"This is the moment when we needed maximum confidence in the Government’s approach. People aren’t asking for miracles – they just want to know that the Prime Minister has a plan and a strategy in place," writes Keir Starmer in The Telegraph
Analysis: On Thursday, Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, briefed nearly 150 MPs, warning them that the hospitality sector is driving soaring case rates. The problem is that none of the published data shows that to be the case
Working from home risks damaging the nation's productivity, with bosses frequently finding staff are less useful when logging in from the kitchen table compared with coming into the office
The Chancellor is understood to be announcing an extension to the furlough scheme on Friday, providing much-needed support for businesses that could be forced to close
More than 1,000 students at Newcastle University have tested positive for coronavirus in the past six days, the institution has said.
It comes on top of the 770 positive tests among students at neighbouring Northumbria University, which was announced on Friday.
Newcastle University said 1,003 of its 28,000 students had tested positive for Covid-19 between October 1-7.
A further 12 staff members from its 6,500 employees have had a positive result in the same period.
A spokeswoman said "the overwhelming majority of cases" were from "social and residential settings".
She added: "We expected to see cases rise in light of the increase in cases both locally and nationally and all HE institutions have to manage this on an ongoing basis.
"We feel confident that we have appropriate measures in place to protect us all while we are on campus and to reduce the potential for transmission in our community."
The news follows concerns from health officials, who have warned of a "definite and sustained" rise in Covid-19 cases in the United Kingdom after more than 17,540 new daily cases were recorded on Thursday, up by more than 3,000 from the 14,162 reported the day before.
05:54 PM
Evening summary
That's all from me today. Here are your top coronavirus headlines before I sign off:
The UK reported more than 17,540 new daily cases on Thursday, up by more than 3,000 from the 14,162 reported the day before.
This follows an updated count from the World Health Organization, which reported a record one-day increase in global coronavirus cases on Thursday, with the total rising by 338,779 in 24 hours.
The European Parliament has strongly condemned Saudi Arabia for holding tens of thousands of African migrants in slave-like Covid detention camps after The Telegraph exposed horrific conditions.
Donald Trump has refused to participate in the second US presidential election debate against Joe Biden after it was announced the event would be held virtually because of his coronavirus diagnosis.
Covid-19 could be more deadly than flu and pneumonia combined, new figures suggest.
Paris hospitals have been told to “mobilise all resources” to treat Covid patients after the numbers occupying intensive care beds surpassed 40 per cent in the French capital.
Finland likely had up to five times more Covid-19 cases than its official numbers showed during the first wave of the pandemic between March and May, its public health authority THL said on Thursday, citing results from its antibody tests.
Wearing masks outside will be compulsory across the whole of Poland from October 10, the Prime Minister said on Thursday, as the country grapples with a sharp spike in coronavirus cases.
Meanwhile testing for coronavirus infection will soon be made mandatory in Hong Kong, said health chief Sophia Chan on Thursday, in an attempt to curb the city’s third outbreak wave.
05:45 PM
'It's 10pm, gentlemen'
Matt
05:44 PM
Medical journal speaks out against Trump's administration's handling of pandemic
One of the world’s most prestigious medical journals has lambasted the Trump administration’s “dangerously incompetent” handling of the pandemic and called for them to be voted out of office, as US coronavirus cases continue to soar.
In an unprecedented move in its more than two centuries-long history, the New England Journal of Medicine published an editorial in which it said the current leadership had “recklessly squandered lives” and “largely claimed immunity for their actions”.
The article, published on Wednesday under the headline “Dying in a leadership vacuum”, said protections against the virus have been politicised in the US, stating: “Truth is neither liberal nor conservative.”
It did not endorse a particular candidate in the presidential election that is less than a month away, but said America should not “abet” its current leaders by allowing them to stay in power.
President Donald Trump - Andrew Harnik / AP
05:40 PM
Japanese Government pledges US$ 130 million to vaccine global access fund
The global effort to ensure equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines received a boost today with the announcement of a major pledge by the Government of Japan.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan today unveiled a commitment of US$ 130 million to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC), a financing mechanism that will reserve and accelerate safe and efficient vaccines against Covid-19 to countries across the Global South.
This brings Gavi even closer to its initial fundraising goal of US$ 2 billion by the end of 2020 to help accelerate and reserve Covid-19 vaccines for low- and middle-income countries, following a series of significant pledges in the past week.
“This vital funding not only helps us ensure lower-income countries aren’t left at the back of the queue when safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines become available, it will also play a vital role in ending the acute phase of this pandemic worldwide," said Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
05:35 PM
WHO reports record one-day rise in global coronavirus cases
The World Health Organization reported a record one-day increase in global coronavirus cases on Thursday, with the total rising by 338,779 in 24 hours.
Deaths rose by 5,514 to a total of 1.05 million.
India reported 78,524 new cases, followed by Brazil at 41,906 and the United States with 38,904 new infections.
The previous WHO record for new cases was 330,340 on Oct. 2. The agency reported a record 12,393 deaths on April 17.
05:21 PM
Mercedes team member tests positive for Covid-19
A member of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team has tested positive for coronavirus, the Formula One world champions said on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Eifel Grand Prix.
A spokesperson said the case was being handled by the outfit in accordance with the protocol laid down by the sport's ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), adding no further details were to be released.
The positive test is the first by a team member at a race weekend since Sergio Perez of Racing Point returned from Mexico ahead of the British Grand Prix in July.
All members of the F1 travelling circuit are tested regularly before, during and after each Grand Prix this season. All are expected to have a test every five days.
Since the routine began in June, the sport has recorded 26 positive cases of the coronavirus and most of those have been with ancillary staff and not team members.
Around 50,000 tests have been carried out in that period at 10 Grand Prix race weekends.
A member of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team has tested positive for coronavirus - REUTERS
05:01 PM
Experimental treatment may have helped President Trump, says top medical expert
Top US infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci said president Donald Trump’s health was likely helped by an experimental therapy made by Regeneron in which he received antibodies to fight the disease.
“There is a reasonably good chance that in fact it made him much better,” Fauci said during an interview on MSNBC.
Fauci also said that the Covid-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 210,000 people in the US and one million people globally, is far more serious than the seasonal flu.
“There is no doubt about that,” Fauci said when asked about president Trump’s tweet comparing the disease to the seasonal flu. Twitter added a warning to the tweet stating that it violated the site’s rules for spreading “misleading and potentially harmful information”.
04:46 PM
Health officials voice concern as UK reports 17,540 new cases
Health officials warned that there was a "definite and sustained" rise in Covid-19 cases in the United Kingdom after more than 17,540 new daily cases were recorded on Thursday, up by more than 3,000 from the 14,162 reported the day before.
A further 77 people died after testing positive for the virus within 28 days, government data showed while the number COVID-19 patients in hospitals in England also rose to 3,044, up from 2,944 on Wednesday and the highest figure since June 22.
"We are seeing a definite and sustained increase in cases and admissions to hospital. The trend is clear, and it is very concerning," said Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director for Public Health England.
"Numbers of deaths from Covid-19 are also rising so we must continue to act to reduce transmission of this virus.
04:44 PM
Cases rise across Scotland, Wales and Ireland
The Scottish government has recorded 1,027 new coronavirus cases and five new deaths. Some 13.5 per cent of tests being carried out are positive.
The figures for new cases in Scotland are slightly below yesterday’s (1,054), but much higher than this time last week (668).
Public Health Wales has recorded 638 new cases and one further death. The number of new cases in Wales is down on yesterday (752) but much higher than the day before (425).
And in Northern Ireland the Department of Health has recorded 923 new cases (up from 828 yesterday) and one further death (the same as yesterday).
04:38 PM
EU Parliament condemns human rights abuses in Saudi migrant camps after Telegraph investigation
The European Parliament has strongly condemned Saudi Arabia for holding tens of thousands of African migrants in slave-like Covid detention camps after The Telegraph exposed horrific conditions.
The vote to censure the kingdom comes a month after an investigation by this newspaper found thousands of men, women and children locked up to stop the spread of coronavirus were being forced to sleep and eat in their own faeces.
Migrants trapped in Saudi Arabian detention centres - The Telegraph
04:19 PM
If you're planning a holiday to Greece...
Good news:
REMINDER: You MUST complete a Passenger Locator Form by law if you enter the UK from ANY location (travel corridor or otherwise) to protect public health and help keep everyone safe.
Number of patients in English hospitals with Covid-19 soars
Figures show there were 3,044 Covid-19 patients in hospital in England as of Thursday, up from 1,995 a week ago, while 368 Covid-19 hospital patients were in ventilation beds, up from 285 a week ago.
A total of 524 patients with confirmed Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals in England on Tuesday, compared with 310 a week earlier.
03:59 PM
Jordan returns to weekend lockdown as cases mount
Jordan will enter a nationwide 48-hour lockdown on Friday for the first time in months as health officials worry a major spike in coronavirus infections could threaten its stretched healthcare system, officials said.
The country has seen what officials say is an "exponential" rise, with around 10,000 cases confirmed in just over a week - a near-doubling of the total number of infections since the first cases in early March and a reversal what had been among the lowest infection and death rates in the Middle East.
Senior officials are struggling to avoid a broader lockdown that the hard-hit economy can ill afford. The IMF forecasts the economy, which was struggling even before the health crisis, will shrink 6% this year, the first contraction since 1990.
"The last thing we want is a complete lockdown for two weeks or three weeks, we don't want to reach this ..It remains the last weapon if cases rise unbelievably high and lead to our hospitals being overwhelmed," Health Minister Saad Jaber told state television this week.
Jordanians wearing protective masks walk at a street of downtown Amman, Jordan - ANDRE PAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
03:56 PM
Coronavirus cases among Newcastle students unsurprising, GP says
Following the news that 1,000 students from Newcastle University have tested positive for Covid-19, Dr Anshumen Bhagat said "we shouldn’t be surprised by these figures as the university environment is the perfect breeding ground for the disease."
The NHS GP and Founder of on-demand GP service GPDQ added:
"Every day we are seeing huge numbers of students from different universities across the country testing positive for Covid-19; the data coming from Newcastle is just the latest instance.
“While younger people are typically in a better position to fight the virus, there are real concerns about how to contain the spread when it comes to students returning for reading weeks or Christmas. Students could easily transmit the virus to vulnerable family members that are not in the position to recover so easily.
“Many universities are now hosting all lectures online; this is the right thing to do. The question is how to manage it not spreading beyond campuses. The onus is on both the students and the Universities to ensure that all responsible measures are being followed and that mandatory isolation is imposed where applicable. These figures remind us how quickly the virus can be spread and why we cannot be complacent."
03:43 PM
More than 1,000 Deloitte consultants working on Test and Trace programme
More than 1,000 consultants from Deloitte are now working on Test and Trace, according to newly released documents that underline the scale of the government's reliance on the private sector.
According to documents released by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) under Freedom of Information rules, there are currently 1,114 consultants from the firm who are working on the scheme.
Deloitte, which has both accounting and management consultancy arms, charges anything up to £2,360 a day for each of its consultants.
The news is the latest evidence of the growing cost of Britain's testing system, which is already budgeted at about £12bn - equivalent to the cost of four aircraft carriers.
03:37 PM
Hancock confesses asymptomatic transmission should have been treated differently, again
Mr Hancock told the NHS Providers conference that he would have done things differently during the first wave of coronavirus had he known about asymptomatic transmission.
He added: "We have learned a huge amount, we have learned about the epidemiology, we have learned about the asymptomatic transmission of the virus, which I think is probably the single most important practical factor we have learned, which means you have to assume people have the virus because they can pass it on without even knowing they have it."
This is not the first time the Health Secretary has said this.
When asked what he would do differently during the first wave, he added: "We would do things differently had we known about asymptomatic transmission, that does lead to a whole series of different policy consequences."
03:13 PM
Mission Impossible criticised for filming inside Rome hospital with coronavirus patients
As special agent Ethan Hunt, he is used to creating chaos, but Tom Cruise has caused a fresh stir with the filming of the new Mission Impossible film in Rome.
The Hollywood star and an army of actors, crew and technicians have descended on the Eternal City to make the latest instalment of what seems like an eternal series – Mission Impossible 7.
Among the locations in which they have been filming is a historic hospital, the Policlinico Umberto I.
It was not clear which part of the plot required filming inside the 19th century building, although large cameras were set up on a first floor balcony.
However, not everyone is appreciative of the production’s presence, with doctors’ unions saying it was irresponsible when the hospital is caring for around 140 Covid-19 patients.
Tom Cruise on the set of Mission Impossible 7 in Rome - ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP
02:40 PM
Sweden and Italy face the chop as quarantine decision looms
More European countries look set to join the UK’s quarantine list later today, potentially leaving Britons with just one restriction-free holiday option: Gibraltar.
Both Italy and Sweden look set to lose their travel corridors after experiencing surging infection rates.
The Italian caseload has shot up in the last week, and now stands at 28.5 per 100,000 people (last Thursday it was hovering on the UK government’s ‘safe’ threshold of 20), while the rate in Sweden is currently 36 per 100,000 people.
Both countries were in the firing line this time last week, but escaped quarantine restrictions as Turkey and Poland were placed back on the ‘red list’ of countries from which arrivals in the UK must self-isolate for 14 days.
Meanwhile Greece, which is still open to Britons with the exception of seven islands, is due to update its own quarantine list this morning. With the UK’s caseload now at 126 per 100,000, it seems likely that the Greek government will introduce new travel restrictions.
Germany has already added Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and large parts of northern England to its list of high-risk destinations.
Grant Shapps will announce the changes to the UK’s quarantine list later today at his weekly travel corridor update.
From number one to nothing to do: UK musicians on surviving the pandemic
On New Year’s Eve 2019, fast rising UK indie band BLOXX were huddled in a London club, waiting for the countdown. Front woman Ophelia Booth formed the band in 2016 while studying music technology in West London and working part-time at her local Wetherspoons.
When their first single, Your Boyfriend, went viral, she took the plunge into music full-time, quitting her job and her degree to support The Wombats and Two Door Cinema Club on tour while preparing their debut album. “This year,” Booth whispered to her bandmates Mozwin, Taz and Paul on the final night of 2019, “is going to be our year. This year is going to make us.”
Three months later, as Covid-19 spread across the globe and flattened life as we know it, BLOXX reeled in collective shock. How could they promote their debut album without touring it? How could they make their music videos without seeing each other? And more importantly, how would they make ends meet?
A further 43 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 30,323, NHS England said on Thursday.
Patients were aged between 32 and 99 years old. All but one patient, aged 71, had known underlying health conditions.
The deaths were between August 10 and October 7. Most were on or after October 6.
Eight other deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
01:53 PM
Covid-19 could be more deadly than flu and pneumonia combined, figures suggest
Covid-19 could be more deadly than flu and pneumonia combined, new figures suggest.
In every year since monthly death records for England and Wales began, in 1959, there have been fewer deaths due to flu and pneumonia from January to August than there have been deaths due to Covid-19 so far this year.
More than three times as many deaths were attributed to Covid-19 compared with flu and pneumonia in the first eight months of the year, the ONS said.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that there were 48,168 deaths due to Covid-19 between January and August, compared with 13,619 deaths due to pneumonia and 394 deaths due to influenza.
At home during Lockdown. Real people in their real environment. - Tempura / Getty
01:45 PM
Cases soar in the Netherlands
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands jumped by a record of more than 5,800 in 24 hours, data released by health authorities showed.
The rapid rise is putting pressure on authorities to impose new restrictions in the country, which has one of the highest per capita infection rates in the world.
01:35 PM
Rise in under-29s testing positive in England
Nearly a quarter of the 51,475 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in England in the week to September 30 were aged 10-19, according to the latest Test and Trace figures.
The figure (22 per cent) is the highest for the 10-19 age group for any week since the Test and Trace system began at the end of May.
The equivalent figure for the previous seven days (the week to September 23) was 14 per cent.
People aged 20-29 accounted for 24 per cent of new cases in the week to September 30.
This means in total nearly half (46 per cent) of cases in that week were people aged 10-29 - the highest proportion for this combined age group since Test and Trace began.
01:27 PM
Only two-thirds of England's positive cases referred to test and trace last week
Only two-thirds of positive Covid-19 cases were referred to England's test and trace system in the latest weekly figures published on Thursday, after thousands of results were affected by a glitch that delayed tracing.
The robustness of the test-and-trace system has been again called into question this week after a technical problem delayed the upload of nearly 16,000 cases into computer systems, including for contact tracers.
The health ministry said the error means 11,000 positive test results that would normally have entered the contact tracing system in the latest reporting period were delayed until the next week.
In all, NHS Test and Trace said that 51,475 people tested positive for Covid-19 between September 24 and September 30, a 56 per cent increase on the previous week, but only 34,494 people were transferred to the tracing system in the same week.
The glitch, which was identified on October 2 and reported publicly two days later, was the latest setback for a test and trace system which Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised would be world beating.
01:19 PM
Portugal posts highest single day rise in cases since April
Portugal recorded on Thursday more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time since April, with the government warning the country must gear up for the battle ahead.
"We have to prepare for what is coming," State Secretary of Health Antonio Lacerda Sales told reporters during a visit to a hospital in Braga, a city in the country's northern region.
According to health authority DGS, a total of 1,278 new infections and 10 deaths were reported on Thursday. The last time Portugal posted over 1,000 daily infections was on April 10 during the country's six-week lockdown.
01:10 PM
Canadians encouraged to stay home as second wave of Covid-19 worsens
Canadian public health officials are warning residents to stay home as much as possible, saying the next few weeks will be critical to the country's efforts to contain Covid-19.
Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared that a second wave of the coronavirus was already underway in most of the country.
The national daily case counts continue to increase sharply, with an average of about 2,000 new cases every day for the past week. That's a 40 per cent rise in the last week alone, according to government statistics.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak started, Canada has had a total of 175,380 cases and 9,593 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Hospitalizations and deaths continue to creep upward as well, with more than 600 patients currently in hospitals in Canada with Covid-19 and an average of about 18 deaths reported daily.
More than 80 per cent of new infections are from Ontario and Quebec, and those under 40 account for 60 per cent of the cases.
Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 - David Kawai / Bloomberg
01:03 PM
Poland makes wearing masks outside compulsory as cases climb
Wearing masks outside will be compulsory across the whole of Poland from October 10, the Prime Minister said on Thursday, as the country grapples with a sharp spike in coronavirus cases.
"The second wave has reached us and we have face it in a decisive way," Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters, explaining that the entire country of 38 million would now be considered a "yellow zone"
The country is some steps away from having a shortage of hospital beds for coronavirus patients, the PM added at a news conference.
However, Mr Morawiecki said that the country will still aim to avoid a total lockdown in an effort to shield the economy.
12:47 PM
Watch: Moment police shut down 'dangerous' illegal rave in London
Metropolitan Police have release body-camera footage which shows the moment their officers shut down an illegal rave in east London on 4 October.
The police said officers could hear loud music blaring from a public house and saw more than 150 people crammed inside a 'hazardous and unsanitary' hall within the building. They were no social distancing and broke the rules on the number of people allowed indoors together.
The organisers were handed a £10,000 fine.
12:38 PM
"I'm not going to do a virtual debate," says President Trump
“I’m not going to do a virtual debate,” President Trump said after the presidential debate commission said next week’s event would be held remotely.
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced today that the next debate between President Trump and Joe Biden would be held virtually because of health concerns about the coronavirus.
But Mr. Trump, who tested positive last week for the coronavirus, immediately objected to the concept in a television interview, saying: “I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate, that’s not what debating is all about. You sit behind a computer and do a debate — it’s ridiculous.”
U.S. President Donald Trump wears a protective mask as he stands on the Truman Balcony of the White House following his discharge from hospital with Covid-19 - Ken Cedeno / Polaris
12:29 PM
National Trust cuts 1,300 jobs following coronavirus losses
Almost 1,300 jobs are to go at the National Trust, as it seeks to save £100 million of annual costs as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
The organisation, which warned in July that it might have to make 1,200 people redundant to deal with the fallout from the pandemic, has said it is making 514 compulsory redundancies following consultation.
A further 782 people have taken voluntary redundancy, as part of cuts to jobs that will save around £59 million a year.
The Trust is also saving around £41 million in annual costs from areas such as reducing travel and office costs and cutting marketing and print spend in favour of digital communications.
The coronavirus crisis hit almost every aspect of income for the conservation and heritage charity, which has 5.6 million members, shutting all of its houses, gardens, car parks, shops and cafes, and stopping holidays and events.
Today's figures are in addition to 162 people who were previously told they were being made redundant as £124 million of projects were halted or deferred - and who bring the total job losses linked to the pandemic to 1,458.
Signage at the National Trust's Petworth House, West Sussex, as it welcomed back visitors in July following the coronavirus lockdown - Stefan Rousseau / PA
12:19 PM
Parliament to debate 10pm hospitality curfew
Downing Street has confirmed a vote will take place in the Commons on the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants, paving the way for a potential rebellion from Conservative backbenchers.
The curfew was introduced across England last month, and has swiftly become a focus for anger in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party, with many saying there is no evidence for a measure that could end up forcing local pubs and restaurants out of business.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Leader of the House has set out the business for next week. What you can see from that is we expect a debate and a vote to take place on the floor of the House next Tuesday in relation to the issue of the 10pm closing time."
12:11 PM
Hong Kong to make coronavirus testing mandatory
Testing for coronavirus infection will soon be made mandatory in Hong Kong, said health chief Sophia Chan on Thursday, in an attempt to curb the city’s third outbreak wave.
Authorities are studying the legal framework to make the compulsory test possible, she added.
#BREAKING: Testing for #coronavirus infection will soon be made mandatory in Hong Kong, said health chief Sophia Chan on Thursday, in an attempt to curb the city’s third outbreak wave. Authorities are studying the legal framework to make the compulsory test possible, she added.
Paris hospitals prepare for 'major influx' of Covid patients
Paris hospitals have been told to “mobilise all ressources” to treat Covid patients after the numbers occupying intensive care beds surpassed 40 per cent in the French capital.
The decision to launch a “reinforced white plan” came as the French government was due to place Lyon and Lille on maximum Covid-19 alert, paving the way for new restrictions to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the two cities.
Paris and Marseille are already on this maximum alert level - one short of total lockdown. Health minister Olivier Veran will announce the decision at a news conference on Thursday.
The change of status in Paris hospitals means staff may now be “relocated internally” and, if necessary, recalled from holiday while new temporary staff may also be taken on to deal with rising admissions.
Paris is to channel more hospital staff to treat Covid patients as ICU occupancy rates surpass 40 per cent - LUCAS BARIOULET/ AFP
11:44 AM
BREAKING: Trump and Biden's second debate will be virtual
The second presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump will now be conducted virtually, owing to concerns about the President's Covid-19 infection, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has announced.
The nonpartisan CPD made the announcement Thursday morning, a week before the two were scheduled to face on in Miami. The candidates will "participate from separate remote locations," while the participants and moderator remain in Miami, the commission said.
Iran has registered a record high 4,392 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 488,236, the Health Ministry reported on Thursday.
Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV that there were 230 new deaths, with the total rising to 27,888 in the worst-hit country in the Middle East.
11:21 AM
Rail passenger numbers plummet to levels not seen since 1800s, new data reveals
Rail journeys in Great Britain fell to levels not seen since the mid-nineteenth century in the first quarter of 2020, with passenger numbers dropping by 90 per cent on the previous year.
The quarter began with Britain in lockdown, with all but essential travel prohibited, but some travel restrictions were eased in May, with commuters slowly beginning to return to work.
New data from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) reveals that 35 million journeys were completed from April to June, a collapse of more than 400 million on last year.
The numbers have fallen to lows not seen since the 1870s and renewed calls for the introduction of flexible season tickets.
The concourse at London's Waterloo station - Victoria Jones / PA
11:01 AM
Spain pins Covid recovery hopes on green investment plan
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, under fire for his government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, has announced a massive investment programme led by an “ecological transformation” of the country.
Spain has the European Union’s largest number of Covid cases, which now number more than 800,000, and more than 20 per cent of Spaniards are again under some form of lockdown or restrictions, with fears for the impact on the economy.
Mr Sánchez outlined an extraordinary spending plan of €72 billion focusing mainly on green and digital development over the next three years.
The money will be provided from the first half of €140 billion that will be made available to Spain from the EU’s 2021-27 Next Generation Covid recovery fund, with Mr Sánchez promising to accelerate decarbonisation plans.
Spanish king Felipe VI (R) and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez - KIKO HUESCA/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
10:51 AM
EU seals vaccine supply deal with Johnson & Johnson
The European Commission said on Thursday it had sealed a supply deal with Johnson & Johnson for the supply of its potential Covid-19 vaccine for up to 400 million people.
This is the third advance purchase contract signed by the EU with makers of Covid-19 vaccines after deals with AstraZeneca and Sanofi.
10:40 AM
Spain court strikes down order to partly lockdown Madrid
A Madrid court on Thursday struck down an order to imposed a partial lockdown in the capital city and nine satellite towns, siding with the Madrid region in a standoff with the central government.
Following an order from the Health Ministry, the Madrid region was forced to bar residents from leaving without a valid reason from last Friday. The regional authority had appealed the order.
However Madrid's top regional court rejected a partial lockdown of the city on the grounds it was 'harmful to basic rights'.
A court statement said it "had denied the ratification (of the measures) on grounds they impacted on the rights and fundamental freedoms" of the 4.5 million residents affected by the closure which went into force on Saturday.
10:31 AM
Head of Russian Orthodox Church self-isolates
Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has self-isolated after seeing a person who tested positive for Covid-19.
The Russian Orthodox Church said on Thursday that 73-year old Kirill, who leads the world’s second-largest Christian denomination after the Roman Catholic Church in terms of the number of followers, decided not to attend official celebrations this morning due to health precautions.
“The time of my personal self-isolation has not come to an end yet, according to the medical advice I have received,” he said in a statement addressed to the monastery outside Moscow hosting the celebrations.
“I found it impossible to risk infecting all of you.”
A man wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus disease walks past a Russian Orthodox cathedral on Red Square in central Moscow - YURI KADOBNOV / AFP
Monasteries earlier this year emerged as some of Russia’s biggest clusters of coronavirus as a number of fundamentalist priests and monks played down the danger of the disease and defied officials orders to shut down churches.
Russia on Thursday morning reported 11,500 new coronavirus cases, which brings it back to the levels of infection not seen since May when most Russian regions were under lockdown.
The city of Moscow logged over 3,300 new cases on Thursday even though authorities last week urged companies to get at least half of their staff work from home again. Muscovites over 65 years old were asked to self-isolate while schools were told to extend autumn holidays by one more week.
Nataliya Vasilyeva reports.
10:22 AM
Finland: antibody tests indicate infections were five times higher than official data
Finland likely had up to five times more Covid-19 cases than its official numbers showed during the first wave of the pandemic between March and May, its public health authority THL said on Thursday, citing results from its antibody tests.
The official Covid-19 case numbers are based on diagnostic tests taken from the nose or throat of a person with symptoms while antibody tests are performed on a blood sample to find out whether a person has previously been infected.
"There were roughly 1.5 to 5 times more infections compared to confirmed clinical cases," THL said in a statement.
The difference in the numbers is largely explained by the lack of testing capacity during the first wave of infections, THL's head of health security Mika Salminen said.
THL in April launched its own random antibody testing through Finland's main hospitals to try and track the disease's true spread, including among those who contracted the illness without showing any symptoms.
Salminen said the results also indicated a smaller share of young people contracted Covid-19 during the first wave than now.
10:09 AM
Germany sees 'worrying jump' in coronavirus cases amid warnings of 'uncontrollable spread'
Germany is in the midst of a “worrying jump” in coronavirus cases as the daily infection rate crossed 4,000 for the first time since early April, health minister Jens Spahn warned.
"The numbers are showing a worrying jump," Mr Spahn told reporters at a press conference in Berlin. "Barely any other country in Europe has managed the crisis as well so far. But we must not gamble away what we've achieved."
The largest economy in Europe could also see an “uncontrolled” spread of the virus unless it gets things under control, according to Lothar Wieler, the head of Germany’s Robert Koch Institute.
"We don't know how the situation in Germany will develop in the coming weeks," Mr Wieler said at the same press conference. "It's possible that we will reach more than 10,000 cases a day. It's possible that the virus will spread uncontrollably. But I hope it doesn't."
Majority of passengers let off for not wearing face mask
Transport for London (TfL) has defended its policy of not fining the vast majority of passengers caught without a face covering.
The organisation insisted that offenders who are let off with a warning are likely to follow the rules on their next journey.
It has been mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport in England since June 15, in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
Passengers on the tube in London - Tolga Akmen/AFP
TfL and British Transport Police (BTP) conducted a joint enforcement operation at King's Cross St Pancras Tube station on Thursday.
Passengers stopped for not wearing a face covering did not face further action if they had one with them and put it on.
This included those who had already completed their London Underground journey.
09:43 AM
Fears of 'one last party before Christmas'
Local leaders have warned that people will see this weekend as "their last chance before Christmas" to have a party, as they attack the Government for dragging its heels on new restrictions in England.
David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, told Radio 4's Today programme that even though the city had "very high numbers" they now had to "wait until next week for the Government to bring in what we expect to be new restrictions".
Students put signs in the window of their accommodation in Nottingham - Mike Egerton /PA
As well as that allowing the virus extra time to spread, that could mean "people think 'this is our last chance before Christmas' and go have a party," Mr Mellen said. "We can't have that."
Nottingham looks set to be the latest area to face new restrictions following a surge in infections.
09:34 AM
Urgent breast cancer referrals fall by almost 30%
A total of 169,660 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in August 2020, down from 200,317 in August 2019 - a fall of 15% - according to NHS England figures.
Urgent breast cancer referrals were down from 13,220 in August 2019 to 9,498 in August 2020 - a fall of 28%.
The total number of people admitted for routine treatment in hospitals in England was down 43% in August compared with a year ago. Some 155,789 patients were admitted for treatment during the month, down from 275,267 in August 2019.
The year-on-year decrease recorded in July was 55%, and in June the drop was 67%.
09:16 AM
New regional restrictions could be imposed
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said ministers are "currently considering what steps we should take" as he warned of a "fast and serious situation" in the North.
The Government in Westminster is under increasing pressure to act after Scotland announced fresh restrictions on the hospitality sector.
Dr Adam Kucharski, a scientist advising the Government, warned that there are "pretty serious" outbreaks in parts of England and medics warned of increasing hospital admissions.
Mr Jenrick was pressed on whether new restrictions on the hospitality industry could come as early as Monday as rates soar in cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.
"It is correct to say the number of cases in the North West and the North East and a number of cities, particularly in the Midlands like Nottingham, are rising fast and that is a serious situation," he told BBC Breakfast.
"We are currently considering what steps we should take, obviously taking the advice of our scientific and medical advisers, and a decision will be made shortly."
09:00 AM
A&E numbers fall as public avoid hospitals
A&E attendances at hospitals in England continue to be below levels of a year ago, according to the latest figures from NHS England.
A total of 1.7 million attendances were recorded in September 2020, down 20% from 2.1 million in September 2019.
NHS England said the fall is "likely to be a result of the Covid-19 response" - suggesting that people are still staying away from A&E departments because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The year-on-year drop in A&E attendances of 20% in September compares with falls of 19% in August, 30% in July and 33% in June.
Emergency admissions to A&E departments at hospitals in England also showed a fall last month, down 9% from 529,903 in September 2019 to 479,800 in September 2020.
NHS England again said this is likely to be a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak.
08:44 AM
Homeless people will die over winter without accommodation with social distancing, experts warn
The lives of homeless people will be lost this winter without Government action to keep them off the streets and in accommodation where they can socially distance, a coalition has warned.
Seventeen health and homeless organisations including Crisis, St Mungo's and several royal colleges say lives will be at risk from the "double threat" of coronavirus and cold weather.
They are calling for a repeat of the Government's Everyone In scheme, which saw almost 15,000 homeless people in England moved into safe emergency accommodation such as hotels early on in the pandemic.
A homeless person shelters in a tent in London - Yui Mok /PA
They are worried that, without more funding for councils, people will be forced into communal night shelters, where the risk of transmission is high.
Social distancing and proper safety measures for communal and dormitory-style shelters are likely to be "all but impossible", they say, and should not be the answer ahead of the winter months.
There were 4,227 people sleeping rough in London between April and June, latest data from the Greater London Authority shows, of which 2,680 (63%) were sleeping on the streets for the first time.
08:33 AM
MPs launch inquiry to scrutinise Government response to pandemic
The Health and Social Care Committee will jointly conduct evidence sessions with the Science and Technology Committee to examine the effectiveness of the action taken by the Government and the advice it has received from experts.
Members will hear from witnesses about the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the social care sector as well as the BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities.
Both committees will also look at the effectiveness of testing and contact tracing as well as the Government's communications and public health messaging.
Greg Clark, who is the chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, said: "We are very focused on being able to find and learn lessons during the course of the pandemic that can be applied to decisions that might be coming up further down the road."
The weekly evidence session is set to begin on October 13, with recommendations expected to be published around springtime next year.
08:19 AM
MPs urged to launch inquiry into outdoor learning
A group of organisations is calling on MPs to launch an inquiry into outdoor learning in a bid to boost children's wellbeing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Leaders of 32 environmental and youth-focused groups have written to the Commons Education Select Committee to demand that outdoor learning plays a key role in helping young people feel mentally well.
Nature has provided "immeasurable comfort" and aid during the Covid-19 lockdown and it has helped to enhance children's resilience amid unprecedented circumstances, they say.
David Attenborough with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children - Kensington Palace
The letter to MPs - which has been signed by The Wildlife Trust and National Youth Agency - says: "As more pupils start returning to schools, the focus in the coming days will rightly be on their safety, their wellbeing and their personal development, as well as on teachers' safety and wellbeing.
"Outdoor learning will play a key role as part of this, helping children catch up, by increasing motivation and re-engagement with learning - particularly for those from low socio-economic backgrounds, who have been affected most during lockdown.
"In addition, engendering a lifelong habit of nature engagement will help children and young people to feel mentally well."
08:03 AM
Police to receive extra £30m for enforcing lockdown rules
The announcement follows talks between the Home Office and senior officers asking for more money to cover Covid-19 restrictions as crime levels rise back towards those seen before lockdown.
Last week, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Martin Hewitt said he had asked for more funding for "specific Covid patrolling activity".
NPCC figures showed that after a 28% drop in crime at the height of lockdown, in the four weeks to August 30 levels were at 3% below those in the same period last year.
The 43 police forces in England and Wales will be granted a share of the £30 million according to the existing police funding formula.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "This extra funding will strengthen the police's role in enforcing the law and make sure that those who jeopardise public health face the consequences."
07:45 AM
Majority don't have key symptoms when tested for Covid-19
The vast majority of people who test positive for coronavirus do not have any key symptoms on the day of their test, a study has suggested.
Some 77% of people who had a positive test had no symptoms on the day of their test, while 86% did not have a cough, temperature or loss of taste/smell.
Researchers led by Professor Irene Petersen at University College London (UCL) analysed data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) coronavirus infection survey, which has been testing thousands of households every week regardless of whether people have symptoms.
The analysis looked at data for 36,061 people who had a test between the end of April and the end of June.
Some 115 (0.32%) had a positive test result, the study found, of whom 27 (23.5%) were symptomatic and 88 (76.5%) were asymptomatic on the day of the test.
When looking at cough, fever and loss of taste/smell - seen as the three main symptoms - 86.1% of those who tested positive had none of these.
07:30 AM
Housing Secretary: Hospitality sector support 'may well need to go further' if more measures imposed
Asked if pubs and restaurants will receive additional financial support should they be required to temporarily close, Robert Jenrick told BBC Breakfast: "The Chancellor will have to consider that carefully if we have to implement those measures.
"He and I are very concerned about people working in the hospitality sector.
"There is support in place, but I completely understand that we may well need to go further because those businesses will be placed in a really difficult, intolerable position if they are asked to do more."
He added: "We understand that hospitality is being asked to bare a greater burden than almost any other sector of the economy and we want to help and support those people through the coming months."
07:11 AM
Majority of British adults stressed due to pandemic
Most adults in the UK have suffered stress due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many turning to walks, hobbies and chatting to help them cope, a poll has found.
A survey of 4,251 people by the Mental Health Foundation found 82% had experienced stress as a result of Covid-19.
Nearly six in 10 (59%) of these said walking helped them cope, while half said visiting green spaces such as parks was beneficial.
Chatting to friends and family either online or on the phone was also a stress reliever for 47% of those studied, while 39% said maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as sleeping well and eating healthily, helped them.
Almost four in 10 (38%) said doing their hobby had been helpful for keeping stress under control.
06:59 AM
Many businesses won't survive Scotland's hospitality clampdown
UKHospitality executive director for Scotland Willie Macleod warned that many businesses won't survive the new restrictions on hospitality and licensed trade in Scotland and said that tens of thousands of jobs will be lost.
He told BBC Breakfast: "It's coming at a very difficult time of year. There's never an easy time of year, but we're reliant on tourism as well as local customers, we're just going into the mid term holiday period and customers in Scotland and elsewhere are absolutely uncertain now about whether to continue with their holiday bookings.
"Closing bars and restaurants is going to have a massive impact on businesses that are really just climbing back from a prolonged period of lockdown, they've reopened with reduced capacity to cope with social distancing, they were then hit by the 10pm curfew and with reduced demand and reduced consumer confidence business resilience is as low as it can be.
"Many businesses won't survive and I'm afraid we're going to see tens of thousands of job losses by the time we do the final count on all of this."
06:44 AM
Concern over rising Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital
Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said the "indications are not looking good" as she urged people to stick to local lockdown measures.
She said the nation was at a "tipping point" and warned virus transmission could "get out of control".
The former chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs said that as well as rising numbers of patients needing hospital admission, there is also an increase in those in need of intensive care.
"We will be getting more data later today but all of the indications are not looking good," she told BBC Breakfast.
"In the last month alone we have gone from a few hundred a people a day in hospital with coronavirus, to thousands.
"Right now we have got over 3,100 people in hospital with coronavirus around the UK. Actually 500 of those are in ITU beds. That's really worrying."
06:26 AM
Parts of England face"pretty serious" outbreak
Dr Adam Kucharski of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine sits on the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M) which advises the Government, was speaking in a personal capacity.
Asked about the infection figures in parts of England, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think we are facing a pretty serious outbreak,
"Deaths are now averaging over 50 a day. I think within the next couple of weeks we could quite well be seeing over 100 a day.
"So, I think we are in a situation where cases are rising and they are going to continue to rise unless something changes."
06:10 AM
Germany cases reach highest daily level since April
New cases of coronavirus infections in Germany have soared past 4,000, official data showed Thursday, reaching a daily level not seen since April 11 when the country was still in lockdown.
Europe's biggest economy recorded 4,058 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, including 16 deaths, according to latest data compiled by the disease control agency RKI.
The alarming jump in numbers came with autumn school holidays about to begin, prompting calls from Chancellor Angela Merkel's government for citizens to avoid travel abroad during the usually busy period for tourism.
Demonstrators protest again coronavirus restrictions in Konstanz, Germany - Ronald Wittek/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Germany's 16 states were also tightening rules for domestic travel, agreeing Wednesday evening on a ban on overnight stays in hotels or holiday apartments for visitors from so-called risk zones within the country.
Places where new infections top 50 per 100,000 inhabitants over the last seven days are classed as risk zones, and local authorities are required to take specific measures to halt contagion.
Parts of central Berlin have slipped into the category, prompting the German capital authorities to order restaurants and bars closed from 11pm.
Likewise, numbers in financial capital Frankfurt were also rising, and are now just a whisker away from risk-zone category.
05:53 AM
Britons urged to volunteer for at least an hour per week to help NHS over winter
The Royal Voluntary Service, one of Britain's largest volunteering charities, has said thousands of volunteers will be required to protect the NHS by supporting the most vulnerable patients to stay safe and well.
It encouraged people to engage in tasks such as helping with shopping, food deliveries, prescription collections and making friendly phone calls to at-risk people.
It comes as research shows more than 4.9 million of over 50s, many with health conditions and without family nearby, say they would benefit from volunteer help this winter, with 54% worried about a second Covid-19 peak.
The NHS Volunteer Responders scheme in England has continued to run throughout the summer since its launch in April and is now seeing an increase in requests for help from the public and the NHS.
05:40 AM
Shutting schools increases death rate, analysis reveals
A new analysis revisited the piece of work by Professor Neil Ferguson and colleagues from Imperial College London which predicted that hundreds of thousands of deaths would occur if no action was taken to stop the spread of Covid-19.
The Imperial study, also known as Report 9, prompted the far-reaching social restrictions implemented in March - including the closure of schools for most pupils.
Now researchers from the University of Edinburgh have reassessed the model used.
The new study examined and reproduced the main results in Report 9 using the information available at the time.
It specifically examined the effect of school closures - Report 9 found that closing schools reduced the reproduction number of Covid-19 but had the unexpected effect of increasing the number of deaths.
Neil Ferguson - Reuters
Researchers replicated these findings.
The authors wrote in The BMJ: "In the absence of an effective vaccine for Covid-19, school closures would result in more overall deaths than no school closures."
The study also found that social distancing is a more effective tool at reducing deaths when only employed by people over 70, compared with among the general population, the University of Edinburgh said.
05:23 AM
North faces new restrictions
Ministers were said to be considering the new measures, which could come as early as Monday, according to media reports, as infection rates continue to soar in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.
The move, if confirmed, would be another body blow for the hard-pressed hospitality industry in the regions already reeling from the imposition of the controversial 10pm curfew.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is finalising a package of financial support for the sector, the Financial Times reported, amid fears of a fresh wave of job losses.
Downing Street and the Department of Health and Social Care both declined to comment on the reports.
However Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham reacted angrily, tweeting: "No discussion. No consultation. Millions of lives affected by Whitehall diktat. It is proving impossible to deal with this Government."
05:00 AM
Could children have been our secret weapon?
It is almost seven months since Boris Johnson insisted we must ‘squash the sombrero’ to avoid a deadly second wave.
The original strategy was to keep infections at a lowish level to allow some herd immunity to build and avoid a deadly second wave.
Speaking at a press conference on March 12, Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s chief scientific advisor, said it is impossible to stop widespread infection – and also, not desirable.
“We need to have immunity to protect ourselves in the future,” he said.
Yet after Imperial College published a paper a few days later suggesting that 500,000 lives could be lost and the NHS overwhelmed, the Government altered its master plan to complete suppression, and imposed countrywide lockdown measures.
It is now becoming clear that they should have held their nerve.
South Korea is bracing for a potential new spike in coronavirus cases following last week’s five day mid-October holiday, Chuseok, when families travelled and gathered together around the country.
Fears were fuelled on Wednesday after infections bounced again over 100 after remaining in double digits for the six previous consecutive days. Ahead of the holiday, the authorities had urged people to stay at home if possible.
The daily number of new Covid-19 infections in Korea has again spiked to over 100, raising fears of a potential mass outbreak following the five-day Chuseok holiday that ended Son unday, according to the health authorities Wednesday.
The authorities said this week will be crucial in the country's anti-Covid-19 fight, saying they are on high alert over the possibility of an "explosive spread of infections,” and urging people to refrain from holding events, reported the Korea Times.
"We need to wait and see the outbreak trend this week before assessing the overall coronavirus situation," said Sohn Young-rae, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Welfare. "We have yet to see any clear sign of a slowdown of infections in Seoul and its surrounding area.”
A fire engine, which has a large mask on its front is parked at a fire station in Incheon, South Korea - YONHAP/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
03:39 AM
Malaysian PM's quip on social distancing backfires
A quip by Muhyiddin Yassin, the Malaysian prime minister, that he may need to use a “cane” to enforce social distancing rules appeared to have backfired after the #MuhyiddinOut hashtag began to trend on Twitter.
The prime minister, who is currently in quarantine after one of his ministers tested positive in the biggest surge of infections since the start of the pandemic, had tried to portray himself in a national television address as a father figure trying to enforce precautions for the good of the nation.
But he was forced to admit that a September 26 election in Sabah state, which drew politicians and cabinet members onto the campaign trail, was a major source of the latest round of cases now exploding across the Southeast Asian nation.
The worsening situation coincides with an extended period of political chaos engulfing the Malaysian government. The prime minister is also facing persistent challenges from Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader, that his administration has lost its parliamentary majority.
Outbreak in Sri Lankan factory with more than 1,000 cases reported
More than 1,000 workers have tested positive for coronavirus at a factory in Sri Lanka that until August was making surgical masks for the US, striking a blow to the country’s strong record on curbing the pandemic.
The explosion of cases was first detected three days ago, and has now pushed the Southeast Asian nation’s infections total to 4,459. The source of the cluster has not been detected and the company has said most cases are asymptomatic.
Until recently, Sri Lanka had enjoyed a long spell of no community spread of the virus. Uninfected staff members at the factor, and the families of those who have contracted Covid-19, have been moved to government quarantine facilities, while the immediate area has been put into lockdown.
Across the island of 21 million, public gatherings have been banned, schools closed early before term break and mass events cancelled.
Sri Lankan health workers carry out swab tests at the Municipal council in Colombo - CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
01:23 AM
Herd immunity could have saved more lives than lockdown, study suggests
Blanket social distancing and the closure of schools may have cost more lives than if herd immunity had been allowed to build slowly in the community, a study suggests.
A reanalysis of the Imperial University modelling that led to lockdown in March shows that shutting schools and preventing youngsters from mingling may have had the counterintuitive effect of actually killing more people.
In a study published in the BMJ, Edinburgh University predicted that over the entire course of the pandemic, keeping children out of classrooms would increase deaths by between 80,000 and 95,000. Likewise, social distancing of everyone, rather than just the over-70s, could cost between 149,000 and 178,000 lives.
President Donald Trump's battle with Covid-19, his age and the age of his Democratic challenger Joe Biden figure prominently in Wednesday's debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Mr Pence, 61, and Ms Harris, 55, were due to take the University of Utah stage in Salt Lake City, separated by plastic barriers for a 90-minute debate, a reminder of how the coronavirus pandemic has influenced the race for the Nov. 3 election.
Now 77, Mr Biden would be 78 upon taking office in January, which would make him the oldest US president in history. The Republican Mr Trump is 74, making his Covid-19 all the more dangerous considering his age and underlying health issues. Mr Trump already is the oldest president to seek re-election.
Donald Trump reveals that he has spoken on the phone with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who also fell ill from Covid-19 earlier this year.
Just spoke with Prime Minister @BorisJohnson of the United Kingdom. Very thankful for his friendship and support as I recovered from the China Virus. I am looking forward to working with him for many years to come, a great guy!
Angry protests erupted in Brooklyn as hundreds of members of the local orthodox Jewish community took to the streets to demonstrate against strict coronavirus restrictions imposed by New York's state governor, Andrew Cuomo.
David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst will forever be remembered for their roles as Del Boy and Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, but the pair's relationship off-screen has been far from perfect.
Maxine Longmuir, 69, was thrilled when she won a £2,500 holiday to Portugal on the ITV quiz show, but claims she was left devastated when she was told she was unable to rebook it
Footage taken by a Brazilian tourist shows several pedestrians stepping to soothe the black horse which caused damage after running through the London streets on Wednesday.
They contain a triple whammy of alpha linolenic acid, fibre and lignans which help protect against heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Britain's Got Talent has been hit with Ofcom complaints after a string of viewers were left feeling sick over one act's routine during the launch episode
Prince Harry was left upset by his father's decision to evict him and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage as they were under the impression that the property would always be available to them, according to a royal expert.
Prince Harry is set to return to the UK in less than two weeks to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games - and he is likely feeling some trepidation about his visit
This Morning's Alison Hammond has debuted a hair transformation as she has swapped her signature brunette tresses for a copper look, just a week after going public with her new boyfriend
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