bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: Northampton food bank sees demand rocket

Tens of thousands of people rely on food banks each week for basic provisions , but lockdown forced many to close just as they were needed most .
One centre in Northampton remained open against the odds .
BBC News spoke to its users and volunteers .
It 's just gone 10:00 BST and outside one of the units at Weston Favell Shopping Centre , a queue is starting to form .
In its previous life as a Next store , that was nothing unusual , but now people are lining up not for fashion bargains but that most basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , an army of masked volunteers meet here , sorting , packing and handing out tins , packets , bags and cartons to grateful recipients .
Lockdown saw demand at Weston Favell Centre Foodbank treble , prompting its move from a nearby church to this vacant retail unit on Northampton 's eastern edge .
Food bank user Susan Austin described the service as a `` Godsend '' .
`` I 'm on Universal Credit and I ca n't go to work , so this is really important to me .
I 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
`` I do n't get paid until the first of the month , which seems years away .
`` I 'm here because I simply have no food . ''
'You 'd be amazed how versatile a tin of tomatoes can be' During lockdown , mother-of-two Kiera found herself on a low income , looking after her disabled partner and struggling to make ends meet .
`` This is vital to me ; a lifesaver , '' she said .
`` I 'm on Universal Credit .
Everything I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It all makes a big difference when you 've not got the money to spend .
`` I could n't afford school uniforms last year and the food bank staff took me to Tesco and helped me . ''
`` You get lots of soup - I love soup .
It 's healthy as well .
You get the odd packet meal ; quick and easy .
With a bit of research , you 'd be amazed how versatile a tin of tomatoes can be . ''
Kiera is not alone .
Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his son Kenneth for a month now .
`` When you 're out of work , the low income just about covers the bills , '' he said .
`` Trying to find work when you have n't been out of the house is hard .
But this makes a lot of difference .
`` It takes the stress out of putting food on the table .
I can just buy meat myself .
The alternative is hunger . ''
Last month , the UK 's biggest food bank network , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in emergency food parcels for the month of April .
Food banks in the Independent Food Aid Network ( IFAN ) reported a 175 % increase in need during the same period .
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'This used to be a crisis service' But this lifeline is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
Lockdown saw demand rocket but supplies collapse .
`` At first , it was hard to get the donations in as we could n't get to the supermarkets - we felt like criminals , '' said food bank manager Anne Woodley .
`` Until they waived the restrictions it was really difficult .
`` Prior to that , it was a crisis service : three days ' food , just tins .
We have now moved into a different world where people are living off food banks . ''
Initially , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency Friday deliveries to vulnerable people shielding .
`` I remember one week where we ran out of food at the end of a Wednesday session .
We just about had enough food for that day , and then thought 'what are we going to do for Friday ? '
'' The food bank went from handing out 120 parcels at the height of the crisis to a more manageable 80 a week , Mrs Woodley said .
Back in January , it was 40 a week . '
I volunteered to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a charity until she was placed on furlough three months ago .
`` I decided to fill my time with something good for the community , '' she said .
`` It 's been lovely to see the impact on our clients .
For some people it 's a real lifeline , but the food is just one part of what we give - you see at first-hand the difference it makes .
`` It was a bit strange at first , walking around with mask and gloves on , but we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone safe . ''
You may also like : • ' I was living in a tent in a graveyard' • 'We do take anything - everything is money' • ' I hung around outside the food bank , embarrassed to go in' 'Sometimes it 's food you think of last' '' We never know what donations are coming in so we structure the week , '' said warehouse co-ordinator Tracey Fogg .
`` If someone finds themselves in difficulties , such as paying bills , sometimes it 's food you think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was chaotic .
We were inundated with donations and needed to store it all , but on the other side of the coin clients came in because they panicked .
The supermarkets were struggling to provide bulk stock and we were relying on the generosity of the public .
`` We had to adapt pretty quickly . ''
Colleague Jayne Redding , a former street church volunteer , said clients came from all walks of life , with many suddenly affected by the Covid-19 downturn .
`` We get single people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are shielding and those who are laid off because of Covid , '' she said .
`` Sometimes they 're embarrassed and worried , but we signpost them to the right place .
`` I 'm quite an emotional person and it can make me sad , but we can plug this one gap for them .
It can be uplifting . ''
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"Initially when lockdown happened it was chaotic. We were inundated with donations and needed to store it all, but on the other side of the coin clients came in because they panicked. The supermarkets were struggling to provide bulk stock and we were relying on the generosity of the public.


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: What powers do the police have?

Lockdown rules are changing across the UK .
But who is responsible for making sure people follow them ?
Police have the biggest responsibility for enforcing coronavirus laws - the rules that everyone must follow .
These differ across the UK 's four nations .
But not everything you are asked to do is a legal requirement .
Coronavirus guidance describes government recommendations to help control the virus .
These are not backed by laws .
Ministers have sometimes used the word `` rules '' to refer to the law and sometimes the guidance .
Can police make me cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Northern Ireland it 's a legal requirement to cover the mouth and nose on public transport ( although some people are exempt ) .
Wales will introduce this rule on 27 July .
From 24 July , the requirement will extend to shops in England - mirroring the position that came into force in Scotland on 10 July .
If you refuse to wear a covering on public transport , police officers can stop you boarding - or direct you to leave .
Police officers in England and Transport for London staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's not clear yet how this will be enforced in shops .
The Police Federation , which represents front-line officers , says they ca n't spend their time patrolling thousands upon thousands of outlets .
Shop staff and security guards can already detain shoplifters while waiting for the police to arrive .
However , the general power of the citizen 's arrest is only exercisable to apprehend criminals committing offences that would go before a judge and jury .
A penalty ticket for being socially obnoxious would not cross that high bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuse non-mask wearers entry - rather than turning to the police to solve the problem .
The Met Commissioner , Dame Cressida Dick has said that police in London would only enforce the wearing of coverings in shops `` as a last resort '' - if people not wearing a covering refused to leave a shop or became `` aggressive '' .
In England , the law allows you to meet in a group of up to 30 people outside , or at home .
Outside means any public place - including beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So if you want to organise a picnic or garden party , you can now invite 29 guests .
If you go above that number , the police can turn up and force people to leave .
They could issue you with a penalty ticket .
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These start at £100 ( or £50 if paid within 14 days ) , rising to £3,200 for six or more offences .
In exceptional cases , the Crown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But , confusingly , the government wants people to do something different .
Its official guidance - not actually a legal obligation - says : `` You should only be socialising in groups of up to two households ( including your support bubble ) indoors and outdoors or up to six people from different households when outdoors . ''
The law in England now allows even bigger formally organised gatherings , providing the people behind it can show they have a plan to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus .
Officers can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written plan .
They can order people to leave if they decide there are genuine dangers .
Lockdown laws in the rest of the UK : • Scotland : What can you now do ?
• Wales : What are the latest lockdown rules ?
The law gets more complicated still .
In England , Health Secretary Matt Hancock has an exceptional new power to completely close a specific public place .
• Sun-seekers urged to stay away from packed beach And he has also given local councils a suite of new powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shut down places like parks .
This could be used this summer to close beaches or beauty spots if there are concerns about crowds potentially spreading the virus .
If the land belongs to the Queen or Prince Charles , a council will first need their permission before it can restrict access .
If your favourite beach becomes what the law calls a `` restricted area '' , it would be a crime to go there .
Who can force nightclubs or bowling alleys to stay shut ?
The final part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shrinking list of businesses still closed .
These are places where there 's thought to be a risk of spreading from close contact - such as nightclubs , indoor skating rinks and bowling alleys .
Police have the power to close these businesses .
However , in practice they 're leaving this to local authorities whose trading standards officers can also enforce the law .
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@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights ?
What if pubs and cafes break the rules ?
Pubs , restaurants , hotels and hair salons can now open in England - but they could still be forced to close .
That 's because they have a legal duty to keep their staff and customers safe .
The Health and Safety Executive oversees laws and guidance on a safe working environment .
Like the police , it can enforce the law if it believes there is a danger - for instance in an overcrowded factory .
• How will pubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - part of your local council - are also on the front line as they also have responsibility for local safety and , like the police , respond day and night .
They 'll be inspecting premises for potential health risks .
Businesses that are open must be able to show they have plans to reduce the risk of transmission - for instance by creating one-way systems around their premises .
If a premises was the source of an outbreak , local public health directors could close it while the virus was tackled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been used to contain other diseases .
Leicester is subject to the first UK local lockdown .
Police can break up gatherings of more than six people - and residents are n't allowed to stay away overnight , other than in the home of their bubble household .
• What could a lockdown be like in my area ?
But the city is n't actually walled in , legally speaking .
If a Leicester family fancies a clothes-shopping spree in Nottingham - because stores are still open there - there 's legally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government hopes people 's sense of civic responsibility will see them follow guidance to stay at home .

Coronavirus: What powers do police have if people break Covid rules? Published 12 January 2021
Image source, Getty Images
The police's role in the coronavirus pandemic is simple: to ensure we follow national lockdown restrictions.
But in practice, that is a huge challenge for officers who are being asked to monitor behaviour that, until March last year, was perfectly legal.
How do police enforce Covid rules?
Police chiefs have followed a system called "The Four Es". Before fines are issued to rule-breakers, police will first:
Engage with people, to ask why they appear to be breaking the rules
Explain the law, stressing the risks to public health and the NHS
Encourage them to change their behaviour
The fourth "E" is "Enforce" by issuing penalty notices, as a last resort.
Covid rule-breakers are now "increasingly likely" to be fined by officers, the Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has said.
What are the fines for breaking Covid rules?
The police have a legal duty to make sure the rules are enforced, alongside council, environmental health and trading standards officers.
If you break coronavirus regulations, you could get a fixed penalty notice , the Covid equivalent of a traffic offence like speeding.
Since March, 32,000 have been issued in England and Wales. Penalties rose sharply during England's November lockdown. Almost 6,500 penalty tickets were handed out as police moved more quickly to enforcement.
In England and Northern Ireland fines start at £200. Fines start at £60 in Wales, and in Scotland, although this is reduced to £30 if paid within 28 days.
Large parties can also be shut down by the police - with fines of up to £10,000.
In extreme circumstances, you could be prosecuted and face an even greater fine imposed by a court.
Image source, West Midlands Police Image caption, Hundreds of people were caught on a drone camera at an illegal party by West Midlands Police
Can police fine me for being in the street?
Yes. All of England is now in a "tier four" national lockdown, with similar measures in place across the rest of the UK.
Under the new lockdown law, you must stay at home unless you have a "reasonable excuse" to be outside. Your home includes property such as a garden, shed or garage - and also access to it.
The government's lockdown guidance sets out examples of reasonable excuses. Police won't fine you for leaving home to go shopping for essential goods, or to use a business that can remain open, or for going to work or education, training or childcare.
There are other reasonable excuses - such as helping other people in their moment of need. Police chiefs are telling frontline officers to use their judgement if they come across a situation not defined in the regulations.
If you want to take part in a protest, the law does not define that as a reasonable excuse to leave home. There is, however, an exception for joining a picket as part of lawful industrial action.
Will police arrest me for exercising?
Exercise is one of the reasonable excuses for being outside in a public space. You cannot be fined for exercising.
But there has been enormous confusion since last March over how long people could exercise for. Cabinet Minister Michael Gove pronounced that spring that he thought half an hour was enough.
There are also questions over how far you can go to exercise. Boris Johnson has been criticised for travelling seven miles from Downing Street to go cycling during lockdown.
There are no restrictions in law in England on how you exercise and for how long. You cannot exercise in groups, but you can run or go on a wander with someone else from your household, support bubble or one person you don't live with.
The government's Covid guidance for exercise explains that law - and mixes it with a non-legal recommendation to only go out once a day - and to stay local.
It says local "means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live", but that has no legal force.
Image source, Getty Images
Derbyshire Police have been taking the "stay local" principle seriously. Officers have issued tickets to people who drive five miles to their local beauty spot - including two women accused of an illegal picnic because they were carrying takeaway cups of tea.
Will the police fine me for mingling?
They might. This refers to the ban on "gatherings".
The last-but-one version of the restrictions made it a potential crime to "mingle". That language has now gone from the law - but the rules are far stricter.
While the law in England doesn't criminalise bumping into someone in the street, you can no longer meet anyone socially - other than those in your household, support bubble or people you care for.
How likely am I to be fined?
The Home Office has given the police an extra £30m to pay for Covid patrols in England and Wales.
Over Christmas there were more than 800 fines for what Home Secretary Priti Patel says were "egregious" breaches of the rules.
The National Police Chiefs' Council hasn't abandoned the Four Es - but expect more fines and more officers asking people what they are doing.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Police patrols were stepped up around the Scotland-England border around Christmas
For instance, the Metropolitan Police has told officers to issue fines "more quickly" to anyone committing obvious, wilful and serious breaches.
Derbyshire Police, who famously put a drone up over hikers in the first lockdown, has issued a similar warning.
Can police make me cover my face?
Yes - while in shops and on public transport. You could face a fixed penalty notice if you don't.
Image source, Reuters
Can police check whether I'm isolating?
If you have returned from an overseas Covid hotspot, or have been told by the NHS Test and Trace system to stay at home, you must quarantine for 10 days.


bbcuk--2020-07-23--Anthony Walker: How a life lost in racist killing has been imagined for TV

Anthony Walker was a popular , caring student , a church youth leader , a talented basketball player and an aspiring lawyer .
His future was bright .
What might that future have held if the 18-year-old had not been waiting at that bus stop one night in 2005 , the target of a vicious racist attack ?
What might Anthony 's life have been like , and which other lives might have been better with him in them ?
Those are questions that a new BBC One drama tries to answer .
The feature-length drama , titled Anthony , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story - in reverse , from an imagined moment at the age of 25 , back to the night of his death .
`` I think doing it this way emphasises loss , '' says writer Jimmy McGovern .
`` The loss of opportunity .
The loss of life .
The loss of everything .
`` This is what he could have done .
This is what he could have achieved .
These are the people he may well have influenced .
These are the people he might have loved .
And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known for hard-hitting dramas like Hillsborough , Cracker and The Street , has known Anthony 's mother Gee for years .
She would often be his informal advisor when he was writing grieving characters .
`` And then one day , she came to me and said , 'It 's my turn now , Jimmy .
I want you to tell Anthony 's story . '
`` On Merseyside , if Gee Walker asks for something , nobody says no . ''
The killing , in Huyton , near Liverpool , shocked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were convicted of murder - Michael Barton , the brother of footballer Joey Barton , and cousin Paul Taylor .
Gee Walker told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme that her family would always be left wondering what Anthony could have achieved .
`` When the judge passed a sentence of life , we are the ones who are sentenced to a life of 'what ? '
, or 'how ? '
'' she said .
`` We wonder what he would have been like , or how he would have turned out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing now .
We are the ones who are left with this abyss of pain and wondering . ''
It was McGovern 's idea to focus the story on the future of the Anthony who , in a parallel universe , did n't go to that bus stop on that night .
To do so , McGovern needed to get a rounded view of the real person by speaking to his family and friends .
The writer smiles at the way his sisters saw a different side to that his mother saw - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Anthony his mum knew , and then there 's the Anthony his sisters knew , '' McGovern says .
`` And they are n't the same Anthony . ''
The title role is played by 23-year-old actor Toheeb Jimoh , who `` gets him '' , McGovern says .
`` Particularly with the girls .
That 's how I imagine him to have been - charming , making them laugh , making them giggle .
That 's just the way I imagined him to be . ''
The story starts ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reverse ) with Anthony at 25 , helping to get the life of a fictional school friend back on track .
'Went out of his way to help people' '' The crucial thing was to establish the way Anthony would help people .
I had to find a way of dramatising that - that Anthony went out of his way to help people , '' McGovern says .
`` Once I got that - a story about a guy who he was at school with who ends up homeless - I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In depicting the future of someone who died in such tragic circumstances , it could be tempting to end up with an idealised character .
That 's something McGovern says he was conscious of .
`` Anthony could be a bit of a devil .
Particularly with the girls .
It comes down to what I said before - his sisters knew a different Anthony from the Anthony his mum knew .
It 's just how you portray that .
He was a life force , and you 've got to get that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newcomer , but is likely to become a more familiar face on screen soon , with roles in The Power , Amazon 's adaptation of the Naomi Alderman novel , and Apple TV 's comedy Ted Lasso .
`` We were all aware of how unfortunate and tragic Anthony 's story is , '' the actor says .
`` But what 's interesting about the way we 've done it is that there 's also much to be celebrated .
It 's as much a celebration of life as it is a retelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He too did research by speaking to family and friends , and felt `` a huge sense of responsibility '' to get his portrayal right .
`` For his sense of humour to come across was really important , '' the actor explains .
`` For his charm and his cheek and his confidence to come across was super important .
`` That 's important because Anthony 's story is n't just a tragic one .
It 's also full of joy . ''
Anthony is on BBC One at 20:30 BST on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPlayer .
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If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"We were all aware of how unfortunate and tragic Anthony's story is," the actor says. "But what's interesting about the way we've done it is that there's also much to be celebrated. It's as much a celebration of life as it is a retelling of his very unfortunate murder."


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: 'We lost £20k of savings for dream wedding'

A midwife and her fiancé have lost £20,000 after their dream wedding was cancelled amid the coronavirus crisis .
Claire Roche , 26 , and Alex Clough , 28 , from Warrington were due to marry at a chateau in France on 1 August .
But the couple were left heartbroken when their wedding was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
They were then dealt another blow when they discovered their insurance would not cover their losses , destroying their dreams of the perfect day .
`` Not only have we lost the weekend and the wedding of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent years saving , '' said Claire .
It has been a difficult time for the couple as Claire has been working extra shifts at Wythenshawe Hospital , Greater Manchester , to cover sickness and colleagues who have been shielding .
She has regularly cared for women who have tested positive for Covid-19 and contracted the virus herself .
`` It 's been challenging , '' said Claire .
`` There has been a lot of additional pressures but the morale and the camaraderie in the NHS has been amazing .
`` My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have just supported each other through it all . ''
The couple met while Claire was studying at the University of Manchester in 2014 and fell in love the following year .
`` Since then we have been together pretty much every day , '' she said .
In March 2019 , Alex proposed and the couple booked a wedding for 48 guests in the south of France .
But earlier this year , their plans started to unravel and the wedding they had `` dreamt of was at risk of falling apart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights cancelled and the risk to their guests ' health , the couple were left with no option but to cancel the wedding and lose thousands of pounds in the process .
`` Our big day had gone and that really was devastating for us but we were also letting 48 guests down at the same time , '' said Alex , who is a team leader at a chemicals plant in Ellesmere Port and has also been working extra hours amid the global health crisis .
The weeks that followed were a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the venue owner refused to offer a refund and the news from their insurers that they were not covered for a global pandemic .
`` We felt awful for everyone and terribly disappointed for ourselves .
We are not going to be able to fund anything like this again , '' added Claire .
The couple are now hoping to win a competition for a free wedding for key workers at Chateau Challain in France .
`` It would be absolutely unreal to give Claire the wedding that she deserves .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Alex .
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"Our big day had gone and that really was devastating for us but we were also letting 48 guests down at the same time," said Alex, who is a team leader at a chemicals plant in Ellesmere Port and has also been working extra hours amid the global health crisis.


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Russia report: What would tougher spy laws mean for UK?

After the UK government is accused of underestimating the threat of Russian interference , ministers are considering strengthening security laws to require all foreign agents to register in the UK in future .
What might that involve and what are the challenges ?
The Russia report 's stark outline of a campaign of influence and interference has led to talk of new powers .
In July 2018 , the FBI pounded on the door of an apartment in Washington DC .
Moments later , a young Russian woman called Maria Butina was led away in handcuffs .
Over previous years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political circles in the United States .
A gun activist , she had made extensive contacts , especially on the right of the political spectrum and helped to organise events and sent information back to a contact in Moscow .
But was she a spy ?
Butina herself always denied it and she was not doing what we used to think of as spying - working undercover and stealing secrets .
• The Russian gun activist who was jailed in US She was not working secretly and nor was she dealing with classified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered her a threat and the FBI alleged she was working to advance Moscow 's interests .
At the end of 2018 , she pleaded guilty to being directed by a Russian government official to `` establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over American politics '' .
But if there was a Maria Butina operating in the UK today , there would technically be nothing the authorities could do about it , according to UK officials .
The US has a law called the Foreign Agent Registration Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Second World War but recently resurrected to deal with concerns about foreign nations using individuals to carry out `` influence operations '' .
If anyone ( other than a diplomat ) is working on behalf of a foreign government , including a US person openly lobbying for them , they need to register .
If someone fails to , for instance because they are trying to work covertly , they can be arrested .
The UK has no equivalent .
This is considered important because the nature of what is considered spying is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less about the theft of classified information ( which is covered by existing laws ) and more about other activity involving influence .
In evidence given to the Russia Report , then-head of MI5 , Andrew Parker , explained the problem was that at the moment an individual can be operating undercover on behalf of the Kremlin 's intelligence service but nothing can be done until they actually acquire secret material .
This all matters because the sense of what behaviour constitutes a national security risk is changing .
Notions of spies only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an embassy are out of date .
Russia has long used a particular type of spy called an `` illegal '' - the name deriving from the fact they do not have diplomatic immunity if they are caught .
From the days of the Soviet Union , Moscow specialised in a particular kind of deep cover illegal where individuals , sometimes couples , were not just given new identities but new nationalities - so a Russian Konon Molody became Canadian businessman Gordon Lonsdale in the 1960s and Lidiya Guryeva became American Cindy Murphy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Murphy , along with another group of illegals , was arrested in 2010 in the US .
Among them was Anna Chapman who had also lived in London .
She was part of a new breed of what the FBI called True Name Illegals who were openly Russian and used their real identities but were secretly working for Moscow 's intelligence service to build contacts and influence .
Soon after that arrest , UK authorities tried to deport a Russian called Ekaterina Zatuliveter who was working in parliament ( and having an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a NATO official ) .
But , in an embarrassment for MI5 , it lost the case to deport her .
Despite that , the concern remains about Russians infiltrating political life .
The interference in the US election through social media posts and even the organising of protests through false identity Facebook accounts also showed that Russia was interested in not just collecting secret information but also trying to shape behaviour .
The Butina case showed the next step in Russia 's evolution of intelligence tactics from 2010 .
Rather than send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians or others who have useful contacts and make use of them through businessmen or oligarchs rather than being run directly through the intelligence services .
These individuals have the ability to meet people in politics or business and to gather information , perhaps even compromising information .
They can also seek to organise events and try to direct policy in a certain direction .
This kind of activity is certainly hard to define and trying to work out when it has crossed a line and who was behind it has often been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been talk for some months about introducing new powers to deal with it in the UK but the question is whether the Russia Report will now see the impetus for something to actually happen .

From the days of the Soviet Union, Moscow specialised in a particular kind of deep cover illegal where individuals, sometimes couples, were not just given new identities but new nationalities - so a Russian Konon Molody became Canadian businessman Gordon Lonsdale in the 1960s and Lidiya Guryeva became American Cindy Murphy living in New Jersey in the 2000s. Murphy, along with another group of illegals, was arrested in 2010 in the US.


bbcuk--2020-07-22--AO World workers could get bonus worth 18 months' pay

Some 3,000 workers at a Bolton online retailer have been given the chance to earn a `` life-changing '' bonus .
If AO World does well over the next five years , staff could be in line for a lump sum equivalent to a year and a half 's salary .
`` To have that sort of money would be life-changing for me and my family , '' said staff member Muhammed Masters .
The firm , which sells items such as fridges and ovens , says the scheme would let all workers cash in .
`` It 's exciting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to earn such a lump sum of money in your life ? ''
said call centre sales manager Melissa Lee .
`` I would love to use the cash to see lots of different parts of the world or buy my first house , '' said call centre trainer Sophie Dutton .
But the workers ' enthusiasm is tempered by the reality that the reward will only be available after a lot of hard work .
The retailer 's bonus scheme is based around the company 's share price .
While their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year , they 're now at around 170p , which means they need to climb a long way before the workers can celebrate .
It has a target of £12.55 by 2025 to give staff the maximum pay-out , although bosses say workers will get the equivalent of one year 's salary if it reaches £9.41 .
`` It 's going to take a lot of work to get to the share price , we know that , '' said Matt Beckwith .
`` But it 's an exciting time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the share price did hit the target , all staff employed at that point would be eligible for a payout , but the size of it would depend on how long they had been with the firm .
`` But it gives us an incentive to work harder for longer . ''
Employee incentive schemes are a common way for companies to encourage workers - but most offer much smaller bonuses or rewards .
`` Recognising and rewarding excellent service should not just be seen as a nice 'to do ' ; but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jo Causon , chief executive of The Institute of Customer Service .
`` Employees who are truly connected with an organisation 's purpose and are driven to deliver the best outcomes will be most likely to communicate their understanding and passion with the customer , allowing businesses to reap the benefits in the long-term . ''
Sophie Dutton says she 's in the job for the long-term : `` These sorts of rewards make us feel valued .
I would n't stay with the company just for the money .
But it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all the effort that we can . ''
Muhammed Masters said : `` The scheme seems an absolutely fantastic way to reward employees , but we know we 've got to work for it . ''
At AO 's Bolton call centre , staff `` are really buzzed '' about the scheme , said Melissa Lee .
`` When I spoke to my team about the scheme , they all said it 's going to make people stay . ''
`` It is not a fat cat scheme for people at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Roberts told the BBC 's Today Programme .
`` Everybody working in the business , whether in a call centre , warehouse or in management , will get up to one and a half times salary in one cheque at the end of a five-year period if we 're successful . ''
John Roberts launched Appliances Online in 2000 and now owns 22.6 % of the business .
Under the incentive scheme he could earn £20m , but has committed to hand the cash to Onside Youth Zones , a charity he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said the new scheme is `` one that I 'm proud to tell my mum about '' .
• Gravity Payments : The boss of a card payments company in Seattle introduced a $ 70,000 ( £54,982 ) minimum salary for all of his 120 staff - and took a pay cut of $ 1m .
Five years later , Dan Price said the move helped his firm onto greater success .
The headcount has doubled and the value of payments that the company processes has leapt from $ 3.8bn a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : More than 500 staff at the hi-fi retailer were left in line for a £3.5m windfall after the retail chain 's boss handed them a 60 % stake in the business .
Julian Richer said he `` wanted to do the right thing '' • Greggs : Thousands of Greggs staff shared a £7m payment earlier this year after the hot snacks business had a `` phenomenal year '' .
19,000 longer-serving staff got a £300 windfall at the end of January , while the remaining 6,000 got £75 for each quarter @ @ @ @ @

Sophie Dutton says she's in the job for the long-term: "These sorts of rewards make us feel valued. I wouldn't stay with the company just for the money. But it's another reason to push on and put in all the effort that we can."


bbcuk--2020-07-22--How strong are Britain and China's economic ties?

The economic relationship between the UK and China has grown significantly over the past two decades .
In 1999 , China was the UK 's 26th biggest export market .
It now sits in sixth place .
Trade between the two countries hit a record high last year , with large infrastructure projects and education playing major roles .
But as tensions rise between London and Beijing - following the UK government 's U-turn on using Huawei telecoms 5G equipment in the country 's networks - the ties that have benefited both nations may now be under threat .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sixth largest export market , worth £30.7bn , according to the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) .
This was a record high , up from £23.4bn in 2018 , and the fourth year-on-year increase in a row .
In the other direction , China was the UK 's fourth largest source of imports , worth £49bn , also a record high .
Leslie Young , Professor of Economics at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing , told the BBC that in his view trade between the two countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London-Beijing tensions .
`` The rising hostility between the UK and China is unlikely to have a strong effect on the leading components of their trade .
The major effect is likely to be on UK higher education and the role of the UK as a hub for Chinese companies . ''
China also plays an increasingly important role in the UK 's infrastructure , including its nuclear power capabilities .
China General Nuclear Power ( CGN ) is partly financing the building of the £20bn Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an option to buy 20 % of another planned plant , at Sizewell in Suffolk , and a majority stake in an entity looking into several more nuclear power projects .
China 's state-run sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation ( CIC ) has an 8.7 % stake in Thames Water , along with a 10 % stake in the firm that owns London 's Heathrow Airport .
China also has a stake in the UK 's North Sea oil production via the China National Offshore Oil Corporation ( CNOOC ) .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has more than trebled since 2006 , according to the National Institute of Economics and Social Research ( NIESR ) .
Tuition fees from Chinese students add up to at least £1.7bn a year across universities and independent schools .
Experts have warned that UK universities will struggle financially if China imposes a ban on its students coming to Britain .
`` As Chinese students account for the largest body of foreign students , the financial impact would be large '' , said a spokesman for Shanghai-based market intelligence firm Emerging Strategy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs or find new ways to generate revenue . ''
But the British Council has downplayed fears of a mass exodus of Chinese students .
`` Long-term planning to study abroad is unlikely to be affected by short-term political relations .
The UK has always been one of the top destinations for Chinese students , '' a spokesman told the BBC .
China has been active in many high-profile acquisitions in the UK , resulting in billions of pounds flowing into Britain .
In March , British Steel was taken over by China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save more than 3,000 jobs .
The Chinese firm said it would invest more than £1bn to help modernise the steelworks .
Other notable takeovers include black cab maker LTI , which was bought by Chinese carmaker Geely , and Wolverhampton Wanderers football club , which was taken over by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International .
Technology firm Huawei 's investment in the UK is a high-profile and a long-standing one , dating back to 2005 .
While Huawei will no longer be involved in the rollout of new 5G equipment , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While much of the talk has been around Huawei , it 's not the only technology company that the UK and China share links with .
China 's thirst for high tech UK companies saw it take over chipmaker Imagination Technologies in 2017 .
The vast majority of the cash for the purchase came from the Beijing-backed China Reform investment fund .
While most of the flow is money into the UK from Chinese companies and government-backed entities , there are some big UK firms doing business in China , a country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incomes .
Significant British companies are spread across sectors such as energy , car production , pharmaceuticals and financial services Last year , China 's ambassador to Germany threatened `` consequences '' for its carmakers if Huawei was blocked from Germany 's 5G networks , raising concerns that Beijing may use such tactics against other countries ' interests .
`` Chinese citizens are prompt to follow boycotts based on national interests dictated by the party , '' said a Shanghai-based spokesman for market intelligence firm Emerging Strategy .
But Steven Lynch , managing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China told the BBC that he was optimistic that such a situation could be avoided .
`` We hope that British automotive manufacturers who both import vehicles into China and manufacture locally will not be targeted for the UK government 's decision , '' he said .
The pro-business group warned that British telecoms and IT companies could also potentially be at risk .
But Mr Lynch added that the two countries should be able to `` sustain robust trade and investment in the coming months despite the challenging political environment '' @

"The rising hostility between the UK and China is unlikely to have a strong effect on the leading components of their trade. The major effect is likely to be on UK higher education and the role of the UK as a hub for Chinese companies."


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: People with learning difficulties 'at risk of falling through cracks'

People with learning disabilities are at risk of falling through the cracks of local services and need extra help with @ @ @ @ @ lockdown , according to a group of disability charities .
They have written to the @ @ @ @ @ a survey by the national charity Scope suggested that only 5 % of disabled people @ @ @ @ @ of lockdown .
There are over a million people with learning disabilities in the UK @ @ @ @ @ them are known to social services .
BBC Disability News Correspondent Nikki Fox went to @ @ @ @ @ been self-isolating through the pandemic .

People with learning disabilities are at risk of falling through the cracks of local services and need extra help with life as they emerge from lockdown, according to a group of disability charities.
They have written to the government calling for action after a survey by the national charity Scope suggested that only 5% of disabled people feel safe to come out of lockdown.
There are over a million people with learning disabilities in the UK and only a quarter of them are known to social services.
BBC Disability News Correspondent Nikki Fox went to meet two people who have been self-isolating through the pandemic.


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Birmingham students' pain to be the best at Bhangra

A behind-the-scenes BBC documentary has revealed the pain , sweat and tears it takes to be a top Bhangra dancer @ @ @ @ @ Bhangra Showdown , held this year in Birmingham , were filmed for months as they @ @ @ @ @ routines .
Ajay Palflora , from the University of Birmingham , is seen pushing his @ @ @ @ @ training sessions .
The competition is organised by the Punjabi Society at Imperial College , @ @ @ @ @ is the biggest of its kind in the world .
Bhangra or Bust - Our @ @ @ @ @ BBC One on 5 August at 19:30 BST .

A behind-the-scenes BBC documentary has revealed the pain, sweat and tears it takes to be a top Bhangra dancer.
Teams competing in the Bhangra Showdown, held this year in Birmingham, were filmed for months as they tried to perfect their gruelling routines.
Ajay Palflora, from the University of Birmingham, is seen pushing his team to its limits during training sessions.
The competition is organised by the Punjabi Society at Imperial College, London, which claims it is the biggest of its kind in the world.
Bhangra or Bust - Our Lives will be shown on BBC One on 5 August at 19:30 BST.
Producers: Joel Mapp and Satnam Rana. Edited by Martin Weinberg
Online editor: Catherine Mackie


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Prince Philip steps down as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles

In a rare public appearance at Windsor Castle , the Duke of Edinburgh has handed over patronage of The Rifles @ @ @ @ @ .
Prince Philip held the role of Colonel-in-Chief from 2007 , but his connection to @ @ @ @ @ to 1953 .
Four buglers , from The Band and Bugles of the The Rifles @ @ @ @ @ to mark the occasion and thank the 99-year-old for his service .
Camilla received the @ @ @ @ @ at her Highgrove home in Gloucestershire .

In a rare public appearance at Windsor Castle, the Duke of Edinburgh has handed over patronage of The Rifles to the Duchess of Cornwall.
Prince Philip held the role of Colonel-in-Chief from 2007, but his connection to the infantry regiment stretches back to 1953.
Four buglers, from The Band and Bugles of the The Rifles, came to Windsor Castle to mark the occasion and thank the 99-year-old for his service.
Camilla received the honour at a separate ceremony at her Highgrove home in Gloucestershire.


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Blue tit rescued from Ipswich garden may become 'a friend for life'

A blue tit found abandoned in a back garden seems to have adopted his human rescuer as his mother .
@ @ @ @ @ weeks old and named Dinky , was found featherless and the size of a thumb-nail @ @ @ @ @ .
Jess Lockwood nursed him back to health by feeding him every 45 minutes and @ @ @ @ @ to leave her .
She said : `` If he wants to have his freedom @ @ @ @ @ it .
If not , I think I might have a friend for life here @ @ @ @ @ from the British Trust for Ornithology , said it was always best to put young @ @ @ @ @ , as Ms Lockwood had tried to do , but in this case `` if @ @ @ @ @ the age it was , it would have almost certainly died '' .
Find BBC @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter .
If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews @ @

A blue tit found abandoned in a back garden seems to have adopted his human rescuer as his mother.
The bird, now 10 weeks old and named Dinky, was found featherless and the size of a thumb-nail in a tree near Ipswich.
Jess Lockwood nursed him back to health by feeding him every 45 minutes and ever since, he refuses to leave her.
She said: "If he wants to have his freedom then he's welcome to it. If not, I think I might have a friend for life here."
Paul Stancliffe, from the British Trust for Ornithology, said it was always best to put young birds back in the nest, as Ms Lockwood had tried to do, but in this case "if it had been left at the age it was, it would have almost certainly died".
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: Restaurants struggle with overwhelming 'no-shows'

New social distancing regulations to make restaurants Covid-secure mean there are fewer tables for customers , which in turn means @ @ @ @ @ say many people who make reservations are simply not showing up , which is having @ @ @ @ @ company 's bottom line , and ultimately their survival in the industry .

New social distancing regulations to make restaurants Covid-secure mean there are fewer tables for customers, which in turn means less income.
However restaurateurs say many people who make reservations are simply not showing up, which is having a major impact on the company's bottom line, and ultimately their survival in the industry.
Journalist: Simon Browning


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Newspaper headlines: 'Winter quadruple whammy' and 'we won't shop you'

Further changes to where people in England should wear face coverings are to be introduced on Friday , the Daily @ @ @ @ @ takeaways .
Sitting inside to eat food bought from a counter - such as in @ @ @ @ @ be outlawed , the paper says .

The Daily Telegraph says the "sense of a new broom sweeping away the old order is palpable" after the party apologised and agreed to pay damages to former employees who spoke out about anti-Semitism. But the Sun insists that Sir Keir "won't get off that easily", saying he "simply lacks the bottle" to expel members of the hard left from his party.


bbcuk--2020-07-23--Patients return to Birmingham Teenage Cancer ward

Teenage cancer patients have been able to return to a dedicated hospital ward after being moved due to coronavirus .
Patients on the Teenage Cancer Trust Ward in Queen Elizabeth Hospital , Birmingham , were moved on to other wards for their safety during the Covid-19 pandemic .
That meant the ward could be turned into a dedicated coronavirus assessment and treatment centre , if needed .
Young people on the ward said being back was `` like coming home '' .
While social areas of the ward , which provides specialist care for cancer patients aged between 16 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` regaining some sense of normality '' , the charity said .
During the pandemic , Teenage Cancer Trust nurses have been offering family liaison support for patients , where visits by families and loved ones has not been possible .
'On my own' Katharina Bucher , 22 , who has been treated for double-hit lymphoma , said : `` Being able to be back on the Young Persons Unit was great because everything was familiar again .
`` That feeling of familiarity and comfort really made a difference to my recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own for the first time due to Covid precautions . ''
Dylan , 16 , from Solihull , who is undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia , returned the day the unit reopened .
His mother , Ellen Hackett , said : `` Being autistic , Dylan does n't like change so I was over the moon when we were told he could return to the Young Persons Unit .
`` Even though at the time I could n't stay with him on the unit , I felt so relaxed he was going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him so well , and who he loves . ''
Dylan was later discharged , but was found to have a leaking heart valve and will need open-heart surgery after his next block of chemotherapy .
Ms Hackett said : `` It might sound strange , but the diagnosis has come at a good time .
`` Being back on the Young Persons Unit is the best thing for Dylan .
If it was n't available , his mental health would struggle - as would mine . ''
Follow BBC West Midlands on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for local news updates direct to your phone .

"Even though at the time I couldn't stay with him on the unit, I felt so relaxed he was going to be there with staff who know him so well, and who he loves."


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: Scottish deaths fall to 'lowest level' of pandemic

Deaths linked to coronavirus in Scotland have fallen to the lowest level since the start of the pandemic , with just six registered last week .
New figures from the National Records of Scotland showed the number of deaths falling for the twelfth week in a row .
In the week to Sunday 19 July , the virus was mentioned on six death certificates .
At the peak of the outbreak in April , more than 600 deaths were being logged each week with links to Covid-19 .
The NRS said there had been a `` significant decline '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now at `` the lowest weekly total since the pandemic began '' .
The latest report said the virus had been registered as a confirmed or suspected cause on 4,193 death certificates .
At her daily coronavirus briefing , First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the weekly total of deaths was `` the lowest we have seen since we started to record them '' .
She said : `` Today 's report shows once again that Covid-19 has been driven , as of now , to very low levels in Scotland .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 4,000 people have lost their lives to this virus , and we must always remember that each of those deaths was of a unique and irreplaceable individual . ''
Ms Sturgeon also warned that an outbreak in North Lanarkshire was `` a clear reminder that Covid has not gone away '' , and that `` it does not take much for a small number of cases to become a much bigger number '' .
She added : `` While public health teams are working incredibly hard to contain outbreaks , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every one of us has a part to play in keeping this virus at bay . ''
Deaths linked to Covid-19 accounted for less than 1 % of deaths recorded by NRS last week , down from a peak of 36 % in late April .
However the total number of deaths registered has risen back above the five-year average , by 32 `` excess '' deaths , after several weeks of below-average figures .
Ms Sturgeon said the government would be `` looking to see if there are any particular causes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's worth remembering that the total number of deaths is always likely to fluctuate a bit '' .
Across the period of the pandemic , the number of deaths in care homes has been 54 % above the five-year average , and the number of deaths at home or in non-institutional settings 53 % above average .
However after an early peak , hospital deaths fell back to average in May and are now below average levels overall .
The first minister also said only 0.3 % of coronavirus tests were coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 % threshold at which the World Health Organisation considers outbreaks to be `` under control '' .
However she sounded a `` note of caution '' about virus restrictions being eased further , saying the current phase of lockdown could last `` considerably longer '' than previous ones .
• SYMPTOMS : What are they and how to guard against them ?
• 40,000 DEATHS : Could they have been prevented ?
• FACE MASKS : When should you wear one ?
• RULES : What can I now do - and @ @ @ @ @

Across the period of the pandemic, the number of deaths in care homes has been 54% above the five-year average, and the number of deaths at home or in non-institutional settings 53% above average. However after an early peak, hospital deaths fell back to average in May and are now below average levels overall.


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: 16 clusters of Covid-19 in NI identified

The Public Health Agency ( PHA ) has identified 16 clusters of Covid-19 infection in NI since the contact tracing scheme went live .
The PHA said 133 cases have been identified with these clusters , and that six clusters had more than five cases associated with them .
The tracing scheme began in May .
Clusters are defined as two or more laboratory test-confirmed cases among individuals associated with a key setting .
Because transmission risk is highest within a household , linked cases within one house are not reported as clusters because they will be identified by contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be expected as we move through the pandemic , and that the Test , Trace and Protect programme is in place to ensure people are tested when they have symptoms and their contacts traced quickly if they have a positive result .
Those contacts can then isolate to prevent further spread .
The Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw , who sits on the Health Committee in Stormont , had called on the PHA to `` reveal the nature '' of the clusters .
But the PHA said it would not go into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` as this could lead to people being identified , create stigma and focus attention on individuals , families or groups , and therefore deter others with symptoms coming forward to be tested . ''
Any clusters with increasing numbers , complexity or sensitive issues are looked at by the Health Protection Team .
They will carry out a rapid risk assessment , to decide if an Incident Management Team or Outbreak Control Team needs to be formed .
• Local coronavirus lockdowns ' can not be ruled out' • 'Up to 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If there is an increased risk to public health , the organisation said the public will be informed .
Testing is available to anyone with symptoms of the virus - a raised temperature , a new continuous cough or a change in their sense of taste or smell - by booking online .

But the PHA said it would not go into the detail of every incident that emerges, "as this could lead to people being identified, create stigma and focus attention on individuals, families or groups, and therefore deter others with symptoms coming forward to be tested."


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Boy, 13, dies after motorbike fall at Aberbeeg Motorcross track

A 13-year-old boy has died after coming off a motorbike on an off-road circuit .
Gwent Police said the incident @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday at Aberbeeg Motorcross track in Cwm , Blaenau Gwent .
Cory Hewer , @ @ @ @ @ taken to Cardiff 's University Hospital of Wales with serious head injuries but died on @ @ @ @ @ , his parents thanked people for their `` kind support and generosity '' .
They @ @ @ @ @ a very happy little lad who loved his rugby and motocrossing .
`` He was @ @ @ @ @ loving boy and will be missed very much .
He passed away doing a sport @ @ @ @ @ and was so brave donating his organs .
`` Our lives will never be the @ @ @ @ @ they said .

"He was a cheeky, funny, loving boy and will be missed very much. He passed away doing a sport that he loved the most and was so brave donating his organs.


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Stratford stabbing: Baptista Adjei 'stabbed over Snapchat beef'

A teenager was fatally stabbed on a bus after `` school beef chat '' on social media , a court has heard .
Baptista Adjei , 15 , was attacked as he travelled with a group of friends to Stratford , east London , last October .
A youth wearing a blue latex glove and carrying a `` vicious-looking '' hunting knife boarded the bus and stabbed Baptista twice in the chest , the Old Bailey heard .
The court heard Baptista got off the bus and ran away but collapsed on the ground near a McDonald 's restaurant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ arm and leg but survived , jurors were told .
He later told police that the stabbing on the afternoon of 10 October 2019 had followed some inter-school banter on Snapchat a couple of weeks earlier .
He said the `` school beef chat '' had started out in fun before a football match .
A youth had sent Baptista a message saying : `` If you 've got no bodies on your blade , leave the group chat , '' the court heard .
Baptista allegedly replied : `` Shut up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The youth who had allegedly sent the message to Baptista is one of two defendants on trial for his murder .
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said the teenager who wielded the knife admitted the manslaughter of Baptista and unlawful wounding of the other boy .
But he has denied the more serious alternative charges of murder and wounding with intent .
Mr Aylett said : `` In stabbing Baptista twice in the chest in each case to the depth of 12cm ( 5in ) and puncturing separately the lung and heart you may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended at least to cause Baptista really serious harm .
`` The knife used was found to have a blade that was 10in or 25cm long . ''
'In it together' The second defendant accepted he was on the bus , having tapped in with his Oyster card and been caught on CCTV , the court heard .
Mr Aylett said the case against him was that he `` tipped off '' the other defendant knowing what he was going to do .
He added : `` In other words they were in @ @ @ @

Mr Aylett said: "In stabbing Baptista twice in the chest in each case to the depth of 12cm (5in) and puncturing separately the lung and heart you may think [the defendant] must have intended at least to cause Baptista really serious harm.


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: UK's pandemic planning an 'astonishing' failure, say MPs

The government 's failure to plan for the economic impact of a pandemic is `` astonishing '' , a committee of MPs says .
The Commons Public Accounts Committee said the economic reaction to Covid-19 was rushed and the impact could be `` long-term '' .
It added the Treasury waited until mid-March before deciding on the economic support schemes it would put in place .
But the government said it regularly tested its pandemic plans , which enabled a `` rapid '' response .
Last month , official figures showed that the UK economy shrank more than first thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in the joint largest fall since 1979 .
In its report , the Commons Public Accounts Committee said the government needed to `` learn lessons '' from its response and `` ensure it does n't repeat its mistakes again in the event of a second spike in infections - or another novel disease outbreak '' .
`` We are astonished by the government 's failure to consider in advance how it might deal with the economic impacts of a pandemic , '' it said .
The report noted the government undertook at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Exercise Cygnus .
But the committee said the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy `` was not even aware of the exercise '' , saying : `` It is astounding that the government did not think about the potential impact on the economy . ''
And it said that the Treasury did not announce plans for `` significant funding '' to support businesses and individuals until the Budget on 11 March `` and it did not become clear to the Treasury until the following week that a furlough scheme would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of coronavirus confirmed by the chief medical officer in England was on 31 January .
`` The lack of prior thinking on the types of schemes that may be required led to a delay in implementation because the government needed to design the schemes from scratch , particularly in relation to the self-employed scheme where it lacked sufficient , reliable information on who the recipients should be , causing unnecessary uncertainty for businesses and individuals , '' the committee said .
The report called for more transparency in government decision making and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Test and Trace programme was slow .
It said the Cabinet Office should review crisis command structures to `` ensure longer-term decision making '' .
The committee was also critical of how the issue of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) was handled , saying there were `` fundamental flaws in the government 's central procurement and local distribution of vital goods and equipment '' .
`` Despite a pandemic being identified as the government 's top non-malicious risk , it failed to stock up in advance , '' the report said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic 's impact on children , saying : `` It will be a huge task to ensure lengthy school closures do not have long-term or irreversible effects on children and young people 's future health and education . ''
Labour committee chairwoman Meg Hillier said : `` Pandemic planning is the bread and butter of government risk planning , but we learn it was treated solely as a health issue , with no planning for the economic impacts .
`` This meant that the economic strategy was of necessity rushed and reactive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people - and whole sectors of the economy - behind . ''
She said the government needed to `` take honest stock now , learning , and rapidly changing course where necessary '' .
There needed to be reassurance that there was `` serious thinking '' behind how to manage a second spike of the virus , she said .
A government spokesman said : `` As the public would expect , we regularly test our pandemic plans , allowing us to rapidly respond to this unprecedented crisis and protect the NHS .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect all areas of the country , that 's why we immediately put in place an unprecedented initial economic support package for jobs and business worth £160bn . ''
The spokesman said the next stage of the economic response will make a further £30bn available , including more than £100m `` to support children to learn at home '' .
The government has committed almost £28bn to support councils , businesses and communities in local areas , he said .

And it said the Treasury did not announce plans for "significant funding" to support businesses and individuals until the Budget on 11 March "and it did not become clear to the Treasury until the following week that a furlough scheme would be needed".


bbcuk--2020-07-23--Coronavirus: Ministers urged to end face coverings 'confusion'

The government has been accused of mixed messaging over where people will have to wear face coverings when new rules come into force .
They will be compulsory in shops in England from Friday - but full guidance is yet to be published .
Trade bodies and opposition MPs said confusion remained over takeaways .
Minister Brandon Lewis said face coverings would be mandatory when purchasing takeaway food and drink , but not if you are eating at the premises .
`` If you are going into a takeaway and you are eating in somewhere that 's got a takeaway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You are eating - it 's not practical to wear a face mask , we recognise that , '' the Northern Ireland Secretary told BBC Breakfast .
`` But if you are going in to buy a product and leaving again , then you are treating it like a shop and you should be wearing a face mask . ''
A Department of Health spokesman said : `` If a shop or supermarket has a cafe or a seating area to eat and drink , you can remove your face covering in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - where do I need to cover my face ?
• How to make your own face mask However , Kate Nicholls , chief executive of UK Hospitality , said this contradicted what the industry had previously been told by the government and it was `` very late in the day '' for this to be confirmed .
`` It 's really unhelpful to have that confusion because the single biggest thing we need now is to rebuild consumer confidence and that needs clear , unambiguous messaging , '' she told BBC Breakfast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published on Thursday , less than 24 hours before they come into effect .
The criticism came after Mr Hancock and Boris Johnson 's official spokesman contradicted each other over the rules on takeaways and sandwich shops .
The health secretary said last week : `` You do need to wear a face mask in Pret because Pret is a shop .
If there 's table service , it is not necessary to have a mask .
But in any shop , you do need a mask .
So , if you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy takeaway that is a shop . ''
But the prime minister 's spokesman later said : `` We will be publishing the full guidance shortly but my understanding is that it would n't be mandatory if you went in , for example , to a sandwich shop in order to get a takeaway to wear a face covering . ''
Face coverings have been compulsory in shops in Scotland since 10 July .
Shoppers are not currently required to wear them in Wales or Northern Ireland , although this is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 14 July that wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets would be compulsory from Friday , 24 July , with anyone failing to comply facing a fine of up to £100 .
The same exemptions as for public transport will apply , with children under 11 and people with breathing problems not required to wear a covering .
Anyone who can not put on , wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment or disability is also exempt .
Can police make me cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which represents front-line officers , says they ca n't spend their time patrolling thousands upon thousands of outlets .
Shop staff and security guards can already detain shoplifters while waiting for the police to arrive .
However , the general power of the citizen 's arrest is only exercisable to apprehend criminals committing offences that would go before a judge and jury .
A penalty ticket for being socially obnoxious would not cross that high bar .
Police leaders hope shop managers will refuse non-mask wearers entry - rather than turning to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has said that police in London would only enforce the wearing of coverings in shops `` as a last resort '' - if people not wearing a covering refused to leave a shop or became `` aggressive '' .
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Munira Wilson called for urgent clarity for businesses and to help people feel safe .
`` Clear communication is critical in a public health crisis .
Instead , this confusion on guidance shows ministers simply could not organise a bun fight in a bakery , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` All this stinks of ministers making it up as they go along instead of listening to the experts . ''
Tracy Cannard , who works in a supermarket and is a representative of the shopworkers ' union USDAW , said while increasing numbers of customers were choosing to wear masks this still only amounted to around 20 % and making it compulsory would help her feel safer .
James Lowman , chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores , said the body was advising its members to communicate advice on face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than challenging customers who did not wear one .
He said incidents of verbal and physical abuse of shop workers had increased during lockdown and retailers did not want to risk creating a `` flashpoint '' for confrontation .
Face coverings are already compulsory on public transport in England and Scotland , as well as most buses , trains and ferries in Northern Ireland .
They will be mandatory on public transport in Wales from 27 July .
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The health secretary said last week: "You do need to wear a face mask in Pret because Pret is a shop. If there's table service, it is not necessary to have a mask. But in any shop, you do need a mask. So, if you're going up to the counter in Pret to buy takeaway that is a shop."


bbcuk--2020-07-23--Unilever: Ice cream in, personal hygiene out in lockdown

People working from home have been eating more ice cream but neglecting their grooming habits , consumer goods giant Unilever has suggested .
The firm said ice cream sales leapt 26 % in the three months to June , but demand for shampoo and deodorant fell .
It said it had seen strong `` growth in home consumption of foods , ice cream and tea '' during lockdown .
But there had been `` fewer personal care occasions from going to work or socialising '' .
However , it said sales of some cleaning products , such as hand sanitiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to battle Covid-19 .
The firm 's Magnum and Ben and Jerry 's brands benefited the most as people bought more ice cream to eat at home .
The company - which makes the deodorant Lynx and Dove soap - had warned about shrinking personal care sales at its last trading update in April .
It said that as more people worked from home , they were washing their hair less often , putting off shaving and even ditching deodorant .
Four months on , it said personal care sales had continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand for household cleaning products , such as Cif surface cleaners and Domestos , which campaigned to educate consumers about targeted cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Unilever - which owns brands such as Marmite and PG Tips tea - posted a 4 % climb in first-half pre-tax profits to €4.5bn ( £3.5bn ) after people stockpiled toilet rolls and other consumer goods at the start of the coronavirus crisis .
`` In North America and parts of Europe , there was a positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' it said .
`` Consumption patterns then normalised in the second quarter with heightened levels of demand for hygiene and in-home food products . ''
Boss Alan Jope said the results `` demonstrated the resilience of the business '' , as demand from the hospitality industry for its products slumped after hotels , restaurants , cafes and bars closed .
But with people buying more food to eat at home , the company saw double-digit growth in its retail foods business , with Knorr soups and Hellmann 's sauces performing strongly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its tea business , which includes other household brands such as Lipton and Brooke Bond .
It said it would retain its tea businesses in India and Indonesia and partnership interests in ready-to-drink tea joint ventures .
`` The balance of Unilever 's tea brands and geographies and all tea estates have an exciting future , and this potential can best be achieved as a separate entity , '' it said .
`` A process will now begin to implement the separation , which is expected to conclude by the end of 2021 @ @

But it reported increased demand for household cleaning products, such as Cif surface cleaners and Domestos, which campaigned to educate consumers about targeted cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.


bbcuk--2020-07-23--Liverpool: Nine arrests as fans gather at Anfield

Nine people were arrested as Liverpool fans ignored police advice and crowded the streets following the club 's trophy-lifting final home game .
Thousands of supporters gathered on Wednesday night as Sir Kenny Dalglish presented the trophy in an empty stadium after the team beat Chelsea .
Police had issued a dispersal order to clear about 3,000 fans from Anfield .
Nine arrests were made on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly , drink and drug driving , affray and assault .
The Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has also tweeted his thanks to those involved in the clean-up operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The dispersal order had been set up to try to prevent a repeat of the widespread gatherings seen last month , when Liverpool clinched their first Premier League title .
Merseyside Police said the order was put in place at 21:30 BST `` following increased numbers of people gathering near the ground '' .
The imposition of a dispersal order gives police the power to direct people suspected of causing crime , or those seen as likely to cause crime , nuisance or anti-social behaviour , to leave an area for up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , captain Jordan Henderson and former player and manager Dalglish had called on fans to stay away because of the risk of spreading coronavirus .
Assistant Chief Constable Natalie Perischine , from Merseyside Police , said `` the vast majority of the crowd were good natured and had dispersed by 02:00 BST '' .
`` Thankfully we did n't see the sort of incidents of disorder and criminal damage we saw at the Pier Head on 27 June , the investigation into which has seen more than 20 arrests made to date , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to thank the overwhelming majority of Liverpool fans who listened to that advice and celebrated their team 's success at home , '' she said .
The club previously condemned the behaviour of some fans in the days after the title was secured on 25 June .
Thirty-four people were injured - three seriously - as thousands of people congregated at the city 's waterfront despite coronavirus restrictions , while other celebrations were held outside Anfield and in the city centre .
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It thanked supporters who stayed at home "protecting their loved ones and our city" from the "threat of this pandemic" as well as those who helped clean up Anfield after large crowds gathered around the stadium.


bbcuk--2020-07-23--Leeds United defend open-top bus celebration after stay home plea

Leeds United have defended the decision to parade the Championship trophy from an open-top bus in front of fans after previously telling people to stay away .
Thousands gathered outside the club 's ground to celebrate its return to the top flight , with four people arrested for public order offences .
Officials had urged fans to celebrate at home .
However , following the 4-0 home win over Charlton , the team made a brief appearance outside the ground .
Chief executive Angus Kinnear had urged fans to stay away from the game , saying when the time was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
But in a later statement the club said : `` Following consultation with the Safety Advisory Group and council , Leeds United arranged for a bus to be parked outside the East Stand reception as a contingency to assist dispersal should a crowd congregate at Elland Road , despite a month-long campaign from the club and supporter groups to encourage supporters to stay at home .
`` The safety group believed that a brief appearance from the players with the Championship trophy would help to signal an end to proceedings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` In challenging circumstances , fan safety has always been our priority . ''
Supt Jackie Marsh from West Yorkshire Police said four people had been arrested for public order offences and one officer received a minor injury but did not require hospital treatment .
`` While most of those who gathered did so with good intentions , there were some missiles thrown which resulted in officers having to wear protective equipment , '' she said .
The move attracted criticism on social media , particularly from those who had heeded the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club .
Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police also urged fans to stay away over concerns about coronavirus .
It comes after supporters gathered outside the ground on Friday to celebrate the club 's return to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years .
On Sunday , about 7,000 fans packed the city 's Millennium Square .
A number of fans arrived at the ground on Thursday morning to help in the clean up operation after piles of litter were left behind .
One supporter , Chris , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come down and do my bit really . ''
`` By the time we 'd got here , the council had cleared most of it already .
They 've done a cracking job , full credit to them . ''
In contrast to the scenes outside the ground , the trophy was presented inside an almost empty stadium .
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But in a later statement the club said: "Following consultation with the Safety Advisory Group and council, Leeds United arranged for a bus to be parked outside the East Stand reception as a contingency to assist dispersal should a crowd congregate at Elland Road, despite a month-long campaign from the club and supporter groups to encourage supporters to stay at home.


bbcuk--2020-07-23--Mercury Prize 2020: Female artists lead nominations for the first time

For the first time in its 29-year history , female artists and female-fronted bands have outnumbered men on the shortlist for the Mercury Prize .
Among the nominees for album of the year are Charli XCX 's lockdown project How I 'm Feeling Now and Dua Lipa 's pop opus Future Nostalgia .
`` I never really thought this would ever happen to me , '' said Lipa .
`` Maybe I just did n't think I was cool enough . ''
The nominees were announced live on Lauren Laverne 's 6 Music show .
A total of seven female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The previous highest total was five .
In contrast to last year 's list , which highlighted political lyrics and post-Brexit punk , this year 's selection champions pop - a genre the Prize has tended to ignore since the 1990s , when acts like Take That and the Spice GIrls received nominations .
Dua Lipa 's Future Nostalgia and Georgia 's Seeking Thrills are both exuberant hymns to hedonism , while Charli XCX brings cutting-edge production techniques to her pop melodies , on an album recorded in six weeks at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ XCX on her lockdown album : 'Why did n't I do this before ? '
`` This album was like therapy to me , '' the singer told BBC 6 Music .
`` It was a real emotional release .
I decided once quarantine began that I could not really sit still , and I had to create something for my own piece of mind .
`` I feel honoured to have my little corner of experimental pop music be recognised . ''
If Charli , Dua or Georgia win , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has earned the £25,000 prize since M People 's Elegant Slumming in 1994 .
UK rap continues to have a strong presence on the list , with returning nominees Stormzy and Kano hoping to replicate the success of last year 's winner , Dave .
Their albums both address the experiences and prejudices facing young Black Britons , a topic which also informs Moses Boyd 's freewheeling jazz record , Dark Matter .
And a few Mercury favourites also make an appearance : Laura Marling racks up her fourth nomination for the elegant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Michael Kiwanuka becomes part of an elite group who 've been nominated for each of their first three albums - the others being Coldplay and Anna Calvi .
• Laura Marling : ' I was in danger of being bored of myself' • Michael Kiwanuka : ' I am not an imposter' A few lesser-known acts also appear on the list , including Newcastle indie band Lanterns On The Lake , whose singer Hazel Wilde is currently holding down a part-time job at Newcastle University because she makes so little money from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it never crossed my mind '' that she could have received a nomination .
`` When I told the rest of the band , the next morning we were all texting each other , checking it was n't a dream . ''
She said she hoped the profile boost from the Mercury Prize would enable the group to make music `` full time and make a living from it '' .
This shortlist eschews some notable British albums from the past 12 months , with records by The 1975 , Harry Styles pop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having been tipped as possible nominees .
The winner will be announced at on Thursday , 10 September , with organisers still hoping to stage an award ceremony at London 's Hammersmith Apollo , depending on coronavirus guidelines .
Read about all 12 of this year 's nominees below .
Scottish composer Anna Meredith has been a composer-in-residence with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra , made music for park benches in Hong Kong , opened the first night of the Proms with a piece commemorating the end of World War 1 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sigur Ros .
The songs on her second solo album , Fibs , are in perpetual motion , skipping deftly between moods and sounds , whether she 's layering up arpeggiated synths , thrashing a hair metal guitar , or making `` bangery pop pop '' on the elegaic Inhale Exhale .
The critics say : `` It 's a frankly overwhelming listen first time around , with everything tearing along at 100 miles an hour , but it 's all fizzing and crackling so exhilaratingly that you 're happy to let her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Magazine ] '' Staying positive goes hand in hand with being creative , '' said Charli XCX , announcing that she intended to write and record an album from scratch during the Covid-19 lockdown .
Six weeks later , How I 'm Feeling Now emerged , fusing her pop melodies with fidgety electronic production .
Understandably , it simmers with anxiety and stress - but also finds space to celebrate the relationship that sustained Charli through self-isolation .
`` I do n't know why I have n't made an album like this before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's so fun and nice to work like this . ''
The critics said : `` While not life-altering , How I 'm Feeling Now is fun , fast and thoroughly listenable .
It 's absorbing as a document from a strange period , and its diaristic , vloggy aspects provide an intriguing peek into artistry under pressure . ''
[ The Quietus ] '' I 've time-travelled quite a lot on this record , '' said Dua Lipa of her second album , which draws on 70s disco , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The retro-futuristic sound was a deliberate step away from her debut album , as Lipa resisted the pressure to make a `` New Rules Pt .
II '' and revisited the music that inspired her , growing up in London and Kosovo .
The result is almost defiantly happy - a sweat-glistened hymn to the dancefloor that cements her position as Britain 's top pop star .
The critics said : `` A breathtakingly fun , cohesive and ambitious attempt to find a place for disco in 2020 . ''
[ Rolling Stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Start Now Growing up , Georgia Barnes ' bedroom doubled as a recording studio for dance mavericks and two-time Mercury nominees Leftfield .
`` It was keyboards , drum machines , wires , bits of percussion , microphones , '' said the singer , whose father was the band 's producer Neil Barnes .
She started playing one of those drum machines when she was five , and her love of rhythm permeates her propulsive second album , Seeking Thrills .
Like Dua Lipa 's record , Seeking Thrills is a euphoric tribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use Georgia 's own words , `` ultrasound light , consumed by night '' .
The critics said : `` It 's a spectacularly physical and restless album ...
The embodiment of what it means to come alive on the dancefloor . ''
[ Popmatters ] Listen to this : Never Let You Go One of the legends of grime 's first wave , Kano 's fifth album , Made In The Manor , landed him a Mercury nomination in 2017 .
His sixth record is , if anything , sharper and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social and racial injustice , that addresses everything from knife crime and Windrush to gentrification and , crucially , the importance of good times .
`` I feel like we 're resilient people and there 's always room for a smile and to celebrate the small wins and the big wins , '' he told Apple Music .
The critics said : `` This is the album grime has been crying out for . ''
[ The Telegraph ] Listen to this : Ca n't Hold We Down Lanterns On The Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth album , Newcastle 's Lanterns On The Lake sing about environmental crisis , internet extremism , social media addiction and bereavement .
`` Do n't look now , '' sings Hazel Wilde on the opening track , `` Here come the baddies/ On a wave of hate . ''
The topics are urgent and frequently upsetting , but Wilde infuses her lyrics with empathy , exploring how compassion could deliver us from disaster .
The music is a balm , too , with shimmering guitars and dreamy soundscapes that draw you deeper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` A spectacular , rich and luscious album that many listeners will have etched into their minds and hearts forever . ''
[ Music OMH ] Listen to this : Every Atom Laura Marling 's seventh album was inspired by Maya Angelou 's book , Letter to My Daughter - a series of essays to a younger generation of women , full of wisdom and lessons in compassion and fortitude .
Marling is also passing down some hard-won wisdom .
`` Stay alone , be brave , '' she sings on Strange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she advises : `` Love is not the answer / But the line that marks the start . ''
For an artist who 's frequently hidden behind characters and metaphor , it 's her most straightforward record yet , full of rich string arrangements and melodic Laurel Canyon harmonies , and earning the singer her fourth Mercury nomination .
The critics said : `` Marling 's seventh solo LP has the clarity , mastery and quiet strength of a folk-rock classic . ''
[ Q Magazine ] Michael Kiwanuka joins rarefied company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive a Mercury nomination for each of their first three albums ( the others being Coldplay and Anna Calvi ) .
Despite that track record , his latest album emerged from a period of crippling self-doubt .
`` I 've always had imposter syndrome , '' he told the BBC last year .
`` I was always waiting for someone to find me out and go , 'You 're not actually that good and it 's all going to crumble ' . ''
After conquering his demons , Kiwanuka re-emerged with a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pride and self-belief .
Across 13 interwoven tracks , it showcases his talents as a melodicist and arranger , steering effortlessly through gospel-rock , melancholy soul and trippy psychedelia - while never losing sight of his grace and humanity .
The critics said : `` Kiwanuka is loaded with memorable songs , but the best way to experience them is by listening to the album from start to finish . ''
[ Uncut ] Moses Boyd made his name as a drummer , winning two Mobo Awards as part of the free-jazz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debut is a foundation-shaking collision of West African and Caribbean rhythms , incorporating elements of UK garage and experimental electronica for good measure .
Aimed squarely at the dancefloor , it 's also a subtly political album , written as a reaction to Windrush , Grenfell and Brexit .
`` I did n't sit down to write political songs , '' he told All About Jazz , `` but I was turning on my TV and seeing tower blocks burning and people being deported [ so ] I was responding to what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of darkness . ''
The critics said : `` Cool , relevant , and vital in pulling together the threads of London 's often disparate musical communities . ''
[ Allmusic ] Listen to this : Stranger Than Fiction '' I 'm bored to death / Let 's argue , '' sings Porridge Radio 's singer , songwriter and guitarist Dana Margolin in the opening seconds of the band 's second album .
Those feelings of frustration and uncertainty appear across the whole album , as Margolin attempts to figure out her place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space for self-reflection .
The chaos is reflected in the itchy guitar lines and agitated drums , helping the Brighton-based band burn off some of that nervous energy .
The critics said : `` Porridge Radio have not only written the album of their careers but possibly of the year too . ''
[ Clash ] Last month , Sports Team achieved the highest first-week sales for a debut album by a British band in four years , narrowly missing out on the number one slot after a week-long showdown with Lady Gaga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Deep Down Happy is a compact , playful blast of indie-rock , combining the spirit of Britpop with the scuzzed-up swagger of post-punk .
Frontman Alex Rice 's lyrics , meanwhile , take a sardonic look at middle England - `` I wan na be a lawyer , or someone who hunts foxes , '' he sneers on Lander - placing them alongside previous Mercury-winners Pulp and Arctic Monkeys , albeit with the added privilege of a Cambridge education .
The critics said : `` This is the sound of a band @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' [ NME ] Listen to this : Here 's The Thing Stormzy 's debut won multiple Brit awards , landed him a headline slot at Glastonbury and established the 26-year-old as one of Britain 's most compelling new voices .
The pressure on the follow-up was immense - hence the title - but the rapper kept a level head and focused on the music .
The result is an eclectic album that caters both to his mainstream audience and the grime scene that built him , without feeling like he 's pandering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target appears to be Stormzy himself .
Throughout the album , he questions how to use his fame - to crush the competition , or elevate his community ?
He usually errs towards the latter , seeking humility and forgiveness ( particularly from his ex , Maya Jama ) while turning to God for guidance .
The critics said : `` Not only is it a drastic step up from his impressive debut , but it shows an artist keen to test himself emotionally , as well as artistically . ''
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Indeed, the intended target appears to be Stormzy himself. Throughout the album, he questions how to use his fame - to crush the competition, or elevate his community? He usually errs towards the latter, seeking humility and forgiveness (particularly from his ex, Maya Jama) while turning to God for guidance.


bbcuk--2020-07-23--Woody Johnson: US ambassador to UK denies making racist comments

The US ambassador to the UK has denied reports he made `` insensitive '' remarks about race and gender to @ @ @ @ @ Woody Johnson had been investigated by US officials after making `` generalisations about black men @ @ @ @ @ comments about women 's looks .
But the diplomat tweeted that the claims were `` @ @ @ @ @ record and values '' .
Mr Johnson was named ambassador to the UK by President @ @ @ @ @ CNN also reported Mr Johnson had sought to promote the president 's business interests in @ @ @ @ @ if the Open Championship golf tournament could be played at Mr Trump 's Turnberry course @ @ @ @ @ who is part-owner of NFL team the New York Jets , denied that claim too @ @ @ @ @ the ethical rules and requirements of my office at all times , '' he wrote @ @ @ @ @ about the allegation at a White House press conference on Wednesday , President Trump said @ @ @ @ @ Mr Johnson about the matter .

CNN also reported Mr Johnson had sought to promote the president's business interests in the UK by asking politicians if the Open Championship golf tournament could be played at Mr Trump's Turnberry course.


bbcuk--2020-07-23--App reveals beachgoers crowd levels

App reveals beachgoers crowd levels

An app has been launched to help social distancing by showing beachgoers which areas are crowded .
Developed by Bournemouth , Christchurch and Poole Tourism , the free BCP Beach Check app gives real time information for visitors .
Thousands flocked to the area last month as lockdown restrictions eased , which council bosses said stretched services `` to the absolute hilt '' .
The app is available for Apple or Android devices .
Council leader Vikki Slade said : `` With 15 miles of coastline , there is more than enough space for people to be able to spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is pivotal to ensuring the minimal spread of this pandemic . ''
BCP Beach Check uses a traffic light system to code beaches green , amber or red to show congestion levels .
Data for the app is provided via a number of sources including seafront rangers , CCTV and some footfall counters , BCP Council said .
The app covers 24 sections of beach between Sandbanks and Highcliffe .
• 'Thousands came to Bournemouth but the town was dead' • Sun-seekers urged to stay away from packed beach Last month , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people visited the Bournemouth and Poole areas .
Bournemouth , Christchurch and Poole Council said the sheer numbers of people had left its services `` stretched to the absolute hilt '' .
The app will also give information on the location of public toilets and lifeguards and which areas dogs can use .

Council leader Vikki Slade said: "With 15 miles of coastline, there is more than enough space for people to be able to spread themselves around and maintain social distancing which is pivotal to ensuring the minimal spread of this pandemic."


bbcuk--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: Chancellor 'turning his back' on people needing support

MPs say the chancellor has `` effectively drawn a line '' under helping more than a million people excluded from government virus support packages .
Last week , the Treasury Committee published an interim report into gaps in support to firms and workers hit by the virus .
However , Rishi Sunak mounted a strong defence of his aid packages .
The committee 's chairman , Mel Stride , said on Thursday it appeared Mr Sunak was turning his back on people in need .
Last week 's report stressed that more than a million people had not received support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury to `` do whatever it takes '' to protect people and businesses .
However , the chancellor defended the current system of business loans and job retention schemes after reading the committee 's initial findings .
In a letter , Mr Sunak admitted to MPs on the committee that it `` is correct that some people have not been eligible '' for furlough or self-employment scheme funding , while others , such as PAYE freelancers , do not have a specific scheme .
But he said that these `` were the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis '' .
Mr Sunak also stressed that the Treasury was unable to allow returns for the 2019-20 tax year to be used by people to secure self-employment support as that would create an opportunity for an `` organised criminal gang to file fake or misleading returns to claim the grant '' .
In response , Mel Stride said : `` The chancellor has effectively drawn a line under helping the million-plus people who have been excluded from support for four months .
`` Despite stating that he will not pick winners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses that need support , the chancellor has done this when it comes to households and individuals .
`` The chancellor said that the schemes were designed to be open and accessible to as many people as possible , but the committee remains to be convinced that more people could not have been helped . ''
Mr Stride pointed out that the chancellor initially told people at risk of losing their livelihoods that they would not be forgotten .
He said : `` While the government is clear that it is moving on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan , it can not just turn its back on those who are suffering . ''
Mr Stride said the committee `` urges the government to re-think its position '' .
However , Treasury spokesperson said on Thursday that the scale of its support packages had been `` unmatched '' by any schemes in recent history and they had helped millions of companies and individuals .
`` We have kept nine-and-a-half million people in work , supported the incomes of 2.6 million self-employed people and helped businesses across the UK get through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most generous and comprehensive packages of support in the world worth an initial £160bn .
`` As part of the next phase of our economic plan to rebuild and recover the UK , we recent announced Our Plan for Jobs .
We have made up to £30bn available to support , protect and create jobs , helping ensure people and businesses can come back from this crisis stronger , '' the Treasury said .

"As part of the next phase of our economic plan to rebuild and recover the UK, we recent announced Our Plan for Jobs. We have made up to £30bn available to support, protect and create jobs, helping ensure people and businesses can come back from this crisis stronger," the Treasury said.