bbcuk--2020-08-11--Coronavirus: Aberdeen local lockdown to be reviewed

The local lockdown imposed in Aberdeen a week ago after a spike in coronavirus cases is due for review later .
Since last Wednesday pubs and restaurants have been closed and restrictions on travel and visiting other households have been in place .
So far 165 cases have been linked to the cluster and 875 contacts of infected people have been traced .
The first minister has said it will not last longer than necessary but she has not ruled out an extension .
At Tuesday 's coronavirus briefing , Nicola Sturgeon said : `` Having come this far , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them just too soon , so we need to be sure it is really under control . ''
National clinical director Jason Leitch also sounded a cautious note , saying the decision would be based on `` how well we have caught the chains of transmission '' .
`` You can see over the last few days a kind of slowing of the number , but they are not coming down yet , we are not back to normal , '' he said .
`` This virus is still spreading within a community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly two weeks ago now .
`` I am encouraged by what is happening , it is working how we predicted it would work - the Aberdeen semi-lockdown is doing what we expected - but remember the virus does n't work in 24 chunks .
`` It works in seven and 14-day chunks more likely so we 're not yet over that hump completely .
I can not say with any real authority that we have reached the end of every chain of this transmission . ''
On Tuesday it emerged that one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five cases in north east Angus had been linked to the Aberdeen outbreak .
All are showing mild symptoms and have not required hospital treatment Health officials in Aberdeenshire are also investigating a potential cluster in the Stonehaven/Portlethen area , but no connection to Aberdeen has yet been established .
The local lockdown in Aberdeen was announced after a number of cases were initially linked to the Hawthorn Bar early in August .
By last Wednesday , the total number of cases had risen to 54 , prompting the reintroduction of restrictions for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no travel more than five miles for leisure or holidays • no travel to the city for leisure or to visit friends and family , even if you live in Aberdeenshire • no indoor visits with other households A day later it emerged that eight Aberdeen FC players had visited the city 's Soul bar the previous Saturday and two later tested positive for Covid-19 .
The revelation angered the first minister , and has led to the cancellation of planned matches .
By Tuesday 165 cases had been linked to the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While 875 contacts have been identified , the number of individuals could be fewer as there may be some overlap between cases .
NHS Grampian last week issued a list of 28 bars and cafes , and four sporting clubs linked to the outbreak , but now says all bars in the city are affected because of a widespread lack of physical distancing .
Dr Emmanuel Okpo , consultant in public health medicine , said : `` It is clear from our investigations to date that a lack of physical distancing has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these cases .
`` While pubs and restaurants have guidelines to work to , to support physical distancing , it is also the responsibility of each one of us to keep our distance .
`` Last week we circulated a list of pubs and restaurants which we had compiled during the course of our interviews with all detected cases at that point .
This list was not shared to assign blame to any individual premises .
`` We now consider that all licensed premises in Aberdeen are likely affected in some way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of it - has come up repeatedly in our investigation .
I would stress again that we must all take personal responsibility for physical distancing . ''

The first minister said the Scottish government's conclusion, based on the advice it had received, was that "it is not yet possible to lift any of the restrictions that were put in place last week for Aberdeen."


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Coronavirus: 'Horrifying' death rate of dementia patients

Figures exposing the pandemic 's impact on people with dementia in Wales have been described as `` horrifying '' .
They account for more than one in five Covid-19 deaths , prompting calls for a dedicated dementia task force to be set up in case of a second wave .
Charities , experts and families have told BBC Wales they must be involved in efforts to plan ahead .
The Welsh Government said its dementia action plan was being `` prioritised in the Covid-19 context '' .
'We felt like our lives were out of control' After losing her 82-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ceri Higgins from Tonteg in Rhondda Cynon Taff said she had `` lots of questions going through my head every day '' .
David Williams had tested positive just days after returning home following a brief period of respite care in a local nursing home .
Restrictions at the time meant the former RAF engineer and pillar of his local community then spent weeks in hospital without any contact from his family .
`` We felt like our lives were out of control because we could n't have any input really into what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
• Dementia deaths up in first months of pandemic Ms Higgins , who had spent the last 11 years caring for her father `` pretty much 24/7 '' said they had developed their own language and way of talking to help him communicate and understand .
A `` really lovely nurse '' - who rang to say Mr Williams was dying - was able to use some of the phrases and talk to him about his family and his love of dogs in his final moments .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Higgins said life since her father 's death had been like `` being in the middle of a maze '' - unable to hold the funeral he would have wanted , and growing increasingly concerned not enough was being done to investigate why people with dementia had been so badly affected .
She said : `` I watched a government briefing where Andrew Goodall [ NHS Wales ' chief executive ] was talking about bringing like-minded people in the world of cancer together to discuss a way forward and how that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this should be happening for people living with dementia - we need a dementia task force .
`` To see such figures for around the time my dad passed away makes me think that 's a knock-on from before the pandemic and all the issues for people living with dementia right before that .
It 's just staggering .
`` Every week when we see the number of deaths , [ the government ] says we must remember that behind every one person dying is a family grieving .
`` Well , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find out why they died , what were the circumstances behind it . ''
• What do the stats tell us in Wales ?
Ms Higgins started volunteering for a service offering companion phone calls to people living with dementia a week after her father 's death .
`` This is about basic health-support needs .
People who are isolated , losing key skills , potentially not seeing their families , not being stimulated , '' she said .
`` We need to stop and take a few minutes and say , 'look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to understand what 's happening to people with dementia ' and we need to do that now because , for many , it 's going to be too late . ''
What do the statistics show ?
From a total figure of 2,450 deaths in Wales attributed to coronavirus between March and June , the latest Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) report shows 543 had dementia or Alzheimer 's disease .
It is by far the main pre-existing condition associated with Covid deaths .
By comparison , there were 233 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases , 222 with blood flow problems to the heart , and 49 with diabetes .
The picture is even more stark in England where a quarter of Covid deaths between March and June had been in people with dementia .
In addition , a separate ONS report on death registrations not associated with Covid-19 has revealed a 52.2 % increase in so-called excess deaths of people with dementia during the pandemic across England and Wales .
Excess deaths compare numbers dying this year with those in a five-year average of previous years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths of any health condition and has been described as `` staggering '' by the Alzheimer 's Society .
`` The disproportionate number of people with dementia who have died during the pandemic is something that should concern us all , '' said Cheryl Williams of the charity .
`` Certainly many care homes did n't have adequate PPE [ personal protective equipment ] for staff at the outset of the pandemic .
`` It may not have been enough of a priority for the government in the early days . ''
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are wider questions beyond infection control as to why people with dementia were `` worst hit '' .
`` Lack of face-to-face contact with family , friends , social interaction - it 's had a profound impact , '' she said .
Charles Musselwhite , associate professor in gerontology - the study of ageing - at Swansea University , said he had viewed the statistics with `` a mixture of horror and sadness '' .
`` We always knew that older people were much more vulnerable , much more at risk , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think it shows how certain groups get forgotten about .
`` Of course in hindsight it 's easy to pick on things we could have done differently and things we 'd like to do differently again in the future .
`` But this is one group that we knew were vulnerable and they have n't been protected in any serious sense . ''
`` There are a lot of really good groups for people living with dementia , charities , third sector organisations , experts such as ourselves .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do should there be a second wave , on how to manage this much more carefully .
A Welsh Government spokesperson said : `` Throughout the pandemic we have met regularly with the dementia care Covid-19 partnership forum , which includes people with lived experience , to understand ways in which we can support individuals with dementia and their families through this pandemic .
`` We have developed guidance to support local action and which is helping us identify the increased rehabilitation needs of people affected directly and indirectly by the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of the lockdown measures .
The Quarter 2 NHS Operating Framework highlights the need to plan and develop rehabilitation services .
`` In order to support this work , Welsh Government 's Dementia Oversight of Implementation and Impact Group ( DOIIG ) has been reinstated and is meeting virtually to ensure that the actions set out within the dementia action plan are prioritised in the Covid-19 context . ''

Coronavirus: 'Horrifying' death rate of dementia patients Published 12 August 2020
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, David Williams, 82, died in April after testing positive days after he returned home from respite care
Figures exposing the pandemic's impact on people with dementia in Wales have been described as "horrifying".
They account for more than one in five Covid-19 deaths, prompting calls for a dedicated dementia task force to be set up in case of a second wave.
Charities, experts and families have told BBC Wales they must be involved in efforts to plan ahead.
The Welsh Government said its dementia action plan was being "prioritised in the Covid-19 context".
'We felt like our lives were out of control'
Image caption, Ceri Higgins says we owe it to those who have died to find out why
After losing her 82-year old father to coronavirus in April, Ceri Higgins from Tonteg in Rhondda Cynon Taff said she had "lots of questions going through my head every day".
David Williams had tested positive just days after returning home following a brief period of respite care in a local nursing home.
Restrictions at the time meant the former RAF engineer and pillar of his local community then spent weeks in hospital without any contact from his family.
"We felt like our lives were out of control because we couldn't have any input really into what was important to him and to us," she said.
Ms Higgins, who had spent the last 11 years caring for her father "pretty much 24/7" said they had developed their own language and way of talking to help him communicate and understand.
A "really lovely nurse" - who rang to say Mr Williams was dying - was able to use some of the phrases and talk to him about his family and his love of dogs in his final moments.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Dementia is the main pre-existing condition associated with coronavirus deaths
While that had been a huge comfort, Ms Higgins said life since her father's death had been like "being in the middle of a maze" - unable to hold the funeral he would have wanted, and growing increasingly concerned not enough was being done to investigate why people with dementia had been so badly affected.
She said: "I watched a government briefing where Andrew Goodall [NHS Wales' chief executive] was talking about bringing like-minded people in the world of cancer together to discuss a way forward and how that would help people.
"And I thought this should be happening for people living with dementia - we need a dementia task force.
"To see such figures for around the time my dad passed away makes me think that's a knock-on from before the pandemic and all the issues for people living with dementia right before that. It's just staggering.
"Every week when we see the number of deaths, [the government] says we must remember that behind every one person dying is a family grieving.
"Well, we owe it [to them] to find out why they died, what were the circumstances behind it."
Ms Higgins started volunteering for a service offering companion phone calls to people living with dementia a week after her father's death.
"This is about basic health-support needs. People who are isolated, losing key skills, potentially not seeing their families, not being stimulated," she said.
"We need to stop and take a few minutes and say, 'look, before we move on, we need to understand what's happening to people with dementia' and we need to do that now because, for many, it's going to be too late."
What do the statistics show?
From a total figure of 2,450 deaths in Wales attributed to coronavirus between March and June, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) report shows 543 had dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
It is by far the main pre-existing condition associated with Covid deaths.
By comparison, there were 233 deaths of people with underlying lower lung diseases, 222 with blood flow problems to the heart, and 49 with diabetes.
The picture is even more stark in England where a quarter of Covid deaths between March and June had been in people with dementia.
In addition, a separate ONS report on death registrations not associated with Covid-19 has revealed a 52.2% increase in so-called excess deaths of people with dementia during the pandemic across England and Wales.
Excess deaths compare numbers dying this year with those in a five-year average of previous years.
Deaths 'disproportionate'
Image caption, Cheryl Williams: "Lack of face-to-face contact with family... it's had a profound impact"
It is the largest surge in deaths of any health condition and has been described as "staggering" by the Alzheimer's Society.
"The disproportionate number of people with dementia who have died during the pandemic is something that should concern us all," said Cheryl Williams of the charity.
"Certainly many care homes didn't have adequate PPE [personal protective equipment] for staff at the outset of the pandemic.
"It may not have been enough of a priority for the government in the early days."
Like Ceri Higgins, Ms Williams believes there are wider questions beyond infection control as to why people with dementia were "worst hit".
"Lack of face-to-face contact with family, friends, social interaction - it's had a profound impact," she said.
'They haven't been protected'
Image caption, Charles Musselwhite: "It shows how certain groups get forgotten about"
Charles Musselwhite, associate professor in gerontology - the study of ageing - at Swansea University, said he had viewed the statistics with "a mixture of horror and sadness".
"We always knew that older people were much more vulnerable, much more at risk," he said.
"But, really, I think it shows how certain groups get forgotten about.
"Of course in hindsight it's easy to pick on things we could have done differently and things we'd like to do differently again in the future.
"But this is one group that we knew were vulnerable and they haven't been protected in any serious sense."
"There are a lot of really good groups for people living with dementia, charities, third sector organisations, experts such as ourselves.
"We need to involve them more about what to do should there be a second wave, on how to manage this much more carefully.
'Lived experience'
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "Throughout the pandemic we have met regularly with the dementia care Covid-19 partnership forum, which includes people with lived experience, to understand ways in which we can support individuals with dementia and their families through this pandemic.
"We have developed guidance to support local action and which is helping us identify the increased rehabilitation needs of people affected directly and indirectly by the pandemic.
"This includes people affected by the impact of the lockdown measures. The Quarter 2 NHS Operating Framework highlights the need to plan and develop rehabilitation services.
"In order to support this work, Welsh Government's Dementia Oversight of Implementation and Impact Group (DOIIG) has been reinstated and is meeting virtually to ensure that the actions set out within the dementia action plan are prioritised in the Covid-19 context."


bbcuk--2020-08-11--Coronavirus: Bradford footballer Adam Nowakowski on £1 a week

In a world of multi-million pound footballers one player has shown `` incredible generosity '' to his club by agreeing to play for just £1 a week .
Adam Nowakowski has signed the cut-price deal with Bradford Park Avenue in the National League North , where players can earn about £400 a week .
The player , who will also cover his own travel costs , said he wanted to `` give something back '' to non-league football .
The club said he had gone `` above and beyond '' in his commitment to the side .
Mr Nowakowski , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full time job as a sales executive for a food company , said he came up with the idea after working from home during the pandemic .
`` There 's lots of businesses in tricky situations , '' he said .
`` So I thought it was my time to give something back to a club that 's close to my heart in Bradford with a lot of my family from there .
`` The pandemic means that there lots of financial unknowns this season , not just for the Avenue but all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offer to sign for the club on £1 per week to help support the club during this difficult period . ''
The National League North 2019/20 season was abandoned in April following the coronavirus outbreak , with Bradford Park Avenue bottom of the table .
The 2020/21 season is expected to begin in October but there will be limits on the number of fans attending , something the club says this will have a big impact on revenue .
In a statement the side said : `` The current pandemic could affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days through stadium attendance limits , club house revenues , reduced numbers of away fans wanting to travel , plus raffle and programme income . ''
The club added that in those circumstances Mr Nowakowski 's `` act of selflessness '' would make him `` the best value for money player in any league in the country '' .
Bradford Park Avenue spent 62 years in the football league , including a spell in the old First Division , before being relegated out of the league in 1970 and eventually going out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reformed in 1988 and now plays in the sixth tier of the English football leagues .
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"The pandemic means that there lots of financial unknowns this season, not just for the Avenue but all non league clubs, so I decided to offer to sign for the club on £1 per week to help support the club during this difficult period."


bbcuk--2020-08-11--Coronavirus: How ghost cruise ships became a summer tourist attraction

One of the more unusual sights of the coronavirus pandemic has been that of cruise ships drifting around in the English Channel , apparently abandoned at sea .
But why are they there ?
And how did they become a holiday attraction ?
Paul Derham is welcoming passengers onboard when he picks up the phone .
It 's business as usual for his small passenger ferry in Dorset today .
But when the wind dies down he 'll be back to his latest venture : sightseeing tours of cruise ships anchored off England 's south coast .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
`` We have a really good trip out of it , actually . ''
During the coronavirus pandemic , ships that usually spend the summer cruising the Mediterranean and Caribbean islands have instead found themselves lingering , near-empty , in the Channel .
They have been anchoring off the coast from Portsmouth to Plymouth , and at night they illuminate the horizon .
• The 'last cruise ship on Earth ' finally comes home • Will we ever take cruise holidays again ?
The arrival of the UK 's `` ghost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called them , has transformed the view from the coast and fascinated locals and tourists alike .
They have now become a tourist attraction in their own right , with people paying to see them up close .
`` I knew people would be impressed , '' Paul says of his mini-cruises .
The 62-year-old spent around three decades sailing cruise ships around the world before he bought the Mudeford Ferry , near Christchurch .
He was even deputy captain on one of the ships he now takes his customers to see .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , '' he says of the idea .
`` We advertised two trips and we filled up within two hours . ''
The cruise industry was hit early in the pandemic , when the virus first swept the Diamond Princess , in Japan and then the Grand Princess , in the US .
Passengers were quarantined at sea after hundreds contracted the virus onboard .
Holidays were cancelled and empty boats had to go somewhere .
So why have so many ended up in the Channel ?
Ships have to pay fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry would be losing even more money if they docked in ports .
The Port of Southampton - a departure port for many UK cruises - declined to say how much it charges , citing `` commercial sensitivities '' , but said it has `` remained open during the pandemic '' .
`` Ultimately , whether cruise ships anchor off the coast or alongside in the port , it is their choice , '' a spokeswoman said .
But space could also be an issue .
Southampton has four cruise ship terminals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceptional circumstances .
P & O said its ships remain at sea because Southampton , which is also its home port , does not have room for all of them .
The ships do need to dock every so often to refuel and stock up on supplies for the reduced crew on board .
The Cruise Lines International Association said how often they refuel depends on the ship and the type of fuel used .
While they are designed to be able to run for two weeks , they `` can last much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew currently on each of the P & O vessels off the south coast , the company said .
That is likely include crew in the engine rooms , as well as cleaners , electricians , chefs and medics .
To put that number into context , P & O 's largest liner - the Britannia - has capacity for around 5,000 guests and crew .
Professor Richard Bucknall , director of research at University College London 's department of mechanical engineering , says it `` is n't possible to have any ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
He said that is because of dangers of `` anchor drag '' , or ships drifting at sea , due to severe weather .
Although they are anchored , they do n't switch off all of their generators .
They need to keep a diesel-powered generator running in order to maintain things like safety systems and lighting for the crew on board , says Dr Tristan Smith of University College London 's Energy Institute , who specialises in shipping .
`` The power requirements will be significantly lower than when operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they wo n't be using the power for propulsion or for the wider passenger comfort and 'hotel ' services . ''
`` If they have full tanks before going to the anchorage , they will be able to run at lower power output for many weeks if not months without having to refuel . ''
So is it bad for the environment ?
Dr Smith says it would actually make little difference to green house gas emissions if ships docked in ports rather than anchored at sea , but the impact on air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on cruise ships and coronavirus • How did Cambodia 's cruise ship welcome go wrong ?
He says the best way to reduce the environmental impact of cruise ships in ports is for them to connect to local electricity grids , or shore power , when they berth - which should allow them to shut down onboard power generators .
But shore power is not yet available at many ports , including Southampton , meaning the ships would still need to use their own generators - even in port .
`` Particulate matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact health of local populations , would be emitted closer to where people live and work , and therefore be more likely to impact the quality of the air they are breathing , '' he explains .
Back in Christchurch , Paul is looking forward to his next outing .
The captain of one of the cruise ships parked off the Dorset coast has even started to wave back at his tours using what he describes as a six-foot-long hand made of plywood .
And his tours remain popular .
`` On all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a round of applause when we arrive at Mudeford Quay . ''
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The ships do need to dock every so often to refuel and stock up on supplies for the reduced crew on board. The Cruise Lines International Association said how often they refuel depends on the ship and the type of fuel used. While they are designed to be able to run for two weeks, they "can last much longer".


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Coronavirus: Dealing with excessive facial hair during lockdown

Two women who have polycystic ovary syndrome , a condition which can cause excessive facial hair growth , have told @ @ @ @ @ has been for their confidence .
Nichola and Toria would usually be treated by beauty @ @ @ @ @ means they 've been forced to try and treat themselves at home .
While beauty @ @ @ @ @ , the treatments they 're allowed to do are limited .
Both women say the @ @ @ @ @ impact on their confidence and mental health .

Two women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition which can cause excessive facial hair growth, have told BBC Breakfast how difficult lockdown has been for their confidence.
Nichola and Toria would usually be treated by beauty specialists, but lockdown rules means they've been forced to try and treat themselves at home. While beauty salons are reopening in England, the treatments they're allowed to do are limited.
Both women say the result has had a big impact on their confidence and mental health.
Read more: Mental health problems rise amid pandemic


bbcuk--2020-08-12--The Papers: 'Pick your grades' and Stephen Lawrence probe ends

The image of an Iranian lawyer , Niki Karimi , holding her 11-month-old daughter on the floor of a refugee camp in Calais appears on the front of The Times .
It says they and the girl 's father have spent 10 days living in a tent , waiting to cross the English Channel - and have threatened to throw themselves overboard if the UK government deploys ships to block their passage .
The Sun reports that talks between the immigration minister , Chris Philp , and officials in Paris on Tuesday ended without a real breakthrough on measures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Sacré Blew It '' , the paper says Mr Philp also `` managed to confuse Britain and Germany '' in a television interview that followed the meeting - and asked if he should start again , not realising he was live .
There 's disappointment at Scotland Yard 's decision to close the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence .
The Guardian thinks it 's another sign of the Metropolitan Police `` giving up after a long line of failures '' .
The Daily Mail agrees there 's `` bitter regret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teenager 's alleged attackers have never been convicted , but says it 's difficult to know what else the Met can do if it has run out of leads .
`` Justice may have been cheated '' , writes Stephen Glover , `` but shining a light on Stephen 's murder has helped make Britain a fairer country '' .
According to the Financial Times , the Chancellor is considering whether he should postpone his autumn Budget if a second wave of coronavirus hits the UK .
Allies of Rishi Sunak tell the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get on '' with repairing public finances , but recognises he might have to wait until next spring if there 's a spike in infections .
The FT says the Budget could be replaced with a `` mini spending review '' , allowing Mr Sunak to put off tax rises or spending cuts at a time when job losses are `` piling up '' .
The Daily Mirror reports that HM Revenue and Customs has miscalculated more than 16,000 grants given to self-employed workers during the pandemic .
The paper says the payouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of all those handed out - were either too high or should not have been issued at all .
It 's estimated the mistake could cost the Treasury up to £47m .
HMRC says it has written to everyone affected , but will not ask for the money back .
And the Daily Telegraph explores how Whitehall almost scuppered one of British cinema 's biggest triumphs of the 20th century .
Previously unseen letters show that producers of `` The Bridge on the River Kwai '' asked for the RAF 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is set in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Burma .
But , as the Telegraph points out , the War Office had serious misgivings about factual inaccuracies in the plot , believing it `` would not go down well with the British public '' .
The Daily Express says officials eventually relented , and the film became an international smash hit in 1957 , winning seven Oscars to boot .
There 's astonishment that the government has left it so late to change how GCSE and A-levels will be graded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Own Exam Results '' is the headline in the Daily Mail , which says Education Secretary Gavin Williamson hopes to avert the problems seen in Scotland by allowing A-level students to appeal to use their mock exam marks to secure university places .
`` But should n't ministers have decided on this months ago '' , the Mail asks in its editorial , `` rather than 36 hours before the results are due ? ''
The Times says that Mr Williamson was forced into a U-turn by the threat of a Conservative rebellion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile the i reports that some schools have inflated their pupils ' estimated grades to `` laughable '' levels .
The paper claims that in one instance , more than 100 students in a single sixth form were predicted As when a much wider range was expected .
According to the Daily Express , the Queen is `` determined '' to repair relations with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the next year - following their departure from frontline royal duties .
A source tells the paper that at the age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her legacy '' - and is prepared to offer an `` olive branch '' to Harry and Meghan `` to bring the schism to an end '' .
Several papers review the new book exploring the rift - called Finding Freedom - which was published on Tuesday .
The Sun says it provides a `` fascinating glimpse '' into the Sussexes ' marriage , while the Daily Telegraph calls it `` one massive moanathon '' - albeit a gripping one - with `` juicy details so precise and private they can only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mouths '' .
And the former children 's laureate , Michael Rosen , is pictured in the Guardian - having completed a new book just weeks after falling seriously ill with coronavirus .
The 74-year-old spent nearly seven weeks in intensive care , and tells the paper that since leaving hospital in June , he 's lost his sight and hearing on his left side - and had to learn to walk again .
Nonetheless , it took him just `` a couple of days '' to finish `` Rigatoni the Pasta Cat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comic fiction series .
`` When I 'm writing '' , he says , `` I feel very contented - so even when it 's a bit of a struggle , it feels like a good place to be '' .

The paper says the payouts - which make up less than one per cent of all those handed out - were either too high or should not have been issued at all. It's estimated the mistake could cost the Treasury up to £47m.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Carl Smythe jailed for Liskeard car park stab murder

A man who stabbed a 20-year-old to death in a car park after a fight in a pub in Cornwall has been jailed for a minimum of 21 years .
Carl Smythe , 46 , of Liskeard , was convicted on Tuesday of murdering Damien Bendelow .
Smythe stabbed Mr Bendelow , who he had never met before , six times as he walked across a car park on 26 January .
Mr Bendelow 's mother said her life had been `` shattered '' and she was living a `` life sentence of hurt and pain '' .
The court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White Horse in Liskeard , where drinkers described him as being agitated and aggressive .
Jurors were told Mr Bendelow 's friends tried to break up a fight and Smythe hit two girls while being evicted from the premises .
Outside , Smythe ran towards Mr Bendelow as he was crossing the Cattle Market car park later with friends , appearing to punch him and then running from the scene .
In a victim impact statement , Mr Bendelow 's mother Tracy Blackie said : `` My life is shattered , every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nightmare - my Damien is no longer with me . ''
His father Gary Bendelow said he had a `` constant empty feeling inside me '' , adding : `` I think a part of me died when he died . ''
Sentencing , Judge Simon Carr said the killing was a `` senseless murder ... over some petty sense of grievance '' .
He said there had been no provocation and he had no doubt `` the scene in the Cattle Market will haunt the young people who were present for a @ @ @ @

He said there had been no provocation and he had no doubt "the scene in the Cattle Market will haunt the young people who were present for a long time".


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Aaron Brady guilty of murdering Det Garda Adrian Donohoe

A man from Northern Ireland has been found guilty of the capital murder of a Garda ( Irish police ) officer who was shot dead in a robbery seven years ago .
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe died after he was shot during a raid on Lordship Credit Union in County Louth on 25 January , 2013 .
Aaron Brady , from New Road in Crossmaglen , County Armagh , was tried at Dublin 's Central Criminal Court .
The jury found him guilty by a majority verdict of 11 to one .
The crime of capital murder in the Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 40 years .
In order to be convicted of the offence , the jury had to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Brady knew he was shooting a Garda on active duty , or was reckless as to whether or not he was a Garda .
• An armed robbery that ended in a policeman 's death The murdered officer , who was 41 years old , was married with two young children .
He was one of two detectives on late-night escort duty at the rural credit union when the robbery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state funeral in Dundalk , attended by thousands of his garda colleagues and political leaders from both sides of the Irish border .
On Monday 10 August , the jury of seven women and five men unanimously convicted Brady of a separate charge of robbery .
They had found him guilty of stealing approximately €7,000 ( £6,300 ) in cash and cheques from Lordship credit union on the night Det Garda Donohoe was killed .
The jury deliberated for about 20 hours in total , over the course of six days .

"The quest for justice for Adrian will continue and we appeal to anyone, near or far, who has any information that may assist in this investigation to come forward and do the right thing," he said.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Wales in recession for first time in 11 years

Wales is officially in recession for first time in 11 years due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
The lockdown saw household spending plunge as shops were ordered to close , while factory and construction output also fell .
The UK economy shrank 20.4 % between April and June compared with the first three months of the year .
Officials said the economy bounced back in June as restrictions on movement started to ease .
• How could a recession affect me ?
• What is GDP and how is it measured ?
On Monday , the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown had not hit jobs in Wales to a significant extent .
The rate of unemployment in Wales between April and June was down , at 2.7 % , with 8,000 fewer people unemployed than between January and March , Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) figures showed .
That was 20,000 fewer than the same period a year ago .
The figures do not include the millions of people who are furloughed , those on zero-hours contracts but not getting shifts , or people on temporary unpaid leave from a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Julie James , the Welsh Housing and Local Government minister , said there needed to be action at a UK level to help the economy in Wales .
`` There are three things the UK government can do that we can not , '' she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast .
`` One is the furlough issue , and the supporting of businesses who ca n't bring all their employees back but who we want to still be here at the end of the pandemic .
`` The second one is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who fall out of work , so they can get back into work quickly .
`` And the third one is the old chestnut of our trading relationship with the European Union .
`` We depend very heavily on that trading relationship , and the idea that we 're heading towards a no-deal Brexit or a hard Brexit at pace in the middle of this recession it just beggars belief to be honest .
`` So we 've been repeatedly calling on the UK government to do put its ideology behind it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Union as a matter of urgency . ''
This affects all of us - it means there 's less money swirling around .
When you hear phrases such as `` GDP has fallen '' it can feel really remote but what that ultimately means is because people are making , buying and selling less there is less work and less pay .
For us in Wales , the accommodation and food sector has been hit hard .
And for rural Wales in particular , that sector is really important to the vibrancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know is how people 's spending behaviour will change as we move out of lockdown .
The term recession means the economy has contracted for six months so the UK economy was contracting even before coronavirus hit - although it is clear lockdown has had a big part to play .
It was n't long ago that people were saying wages had n't picked up from the last recession 11 years ago - now we 're going into another storm .
Building a way out for the economy ?
For the last 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P & P Builders in Blaenavon as a key business in Torfaen .
The firm competes for contracts from housing associations and local authorities .
When lockdown hit in March , it took the same steps many companies did - closing down , and putting its 80 strong workforce on the UK government 's job retention furlough scheme .
Since restrictions began to ease in June , the building firm is back at work - but like many others , development manager Mr Crooks is working in the `` new normal '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of uncertainty across all sectors , and for us as a small company cash flow is important - so if you 're not working , we 're not creating any money , and we ca n't reinvest that back in the business .
The longer that went on , the more difficult it was , '' he reflected .
`` Things are a lot quieter around .
A lot has changed in terms of the supply chain .
Since the last recession , you know there 's a lot of suppliers and merchants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Crooks said those difficulties meant longer waits to get basic components on to a development site - even down to items such as gas and electricity meters .
`` Nobody can forecast exactly what 's going to happen , particularly in terms of unemployment and future work , '' he added .
However , he said his firm , like many in the small construction industry , had moved more towards building in the public sector , and that did offer some security - especially at a time when there remains a @ @ @ @ @ @ @

"Obviously it was a great period of uncertainty across all sectors, and for us as a small company cash flow is important - so if you're not working, we're not creating any money, and we can't reinvest that back in the business. The longer that went on, the more difficult it was," he reflected.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Coronavirus: A-level results to arrive in year with no exams

A-level and vocational results are arriving for hundreds of thousands of students in England , Wales and Northern Ireland .
But unlike other years , these results have been estimated after exams were cancelled by the Covid-19 pandemic .
The exam watchdog has already announced a 2 % rise in A* and A grades this year at A-level - close to record levels .
Controversy has surrounded how results have been decided - with head teachers angry at the use of mock exam grades .
There was `` deep frustration '' in schools about the confusion caused by late changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barton , leader of the ASCL head teachers ' union .
Almost 300,000 teenagers will be finding out A-level results - some by email and others going into school , perhaps for the first time since they left in the lockdown in March .
The moderation process will mean about 40 % of results will be different , mostly lower , than predicted grades submitted by teachers .
There will be scrutiny of whether it is disadvantaged pupils who will have lost out from such changes - a problem that caused protests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warn that using mocks 'makes mockery ' of exams • In Wales students promised no A-levels lower than AS-level grades Students taking vocational exams have been getting estimated results over recent weeks - with 250,000 getting BTec results this year .
For students hoping for university places , it is expected to be a `` buyer 's market '' , with the admissions service Ucas saying universities would be `` super-flexible '' even for those who have missed grades .
The A-level results are expected to show : • About 8 % will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A* or A • 78 % will get A* to C • Psychology now the second most popular subject , after maths • Girls will outperform boys , except in A*s • Northern Ireland will get more top grades than England and Wales • About 40 % of grades will be different from teachers ' predictions • There will be 25,000 university courses available in clearing , including 4,500 in top Russell Group universities There have been arguments about how estimated grades have been calculated in the absence of exams - with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pupils and previous results at their school .
In England , head teachers angrily complained of a `` shambles '' at the last-minute switch to a `` triple lock '' in which students could appeal and get whatever was highest out of three assessments : • an optional written paper in the autumn • or an appeal through their school if the estimated result is lower than the mock exam , Heads warned mock exams were run in many different ways by schools and it was wrong to try to use them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Daily Telegraph , England 's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he will refuse to follow Scotland 's lead in allowing students whose results were downgraded to be awarded the grades predicted by their teachers .
He warned that if teachers ' grades were used in England , `` we would have seen them shoot up '' which would `` devalue '' results for the class of 2020 and be unfair on those in previous and future years .
He added : `` But worse than that , it would mean that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice over , both in their education and their future prospects . ''
In Wales , students have been promised that their A-level results will be revised upwards if lower than their AS-level .
The exam boards have said the results will not show widening gaps or `` unconscious bias '' , such as towards ethnic minority students .
But the linking of students ' grades to the results of their schools in previous years will mean close attention to whether this works against disadvantaged children .
This emerged when exam results were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to using teachers ' predictions .
And in England there will be concerns that bright pupils in under-performing schools could be marked down .
England 's exam watchdog has said that if teachers ' predictions had been used it would have inflated results - so that about 38 % of entries would have been A* or A grades .
But using a system that relies on ranking pupils by ability could create a `` lottery '' in grades for those in the middle ranges , says Professor Alan Smithers of the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He says that while those pupils at the top and bottom ends of the ability range will be clear , it is harder to `` distinguish those in the middle '' , with the risk of ranking decisions being `` inaccurate and unfair '' .
Mr Williamson has defended the robustness of the replacement grades - and told those getting their results that `` they should feel proud of everything they have achieved in the most extraordinary and difficult circumstances '' .
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"Where pupils are disappointed, where they feel that they could have done better, where they feel that there's an injustice been done to them, there is the possibility of appeal and they can re-sit, they can take a re-sit this autumn as well."


bbcuk--2020-08-12--BTec students awaiting results 'hopeful for the future'

Anyone leaving college , school or university and hoping to work this summer faces an uncertain jobs market , with the economy experiencing biggest fall in employment for a decade .
But are some careers more `` pandemic proof '' than others ?
He studied for a Level 3 BTec in health and social care at Sheffield College , and is hoping to be awarded three distinction star grades and go to Sheffield Hallam University to study biomedical science .
`` I 'm hoping to work in some sort of laboratory to do research into diseases , and I imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on lab work now in the future . ''
Harry says his course meant he had to complete assessed modules throughout the two years of study , making it a `` very hands-on way of learning '' .
In terms of results day , he feels the continuous assessment throughout his course means students like him `` have less pressure than those doing A-levels , because we 've being doing assessments all the time and have a good idea of what we 'll get '' .
Health and social care is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for next year , according to staff at Barking and Dagenham College in Essex .
The rise in applications for courses include : • health and social care , up 56 % on last year Barking and Dagenham student Antonela Rosewarne , 18 , has just completed the first year of her Level 3 BTec in public services at the college , and thinks her best chance of getting her dream job in the fire service is to continue studying and do the second or `` extended '' year .
At the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put the course online as best they could .
Some parts of it worked well , particularly the citizenship , psychology , criminology and diversity parts of the training .
But the course also focuses on team building , communication and physical fitness , taught through team sports , trekking expeditions and gym work , and there was little the tutors could do apart from advising the students to keep up their fitness by walking or running .
`` I was pretty stressed at first , '' she says .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I was worried about how it was going to go when we could n't do the practical activities . ''
• Why one in five university students has n't done A-levels • What will happen on A-level results day ?
She says that having missed out on so much of the practical side of the course `` dampens the achievement '' , as teamwork and communication in particular `` are key skills for people wanting to work in the public services '' .
But despite coronavirus she is optimistic about the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of changes with Covid-19 , but I 'm excited to meet new people and do new things . ''
BTecs are vocational courses designed to develop practical skills - subjects like business , sport , and health and social care are popular .
They are awarded by a private organisation , the education and training company Pearson .
About 20 % of university students in England are accepted after studying only BTecs , and another 10 % are accepted into higher education with a combination of A-levels and BTecs .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - in fact , most are taken by those over the age of 22 , and research by the Social Market Foundation found these qualifications were particularly popular among white working-class students .
While England , Wales and Northern Ireland have BTecs , Scotland has its own Scottish Vocational Qualifications .
There are other vocational qualifications available - such as City and Guilds and Cambridge Technicals offered by OCR - offering a wide range of courses .
How do the new T-levels fit in ?
There are changes afoot in the world of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the introduction of a new qualification in England - the Technical or T-level - in subjects such as accountancy , catering , finance , hair and beauty , and manufacturing .
• What will teenagers study for the new T-levels ?
• T-level study to be worth three A-levels T-level courses will be available to students after GCSEs and be equivalent to three A-levels - with a starred distinction being the same as three As at A-level .
T-levels are being phased in some colleges in England , and will run in conjunction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Have you got your results today ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
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In terms of results day, he feels the continuous assessment throughout his course means students like him "have less pressure than those doing A-levels, because we've being doing assessments all the time and have a good idea of what we'll get".


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Investigation into fatal Stonehaven train derailment begins

An investigation has begun into an Aberdeenshire rail crash in which three people died .
The train driver , a conductor and a passenger were killed when the the 06:38 ScotRail service from Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street derailed near Stonehaven on Wednesday morning .
It is thought to have hit a landslide after heavy rain and thunderstorms caused disruption across Scotland .
Six other people were also injured in the incident .
They were taken to hospital but their injuries were not believed to be serious .
Expert investigators are now working to identify the cause of the crash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Accident Investigation Branch and inspectors from the Office of Rail and Road - the independent regulator - are involved in the investigation .
UK Transport Minister Grant Shapps plans to travel to the scene of the incident later .
He said he wanted to `` try to understand the situation first hand and offer every possible assistance '' .
Michael Matheson , Scotland 's cabinet secretary for transport , will also meet members of the emergency services at the site .
And the chief executive of Network Rail , Andrew Haines , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short a family holiday in Italy .
The Queen was among those who sent their condolences to those affected by the derailment .
In a post on the Royal Family 's Twitter feed , she said she learned of the incident with `` great sadness '' .
`` The Duke of Edinburgh , and the entire Royal Family , join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to the families of those who have died and those who have been injured , '' she added .
`` Our thanks go out to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also sent her `` deepest condolences '' to the loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragedy .
The sentiment was echoed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
He added : `` Clearly the most important thing now is that the British Transport Police , who are in charge of the investigation , find out exactly what happened and we all work together to make sure nothing like this ever happens again . ''
Alex Hynes , the managing director of Scotland 's Railway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sad day '' .
The train which derailed was made up of two locomotives - at the front and back - and four carriages .
A review of CCTV at stations at which the service stopped suggested there were nine people on the train , including crew .
Ch Supt Eddie Wylie , of British Transport Police , said he believed all passengers had been accounted for .
He added : `` Once the area has been made safe then a full and thorough search will be conducted , which is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know many people will understandably have questions and we will be working closely alongside the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and the Office of Rail and Road to establish the full circumstances of how the train came to derail . ''
Kevin Lindsay , Scotland organiser for the Aslef train drivers union , said : `` Our thoughts tonight are with all those who died , and who were injured , in the tragic accident .
`` While it is too early to speculate about the causes of the crash , it would seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area - the torrential rain - resulted in a landslip which , in turn , caused the train to derail . ''
He added that the train had caught fire after rolling down a steep embankment .

"It is so heart warming to see how many people have fond memories of Donald and I am sure they have plenty of happy and funny stories to tell. He was a kind, caring and genuine person who was never found without a smile on his face. We know he will be deeply missed by all."


bbcuk--2020-08-12--UK heatwave: Severe storms forecast after scorching temperatures

Warnings of severe thunderstorms are in place across much of the UK after some areas saw the longest stretch of high temperatures since the 1960s .
An amber storm warning has been issued for most of Wales , the West Midlands and parts of the North West .
Flooding , damage to buildings , travel disruption and power cuts are expected in those regions .
It comes after torrential rain and lightning lashed large parts of Scotland on Tuesday night .
A yellow storm warning - meaning there is a small chance of flooding and travel disruption - has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of England for Wednesday night , and extends to more of the East and South East and most of Northern Ireland on Thursday .
The yellow warning applies for Wales and the majority of England until Monday night next week .
• More homes without water as heatwave continues The Met Office also warned of potential damage to buildings from lightning strikes or strong winds , and 30 to 40mm of rain falling in less than an hour in some places .
Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said the high temperatures triggering the thunderstorms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is falling on places that have been quite hot and dry , and the ground is quite hard , the rain does n't have anywhere to go , and from that we can see flash flooding , '' he added .
Thunderstorms are expected to clear overnight , while temperatures could remain above 20C , he said .
`` It 's still going to be warm and humid and that could then trigger some thunderstorms across parts of England and Wales through the afternoon and evening [ on Thursday ] , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the week remains unsettled with showers , some of them thundery and heavy , but there will still be some warm , sunny spells at times too . ''
`` It 's not often we get temperatures this high over several days , and that is triggering thunderstorms across parts of England and Wales . ''
Torrential rain and lightning lashed large parts of Scotland on Tuesday night .
Three people died after a passenger train derailed near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire .
It is thought the train hit a landslide after heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also declared in Fife .
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it received more than 1,000 emergency calls on Tuesday night due to the severe weather .
The Environment Agency said 10 properties in Lancashire were also affected by flooding following storms .
It has issued flood alerts for certain areas in England and Scotland , which are separate from the weather warnings issued by the Met Office .
The warnings and alerts follow scorching temperatures in the UK .
The Met Office said temperatures surpassed 34C in central London for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time that has happened since at least 1961 .
St James 's Park in the city saw a high of 34.6C .
Devon and Cornwall Police warned the south west of England is `` full to capacity '' , leading to `` unprecedented demand '' for 999 services .
The force said it saw an increase in anti-social behaviour and public order offences on Saturday and Sunday .
Assistant Chief Constable Jim Colwell said the weekend 's events , spurred on by the hot weather , had forced officers to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in Sussex , more homeowners had water supplies cut off or restricted on Wednesday .
At least 300 householders had already been without tap water since Friday .
Steve Andrews , head of central operations for South East Water , said more than 150 million litres of extra water were being pumped into the network as the UK heatwave continues .

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bbcuk--2020-08-12--Coronavirus: England death count review reduces UK toll by 5,000

A review of how deaths from coronavirus are counted in England has reduced the UK death toll by more than 5,000 , to 41,329 , the government has announced .
The recalculation is based on a new definition of who has died from Covid .
Previously , people in England who died at any point following a positive test , regardless of cause , were counted in the figures .
But there will now be a cut-off of 28 days , providing a more accurate picture of the epidemic .
This brings England 's measure in line with the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting deaths means the total number of people in the UK who have died from Covid-19 comes down from 46,706 to 41,329 - a reduction of 12 % .
And figures for deaths in England for the most recent week of data - 18 to 24 July - will drop by 75 % , from 442 to 111 .
Prof John Newton , director of health improvement at Public Health England ( PHE ) , said : `` The way we count deaths in people with Covid-19 in England was originally chosen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the early stages of the pandemic . ''
But he said the new methods of calculating deaths from the virus would give `` crucial information about both recent trends and the overall mortality burden due to Covid-19 '' .
Calculating the total number of deaths linked to coronavirus is far from straightforward .
It seemed very odd when we learned last month that PHE 's figures included everyone who had tested positive , even if they died months afterwards and their death may have had another cause .
Scotland , Wales and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive test and death looked reasonable .
But even so , that measure does not include those who might have been on a ventilator for more than 28 days .
There is no yardstick endorsed by the World Health Organization and PHE argued there was no single ideal way of working out the total .
In future , death numbers for England will be published using both 28-day and 60-day cut off points .
The 28-day limit will , however , be the headline measure and will at least achieve consistency across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death total will be a talking point among statisticians .
But it wo n't make any difference to tens of thousands of families who have been bereaved because of the virus .
The health secretary in England , Matt Hancock , called for a review into the way deaths from coronavirus were calculated in July .
It followed concerns raised by Oxford scientists that this was being carried out differently across the four nations of the UK .
In Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland , the count only included people who died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Someone who stayed in intensive care with Covid-19 for five weeks and died would not be counted as a coronavirus death , for example .
In England , there was no time limit .
Someone who recovered from Covid-19 in March and died in a car crash in July would have been counted as a coronavirus death .
Now the UK 's four chief medical officers have decided to use a single , consistent measure and publish the number of deaths that occurred within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every week for England , a new set of figures will be published showing the number of deaths that occur within 60 days of a positive test .
Deaths that occur after 60 days - such as those who have been in intensive care for many months - will also be added in if Covid-19 appears on the death certificate .
Prof Keith Neal , emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases , from the University of Nottingham , said the two new measures were `` sensible '' .
`` The 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and England is now the same as the rest of the UK , '' he said .
`` The previous measure of always being a Covid death , even if recovered , was unscientific .
`` As Covid deaths fall , the number of recovered patients , particularly the very old and those with severe underlying conditions , are now dying from these conditions and not Covid-19 . ''
Prof Neal added : `` These non-Covid deaths in survivors would become an ever increasing percentage of the England Covid deaths being reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitoring . ''
• BRITAIN 'S CANCER CRISIS : How has cancer care been impacted by Covid-19 ?
• DIET AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM How important is a healthy diet ?

It seemed very odd when we learned last month that PHE's figures included everyone who had tested positive, even if they died months afterwards and their death may have had another cause.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Coronavirus: England's contact-tracing app gets green light for trial

England 's revamped coronavirus contact-tracing app is set to begin public trials on Thursday .
The software will be based on Apple and Google 's privacy-centric method of one smartphone detecting another .
Engineers are still trying to reduce how often the Bluetooth-based tech wrongly flags people as being within 2m ( 6.6ft ) of each other .
Officials are concerned about people going into quarantine as a consequence .
The Isle of Wight will be involved again , along with one other area and a volunteer group .
The government intends to launch the experiment without much fanfare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a formal national rollout will occur .
The idea behind the app is to use people 's phones to log when they have been close to another person for so long , that there is a high risk of contagion .
If one user is later diagnosed with the disease , the other person can be alerted to the fact before they begin exhibiting symptoms .
In addition , users will also be asked to scan a QR barcode when they enter a property , to provide a means to later alert them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location linked to multiple infections .
`` We need the app to help stop transmission by tracing close-proximity contacts as quickly and as comprehensively as possible , capturing those contacts we do n't know or do n't remember meeting , '' Prof Christophe Fraser , a scientific advisor to the Department of Health from Oxford University , told the BBC .
`` The app should enable us to return to more normal daily activities with the reassurance that our contacts can be rapidly and anonymously notified if we get infected . ''
Baroness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wider Test and Trace programme - cancelled an earlier trial on the Isle of Wight in June .
This was because an app based on an alternative system spearheaded by NHSX - the health service 's digital innovation unit - had to deal with restrictions Apple imposes on how Bluetooth is used by third-party apps .
As a result , it only detected 4 % of iPhones in cases where the app had gone to sleep because the two handsets involved had not been in recent active use .
This prompted a switch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have this problem .
But at the time , Baroness Harding said the US tech giant 's alternative had a different issue .
She said it could not measure distance well enough to be trusted to direct people to self-isolate for a fortnight .
This has not prevented other places - including Northern Ireland - launching apps based on the technology .
But ongoing tests indicate that England 's new app is still worse at determining distance than the original NHS Covid-19 product .
Confusingly , there have even been cases when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the more likely it is that the software still indicates they are within 2m of each other .
Part of the problem with the Apple-Google framework is that the tech firms have decided that developers should not get access to raw attenuation data - a measure of changes in Bluetooth signal strength .
Instead , it provides a more basic set of readings that an app can use to calculate its own risk scores - the idea being that this helps preserve users ' anonymity .
But one consequence of this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take advantage of a technique developed by researchers at the UK 's Turing Institute and the University of Oxford .
It filters the data to give a better indication of proximity .
Several countries have asked the two tech firms to relax their restrictions , although they are cautious about discussing the matter in public .
Many of those involved have signed non-disclosure agreements with Apple and Google .
A possible compromise would be for Apple and Google to incorporate the filter into their own tool .
But they have yet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The team behind England 's app hopes it can still improve the accuracy rate to a high enough - but not perfect - level by the end of the year .
This would give the Test and Trace team the confidence to include an alert directing users to stay at home when required .
But those involved believe there is still a `` significant risk '' this will not be achievable .
In the meantime , the new Isle of Wight trial will allow them to see how the software behaves in real-world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Confusingly, there have even been cases when the further two handsets are spaced apart, the more likely it is that the software still indicates they are within 2m of each other.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Family's fears over Leicestershire double murderer's release

The family of a woman who was stabbed to death by an occult-obsessed `` sadist '' are to appeal against his release .
Paul Bostock , 53 , has been in prison since pleading guilty in 1986 to killing two women in Leicestershire .
Despite once saying he should be `` prevented from walking the streets again '' , Bostock has been deemed safe enough to be released on parole .
The family of his second victim , Amanda Weedon , said it was still too soon for him to be released .
Her brother Martin , 61 , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dangerous person .
I do n't think you can fix a mind like his . ''
In 1983 Bostock stabbed and killed 33-year-old pet beautician Caroline Osborne while she was walking dogs in Aylestone Meadows in Leicester .
Two years later he killed Miss Weedon , a 21-year-old nurse , after he visited Ms Osborne 's nearby grave .
The Beaumont Leys resident was described as `` a loner ... with an obsession with weapons , with the occult and with black magic '' .
Leicester Crown Court heard both killings were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ element of sexual sadism '' .
While awaiting trial he wrote : `` I 'm an animal who should be prevented from walking the streets again .
`` If I suffer 100 years I would still deserve more . ''
• Latest news and stories from the East Midlands He was sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of 19 .
The BBC has seen Parole Board documents showing it has decided Bostock was now safe enough to leave prison , under certain conditions .
Miss Weedon 's family said they were told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submit their appeal .
Mr Weedon added : `` I believe most people deserve a second chance .
But not him .
`` People will say , 'of course you 'd say that ' - but I 'd ask them , do you want a guy who can stab someone 37 times in 10 minutes , after killing another woman , to come live alongside you ? ''
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook , Twitter , or Instagram .
Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews @ bbc.co.uk .

The BBC has seen Parole Board documents showing it had decided Bostock was now safe enough to leave prison, although he will have a tag and "very strict limitations" on who he can meet and where he can go.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Amazon Prime donates to Fleabag stars' theatre emergency fund

A fund set up by two stars of Fleabag to support theatre workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic is to receive £500,000 from Amazon Prime Video .
Olivia Colman and Phoebe Waller-Bridge said they were `` blown away '' by the `` extraordinary '' support .
The streaming service is also donating £1m to a new grants scheme being set up by the Film and TV Charity .
Amazon Prime has pledged $ 6m ( £4.6m ) in total to those involved in theatre , TV and film production across Europe .
`` The creative community in Europe has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon original TV series and movies , '' Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said .
`` It is essential for us to help that community through this pandemic . ''
The £500,000 donation to the Theatre Community Fund will help provide hardship grants of up to £3,000 to UK theatre workers and freelancers .
Colman , Waller-Bridge and producer Francesca Moody said the donation was `` a game-changer '' for a community that `` has never been more threatened or fragile '' .
Last year , Waller-Bridge , creator of Fleabag and Killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make TV shows for Amazon Prime .
The Film and TV Charity also thanked Amazon .
Chief executive Alex Pumfrey said the money would be used `` to support the diverse talent in our industry through the recovery process '' .
The donations follow the £500,000 given by Netflix last month to help director Sir Sam Mendes establish his own Theatre Artists Fund .
The UK government has announced a £1.57bn support package aimed at protecting theatres , galleries and museums .
On Wednesday , the head of entertainment union Bectu wrote to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be paid out in August to allow venues to `` halt redundancies and support their workforce '' .
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The Film and TV Charity also thanked Amazon. Chief executive Alex Pumfrey said the money would be used "to support the diverse talent in our industry through the recovery process".


bbcuk--2020-08-12--UK 'must anticipate hostile states utilising pandemic'

The UK must work to stop China and Russia using the pandemic to their global advantage , MPs have warned .
The Commons Defence Committee said an ongoing review of foreign and security policy must prioritise looking at the capabilities of `` hostile states '' .
It called for a `` robust assessment '' of the threat Moscow and Beijing pose to UK interests at home and abroad .
Meanwhile , the government has brought in new powers for police to detain people they suspect of espionage .
Home Secretary Priti Patel said this would send a `` clear message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone attempting to disrupt UK interests , • The 'new normal ' as cyber-spies navigate pandemic Downing Street has promised its `` integrated review '' of foreign , defence , security and international development policy - the first for five years - will be the most far-reaching since the Cold War .
But the cross-party committee , headed by Conservative ex-minister Tobias Ellwood , said it was `` concerned that the gap between this expectation and reality is widening '' .
Its report urged the government to welcome `` challenge '' from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Parliament and the public .
Warning against a `` behind-closed-doors '' approach , the committee also called for clarity over which ministers would chair key meetings if Boris Johnson was not attending and what input special advisers , including the PM 's chief aide Dominic Cummings , would have .
The committee said it had been told by the UK 's deputy national security adviser Alex Ellis that coronavirus was expected to lead to `` intensified geo-political competition '' .
`` Within this context , it is important to consider how hostile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their advantage , '' it added .
The UK , Russia and China are all at the forefront of global efforts to produce a vaccine , with Russia saying on Tuesday that it had given regulatory approval to one after less than two months of testing on humans .
The UK has accused Russia of attempting to steal UK scientists ' vaccine research , a claim denied by Moscow .
The committee said it had heard that both Russia and China - with which the UK is at loggerheads over cyber-espionage and Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major tool '' .
It said the UK must assess the `` full range '' of economic and diplomatic activities in which the countries were involved .
There has been speculation that the review could lead to a further cut in the size of the armed forces , but the committee said decisions should be driven by strategy rather than money .
From Thursday , the Home Office is giving specially trained police the power to stop , question and detain individuals travelling through UK ports who are suspected of working for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat was `` growing and ever-changing '' , and promised new laws to `` stay ahead '' .

The UK, Russia and China are all at the forefront of global efforts to produce a vaccine, with Russia saying on Tuesday that it had given regulatory approval to one after less than two months of testing on humans.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Freeview viewers complain of fewer channels after retune

Freeview viewers are complaining that they lost channels after planned changes were made to the network .
The company , which runs free digital television in the UK , warned users in advance that they might need to retune their systems today after transmitters were updated .
However , many customers say their channels have not been fully restored , despite retuning their televisions .
Freeview said anybody experiencing issues should call its advice line .
Why is there disruption ?
The changes come after a decision by the government to reallocate some of the airwaves used by Freeview .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobile broadband services in the future .
The decision means transmitters across the UK are being updated throughout 2020 .
This week 's changes are happening in north-west England , north-east Wales and Creetown in Scotland , affecting about three million homes .
Viewers in these areas may need to retune their TV or box if they find they are missing channels .
Paid-for satellite or cable services are not affected by the changes . '
I could do without this hassle' Andy Seymour from Lymm in Warrington has had problems with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After retuning , the number of channels he could watch has dropped from 120 to 16 .
`` It 's really frustrating because my daughter usually watches CBeebies on Freeview , while I need the internet bandwidth for working from home , '' he said .
`` I could do without this hassle whilst we deal with the current Covid situation . ''
Another viewer , who wishes to be anonymous , said they were reduced to six channels after a retune .
`` I should be working today , not messing about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What about all the senior people stuck inside due to heat ?
Hopefully they have radio . ''
Similar complaints were made on social media by other viewers .
Freeview told the BBC it is working to help these cases .
`` Retuning is a normal part of Freeview and most viewers find this straightforward , '' a Freeview spokesperson said .
`` Information and advice on retuning Freeview equipment , including video guides for some of the most popular brands , is available on our website .
`` Anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are still missing channels after retuning , can contact the advice line free on 0808 100 0288 , where our team will be happy to help . ''

The changes come after a decision by the government to reallocate some of the airwaves used by Freeview. Those will be used to develop new mobile broadband services in the future.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Middlemarch and other works by women reissued under their real names

Novels written by women using male pen names have been reissued using the authors ' actual names .
The collection includes George Eliot 's Middlemarch , which has been reissued under the author 's real name , Mary Ann Evans , for the first time .
The 25 titles have been released to mark the 25th anniversary of the Women 's Prize for Fiction .
The Reclaim Her Name library features newly commissioned cover artwork from female designers .
Other titles in the collection include A Phantom Lover , a gothic horror novel Violet Paget published under the pen name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by George Sand , the male pseudonym used by the 19th Century French novelist Amantine Aurore Dupin .
Founder director of the Women 's Prize for Fiction , Kate Mosse , said it was `` a lovely way to celebrate '' the award 's 25th anniversary .
She said the initiative would continue a process of `` empowering women , igniting conversations and ensuring they get the recognition they deserve '' .
Liz Petry , whose mother Anne 's book Marie of the Cabin Club is featured in the collection , said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approached .
`` I 'm incredibly proud of my mother 's work and it excites me that her writing has been introduced to a new audience , '' she continued .
The full collection can be downloaded as free e-books from the website of Baileys , the Women 's Prize for Fiction 's former sponsor .
Physical box sets will also be donated to selected libraries across the country .
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Liz Petry, whose mother Anne's book Marie of the Cabin Club is featured in the collection, said she was "honoured" to have been approached.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Chindit Memorial: WW2 'forgotten army' tribute given listed status

A memorial to soldiers in the `` forgotten army '' of World War Two has been given listed status .
The Chindit Memorial in Victoria Embankment Gardens in Westminster will be given Grade II listing to mark 75 years since Imperial Japan surrendered .
The special forces unit fought in modern day Myanmar and helped to turn the tide of the war against Japan .
The government called the memorial a `` fitting tribute to all who served in the Far East '' .
There will be a range of events held around the world on Saturday to mark the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( VJ Day ) and the end of World War Two .
Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said : `` As we come together this weekend to mark 75 years since Victory over Japan Day , we must not forget the sacrifices of the Second World War generation .
`` We are protecting and preserving sites so that future generations can learn about this important period of our history . ''
The group were named after Chinthe , a mythical guardian of temples in Myanmar - at the time known as Burma .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Burma , Hong Kong , India , Nepal , West Africa and the USA .
They engaged the Japanese behind enemy lines in Burma and specialised in navigating extremely difficult jungle terrain .
Soldiers who fought during the Myanmar campaign have often been referred to as the `` forgotten army '' as their efforts were largely overlooked by contemporary press .
The Duke of Edinburgh unveiled the memorial , a bronze Chinthe statue supported on a stone plinth , in 1990 .
On the front plinth of the memorial is the blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as a portrait of the groups founder , Major General Orde Wingate .
A separate memorial is housed in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire .
• WW2 pilot who 'saved children ' to be remembered Claudia Kenyatta , director of regions at Historic England , said : `` Memorials that commemorate the Allied forces fighting in the Far East are surprisingly rare in England .
`` We are pleased that the memorial to the Chindit Special Forces in Burma has been listed . ''
Grade II listed structures are considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
There are strict laws on how to maintain or alter listed structures .

Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "As we come together this weekend to mark 75 years since Victory over Japan Day, we must not forget the sacrifices of the Second World War generation.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--South west England full to capacity, say police

The south west of England is `` full to capacity '' leading to `` unprecedented demand '' for 999 services in Devon and Cornwall , police have warned .
The force received 2,301 emergency calls at the weekend , a 26.5 % increase on the same period in 2019 .
Anti-social behaviour accounted for many of the calls , with a 67 % increase year on year .
Devon and Cornwall Police has asked people to `` respect our region '' .
Assistant Chief Constable Jim Colwell said the weekend 's events , spurred on by the hot weather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , forcing officers to attend a `` plethora of different incidents '' .
It included 31 reports of environmental anti-social behaviour ( ASB ) , including disposable barbeques and other waste being left behind by people .
Officers said a further 102 reports of ASB were `` often drink-related '' , and recorded another 191 reports of people being a `` nuisance '' .
In August alone , the force said it had taken 9,622 calls , equating to about 962 per day and `` significantly up '' on the average 718 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were `` too scared '' to go shopping due to the number of visitors , with respondents in one Devon town adding they were `` exhausted and overwhelmed '' by the levels of disregard shown by incomers .
ACC Colwell described the figures as `` unacceptably high '' and called on tourists to `` think '' before they travel to the region .
`` Book your accommodation before you travel , drive safely on our roads , respect our coasts and drink responsibly , '' he said .
`` If you are visiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have , take your rubbish away and play your part in making Devon and Cornwall a safe place for our residents and tourists alike . ''

Residents in Cornwall previously said they were "too scared" to go shopping due to the number of visitors, with respondents in one Devon town adding they were "exhausted and overwhelmed" by the levels of disregard shown by incomers.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Coronavirus: Aberdeen local lockdown to remain in place

The local lockdown imposed in Aberdeen a week ago after a spike in coronavirus cases is to remain in place .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the number of new cases in the city had fallen in recent days - but was still `` much higher '' than in other areas .
She said it was therefore too early to lift any of the restrictions .
It means pubs and restaurants will remain closed , with restrictions on travel and visiting other households still in place .
The first minister said the restrictions would be reviewed again next Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can relax any of them , we will do so '' .
Ms Sturgeon said a total of 177 cases had now been linked to the outbreak - 12 more than yesterday - with 900 contacts having been identified .
She added : `` In the last few days we have seen a slight fall in the number of new cases in Grampian and in those directly associated with the cluster .
`` But despite this slight reduction , cases are still far higher than in any other part of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Grampian before the outbreak started '' .
The first minister said the Scottish government 's conclusion , based on the advice it had received , was that `` it is not yet possible to lift any of the restrictions that were put in place last week for Aberdeen . ''
Ms Sturgeon said she knew people in Aberdeen would be disappointed by the decision , and thanked them for `` complying so well with the rules '' .
She added : `` We continue to watch closely for any signs that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant way , but at present we are not placing any additional restrictions on people living in the shire '' .
She said the city council had been fully involved in the discussions , with the police reporting `` good compliance '' with the restrictions in the city since they were imposed last Wednesday .
The restrictions in Aberdeen mean : • no travel more than five miles for leisure or holidays • no travel to the city for leisure or to visit friends and family , even if you live in Aberdeenshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It emerged last week that eight Aberdeen FC players had visited the city 's Soul Bar the previous Saturday , with two later testing positive for Covid-19 .
The revelation angered the first minister , and has led to the cancellation of the club 's next two matches .
One person who was among a cluster of five cases in north east Angus had been linked to the Aberdeen outbreak .
Health officials in Aberdeenshire have also been investigating a potential cluster in the Stonehaven/Portlethen area , but no connection to Aberdeen had @ @ @ @

The first minister said the Scottish government's conclusion, based on the advice it had received, was that "it is not yet possible to lift any of the restrictions that were put in place last week for Aberdeen."


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Coronavirus: Greater Manchester Police chief issues A-level party warning

Students celebrating their A-level results have been reminded by a police chief not to spoil `` a joyful occasion '' by ignoring coronavirus lockdown rules .
Greater Manchester 's Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey warned against organising or attending parties , saying fixed penalty notices could be issued .
The conurbation saw 1,106 reported breaches of lockdown rules last weekend - 25 % more than the previous weekend .
Enhanced Covid-19 restrictions were reintroduced in the area on 31 July .
New legislation came into effect five days later for Greater Manchester , east Lancashire and West Yorkshire .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with each other in their homes or gardens .
People are allowed to visit pubs , bars and restaurants with members of their own household , however .
Of the 1,106 reports received by Greater Manchester Police ( GMP ) between 7 and 9 August , 540 related to house parties , while 48 pubs were accused of breaching lockdown regulations .
Mr Bailey said : `` I understand that A-level results are coming out this week and people will rightly want to celebrate .
`` However , please be mindful of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not want to spoil what should be a joyous occasion by issuing fixed penalty notices at any house parties or illegal gatherings .
`` It is worth noting that recent spikes in Greater Manchester which led to the additional restrictions were centred around house parties with 17 to 18-year-olds . ''
Mr Bailey added that `` where people continually flout the rules , we will act '' .
A force spokesman said following the reintroduction of restrictions , officers were told only to enforce `` blatant breaches '' .
Officers stopped an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two large gatherings in Salford and Rochdale , he added .
Urging people to follow the rules , Mr Bailey said Greater Manchester was `` very much still in the middle of a pandemic '' and while he understood the desire to `` return to normality as soon as possible '' , the regulations must be followed .
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Urging people to follow the rules, Mr Bailey said Greater Manchester was "very much still in the middle of a pandemic" and while he understood the desire to "return to normality as soon as possible", the regulations must be followed.


bbcuk--2020-08-12--Airline refunds: 'We're still waiting after five months'

David Hanson had to cancel a dream trip to New Zealand because of Covid-19 - but five months on he 's still waiting for a refund .
The Manchester man was due to fly in March with girlfriend Jemima Rodwell , but the flight with Emirates was cancelled with three days ' notice when the Foreign Office advised against travel .
`` I 'm extremely frustrated , really angry just how they can get away with it in terms of being so long , '' he said .
The airline , agency he used to book the flight , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
And he 's not alone in struggling to get money back months after cancelled plans .
A new report by consumer group Which ?
says airlines are still taking too long to refund passengers .
It comes after the airline regulator , the Civil Aviation Authority , said last month that it was `` not satisfied '' that Virgin Atlantic , Ryanair or Tui were processing refunds quickly enough .
Which ?
says that despite the intervention from the CAA , refunds are still too slow and airlines are `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the regulator .
David and Jemima had booked their trip because she was maid of honour at her best friend 's wedding .
`` We had a full trip planned with the campervan , and then we were going to end up in Queensland for the wedding , '' he told the BBC .
`` We had spent months planning , it was going to be a real dream trip .
`` However , nearly five months later we are still yet to receive a refund on our flights totalling £1,742 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
He said the couple had spent `` months and months '' chasing the booking agency , airline and their insurer but they `` seem to have got nowhere .
`` You end up just feel really powerless . ''
The BBC has approached Emirates for comment .
The CAA 's report last month said Ryanair was taking 10 weeks or even longer to process refunds and asked the airline to reduce that time .
But Which ?
says that , despite promises , the airline is still taking months to process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ness from Edinburgh was due to fly to Gdansk in Poland with her boyfriend in early April , just after schools broke up for Easter in Scotland .
But Ryanair cancelled their flight because of the pandemic .
Despite asking for a cash refund , Ms Ness says she was initially sent a voucher to rebook .
After five phone calls and dozens of emails , Ms Ness says she finally received her money this week .
`` As a low-paid key worker £126 is a lot of money not to have for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC .
Ryanair said it had issued more than £670m in refunds and had cleared over 90 % of its claims backlog .
Virgin Atlantic , meanwhile , made customers wait up to 120 days for a refund , the CAA said in its July report .
It was the only airline threatened with action by the regulator , which reviewed the refund waiting times of 18 major airlines .
But Which ?
said it had heard from two passengers who had been waiting for 130 days for a refund for flights cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also heard from a Tui customer who had still not received a refund for travel cancelled in April .
Tui said it now issued refunds automatically and normally processed cash refunds within two weeks .
Virgin said it was `` very sorry '' that a `` small number '' of customers had to wait more than 120 days for a refund .
• Will I get my money back if I ca n't go on holiday ?
`` Time after time , Which ?
has exposed airlines breaking the law on refunds for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treating their passengers unfairly , and we 're concerned that they now feel empowered to do as they please without fear of punishment , '' said Rory Boland , Editor of Which ?
Travel .
`` Passengers must be able to rely on a regulator that has effective powers to protect their rights - especially at a time of unprecedented turmoil , '' he said .
Which ?
has called for the CAA to be given new powers to take action against airlines that are slow to refund passengers .
`` The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CAA has the tools it needs to hold airlines to account , or risk consumer trust in the travel industry being damaged beyond repair , '' Mr Boland said .
In a statement , a CAA spokesman said : `` While our initial review has concluded , we have been clear that we will continue to monitor performance closely and should any airline fall short of the commitments they have made to us , we will take further action as required . ''
The report from Which ?
comes as rail companies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights more heavily .
The Rail Delivery Group , which represents rail operators , says train companies should pay less tax on the electricity they use to power trains to encourage greener travel .
The cost , they say , could be covered by airlines paying more tax on flights , possibly on routes which could be made by rail instead .
But the demand has not gone down well with airlines , which say that the railways are heavily subsidised by the government .

"I'm extremely frustrated, really angry just how they can get away with it in terms of being so long," he said. The airline, agency he used to book the flight, and his insurer have been little help, he said.