bbcuk--2020-03-06--Calls about children witnessing domestic abuse 'rise 25%'

Calls to the NSPCC about children witnessing the most serious forms of domestic abuse have jumped 25 % in a year , the charity has warned .
The number of reports that were referred to the police or local authorities rose to 6,642 in 2018/19 - up from 5,322 the year before .
The children involved were at `` huge risk of harm '' , the NSPCC said .
It is calling for the government to include more protections for children in the Domestic Abuse Bill .
The Home Office said children would benefit from `` a number of measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently making its way through Parliament .
• Women 'need better pay and abuse protection' The BBC spoke to one support worker who said she had met a six-year-old boy who slept wearing shoes so he would be ready to run away from his abusive father .
`` He was living with violence .
If the attacks were on [ his ] mum , he 'd be the one that would run for help , '' said Lisa Briard , who works at Leapfrog , which supports children and their mothers in Wirral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If there was a little bang in the room he 'd jump , he 'd keep an eye out .
He never really relaxed . ''
It took six weeks of visiting Leapfrog before he would take his shoes and coat off , Ms Briard said .
`` That was a big achievement for him , '' she added .
Figures shown to the BBC by the NSPCC suggest more than half ( 57 % ) of calls to its helpline about children witnessing serious domestic abuse are referred to local authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently have a legal obligation to provide support in many circumstances .
When Alice - who is not using her real name - met her husband abroad it was , she now says , like a `` fairytale '' .
`` We were friends , we fell in love .
It was a true love story , '' she says .
After 18 months together , the couple moved to the UK and had a daughter .
Then things changed .
`` I felt like a possession .
He would pay for everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and give me a set amount [ of money ] at the end of the month , '' she recalls .
`` Over time I just felt like my personality was being stamped out . ''
Alice tried to shield her daughter from the abuse , but it still had an impact on her behaviour .
Alice says : `` She went from having a sweet , kind little personality to being a bit rebellious and she knew she could play the two parents off one another .
Unfortunately that does n't make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both Alice and her daughter have now received therapy .
`` The difference is amazing , it 's like night and day .
It 's wonderful seeing her blossom and learning about her feelings , '' Alice says .
Emily Hilton , from the NSPCC , said the Domestic Abuse Bill currently fails to explicitly recognise children who witness domestic abuse as victims .
The charity is urging the government to include a statutory duty on local authorities to provide community-based specialist services .
`` The bill in its current form fails to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living with domestic abuse , leaving thousands at continued risk because the help they deserve is not in place , '' said Ms Hilton .
She added that the government was `` missing a landmark opportunity to transform the way we help young people recover from the trauma of abuse '' .
• Number of women killed at highest level since 2006 The Home Office said it `` fully recognises '' the `` devastating impact domestic abuse has on children and young people '' .
`` Children will benefit from a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the designated Domestic Abuse Commissioner has been appointed to encourage good practice in , amongst other things , the provision of protection and support for children affected by domestic abuse , '' it added .

"He was living with violence. If the attacks were on [his] mum, he'd be the one that would run for help," said Lisa Briard, who works at Leapfrog, which supports children and their mothers in Wirral.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Nottinghamshire teacher banned after vagina comment

A newly-qualified teacher who admitted making a `` stupid comment '' about a pupil 's vagina has been banned from the profession .
Joshua Brandon Lewis also shot at pupils with a staple gun , placed one or more in a headlock , and pulled chairs from under them .
He resigned from Carlton le Willows Academy in Nottinghamshire in May 2018 , after working there less than a year .
The Teaching Regulation Agency has now found he breached standards .
• Latest news and stories from the East Midlands The `` vagina '' comment was made after one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her friend 's vagina .
Mr Lewis said words to the effect of : `` If your vagina looks like that , you 've got a problem . ''
Several pupils heard him making the comment and he admitted it when he was interviewed , saying `` on reflection , it was a stupid comment '' .
Mr Lewis , a maths teacher , joined the school in September 2017 when he was 23 .
Complaints were first made only a few months later , in December , about him making inappropriate comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an initial investigation then referred the matter to the Teacher Regulation Agency ( TRA ) .
The TRA asked him to attend a professional conduct panel but he did not do so .
The hearing went ahead anyway and several allegations were proved .
These included dragging a pupil along the floor by his leg , causing a carpet burn to his left shoulder blade , firing staples at pupils from a staple gun , pulling chairs from under pupils so they fell to the ground and kicking a chair , causing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The TRA panel found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct , and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute .
Carlton le Willows Academy head teacher Craig Weaver said : `` We welcome the outcome of the hearing and are pleased that it has reached its conclusion this week .
`` It is important our students , parents and staff know that we will always listen to their concerns and that we continue to demand the highest level of professionalism from all academy staff . ''
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your story ideas to eastmidsnews @ bbc.co.uk .

These included dragging a pupil along the floor by his leg, causing a carpet burn to his left shoulder blade, firing staples at pupils from a staple gun, pulling chairs from under pupils so they fell to the ground and kicking a chair, causing a pupil to fall to the ground.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Starbucks bans reusable cups to help tackle spread

Starbucks branches have temporarily banned reusable cups in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
The coffee chain said customers would still receive a 25p discount for bringing reusable cups with them , but drinks would be served in paper cups .
Great Western Railway and LNER have banned reusable cups on trains - but GWR scrapped the policy after days .
A hygiene expert said containing the virus should be a `` greater priority '' than environmental concerns .
It is understood Starbucks made the decision internally , rather than on the advice of health officials .
What do I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak The coffee chain 's Europe spokesman , Robert Lynch , said : `` Out of an abundance of caution , we are pausing the use of personal cups or tumblers in our stores across the UK .
`` However , we will continue to honour our 25p discount for anyone who brings in a personal cup . ''
He said Starbucks was suspending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use a paper cup .
Mr Lynch added the coffee chain - which , in 1998 , was the first to offer users a discount for customers with reusable cups - was also introducing `` increased cleaning measures '' for all in-store crockery such as ceramic mugs and plates .
Starbucks stores in the US have already brought in similar measures .
The coffee chain closed half of its almost 4,300 outlets in China in January to support efforts to contain coronavirus , which causes Covid-19 .
UK train operator LNER said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trains `` to help prevent possible contamination from handling cups and lids '' .
While Great Western Railway ( GWR ) said it banned the use of reusable cups on its trains for `` three or four days '' as part of `` sensible precautions '' to protect customers and staff .
But the train company `` reverted '' to its normal policy on Tuesday , a spokesman said .
He said GWR had received `` a couple of comments '' from people asking for an explanation of the ban .
One GWR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absurd '' as trains were a `` germ hot spot '' .
Amy Slack , from Falmouth , Cornwall , said she decided against buying a coffee on a GWR train when her reusable coffee cup was declined on Monday .
`` I could n't understand what the difference was between a standard cup and a reusable cup , '' she told the BBC .
`` We were told it 's because of [ coronavirus ] being passed from hand to mouth… but that 's the same regardless of the receptacle you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who works for an environmental charity , said when she asked for the reasons behind the change , staff members said they had `` questioned it themselves '' .
`` If it was government guidance I would be totally for it , '' she said .
`` But coronavirus is going to be passed through very many more forms than reusable cups . ''
When asked if people should stop using reusable cups , Public Health England said its `` message is clear '' - that `` simple hand-washing with soap for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to stop the spread of the virus .
At least 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away each year in the UK , according to a government report published in 2018 .
But Prof Sally Bloomfield , from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , said hygiene should take a `` greater priority '' than environmental concerns while it was still possible for coronavirus to be contained .
`` We do n't know how serious [ the virus ] is , we are in a completely unknown phase of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preventing the spread , for the next three or four weeks then it should take a greater priority than an environmental concerns , '' she said .
`` I can be sympathetic and I can say that [ the reusable cup ban ] is not being paranoid , '' she added .
`` Handing someone a reusable cup is just the same as shaking hands with somebody ... if there 's anything we can do at the moment to slow down the spread , we should be doing it . ''
Greggs said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reusable cup policy , where customers bringing their own cups received a 20p discount on drinks .
A spokesperson for Costa Coffee said : `` We have no plans to stop allowing the use of reusable cups in our stores , but like all retailers we are monitoring the situation closely and are following government advice and guidance . ''
The Pret a Manger food chain did not comment .

"We don't know how serious [the virus] is, we are in a completely unknown phase of this, and I think in terms of preventing the spread, for the next three or four weeks then it should take a greater priority than an environmental concerns," she said.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Shropshire baby deaths: Trust will return £1m it received for 'good care'

An NHS trust at the centre of an inquiry into preventable baby deaths will repay money it received for providing good maternity care .
In 2018 , Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust received almost £1m , weeks before its services were rated inadequate .
The BBC revealed in December the trust had qualified for the payment under the NHS 's Maternity Incentive Scheme .
The trust said an `` incorrect submission '' had been made and it had ordered an independent review .
Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust ( SaTH ) is at the centre of England 's largest inquiry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 900 families contacting a review looking into concerns over preventable deaths and long-term harm .
Rhiannon Davies , whose daughter Kate died due to errors at the trust , said she was incredulous SaTH ever received the money .
`` They have deceived , lied and through so doing , denied those deserving of the money from obtaining it .
`` We know they have n't learned lessons from avoidable deaths .
When will enough be enough ? ''
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt wrote to ministers questioning if improvements to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of payments made to both Shrewsbury and Telford and East Kent Hospitals , despite both facing serious questions over the safety of maternity services .
The trust in Shropshire was paid £963,391 after certifying it had met the 10 safety standards demanded by the scheme , which is run by NHS Resolution .
In the letter , seen by the BBC , Mr Hunt suggested one improvement would be to link payments to CQC maternity and safety ratings .
`` The whole approach is likely to be discredited if trusts can meet all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor standards of care , '' the letter said .
In 2018 , NHS Resolution , the legal arm of NHS trusts in England , launched a scheme aimed at improving maternity care and reducing the cost of errors .
To qualify for payment , trusts had to certify they met 10 maternity safety standards .
NHS Resolution did not ensure each trust met its requirements .
Of the 132 trusts that participated , 75 certified they had scored 10 out of 10 and became eligible to receive funding .
The money was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CQC ) inspectors were assessing it .
The CQC report rated the trust , including its maternity services , as inadequate .
• 'She knows it makes Mummy sad' Louise Barnett , chief executive of SaTH , said the trust had reassessed its submission to NHS Resolution and would be repaying the money .
`` Although some good progress had been made , we did not have sufficient evidence to support the required 100 % compliance in all of the standards , '' she said , adding that internal auditors `` have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
`` We acknowledge that our systems need to be more robust .
We are continuing to review and strengthen our governance processes , to provide additional rigour and scrutiny at all levels , which I welcome . ''
Currently , the CQC is carrying out a review at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford , both of which are rated as inadequate - a rating the trust also shares .
A surprise inspection carried out in February found there was no children 's nurse on duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & E department and sepsis screening and the use of antibiotics `` required improvement '' .
There are currently 21 conditions imposed upon the trust by the CQC and the above issues are classed as breaches .
It will be discussed by the clinical commissioning group board when it meets on Tuesday .
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"Although some good progress had been made, we did not have sufficient evidence to support the required 100% compliance in all of the standards," she said, adding that internal auditors "have been commissioned to undertake an independent review".


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Liverpool old tyre ban pledge welcomed by Michael Molloy's mum

A mother whose son died in a coach crash has welcomed a council 's pledge to ban old tyres on licensed vehicles .
Michael Molloy , 18 , from Liverpool and two others died in 2012 when a 19-year-old tyre on a coach he was travelling on blew out .
His mother Frances set up the Tyred campaign group to get tyres over 10 years old on licensed vehicles banned .
She said Liverpool City Council 's decision to adopt Tyred 's recommendations was a `` victory '' .
The crash on the A3 in Surrey also killed 23-year-old Kerry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver Colin Daulby , 53 , from Warrington .
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported Liverpool City Council prosecuted 144 drivers in the past year for illegal tyres .
The authority said trading standards officers would be inspecting premises selling part-worn tyres to ensure compliance with the existing regulations , and it would also run spot checks in the local area .
It said it would ban tyres more than 10 years old for all local taxis and private hire vehicles and make drivers of licensed vehicles replace defective tyres .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right direction '' Mrs Molloy said it was `` appalling '' the findings of a government consultation on the matter had still not been published .
She said she `` cried with relief '' when the consultation was announced a year ago but now feels the government has `` betrayed '' them .
`` It 's taking its toll on me .
I 'm having to go over the same story and relive it again publicly [ and ] I ca n't really begin a grieving process while this going on , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department for Transport said it was still `` committed to improving road safety '' .
`` We 're currently analysing more than 1,100 responses to our consultation and will publish next steps in [ the ] spring , '' a spokesman said .

"It's taking its toll on me. I'm having to go over the same story and relive it again publicly [and] I can't really begin a grieving process while this going on," Mrs Molloy said.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Nottingham Trent University study to assess impact of traffic on hedgehogs

Researchers are investigating how many hedgehogs are killed on our roads in a bid to help the UK 's declining population .
A Nottingham Trent University team will also study whether tunnels under roads could reduce the number of deaths .
Experts believe the animals are struggling with lost habitats , increased competition and traffic .
Researchers hope this study could help stop the creatures ' decline and provide guidance for planners and developers .
The study , part funded by wildlife charity People 's Trust for Endangered Species ( PTES ) , will assess the numbers of hedgehogs killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many live in the area .
It will help determine whether the problem is so serious in some places that the local population is at risk of disappearing , .
It will also look at which hedgehogs - males or females , young or old - are most at risk of being injured or killed .
The study will take place in a dozen sites across the UK , six of which have tunnels of various sizes to help animals pass under roads safely .
• Latest news and stories from the East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the university 's School of Animal , Rural and Environmental Sciences , said : `` We need to know whether roads are affecting the long-term viability of hedgehog populations .
`` To the best of our knowledge , the impact of roads on hedgehogs has not been investigated in this way before .
`` There have also been no studies to examine whether tunnels are effective at reducing hedgehog road mortality or what attributes of a tunnel could make them more effective . ''
A `` state of Britain 's hedgehogs '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society , revealed a 30 % drop in the number of hedgehogs in urban areas since 2000 .
Hedgehog numbers declined by half in rural areas in that time , the report found .
Nida Al-Fulaij , grants manager at PTES , said : `` Lauren 's work could help save this iconic species from further decline . ''
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Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews @ bbc.co.uk .

It will help determine whether the problem is so serious in some places that the local population is at risk of disappearing,.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Dead baby boy found in Hampshire woodland

A baby boy has been found dead in an area of woodland in Hampshire .
Police are trying to trace the mother of the newborn , who was discovered close to Shore Road in Hythe , near Southampton , just after 14:00 GMT .
The death is being treated as unexplained and anyone with dash-cam footage of the area at the time is asked to contact officers .
Det Ch Insp Ross Toms said their priority now was to find the mother of the child .
`` I have no doubt this will have been a very distressing experience for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` Our priority right now is to ensure she receives the care and assistance she requires .
`` I want to make a direct appeal to her .
`` You may be very frightened right now and it is vitally important that you make contact with us or someone else . ''
Three police vehicles and a van are parked next to the woods being searched on Shore Road .
A small generator is running by the road , powering floodlights that have been used to assist police as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very concerned for the mother 's wellbeing and have asked for anyone who may have recently seen a heavily-pregnant woman in the area to get in touch .

Officers are very concerned for the mother's wellbeing and have asked for anyone who may have recently seen a heavily-pregnant woman in the area to get in touch.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--One billion Android devices at risk of hacking

More than a billion Android devices are at risk of being hacked because they are no longer protected by security updates , watchdog Which ?
has suggested .
The vulnerability could leave users around the world exposed to the danger of data theft , ransom demands and other malware attacks .
Anyone using an Android phone released in 2012 or earlier should be especially concerned , it said .
Which ?
says it was not reassured by Google 's response .
And the tech giant has not responded to BBC requests for a comment .
Google 's own data suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are on version 6.0 of its operating system or below .
According to the Android security bulletin , there were no security patches issued for the Android system in 2019 for versions below 7.0 .
Extrapolating this data , Which ?
concluded that two in five Android users worldwide were no longer receiving security updates .
It then tested five phones : Which ?
asked anti-virus lab AV Comparatives to infect them with malware - and it succeeded on every phone , creating multiple infections on some .
It said it shared its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` failed to provide reassurance that it has plans in place to help users whose devices were no longer supported '' .
The watchdog wants Google and others to provide far more transparency around how long updates for smart devices will be provided .
And it said the mobile industry needed to do a better job of giving support to customers about their options once security updates are no longer available .
Kate Bevan , Which ?
Computing editor , said : `` It 's very concerning that expensive Android devices have such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security support , leaving millions of users at risk of serious consequences if they fall victim to hackers .
`` Google and phone manufacturers need to be upfront about security updates - with clear information about how long they will last and what customers should do when they run out .
`` The government must also push ahead with planned legislation to ensure manufacturers are far more transparent about security updates for smart devices - and their impact on consumers . ''
How to check whether your phone is vulnerable and what to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than two years old , check whether it can be updated to a newer version of the operating system .
If you are on an earlier version than Android 7.0 Nougat , try to update via Settings > System > Advanced System update • If you ca n't update , your phone could be at risk of being hacked , especially if you are running a version of Android 4 or lower .
If this is the case be careful about downloading apps outside the Google Play store • Also be wary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Back up data in at least two places ( a hard drive and a cloud service ) • Install a mobile anti-virus via an app , but bear in mind that the choice is limited for older phones

"Google and phone manufacturers need to be upfront about security updates - with clear information about how long they will last and what customers should do when they run out.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Sir Billy Connolly says Parkinson's means he won't perform live again

Comedian Sir Billy Connolly has said he is `` finished with stand-up '' because Parkinson 's disease has `` made my brain work differently '' .
The 77-year-old Scot , who revealed his diagnosis in 2013 , told Sky News that fans would not see him on stage again .
His last world tour ended in 2017 .
Last year , he said he would love to perform live again but was `` not ready '' .
Now , he has said : `` The Parkinson 's has made my brain work differently and you need to have a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Connolly was voted the UK 's most influential stand-up comedian of all time .
`` It was lovely and it was lovely being good at it , '' he told Sky .
`` It was the first thing I was ever good at , and I 'm delighted and grateful to it . ''
Explaining how the changes to his thought process have made it difficult to perform , he said : `` Everything you say should have five or six alternatives behind it .
You 'd say something and then attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story make itself up .
`` It 's a madly exciting thing to do .
The story is taking place and you do n't know where it 's going .
It 's a delight .
It 's a privilege to be part of it . ''
• 'My art is my life now' Asked how his health currently is , he replied : `` I 'm on good drugs .
I take six pills a day . ''
The Big Yin has just opened a new exhibition of his art and sculptures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to let Parkinson 's define him .
`` I 'm always being asked to go to Parkinson 's things and spend time with Parkinson 's people , having lunch or something like that , '' he said .
`` And I do n't approve of it .
`` I do n't think you should let Parkinson 's define you and all your pals be Parkinson 's people .
I do n't think it 's particularly good for you .
So I do n't do it . ''
Follow us on Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

Explaining how the changes to his thought process have made it difficult to perform, he said: "Everything you say should have five or six alternatives behind it. You'd say something and then attack it from behind, and let the story make itself up.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Harry and Meghan attend London awards ceremony

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have taken part in one of their last official engagements together before they quit royal life later this month .
Prince Harry and Meghan attended an awards ceremony to celebrate the sporting and adventure achievements of sick and injured service personnel .
It was their first official appearance together since announcing in January they would step down as senior royals .
The London event was also Meghan 's first public royal duty since then .
The couple , who will formally step down as senior royals from 31 March , attended the Endeavour Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Armed Forces - at Mansion House in central London .
Harry , who had a 10-year military career , will retain the ranks of Major , Lieutenant Commander , and Squadron Leader when he steps down , but his honorary military positions will be suspended .
• How might Harry and Meghan make money ?
• Harry arrives in Canada ahead of new chapter A crowd of people braved the rain under umbrellas to catch a glimpse of them as they arrived .
The couple presented awards at the ceremony , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later proposing to his partner .
Danny Holland , who won the Recognising Achievement Award , got down on one knee and asked his girlfriend to marry him .
In a speech at the reception , Prince Harry said he was `` proud to serve Queen and country '' .
`` [ It ] is something we all are rightly proud of , and it never leaves us .
Once served , always serving !
`` , he said .
The duke added that many servicemen and women had told him they `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn offered them his own support .
He said : `` I feel lucky to be able to count myself as one of you ; and am deeply proud to have served among you as Captain Wales .
`` A lot of you tonight have told me you have my back , well I 'm also here to tell you , I 've always got yours . ''
The engagement is part of a final run of royal duties for the couple .
Prince Harry is joining Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Experience , a museum about British motor racing , on Friday .
The duke and duchess will then attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall on 7 March , and Meghan will mark International Women 's Day .
The couple will then join the Queen and other royals at the Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey on 9 March - their last official appearance as HRHs .
Earlier , the pair were spotted at Buckingham Palace and then photographed outside the Goring Hotel in Westminster after a private lunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in addition to their official engagements over the next few days , the duke and duchess would be meeting privately with several of their patronages .

A spokeswoman for the couple said in addition to their official engagements over the next few days, the duke and duchess would be meeting privately with several of their patronages.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Is it safe to hot-desk? And other coronavirus questions

The UK is continuing to work on its response to the coronavirus outbreak after more than 100 people in the UK were diagnosed with the disease .
Here is a selection of readers ' questions about the virus and the outbreak .
Coronavirus is believed to be transferred between people in droplets from coughs and sneezes .
But experts think that it can survive on surfaces , possibly for days .
So it 's important that your phone - at home , mobile or at work - is cleaned thoroughly and often .
All the major phone-makers warn against cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or sterilising wipes , because it can damage the protective coating on the screen .
Damaging this layer could make it easier for germs to stick to the device .
Modern phones tend to be water-resistant , so you could clean your phone with regular soap and water and a single-use paper towel - but do check your phone is water-resistant before you try it .
What is the risk to children ?
- Louise , London In general , children appear to be relatively unaffected by coronavirus , according to data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are able to shake off the infection or have no symptoms or only very mild ones similar to a cold .
However , children with underlying lung problems , such as asthma , may have to be more careful , as the virus could trigger an attack .
For most children , though , it will be a respiratory infection like any other and no cause for alarm .
The UK government would have the power to close schools to prevent the spread of the virus , if it wanted .
Schools in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Can the virus spread on notes and coins ?
- David Webber , Dorset The Chinese government has said that cash received by all banks must be sterilised before being released to customers , in order to reduce the spread of the disease .
Using contactless cards can minimise the risk of handling cash .
However , these cards can also harbour germs and viruses .
Best practice is to wash your hands thoroughly after handling cards , coins or banknotes .
Would the government close UK borders to stem the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although some countries , including Australia and the US , have introduced travel restrictions on some areas with coronavirus outbreaks , the UK has no plans to close its borders .
The government says that it wants to keep people safe while minimising the social and economic impact of any outbreak .
If flights to and from other countries were cancelled , people could always find other ways of getting to the UK .
That 's the view of the World Health Organization , too : it is not in favour of trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks , because it says it 's just not effective .
Currently , all flights and sea vessels arriving in the UK must provide a declaration stating that their passengers are well .
The Foreign Office is providing advice to British nationals abroad and to those planning to travel .
What are differences between coronavirus and flu ?
- Brent Starr , Gresham , Oregon , US Coronavirus and flu share many similar symptoms , making it difficult to diagnose without a test .
The main coronavirus symptoms to look out for are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has other symptoms too , such as a sore throat , while people with coronavirus may feel short of breath .
Anyone who suspects they may have caught coronavirus should not visit their GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital .
Instead , they should call 111 to speak to someone .
How are exam boards preparing in case schools have to close ?
- Amanda , Berkshire Exam boards across the UK currently say there are no changes to timetables and that students , schools and colleges should prepare for exams as normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SQA in Scotland , Qualifications Wales and CCEA in Northern Ireland say they are monitoring the situation closely .
Exams in Scotland start at the end of April and in the other three countries in early May .
• Should I self-isolate and how do I do it ?
• Coronavirus : What are your travel rights ?
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak If my husband and I got the virus , could our pets be infected ?
- Pat Jackson No .
According to the World Health Organization there is no evidence that coronavirus can be transmitted between humans and family pets .
Coronaviruses occur in almost all animal species , including humans .
They are usually specific to a single species and transmission between species is very uncommon .
But you should still make sure that after touching your pets you wash your hands regularly with soap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like E.coli and salmonella and these bugs can pass between pets and humans .
What questions do you have about the coronavirus ?
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 our terms & conditions and privacy policy .
Use this form to ask your question :

How is the government going to protect vulnerable children who remain unvaccinated? My son has cystic fibrosis and will now be forced to mix - he has not had any access to vaccination.
Because your son is in a clinical risk group - and as long as he is over five - he should soon be offered two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. You should be contacted by your GP or specialist team to arrange this.
With regard to the dangers of mixing, the UK has also recommended that Covid vaccines are offered to all children aged 5 to 11, not just those at high clinical risk. This is likely to start in England in April. Children are generally at much lower risk of becoming seriously ill from a Covid infection, although some do still get sick and need hospital care. Over-12s can already be vaccinated, and it's hoped that extending the rollout to younger age groups will help protect even more children from the risk of catching and spreading Covid.
Schools are expected to work with and support families who have concerns about a pupil returning to the classroom. It is compulsory for school-age children to attend, even if they were previously shielding - the only exception is a small number of children whose clinician or GP has advised them not to attend. If you have concerns about this, you should talk to your doctor.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--The TikTok stars giving diabetes the needle

When best friends Ellen Watson and Beth McDaniel posted a TikTok video of themselves getting glammed up for a night out , they had no idea they were about to become a viral sensation .
Overnight , a video of them dancing around racked up 500,000 views - not because of their outfits or before-and-after hair and make-up transformation , but because the Northern Irish students happily showed off their wearable blood glucose scanners which help them manage their type 1 diabetes .
Rather than conceal the small white discs under clothing as many people do , Beth and Ellen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to them as they danced .
The video propelled them into the social media stratosphere and the Diabetic Duo was born .
`` It 's just been crazy , '' Ellen , 19 , told the BBC Ouch podcast .
`` I think it was because people had seen it and they were tagging their diabetic friends going : 'Is n't this what you have in your arm ? '
.
`` Even non-diabetic people were commenting : 'What is this ?
Why do you have this in your arm ? '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation . ''
The scanners Beth and Ellen wear help them to track their blood sugar levels by taking glucose readings from interstitial fluid - a thin layer of fluid that surrounds the cells of the tissues below the skin .
Those readings can be scanned using a mobile phone and the results shared with anyone who needs to know .
It 's an alternative to the more traditional finger-prick test which relies on drawing blood , and which can be painful and numb the fingers .
People who wear the monitors often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer to manage their condition quietly but Beth and Ellen choose to be open about it on their chosen site TikTok , mostly known for videos which last just a few seconds .
The majority of clips on the platform feature lip-synching to pop videos , dancing or visual gags , so the pair have to get creative when it comes to getting a medical lifestyle message across .
In a video about taking insulin , the Diabetic Duo filmed themselves injecting in unusual locations - standing at the top of a human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a police riot van , and all to the soundtrack of the Bee Gees song Stayin ' Alive .
In another video Beth and Ellen , both from Banbridge , County Down , don glasses and suits , and take on the role of stern diabetes nurses who tut over their own blood sugar levels .
As well as enjoying their moment in the spotlight , the pair find relief in being able to take a light-hearted look at a serious illness .
Ellen was diagnosed at age six after her mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , known as the Four Ts : Extreme Thirst , losing weight and getting Thin , needing the Toilet and Tiredness .
Then , last August , Beth 's 12-year-old sister was diagnosed .
Eight days later , in an unexpected coincidence , Beth , 20 , became unwell and was also found to have type 1 diabetes .
Her blood sugar levels had sky-rocketed to 20 whereas a non-diabetic result would be between four and seven .
Despite being caused differently , all forms of diabetes have one thing in common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - in the bloodstream .
The levels of glucose are normally controlled by the hormone insulin , which is produced by the pancreas .
If you have type 1 diabetes , your body can not make insulin .
It is a serious , lifelong condition that is treated by injecting insulin .
With type 2 diabetes , your insulin is not working effectively , or you can not make enough .
It can often be treated with lifestyle changes and medication , and sometimes it is possible to reverse the condition .
Without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-lasting health impacts - including eye problems , kidney issues , increased stroke risks and nerve damage .
Close friends Beth and Ellen were known by those around them as the Iconic Duo .
When Beth revealed she too was diabetic , Ellen says : `` My mum dropped the washing basket and I burst into tears . ''
She gave Beth a card to cheer her up and wrote `` We 're the Diabetic Duo now '' .
Beth says `` It just kind of stuck .
We were like , 'Oh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen ' . ''
She says they were not trying to make a point about diabetes when they started posting videos together , but the audience quickly zeroed in on the topic and the response has been positive .
Cox2be2013 posted : `` My 10 year old son Ellis ( diagnosed 2 years ago ) loves your videos and said ' I wish this was me ' . ''
While Ben_1671 says : `` You have encouraged me to feel more normal . ''
Ellen says : `` I really identify with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What I would have done to have two girls like Beth and I to look up to . ''
She found her diagnosis easy to handle as a child , but as a teenager felt very self-conscious .
When she started secondary school she hid the fact she took insulin injections by doing them under the canteen table and sometimes did not eat so she did n't have to inject .
`` That 's so dangerous , '' Ellen says .
`` I do not recommend that at all . ''
Having the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow in confidence as they manage the lifelong condition .
Beth , who was diagnosed last year , says having a supportive and knowledgeable friend in Ellen , and making videos which are popular , has helped her come to terms with the condition .
`` If I did n't have all this hype and glamour around me would I have dealt with it as well ? ''
According to Diabetes UK , people with diabetes are twice as likely to experience depression than those without the condition and , after a diagnosis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and body image , can trigger eating disorders - something both women are conscious of .
The duo agree that the feedback has given them a positive outlook , and the success has spurred them on to make more videos .
They are aware their videos may appear frivolous to some but believe their message on the reality of living with diabetes cuts through the noise on social media because of their frank take on it .
They hope that by making diabetes more visible - and having a laugh while doing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stigma around the condition , and help others feel less socially isolated .
`` It 's very light-hearted , you know , and that 's what we 're trying to do because then non-diabetic people want to watch it too , '' Beth says .
`` It 's lifelong .
You just got to embrace it and get on with it . ''
The students have now found themselves juggling their studies with the increasing media attention to their online activities .
So what does the future hold for the Diabetic Duo ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos and working away at uni and just seeing where it all takes us , '' Ellen says .
`` We really would love in the future to become like the female Ant and Dec. For more Disability News , follow BBC Ouch on Twitter and Facebook , and subscribe to the weekly podcast on BBC Sounds .

"It's very light-hearted, you know, and that's what we're trying to do because then non-diabetic people want to watch it too," Beth says. "It's lifelong. You just got to embrace it and get on with it."


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Riz Ahmed on The Long Goodbye: Why he says 'Britain's broken up with me'

Riz Ahmed , the London-born , Emmy-winning star of Rogue One and The Night Of , has made an album , short film and live show about being dumped by an abusive lover - his home country .
`` Britain 's broken up with me . ''
The pain in the album 's opening lyric gives a big emotional jolt before the music has even begun .
The first song , titled The Breakup ( Shikwa ) , is delivered from the perspective of a person and a people who are so let down that they feel like their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets more pained and painful as it goes on .
That the person delivering it is Riz Ahmed - the Wembley boy with Pakistani roots who is now a Hollywood star - makes this break-up all the more heartbreaking .
He says the album is `` an emotional exploration '' from someone `` who finds themselves on the front line of this new , traumatised , confusing reality '' .
The press release bills The Long Goodbye as an album about the end of a `` toxic , abusive relationship '' .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others he seems to be speaking up for British-Asians more widely , the Indian subcontinent and the British Empire .
He stresses that , to him , the album 's not political - it 's all deeply personal .
`` I want people to know what this feels like .
People who have n't really maybe understood how it feels , I want [ them ] to step into this feeling of heartbreak that a lot of us feel right now . ''
The 37-year-old made his name on screen in Chris Morris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before starring in Nightcrawler , Jason Bourne , Rogue One : A Star Wars Story and Venom .
On TV , he won an Emmy in 2017 for HBO 's The Night Of .
Meanwhile , he has had a parallel music career , using his sharp lyrical wit as Riz MC and part of the Swet Shop Boys , often to tackle his conflicted cultural identity and his experiences of racial stereotyping .
But the wound that 's laid bare on The Long Goodbye goes deeper .
When was he dumped ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've really fully broken up .
I just know that it 's complicated , '' Ahmed replies .
`` A lot of people are feeling like the terms of the relationship are changing , or that we 're somehow reneging on the vows that we exchanged .
Like any relationship , I do n't know if there 's a specific moment where things all fell apart , or if there 's an accumulation of small breaches of trust that get you to this point . ''
In a 2016 interview , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but had come to realise that the word British on its own could encompass all identities .
Where You From , one track on the new album , dispenses with the relationship metaphor to give a complicated answer to the simple question in the title .
Does he feel the word British still suffices ?
`` Of course I describe myself as British , '' he replies .
`` If I 'm not British , who is ?
`` I guess I feel that , in the midst of kind of rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minds around what Britishness can look like or sound like or taste like , it 's all the more important for those of us with complex identities to stand up and defiantly and triumphantly declare ourselves as British . ''
At another point in our interview , he stresses : `` This is n't me coming out and telling the world I 'm no longer British and I 've got nothing to do with Britain . ''
The album , he explains , is a way to `` explore all the emotions - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , quite ambivalent , nuanced thoughts - through poetry and art and spoken word and singing '' .
What is his experience of being `` on the front line '' of the `` new reality '' ?
`` It 's very clear is n't it ?
Hate crime is spiking across the world , '' he replies .
He also talks about the treatment of minorities in India or China , and in European countries where the far right is on the rise .
`` It 's very clear that the reality we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people feeling unwanted and feeling upset about that and scared about that .
So , I think it 's just a reaction to that . ''
As it continues , the album travels through the stages of a bitter break-up - denial , anger , depression , acceptance and , finally , getting back on your feet .
Between songs , we hear voicemail messages from the likes of Oscar winner Mahershala Ali ( `` Do n't let her hate for you turn into self-hate '' ) , comedian Asim Chaudhry - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're going to get over this chick '' ) - and even Ahmed 's own mum ( `` Hold your head high and leave with some dignity intact '' ) .
Ahmed says he wants to work things out .
`` Looking back across this relationship , even if it is a dysfunctional one , it 's still one that in one way or another we have to make work .
We bought a house together .
We 've got kids together .
So let 's find a way of making this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` And actually sometimes relationships can come out a lot better for having gone through these kind of speed bumps .
`` So even though it is a break-up album , it ends very much in a note of hope and empowerment . ''
From the pain and anger that are evident at the start , it now sounds like he 's trying to put a brave face on the split .
`` Honestly , I 'm not trying to put a brave face on anything , '' he responds , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` unmasking my true , fully complex identity for people to like or lump '' .
That is why The Long Goodbye is his first to be released under his real name .
`` But in terms of where this album 's come from , you 're absolutely bang on , yeah .
It absolutely has come from a very personal place .
There is some real pain in this .
There is some real anger in this , just as there would be in a romantic relationship . ''
He will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show staged by the team behind the Manchester International Festival at the end of March , and in New York in April .
Some of the tracks also feature in his latest feature film , Mogul Mowgli , which has just won an award at the Berlin Film Festival , while Ahmed has also made a separate accompanying short film .
It delivers an even bigger jolt than the album .
In it , a British Asian family are preparing for a wedding when they are rounded up by state forces wearing balaclavas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbours watch from behind twitching curtains - with clear echoes of the treatment of Jews in Germany in World War Two .
Ahmed says he wants it to `` ask questions '' of the audience .
The first question is : Surely that could n't happen here .
Could it ?
`` I guess my first responsibility as an artist is to show the inside of my mind , to show you the things that keep me up at night , whether they 're hopes and dreams or nightmares and fears , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of spill that out there , '' he says .
`` Absolutely , again , that place of creation has been shaped by world events .
The story in the short film is one that I 've certainly heard many people worry about how close that kind of thing is .
`` And having just come back from Berlin Film Festival , it 's , you know , all too recent .
It happened in Europe within a lifetime , within my lifetime in Bosnia , happening today in India , happening around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't trying to make a polemical film , but very much trying to just show the inside of my brain and wear my heart on my sleeve a little bit . ''
The film feels like too much to contemplate .
But the fact he has even contemplated it is too much .
Please , Riz , can we give this relationship another shot ?
The Long Goodbye is released on Friday , 6 March .
He plays at Mayfield Arch 6 in Manchester from 26-28 March .
Follow us on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"A lot of people are feeling like the terms of the relationship are changing, or that we're somehow reneging on the vows that we exchanged. Like any relationship, I don't know if there's a specific moment where things all fell apart, or if there's an accumulation of small breaches of trust that get you to this point."


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Electric cars are coming: but where will you recharge?

They 've got the only electric car in the village .
Tiffany Snowden and her husband bought their second-hand Nissan Leaf a few weeks ago and love it .
It 's smooth to drive and , she says , `` It 's got quite a lot of power to it '' .
But there 's a problem .
It 's a pain to charge up .
That 's because , in the North Yorkshire hamlet where they live , it 's a race home every night to get a parking space outside their house .
If they succeed , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electricity overnight .
If they fail , the options are limited .
`` The closest charging point to us is about 10 miles away , '' says Mrs Snowden .
This is a dilemma that could face an increasing number of drivers .
The government says that in just 15 years the only new cars on the market will be fully electric vehicles ( EVs ) or hydrogen-powered alternatives .
While the number of charging points around the UK has increased by about 50 % in the last 12 months , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are noticeable gaps in provision around the country .
A recent report from Capital Economics suggested that fleshing out the UK 's charging network will cost £45.9bn between now and 2050 .
There are even fears that the electricity grid wo n't be able to cope as thousands more EVs get plugged in by their new owners .
Is the UK ready for the electric vehicle revolution , then , or is the whole movement doomed to stall ?
The Snowdens are hoping that their local charging problem will have a local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in funding for councils to spend on residential charging points .
However , when Mrs Snowden asked her council about this , a representative told her there was little space in the village for charging bays .
Plus , they added that the expense of upgrading infrastructure for such facilities was significant .
Improving cabling and substations alone could cost `` upwards of £75,000 '' , they said .
The representative advised Mrs Snowden to ask whether the local pub could install a charging point instead - because it has parking space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the meantime , the Snowdens intend to upgrade their home charging point and will have to carefully plan where they charge up and how they use the roughly 80 miles of range they get with their 2014 Nissan Leaf .
`` I think we 've kind of gone about it perhaps a bit backwards in getting the car first , '' she jokes .
`` We kind of jumped a bit into it but I think we just have to face it now , really . ''
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• Blockchain : The revolution that has n't quite happened For anyone else wondering where they might charge up a new EV , there are an increasing options , says Ben Lane , co-founder at Zap-Map.com .
`` At current rates , we 're essentially doubling the number of charge points in the UK over a two year period , '' he says .
Around 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 12 months in the UK .
However , Dr Lane adds that there are places where gaps in the network are apparent .
`` Wales is the country in the United Kingdom that probably needs to do the biggest catch-up , '' he says .
And while England has by far the most chargers , there are places where coverage is `` fragmented '' .
Certainly , some EV users have not faced the same challenges as the Snowdens in North Yorkshire .
Richard Jackson and his wife bought their first EV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiment back in 2016 .
`` We ended up using the BMW for everything , '' he says .
`` It very quickly became our main family car . ''
Mr Jackson , who used to work in the petrol sector , commutes into London from his home near Hatfield and says that one of his main motivations for buying an electric car was to play a part in reducing ambient pollution in the capital .
`` I really could tell , 'Wow , the air is not as good as it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to see… could I make a difference ? ''
he explains .
He 's since bought a second electric car , an MG ZS EV , and has n't looked back .
Planning when and where to charge on journeys is important , Mr Jackson says , but he 's taken his car to France on family holidays without problems .
Since he began driving an electric vehicle , he has come close to running out of electricity on only one occasion , he says .
However , he does add that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charging the car when out and about does incur other costs : `` My goodness me , you buy a lot of coffees when you go into charge points . ''
Most of the charging bays being installed at the moment are being paid for by private businesses - including electricity companies , car makers and firms , like BP for instance , that also run petrol stations .
Chargers might be located at service stations or hotels , leisure centres and shopping complexes , for example .
In some cases , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge a fee or a monthly subscription .
There are also important differences to watch out for - charging times will vary widely depending on whether you plug in to a slow , fast or rapid charger .
More than £1.5bn will need to be spent on public charging infrastructure by 2030 , according to accountancy firm Deloitte .
There are huge costs in terms of supplying cabling and substations as well as the charging points themselves , say Deloitte 's Jamie Hamilton and Michael Woodward .
Dr Lane at Zap-Map.com estimates that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be used on average around five times as often as they are today before the system is financially sustainable .
Investing in the network now , though , is essential .
As Mr Hamilton says , `` Lack of charging infrastructure is the number one barrier to people in terms of buying EVs at the moment . ''
That 's become the top concern , having overtaken price and range , according to Deloitte 's market research .
Some new cars on sale today , including the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Audi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in range .
Even if the number of charging points around the UK does boom , some question whether the electricity grid will be able to cope with thousands of new vehicles thirsty for power .
A National Grid spokeswoman told the BBC that the anticipated increase of in electricity demand of 10 % that is expected from EVs is `` entirely manageable '' because peak demand has fallen by 16 % in the UK since 2002 , due to efficiency gains .
However , she adds that the system will still need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their electric car at once .
This means connecting up charging points to a computer system that determines when they can be used .
Currently , private individuals ' car-charging habits are difficult to monitor and control .
The government has plans to bring in a new law that would ensure every new home built in the UK has an EV charging point .
Some housing developments are already ploughing ahead with this idea .
Pedro Pacheco at market analysts Gartner praises this approach and says that , ultimately , drivers will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars at home or at work - with minimal change to their daily routines .
`` In the end , this is absolutely essential for the acceptance of EVs , '' he says .

He's since bought a second electric car, an MG ZS EV, and hasn't looked back. Planning when and where to charge on journeys is important, Mr Jackson says, but he's taken his car to France on family holidays without problems. Since he began driving an electric vehicle, he has come close to running out of electricity on only one occasion, he says.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--The Scottish roots of Johnny Cash

The Scottish roots of Johnny Cash

There are many places of pilgrimage for fans of legendary musician Johnny Cash , among them Arkansas , where he was born , Nashville , Tennessee , the home of country music - and Fife .
In truth , the east coast of Scotland is not yet a hotspot for fans of the Man in Black but some people think it should be .
A small festival in Aberdour is now paying tribute to Cash 's legacy and his Scottish links .
Cash himself claimed his ancestors were from the Kingdom of Fife and was proud of his Scottish roots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlantic way back in the 17th Century .
The all-American musician began his career in the 1950s , recording alongside Elvis Presley at the famous Sun Studios in Memphis .
He walked the line between outlaw and heavenly until he died in 2003 , at the age of 71 , after a late career flourish in which he had success with a series of acoustic albums .
But it was a chance meeting in the late 1970s that led the star to track down his Scottish roots .
He found himself sitting next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Falkland Palace in Fife , on a flight from the US .
Cash mentioned that he had heard that his family originated in Scotland and Mayor Crichton-Stuart confirmed that the family name was still to be seen in the farms and streets of the Kingdom .
Cash 's daughter Roseanne told a BBC documentary in 2010 : `` My father was so taken by this he had our ancestry done back to the 11th century . ''
Biographer Stephen Millar told the same programme it appeared Cash was descended from a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the late 17th Century .
The singer 's daughter Roseanne further claims that the Cash clan is descended from Ada , the sister of King Malcolm IV ( 1153-1165 ) .
She says : `` Whenever my dad went into the hospital in his last years of life , he always checked himself in under the name of Malcolm .
He relished that connection with royalty , however far distant in the past . ''
In the 1980s , Cash travelled to Fife at least three times - most notably in 1981 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US television with fellow singer Andy Williams .
When Leith-born singer-songwriter Dean Owens heard the story he thought something should be done to celebrate Cash 's Fife roots .
`` Being Scottish we like to claim people for our own , '' he says .
`` Finding out Johnny Cash is Scottish , I got quite excited about that . ''
Mr Owens said the Cashback festival at the Woodside Hotel in Aberdour was not a `` tacky '' tribute festival but instead a celebration of Cash 's legacy .
Rebus author Ian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part , giving a talk on Saturday afternoon .
John McTaggart , who owns the Woodside Hotel , where the festival takes place , says more people should know about the connection .
He says everyone knows that Prestwick Airport was the only place in the UK where Elvis Presley ever set foot .
And Kirriemuir has a statue in honour of AC/DC 's Bon Scott , who lived there until he moved to Australia when he was six .
`` People love that musical heritage , '' he says .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Mr Owens says maybe a statue is not the right memorial .
`` In some ways this is better because it is all about the music , '' he says .

She says: "Whenever my dad went into the hospital in his last years of life, he always checked himself in under the name of Malcolm. He relished that connection with royalty, however far distant in the past."


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Can Tories and trade unions be friends?

Can Tories and trade unions be friends?

The Conservative Party and trade unions have a history of troubled relations .
But one Tory MP thinks they can work together for the good of each other - and the country .
`` Trade unions are a very good thing , '' says Robert Halfon .
They 're not words one would expect from a self-described `` tribal '' Conservative MP who , growing up , saw his party 's leadership engage in a year-long battle - which sometimes turned violent - against the National Union of Mineworkers ( NUM ) .
The miners ' strike of 1984-5 was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history .
The NUM 's eventual defeat , and the subsequent closure of the UK 's deep coalmines meant that , for many trade unionists , Tories became hate figures .
Margaret Thatcher , prime minister at the time , branded striking miners ' leaders part of the `` enemy within '' .
So how are relations between Tories and unions these days ?
`` The problem is there 's always a Pavlov 's dog reaction on both sides , '' says Mr Halfon .
`` You mention Tories to trade unions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on the Tory side , mention unions and they just think of strikes and pickets .
And trade unionism is much bigger than that . ''
Mr Halfon , honorary president of the Conservatives ' Union Blue group , wants his party to change its pitch to potential members .
Like some unions , it should offer perks such as private healthcare and travel discounts , legal representation , and better access to loans and insurance , he argues .
`` It ca n't be gimmicks , '' Mr Halfon , MP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` People are n't going to join for a Nando 's card .
This is revolutionary for the Conservative Party and it would be a very , very different model of membership .
`` Nowadays you can join the party by the internet , which is great .
But what do you get for joining ?
Absolutely nothing , apart from letters asking for money and voting in a leadership contest or for a candidate . ''
But there is one perk common to Conservative and Working Men 's Clubs , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because you can actually get a pint of Guinness for a very decent price . ''
At December 's general election , Boris Johnson 's party made incursions into areas where Labour - and unions - once dominated political life .
The County Durham seats of Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield , formerly held by Tony Blair , were among those that turned blue .
Support for Brexit and Mr Johnson 's promise to `` get it done '' is cited as a major cause .
After his election win , the prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` lent '' the Conservatives their backing and vowed to repay them .
`` I think the elections made a huge difference to our party , '' Mr Halfon says .
`` There are more Tory MPs who have been trade union members than before .
The party should make it its main mission to support trade unionism as a model .
`` People have got to think imaginatively .
We live in an atomised society and I want institutions that bring people together . ''
In 1953 , the Conservative Party had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year the figure , as reported by then-chairman Brandon Lewis , was 180,000 .
Trade unions , at their peak in the late 1970s , had around 12 million members .
Since then several laws have come into force aimed at making industrial action harder to organise - most notably those passed under Mrs Thatcher 's Conservative government .
`` Both we and the unions have seen a decline , but the Conservative Party would give our right hands to have millions of members , '' says Mr Halfon .
Of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( TUC ) , 12 are affiliated to Labour .
Mr Halfon , himself a member of the non-party-aligned Prospect union , suggests the Tory leadership can work with `` moderate '' and `` sensible '' trade unionists , without allowing legalising now banned practices like closed shops and secondary picketing .
He has even suggested that a union could become affiliated to the Conservative Party , but there is little sign of this happening soon .
`` You have to repeat the message again and again and again before anything gets changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Len McCluskey , general secretary of the huge Labour-backing Unite union and a vocal supporter of Jeremy Corbyn as party leader , had a `` constructive discussion '' a few years ago , he adds .
But what does the TUC - like most of its members officially politically neutral - think ?
`` I 've met Robert Halfon on a number of occasions , '' says general secretary Frances O'Grady .
`` He 's somebody we may not agree with on many things , but he clearly sees a role for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ butter of making sure that people get a fair deal at work .
`` How others [ in the Conservative Party ] think , we have yet to find out . ''

"The problem is there's always a Pavlov's dog reaction on both sides," says Mr Halfon. "You mention Tories to trade unions and they say 'no way.' And, on the Tory side, mention unions and they just think of strikes and pickets. And trade unionism is much bigger than that."


bbcuk--2020-03-06--The Greenham Common campaigner getting a purple plaque

For 30 years she campaigned for peace and nuclear disarmament , and now one of the original Greenham Common protesters is to be honoured .
When cruise missiles were delivered to the US air base in Berkshire in 1981 , tens of thousands protested .
Among the first was Eunice Stallard of Ystradgynlais , Powys , who marched 100 miles to found the women 's peace camp outside the base .
A purple plaque will be unveiled on Friday in her hometown as a tribute .
It was the height of the Cold War and Ms Stallard was a leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women for Life on Earth , who were first to arrive at RAF Greenham Common to oppose the UK government 's decision to allow the arrival of US nuclear warheads .
• The women of the nuclear protest camps • The many faces of Greenham Common They chained themselves to the railings and , rather than leave at the end of the day , decided to stay .
It was the start of a 19-year campaign that gained worldwide attention as more campaigners flocked to join them .
In one protest alone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air base .
A fiercely political and passionate figure , Ms Stallard was later part of the `` Grannies for Peace '' group who protested against the Iraq War at RAF Fairford in 2003 .
A firm believer in the need for more women in politics , she said at the time : `` It 's heartbreaking .
What we need is more women in government , women would n't send their children to war . ''
She lived her entire life in the Ystradgynlais area .
She owned a shop in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraising during the 1984-5 miners ' strike .
She died in 2011 , aged 93 .
Her family will reveal a commemorative plaque at The Welfare as part of International Women 's Day celebrations .
Similar to blue plaques , the purple plaque scheme was set up by a group of female assembly members ( AMs ) in 2017 to mark the achievements of outstanding women in Wales .
Ms Stallard was nominated by her great-granddaughter Megan Martin .
`` [ Eunice ] was a woman whose resilience and strength knew no bounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a peace campaigner are being recognised in such a way , '' she said .
`` It was important to her to use her identity as a mother , grandmother and great-grandmother to protest against nuclear weapons , in order to safeguard children and the future .
As a family , we are very proud . ''
Julie Morgan , AM for Cardiff North who helped establish the scheme , said Ms Stallard `` embodies the essence '' of it as she stood up for what she believed in .
Wynne Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` The plaque will serve to remind people of her hard work and dedication to campaigns for peace and community involvement . ''
Ms Stallard is the fifth person to be awarded a purple plaque , following those dedicated to Chinese community leader Angela Kwok , equalities campaigner Val Feld , Merthyr Tydfil-born feminist historian Ursula Masson and Megan Lloyd George , Wales ' first female MP .

It was the height of the Cold War and Ms Stallard was a leading figure in the predominantly Welsh group, Women for Life on Earth, who were first to arrive at RAF Greenham Common to oppose the UK government's decision to allow the arrival of US nuclear warheads.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--The exhibition celebrating the knotty wonder of trees

The director of London 's Hayward Gallery has been wanting to organise an art exhibition about trees for 25 years .
But it 's all come together at a time when they 're in the news in ways he could never have expected .
`` We 're seeing images everywhere of burning forests , whether it 's in Australia or California or the Amazon , '' says Ralph Rugoff .
`` So a lot of us are now thinking about trees .
But I think artists really started making work about trees in new ways in the late 1960s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Silent Spring was a big influence on how we thought about the environment .
`` New work after that was different from what had come before because the tree was no longer just a piece of landscape : it was saying something about the effect we were having on the world around us . ''
The new show features the creations of 38 artists from around the world and includes paintings , photography , sculpture and digital work .
Many pieces celebrate the sheer beauty of trees .
One particularly striking piece is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At five metres tall it fills a large section of wall at the Hayward .
It 's made of intricately worked trunks and branches and twigs all made of cardboard which make you believe you could walk into the forest 's non-existent depths .
Rugoff says the dark majesty of forests was bound to occur as a theme .
`` We 've always thought of the forest as uncanny : often they 're very beautiful but you can get lost in them too .
If you could walk into Eva Jospin 's creation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A gorgeous digital forest , designed by the American Jennifer Steinkamp , gets a big room to itself .
The woods in Blind Eye cycle endlessly through the four seasons .
Rugoff says he expects people to settle and watch the process for long periods of time .
`` The Japanese have this concept of tree-bathing where you go into the woods to experience the atmosphere the trees create .
I think it 's the same with Jennifer 's piece even though it 's all in a computer . ''
At first sight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply a large cedar log , though a very attractive one .
In fact the artist sliced the tree into roughly 800 lengths , each not much thicker than a sheet of paper , then put it back together .
The process draws attention to what the tree actually consists of - something we usually take for granted .
The Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone 's Wind Moon looks like a real , massively gnarled olive tree .
In fact it 's an aluminium cast of a tree in the south of Italy which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rugoff loves the way it 's coated in white enamel .
`` The original tree had been twisted in winds and had been burnt by the Italian sun and the branches give it a wild head of hair .
One of our artists told me he thought trees are the perfect sculpture in themselves and you can see that in the olive tree . ''
Some of the exhibits are enjoyable for their beauty while others contain overt social statements .
Steve McQueen 's photograph Lynching Tree is of a poplar he saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Years a Slave .
The tree 's history is chilling : it made a convenient gallows in the slave era and many black Americans lay buried around it .
The Colombian artist Johanna Calle campaigns for the rights of the dispossessed in her country .
Her image on paper of an Andean walnut tree is seen on closer inspection to be formed of typewritten words from the country 's 2011 Law of Land Restitution .
`` The law is about how peasants will regain the land rights they lost during the armed conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been displaced from the land by the violence .
The work reproduces the walnut tree at almost life-size - a familiar sight in Colombia .
You can enjoy the shape of the tree but the words it contains are about political reality . ''
Rugoff has balanced the attractive and the unsettling in selecting material for Among the Trees .
`` For instance I really admire a small piece by Mariele Neudecker which has small trees in water , all contained within a clear plastic box .
But it 's disturbing because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting to envelop the trees and it shouts at you of how we 've polluted nature .
It 's slightly apocalyptic and reminds me of when I used to live in LA and the smog came .
`` But the huge video installation Horizontal , by the Finnish artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila , is utterly restful .
Like Blind Cycle it 's something people simply stand and enjoy for minutes on end - though in this case it 's video rather than computer animation .
`` It was shot with the camera sideways and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into six in a way which makes you look with fresh eyes . ''
The concrete expanse of London 's Southbank Centre does n't boast much foliage but Rugoff says the exhibition is for all lovers of trees , of nature and of art .
`` London 's estimated to have 8.5 million trees and one of the great things about London life is that trees are never really far away .
`` So you can come and enjoy the beautiful images in the show but also think about some of the things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've lived alongside trees for so long and yet there are things we 're still discovering such as how they talk to each other - what people call the Wood Wide Web .
Scientists are doing fantastic work to explore our relationships with these wonderful things and so are artists . ''
Among the Trees is at the Hayward Gallery in London until 17 May .

"So you can come and enjoy the beautiful images in the show but also think about some of the things we have done to nature. We've lived alongside trees for so long and yet there are things we're still discovering such as how they talk to each other - what people call the Wood Wide Web. Scientists are doing fantastic work to explore our relationships with these wonderful things and so are artists."


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Health Secretary quizzed about coronavirus on Question Time

Health Secretary Matt Hancock responded to several queries about coronavirus on the latest edition of Question Time .
The UK @ @ @ @ @ the virus , which was announced on Thursday , was a woman in her 70s @ @ @ @ @

Health Secretary Matt Hancock responded to several queries about coronavirus on the latest edition of Question Time.
The UK's first fatality linked to the virus, which was announced on Thursday, was a woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions.
Read more: Supermarket rejects minister's food supplies claim
Watch Question Time in full on the BBC iPlayer


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Mulletfest winner Rob Ayton learned to love 'ironic' haircut

Graphic designer and skateboarder Rob Ayton , 31 , has just added another title to his name : Top international @ @ @ @ @ The annual event is held in Kurri Kurri , a small town in New South @ @ @ @ @ , from Bideford , Devon , says he was never a fan of the mullet @ @ @ @ @ for a laugh '' three years ago .
But the much-maligned style has grown on @ @

Graphic designer and skateboarder Rob Ayton, 31, has just added another title to his name: Top international mullet at Mulletfest 2020.
The annual event is held in Kurri Kurri, a small town in New South Wales, Australia.
Rob, from Bideford, Devon, says he was never a fan of the mullet and only got one "for a laugh" three years ago.
But the much-maligned style has grown on him.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Coronavirus diagnosis closes Churston Ferrers church for deep clean

A church in Devon has been closed for a deep clean after a parishioner was diagnosed with coronavirus , the Church of England announced .
The person tested positive for the virus after attending a Holy Communion service at St Mary 's Church in Churston Ferrers on Sunday .
A school in the town also shut earlier this week after a pupil tested positive for the virus .
The church was temporarily shut on the advice of Public Health England ( PHE ) .
Members of the congregation have been informed and asked to contact PHE for advice .
Pupils @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving lessons online , after the school closed on Monday when a student was diagnosed with coronavirus , Daily work is being set on a `` shared forum '' in what the school 's deputy head called a `` creative solution '' to a `` strange situation . ''
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Three more people in south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including one person at St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary in Brixham and two staff from Torquay 's Chelston Hall Surgery .
The primary school has closed as a precautionary measure .
Both Chelston Hall Surgery and Barton Surgery in Torquay will remain closed until 16 March at the earliest .
The Rev Prof Gina Radford , a vicar in south Devon and former deputy chief medical officer for England , said the church would `` support people both spiritually and practically '' .
Rev Radford added they would `` listen to concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirm the official health guidance '' .
Up to a fifth of the country 's workforce could be off sick during the peak of an epidemic in the UK , it has been warned .
The government is launching a major public health campaign urging people to wash their hands regularly as the number of people diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK continues to rise .

"To be able to bring my skills and experience from one role into my new role... It's an enormous privilege to having previously been looking at the physical health of people and now being able to look at and support the spiritual health of people."


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Scotland remains in containment phase

Coronavirus in Scotland remains `` very much '' in the containment phase , according to the country 's chief medical officer .
Dr Catherine Calderwood told BBC 's Good Morning Scotland she expects the number of case to rise from the current total of six in the coming days .
The updated figures will be published by the Scottish government at 14:00 .
On Thursday a patient in England became the first in the UK to die after contracting coronavirus .
The UK 's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitt told MPs health officials are moving towards the second phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Dr Calderwood compared the switch from the current containment phase to the next stage , delay , to a dimmer switch .
She said : `` Where we are on the dial at the moment the switch is still in containment , very much in containment , and gradually that dial will move around to the delay phase . ''
Dr Calderwood urged people to continue to follow basic hygiene advice and , crucially , wash their hands for 20 seconds .
Asked about the potential impact on major events , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice is that large-scale gatherings , particularly those in the open air probably do n't make a big impact on the transmission of the virus in the community .
`` We have the rugby at Murrayfield , Scotland v France , going ahead this weekend and I am absolutely sure that that is the right thing to do . ''
• Coronavirus : Scottish cases total six with 'rapid rise ' likely Andrew Buist , chairman of BMA Scotland 's GP committee , told the programme it was `` very much business as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The only difference in my practice is that we 're having a daily team huddle to review the latest guidance and check all our systems are in place and ready for if and when activity of coronavirus increases .
`` We have a limited number of beds in Scotland and on any normal day , most of them are full .
`` A significant rise in the number of cases of coronavirus is going to put quite significant stress on NHS Scotland . ''
Meanwhile , next month 's Edinburgh International Harp Festival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organisers had arranged five days of concerts , as well as 40 courses , and expected 400 people to travel from all over the world .
They said the decision was taken by the host venue , Merchiston Castle School , where many visitors were scheduled to stay .
What do we know about the Scottish cases ?
The first case in Scotland was confirmed on Sunday evening , a further two were confirmed on Wednesday morning and the latest three were confirmed on Thursday morning .
The patients are from the Forth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grampian areas .
Dr Calderwood said clinicians were in the process of finding out more about who the infected patients had been in contact with .
It is understood the positive samples have been sent to Public Health England 's WHO designated Colindale laboratory in London for confirmatory testing .
The six Scottish cases takes the total UK number to 116 .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak The advice to people who believe they have symptoms is to stay at home and contact NHS24 or their GP .
Evidence from around the world has suggested that for the vast majority of those infected the symptoms will be `` very mild '' .
Dr Calderwood had previously said that 80 % of people in Scotland would have a mild form of the illness but 4 % could require hospital treatment .
In the Scottish Parliament on Thursday , Ms Sturgeon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions potentially involved in this .
Ministers will not take them lightly , equally we will not hesitate in doing exactly what is required to protect the public for as long and as best as we possibly can . ''
Scientist Kate Broderick hopes to have a vaccine ready to test on humans by the beginning of April .
The Fife-born scientist , of US-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals , told BBC Radio Scotland 's Drivetime with John Beattie she wants to have one million doses ready by the end of 2020 .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligently to find a solution here , '' she said .
`` There 's been a lot of talk of a vaccine race .
I do n't like to think about it like that .
I like to think we 're all just working towards a solution and as long as something works , that 's what 's most important . ''

Number of Scottish coronavirus cases rises to 11 Published 6 March 2020
Image source, PA Media
Five new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Scotland, bringing the total to 11.
The Scottish government said two of the new Covid-19 cases were in Fife, with one each in the Grampian, Forth Valley and Lothian health board areas.
The first Scottish case of the virus was confirmed in Tayside on Sunday.
Scotland's Six Nations women's rugby game against France has been postponed after a Scottish player tested positive for the virus.
Scottish Rugby said the player was receiving treatment but was otherwise well. Seven members of the playing and management staff are in self-isolation. The men's match on Sunday is still due to go ahead.
The development came as it emerged a man in his 80s had become the second person in the UK to die after contracting the virus.
He had an underlying health condition and he died at Milton Keynes Hospital in England on Thursday.
Scotland's chief medical officer has previously warned that there could be a "rapid rise" in the number of cases in the coming days.
Dr Catherine Calderwood also said Scotland remained "very much" in the containment phase of its response to the outbreak, and urged people to continue to follow basic hygiene advice and - crucially - wash their hands for 20 seconds.
Asked about the potential impact on major events, Dr Calderwood said: "The emerging scientific advice is that large-scale gatherings, particularly those in the open air probably don't make a big impact on the transmission of the virus in the community.
"We have the rugby at Murrayfield, Scotland v France, going ahead this weekend and I am absolutely sure that that is the right thing to do."
The UK's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitt has told MPs that health officials were moving towards the second phase of their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
But Dr Calderwood said the switch from the current containment phase to the "delay" stage would be like a dimmer switch.
She told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Where we are on the dial at the moment the switch is still in containment, very much in containment, and gradually that dial will move around to the delay phase."
Andrew Buist, chairman of BMA Scotland's GP committee, told the same programme that it was "very much business as usual".
He said: "The only difference in my practice is that we're having a daily team huddle to review the latest guidance and check all our systems are in place and ready for if and when activity of coronavirus increases.
"We have a limited number of beds in Scotland and on any normal day, most of them are full.
"A significant rise in the number of cases of coronavirus is going to put quite significant stress on NHS Scotland."
Meanwhile, next month's Edinburgh International Harp Festival has been cancelled because of coronavirus.
Organisers had arranged five days of concerts, as well as 40 courses, and expected 400 people to travel from all over the world.
They said the decision was taken by the host venue, Merchiston Castle School, where many visitors were scheduled to stay.
What do we know about the Scottish cases?
The first case in Scotland was confirmed on Sunday evening, with a further two on Wednesday and three more on Thursday.
On Friday the number increased to 11.
Dr Calderwood said clinicians were in the process of finding out more about who the infected patients had been in contact with.
It is understood the positive samples have been sent to Public Health England's Colindale laboratory in London for confirmatory testing.
The 11 Scottish cases takes the total number of coronavirus cases in the UK to 163.
The latest figure includes 147 cases in England, three in Northern Ireland and two in Wales.
What do I need to know about the coronavirus?
The advice to people who believe they have symptoms is to stay at home and contact NHS24 or their GP.
Evidence from around the world has suggested that for the vast majority of those infected the symptoms will be "very mild".
Dr Calderwood had previously said that 80% of people in Scotland would have a mild form of the illness but 4% could require hospital treatment.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Cork University Hospital staff to self-isolate

More than 60 staff at a hospital in Cork in the Republic of Ireland have been asked to self-isolate after a case of coronavirus at the hospital .
It is the first case of community transmission of coronavirus in Ireland .
Community transmission means the person neither travelled from an area affected by an outbreak nor had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 .
The case involves a male patient from the south of the country who is being treated at Cork University Hospital .
The hospital has imposed `` strict visiting restrictions '' and cancelled outpatients ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland currently has 13 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in total , but the 12 others either travelled from northern Italy or had close contact with a confirmed case .
There have been three confirmed cases in Northern Ireland so far , bring the total on the island of Ireland to 16 .
Anyone who has been in contact with the Cork University Hospital patient has already been traced and notified , according to Ireland 's Health Service Executive ( HSE ) .
The HSE 's National Director of Acute Operations , Liam Woods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been completed .
Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTÉ , he also said that it was concerning that a case of community transmission had been identified .
Cork University Hospital has a workforce of more than 3,000 people .
Mr Woods said it would be a significant challenge to cope without the 60 staff who are now in self-isolation and said workers would have to be redeployed and hospital services would be readjusted .
He added that any Irish healthcare workers who return from countries with an outbreak of coronavirus will also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest cases south of the Irish border were announced on Thursday night by Ireland 's Health Protection Surveillance Centre .
Seven new cases were confirmed , including the Cork University Hospital patient .
The others were four males from the east of the Republic of Ireland who had recently travelled from Italy , and two females in the west of the country who had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 .
Their ages have not been released to protect patient confidentiality .
The HSE said it was `` now working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been in contact with , to prevent further spread of the infection .
One of the cases has been linked to Trinity College Dublin , which has 18,000 students and 3,000 staff .
The college said it was informed of the case late on Thursday night and has since closed a section of its Dublin city centre campus as a precautionary measure .
However , the rest of the university is open and operating as normal .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Irish Health Minister Simon Harris has travelled to Brussels for another extraordinary meeting of EU ministers to co-ordinate their response to the coronavirus outbreak .
Mr Harris and his counterparts from 26 other EU states will discuss the supplies of medicines and protective equipment .
The meeting will also be attended by representatives from the World Health Organization , the European Centre for Disease Control and the European Medicines Agency .

The Republic of Ireland's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the risk of contracting coronavirus "in the community is very low" but he added it was inevitable there would be more cases.


bbcuk--2020-03-06--Fatal crash pair jailed after causing teen's death

Two teenagers have been jailed for five years after admitting causing the death of a 17-year-old girl as they raced their cars .
Olivia Alkir , from Efenechtyd , Denbighshire , died after a two-car crash on the B5105 on 27 June .
She was a passenger in a Ford Fiesta which crashed at about 19:30 BST .
Thomas Quick , 18 , from Clawddnewydd , and a 17-year-old boy from Dyffryn Clwyd , both pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving at Mold Crown Court .
The defendants also pleaded guilty to four counts of causing serious injury by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the collision , but was `` repeatedly racing '' with the 17-year-old driver , who can not be named for legal reasons .
The 17-year-old 's car crashed with another car coming in the opposite direction between Clawddnewydd and Ruthin , leaving the passengers of the other vehicle , Dylan Jones and his mother Anwen , with serious injuries .
Judge Niclas Parry called for law changes for newly-qualified drivers to only be able to carry one passenger and have a monitoring box installed in the first year after passing their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wise , ambitious individual '' who was `` loved by all who knew her '' , her family said in a statement last year .
She was a deputy head girl and A-level student at Brynhyfryd School , where she studied physics , mathematics , geography and the Welsh Baccalaureate .
Her family said she had hoped to go on to study architectural engineering at university .
`` She had a uniquely unbreakable bond with her adoring parents and was cherished by her cousins , friends , grandparents , aunts and uncles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` Although her life has been cut tragically short , she filled her 17 years with a lifetime of achievements .
`` Olivia was beautiful inside and out and the world was a better place because of her . ''

She listed all the things she and her husband "deserved" to experience with Olivia but would now miss out on - from the stress of helping her cope with her A-levels all the way through to her telling them at some point in the future she was pregnant with the first of the three children she dreamed of having.