bbcuk--2020-09-23--Coronavirus: How many people can attend a wedding?

Wedding celebrations can only take place at `` Covid-secure '' venues , and are an exception to rules banning groups of more than six in most circumstances .
Are weddings allowed at the moment ?
How will coronavirus affect my wedding ?
What should I do if I am due to get married soon ?
If you feel your day will be too different from what you wanted , it is generally better to postpone rather than cancel .
For example , if the wedding was on a Saturday or in peak season and the venue ca n't offer an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask for a fee reduction , or an upgrade .
What are my rights if my wedding could n't happen ?
If your wedding will now have be `` radically different '' to what was agreed , you are entitled to the rights laid out above .
If it is a less significant change , then a proportionate price reduction would be appropriate - and you should not face `` disproportionately high charges '' if you still want to cancel .
Most wedding insurance does not cover a `` government act '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out if the lockdown affected your wedding .
Can suppliers and venues charge me more if I postpone ?

What are the rules for weddings and receptions, and when will they ease? Published 14 July 2021
Image source, Getty Images
There will be no limit on the number of people allowed to attend weddings, civil partnerships and receptions in England from 19 July.
Rules will also ease in Scotland on that date.
How are the rules changing in England?
From 19 July, there will be no limits on the number of people who can attend services or receptions, whatever the venue.
Current rules about social distancing and face coverings will no longer apply, there will be no requirement for table service, and restrictions around singing and dancing will also end.
At the moment, any number of guests can attend a wedding ceremony or reception held outside, or in a Covid-secure public venue.
Venues must comply with social distancing rules, which limit guest numbers
Venues must provide table service
Dancing and singing are restricted
Face coverings must be worn indoors by everyone over the age of 11 when not eating or drinking, unless they are exempt. This includes staff, but not the couple or the person officiating
Weddings held in outdoors private settings - such as gardens - require a risk assessment to determine how many guests can be hosted safely.
A marquee or other structure in a private garden must have at least half of its walled area open to be classed as "outdoors".
Weddings in private homes can only take place with six people or two households present, unless one of those getting married is seriously ill, in which case 30 people can attend.
Image source, Getty Images
What are the rules in Scotland?
The maximum limit of who can attend wedding and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions depends on the Covid level.
The actual permitted number of guests for a particular event will still depend on the size of the venue. The marrying couple and witnesses are included in this number, but people working at the wedding are not.
There will be no need to socially distance outdoors: dancing, standing drinks/canapé receptions and receiving lines can resume at weddings outdoors only
You should avoid dancing or mingling indoors at wedding receptions
Physical distancing will be fixed at 1m (3ft) indoors for ceremonies and receptions in all venues
Alcohol can be served until 24:00
Guests will still have to wear masks when not seated
The government hopes that more restrictions will be scrapped on 9 August, subject to a decision next month.
What are the rules in Wales?
The number of people who can attend wedding or civil partnership ceremonies or receptions is determined by the size of the venue and a Covid risks assessment.
The celebration must be organised by a business in a regulated venue, such as an hotel.
Face coverings must be worn indoors by everyone aged 11 and over when not eating or drinking, unless they have a reasonable excuse.
This does not apply to the married couple or the person officiating.
Food and drink are permitted in line with hospitality guidance.
Image source, Getty Images
What are the rules in Northern Ireland?
There is no limit on the number of people at a wedding, but venues must assess how many they can safely accommodate.
During the ceremony, face coverings must be worn by everyone (unless exempt), apart from the wedding couple and the person officiating.
Receptions can take place, subject to the following rules:
No restriction on the number of people at the top table, but no more than 10 people (not including children) at other tables
You need to wear a mask when not seated
The wedding couple can have one dance together, but guests cannot dance
Live music is allowed at "ambient levels"
Some rules are due to change on 26 July, subject to approval on 22 July. Volume restrictions on live music will be removed and social distancing rules will be relaxed.
What are my rights if my wedding plans were affected by lockdown?
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published guidance in September 2020:
If your wedding couldn't go ahead without breaching lockdown rules, you're likely to be entitled to a refund and won't be liable for future payments
Your refund may also cover a ''non-refundable'' deposit, although a venue or supplier can subtract ''limited'' costs for services already provided
A venue may withhold money spent on your wedding that it could not recover, such as planning, but not for things like general staff costs
Suppliers/venues must give you a cost breakdown if they wish to withhold part of your deposit
Image source, Getty Images
Can I claim on wedding insurance?
Wedding insurance shouldn't affect your right to a refund, but you can't get your money back twice.
Most insurance doesn't cover a ''government act", so is unlikely to pay out if lockdowns affected your wedding.
Recent wedding insurance policies are unlikely to cover coronavirus.
Some policies will pay out if your supplier/venue has gone bust. If not, you may have to register a claim with the company's administrator.
If you paid by:


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Newspaper legend who started local and changed the world

Sir Harold Evans , who has died aged 92 , was a legend among journalists .
His campaigns against injustice and for the highest journalistic standards forged his reputation .
During his tenure as editor of the Sunday Times , he turned the paper into a beacon for crusading journalism .
His finest moment was probably his campaign for the families of children who suffered birth defects as a result of the drug Thalidomide .
Harold Evans was born on 28 June 1928 in Eccles , Lancashire , now in Greater Manchester , the son of Welsh parents .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother ran a small grocery shop from the family home .
Evans later described them as `` the self-consciously respectable working class '' .
• 'Mum was told she did n't need to keep me' He would later recall the `` mythic north of my childhood , '' where `` there was comfort in being rooted in a community and recognised within it as a good neighbour '' .
He left school at 16 and wrote applications to every newspaper in the Manchester area , finally securing a job at the Ashton-under-Lyne Reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a paper that `` bothered with the little things in people 's lives , the whist drives and flower shows '' .
After National Service he adopted the same tenacious approach and wrote to every university in the UK - there were just 14 in those days - finally landing a place at Durham .
There he read politics and economics and edited the university magazine , The Palatinate .
He forged his reputation as assistant editor of the Manchester Evening News , which he joined in 1952 , in a city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with news day and night '' .
It was in the United States , where he travelled for two years on a Harkness Fellowship , that he got the taste for investigative journalism .
America did not have the same dominant national newspapers that flourished in Britain - neither did US journalists share the awe of the establishment that still pervaded the press in the UK .
The crusading ambitions of local US papers were also in sharp contrast to the rather mundane local press Evans knew at home .
On his return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had learned into practice when he was appointed editor of the Northern Echo , based in Darlington .
Evans was determined to put Darlington , and the Echo , on the national stage .
He persuaded the BBC in Newcastle to make a documentary showing him at work and reorganised the paper 's bureaucratic hierarchy .
One of his first campaigns was against the chemical giant ICI , whose plant at Billingham was polluting the area with a noxious smell .
Criticised by local dignitaries for attacking one of the area 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got an admission from the company that it had problems with leaks at the plant .
Other investigations resulted in a national screening programme for cervical cancer and he was part of the campaign to secure a posthumous pardon for Timothy Evans , wrongly hanged for murder in 1950 .
His own profile was raised by appearances on the TV programme What the Papers Say .
In 1964 he was offered the job of managing editor at the Sunday Times .
When the editor left shortly afterwards , Evans got the job .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ team of investigative journalists .
It was manna from heaven for his own crusading instincts .
During his 13 years at the helm , the paper 's most notable campaign was fighting for greater compensation for the victims of Thalidomide .
The drug , which first appeared in the UK in 1958 , was prescribed to expectant mothers to control the symptoms of morning sickness .
However , hundreds of these mothers in Britain , and many thousands across the world , gave birth to children with missing limbs , deformed hearts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , launched in 1972 , eventually forced the UK manufacturer , Distillers Company - at the time the Sunday Times 's biggest advertiser - to increase the compensation received by victims .
It also forced a change in UK law to allow the open reporting of civil cases , something that had hampered the sort of journalism Evans espoused .
His team 's tenacious investigation into the Turkish Airlines DC-10 air crash outside Paris in 1974 , which killed 346 people , resulted in an admission that poor maintenance on a faulty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This led to families of the victims receiving more than $ 60 million in compensation .
He insisted campaigns should be selective and deplored what he saw as the invasion of privacy by the British tabloid press .
His tenure at the Sunday Times came to an end following a strike by print unions that closed the paper for a year and forced the proprietor , Roy Thomson , to sell Times Newspapers to Rupert Murdoch .
Murdoch offered him the editorship of the Times but Evans quit months later after falling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later described Rupert Murdoch as `` evil incarnate '' when giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry in 2012 .
Having divorced his first wife in 1978 , he married the journalist Tina Brown , and the couple moved to New York .
There he remained seemingly glad to have left Britain and talked of ' '' the position of respect held by the journalist in American society '' .
While she edited Vanity Fair and the New Yorker , he became founding editor of Conde Nast Traveler magazine and later president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple became leading socialites on the New York scene - their legendary parties were attended by the great and the good .
Although he became an American citizen , he maintained dual citizenship .
After seven years at Random House , Harold Evans became editorial director of a group of publications that included the tabloid New York Daily News , as well as several magazines including US News and World Report and the Atlantic Monthly .
He left in 1997 to concentrate on writing , producing the critically acclaimed The American Century and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which described the lives of some of the country 's most important inventors and innovators .
Evans 's reputation was confirmed when he was voted the all-time greatest newspaper editor by his peers in 2002 and was knighted in 2004 for his services to journalism .
He was passionate about newspaper journalism to the end , saying in his 2009 memoirs My Paper Chase : `` It 's endlessly fascinating to me how the tumult of the world can be made comprehensible by the orderly calibration of values within the discipline of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the age of 82 , he was appointed editor at large at the Reuters news agency , the organisation 's editor-in-chief describing him as `` one of the greatest minds in journalism '' .
The former Sunday Times Insight editor , Bruce Page , once described Evans as `` the most considerable editor of post-war history : courageous , determined , with extraordinary presentational flair , and a great technician who understood the craft of newspapers '' .

After National Service he adopted the same tenacious approach and wrote to every university in the UK - there were just 14 in those days - finally landing a place at Durham. There he read politics and economics and edited the university magazine, The Palatinate.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Hancock: 'Upgrade' may be needed to access NHS Covid app

The Health Secretary , Matt Hancock , has told BBC Breakfast that people may need to `` upgrade '' their @ @ @ @ @ the government 's new NHS Covid-19 app .
It follows criticism after some people with @ @ @ @ @ of Apple 's handsets said they could n't download it .
The contact-tracing app instructs @ @ @ @ @ days if it detects they were nearby someone who has the virus .

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has told BBC Breakfast that people may need to "upgrade" their phones in order to access the government's new NHS Covid-19 app.
It follows criticism after some people with iPhone 6 and older versions of Apple's handsets said they couldn't download it.
The contact-tracing app instructs users to self-isolate for 14 days if it detects they were nearby someone who has the virus.


bbcuk--2020-08-27--Coronavirus vaccine: What are human challenge trials?

Human challenge trials are regarded by some as a faster way to develop vaccines - but they come with big @ @ @ @ @ been used for hundreds of years but a lot of people question how ethical is @ @ @ @ @ an infectious disease .
More than 140 different organisations around the world are currently trying @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .
But could challenge trials be used to speed up the process ?

Volunteers are set to be deliberately infected with Covid-19 after the UK Government said it will set up human challenge trials to speed up the development of a vaccine.
Human challenge trials are regarded by some as a faster way to develop vaccines - but they come with big risks.
They've been used for hundreds of years but a lot of people question how ethical is to deliberately expose people to an infectious disease.
More than 140 different organisations around the world are currently trying to discover a vaccine for Covid-19.
But could challenge trials be used to speed up the process? What is a human challenge trial?
BBC Health Correspondent Laura Foster explains how they work.
Video by Terry Saunders, Megan Fisher and Laura Foster.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Newspaper headlines: Chancellor's 'jobs lifeline to save economy'

The paper says that under the plans , an employee normally on 37 hours a week could do just 17 hours and still get their full wage via the government top-up .
The paper points out that this would be considerably cheaper than the furlough programme , which is reported to have cost almost £4bn in the last month alone .
In its own `` rough '' calculation , the FT says partially supporting wages of three million people would cost about £500m a month .
The paper says that while the chancellor will prioritise protecting and creating jobs - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public that `` some economic pain '' may be needed in the short term to help the UK 's finances `` bounce back to full health '' .
But quoting Whitehall sources , the Guardian says rather than focusing on the future , Mr Sunak 's winter economic plan is more about showing the public the government is dealing with the `` here and now '' The Daily Mirror uses its editorial to criticise the chancellor not acting sooner to help try and keep people in work .
`` Not before time '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Treasury before it unveils its wage support plan .
The paper says the measures need to be `` lasting , fair and effective '' and not just `` a series of piecemeal policies '' .
At least one minister has reportedly threatened to resign , while up to 50 Conservative MPs are said to be ready to withhold support in a vote to approve the government 's lockdown powers .
The i adds there is resentment from Tories in the south-west of England where infection rates remain low .
Many are said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown , with the MP for West Dorset concerned his constituents are being `` punished '' for breaches in large towns and cities .
The Times reports that one in three people who are told to isolate by the new coronavirus tracing app in England and Wales will get a `` false positive '' result The glitch - which mistakenly assumes someone has been within two metres of an infected person for 15 minutes - is because the Bluetooth signal can be affected by surrounding objects .
But in an editorial for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHS Providers , Chris Hopson , says the public should have `` some sympathy '' for the app 's creators because it has been built in a hurry .
The paper says the BBC had hoped to make `` huge sums of money '' by selling the site made famous by the likes of The Beatles and Pink Floyd to developers .
The building has grade II listed status - meaning any interested parties face significant extra cost .
But with the BBC board said to be `` so concerned '' about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop the site , it has launched a `` strong appeal '' against elements of the listing .
According to minutes from the latest meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) , experts are concerned about infected students `` spilling '' out from university at the end of term and causing large outbreaks of Covid-19 in their home communities .
Nick Hillman , the director of the Higher Education Policy Unit , says students staying on campus during the festive period should be viewed as just `` another sacrifice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The i adds there is resentment from Tories in the south-west of England where infection rates remain low. Many are said to want an exemption from any national lockdown, with the MP for West Dorset concerned his constituents are being "punished" for breaches in large towns and cities.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Two men killed in Salford crash during police pursuit

Two men have died and three others injured in a crash during a police pursuit .
Officers began pursuing a @ @ @ @ @ , Salford , at about 23:40 BST on Wednesday before it crashed with two other @ @ @ @ @ the car died , and a man and two women from one of the other @ @ @ @ @ The Independent Office for Police Conduct ( IOPC ) has started an investigation into the @ @ @ @ @ ( GMP ) said in line with procedure the crash had been referred to its @ @ @ @ @ arrests have been made .
A spokeswoman for the IOPC said : `` We have @ @ @ @ @ a fatal road traffic collision in Salford last night which followed a police pursuit .
@ @ @ @ @ involving an unmarked police car took place on Frederick Road , Salford at around 11.40 @ @ @ @ @ pursued collided with two other public vehicles . ''
The spokeswoman added that `` sadly @ @ @ @ @ vehicle have since been pronounced dead '' .

The men from the car died, and a man and two women from one of the other vehicles were seriously injured.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Coronavirus: Ministers set to impose hospitality curfew

Stormont ministers are expected to impose a curfew of 23:00 on NI 's hospitality sector when they meet later on Thursday .
There is an expectation in the hospitality industry that operating rules will be tightened further .
In the rest of the UK , pubs and restaurants must close at 22:00 BST .
In the Republic of Ireland it is 23:30 .
In NI , off-licences and supermarkets can sell alcohol until 23:00 most days .
The cut-off is 22:00 on Sundays .
It is understood that imposing a curfew earlier than 23:00 could mean changing legislation around NI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understood NI Executive ministers are likely to set a closing time of 23:00 for pubs and restaurants to shut .
However , the move will require amending primary legislation which may take some time so it is unclear as to when the move will be enforceable .
Ministers will consider the evidence and options from the chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride on Thursday afternoon .
On Wednesday , First Minister Arlene Foster said the executive did not want to `` displace people from pubs into house parties '' .
Hospitality industry representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a curfew of 23:30 .
Earlier , Colin Neill , of Hospitality Ulster , said the 90-minute time difference would affect many businesses .
`` In reality , it is 50-70 % of an already reduced income and will reduce staff hours or the need to bring staff back off furlough , '' he said .
`` We would ask that the NI Executive listens to the heartfelt plea of the sector and chooses a 23:30 closure time if a curfew is imposed , to give some chance to those who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last number of months . ''
Meanwhile , the leaders of Stormont 's four pro-EU parties are in Dublin for Brexit meetings with the Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney .
They are discussing their opposition to Downing Street 's Internal Market Bill .
The proposed legislation , which would break international law , has been described by Number 10 as a safety net , in case talks to work out details of the Northern Ireland Protocol fail .
On Tuesday , the Stormont Assembly voted to reject the bill - but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice-president and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Alliance leader Naomi Long are taking part in the discussions with Mr Coveney , along with SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and NI Greens leader Clare Bailey , and will return to Stormont to take part in Thursday 's executive meeting .
At the executive meeting , some ministers are also expected to raise the issue of recent school closures due to the spread of the virus .
On Wednesday , Holy Cross College in Strabane said it had closed due to a number of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible ministers could also discuss a paper from Finance Minister Conor Murphy which seeks to approve bids from a number of Stormont departments for Covid-19 funding .
Last week , Mr Murphy said his paper had been blocked from the agenda .
It is understood the finance minister was in discussions with the Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP ) earlier this week about reaching agreement to allow the proposals to be raised at Thursday 's meeting .

"We would ask that the NI Executive listens to the heartfelt plea of the sector and chooses a 23:30 closure time if a curfew is imposed, to give some chance to those who have had such an awful time in the last number of months."


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Covid: Rise in number of patients in intensive care in Wales

The number of patients being treated for Covid-19 on ventilated beds or in critical care in Wales is at its highest point since early July .
There were 18 critically ill people with confirmed or suspected coronavirus on Tuesday , according to latest weekly figures from NHS Wales .
Seven of these were in Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board , four in Betsi Cadwaladr and three in Aneurin Bevan .
But hospital admissions are slightly down on the week before .
The figures also show there were 343 coronavirus-related patients in hospital beds - 77 more than the week before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around a third of the number during the pandemic 's peak , when 1,347 patients were in hospital with Covid-19 .
Of those in hospital on Tuesday , 89 were confirmed Covid-19 patients , 211 were suspected and 43 were recovering from the virus .
Betsi Cadwaladr - Wales ' biggest health board - has 112 in hospitals , followed by Cwm Taf Morgannwg on 83 , which is treating its highest number of Covid-19 patients since mid-June .
The seven-day average in total daily admissions to hospitals of confirmed and suspected Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the previous week - and this included a weekly fall in Cwm Taf Morgannwg .
NHS Wales said the figure fluctuates but is lower than in late May .
The 18 patients in intensive care or on ventilated beds on 22 September was three times as many as the week before and the highest number since 2 July .
At the peak in April , there were more than 160 critically ill patients across Wales with Covid-19 .
Matt Morgan , consultant in intensive care and researcher at the University Hospital of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` We know that infections are rising but we also know that there are now people in hospitals throughout Wales with Covid .
`` That 's also rising - nowhere near where it was at the peak - but absolutely rising .
The same goes for intensive care across Wales .
`` It 's not anywhere near the peak but we know those very ill people can take weeks after infection to become that ill. '' • Behind the scenes on the intensive care front line • What do the stats tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local coronavirus lockdowns : What are the rules ?
`` It 's important to remember even those people who are the most critically ill with Covid , around six out of 10 will survive .
`` But it 's not only those numbers we see on the news , those who 've sadly died , but those who survive sadly have a burden to carry , ongoing . ''
Dr Morgan said staff were trained and hospitals set up for any second wave , although capacity was important .
Doctors also knew a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had treatments which worked and could prevent the need of ventilators and improve chances of survival .
But he said the public had a `` massive role '' to play to help prevent the virus spreading by keeping to restrictions .

Paul Mears, chief executive at Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, said: "We're just starting to see a slight rise in people coming into hospital - it's not anywhere near what we were seeing earlier but it's the lag you'd expect to see between the community infection rate rising and that playing through into hospitals."


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Covid: UK sees highest number of coronavirus cases since mass tests began

The UK has recorded 6,634 new coronavirus cases , the government has announced , making it the highest daily figure since mass testing began .
Another 40 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus .
The latest figures take the overall number of confirmed cases to 416,363 , and total deaths to 41,902 .
Meanwhile , people arriving in the UK from Denmark , Slovakia , Iceland and Caribbean island Curacao will need to self-isolate for 14 days from Saturday .
After falling from their April peak , confirmed new coronavirus cases in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest surge in cases comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced plans aimed at stopping mass job cuts over the winter months .
The government 's new wage subsidy scheme , set to replace furlough , will see the government top up the pay of people unable to work full time .
The official records may show that the UK has just seen the highest number of new cases on a single day .
But it is , of course , nothing of the sort .
At the peak of the pandemic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity that it was largely only hospital patients who were being checked .
It meant we were identifying just the tip of the iceberg .
Estimates have suggested there may have been as many 100,000 cases a day at the peak .
We are clearly not capturing all the infections - even now with the mass testing that is available .
Surveillance data last week suggested we may be identifying only about half of cases .
But that still puts the infection levels well below what they were in the spring .
Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , but are still very low .
Health experts have been clear we are now on the upwards path so we should expect this trend to continue .
Crucial will be how quickly figures rise for all three measures , with the hospital cases and deaths the most important .
Evidence from Spain and France , which started seeing rises a few weeks before us , offer some hope .
Cases have been climbing gradually - at least more gradually than the trajectory government scientists warned could lead the UK to 50,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunak 's measures come two days after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced further restrictions to help curb the spread of coronavirus , including a 22:00 closing time for all pubs , restaurants and hospitality venues , which have now come into force in England .
The sector will also be restricted , by law , to giving table service only .
In Scotland , university students have been asked not to go to pubs , parties or restaurants this weekend , in a bid to curb outbreaks at several institutions .
First Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she recognised Covid was `` making this special time of your lives so tough '' .
• Uni isolation : 'PPE to pee ' and running out of food • What do campus Covid outbreaks mean for students ?
And in Wales , people in Cardiff are facing the prospect of local lockdown after council leader Huw Thomas said the city was on the verge of entering the Welsh Government 's `` red zone '' .
• FURLOUGH : What happens when the scheme ends ?
• SOCIAL LIFE : Is it safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SUPPORT BUBBLES : What are they and who can be in yours ?
• SOCIAL DISTANCING : What are the rules now ?
The decision to remove Denmark , Slovakia , Iceland and Caribbean island Curacao from the so-called `` travel corridor '' list takes effect from 04:00 BST on Saturday , the Department for Transport said .
It has been agreed with the devolved administrations so covers the whole of the UK , unlike some previous travel quarantine announcements .
No countries will be added to the UK travel corridor list this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Singapore and Thailand remain the most recent additions to England and Scotland 's list , from 17 September .
• Which countries are on the UK 's quarantine list ?
• Sun , sea and sanitiser : What your holiday will be like • You finally got abroad , but was it worth it ?
Writing on Twitter , Mr Shapps reminded passengers they were required by law to fill in a passenger locator form when entering the UK .
`` This protects public health and ensures those who need to are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The form asks travellers to provide their contact details and UK address .
Passengers can be fined up to £3,200 in England if they do not provide accurate contact details , or £1,920 in Wales .
• LITTLE MIX : THE SEARCH : Coming soon - a brand new show to solve your entertainment needs • HOW CAN I RELAX ?
: Soothe your soul with Mindful Escapes

But it is, of course, nothing of the sort. At the peak of the pandemic in the spring we had such limited testing capacity that it was largely only hospital patients who were being checked.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--County lines raids: 1,000 arrests and £1.2m drugs seized

More than 1,000 people have been arrested and an estimated £1.2m worth of drugs seized in a police crackdown on so-called `` county lines '' gangs .
Young and vulnerable people are used as couriers to move drugs and cash between cities and smaller towns .
Police said raids in the past week , involving all 43 regional forces in England and Wales , had been the most successful of their kind .
Almost 200 weapons and £526,000 in cash were also seized .
• The discovery of an estimated £876,000 worth of cocaine , £87,000 worth of crack cocaine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` deal line '' devices , linked to phone numbers used to buy drugs , were shut down • 1,551 vulnerable people were contacted by police for safeguarding purposes • 69 referrals to the National Referral Mechanism as potential victims of human trafficking/modern slavery • Visits to 861 cuckooed addresses - a practice where drugs gangs take over the homes of vulnerable people to sell drugs County lines are a `` catalyst for a range of criminality including serious violence , modern slavery , drug trafficking and anti-social behaviour '' , the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Priti Patel said the results of the operation were `` hugely impressive '' and tackling county lines was a `` priority '' for the government .
She said it had invested £25m in the `` crucial work '' .
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You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline @ bbc.co.uk

She added the police forces had worked with phone companies to share intelligence with each other and now had a "greater understanding" of how phone lines are used when they are passed on from one group to another.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Covid: Scottish university students told not to go to pubs

Students in Scotland are being told not to go to pubs , parties or restaurants this weekend in a bid to stem a spate of coronavirus outbreaks .
Hundreds of university students have tested positive at campuses across the country , with many more self-isolating .
Universities have now pledged to make it `` absolutely clear '' to students that there must be no parties .
And they will not be allowed to socialise with anyone outside of their accommodation .
Students have also been warned that any breaches of the new rules `` will not be tolerated '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders accused First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of a `` basic failure '' to anticipate the problem and provide more testing on university campuses .
However they have been criticised by the National Union of Students Scotland as `` unjustified '' and `` deeply concerning '' .
President Matt Crilly said it was especially concerning for students who relied on income from hospitality jobs , and showed `` complete disregard '' for their mental health and wellbeing .
Meanwhile the Children and Young People 's Commissioner Scotland has raised concerns about the `` human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Self-isolation : PPE to pee and running out of food • What do campus outbreaks mean for students ?
• University outbreaks 'should have been predicted' Universities Scotland said the new guidance that had been agreed with the Scottish government was a `` necessary step at this crucial moment of managing the virus in the student population , to protect students and the wider community '' .
The new rules state that all universities will `` make absolutely clear to students that there must be no parties , and no socialising outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say : `` This weekend , the first of the new tighter Scottish government guidance , we will require students to avoid all socialising outside of their households and outside of their accommodation .
`` We will ask them not to go to bars or other hospitality venues . ''
Extra staff will be brought into student accommodation to watch for any breaches of the guidance and to support students who are self-isolating .
Later Universities Scotland denied the move amounted to a ban but admitted it was a `` big ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules about avoiding hospitality applied only to this weekend .
'We 're getting punished for living here' One Glasgow University student , Elise , told BBC Scotland that she was angry at the new rules imposing strict restrictions on their social lives .
The first-year student is currently isolating at Murano Street halls , after one of her flatmates tested positive .
She described the new restrictions as `` quite ridiculous '' and said it was wrong to pin the blame on students for spreading the virus .
She asked why the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halls when they could have followed their online courses from home .
`` We were told to come to university halls - 48 people from across the country in one building- it was inevitable that it was going to spread , '' she said .
`` We are getting punished for just living here but we were told to come .
`` There 's no reason for us to be here because everything is online . ''
Another student at the Murano halls asked how the requirement not to go to pubs was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there be officers going up to students and asking if they are students ?
`` We are isolating so we wo n't be going to pubs anyway but what about those students who are fine ?
It 's a depressing and bleak situation . ''
Police Scotland will also be monitoring student behaviour off-campus and in private accommodation .
And private providers of student accommodation will also be urged to strictly enforce the guidance .
Students will also be required to download the Protect Scotland app .
The guidance warns : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' approach to breaches of student discipline that put students and others at risk .
`` While we first want to advise students about breaches of discipline , we will not hesitate to escalate this to disciplinary action including potential discontinuation of study . ''
In a Twitter message directed at students , First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was sorry Covid was `` making this special time of your lives so tough '' .
`` But it wo n't be forever and the more we get this virus back under control now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of normality back , '' she said .
Several universities across the country are dealing with major outbreaks of the virus , with many students in halls of residence in Glasgow , Dundee , Aberdeen and Edinburgh all being told to self-isolate .
A total of 172 Glasgow University students have so far tested positive , with 600 in isolation , while all 500 residents at the Parker House halls in Dundee have been told to quarantine .
And 120 cases have been identified in an outbreak at Edinburgh Napier University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government should have been better prepared for outbreaks when university students returned for the new term .
Ms Sturgeon has said the number of positive cases at universities was likely to increase , but claimed this showed that the test and protect system `` is working , and we must continue to have confidence in that '' .
She urged students to follow the latest guidance and said she was sorry that the pandemic was `` making this special time of your lives so tough '' .
Life for university students was already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were already set to learn mostly online , but the university experience is a social one as much as an academic one .
Perhaps the most significant move is to appeal to students not to visit bar or hospitality venues .
Ultimately students who break the rules on campus or in university accommodation face expulsion .
However , universities know they also have to appeal to the individual 's sense of responsibility and common sense .
It will still be a big ask .
Homesick students wo n't usually be able to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in until a few weeks ago .
Starting university can be a difficult experience - a student may not like their course or may find it hard to live away from home or make new friends .
This year it will be even tougher so for that reason , it will be more important than ever to consider the wellbeing and mental health of students .
Are you a student in Scotland ?
What are your views about banning students from going to pubs ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also get in touch in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--NHS Covid-19 app: One million downloads of contact tracer for England and Wales

`` Everybody who downloads the app will be helping to protect themselves , helping to protect their loved ones , helping to protect their community because the more people who download it , the more effective it will be , '' he told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme .
But the Department of Health had earlier said that users must obey the command and would in theory be liable for fines of £1,000 or more if they did not , while acknowledging it had no way to check .
How can people access the app ?
What will contact-tracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received such an alert , but fill in the app 's symptoms checker and meet the criteria , will be directed to self-isolate for eight days .
They will also be directed to an external website to book a test .
But smartphones were not designed for this purpose and the readings involved are not always accurate .
This has led to fears of `` false positives '' - people being instructed to self-isolate who were never at risk .
And it now allows users to delete individual venue visits from the app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed feedback from victims of domestic abuse , whose partners often check their phones .

But the Department of Health had earlier said that users must obey the command and would in theory be liable for fines of £1,000 or more if they did not, while acknowledging it had no way to check.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Covid: Morrisons limits sales of disinfectant and toilet rolls

Shoppers at Morrisons face restrictions on the number of items they can purchase to prevent panic buying .
The supermarket chain has put a limit of three items per customer on some ranges , including toilet rolls and disinfectant products .
It said stock levels `` were good '' , but the firm wanted to `` make sure they were available for everyone '' .
A spokeswoman said : `` We have some products with limits on all year round such as paracetamol and so it works in just the same way . ''
Shelves at some stores were left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising coronavirus cases across the UK and the possibility of stricter lockdown measures .
The British Retail Consortium ( BRC ) has urged consumers to be considerate of others and `` shop as you normally would '' .
Despite scenes at some stores , supermarket giants Tesco , Asda , Sainsbury 's , Lidl and Aldi said they had `` good availability '' earlier in the week and had not experienced any shortages yet .
Tesco added its online capacity had almost doubled from 600,000 weekly delivery slots in March to 1.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainability at the BRC , Andrew Opie , said : `` Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under a future lockdown .
`` Nonetheless , we urge consumers to be considerate of others and shop as they normally would . ''
Meanwhile , Asda is set to enforce rules on face coverings more strictly across its shops amid the pandemic .
Customers who do not have a covering when they enter a store will be offered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay for at the end of their trip .
The firm announced on Wednesday that it will create 1,000 new `` safety marshal '' roles across its 639 UK stores .

Director of food and sustainability at the BRC, Andrew Opie, said: "Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under a future lockdown.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Sir Harold Evans death: Thalidomide campaigners pay tribute to journalist

Thalidomide campaigners have paid tribute to investigative journalist Sir Harold Evans , who has died aged 92 .
The British-American journalist , who led an investigation into the drug , died of heart failure in New York , his wife Tina Brown said .
David Mason , whose daughter Louise Medus-Mansell was a Thalidomide victim , said Sir Harold played a `` pivotal '' role in securing compensation for survivors .
Sir Harold oversaw many campaigns as editor of the Sunday Times .
His 70-year career also saw him work as a magazine founder , book publisher , author and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Reuters ' editor-at-large .
Sir Harold 's Thalidomide campaign was launched in 1972 and eventually forced the UK manufacturer , Distillers Company - at the time the Sunday Times 's biggest advertiser - to increase the compensation received by victims .
Thalidomide , which first appeared in the UK in 1958 , was prescribed to expectant mothers to control the symptoms of morning sickness .
However , hundreds of these mothers in Britain , and many thousands across the world , gave birth to children with missing limbs , deformed hearts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's daughter , Mrs Medus-Mansell , was born without arms and legs after her mother was prescribed Thalidomide during pregnancy .
Mr Mason told the BBC his first meeting with Sir Harold was `` pivotal '' to his campaign to secure further compensation for his daughter and other survivors .
`` I 'd been fighting this campaign for many years before meeting Harry , but the idea of the press campaign , and bringing public awareness to my campaign , was absolutely vital , '' he said .
`` There 's no doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and leadership with that , I would not have won the Thalidomide campaign .
`` Week on week he was bashing Distillers , and brought about tremendous national coverage , and tremendous sympathy for the victims of Thalidomide , which helped me enormously . ''
• Ageing in the wake of thalidomide He added that Sir Harold was a `` wonderful campaigning journalist , and a thoroughly nice man , very popular with everybody .
He really was invaluable and I 'll miss him greatly . ''
Mrs Medus-Mansell , who also campaigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died aged 56 in 2018 after years of poor health .
Glen Harrison , a Thalidomide survivor and deputy chairman of the campaign group Thalidomide UK , also paid tribute following Sir Harold 's death .
He described him as `` an outstanding human being for our cause '' .
In addition to helping to secure extra compensation for victims , Sir Harold fought a legal injunction to stop the Sunday Times from revealing the drug 's developers had not gone through the proper testing procedures .
Speaking about his campaigning in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harold said : `` I tried to do - all I hoped to do - was to shed a little light .
And if that light grew weeds , we 'd have to try and pull them up . ''
• It was launched on 1 October 1957 • First marketed as a sedative , it was then given to pregnant women to combat morning sickness • As many as 10,000 babies of these women were born worldwide with deformities After 14 years as editor of the Sunday Times , Sir Harold went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conde Nast Traveller magazine and later president of the publishing giant , Random House .
One of Britain and America 's best-known journalists , Sir Harold also wrote several books about the press and in 2003 was given a knighthood for his services to journalism .
A year earlier , a poll by the Press Gazette and the British Journalism Review named him the greatest newspaper editor of all time .
Author and editor Tina Brown said on Twitter that her husband was `` the most magical of men '' and had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sir Harold forged his reputation as editor of the Northern Echo in the 1960s , where his campaigns resulted in a national screening programme for cervical cancer and a posthumous pardon for Timothy Evans , wrongly hanged for murder in 1950 .
Despite his many notable campaigns , Sir Harold said newspaper campaigns should be selective , and he deplored what he saw as the invasion of privacy by the British tabloid press .
After editing the Sunday Times Sir Harold edited the Times , but left in 1981 following a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rupert Murdoch , over editorial independence .
Writing about their relationship , Sir Harold described his decision not to `` campaign against '' Mr Murdoch 's takeover of the papers as `` the worst in my professional career '' .
He added : `` My principal difficulty with Murdoch was my refusal to turn the paper into an organ of Thatcherism .
That is what the Times became . ''
Harry Evans personified not only the noblest possibilities of journalism , but of social mobility in the 20th Century too .
Born into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , his route to national and international acclaim via the streets of Manchester and Darlington - the latter as editor of the Northern Echo - is sadly a route few take today .
He embodied the most romantic ideal of an editor : a humble hack taking on mighty forces through the dogged pursuit of truth .
Though he later fell out with Rupert Murdoch , and never forgave him , in his 14 years at the helm of the Sunday Times he redefined journalism itself .
He was a master craftsman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was precious and vital ; and he combined a flair for layout , projection and design with a remarkable nose for a story , particularly those with human suffering at their heart .
But above all he was brave .
During his reign , it seemed no super-rich bully or powerful government could intimidate him .
In our era of information overload , diminished trust in journalism , and fewer people willing to pay for news , the nostalgia for what he represented is impossible to resist .
As he put it himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 2009 , he reached the top in Vanished Times .
He had the resources , and the time , to hold power to account - and he did uniquely well .
Mixed with his charm and sheer decency , this put journalism itself in a debt to him that will never be fully serviced .
Ian Murray , executive director of the Society of Editors , said : `` Sir Harold Evans was a giant among journalists who strove to put the ordinary man and woman at the heart of his reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sir Harold and his second wife , Tina Brown , moved to New York .
She edited Vanity Fair and the New Yorker , while he became founding editor of Conde Nast magazine .
In 2011 , at the age of 82 , Sir Harold was appointed editor-at-large at Reuters , the organisation 's editor-in-chief describing him as `` one of the greatest minds in journalism '' .

Speaking about his campaigning in a 2010 interview with the Independent, Sir Harold said: "I tried to do - all I hoped to do - was to shed a little light. And if that light grew weeds, we'd have to try and pull them up."


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Black barrister mistaken for defendant three times gets apology

Ms Wilson , from Essex , said she had attended the magistrates ' court - where barristers ' traditional wigs and gowns are not usually worn - on Wednesday .
Upon arrival , she said a security officer asked for her name and then searched for it on a list of defendants .
After meeting her client , she tried to enter a courtroom to discuss the case with the prosecutor .
`` Another barrister or solicitor sitting at the back of the court told me to go outside and wait and to sign in with the usher for my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a barrister and she looked awfully embarrassed and said ' I see ' .
`` At this point as I was already pretty annoyed , but I went over to the prosecutor and then the clerk told me very loudly to get out of the court room because I had to wait for my case to come on .
`` I was nearly in tears , and I said again , ' I am a defence barrister ' , and she nodded her head and turned back to her computer . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the public thought she was a journalist and told her `` only lawyers can go in '' the courtroom .
`` All of that in one day , it made me feel exhausted , '' she said .
`` This really is n't ok ...
I do n't expect to have to constantly justify my existence at work . ''
She told the BBC she was `` quite often '' mistaken for a defendant but never so often in one day , and her experience had made her realise `` it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court '' .
`` The fact I was shouted at to get out of court is n't ok for defendants either . ''

"At this point as I was already pretty annoyed, but I went over to the prosecutor and then the clerk told me very loudly to get out of the court room because I had to wait for my case to come on.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--British ex-soldier Major Robert Campbell cleared over Iraqi teenager's death

A British ex-soldier has been cleared over the death of an Iraqi teenager , after 17 years of investigations .
Saeed Shabram 's family say he drowned after being forced into a river by UK soldiers in Basra in 2003 .
But a report published on Thursday said there was no reliable evidence that soldiers were responsible .
Maj Robert Campbell , one of the accused soldiers , said he had `` finally been exonerated '' but that the allegations had `` destroyed '' his career .
None of the soldiers were ever charged over the death , despite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations by the now defunct Iraq Historical Allegations Team ( IHAT ) .
But Mr Shabram 's death became the subject of a judge-led inquiry by the Iraq Fatalities Investigations team .
Baroness Heather Hallett , who led the Iraq Fatalities Investigations probe , said it was possible Mr Shabram 's family had been misled by false witnesses who claimed he had been pushed into the water .
She said it was `` most likely '' that Mr Shabram `` jumped or fell '' into the water , in the process of trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` dire punishment for looting '' .
She added there was no need for her to further explore the training and instructions given to British soldiers on dealing with looters or alleged looters , and that she had no recommendations to make .
`` I am relieved that after eight investigations we have finally been exonerated , '' Maj Campbell told BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale .
`` But I am angry that it took eight investigations , 17 years and destroyed my career , '' he said .
`` I 'm angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Defence ] abandoned us .
Angry that despite the two key Iraqi 'witnesses ' being exposed as liars in 2006 , the MoD and IHAT chose to believe them anyway and ground us into the dust .
`` I 'm grateful to Baroness Hallett for her findings , but I already knew I was innocent , '' he said .
Speaking to Radio 4 's Today programme in 2018 , Maj Campbell said he had not had a good night 's sleep for 15 years , as a result of the repeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the same programme the soldier had gone through `` a 15-year nightmare '' .
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said in a statement that he hoped Thursday 's findings `` will bring some closure and reassurance to the family and veterans involved in this process '' .
He added : `` Nobody wants to see service personnel or veterans facing extensive reinvestigations into the same incident , and our Overseas Operations Bill will help provide greater certainty and protections in the future . ''
The government says the new law will protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but critics argue it could decriminalise torture .
The Iraq Fatality Investigations ( IFI ) team was set up after the High Court ruled that investigations conducted by the Iraq Historical Allegations Team ( IHAT ) should be followed up in the form of an inquest .
IHAT had been looking into allegations made against Iraq war veterans but was shut down after the human rights lawyer Phil Shiner , involved in many of the abuse allegation cases , was struck off for misconduct .
The £34m IHAT probe did not lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` unmitigated failure '' by MPs on the House of Commons Defence Committee .

She added there was no need for her to further explore the training and instructions given to British soldiers on dealing with looters or alleged looters, and that she had no recommendations to make.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--UK can be 'Saudi Arabia of wind power' - PM

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he wants to make a `` big bet '' on renewables , turning the UK into the `` Saudi Arabia '' of wind power .
Speaking via video link to a climate roundtable discussion at the UN in New York , Mr Johnson said the country held `` extraordinary potential for wind '' .
He said the UK should embrace a range of new technologies to achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050 .
The UK holds the presidency of the UN climate conference , known as the COP .
But because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not take place this year .
It has instead been postponed until November 2021 .
• What is in the Paris climate agreement ?
• Covid crisis does little to slow climate change The Prime Minister said the UK had an ambitious agenda for the meeting and called on other countries to be `` similarly ambitious '' .
He praised the recent pledge by China to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 .
Mr Johnson reiterated his government 's pledge to `` build back greener '' after the Covid-19 pandemic , through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver thousands of new jobs in the process .
As regards wind power , Mr Johnson said : `` We 've got huge , huge gusts of wind going around the north of our country - Scotland .
Quite extraordinary potential we have for wind . ''
On the question of new technologies , the Prime Minister also said he wanted the UK to take the lead in carbon capture and storage ( CCS ) technology , in which greenhouse gas emissions are captured from sources such as power stations and then stored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a technology he `` barely believed was possible , but I am now a complete evangelist for '' .
He said the country would also be investing in renewable hydrogen fuel technology `` for trucks , for trains , even perhaps for planes - for vehicles that are n't readily capable of being moved by electric batteries '' .
Like many other countries , he said the UK government was also thinking of bringing forward the date for phasing out new petrol and diesel cars .
It 's thought that date will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - but this has not yet been confirmed .
This would help accelerate the take-up of electric vehicles ( EVs ) .
The government would be continuing its ongoing investments in solar power and nuclear energy : `` I do think nuclear has to be part of the mix , '' the Prime Minister said .
Something that might have got a bit lost amongst Mr Johnsons references to the UK not `` lagging on lagging '' or the need to get hydrogen `` grunt '' to power the nation 's trucks was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was only at the UN climate conference in Paris in 2015 that the world actually agreed that all nations needed to do their bit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
Even as the Paris conference closed , the participants knew the commitments made were not sufficient to meet the UN 's stated goal of keeping temperature rises well below 2C .
That is why they agreed to review their ambitions every five years .
The idea is that they will keep raising the bar , doubling down on the efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal today was to urge them to bring the boldest possible carbon cuts at a new meeting marking the anniversary of the Paris agreement on 12 December .
What they bring to that meeting will kick off a year of negotiations designed to get them to go even further eleven months later at Glasgow .
So Mr Johnson was beginning a process that will determine how successful the conference will be and - much more important - will also determine the future direction of global climate .
In addition , homes would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far fewer emissions .
`` Putting in lagging , changing the way the windows are configured , all kinds of things - changing the boilers .
You can do so much to make a home less carbon-emitting .
`` The UK may sometimes be accused of lagging in some things my friends , but we will never be lagging in lagging . ''
Mr Johnson said the UK 's greenhouse gases were 8-10 % down in 2020 on previous years .
But added : `` The bad news is we 've achieved that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the form of coronavirus .
`` The only way we 've done - or we 're going to do it - is as you can imagine because our planes are n't flying , our people are n't moving , our cars are n't travelling and our industry is n't producing emissions in the way that it normally would . ''
At the roundtable , Ursula Van der Leyen , president of the European Commission , said that keeping global temperature rise under 1.5C - considered the gateway to dangerous global warming - was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if we act together '' .

Like many other countries, he said the UK government was also thinking of bringing forward the date for phasing out new petrol and diesel cars. It's thought that date will be 2030, with 2035 for plug-in hybrids - but this has not yet been confirmed. This would help accelerate the take-up of electric vehicles (EVs).


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Tiny 'teapot' found in Derbyshire garage sells for £390k

The object , a Chinese wine ewer that may have belonged to an emperor , was found in Derbyshire by the 51-year-old as he went through boxes in a garage .
It was expected to fetch between £20,000 and £40,000 but instead sold for more than the average house .
The anonymous seller , who almost took it to a charity shop , said he might use the cash to buy a metal detector .
The construction worker from Swadlincote added : `` I 'm thrilled , this will change a few things for us all .
I sat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my brother and family .
`` It was tense .
I got a few cans of Guinness in beforehand .
The 8.5cm-high ewer was brought back from China by his grandfather , who was stationed there during World War Two .
It spent many years in his mother 's display cabinet but eventually ended up in a box in a relative 's garage in Church Gresley .
But lockdown gave the seller time to properly look through the boxes in the garage .
Hansons valuers identified his find as an 18th Century wine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the palace of Emperor Qianlong .
Auctioneer Charles Hanson said there were two other `` almost identical '' objects in existence and both were housed in museums in Taiwan and China .
During the auction eight phone bidders from around the world , including China , battled for the object .
Mr Hanson said : `` This is one of the most important objects I 've ever had the privilege of selling .
It has to be the best lockdown find ever . ''

Mr Hanson said: "This is one of the most important objects I've ever had the privilege of selling. It has to be the best lockdown find ever."


bbcuk--2020-09-25--Coronavirus infection: Is there a North-South divide in England?

Currently , half of the population in northern England and a fifth of people in the Midlands are facing extra restrictions to curb coronavirus infection rises.But no local authority south of Solihull is currently imposing these measures.So , is the virus spreading more in the North than the South ?
What does the data show ?
The main data we 've got is the number of coronavirus cases picked up through testing .
This shows that , although London initially had the largest spike in Covid-19 cases in early April , northern England has had the highest sustained rates of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases up by 4,926 on Tuesday In the latest week , all regions in the Midlands and northern England had more than 28 cases per 100,000 population , reaching as high as 63 per 100,000 in the North West .
This compares with rates in southern England which are at their highest since early June but are still at about 10 cases per 100,000 .
Looking at these rates does n't necessarily tell the full story though .
We know that some lockdown areas or places identified as `` hotspots '' have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local lockdown in Leicester , for example , confirms that testing was done door to door .
And when you test more people , you are more likely to find cases which could contribute to a rising rate .
However , other data sources do confirm a gap between the regions .
These show the same sustained differences over time , although perhaps at a smaller gap than case rates suggest .
For example , in recent weeks the proportion of tests that prove positive has been increasing across the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the North West and Yorkshire , 7 % of tests done on the public are coming back positive ( double the figure of a month ago ) , while in the South East and South West this number remains below 2 % .
And the Office for National Statistics infection survey , which is used to get an estimate of coronavirus in the broader population who might not get a test , shows that samples taken in the North West and North East are coming back positive at about twice the rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that London has high rates which are comparable with the north , something not picked up in the same way by the testing system 's case rate .
Hospitalisation rates of people with coronavirus continue to remain low compared with the initial spike , but once again demonstrate a marked regional difference : • Regions in southern England have one or fewer hospitalisation per 100,000 people in the week ending 13 September • The North West had 2.7 per 100,000 • The Midlands had 2.2 per 100,000 The final bit of data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which show the number of deaths above average for the time of year .
Northern England has seen 23 % more deaths than usual since mid-March , compared with 19 % additional deaths in the South .
However , it is London which has seen the highest additional deaths - 39 % more than usual .
This combined data does suggest that over the course of the crisis , the North has been impacted more than the South of England ( outside London ) .
But it 's important to note that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole of England is on an upwards trajectory .
Why is the North being affected more ?
There is no single answer .
First , the increases which happened over the summer could be linked to the timing of the easing of restrictions in May .
At the time , the Mayor of Greater Manchester , Andy Burnham , described it as a `` London-centric '' approach , because many of the regions had not yet seen the decreases in deaths and cases experienced in the capital .
Second , there could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which have made people there particularly vulnerable to the virus .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Last week , Lesley Jones , Bury 's head of public health , told Radio 4 's PM programme there was `` more vulnerability within our populations '' with `` higher levels of deprivation , more density , more people in exposed occupations '' .
Throughout the crisis , research from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlighted that people living in deprived areas `` have higher diagnosis rates and death rates than those living in less-deprived areas '' .
Deprivation is linked to serious health conditions and other issues such as overcrowded housing .
• Deprived areas hit twice as hard by coronavirus • Which regions have been worst hit ?
Looking at the local authorities currently on PHE 's coronavirus `` watchlist '' shows that a quarter of all these areas are ranked within the most deprived tenth in England .
These areas are also more likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less-deprived areas within the `` watchlist '' .
On population density , people in south-western and eastern England are also more likely to live in rural areas or small rural towns .
This also means they are less likely to live in overcrowded housing , reducing the spread between households .
According to the 2011 Census , 35 % of southerners ( excluding London ) lived in these areas , compared with 26 % in the Midlands and 19 % in the North .
Unsurprisingly , almost all Londoners fit within urban areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cases experienced at the beginning of the crisis .
The case of London makes it difficult to simply call it a North-South divide , according to Richard Harris , a professor in social geography at the University of Bristol .
`` It is not a North-South divide but an urban-lower-income v others divide , with those in lower-income jobs more exposed to the disease than those that are more easily able to adapt to home working and other means of isolation , '' he says .
The ability to work from home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England .
According to the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) , `` jobs based in workplaces in London and the South-East are much more likely to be possible to do from home compared with the rest of the UK '' .
They say this is probably because of a higher proportion of people working in professional occupations in the region .
Data from Google Mobility , which tracks the locations people are visiting , suggests London has seen fewer people returning to workplaces than the rest of the country .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to investigate ?
Get in touch

The government points to cases rising in all areas of Kent, even if they are currently lower than in some parts of London, and says that hospital admissions might need to be spread across the county. They do not reference this particular concern for hospital capacity in London saying bed occupancy remains below the spring peak.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Parkrun: October return scrapped due to coronavirus measures

Last updated on .From the section Sport Plans to resume weekly mass participation Parkrun events in October have been scrapped due to stricter coronavirus rules .
Parkrun is exempt from the government rules on social distancing as it is an organised outdoor sporting activity .
But Parkrun chief executive Nick Pearson said it `` would be insensitive to push forward with reopening '' .
`` Whilst we reluctantly accept this reality , Parkrun 's absence will come at a cost , '' added Pearson .
`` As we head into winter and face the many associated seasonal health issues ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental and physical illnesses ) , we believe Parkrun has an incredibly important role to play in supporting public health . ''
Pearson added that Parkrun believes there is `` little or nominal risk of Covid-19 transmission at outdoor physical activity events such as Parkrun '' .
The Parkrun movement was founded in Bushy Park , London in 2002 by Paul Sinton-Hewitt and is now in 22 countries .
Runners or walkers can take part in 5km events on Saturday mornings while 2km junior events take place on Sunday mornings .
Events are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are 729 different locations across the UK staging the weekly events and more than two million runners have taken part .

Last updated on .From the section Sport
Parkrun resumed in New Zealand in July but its UK return has been delayed
Plans to resume weekly mass participation Parkrun events in October have been scrapped due to stricter coronavirus rules.
The events, which take place in over 700 parks across the UK, were suspended in March because of the pandemic.
Parkrun is exempt from the government rules on social distancing as it is an organised outdoor sporting activity. external-link
But Parkrun chief executive Nick Pearson said it "would be insensitive to push forward with reopening".
"Whilst we reluctantly accept this reality, Parkrun's absence will come at a cost," added Pearson.
"As we head into winter and face the many associated seasonal health issues (both in terms of Covid-19 and other mental and physical illnesses), we believe Parkrun has an incredibly important role to play in supporting public health."
Pearson added that Parkrun believes there is "little or nominal risk of Covid-19 transmission at outdoor physical activity events such as Parkrun".
The Parkrun movement was founded in Bushy Park, London in 2002 by Paul Sinton-Hewitt and is now in 22 countries.
Runners or walkers can take part in 5km events on Saturday mornings while 2km junior events take place on Sunday mornings. Events are free and are run by volunteers.
There are 729 different locations across the UK staging the weekly events and more than two million runners have taken part.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--University self-isolation: PPE to pee and running out of food

Hundreds of students have been asked to self-isolate in their halls of residence following Covid outbreaks at several Scottish universities .
They include 600 at the University of Glasgow and another 500 at Abertay University in Dundee .
So what 's it like to self-isolate in a student flat ?
One student , who is self isolating because of positive cases in her student household , told the BBC she has had to adapt quickly .
She said : `` Being asked to isolate in uni halls is n't the best .
It 's not like in your own house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own bathroom and a separate room to work in and sleep in .
`` Most of the time is spent in my bedroom .
It 's nice but it can get me down a bit .
I get out of bed , take two steps to my desk and that 's what I do for most of the day .
`` We share our bathrooms - there are five showers for eight of us which is plenty but we have designated two for the people who have tested positive so we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ household . ''
• What do campus outbreaks mean for students ?
• University outbreaks 'should have been predicted' She also said the students needed practical help .
`` I am slowly running out of food .
I 've only been here a week and have n't done a big food shop .
I have been using up the few things I brought with me .
It 's another stressor to deal with . ''
She said students from her accommodation had socialised in other halls before the outbreak and had been `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added the threat from the university accommodation bosses that anyone breaking rules may be evicted was worrying .
She said : `` Threats to kick people out are quite harsh .
We took a decision as a group to be more responsible because we knew we did n't have somewhere to go if we got kicked out .
It might make students think twice . ''
First year law student Robbie Low is staying in the University of Glasgow 's Murano Street halls of residence , the epicentre of one of the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is sharing a flat with nine others Two girls in his flat have tested positive .
Some others have had symptoms and are waiting for test results .
He said : `` Freshers Week was good - maybe too good now we see the consequences of that .
`` I arrived on the 14th ( of September ) , and that Monday was the last day people were properly mixing , then it died down after that and there was a police presence . ''
He said a mobile testing unit had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that some students , against regulations , had gone home .
He said : `` Some people in my block have been extracted by their parents and are self-isolating at home now .
But I would n't do that .
`` I do n't want to expose my parents to the virus .
We came here knowing this was a likely scenario and we have all just made sure we do n't see vulnerable members of our family . ''
Robbie says staying apart in his small flat is hard .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size as for a five-person flat , so it 's hard to socially distance in the flat . ''
'They need PPE to go for a pee' Concerned mum Amanda from Argyll is in regular contact with her 18-year-old daughter who is living in a five-person student flat within the Murano halls .
She told BBC Radio Scotland 's Mornings with Kaye Adams : `` I believe the architect of the Murano halls was famed for prison designs .
And it has been a tough and lonely situation .
`` My daughter was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive and there was a bit of a social stigma to that . ''
In her flat , Amanda 's daughter shares a bathroom and a kitchen with four others , which makes self-isolating difficult .
Amanda said : `` She has to get into PPE to go for a pee .
Then she has to disinfect everything - the flusher , the taps , the sink , the door handle before she can go back to her tiny room .
It 's the last thing you want to do when you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access the kitchen at the same time as any of the others so she goes in there alone to cook in PPE and again has to disinfect everything - the taps , the surfaces , the cooker , knives if she has used them .
`` She ran out of fresh fruit and veg early and is now on to the stock of dried food we sent her to Glasgow with . ''
Amanda also said that laundry was an issue because `` not much '' was done in the first two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freshers in her flat have tested positive for the virus now and the other two are awaiting results , but they are all self-isolating .
Where are there cases ?
The Covid clusters in Glasgow are centred on two halls of residence , the Murano Street Village and Cairncross residences , with 172 students testing positive so far .
The university said the actual number of infected students was `` likely to be higher '' and blamed social activity at the start of freshers ' week , from 12 to 14 September .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to food and other supplies , and that advice on medical issues - including mental health and wellbeing - was also being made available .
Elsewhere in Scotland , all 500 residents at Parker House in Dundee have been asked to self-isolate until contact tracing is complete after three confirmed coronavirus cases .
In Aberdeen , 72 residents at Hillhead student village are self isolating after students tested positive .
Aberdeen University has urged anyone who has attended parties or other gatherings since Friday to come forward to aid contact tracing efforts - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for breaching guidance if they do .
Are you a student who is self-isolating ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also get in touch in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy • RULES : What are the restrictions in Scotland ?
• LOCKDOWN : Six months that changed our lives • CASES : Where are the latest cases in Scotland ?
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Amanda said: "She has to get into PPE to go for a pee. Then she has to disinfect everything - the flusher, the taps, the sink, the door handle before she can go back to her tiny room. It's the last thing you want to do when you are feeling rubbish.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--What do university Covid outbreaks mean for Scotland's students?

More than 1,000 students across Scotland are self-isolating after cases of Covid-19 were identified in student accommodation in Glasgow , Dundee and Aberdeen .
So what do students need to know about life on campus in the time of coronavirus ?
We 've put together the answers to some key questions .
Can I go out ?
The principals of all of Scotland 's universities and the Scottish government have agreed on some tough new rules for students .
So for now , students can not socialise with anyone outside their household .
That means no parties , no visits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other hospitality venues this weekend .
Universities will increase the staff presence to enforce rules and give welfare help and advice and they will ask private providers of student accommodation to do the same .
Police Scotland are also being asked to keep an eye on student behaviour off-campus and a strict `` yellow card/red card '' system will be brought in to deal with breaches that put students and others at risk .
And all students must download the Protect Scotland app .
Can you go home at weekends ?
Students who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have formed new households with those they are now living with .
That means they can not go back home , as households in Scotland are not allowed to mix inside homes .
These measures will be reviewed every three weeks .
There was some confusion about this after the Scottish government initially confirmed to BBC Scotland that students who had moved out should not return to their family homes .
Then the national clinical director Prof Jason Leitch said students in halls could return home for the weekend - as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have Covid symptoms .
But he has since said they can not return home because they are now in separate households .
He tweeted : `` The law is clear : they ca n't meet indoors with another household - even mum and dad .
Sorry . ''
There are exceptions - for example , to provide care for someone who needs it and for extended households .
How do you self-isolate at university ?
It 's essential anyone with Covid-19 symptoms self-isolates immediately and uses the NHS website to book a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-isolate - even if just one person has symptoms .
This means staying at home and not attending classes or social gatherings .
If the test comes back negative , self-isolation can end for everyone .
If the test is positive , Test and Protect will be in touch .
Public health officials say it is `` vital '' those self-isolating do so for a full 14 days .
You should remain in your accommodation - and not go out for any reason , not to attend classes or even to buy essentials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not self-isolating to get your shopping , or arrange to have it delivered to your door .
During this period you should avoid close contact with others you are living with .
Stay 2m away from everyone .
Keep the number of people in shared areas to an absolute minimum .
Do not share towels or clothes .
Sleep alone .
Clean shared toilets , bathrooms and kitchens after every time you have used them .
Keep washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water .
And remember , your college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and support .
How do you get a test ?
Students with coronavirus symptoms can book a test through the NHS .
Those who have their own car can go to a drive-through testing centre .
But there are also walk-through test centres being set up in some areas .
Walk-in testing centres in Glasgow city centre and St Andrews are already open .
A walk-in test site in Aberdeen opened on Thursday and a centre in Edinburgh will open on Friday .
Additional sites will open in Glasgow on 2 October and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites are being identified in Dundee .
Mobile testing centres have also been used at Abertay University and at Murano St student village in Glasgow .
The incident management team managing the outbreak at Parker House in Dundee have decided to test every resident , and will deliver home-testing kits to all students in the accommodation .
Why are halls of residence open ?
How many students live there ?
Universities Scotland says allowing student accommodation to open means students can attend the university of their choice .
Some students live far away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back and forth .
Almost 49,000 new students gained places at Scottish universities this autumn , according to UCAS .
More than half of those are likely be in university-run halls of residence , with at least 27,000 places available across the country .
The highest numbers of students in university accommodation are in Edinburgh and Glasgow , with an estimated 10,000 students living in halls in the capital .
There are also sizeable student populations in Aberdeen , Dundee , Paisley , Stirling and St Andrews - which alone has 4,000 spaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universities and colleges , a blended approach is being taken - so teaching will happen both online and in person .
Universities Scotland said universities `` are offering on-campus experience for students where it is safe and practical to do so and is key to their learning '' .
This will be limited to small seminar groups , lab and practical work - where this in-person learning can take place within the guidelines .
Can students use shared facilities - like gyms and libraries ?
Just like similar facilities off campus , libraries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but there are public health measures in place to try to stop the spread of the virus .
For example , social distancing measures are in place .
In many circumstances , capacity has been reduced considerably .
Edinburgh Napier University said its campus capacity has been reduced to 30 % of normal capacity .
Use the form below to send us your questions and we could be in touch .
In some cases your question will be published , displaying your name , age and location as you provide it , unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will never be published .
Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions .

In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--UK travel restrictions: Which countries are on the UK's quarantine list?

But the requirement to self-isolate has been dropped if you 're arriving in the UK from other destinations , including Thailand .
The latest additions to the UK 's quarantine list are Denmark , Slovakia , Iceland and Curaçao with people entering from those countries needing to isolate from 04:00 BST on Saturday .
Which countries are now on the quarantine list ?
Most people entering the UK from overseas have to quarantine unless the country is on the list of exempt `` travel corridors '' .
But many countries have lost their travel corridor status and are back on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the quarantine list decided ?
The Joint Biosecurity Centre ( JBC ) - set up by the government to monitor coronavirus - works with the chief medical officers of each UK nation and advises on which destinations should be on the list .
The decision is often made when 20 or more people out of every 100,000 in a country , or island , are infected over seven days , but other factors are also considered .
These include : Why have regional travel corridors been introduced ?
That 's prompted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whereby quarantine measures can be introduced for a country 's mainland , but not its islands - or vice versa , if only one has a high rate of coronavirus .
The distinction is only made between islands and the mainland , as it is too difficult to distinguish between inland regions , and people could travel too easily between them .
To this effect , travellers to England must quarantine if they return from seven of the Greek islands , or from mainland Portugal .
Why can the UK nations make different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy , meaning each UK nation sets its own quarantine list .
But until recently these have generally been identical .
In early September , Scotland and Wales decided to apply quarantine measures to all , or parts , of Greece after a number of cases of the virus were traced back to travellers from there .
They have also both added Portugal to their quarantine list , after it breached the threshold of 20 cases per 100,000 people .
But England and Northern Ireland did not immediately apply quarantine restrictions to travellers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although they have since added areas within those countries .
Where can I go without quarantining when I get back ?
Antigua and Barbuda , Australia , Azores , Barbados , BES Islands , Cuba , Cyprus , Dominica , Estonia , Faroe Islands , Fiji , Finland , Germany , Greece ( except seven islands ) , Greenland , Grenada , Hong Kong , Italy , Japan , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Macau , Madeira , Malaysia , Mauritius , New Caledonia , New Zealand , Norway , Poland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea , St Barthélemy , St Kitts and Nevis , St Lucia , St Pierre and Miquelon , Slovakia , St Vincent and the Grenadine , Sweden , Taiwan , Turkey , Vatican City , Vietnam Those entering the UK from the common travel area - the Republic of Ireland , the Channel Islands , or the Isle of Man - are exempt , as are the 14 British Overseas Territories .
What about restrictions at my destination ?

On 24 December, the UK banned travel from South Africa amid concerns over another new strain of the virus linked to that country. People who have transited through South Africa in the past 10 days will also be banned. However, UK and Irish nationals as well as the UK visa holders and permanent residents are exempt, but they will have to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Cineworld swings to huge loss after virus closures

Cineworld has warned it may need to raise more money in the event of further coronavirus restrictions or film delays due to Covid-19 .
It swung to a $ 1.6bn ( £1.3bn ) loss for the six months to June as its cinemas were closed under lockdown .
`` There can be no certainty as to the future impact of Covid-19 on the group , '' it said .
The cinema giant said it had reopened 561 out of 778 sites worldwide as lockdown restrictions have eased .
Six of its theatres in the UK remain closed after cinemas were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from mid-March in an attempt to contain the spread of Covid-19 .
The lockdown closures meant group revenues sank to $ 712.4m in the first six months of the year , compared with $ 2.15bn a year earlier .
The group loss this year also marks a huge fall from the pre-tax profits of $ 139.7m seen in the first six months of 2019 .
• Tenet gives shot in arm to UK and Ireland cinemas • What are the new coronavirus restrictions ?
Cineworld said it was still in talks with lenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which fall due in December and in June next year .
The company warned that it might have to take action if current measures aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus were tightened .
`` If governments were to strengthen restrictions on social gathering , which may therefore oblige us to close our estate again or further push back movie releases , it would have a negative impact on our financial performance and likely require the need to raise additional liquidity . ''
Independent London cinema Peckhamplex recently announced it was being forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falling visitor numbers and delayed releases .
In an email to regular visitors , it said that `` the film distributors that we rent our films from are constantly re-scheduling the big titles to further and further away '' .
Under current plans , the cinema will close on 25 September and hopes to reopen in November , around the time the next James Bond film is due to be released .
But Cineworld said recent trading had been `` encouraging considering the circumstances '' , with solid demand for Christopher Nolan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Despite the difficult events of the last few months , we have been delighted by the return of global audiences to our cinemas toward the end of the first half , as well as by the positive customer feedback we have received from those that have waited patiently to see a movie on the big screen again , '' said chief executive Mooky Greidinger .
`` Current trading has been encouraging considering the circumstances , further underpinning our belief that there remains a significant difference between watching a movie in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounds - to watching it at home . ''
Cineworld 's share price fell by more than 13 % on Thursday after the publication of its half-year results .
`` Today 's first half-year numbers serve to highlight the scale of the mountain that needs to be scaled by the sector as a whole , '' said Michael Hewson , senior analyst at CMC Markets .
He added that they `` certainly back up '' Cineworld 's decision in June to pull out of a $ 2.1bn deal to buy the Canadian cinema @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face a legal battle after Cineplex announced it would sue Cineworld for $ 1.1bn in damages .
Cineworld said on Thursday it had filed a counterclaim against the Canadian group for alleged `` losses suffered as a result of Cineplex 's breaches '' of their agreement , as well as lost financing costs and advisory fees .

"Despite the difficult events of the last few months, we have been delighted by the return of global audiences to our cinemas toward the end of the first half, as well as by the positive customer feedback we have received from those that have waited patiently to see a movie on the big screen again," said chief executive Mooky Greidinger.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Coronavirus: Eighteen Altnagelvin staff off work due to Covid outbreak

Eighteen staff members from a ward at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry are currently off work as a result of a Covid-19 outbreak .
The Western Health Trust has confirmed to the BBC that three members of staff on ward 40 have tested positive .
Another 15 are currently off work and self-isolating as a precautionary measure .
The trust said all 23 patients on the ward have been tested and there are currently no positive cases .
Ward 40 at the hospital provides rehabilitation care for elderly stroke victims .
Dr Bob Brown , from the Western Health Trust , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary infection prevention and control measures to protect our patients and staff '' .
The Department of Health and Public Health Agency `` have been informed of the situation '' , he added .
Meanwhile , 10 members of ambulance staff in Craigavon , County Armagh , have tested positive for Covid-19 , the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has confirmed .
Initially reported in the Belfast Telegraph , the 10 staff members were on a golf trip in the Republic of Ireland .
A further six workers have also been advised to self-isolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Bloomfield said none of them were seriously ill .
He told BBC Radio Ulster 's Good Morning Ulster programme that Craigavon station had a total staff of 60 .
Fifteen of them were on the trip , 12 of whom were ambulance staff and 10 of those had tested positive .
Mr Bloomfield said it was believed the the initial case , which was discovered on 13 September , was contracted through community transmission from a family member .
`` As a result of the staff being away together that 's how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus is , '' he said .
Mr Bloomfield said he was confident none of the affected staff had had patient contact .
`` The fact that there are a higher number of people currently unable to work in Craigavon , it does mean we are grateful that we can bring in staff from other areas . ''
Mr Bloomfield highlighted how `` challenging a time '' the last six months had been and his staff had `` worked exceptionally hard and needed down time '' .
He said the staff involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had no more symptoms , they will all be back at work in the next few days .
Nigel Ruddell , medical director of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service , said there was no doubt some response times have been affected .
`` As always we put our efforts into making sure that we respond to the most serious emergencies first and foremost , we aim always to get to the sickest patients the quickest , '' he said .
`` Patients with lower-grade emergencies , less urgent problems , unfortunately they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be affected and upfront I will apologise for any delay to any patient . ''
The Department of Health reported no further coronavirus-linked deaths on Thursday , with the death toll remaining at 577 .
According to the latest figures , 9,950 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in NI since the pandemic began .

"As always we put our efforts into making sure that we respond to the most serious emergencies first and foremost, we aim always to get to the sickest patients the quickest," he said.


bbcuk--2020-09-24--Coronavirus: UK lacking leadership, says ex-civil service head

The UK government has `` over-promised and under-delivered '' as it deals with coronavirus , a former head of the civil service has argued in a speech .
Lord O'Donnell said `` strategy '' and `` leadership '' had been lacking .
And he said PM Boris Johnson had used `` political capital '' by keeping senior aide Dominic Cummings in place after his long drive north during lockdown .
The government said its `` clear '' strategy was to save lives , while protecting the economy and education .
This week it tightened up rules in England on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant opening hours , and the use of face coverings .
The changes came amid a rising infection rate and after the government 's two most senior pandemic advisers warned there could be 50,000 cases a day by October .
Meanwhile , the number of daily recorded UK Covid-19 cases rose by a quarter to 6,178 on Wednesday .
In his speech to the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank , Lord O'Donnell said : `` We have to ask why a country with such reputed health and intelligence institutions has been so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The crossbench peer - who served as cabinet secretary under prime ministers Tony Blair , Gordon Brown and David Cameron - added : `` A litany of new rules and a steady stream of leaks reflects a government struggling to emerge from firefighting mode .
`` Without a clear strategy , strong leadership and the use of good evidence from a range of human sciences , there is a risk that our efforts to emerge from this pandemic will be protracted and extremely costly . ''
Lord O'Donnell also said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers have frequently broken one of the cardinal rules : they have over-promised and under-delivered . ''
The new coronavirus measures have divided opinion among scientists , with some claiming they do not go far enough but others saying they are a shift towards more coherent policy .
On Wednesday , Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab defended them as `` balanced , targeted and proportionate '' .
He said there would always be the `` Goldilocks criticism '' of the government - that it was doing `` too much or too little '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr Johnson 's most senior adviser , had driven from London to County Durham with his wife and child .
There were calls to sack Mr Cummings and claims he had broken the law , but he insisted he had acted `` reasonably '' and lawfully .
Mr Johnson , who himself had been hospitalised by Covid-19 earlier in the crisis , backed his aide and he kept his job .
In his speech , Lord O'Donnell said the prime minister had `` used up his political capital '' in doing so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Throughout the pandemic the government has taken advice from a wide range of scientific and medical experts .
`` At every stage we have struck a delicate balance between saving lives by protecting our NHS and minimising the wider impact of our restrictions . ''

In his speech to the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank, Lord O'Donnell said: "We have to ask why a country with such reputed health and intelligence institutions has been so incapable of combating the Covid-19 pandemic."