the announcement that the musical Waitress will not be reopening , and that 4000 Miles , Timothée Chalamet ’ s London debut , has been postponed indefinitely , the West End may be a different place after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transform – and what trends will take over in the virus ’ s wake ?
Perhaps looking to the past offers some clues .
One hundred years , to be exact , when the great Spanish influenza pandemic , which claimed the lives of more than 50 million people – 228,000 of them Britons – finally spluttered out .
In 1918-19 , London ’ s West End theatres didn ’ t close despite the virus , and some megahit shows continued their successful wartime runs .
The biggest success was Oscar Asche ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comedy , which ran for more than five years from 1916 and whose eventual score of 2,238 performances doubled the previous record .
It was a version of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves , with Asche starring as Abu Hassan , leader of the Baghdad baddies .
Its Arabian Nights orientalism exploited the vogue , inspired by Gilbert and Sullivan ’ s The Mikado , for exotic costumes and settings , and today feels like an imperialist fantasy .
Because very few theatres took precautions against the pandemic , some performers – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hall star Harry Champion , for example , was suddenly taken sick during a performance .
And he was not a unique case .
Because medical knowledge was poor , there was no social distancing .
The authorities merely suggested “ thoroughly ” ventilating theatres during the show ’ s interval , clearing out the audience to “ flush the building with fresh air throughout absolutely ” .
A report by The Stage newspaper noted that some local authorities demanded better ventilation and disinfection of venues .
Oscar Asche in a stage production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Photo : Hulton Archive ) In times of such stress , the best antidote is fun .
West End theatre in the 1920s responded to war and pandemic by offering serotonin-producing musicals .
For example , the hugely popular Gaiety shows , first staged in Edwardian times , were revived .
They involved pop songs , frenetic dancing and stories about initially improper but ultimately decent single women .
W J Macqueen-Pope , a West End publicist , noted that audiences wanted “ bright lights , warmth ” , and no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values ” .
One of Chu Chin Chow ’ s attractions was the chorus of scantily clad “ slave girls ” .
Two genres in particular flourished in the Roaring Twenties .
The first was farce : the Aldwych farces , often scripted by Ben Travers , began in 1923 , and delighted audiences with their images of posh types portrayed as “ blithering idiots ” , “ silly asses ” or “ corrupt bourgeoisie ” , while other characters included “ lower-class worms ” or “ dumb ” females .
Then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the leap from page to stage .
A typical example is the 1920 theatre version of The Young Visiters , Daisy Ashford ’ s charming child ’ s-eye view of Edwardian adult life , whose easy nostalgia offered a welcome escape from the realities of the First World War and pandemic .
But perhaps because this 1919 book ’ s chief delight is its ironically erratic grammar and amusing misspellings , which can ’ t be transferred to theatre , the show was not a big success .
More serious classics were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of a long career , played the title role in Euripides ’ s Medea with explosive passion at the Holborn Empire .
Apparently , she completely sympathised with the tragic protagonist who was forced to kill her children , and was quoted as saying , “ I don ’ t believe in complete evil .
I think in a way Medea was completely justified.
” Her lover Jason had given her “ the most terrible time ” .
Sounds like # MeToo avant la lettre .
Some male theatre-makers , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bemoaned the fact that Flappers , young and independent Jazz Age women , had invaded West End theatres , but this new female audience would be lucky to catch the comparatively few plays by women such as Dodie Smith or Clemence Dane , and were more likely to see shows by men .
The more adventurous might see a play , Our Ostriches , by the birth-control campaigner Marie Stopes ; the more traditional watch Edith Evans in Restoration drama ; the more fun-loving a revue from producer CB Cochran .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s jungle .
George Bernard Shaw premiered his Chekhovian Heartbreak House in 1920 and scandalous Mrs Warren ’ s Profession , about pimping and prostitution in 1926 .
Meanwhile , Noël Coward and Ivor Novello were at the start of their careers , with the former ’ s The Vortex shocking audiences in 1924 with its story about sex and drugs .
Coward was the era ’ s “ angry young man ” .
Notably , London theatre remained insular , blithely unaffected by European avant-garde currents such as Expressionism or Surrealism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also about big names , forgotten shows .
JM Barrie , loved by millions for Peter Pan ( 1904 ) , premiered his Mary Rose , a drama about a girl who disappears for 25 years , only to return completely unaware of where she ’ s been .
For Barrie the show had great psychological significance : as a boy he was left-handed but his parents had forced him to use his right hand .
While writing Mary Rose , his right hand became intolerably painful and he used his left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The play also offered comfort to those who had lost loved ones to war and flu .
Given the popularity of fun shows in adverse social and psychological conditions , London theatre after today ’ s lockdown is over will probably see long-running crowd-pleasers like Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera resuming their runs , while some shows might not survive .
Missing you : Lucy Jones and David Hunter in Waitress , which will not be re-opening in the West End after lockdown ( Photo : Johan Persson ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black , plays that do show their age , still keep going ?
Will a fresh musical , Disney ’ s The Prince of Egypt , be the new Chu Chin Chow ?
It ’ s probably a safe bet to assume that new musicals as well as old will continue , but likewise that farces , thrillers and revues will stay where they ’ ve ended up : on TV , film and in stand-up .
What theatre will need is to give punters a reason to embrace live performance after adjusting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham ’ s Quiz , which opened in the West End before its recent incarnation on ITV , offers a way forward : every night during its 2018 run , audiences had to vote on whether the “ coughing major ” was guilty .
Such participation might become more frequent ; if not , a star-studded cast in a familiar play is a reliable draw .
And people will probably crave more feel-good shows .
Anything that distracts us from the gloom .

What will theatre be like after the lockdown is over? With the announcement that the musical Waitress will not be reopening, and that 4000 Miles, Timothée Chalamet’s London debut, has been postponed indefinitely, the West End may be a different place after the pandemic passes.
How will the landscape transform – and what trends will take over in the virus’s wake? Perhaps looking to the past offers some clues. One hundred years, to be exact, when the great Spanish influenza pandemic, which claimed the lives of more than 50 million people – 228,000 of them Britons – finally spluttered out.
In 1918-19, London’s West End theatres didn’t close despite the virus, and some megahit shows continued their successful wartime runs. The biggest success was Oscar Asche’s Chu Chin Chow, a musical comedy, which ran for more than five years from 1916 and whose eventual score of 2,238 performances doubled the previous record. It was a version of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, with Asche starring as Abu Hassan, leader of the Baghdad baddies. Its Arabian Nights orientalism exploited the vogue, inspired by Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, for exotic costumes and settings, and today feels like an imperialist fantasy.
Because very few theatres took precautions against the pandemic, some performers – frontline entertainers – suffered. The music hall star Harry Champion, for example, was suddenly taken sick during a performance. And he was not a unique case. Because medical knowledge was poor, there was no social distancing. The authorities merely suggested “thoroughly” ventilating theatres during the show’s interval, clearing out the audience to “flush the building with fresh air throughout absolutely”. A report by The Stage newspaper noted that some local authorities demanded better ventilation and disinfection of venues.
In times of such stress, the best antidote is fun. West End theatre in the 1920s responded to war and pandemic by offering serotonin-producing musicals. For example, the hugely popular Gaiety shows, first staged in Edwardian times, were revived. They involved pop songs, frenetic dancing and stories about initially improper but ultimately decent single women. W J Macqueen-Pope, a West End publicist, noted that audiences wanted “bright lights, warmth”, and no longer cared so much about “acceptable moral values”. One of Chu Chin Chow’s attractions was the chorus of scantily clad “slave girls”.
Two genres in particular flourished in the Roaring Twenties. The first was farce: the Aldwych farces, often scripted by Ben Travers, began in 1923, and delighted audiences with their images of posh types portrayed as “blithering idiots”, “silly asses” or “corrupt bourgeoisie”, while other characters included “lower-class worms” or “dumb” females.
The other genre was thrillers, a mix of Grand Guignol and American hard-boiled crime sensibility, with Sapper’s Bulldog Drummond in 1921 leading the way, followed by Edgar Wallace’s mystery dramas and eventually by Patrick Hamilton’s Rope and Gaslight, both of which are still resonant today.
Then, as now, a popular novel could make the leap from page to stage. A typical example is the 1920 theatre version of The Young Visiters, Daisy Ashford’s charming child’s-eye view of Edwardian adult life, whose easy nostalgia offered a welcome escape from the realities of the First World War and pandemic. But perhaps because this 1919 book’s chief delight is its ironically erratic grammar and amusing misspellings, which can’t be transferred to theatre, the show was not a big success.
More serious classics were also popular: Sybil Thorndike, near the start of a long career, played the title role in Euripides’s Medea with explosive passion at the Holborn Empire. Apparently, she completely sympathised with the tragic protagonist who was forced to kill her children, and was quoted as saying, “I don’t believe in complete evil. I think in a way Medea was completely justified.” Her lover Jason had given her “the most terrible time”. Sounds like #MeToo avant la lettre.
Some male theatre-makers, such as playwright and critic St John Ervine, bemoaned the fact that Flappers, young and independent Jazz Age women, had invaded West End theatres, but this new female audience would be lucky to catch the comparatively few plays by women such as Dodie Smith or Clemence Dane, and were more likely to see shows by men. The more adventurous might see a play, Our Ostriches, by the birth-control campaigner Marie Stopes; the more traditional watch Edith Evans in Restoration drama; the more fun-loving a revue from producer CB Cochran.
Some big beasts were also stirring in Theatreland’s jungle. George Bernard Shaw premiered his Chekhovian Heartbreak House in 1920 and scandalous Mrs Warren’s Profession, about pimping and prostitution in 1926. Meanwhile, Noël Coward and Ivor Novello were at the start of their careers, with the former’s The Vortex shocking audiences in 1924 with its story about sex and drugs. Coward was the era’s “angry young man”. Notably, London theatre remained insular, blithely unaffected by European avant-garde currents such as Expressionism or Surrealism.
In the 1920s, the story was also about big names, forgotten shows. JM Barrie, loved by millions for Peter Pan (1904), premiered his Mary Rose, a drama about a girl who disappears for 25 years, only to return completely unaware of where she’s been. For Barrie the show had great psychological significance: as a boy he was left-handed but his parents had forced him to use his right hand. While writing Mary Rose, his right hand became intolerably painful and he used his left for the first time in 50 years. The play also offered comfort to those who had lost loved ones to war and flu.
Given the popularity of fun shows in adverse social and psychological conditions, London theatre after today’s lockdown is over will probably see long-running crowd-pleasers like Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera resuming their runs, while some shows might not survive.
Can The Mousetrap and The Woman in Black, plays that do show their age, still keep going? Will a fresh musical, DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt, be the new Chu Chin Chow? It’s probably a safe bet to assume that new musicals as well as old will continue, but likewise that farces, thrillers and revues will stay where they’ve ended up: on TV, film and in stand-up.
What theatre will need is to give punters a reason to embrace live performance after adjusting to watching at home. Maybe James Graham’s Quiz, which opened in the West End before its recent incarnation on ITV, offers a way forward: every night during its 2018 run, audiences had to vote on whether the “coughing major” was guilty. Such participation might become more frequent; if not, a star-studded cast in a familiar play is a reliable draw. And people will probably crave more feel-good shows. Anything that distracts us from the gloom.
But what about new plays that help us understand the present? If interwar British theatre had to wait until 1928 to see R C Sherriff’s Journey’s End, an outstanding account of the First World War whose cast included a young Laurence Olivier, perhaps we too will have to wait a decade to get a popular and profound play about the coronavirus.


inews--2020-04-21--Coronavirus latest: Britain is 'international outlier' on wearing face masks in public as only large

Coronavirus latest: Britain is 'international outlier' on wearing face masks in public as only large country in West which doesn't recommend them

Coronavirus latest : Britain is 'international outlier ' on wearing face masks in public as only large country in West which does n't recommend them Exclusive : Every other large country in Europe and North America is recommending the use of face masks for the general public Britain is now an `` international outlier '' on the wearing of face masks in public , ministers have been warned as Government advisers weigh up changing the official advice .
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) met on Tuesday to discuss whether they should tell Britons to cover their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not yet reported back to 10 Downing Street and will meet again on Thursday .
Senior scientists in Britain currently say that only medical professionals need to wear masks , amid warnings that the NHS could be damaged if the country 's supply of masks runs low thanks to increased demand from the general public .
The UK is now the only large country in the West whose government does not officially recommend the use of masks to try and stop the spread of coronavirus .
Polls show Britons are much less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cover their face when they go out in public .
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been lobbying ministers to tell the public they should cover their face with a scarf or other form of fabric .
He told i : `` Major global cities such as Los Angeles and New York are now asking residents to wear non-medical face coverings when making essential trips and Angela Merkel has strongly recommended people wear masks while shopping and using public transport in Germany .
`` I am increasingly concerned that the UK is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why I am calling on the Government to change the guidance around people wearing non-medical face coverings on public transport and other places where they can ’ t socially distance . ''
Sadiq Khan has been lobbying the Government ( Photo : Peter Summers/Getty ) Asked about the issue at the daily Downing Street press conference , Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted he would be `` advised by the science '' .
Jonathan Van Tam , the Deputy Chief Medical Officer , said that `` advice will go to ministers in due course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be `` a line we are not going to cross in any circumstances '' .
Recent polling by YouGov found that only 11 per cent of people in the UK were routinely wearing a mask , compared to 85 per cent in Spain , 65 per cent in Italy , 49 per cent in the US and 43 per cent in France .
Face coverings are compulsory in a number of European countries including Belgium , Austria and Poland and are strongly advised in nearly every other Western state , while they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Hopson of NHS Providers warned that promoting the wearing of masks among the British public could harm the health service by disrupting the supply of equipment needed in the health service .
He said : `` Securing the supply of masks , when there is huge global demand , is crucial .
This must be a key consideration for Government .
`` There needs to be clear evidence that wearing masks , along with other measures , will deliver significant enough benefits to take us out of lockdown to potentially jeopardise NHS @ @ @ @

Britain is now an “international outlier” on the wearing of face masks in public, ministers have been warned as Government advisers weigh up changing the official advice.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) met on Tuesday to discuss whether they should tell Britons to cover their face when they go out. They have not yet reported back to 10 Downing Street and will meet again on Thursday.
Senior scientists in Britain currently say that only medical professionals need to wear masks, amid warnings that the NHS could be damaged if the country’s supply of masks runs low thanks to increased demand from the general public.
The UK is now the only large country in the West whose government does not officially recommend the use of masks to try and stop the spread of coronavirus. Polls show Britons are much less likely than residents of most other countries to cover their face when they go out in public.
Left out
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been lobbying ministers to tell the public they should cover their face with a scarf or other form of fabric. He told i: “Major global cities such as Los Angeles and New York are now asking residents to wear non-medical face coverings when making essential trips and Angela Merkel has strongly recommended people wear masks while shopping and using public transport in Germany.
“I am increasingly concerned that the UK is now an international outlier. That is why I am calling on the Government to change the guidance around people wearing non-medical face coverings on public transport and other places where they can’t socially distance.”
Asked about the issue at the daily Downing Street press conference, Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted he would be “advised by the science”. Jonathan Van Tam, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said that “advice will go to ministers in due course” but added that protecting the NHS would be “a line we are not going to cross in any circumstances”.
Recent polling by YouGov found that only 11 per cent of people in the UK were routinely wearing a mask, compared to 85 per cent in Spain, 65 per cent in Italy, 49 per cent in the US and 43 per cent in France. Face coverings are compulsory in a number of European countries including Belgium, Austria and Poland and are strongly advised in nearly every other Western state, while they are near-universal across much of Asia.
Chris Hopson of NHS Providers warned that promoting the wearing of masks among the British public could harm the health service by disrupting the supply of equipment needed in the health service. He said: “Securing the supply of masks, when there is huge global demand, is crucial. This must be a key consideration for Government.
“There needs to be clear evidence that wearing masks, along with other measures, will deliver significant enough benefits to take us out of lockdown to potentially jeopardise NHS mask supply.”


inews--2020-04-22--PMQs: Keir Starmer grills Dominic Raab over why the UK is using less than half its Covid-19 testing

PMQs: Keir Starmer grills Dominic Raab over why the UK is using less than half its Covid-19 testing capacity

PMQs : Keir Starmer grills Dominic Raab over why the UK is using less than half its Covid-19 testing capacity The new Labour leader used his first PMQs to grill Dominic Raab - and said the UK is 'way behind the curve ' in terms of testing In his first Prime Minister ’ s Questions as Leader of the Opposition on Wednesday , the Labour leader picked apart the Government 's testing targets and said the UK is still `` way behind the curve '' of what it should be doing .
He said the demand from people to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get to testing centres because they do n't have a car and can not use public transport - calling on the Government to revise its current plan .
Sir Keir began by asking why the Government is still not making full use of the testing capacity in the UK and said the country has been “ very slow ” in making progress in this area .
Dominic Raab said there was testing capacity for 40,000 people '' The Health Secretary made a very important commitment to 100,000 tests a day by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure for actual tests was 18,000 a day and that was down from Monday , which was 19,000 tests a day , ” he said .
`` We 're way behind the curve and the end of the month is a week tomorrow .
So , what does the First Secretary expect to happen in the next eight days to get us from 18,000 tests a day to 100,000 tests a day ?
” 18,000 of 40,000 possible tests carried out Sir Keir said the Government 's system had 'obvious problems ' which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The First Secretary says that there is capacity for 40,000 tests a day and I think it 's really important that we fully understand what the First Secretary just said , '' he said .
`` Now , all week I heard from the frontline , from care workers who are frankly desperate for tests for their residents and for themselves , desperate .
They would expect every test to be used every day for those that need them.
” Workers 'having to drive miles ' for a test '' Now there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not all care workers will have access to a car , because they 've got symptoms or family members have got symptoms they obviously ca n't use public transport , so it is little wonder we 're seeing these pictures of half-empty testing centres .
”

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Government of having a coronavirus testing system beset with “obvious problems”, which has caused it to be used at less than half its actual capacity.
In his first Prime Minister’s Questions as Leader of the Opposition on Wednesday, the Labour leader picked apart the Government’s testing targets and said the UK is still “way behind the curve” of what it should be doing.
He said the demand from people to be tested is there but workers are struggling to get to testing centres because they don’t have a car and cannot use public transport – calling on the Government to revise its current plan.
The weekly Commons grilling was a considerably more muted affair than normal, with the majority of MPs not present in the chamber and dialling in via video link instead.
Testing numbers
Sir Keir was up against Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson while he recovers from coronavirus.
Unlike the previous clashes between Mr Johnson and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, both leaders focussed on details and specifics rather than the usual political point-scoring these sessions can descend into.
Sir Keir began by asking why the Government is still not making full use of the testing capacity in the UK and said the country has been “very slow” in making progress in this area.
He questioned how ministers maintained the promise of reaching 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month when the country is currently carrying out less than 20,000 tests per day.
‘W ay behind the curve’
“The Health Secretary made a very important commitment to 100,000 tests a day by the end of April, but yesterday the figure for actual tests was 18,000 a day and that was down from Monday, which was 19,000 tests a day,” he said.
“We’re way behind the curve and the end of the month is a week tomorrow. So, what does the First Secretary expect to happen in the next eight days to get us from 18,000 tests a day to 100,000 tests a day?”
Mr Raab responded by talking about testing capacity, saying it was up to 40,000 a day and will increase “exponentially” by the end of the month.
He added: “Of course, he is right to say that in the final week that will require a big increase.”
18,000 of 40,000 possible tests carried out
Sir Keir honed in on the testing figures, pointing out the numbers revealed less than half of the capacity is being used when there are still health workers desperate to be tested.
“The First Secretary says that there is capacity for 40,000 tests a day and I think it’s really important that we fully understand what the First Secretary just said,” he said.
“Because that means that the day before yesterday, 40,000 tests could have been carried but only 18,000 tests were actually carried out.
“Now, all week I heard from the frontline, from care workers who are frankly desperate for tests for their residents and for themselves, desperate. They would expect every test to be used every day for those that need them.”
Workers ‘having to drive miles’ for a test
Sir Keir said the Government’s testing plan had an “obvious problem” that tests were available but care and health workers were still finding themselves unable to access them.
“To get a necessary test, they are then instructed to travel to a testing centre, which is often very many miles away,” he said.
“Now there’s an obvious problem with that system. Not all care workers will have access to a car, because they’ve got symptoms or family members have got symptoms they obviously can’t use public transport, so it is little wonder we’re seeing these pictures of half-empty testing centres.”
Mr Raab replied that it was “right to say it is also about distribution” as well as demand and admitted there were “logistical and frankly transport challenges” people had encountered when trying to access a coronavirus test.
And he said the Government is “working with the local resilience forums to make sure that we can distribute the tests as effectively as possible”.
He said: ”I do think it is important to have a target and to drive towards a target. We are making good progress, we’re confident we’ll meet it.”


inews--2020-04-22--What is the All In Challenge? How the coronavirus fundraising auction works, after Friends cast offe

What is the All In Challenge? How the coronavirus fundraising auction works, after Friends cast offer chance to join reunion

What is the All In Challenge ?
How the coronavirus fundraising auction works , after Friends cast offer chance to join reunion With countries around the globe still in lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , internet challenges are more popular than ever The latest internet trend to make headlines is the All In Challenge , which is seeing hundreds of celebrities band together to raise money for charity amid the virus outbreak , from auctioning off memorabilia to once in a lifetime experiences .
What is the All In Challenge ?
The All In Challenge is an online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ singers and more offer up items or experiences in an auction or giveaway .
When you donate to the fund , you will be entered into a prize draw that could see you win experiences with your favourite celebrities , or even some of their prized possessions .
How are the cast of Friends getting involved ?
Celebrities have been taking to social media to announce their involvement in the All In Challenge and what experiences or prizes are up for grabs .
Jennifer Aniston posted on her Instagram account that she and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting involved in the challenge .
“ We ’ re inviting you and five of YOUR friends to join the six of us on Stage 24 .
Be our personal guests in the audience for the taping of our @ HBOMAX reunion , as we reminisce about the show and celebrate all the fun we had… and get the whole Friends VIP experience on the Warner Bros .
Studio Tour , ” she wrote .
What other experiences can I bid on ?
Justin Bieber said that he would fly to a fan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one to one performance of his 2009 hit One Less Lonely Girl .
If starring in Kevin Hart ’ s next film , making TikToks with Charli and Dixie D ’ Amelio or taking part in a private aerial stunt lesson with P !
nk sounds like something you ’ d be interested in , then this is how you can get your name in the running - and yes , those are all experiences up for grabs with the All In Challenge .
First , you ’ ll need to head to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a look around all the experiences and prizes being offered .
When entering a draw , you can donate $ 10 ( circa £8.10 ) for 10 entries , $ 25 ( £20.25 ) dollars for 25 entries , $ 50 ( £40.50 ) for 100 entries and $ 100 ( £81 ) for 200 entries , to really increase your chances of winning .
What charities does the money go to ?

The latest internet trend to make headlines is the All In Challenge, which is seeing hundreds of celebrities band together to raise money for charity amid the virus outbreak, from auctioning off memorabilia to once in a lifetime experiences.
Here’s what you need to know about the challenge.
nge, from the prizes and experiences you could win to how you can enter.
What is the All In Challenge?
The All In Challenge is an online fundraising tool whereby actors, athletes, singers and more offer up items or experiences in an auction or giveaway.
When you donate to the fund, you will be entered into a prize draw that could see you win experiences with your favourite celebrities, or even some of their prized possessions.
If you win your auction or draw, you’ll be notified by phone or by email after the competition window has closed.
How are the cast of Friends getting involved?
Celebrities have been taking to social media to announce their involvement in the All In Challenge and what experiences or prizes are up for grabs.
Jennifer Aniston posted on her Instagram account that she and the rest of the Friends cast were getting involved in the challenge.
“We’re inviting you and five of YOUR friends to join the six of us on Stage 24. Be our personal guests in the audience for the taping of our @HBOMAX reunion, as we reminisce about the show and celebrate all the fun we had… and get the whole Friends VIP experience on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour,” she wrote.
Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer are all taking part.
What other experiences can I bid on?
Similarly, Leonardo DiCaprio took to Twitter to write: “Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with Martin Scorsese, De Niro & myself? Here’s your chance.”
Justin Bieber said that he would fly to a fan’s house to give them a one to one performance of his 2009 hit One Less Lonely Girl.
Ellen DeGeneres and Ryan Seacrest have also offered up opportunities to co-host on each of their respective shows.
How do I bid?
If starring in Kevin Hart’s next film, making TikToks with Charli and Dixie D’Amelio or taking part in a private aerial stunt lesson with P!nk sounds like something you’d be interested in, then this is how you can get your name in the running – and yes, those are all experiences up for grabs with the All In Challenge.
First, you’ll need to head to the All In Challenge website here and take a look around all the experiences and prizes being offered.
You can enter as many different draws as you like.
When entering a draw, you can donate $10 (circa £8.10) for 10 entries, $25 (£20.25) dollars for 25 entries, $50 (£40.50) for 100 entries and $100 (£81) for 200 entries, to really increase your chances of winning.
There is a maximum of 200 entries per person for the sweepstakes.
Unfortunately, only residents of the United States and Canada can bid on prizes and experiences.
What charities does the money go to?
The money raised by those bidding on auctions and entering sweepstakes will be split between five charities.
Meals on Wheels is a community based organisation which is dedicated to providing meals and eliminating isolation for the elderly who are struggling, especially during the pandemic.
No Kid Hungry is a not for profit organisation working towards solving hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. Their primary focus is to end childhood hunger.
America’s Food Fund looks to tackle the issue of food access in America by providing relief to organisations that work to provide food for the country’s most vulnerable population who have been impacted by Covid-19, such as children who rely on school lunch programs, low income families and the eldery. The fund was launched in early April with funding from Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs, Apple and the Ford Foundation.
Feeding America is an organisation that has an America wide network of over 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through the likes of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other community based agencies.
World Central Kitchen is a nonprofit, non-governmental organisation which is devoted to providing meals for those who need it in the wake of natural disasters. In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, World Central Kitchen is currently providing over 160,000 fresh meals every day for those in need.


inews--2020-04-22--Captain Tom Moore: Just Giving blocks copycats over fears scammers are 'cashing in' on £28m NHS fund

Captain Tom Moore: Just Giving blocks copycats over fears scammers are 'cashing in' on £28m NHS fundraising campaign

Captain Tom Moore : Just Giving blocks copycats over fears scammers are 'cashing in ' on £28m NHS fundraising campaign Exclusive : As the war veteran 's effort passes £28m , online fundraising sites monitor new pages closely The fundraising website hosting Captain Tom Moore 's campaign to raise money for NHS workers has blocked a raft of copycat campaigns over fears that scammers are attempting to cash in on the war veteran ’ s efforts .
Just Giving , which has experienced a huge global response to Captain Moore ’ s fundraising for NHS Charities Together , told i @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have sprung up as a result of his success .
“ Over the past few days , a small number of people set up their own crowdfunding campaigns on JustGiving in tribute to Captain Tom .
To prevent confusion , we have either removed these crowdfunding campaigns and refunded the donations or worked with the user to ensure any money raised goes to NHS Charities Together.
” More inspiring fundraisers do pass the test Captain Tom Moore and his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore speak via videolink during the official opening of the NHS Nightingale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just Giving closed fundraising pages down when the people behind them did not respond to questions from its compliance team , some pages did pass the test , such as that set up by six-year-old Frank Mills from Bristol , who has Spina Bifida and is walking 10 metres a day to raise money for NHS Charities Together having been inspired by Captain Moore .
While Frank , who only started walking 18 months ago and struggles to complete even short distances , was aiming to raise £99 , his efforts have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has raised around £140,000 so far .
Meanwhile , Captain Moore ’ s fundraising now totals more than £28m , with more than 1.3 million people donating so far .
A spokeswoman for GoFundMe said : “ At GoFundMe , when raising money for a registered charity the money goes straight to the beneficiary .
For other personal fundraisers , all campaigns are subject to a level of vetting and until we are absolutely satisfied the money raised will get to the right place we will not release it . ''
Jada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take up the challenge after sadly losing ‘ Nanny Barbara ’ to coronavirus at the end of last month .
They hit their £2,000 target just 24 hours after launching the campaign .
Mr Dacosta said : `` On 31st March 2020 , our Nanny Barbara past away to this horrible virus .
We wanted to do something to support all the hard work the NHS is doing during this time and raise money for them . ''
The alert service will warn consumers about the latest fraud attempts and give advice about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminals exploit the coronavirus outbreak to unleash a new range of scams .
With more than £1.2bn lost to scammers in 2019 , fraud has become one of the most prevalent crimes in the UK , which often results in devastating consequences for victims .
In recent weeks , fraudsters have rushed to exploit the widespread fear and confusion caused by the pandemic , with scams ranging from fake text and emails from HMRC to unsolicited calls from criminals offering to enrol vulnerable people onto coronavirus vaccine trials for a fee .
Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scams in England , Wales and Northern Ireland , according to Action Fraud figures , while the National Cyber Security Centre has detected 2,500 government-branded scams since the start of March .
Google has said scammers are sending 18 million hoax emails about Covid-19 every day , while security experts say they have discovered more than 700 fake websites mimicking Netflix and Disney+ signup pages as criminals try to take advantage of the lockdown to harvest people ’ s bank details .
Gareth Shaw , head of money at Which ?
, said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the perfect storm for scams , with fraudsters using callous tactics to exploit people ’ s fears and vulnerability for their own financial gain .
As new scams spring up daily , our alert service aims to help people protect themselves and their loved ones .

As I write, a persistent fine rain is falling, the sky is an unremitting shade of battleship grey, and my central heating is on full blast. Yes, it’s the middle of August and the English countryside is at its most verdantly attractive, but it’s also cold and damp and, if truth be told, pretty miserable.
And it’s difficult not to feel particularly cheesed off when one’s social media feed is full of friends posting pictures of azure seas, white beaches and grilled calamari. How blessed they all are. #bestholidayever? Give me a bloody break.
Soggy Oxfordshire it may be, but at least I’m not troubled by mosquito bites or sunburn, and certainly not by jellyfish. And I don’t have to concern myself with the landscape catching fire any day soon. No airport strikes to negotiate, no flight cancellations to worry about. I’m resolutely here until the holiday season comes to an end, but am I pleased about that? You bet I’m not.
I’d love to be on a beach somewhere, book in one hand and Campari soda in the other, listening to the soothing sound of the waves dissolving gently on the sand. The South of France, for preference, or maybe Ibiza or Italy. Where my idle reverie doesn’t take me, however, is to Belgium.
Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against the country which produced Tintin, Magritte and Kevin de Bruyne. I once had a fabulous weekend in Antwerp – truly a city which doesn’t sleep – and, when I was much younger, a fun holiday at a campsite in Blankenberg, the jewel of the Flanders Coast.
But I’m not sure I can get fully behind the idea posited by the boss of one of our biggest package holiday companies that the habits and predilections of British holidaymakers will change as a result of climate change, and, instead of seeking the searing heat of the Southern Med, we will opt for “cooler” destinations like Belgium.
I think he must mean cool in the sense of temperature, because a recent global survey voted Belgium the “least cool” nation in the world, even behind Canada and Poland. That may seem a little unfair, given that Belgium gave the world Jacques Brel, Dries van Noten and 800 different beers, but here’s something that no one has ever said: “We’re so excited. We’re going to Belgium for our summer holidays this year.” Or the “Costa Del Dull”, as the Daily Star’s front page had it.
Nevertheless, the chief executive of Tui, Sebastian Ebel, may be on to something when he suggests an uptick in bookings for Belgium. The modern lust to discover hitherto unheralded destinations, the ease of travel and the experience of going on holiday somewhere that might not actually be burning are all satisfied by heading for a land which, according to the Flanders tourist board, has “historical art cities, green regions where it is nice cycling and walking and also a wide coastal strip”.
Sadly, this doesn’t exactly whip up the daydream of Aperol spritzes, stuffed courgette flowers and the intoxicating aroma of Ambre Solaire. And that’s the point. I know the reality of a fortnight on a beach can be a long way from the summer holiday of our imagination, but, when we go away, we are still chasing that ideal, that place we’ve seen in the adverts, that deserted, sun-kissed location that possibly doesn’t exist, or at least not within our price range.
Still, stuck here in rainy Oxfordshire, that’s where my mind takes me. And it will be no time soon that my pleasure-seeking, Vitamin D-deprived self fancies a wander to Flanders.