bbcuk--2020-09-14--Coronavirus: The family hit hard by unemployment

All the adults in the Coombes family from Liverpool have lost jobs due to coronavirus .
They explain what it @ @ @ @ @ together .

All the adults in the Coombes family from Liverpool have lost jobs due to coronavirus. They explain what it's like looking for work together.
Video by Sarah Corker, Kate McGough, Nick Woolley and Dougal Shaw


bbcuk--2020-09-14--Blind veteran writes cookery book for other visually-impaired people

A blind man has written a guide on how to cook .
Ex-Royal Marine , Simon Mahoney , 73 , @ @ @ @ @ has said he hopes the book - based on his culinary learning curve - entitled @ @ @ @ @ '' , will help blind and partially-sighted people to start cooking .
The book is @ @ @ @ @ this year as an e-book .
It has attracted interest from several charitable groups including @ @ @ @ @ Blind People and Blind Veterans UK .
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook , Twitter @ @ @ @ @ your story ideas to eastmidsnews @ bbc.co.uk .

A blind man has written a guide on how to cook.
Ex-Royal Marine, Simon Mahoney, 73, from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, has said he hopes the book - based on his culinary learning curve - entitled "First Catch Your Rabbit", will help blind and partially-sighted people to start cooking.
The book is due to be published later this year as an e-book.
It has attracted interest from several charitable groups including the Royal National Institute of Blind People and Blind Veterans UK.
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.


bbcuk--2020-09-14--The Papers: Virus testing 'crisis' and MPs back Johnson's bill

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Because of this they're not building up the level of resistance that they would if they were living in kennels and being left outside and so are showing signs of allergic reactions.


bbcuk--2020-09-14--Coronavirus patient fears 'not getting back to normal'

A woman has said she is worried she will `` never get back to my normal self '' months after catching coronavirus .
Jade Townsend , 22 , was active and sociable before spending just one night in hospital after contracting Covid-19 .
But she said she can no longer work and suffers chronic fatigue , fevers , nausea and a fluctuating fast heart rate .
Researchers studying long-term effects of the virus said they hoped to prevent a `` cycle of illness where the symptoms continue '' .
Many coronavirus patients have reported debilitating symptoms continuing months after falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chronic fatigue and brain fog .
Dr Rachael Evans , from the University of Leicester , has worked on a UK-wide investigation into the long-term effects of Covid-19 for patients admitted to hospital .
`` I 've been a qualified doctor in the NHS for 23 years and I 've not seen anything like it in respiratory medicine , '' she said .
`` At the moment it is just so unknown ... we 're still very much at the point where we 're learning what the after-effects are . ''
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves there can often become a real cycle of illness where the symptoms continue , '' she added .
Five weeks after catching the illness in mid-March , Ms Townsend , from Witney in Oxfordshire , was taken to hospital with a high fever and difficulties breathing .
Five months later , she has had to give up her job at a nursery and said she `` ca n't imagine '' resuming her social life .
`` I 'm now nearly needing more hours of sleep than time awake , '' said Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 I 'll be stuck with some of these symptoms and I wo n't ever be able to get back to my normal self . ''

"At the moment it is just so unknown... we're still very much at the point where we're learning what the after-effects are."


bbcuk--2020-09-14--Coronavirus: West of Scotland household visits ban extended

Stricter restrictions barring household visits in the west of Scotland have been extended for another week .
The measures cover 1.75 million people living in and around Glasgow .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged everyone living in the areas to follow the rules in a bid to `` get more control over the virus '' .
The restrictions apply in Glasgow city , East and West Dunbartonshire , North and South Lanarkshire , Renfrewshire , and East Renfrewshire .
People living in the seven areas are not allowed to host others inside their home , or visit anyone else 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes on the same day that lockdown restrictions across the country were tightened , with gatherings now restricted to a maximum of six people from two households .
• New rules limit social gatherings to six people The Scottish government said reported cases of Covid-19 were higher than average in the seven council areas , although an `` early assessment '' had suggested the tougher measures were `` working to slow the increase in cases '' .
The first minister said it was `` clearly regrettable '' that the restrictions would have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act to get more control over the virus in these areas '' .
Ms Sturgeon said : `` I would ask everyone in the affected areas to continue being extra vigilant , to follow all guidance and to isolate and book a test if they have any symptoms .
Do not lose ground now . ''
The only exception to the bar on indoor meetings is for those in extended households , while only essential indoor visits are being permitted in hospitals and care homes .
People from two different households are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitality settings , as long as groups do not exceed six and wider guidance around hygiene and physical distancing is followed .
The local restrictions will be reviewed again on Tuesday 22 September .
The rules , which had already covered Glasgow city , East and West Dunbartonshire , Renfrewshire , and East Renfrewshire , were extended to cover Lanarkshire on Friday .
On Saturday , those seven areas had the highest rates of new Covid-19 cases in Scotland .
The seven-day rate is calculated by adding up all the new cases over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the total population of the area .
• IMPACT : How is the pandemic affecting life in Scotland ?
• CASES : Where are the latest cases in Scotland ?
• QUIZ : How well do you know the Covid restrictions ?
• BACK TO SCHOOL : Can a school insist on a Covid test ?
• LOCKDOWN EASING : What changes next - and when ?

On Saturday, those seven areas had the highest rates of new Covid-19 cases in Scotland. The seven-day rate is calculated by adding up all the new cases over the previous week, then dividing it by the total population of the area.


bbcuk--2020-09-14--Man arrested following £900k cannabis seizure

A man has been arrested after suspected cannabis with a street value of £900,000 was seized on Monday .
The @ @ @ @ @ joint operation between the PSNI 's Organised Crime Unit , Border Force and Immigration Enforcement @ @ @ @ @ said the seizure of was `` significant '' and demonstrated `` commitment to removing dangerous @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Not only is it illegal to purchase these drugs but it fuels the @ @ @ @ @ irreparable damage and loss to many families and individuals whose lives it destroys , '' @ @ @ @ @ He added the PSNI will continue to investigate those `` who profit from the misery @ @ @ @ @ drugs '' .

"Not only is it illegal to purchase these drugs but it fuels the local drug trade which causes irreparable damage and loss to many families and individuals whose lives it destroys," said Det Insp Mullan.


bbcuk--2020-09-14--Stalking: Dentist not told of 'murder kit' stalker's release

A dentist who was secretly stalked by a former patient has spoken of his shock that he was not told immediately his stalker had been released from custody .
Prosecutors said Thomas Baddeley - who was found with a `` murder kit '' - could only be charged with a minor offence because his victim Dr Ian Hutchinson had been unaware he was being stalked .
A scheme for informing victims when an offender is released did therefore not apply , the Ministry of Justice said .
They said protocols had been followed .
Baddeley , 42 , from Bristol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than four years and was jailed for a total of 16 months in August after admitting stalking without fear , harm or intimidation and two counts of possessing offensive weapons .
An indefinite restraining order was imposed , including a ban on entering parts of Monmouthshire , with Baddeley facing up to five years ' imprisonment if he breaches it .
Earlier this month Chepstow dentist Dr Hutchinson told BBC Wales he felt `` let down by the law '' that Baddeley could not be charged with a more serious offence despite conducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` murder kit '' of weaponry , bleach and plastic sheeting in his car .
Dr Hutchinson had been assured he would be informed when Baddeley was released , which was expected to happen sometime in the coming weeks .
• Stalking : My ex-partner sent me 4,000 emails • Stalking victim : 'When he 's not in prison , I 'm a wreck' But following the BBC Wales report he received a call from the probation service to let him know Baddeley had in fact been released straight after sentencing nearly four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on remand and delays hearing the case .
Gwent Police special protection officers are now discussing security measures with Dr Hutchinson - including the option of changing his identity and moving away .
Dr Hutchinson said it had left him feeling angry with the system and as a victim he had been treated as an `` inconvenience '' .
He called for changes to the law to better reflect the risk posed by his stalker .
`` Going equipped to commit a burglary is an offence .
But going equipped to murder is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptable , '' he said .
The Victims ' Commissioner , Dame Vera Baird , said , `` As a victim this dentist could not have been more let down by the criminal justice system .
`` I think the laws proved quite inadequate - he was clearly going to do serious harm if he had carried through what he wanted to do , and there is no charge that represents that . ''
Dame Vera said she was now considering raising this with the attorney general , and Plaid Cymru MP Liz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public prosecutions to see if this case is indicative of a wider problem .
`` You get no reassurance from any of this , '' added Dame Vera .
`` From the inadequacy of the charge , the weakness of the sentence which follows , and then the absolute failure to tell him that theoretically this man is out , and not far away . ''
Katy Bourne , the police and crime commissioners ' national lead on stalking , was herself a victim of the crime .
She said victims must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Often the perpetrator may not actually approach the victim physically , but it 's the fear of what they might do that really weighs heavily on the victim 's mind , '' she said .
`` I 've spoken to victims [ who ] feel they 'll only be taken seriously if something physical happens against them . ''
The Home Office said they were determined to tackle stalking .
`` We introduced stalking protection orders in January , which protect victims and address the perpetrator 's behaviour at the earliest opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 've also doubled the maximum sentences for stalking and harassment to 10 years . ''

"I think the laws proved quite inadequate - he was clearly going to do serious harm if he had carried through what he wanted to do, and there is no charge that represents that."


bbcuk--2020-09-14--Birmingham stabbings accused 'returned home during attack spree'

A man accused of a series of knife attacks , one of which was fatal , went home during the period in which the attacks happened , an inquest has heard .
An inquest has been opened into the death of Jacob Billington , who was stabbed on a night out in Birmingham .
The 23-year-old , originally from Crosby in Merseyside , died from a knife wound on 6 September following a string of attacks spanning 90 minutes .
Zephaniah McLeod is charged with murder and seven counts of attempted murder .
He allegedly left the city centre after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to his home in Nately Grove , Selly Oak , before returning to the area of the attacks , Det Supt Samantha Ridding from West Midlands Police told Birmingham Coroner 's Court earlier .
Mr Billington , a library intern , was one of eight people stabbed at four locations in and around Birmingham 's Gay Village in what Det Supt Ridding told the inquest was `` an unprovoked attack '' .
Two of the victims remain in a critical condition in hospital - including a friend Mr Billington was enjoying a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunt was told .
The hearing has been adjourned until the conclusion of the criminal investigation .
Mr McLeod , 27 , has previously appeared in court in connection with the stabbings and a trial date has been scheduled for February 2021 .
In a statement , Mr Billington 's family said he `` lit up every room with his boundless energy and witty humour '' .
`` He was a funny , caring and wonderful person who was loved by every single person he met , '' the family added .

He allegedly left the city centre after there had been two knife attacks to go to his home in Nately Grove, Selly Oak, before returning to the area of the attacks, Det Supt Samantha Ridding from West Midlands Police told Birmingham Coroner's Court earlier.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Young people hit as unemployment rate rises

The UK unemployment rate has risen to its highest level for two years , official figures show .
The unemployment rate grew to 4.1 % in the three months to July , compared with 3.9 % previously .
Young people were particularly hard hit , with those aged 16 to 24 suffering the biggest drop in employment compared with other age groups .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said `` helping people get back into , or finding new work '' was his `` number one priority '' .
But in a briefing to the Cabinet on the economy , he reaffirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Job Retention Scheme which ends on 31 October .
Mr Sunak told colleagues that `` indefinitely keeping people out of work is not the answer '' , but added that he would `` be creative '' in finding ways of helping people .
New data from the Office for National Statistics showed that firms continued to remove staff from payrolls as they prepare for the end of the scheme .
Some 695,000 UK workers disappeared from the payrolls of British companies since March , when the coronavirus lockdown began .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employment in the three months to July compared to the previous quarter .
`` Generation Z has been hit particularly hard by the economic fall out of the pandemic as the retail and hospitality sectors , which have taken such a battering , are often relied on to help school and university leavers find an entry-level job , and get started in the world of work , '' said Susannah Streeter , senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown .
`` Sadly , this may not just be a bump in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the path of their careers . ''
How is the furlough scheme affecting employment ?
The unemployment rate has risen slightly , but experts say it does not yet fully illustrate the full impact of the economic crisis on jobs , with the furlough scheme helping keep the numbers down .
The government 's Job Retention Scheme begins tapering off this month before ending on 31 October .
Under the scheme - which has seen 9.6 million people furloughed - the government initially paid 80 % of a person 's wages up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women who started businesses in lockdown • What 's the best way to find a new job ?
Since the start of September , the state 's contribution has fallen to 70 % , with employers expected to make up the remainder of pay before the scheme ends on 31 October .
What are the experts saying ?
Paul Dales , chief UK economist at Capital Economics research group , said he expected that `` employment will fall more sharply and unemployment will increase more quickly as the furlough scheme continues to unwind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said that there had been some signs that the economy `` reopened '' in July as businesses including restaurants , pubs and hairdressers were allowed to trade again .
As people returned to work from being paid under the furlough scheme , the rate of decline in employee pay growth slowed .
Meanwhile , job vacancies in the three months to August jumped by 30 % to 434,000 .
However , the number of vacancies is still significantly below pre-virus levels .
Mr Morgan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees on the payroll down again in August and both unemployment and redundancies sharply up in July , it is clear that coronavirus is still having a big impact on the world of work , '' he said .
What has the political reaction been ?
Mr Sunak told colleagues that it was important to remember that the `` significant support '' that had already been put in place had `` come at a cost '' and the economy was still nowhere near pre-Covid levels .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer - addressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he is self-isolating - called for an extension of part-time working as furlough comes to an end , with rewards for employers who keep people on , though he gave no detail of these rewards .
He also called for targeted support for vulnerable sectors such as hospitality and aviation .
He urged ministers to `` outlaw fire-and-rehire tactics '' where workers are made redundant , then taken on in worse conditions .
What happens next ?
Unfortunately , this is the start of the official unemployment numbers starting to go up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being phased out .
While the headline unemployment rate went up to 4.1 % , this is still low by historic and international standards .
Digging a little deeper , however , shows a more considerable increase of 0.5 % to 4.4 % solely in July .
And in the final week of July , it increased to 4.8 % .
This is the start of what economists and academics expect will be a sustained rise .
The good news for now is that so far , the vast bulk of previously furloughed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their jobs .
The other very notable feature is that the overall three-month average rise in unemployment , while still small , was in large part the result of young people losing their jobs .
Redundancies also went up to their highest level since the aftermath of the financial crisis .
Employment remained at a record , however , and hours worked and vacancies showed a small recovery from massive falls during lockdown .
So the climb has started slowly , but the concern now is , where exactly does this go ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob recently lost the job he had done for nine years , working at the Mini car factory in Oxford as an agency worker .
`` They decided to let people go , and I was one of them , '' he says .
Hundreds of workers at the plant were affected .
`` It really hurt .
When you go to work , it 's not just about the money or pay .
It 's about making something of yourself , making friends and making connections . ''
Although he found himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic , a phone call with a friend presented him with an opportunity .
They recommended he get in touch with the HS2 rail project about their one-week training programmes .
By the end of the following week , he was fully licensed to be on-site and drive a forklift , having completed a course worth about £1,000 with one of HS2 's sub-contractors .
`` This was just the push I needed in the right direction - to find something new , to find a new path to pursue because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Have you lost your job as a result of the coronavirus pandemic ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
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bbcuk--2020-09-15--Women lose state pension age appeal against government

Two women affected by controversial changes to the state pension age have lost their Court of Appeal challenge .
Julie Delve , 62 , and Karen Glynn , 63 , backed by campaign group BackTo60 , challenged the changes after losing a High Court fight against the Department for Work and Pensions last year .
They said introducing the same state pension age for men and women did not amount to unlawful discrimination .
Campaign groups associated with the court case represent almost four million women who were affected by the government decision to increase the state pension age from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight is not over and will take their case to the Supreme Court .
The two women were last in court last June where they told a judicial review that when they had not received their state pension at the age of 60 , their lives had been affected disproportionately .
They argued the way the government had introduced the increase of the pension age was discriminatory .
Some women thought they would retire at 60 but found they had to wait up to more than five years .
This caused them financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decade after 6 April 1950 , but campaigners say those born from 6 April 1953 were particularly disadvantaged and have been the focus of much of the movement .
Because the workplace was less equal for many of this generation , they argue they were taking time out of their careers to raise children , paid less than men and could not save as much in occupational pensions , so the change has hit them harder .
The senior justices said : `` Despite the sympathy that we , like the members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] , feel for the appellants and other women in their position , we are satisfied that this is not a case where the court can interfere with the decisions taken through the parliamentary process . ''
They said that `` in the light of the extensive evidence '' put forward by the government , they agreed with the High Court 's assessment that `` it is impossible to say that the government 's decision to strike the balance where it did between the need to put state pension provision on a sustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could result for those affected by the changes was manifestly without reasonable foundation . ''

They said that "in the light of the extensive evidence" put forward by the government, they agreed with the High Court's assessment that "it is impossible to say that the government's decision to strike the balance where it did - between the need to put state pension provision on a sustainable footing and the recognition of the hardship that could result for those affected by the changes - was manifestly without reasonable foundation".


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Coronavirus: NHS staff off work due to testing shortages, say bosses

A lack of coronavirus tests for NHS staff is leading to staff absences and services being put at risk , hospital bosses have warned .
NHS Providers , which represents English hospital trusts , said staff are having to self-isolate because they can not get tests for themselves or family members .
It comes after widespread reports of people struggling to get tested .
The home secretary said the government was `` surging capacity '' where it was needed .
The government 's testing system - part of its test , track and trace operation which Prime Minister Boris Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has faced criticism in recent weeks .
An increase in demand for coronavirus tests has led to local shortages , with some people being directed to test sites hundreds of miles from their homes .
Meanwhile , there have been fewer than 100 Covid-19 deaths in a week in the UK for the first time since March , according to Office for National Statistics figures .
There were 8,996 deaths were registered in the UK in the week of 4 September - 83 of those deaths mentioned coronavirus , the lowest figure since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How do I get a coronavirus test ?
• Scotland : Why is there a test results backlog ?
Around 220,000 tests are processed each day , according to government figures released last week , with a testing capacity of more than 350,000 - which includes swab tests and antibody tests .
The aim is to increase that to 500,000 a day by the end of October .
Home Secretary Priti Patel told BBC Breakfast said : `` I have n't said there 's a shortage of tests , what I have said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas where we 've had local lockdowns .
`` Clearly there is much more work that needs to be undertaken with Public Health England and the actual public health bodies in those particular local areas , and as a government obviously we work with Public Health England to surge where there is demand in local hotspot areas . ''
Last week , Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted there had been `` challenges in access to tests '' but said `` the vast majority of people get their tests rapidly and close to home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who did not have symptoms was partly to blame for the shortages .
NHS Providers said hospitals in London , Bristol and Leeds had raised concerns over the weekend about staff absences because of a lack of testing .
Chris Hopson , NHS Providers chief executive , said it was `` clear '' there were capacity problems .
`` It 's not just access for tests for staff members themselves , it 's also access for their family members as NHS workers have to self-isolate if their family members are unable to confirm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The problem is that NHS trusts are working in the dark - they do n't know why these shortages are occurring , how long they are likely to last , how geographically widespread they are likely to be and what priority will be given to healthcare workers and their families in accessing scarce tests . ''
• YOUR QUESTIONS : We answer your queries • THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOCAL LOCKDOWNS : What happens if you have one ?
• TEST AND TRACE : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : What happens when the scheme ends ?
Mr Hopson said trusts need to know more detail so they can plan accordingly , for example by creating their own testing facilities .
He said patients who are due to come in for treatment should also be prioritised for tests . '
I was meant to be seeing patients' Some people say they booked tests online only to be turned away from testing centres because they were not sent a QR code - a barcode that can be scanned on a smartphone .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she applied for a test for herself and her partner after they developed coughs and fevers .
After refreshing the website for five hours , she managed to get an appointment but on arrival was told no booking had been made .
She had taken screenshots of a confirmation code but was not sent a QR code to scan .
`` I showed the screenshots but I was told that the appointments were n't happening , '' she said .
`` I have to say I burst into tears .
I was meant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty . ''
A nurse in the South West , whose daughter had a persistent cough and temperature , said he had almost been turned away despite having a test booked .
After hours of trying , he had `` eventually '' booked at a site about 50 miles away and been sent a confirmation but no QR code .
And on arrival at the testing site , he had been told he could not have a test .
`` I was told , 'There is nothing we can do , ' at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he applied for the first testing appointment he could find anywhere in the country - in this case , about 500 miles away in Dundee - and managed to get a QR code .
NHS Providers said the lack of testing was also hindering preparations for the winter , when hospitals could become busier due to Covid-19 and seasonal flu .
Dr Rachel Ward , a GP in Newbury , told BBC Breakfast she was seeing a lot of patients who were struggling to get tests , saying a lot of families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tether '' as it was `` very stressful when you are faced with two weeks off work '' .
She said if the staff at her practice were unable to get tests and had to self-isolate it would have a `` huge impact '' on patients as some of their healthcare workers are booked in to administer 100 flu jabs in a day .
Shila Rawson , from Leicestershire , told the BBC she has been unable to get a test for her daughter , Leah , who has been displaying symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was told by a 111 clinician , who was unable to arrange a test , `` do n't be afraid to call 999 if your daughter 's lips turns blue and she has severe difficulty with breathing '' .
`` I read that as wait and watch until our daughter is near enough to intensive care , '' she said .
`` And that is just not acceptable at any level . ''
Prof Alan McNally , director of the institute of microbiology and infection at the University of Birmingham , who helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Milton Keynes Lighthouse Lab - told BBC Breakfast there was `` a perfect storm of events that have come together to almost essentially crash the testing system '' .
Asked about the situation in Birmingham , where new lockdown measures have come into force , he said it was `` the exact same as we 're hearing in other parts of the country ... lots of people struggling to get tests and no real quantity of information on why that 's the case '' .
One professor of medicine who has been advising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second wave '' of Covid-19 has led to a surge in demand for tests .
Sir John Bell , of Oxford University , told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme : `` I think what has been underestimated was the speed at which the second wave would arrive , but also the pressure put on the system from children returning to school . ''
Meanwhile , the chairman of the British Medical Association has said the government should focus on the current testing system - rather than its `` Operation Moonshot '' plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processed every day by using a new type of test which is not yet rolled out .
`` Down here on planet Earth , we need a fit for purpose test and trace system in the here and now with capacity , agility and accessibility that does n't require 100-mile journeys that disadvantage some of the most vulnerable , '' the BMA 's Dr Chaand Nagpaul is expected to say in a speech later on Tuesday .
Mr Johnson previously said a mass-testing programme could be ready by the spring and could help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown .
• MINDFUL ESCAPES : Why is breathing so important ?
• DAVID ATTENBOROUGH IS BACK : An exclusive look at Extinction : The Facts Are you an NHS staff member off work because you 're unable to get a Covid-19 test ?
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bbcuk--2020-09-15--Essex lorry deaths: Four people jailed in Vietnam

Four people have been jailed in Vietnam for their roles in the death of 39 migrants found in a lorry in Essex , according to state media reports .
The men , women and children were discovered in a refrigerated trailer in Grays on 23 October .
The four defendants were found guilty of `` organising , brokering illegal emigration '' after a one-day trial in Ha Tinh , VnExpress reported .
The state media outlet said one victim paid $ 22,000 for the illegal journey .
The four defendants , aged between 24 and 36 , were given sentences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered at an industrial estate soon after the lorry arrived in the UK on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium .
Ten teenagers , two of them 15-year-old boys , were among the dead .
An inquest heard their medical cause of death was asphyxia and hyperthermia .
Last month haulier Ronan Hughes , 40 , of Tyholland , County Monaghan , admitted manslaughter and conspiring to assist unlawful immigration at the Old Bailey while Eamonn Harrison , 23 , of Mayobridge , County Down , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nuzi , 42 , of Barclay Road , Tottenham , north London , pleaded guilty to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration on or before 11 October 2019 and 18 April 2020 .
Earlier this year , lorry driver Maurice Robinson , 25 , of Craigavon , County Armagh , pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration .
Mr Harrison now faces a trial expected to last five weeks starting on 5 October with three others .
Gheorghe Nica , 43 , of Langdon Hills , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration .
Valentin Calota , 37 , of Birmingham , and Christopher Kennedy , 23 , of County Armagh , Northern Ireland , have each denied conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration .

The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered at an industrial estate soon after the lorry arrived in the UK on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Unison: Care workers who made £4 an hour awarded in £100,000 court case

The government should guarantee that care workers are paid fairly , the UK 's largest union has demanded .
Unison 's statement comes on the heels of a legal victory it helped win for homecare workers in north London .
General secretary Dave Prentis said : `` It 's time the skills and experience of care staff were respected instead of them being underpaid and undervalued . ''
A government spokesperson said it was `` clear '' that care workers must be paid at least the national minimum wage .
Companies contracted by Haringey Council were found to have breached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than £4 per hour .
A court awarded the carers more than £100,000 in backdated earnings following an employment tribunal ruling .
Care service companies , Kaamil Education Limited , Diligent Care Services Limited and Premier Carewaiting Limited say they inherited the case when they took over the work contract from care provider , Sevacare .
The court found that when the employees were working with Sevacare , they should have been paid for travel time spent moving between patient visits during their working day .
The firms who took over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Self-isolating care workers 'to have wages topped up' • Care homes ask for insurance cost help • From working in retail to becoming a carer When travel time was not paid , some carers worked up to 14 hours a day , but the average hourly pay recorded on their payslips was well below the legal minimum hourly rate .
The 10 claimants will receive an average settlement of £10,000 each , after a four-year legal battle .
The judgement said that travelling and waiting time of up to an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Mr Prentis said : `` This is a major victory for these dedicated workers who dared take on their employers .
`` These are the very same care staff who were applauded during the lockdown .
They should n't have to work in a system that breeds such awful treatment , '' he added .
Jess ( not her real name ) also heralded the victory as `` great news and a big win '' .
She still works for one of the firms and told the BBC that the outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She hopes that the precedent set by the union 's case would help others like her .
However , she says that she still struggles on low wages .
`` They were all clapping for us , but now it 's all gone back to normal .
And I think that is very bad .
We work so hard , '' she says .
`` It is difficult to make ends meet '' , Jess adds .
Any unexpected expenses push her over the edge and it takes longer to recover financially .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ court case , she had gone to Parliament to testify about their working conditions and was told she was doing a `` fantastic job '' .
Jess says that politicians `` only tell you what you want to hear '' .
She adds : `` I 've been here for ten years and it 's not easy . ''
A Local Government Association spokesperson told the BBC : `` We will consider this ruling carefully to assess any implications for local authorities '' .
They added : `` Before the pandemic , adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of almost £4bn by 2025 .
`` Social care needs parity of esteem with the NHS , backed up by a genuine , long-term and sustainable funding settlement , which councils have been calling for long before the current crisis . ''
More than one million people work in social care and the majority , 83 % are female , according to figures from the Resolution Foundation .
A study the think tank did in April 2020 found that more than half of workers are paid less than the voluntary living wage and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a zero-hours contract .
Jess will remain in her job , but hopes things will change .
`` Some of us , we can do more than key worker work , but we are doing it for a purpose .
To give back .
Some of my patients were key workers themselves . ''
She says it is time for the government to show care workers their support .
`` Pay us some proper wages , so that we can feed our kids and pay our bills , '' says Jess .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson said : `` We are very clear that social care workers must be paid at least the national minimum wage , with those over 25 earning at least the national living wage , and they should be paid for the time spent caring for clients , travelling to appointments and waiting for them to start .
`` We know there is a need for a long-term solution for social care and are looking at a range of proposals as part of our commitment to bringing forward a plan that puts the sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We are very clear that social care workers must be paid at least the national minimum wage, with those over 25 earning at least the national living wage, and they should be paid for the time spent caring for clients, travelling to appointments and waiting for them to start.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--BBC star salaries: Zoe Ball shoots up pay list as Gary Lineker takes cut

Four women now feature in the list of BBC 's top 10 highest earners , the corporation 's annual report shows .
Zoe Ball 's pay has risen by £1m after taking over the Radio 2 Breakfast show , while Fiona Bruce and Lauren Laverne have moved into the top 10 .
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker officially remains the best-paid star with an unchanged salary of £1.75m .
But director general Tim Davie said he had now agreed to a pay cut , which will be reflected on next year 's list .
`` Gary Lineker has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saving a quarter over his last contract , '' Mr Davie told reporters .
The BBC later confirmed it was a 23 % pay cut , which would be around £403,000 .
That means Lineker 's pay will be less than Ball 's if she stays on the same level .
Mr Davie described him as a brilliant broadcaster and said it was a great example of the `` best talent and the best value '' .
`` And before you ask , Gary knows his responsibility to the BBC in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Davie added , referring to social media rules for BBC staff and presenters that are expected to be announced soon .
Lineker shrugged off any `` haters '' over his salary on Twitter .
Overall , the total salary bill for on-air talent in 2019/20 rose by £1m to £144.6m .
The top 10 earners are still all white .
Davie said the BBC `` still had work to do '' in this area but pointed out there were only 12 % of talent at the BBC from BAME backgrounds earning over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 % .
Some stars do n't appear on the list because commercial arm BBC Studios , which makes many shows , does n't have to disclose its fees .
As a result , the stars of some of the BBC 's biggest programmes - like Top Gear and Doctor Who - are absent from the list .
Ball has risen despite the fact that her Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two is made by BBC Studios and so is not included .
• 1 .
Gary Lineker - £1,750,000-£1,754,999 ( Match of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cup , Sports Personality of the Year ) • 3 .
Graham Norton - £725,000-£729,000 ( Weekly show on Radio 2 , a range of programmes and series , Bafta film and TV awards ) • 5 .
Huw Edwards - £465,000-£469,999 ( News at Six and News at Ten , presenting on BBC One and the News Channel , election night and news specials ) • 6 .
Fiona Bruce - £450,000-£454,999 ( Question Time and presenting on BBC One ) • =9 .
Alan Shearer - £390,000-£394,999 ( Match of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) • =9 .
Stephen Nolan - £390,000-£394,999 ( The Nolan Show on Radio Ulster , Nolan Live on BBC One ( Northern Ireland ) , The Stephen Nolan Show on 5 Live ) Last year , the list included three women - Ball , Winkleman and Feltz .
The overall gender pay gap at the BBC has fallen from 6.7 % to 6.2 % .
Previous director general Tony Hall had pledged to close the gender pay gap by 2020 .
Mr Davie said that `` was a very aggressive target ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we must go further . ''
Progress had been made and the BBC was `` in a better position ... we 've dealt with issues of equal pay '' , he added .
But he said he wanted to increase the number of women across leadership ranks .
The figure currently stands at 45 % .
`` It 's about the leaders , not talk but action . ''
This annual report contains plenty of complex messages , but is likely still to lead to simple and negative headlines for the BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcasters - which includes me - reflects three years of reforms .
As part of those reforms , many broadcasters - particularly but not exclusively men - either took significant pay cuts ( Huw Edwards , Jeremy Vine etc ) or left the BBC ( Chris Evans , John Humphrys , Eddie Mair ) .
Now , several broadcasters - particularly but not exclusively women - have had pay rises .
Crucially , the pay rises for these female broadcasters ( Zoe Ball , Fiona Bruce , Lauren Laverne , Emily Maitlis ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in pay for those whose salaries are published - around £1m - is not , in financial terms , huge , given the number of people to which it pertains , and the salaries themselves .
Nevertheless , the optics are bad for the BBC .
Complexity does n't cut through in stories about high pay .
The simple fact is , in a time of immense hardship across the country , with so many people redundant or furloughed and suffering , these huge salaries ( and their modest overall increase ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgraceful .
The other big story is the BBC 's finances .
In the medium-term , they are badly strained .
It is striking that by the end of next year , the BBC will have delivered around £800m in savings in just five years .
But the fact that the licence fee did n't rise with inflation between 2010 and 2017 , and the £125m hit ( at least ) from the coronavirus pandemic , are a huge injury to the bottom line for the coming year .
And that 's before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give so much time to TikTok , YouTube and WhatsApp feel they need to pay for a TV licence .

He said: "Despite Gary Lineker's pay cut, when millions of pensioners are having to find extra cash to pay for the BBC and services they depend on, it's concerning to see not only has the bill for on-air talent has grown by more than £1m but that more than 100 senior executives are paid over £150,000 a year - in many cases considerably more than that."


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Wylfa: Hitachi 'withdraws' from nuclear project

Plans for a £15-£20bn nuclear power plant in Wales have been scrapped .
Work on the Wylfa Newydd project on Anglesey was suspended in January last year because of rising costs after Hitachi failed to reach a funding agreement with the UK government .
Isle of Anglesey council said the company had now confirmed in writing it is withdrawing from the project .
Council leader Llinos Medi said : `` This is very disappointing , particularly at such a difficult time economically . ''
Developer Horizon Nuclear , which is owned by Hitachi , said it would not comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However Anglesey council said it had received a letter from the Tokyo-based parent company confirming its decision .
• What 's Wylfa - and why is it so important ?
Mrs Medi has asked to meet both the Welsh and UK governments to discuss the future of the site .
A two-reactor plant at Wylfa was the biggest energy project ever proposed in Wales .
It was earmarked as having the potential to power up to five million homes , but the project was put on hold as the upfront costs rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the construction phase , the decision in January 2019 was described as `` a tremendous blow '' to the Welsh economy by business leaders .
The company said in June it was hoping to secure extra funding from the UK government to resume the project but has now thrown in the towel .
As one of Wales ' biggest proposed construction projects , Wylfa Newydd has faced turbulent times .
The company behind it , Hitachi , has always been concerned about the costs of building the new nuclear power plant .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial support to the project but it was n't enough to satisfy Hitachi 's concerns over the financial risks .
The UK government also held a consultation on plans that would see energy customers pay upfront for the costs of construction .
The industry has been waiting for months for an outcome to that .
When the UK government said nuclear was part of its push for green energy , the industry thought it was a positive sign for Wylfa Newydd .
But critics question how green nuclear energy really is , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales has been called the `` land of artists ' impressions '' with many big schemes that are talked about and never happen .
Supporters of Wylfa Newydd will be concerned it will become another of those , while its critics would be glad to see the back of the plans .

Mr Crabb added that Hitachi had given "reassurances" of its commitment to the project over the summer "that gave hope to the workers who'd be needed to construct it and the high-skilled employees who would run it".


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Hillingdon crossbow attack: Man critically ill after being shot

A man is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot with a crossbow on a street in west @ @ @ @ @ found seriously hurt after emergency services were called to Pield Heath Road , Hillingdon , @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
The Met Police said he had suffered an abdominal injury which had been @ @ @ @ @ and his condition is being treated as life-threatening .
No arrests have been made and @ @ @ @ @

The Met Police said he had suffered an abdominal injury which had been caused by a crossbow arrow and his condition is being treated as life-threatening.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Royal Wootton Bassett Academy sends home 284 pupils

Nearly 300 pupils at a Wiltshire school have been sent home after one of them tested positive for coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy have been asked to self-isolate and take classes remotely for @ @ @ @ @ currently more than 650 students and school staff self-isolating across Wiltshire .
Headteacher Anita Ellis @ @ @ @ @ of everyone within our school community is our top priority . ''
The school said @ @ @ @ @ '' measures had been followed and the decision had been made to minimise any risk @ @ @ @ @ it had been working with Public Health England and Wiltshire Council to ensure high standards @ @ @ @ @ were maintained .
Kate Blackburn , director of public health for Wiltshire , said the @ @ @ @ @ the risk of transmission as low as possible .
Pupils have also been sent home @ @ @ @ @ in Trowbridge ; Brook Field Primary and Lainesmead Primary in Swindon ; St Margaret 's @ @ @ @ @ and Trinity Primary in Devizes .

The school said all precautionary and "bubble" measures had been followed and the decision had been made to minimise any risk to others.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Coronavirus: Sir Keir Starmer calls for furlough scheme replacement

Sir Keir Starmer has called on the government to replace the furlough scheme and outlaw `` firing and re-hiring '' methods to avoid the `` scarring effect '' of `` mass unemployment '' .
Almost 10 million workers have been furloughed since March but the scheme is set to end on 31 October .
The Labour leader made an `` open offer '' to work on a plan with the PM including targeted support for badly-hit sectors .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he would be `` creative '' in helping people find work .
He told Cabinet it was his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` indefinitely keeping people out of work is not the answer '' .
However , Employment Minister Mims Davies hinted there could be a more targeted approach when Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils his budget later in the year .
She said there would be `` sectors that take longer to come back '' from the pandemic , adding : `` I do n't think this government is afraid of supporting where we can [ and we ] have fiscal events where the chancellor can start to look at that . ''
Sir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trades Union Congress ' annual conference comes as the latest UK unemployment figures are released , showing the highest level for two years .
The unemployment rate grew to 4.1 % in the three months to July - compared with 3.9 % previously - with young people were particularly hard hit .
• Will the furlough scheme be extended ?
Sir Keir made the case for replacing the job retention scheme - also known as the furlough scheme - which was introduced to support employers and staff during the coronavirus lockdown .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to virus restrictions have received 80 % of their pay up to a maximum of £2,500 a month .
Since September , firms have had to start making a contribution to wages as part of the scheme winding down .
The government has been reluctant to extend the furlough scheme beyond October with Boris Johnson arguing that it would only keep people `` in suspended animation '' .
Speaking to the conference via Zoom while isolating at home , Sir Keir said : `` We all know the furlough scheme ca n't go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth is the virus is still with us and infections are increasing .
`` It just is n't possible to get back to work or reopen businesses .
It is n't a choice .
It 's the cold reality of this crisis .
`` So it makes no sense at all for the government to pull support away now in one fell swoop . ''
The Labour leader said the government should hold urgent talks with his party , trade unions and businesses , and use a `` bit of imagination '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can replace the job retention scheme and develop those sectors where it is most needed '' - such as retail , hospitality and aviation .
`` Imagine how powerful it would be if we all shared a national plan to protect jobs , create new ones and invest in skills and trade , '' he added .
`` So I 'm making an open offer to the prime minister : work with us to keep millions of people in work , work with the trade unions , work with businesses and do everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
My door is open . ''
Politically , Keir Starmer 's language was at least as interesting as his post-furlough policies .
First , his call for a `` national plan '' and his offer of an `` open door '' to government .
He is attempting to appear as a consensus-builder , and placing responsibility for any lack of engagement on Boris Johnson .
This is felt to be a more effective tactic than unadulterated criticism - offering potential solutions as well as pointing out problems .
It has caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left , however .
Second , and perhaps more significantly , was the language he used to encase a commitment that Jeremy Corbyn could have made .
The re-hiring of employees on worse conditions was `` against British values '' and hit those who worked hard he said and should be banned .
This terminology is aimed at those residing amidst the ruins of the red wall , presenting left-wing positions that might appeal to them as `` patriotic '' .
The question for the future is how far Keir Starmer will feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than to re-badge them .
Other proposals from Labour include expanding part-time working and rewarding employers who give people hours rather than cut jobs , and providing training and support for those who ca n't come back full-time .
`` We know only too well the scarring effect massive mass unemployment will have on communities and families across the country , '' Sir Keir added .
`` We can not let that happen again . ''
The Labour leader praised trade unions as `` unsung heroes '' saying : `` Without you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no life raft for seven million people . ''
And he pledged to `` stand together '' with the unions under his leadership .
During questions from union members , Sir Keir also called for a `` different approach '' to the care sector , which he said had been `` underpaid and undervalued '' for years .
And asked about the return to workplaces , he criticised the government communications for `` being all over the place '' but said going back safely was `` in the best interest of everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country '' .

She said there would be "sectors that take longer to come back" from the pandemic, adding: "I don't think this government is afraid of supporting where we can [and we] have fiscal events where the chancellor can start to look at that."


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Small firms thrown lifeline in insurance test case ruling

Small businesses have been thrown a lifeline after the High Court ruled some insurers should have paid out for losses caused by lockdown .
Judges ruled that the disease clauses in some business interruption policies should have meant they were covered .
Following lockdown , a host of businesses had to close and many looked to insurers to cover their losses .
But many insurers disputed the claims , arguing policies were never meant to cover such unprecedented restrictions .
The test case was brought by the Financial Conduct Authority and had the potential to affect 370,000 mostly small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
Policyholders should hear from their insurer within seven days .
Christopher Woolard , interim chief executive of the FCA , said the ruling removed `` a large number '' of roadblocks to successful claims , as well as clarifying those that might not be successful .
`` We are pleased that the court has substantially found in favour of the arguments we presented on the majority of the key issues .
`` Today 's judgement is a significant step in resolving the uncertainty being faced by policyholders .
`` Coronavirus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many are under immense financial strain to stay afloat . ''
'We have been under immense stress' Anna Smart runs a photography studio in Oxfordshire with her husband Robin and thought she was covered by business interruption insurance .
But when she was turned down by her insurer , she was forced to make her one member of staff redundant and move out of their premises .
She said it was `` painful '' to let someone go and it felt like `` ditching a member of the family '' .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan to build a studio in their back garden .
Businesses such as hers were under `` immense '' stress , she said , while some had already been forced to close permanently , irrespective of the result of the case .
Hospitality Insurance Group Action ( Higa ) , one of the campaign groups backing the FCA 's case , said thousands of UK hospitality businesses should now be able to receive pay-outs as a result of the judgement .
Sonia Campbell , of law firm Mishcon de Reya , which represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fantastic news which has shown that we were right to pursue insurers who across the board denied cover for Covid-related losses .
`` I would now urge other hospitality businesses to join us to ensure that they can successfully recover payments from insurers in line with the court 's decision . ''
The Hiscox Action Group ( HAG ) , which has more than 400 members and also intervened in the case , called Tuesday 's ruling a `` landmark '' .
Steering committee member Mark Killick said : `` The most important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ruling and start to pay out rather than embark on a fruitless appeals process that will just cause more suffering for the very policyholders they were meant to protect . ''
As of July , about 400 companies had complained to the financial ombudsman , saying they had been wrongly denied cover for lockdown-related losses .
In response , the FCA brought its test case , arguing that while some insurers had provided payouts to customers , many claims had been `` rejected '' under `` blanket denials of cover '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the correct interpretation of a selection of policies , with judges in the end looking at 21 issued by eight separate insurers - among them giants such as Hiscox , RSA , QBE and Zurich .
The ruling could affect many more policies .
However , the regulator added : `` Although the judgement will bring welcome news for many policyholders , the judgement did not say that the eight defendant insurers are liable across all of the 21 different types of policy wording in the representative sample considered by the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered against the detailed judgement to work out what it means for that policy . ''

The ruling could affect many more policies. However, the regulator added: "Although the judgement will bring welcome news for many policyholders, the judgement did not say that the eight defendant insurers are liable across all of the 21 different types of policy wording in the representative sample considered by the court.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--John Boyega resigns from Jo Malone ambassador role over Chinese ad

John Boyega has resigned as global ambassador for perfume brand Jo Malone after he was replaced in an ad he made for them by a Chinese actor .
The Star Wars actor made the personal video in his home city of London , but it was re-shot for the Chinese market .
The company apologised for what it described as a `` misstep '' that caused `` offence '' .
However , Boyega has said Jo Malone was `` wrong '' to have used another actor `` without my consent or prior notice '' .
Writing on Twitter , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies would use different representatives around the world , `` dismissively trading out one 's culture this way is not something I can condone '' .
`` The film celebrated my personal story - showcasing my hometown , including my friends and featuring my family , '' he added .
`` It 's back to back but I assure you this will be dealt with swiftly .
I do n't have time for nonsense .
We press on and strong .
Stay blessed people . ''
The recreated advert largely followed the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haoran instead of Boyega .
The original version , titled London Gent , showed Boyega hanging out with friends and family in Peckham , where he grew up .
They were also removed for Chinese audiences .
Jo Malone , owned by Estee Lauder , has since removed the advert from its campaign in China .
`` We deeply apologise for what , on our end , was a mistake in the local execution of the John Boyega campaign , '' they said in statement on Monday .
Boyega 's sister Grace posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Twitter response .
'Taking this misstep very seriously' In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter , Jo Malone London said : `` John is a tremendous artist with great personal vision and direction .
The concept for the film was based on John 's personal experiences and should not have been replicated .
`` While we immediately took action and removed the local version of the campaign , we recognise that this was painful and that offence was caused , '' it added .
`` We respect John , and support our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking this misstep very seriously and we are working together as a brand to do better moving forward . ''
It 's not the first time Boyega has fallen foul of editing for the Chinese market .
There was controversy back in 2016 when Disney unveiled a re-versioned movie poster for Star Wars : The Force Awakens in China .
Boyega 's new lead character Finn was shrunken in size , compared with the original poster .
Earlier this month , the star called for an end to black actors being `` pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Writers , actors and directors including JK Rowling and Jordan Peele also praised the 28-year-old for his emotional speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in the summer .
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bbcuk--2020-09-15--Hope for better times ahead as festivals begin

Jewish communities around the world will celebrate the holy festival of Rosh Hashanah this weekend .
With Yom Kippur to follow on Monday week , how will the UK 's new coronavirus restrictions affect Jewish celebrations ?
For Dr Katrina Lester , who is due to give birth in eight weeks , this year will be a `` very lonely time '' , spent away from relatives and the synagogue .
• Chief rabbi : Passover in lockdown will be tough • What are the new rules for meeting my friends ?
Like millions of others , her family has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Days of Rosh Hashanah - which marks the Jewish new year - and Yom Kippur - a solemn day of atonement , involving a 25-hour fast and continuous prayer throughout the day .
But this year , certain rituals and customs will have to be adapted to meet Covid-19 guidelines .
The government has issued highly detailed guidance for the Jewish community as they observe the festivals , with measures including the removal of communal items , such as prayer books , in synagogues ; and the use of microphones for devotions or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Katrina , 34 , her husband , 36 and their two-year-old daughter , would normally enjoy family time and lunch with her parents and her sister 's household of six .
But her plans ca n't now happen , mainly because of new laws in England , Wales and Scotland restricting gatherings to six people .
Katrina is also being careful due to her pregnancy and a rise in cases in Hertfordshire , where she lives .
She and her husband will not go to synagogue this year either , both to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the age of 12 ca n't attend the main services .
In keeping with their orthodox beliefs - which include not using electricity on the Sabbath or the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - the family will not stream a service online .
Synagogues practising in the other branches of British Judaism , Reform and Liberal , will stream services .
It means Katrina will miss out in more than one way .
`` We wo n't be sharing meals with our family , as we would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` it will be a very lonely time [ for us ] and for many other families '' .
For Barrister Jonny Evans , 33 , the opportunities for spirituality and reflection during the High Holy Days have , in one sense , been `` enhanced '' by the restrictions .
There are less social distractions , he says , but he will also miss his congregation .
He says while he understands why young children are n't allowed to attend mainstream services at their local synagogue , it has created `` difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , Shayna .
The couple will go separately , in the hope of taking their one-year-old daughter , Lottie , to a children 's service , which can take place in a socially distanced way on synagogue property , or outdoors .
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah , Jonny and his family , who live and worship in Borehamwood , in Hertfordshire , would normally go to his parents ' house , where they enjoy dinner .
But these plans now wo n't happen , so Jonny hopes to share their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mum wo n't use the iPad on Rosh Hashanah , '' he says , `` but my dad would , so she 'll probably be in the background shouting . ''
Another person now planning a virtual dinner with family is barrister Jeremy Brier , 39 , who lives in north London .
He says it will be `` difficult '' to recreate family moments online and he worries time will be spent focusing on IT issues rather than on the `` joy of being in the same physical space and catching up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Emmerdale actress wife Louisa Clein and their three young children had hoped to eat a Rosh Hashanah meal with both sets of parents in one house , which he says `` clearly is n't permissible '' under the new rules .
They will now have to settle for dinner via an iPad : `` Whilst it is better than nothing , it does make these occasions less intimate . ''
Britain 's Jewish community , which accounts for about 0.5 % of the population - some 264,000 people - has suffered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After observing Passover during lockdown , the prospect of further restricted celebrations has come as an `` unpleasant surprise '' to many British Jews , says Richard Verber , a spokesman for the United Synagogue - which represents more than 60 British orthodox congregations .
Synagogues , like other places of worship in England , were permitted to reopen for services from 4 July , provided they follow Covid-secure guidelines .
They have implemented a string of safety measures including strict 2m social distancing , the mandatory wearing of face masks , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious items , like prayer books .
Services can go ahead with more than six people in total , but there must not be individual groups larger than six .
Many will run shortened services and have laid on extra online and face-to-face sessions to accommodate demand , requiring worshippers to book slots in advance .
Rabbi Helen Freeman , of the West London synagogue - the flagship congregation in the Reform movement - says her team has pulled out all the stops to be able to broadcast their services online .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day at home '' kits - which include individual prayer books - so people can follow the services , as well as producing CDs of choral music .
They have also given electronic tablets to congregants who want to tune in to services but do n't have internet access , with IT volunteers on hand to talk them through the technology .
But while some High Holy Day rituals and customs have been easier to adapt , others simply can not happen .
The United Synagogue has told its rabbis and wives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host their usual festival meals with congregants .
And while a key requirement of Rosh Hashanah services and Yom Kippur is the blowing of the Shofar , a ram 's horn , the ritual will have to be modified this year .
Some are exploring the idea of blowing the shofar on synagogue sites - either indoors or outdoors - with timeslots for people to book in advance .
Despite the auspicious time of year , Rabbi Nicky Liss , of Highgate United Synagogue and chair of the organisation 's Rabbinic Council , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until they feel safe .
He says people `` can still fully engage with the festival at home '' , despite it being `` dampened '' by the restrictions .
And for Jeremy , the Rosh Hashanah tradition of eating apple slices dipped in honey in the hope of a sweet new year has a particular resonance this year .
`` Everyone is hoping there are better times ahead , '' he says .

He says it will be "difficult" to recreate family moments online and he worries time will be spent focusing on IT issues rather than on the "joy of being in the same physical space and catching up" with each other.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Coronavirus: Ebbsfleet Covid-19 test centre shut to become lorry park

A coronavirus testing centre in Kent has been closed to make way for a lorry park for post-Brexit customs checks .
The government is planning to use the land at Ebbsfleet International station if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 December , according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service One councillor said local infrastructure `` can not cope '' and there would be chaos on the M25 .
The Cabinet Office has been approached for a response .
A leaked Kent County Council letter says : `` We have also been notified that the Ebbsfleet testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is required by HMRC for EU exit . ''
Dartford Labour councillor Sacha Gosine said : `` The infrastructure at Ebbsfleet can not cope with lorries . ''
He said it would be a `` logistical nightmare '' for officials .
Closed 'out of the blue' In September 2019 planning permission was granted to allow use of the Ebbsfleet site temporarily for customs clearance until the end of this year .
Work had started at one of the car parks at the station but this was put on hold because of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Covid testing site with a capacity for about 2,000 tests a day , but earlier this month testing staff were told `` out of the blue '' that the site would be closing .
An increase in demand for coronavirus tests has led to local shortages - with some people being directed to test sites hundreds of miles from their homes .
The home secretary Priti Patel has defended the system , saying capacity was increasing .

Ebbsfleet station was then used as a Covid testing site with a capacity for about 2,000 tests a day, but earlier this month testing staff were told "out of the blue" that the site would be closing.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Coronavirus: Will the furlough scheme be extended?

Since March , almost 10 million people have been placed on the furlough scheme , which pays the wages of those who can not work because of coronavirus .
However , MPs and business groups have urged the government to continue it in some way .
Trade unions body the TUC has warned of a `` tsunami of job losses '' without it .
Sir Keir says there should be training and support for those who ca n't return to work full-time and targeted help for badly affected sectors like retail and aviation .
But MPs on the Treasury Select @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be spent on employees who were going to be kept on anyway .
Can I be made redundant while on furlough ?
If a worker loses their job and is entitled to redundancy pay , this should be calculated based on their pre-furlough wages , and firms ca n't use the money from furlough to subsidise redundancy packages .
What is furlough and why was it introduced ?
Can I work if I 've been furloughed ?
When the scheme began , furloughed staff were n't able to do any work for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be brought back to work on a part-time basis .
Those still on furlough can volunteer in the community , or even for their company , as long as they are n't making them money or providing a service .
If you work for more than one firm , you can receive furlough from any of them , up to £2,500 a month per employer .
You can continue working for any that still need you or start working for a new employer , provided you are not breaching any existing contracts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will I still get sick pay and a bonus ?

Covid: What will happen when furlough ends? Published 30 September 2021
Image source, Getty Images
The furlough scheme, which protected millions of jobs during the pandemic, is being wound up at the end of September.
How did furlough work?
The government has been paying towards the wages of people who couldn't work, or whose employers could no longer afford to pay them, up to a monthly limit of £2,500.
At first it paid 80% of the wages, but in August and September it paid 60%, with employers paying 20%.
How many people are still on it?
The most recent figures show 1.6 million people were on furlough at the end of July - the lowest level since the start of the pandemic and 340,000 fewer than a month earlier.
Nearly one million workers were expected to still be on the scheme at the end of September, according to research by the Resolution Foundation.
The numbers have dropped as the economy reopened. In May 2020, nearly nine million people were on furlough.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, High numbers of workers in restaurants and hotels were furloughed
Will unemployment rise when it ends?
Some employers with workers on furlough may find they cannot afford to keep them on when furlough ends.
International travel, and other businesses which depend on it, are still seriously disrupted. Some furloughed workers in these areas may lose their jobs.
Many forecasters, including the Bank of England, are expecting a small rise in unemployment.
What if I'm made redundant?
If you were made redundant while on furlough, you have a number of legal rights.
The selection process must be fair, you must be given notice, and you are entitled to tax-free redundancy pay.
If you've been made redundant - or been told that you will soon be made redundant - there are three main types of financial support that you may be entitled to:
You might be able to claim a combination of these benefits.
The amount of help you get depends on your personal circumstances, including the amount of national insurance contributions you made while you were employed.
You may be entitled to extra money if you have children or are a carer, or have a disability or health condition. You may also be entitled to help with housing costs.
There is lots of free benefits guidance and advice available, including:
What has furlough cost?
The government says 11.6 million jobs have been supported by the scheme.
From March 2020 to the end of September 2021, the cost of furlough will come to about £66bn, according to estimates from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
That's a huge sum, around one fifth of the money the government has spent on the response to Covid.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, launched the furlough scheme in March 2020
However, the scheme has undoubtedly helped to save millions of jobs.
At the start of the pandemic it was feared that more than one in 10 workers would become unemployed.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Coronavirus: Was £10,000 student party fine too harsh?

Describing it as a `` foolish gathering '' , he said they had planned to celebrate the recent birthday of two housemates with a party of about 25 people `` within the guidelines of the ... Covid-19 regulations '' .
Has anyone else been fined this amount ?
What have neighbours said about the fine ?
`` As soon as the lockdown eased slightly and universities told students they could come back to collect their belongings , we 've had a spate of about 10 to 12 parties a night for the past three weeks , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's the view from the legal profession ?
She said : `` Our position has always been whenever we get calls to try to engage with people , try to explain what the legislation is , what they 're breaking and encourage them not to do it .
`` It 's difficult for me to comment on the amount .
That 's obviously in legislation and is not something directly influenced by the police , '' said ACC Meynell .
`` However , what we can influence is to make sure everybody takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 and the legislation is in place to do that . ''

"However, what we can influence is to make sure everybody takes personal responsibility to stop the spread of Covid-19 and the legislation is in place to do that."


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Housing crisis: The 59-year-old woman who lives in a van

`` I do n't want to live like this , no-one should live like this - but I do n't have any options , '' says Polly Richardson who finds herself at the sharp end of the lack of affordable homes in England .
For more than a year , she has lived out of a small camper van .
`` This is my home .
I 've two sets of clothes in a box .
I 've got my cups and saucers in this drawer , my pans under this bed , and I have a little camping cooker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was no heating . ''
The 59-year-old grandmother of four from East Yorkshire is one of half-a-million households that are n't even counted as waiting for a council or housing association property , according to the National Housing Federation .
New research commissioned by the Federation from Herriot Watt University says the real number of people in England waiting for such homes is 3.8 million , representing 1.6 million households , or 500,000 more than is indicated by official government data .
`` I 've got belongings in people 's garages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working as a retail manager but after taking time off to look after her sick father , and then having a big argument with her sister , she found herself being forced to move into the van in March 2019 .
`` Without a job , you ca n't have a house .
Without a house , they wo n't give you a job .
I 'm hoping somebody out there will give me a job , '' she says .
• Coronavirus : Call to lift benefits to help renters The National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent need to be built each year for the next decade to meet demand but , according to official figures , just 6,338 such homes were completed in 2018-19 , down 84 % since 2010-11 .
The main advantage of social housing - where either the local council or a housing association are the landlord - is that it 's more affordable than private rented accommodation , typically around 50 % of market rents , and usually offers a more secure tenancy .
`` What we are seeing is an escalating need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says Kate Henderson , chief executive of the National Housing Federation .
`` Investing in social housing would boost the economy , it would create thousands of jobs , it would support supply chains in the construction industry and it would provide better , more secure , safe housing for people in need . ''
The lack of suitable properties leaves large numbers of families living in overcrowded accommodation .
Abigail McManus , a 27-year-old single mother lives in a two-bedroom flat in Leeds with her three young children - two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little boy who 's five months old .
Leaving her house is a daily grind as she struggles to manoeuvre her double buggy down the stairs .
Abigail has been bidding weekly for a three-bedroomed ground floor property for years , without success .
She says the council are encouraging her to search further afield to increase her chances being allocated somewhere suitable to live .
But she says : `` My whole family live on this estate , so I 'd like to try and stay as close as possible .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't drive , it would be hard for me to get anywhere and I 'd feel more isolated than I already do , if I move too far from this area . ''
When she was prime minister , Theresa May altered the way in which councils could use funding to allow them to build more homes .
Her government predicted the change would lead to 10,000 new council houses each year , a figure that has n't been reached since 2013-14 .
While local authorities believe building that number is possible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the construction industry .
The Ministry of Housing said it `` did n't recognise '' the figures in the new analysis carried out by the National Housing Federation , describing them as a `` major overestimation '' .
It also highlighted its £11.5bn investment in affordable homes , to be spent between 2021 and 2026 , some of which will be used on building homes for social rent .

She spent years working as a retail manager but after taking time off to look after her sick father, and then having a big argument with her sister, she found herself being forced to move into the van in March 2019.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Coronavirus: Tempers flare at Covid test site

People turning up at a walk-in coronavirus test centre in Oldham were turned away as there was no capacity .

People turning up at a walk-in coronavirus test centre in Oldham were turned away as there was no capacity.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--The Papers: Virus testing 'crisis' and MPs back Johnson's bill

The new coronavirus restrictions limiting gatherings feature in several papers , as well as the latest on the government 's testing system .
The headline reads : `` Fury at minister 's call for rule of six snoops '' .
It 's a reference to the policing minister , Kit Malthouse , who said that people who suspected others of breaking the new coronavirus restrictions should report them to the authorities .
The Sun believes this is the wrong approach - concluding in its leader that if there is a second wave of Covid-19 `` it will be neighbourliness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get us through '' .
The chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation , Ken Marsh , expresses frustration .
`` We have not got a never-ending pot of officers , '' he tells the paper .
`` They will be distracted by curtain-twitchers - people phoning up saying : I 've seen seven people in next door 's garden '' .
The paper is angered by the fact that the activity is exempt from the rule of six restrictions , and carries the headline : `` Unbelievable '' .
It reports that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and turning away patients - because front-line staff ca n't obtain tests .
Its opinion column warns that this has come at a time when demand for testing is likely to rise even more as winter approaches and `` colds , flu and other respiratory diseases compete with Covid '' .
He argues that the situation raises questions about competence and undermines the successful parts of the government 's response to the pandemic , such as the furlough scheme and eat out initiative .
`` Good old Brexit , '' he writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House quite so doolally '' .
He observes that tensions around the chamber were `` tight as catgut '' - but says the prime minister `` laid out his stall calmly '' .
Mr Deedes seems less impressed by the former Labour leader , Ed Miliband , who made the opposition 's case because Sir Keir Starmer was self-isolating .
He was described as `` debating the same way he goes at a bacon sandwich : awkwardly , without delicacy or guile '' .
He writes that all of the shadow business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans `` were delivered with a panache of a man who knew he had right on his side '' .
He points out that `` in this Covid-secure Commons , it was never going to be easy to whip up a storm '' .
It claims to have heard rumours that Mr Barnier could be sidelined , in part to heal the rift between the two sides after what it calls `` the bitter stalemate '' over the Internal Market Bill .
It says the deal needs to be scrutinised by competition regulators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to stand by its commitment to protect UK jobs and maintain Arm 's headquarters in Cambridge .
The headline is : `` It 's a human 's life - pampered pooches pick up our allergies '' .

Because of this they're not building up the level of resistance that they would if they were living in kennels and being left outside and so are showing signs of allergic reactions.


bbcuk--2020-09-14--Coronavirus patient unable to work six months on

A woman has said she is worried she will `` never get back to my normal self '' months after catching coronavirus .
Jade Townsend , 22 , was active and sociable before spending just one night in hospital after contracting Covid-19 .
But she said she can no longer work and suffers chronic fatigue , fevers , nausea and a fluctuating fast heart rate .
Researchers studying long-term effects of the virus said they hoped to prevent a `` cycle of illness where the symptoms continue '' .
Many coronavirus patients have reported debilitating symptoms continuing months after falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chronic fatigue and brain fog .
Dr Rachael Evans , from the University of Leicester , has worked on a UK-wide investigation into the long-term effects of Covid-19 for patients admitted to hospital .
`` I 've been a qualified doctor in the NHS for 23 years and I 've not seen anything like it in respiratory medicine , '' she said .
`` At the moment it is just so unknown ... we 're still very much at the point where we 're learning what the after-effects are . ''
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves there can often become a real cycle of illness where the symptoms continue , '' she added .
Five weeks after catching the illness in mid-March , Ms Townsend , from Witney in Oxfordshire , was taken to hospital with a high fever and difficulties breathing .
Five months later , she has had to give up her job at a nursery and said she `` ca n't imagine '' resuming her social life .
`` I 'm now nearly needing more hours of sleep than time awake , '' said Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 I 'll be stuck with some of these symptoms and I wo n't ever be able to get back to my normal self . ''

"At the moment it is just so unknown... we're still very much at the point where we're learning what the after-effects are."


bbcuk--2020-09-15--NI employment: Rising unemployment 'driven by youth'

The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in NI rose by 800 to 62,700 in August , according to official figures .
That is more than double the number recorded in March .
The youth unemployment rate for 16-24 year olds is now estimated at 8.2 % after a `` significant quarterly increase '' .
New data shows the number of young people without a job in the UK rose 156,000 in the same period .
The most recent estimates from the Labour Force Survey showed the first `` statistically significant '' quarterly increase in the unemployment rate since October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.9 % from February to July .
In Northern Ireland , young people have been particularly hard hit by the downturn .
`` The data indicate that the quarterly increase [ in unemployment ] was driven by those under 35 years with the youth unemployment rate ( 16-24 years ) estimated at 8.2 % , '' the government report suggests .
`` Similarly employment and inactivity rates of those under 35 years worsened ( decreasing and increasing respectively ) over the quarter . ''
Across Northern Ireland , there were more than 1,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of August to mid September .
In the year to the end of August , 9,160 redundancies were proposed , the highest annual total since records began .
The proposed redundancies over the summer are now starting to be reflected in the labour market statistics .
And that trend will continue as companies continue to propose further redundancies .
It is also worth remembering that the government 's job retention scheme is still in place , so those on furlough are still considered to be employed .
As that support continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more job losses announced .
One economist has told me the labour market is now at a `` tipping point '' describing last month 's redundancies as the first wave of the pandemic hitting the labour market .
The latest data from the NI Statistics and Research Agency shows : • Northern Ireland has the lowest employment rate of UK regions ; • It has the highest economic inactivity rate of all UK regions ; • Those under 35 years old are feeling the brunt of job losses ; • Unemployment for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 8.2 % ; • Almost 37 % of people who were employed were working fewer hours than normal ; • The average number of hours worked per week was 28.1 hours , down 5.5 hours per week .
• There were 820 confirmed redundancies in August and 3,880 confirmed redundancies in the 12 months to the end of August .
That is more than double the previous year .
The NI unemployment rate increased 0.6 % over the quarter to 2.9 % in May-July .
The proportion of people in work ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the quarter and 0.5 % over the year to 71.5 % .

It is also worth remembering that the government's job retention scheme is still in place, so those on furlough are still considered to be employed.


bbcuk--2020-09-15--Coronavirus: Man 'refused to wear face mask in Bluewater shopping centre'

A man has been charged with refusing to wear a mask in a shopping centre .
Sam Francis , 30 @ @ @ @ @ 13:20 BST on Saturday at the Bluewater complex in Dartford , Kent Police said .
@ @ @ @ @ the first person to face such a charge in the county .
Mr Francis , @ @ @ @ @ , who is due before Medway Magistrates ' Court on 12 November , is also @ @ @ @ @ assaulting an emergency worker .
The force said he was charged under regulation five of @ @ @ @ @ , Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place ) ( England ) Regulations 2020 @

Mr Francis, of Slades Drive, Chislehurst, who is due before Medway Magistrates' Court on 12 November, is also charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.


bbcuk--2020-09-18--Coronavirus: Tighter national rules considered by government

New England-wide measures which could see hospitality businesses forced to shut are being considered by the UK government to try to slow a second surge of coronavirus cases .
A short period of national rules- a `` circuit break '' of a few weeks - could be announced in the next week , BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said .
Schools and most workplaces would be kept open during those weeks .
But no final decisions have yet been reached on the next course of action .
At a meeting on Wednesday night , the government 's chief scientific adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disease .
They forecast that there would be a significant number of deaths by the end of October if there were no further interventions .
The possible measures being discussed include asking some hospitality businesses to close , or limiting the opening hours of some pubs and restaurants nationwide .
The virus is now understood to be doubling every seven to eight days , with more than 3,300 new cases reported on Thursday .
It comes as nearly two million people in north-east England are the latest to face local lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
The restrictions will ban people from meeting other households , and restaurants and pubs will have to shut at 22:00 BST .
New local lockdown rules are also set to be brought in for Lancashire - with the exception of Blackpool - the BBC understands .
The four nations of the UK are all in charge of their own lockdown restrictions , with Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland implementing slightly different rules to England .
• UK coronavirus cases up by 3,395 on Thursday • Which areas are under lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break '' , restrictions could be reintroduced in some public spaces nationwide for a period of a few weeks , but schools and workplaces would be kept open .
One of the ideas suggested by the government 's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) is that some parts of the hospitality sector could be asked to close .
No 10 is also considering the possibility of limiting the opening hours of pubs and restaurants across the country , as has already happened in some areas .
However Prime Minister Boris Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order another national lockdown , where everyone would be asked to stay at home and businesses to close .
This week he described the potential impact of a second national lockdown on the economy as `` disastrous '' .
On Thursday morning , Chancellor Rishi Sunak is understood to have presented warnings of the damage to the economy .
And ministers are also concerned about the impact of more restrictions on daily life on those who need treatment for non-Covid related illnesses .
However , the government has not yet taken any final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is not yet clear what impact this week 's new rule banning social gatherings of more than six people will have on the rate of increase , and No 10 is continuing to monitor the data and take scientific advice .
But it seems increasingly likely that within the next week , the prime minister will tighten the national rules again , our correspondent said .
• SOCIAL DISTANCING : What are the rules now ?
• LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
• YOUR QUESTIONS : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : How many worldwide cases are there ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOCAL LOCKDOWNS : What happens if you have one ?
On Friday , parts of north-east England joined other areas across the UK in being under local lockdown rules .
The measures affect Newcastle , Gateshead , Sunderland , Northumberland , South Tyneside , North Tyneside and the County Durham council area .
As well as the ban on households mixing and early closures for pubs and restaurants , people should also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and care homes are closed to visitors .
An announcement on a possible lockdown in north-west England is expected from the government later on Friday .
The restrictions for Lancashire , but not Blackpool , are expected to include a similar ban on households mixing and a requirement for hospitality businesses to close early .
It is not yet known when the measures will be introduced although the BBC understands it will be imminent .
There are also local lockdown restrictions elsewhere in the UK - including Birmingham , Greater Manchester , Caerphilly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • The number of new weekly cases in Europe has exceeded the number reported during the first peak of the pandemic , the head of the World Health Organization in Europe has warned • The head of the UK government 's testing system - which has faced criticism in recent weeks - said demand for booking tests was three to four times the number available • People arriving into England and Scotland from Singapore and Thailand will need to quarantine from Saturday morning • Figures show nearly two thirds of adults are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OBSESSION IS COMING : Little Mix : The Search sees the multi-award winning group creating bands • HOW CAN I RELAX ?
: Soothe your soul with Mindful Escapes

But it also gives us more options. Any contact tracing programme or system of local lockdowns is far easier to implement when levels of the virus are low. The higher the number of cases, the fewer targeted measures the government has to use.


bbcuk--2020-09-18--Coronavirus testing: Simple test gives results in 90 minutes

A rapid test can accurately diagnose a coronavirus infection within 90 minutes without needing a specialist laboratory , say scientists .
The study by Imperial College London showed the `` lab-on-a-chip '' gave comparable results to current tests .
The device is already being used in eight NHS hospitals to quickly identify patients who are carrying the virus .
However , experts warn that the kit will not be a solution to the beleaguered Test and Trace programme .
The device , developed by the company DnaNudge , can be used by anyone capable of taking a swab of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed inside a disposable blue cartridge which contains the chemicals needed for the test .
This in turn is slotted into a shoebox-sized machine to perform the analysis .
The study , published in the Lancet Microbe , compared results when samples from 386 people were given both the DnaNudge and standard laboratory tests .
`` The performance was comparable , which is very reassuring when you 're trying to bring in a new technology , '' said Prof Graham Cooke , from Imperial College London .
`` Many tests involve a trade-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test manages to achieve both . ''
If the lab tests said the patient was free of the virus , so did the rapid test .
If the lab tests said the patient had the virus , the rapid test agreed 94 % of the time .
The UK has already ordered 5,000 of the Nudgebox machines and 5.8 million of the disposable cartridges .
• YOUR QUESTIONS : We answer your queries • THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOCAL LOCKDOWNS : What happens if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : How does it work ?
• FURLOUGH : What happens when the scheme ends ?
However , there is a major drawback as each box can handle only one test at a time .
So during a day , one box could perform around 16 tests .
Prof Cooke said : `` They are useful in clinical settings when you are trying to make a rapid decision . ''
He described a patient last week who was rapidly identified as having Covid and started on the drugs dexamethasone and remdesivir .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals in the future as it is theoretically possible to test for coronavirus , flu and respiratory syncytial virus ( a major reason young children are admitted to hospital ) at the same time .
However , the capacity issue means the test can not solve the problems with NHS Test and Trace or help with Operation Moonshot and the plans for 10 million tests per day .
Testing 60,000 people at a stadium ahead of a football match would require 60,000 boxes , but it may be useful at smaller venues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the research and from the University of Warwick , said the technology was `` innovative '' .
He added : `` The CovidNudge test could have an important role where near-patient , real-time decision-making is necessary , such as screening patients for admission to hospital or for surgery .
`` [ However , ] this is not the answer to universal mass testing.
``

The tests could become even more useful for hospitals in the future as it is theoretically possible to test for coronavirus, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (a major reason young children are admitted to hospital) at the same time.


bbcuk--2020-09-17--Rail nationalisations may be coming down the track

Some UK railway franchises could be nationalised when emergency deals set up during the coronavirus pandemic expire on Sunday .
Insiders said talks between the government and train firms on new deals were going `` right to the wire '' .
The government has pumped billions of pounds into the railways to cover the fall in ticket revenue from low passenger numbers during the pandemic .
But sources said some contracts could be handed back to the government .
Many private operators are expected to remain in place under similar emergency arrangements , but some may decide to opt out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were `` ongoing '' and it would n't comment on commercially-sensitive negotiations .
In the House of Commons on Thursday Labour 's Jim McMahon said it was `` absolutely staggering '' that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps did not have an update on the situation at such a late stage .
A deadline of this Sunday has been in place since March when the current emergency contracts were signed .
Mr Shapps said it was right that the negotiations with nine different companies were not done `` in public '' .
Securing new agreements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover the short-term control and finances of the railways , is complicated by two main factors .
The first is that no-one can say when passenger numbers on the railways will return to pre-pandemic levels .
The second is the fact that certain train companies were losing money before the pandemic .
In fact , at the beginning of the year ministers were poised to announce an overhaul of Britain 's railways .
Reliability on certain networks had been poor and some train companies were losing money .
The government took control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western Railway was heading in a similar direction .
But when the pandemic hit , the contracts between the Department for Transport and private companies were suspended , not scrapped .
It means some financial obligations from that period remain .
That backdrop and the uncertainty about future passenger numbers , and therefore the commercial viability of the railways in the longer-term , means certain rail operators might be tempted to opt out .
Even if all of the train operators sign-up to a series of new emergency contracts by Sunday , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Department for Transport is said to favour a shift towards a `` concessionary model '' for the railways , which is already in operation on Merseyrail and the London Overground .
It means private companies run services for a fixed fee and any loss or profit falls to the government in charge .
This system , which shifts risk away from private firms , is said to be favoured by train companies operating large , complicated commuter networks .
Operators in charge of intercity networks want to maintain some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past , over things such as pricing .
However solving the longer-term conundrum is made harder by the resurgence of the virus and the uncertainty that adds over passenger numbers .
For now , government guidelines over social-distancing are supposed to limit passenger numbers on trains to around 40 % to 50 % .

In the House of Commons on Thursday Labour's Jim McMahon said it was "absolutely staggering" that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps did not have an update on the situation at such a late stage.