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The pandemic will deal lasting damage to growth and jobs, the chancellor has warned.
The chancellor says the "economic emergency" has "just begun", but promises more help for the jobless.
The Archbishop of Canterbury calls the chancellor's decision "shameful and wrong".
"I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second," Meghan writes in an article.
The team had feared the owners of the rings, inscribed with the names Ahmed and Doudou, were dead.
Pay will be frozen for much of the public sector, but low-paid and NHS workers will get raises.
Iran releases British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert in prisoner swap deal, Iranian state media say
Women and new retirees likely to be hit hardest by the planned change - but not before 2030.
During and after the first lockdown, roughly one-fifth of offences involved domestic abuse.
The UK's five-day relaxation of rules will throw "fuel on the Covid fire", scientists warn.
John Hays, who founded the UK's largest independent travel agent, died on 13 November.
A collection of your tributes to some of the thousands of people in the UK who have died with coronavirus.
The US president officially pardons "Corn" in the annual White House tradition.
Users check their phones automatically, like a smoker would light a cigarette, research suggests.
The 9.2 million viewers give Channel 4 its highest overnight ratings for at least 18 years.
Nasa has stacked the first pieces of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
Wildlife officials spotted the "unusual" structure while counting sheep, leaving them baffled.
The railways in the UK, Australia and India getting power from the sun in different ways.
Jordan Klepper has become known for his Trump supporter interviews with Trevor Noah.
Scientists demonstrate a scanning device that will make it easier to study the brain.
Usman and Sharon were connected forever after being caught up in the bombing's aftermath.
Wanda still invites Jamal to dinner four years after a mistaken text - but this year there was an empty seat.
Officers in Ohio smashed a window to pull out the driver before the vehicle became fully submerged.
Reports suggest celebrities are allowed to rehearse their Bushtucker trials. What is the truth?
Meghan has gone from acting on US TV to becoming a member of the Royal Family.
Built on coal, Colstrip has been under threat for years. It may not matter who sits in the Oval Office.
After being labelled "patient zero", a small-town physician in Canada was shunned.
When Sami Wunder started out as a dating and relationships coach there was one issue that scared her.
The admiral who coined the term would have been "Trumpesque" on Twitter, a descendant believes.
As Boris Johnson is driving UK emissions down, is his chancellor preparing to drive them back up?
The transition process is finally under way even though President Trump has not given up his legal challenges.
The story behind the plaque: the fast life and freakishly unlucky death of Karl Edwards.
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor is to stand down at the end of the season.
Four Liverpool players, England's Lucy Bronze and Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa are up for prizes at the Best Fifa Football Awards 2020.
Long linked with Real Madrid but now at Inter Milan, Christian Eriksen's dream has turned into a nightmare so far in Italy.
A fine all-round display from England's Nat Sciver helps Melbourne Stars to a place in the Women's Big Bash final with a dominant semi-final victory over Perth Scorchers in Sydney.
Dominik Szoboszlai is attracting attention in Europe and leading Red Bull Salzburg's Champions League hopes.
Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson says his rise to the top of boxing came too soon as he nears a return to the sport.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out what the government will spend next year. Here are the headlines.
The chancellor has announced his public service spending plans in uniquely difficult circumstances.
The unemployment rate is rising as Covid hits different parts of the economy.
The chancellor told the Commons that the government can 'set the direction' by funding the 'priorities of British people'.
The pandemic will cost the government hundreds of billions of pounds. Where will it all come from?
The chancellor promises his Spending Review will include a £4.6bn package to help people back to work.
The chancellor will set out his plans for government spending, but will it be bad or good news for you?
The Spending Review marks the start of the chancellor's economic recovery strategy. Here's what to watch for.
Restrictions will be temporarily eased around the UK, but there are still rules about what you can do.
Christmas could be a dangerous time to contract the virus - but precautions can be taken.
Busting myths and explaining the facts around immunisation.
New rules for pubs in England come into effect on 2 December after the second lockdown ends.
How you and your family can celebrate Christmas and minimise the spread of coronavirus.
Travellers arriving from almost all other countries must self-isolate on entry to the UK.
Several vaccines are showing promise and one is already being reviewed by the UK regulator.
England will move to a tougher version of tiered coronavirus restrictions when lockdown ends next week.
We answer some of your questions about the Oxford vaccine.
Explore the data on coronavirus in the UK and find out how many cases there are in your area.
Hopes are rising that an effective vaccine against Covid-19 will be available soon.
Why news on this vaccine is particularly important for people living in the UK.
Liverpool has the UK's first mass Covid testing pilot, with other high-risk areas to follow.
Tips on happier ways to work from home in the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
With Boris Johnson self-isolating after a meeting, what do employers have to do to keep their staff safe?
The scheme told Dido Harding she had to self-isolate, a week after her husband was also told to isolate.
A new cough, fever and change in smell or taste are the key symptoms that mean you may have coronavirus.
Aliyas Dayee, a "voice for the voiceless" in Helmand, was killed by a bomb earlier this month.
Khady Gueye has experienced online backlash to a sculpture piece 'celebrating' ethnic minorities.
More time spent online is leaving people vulnerable to extremist content, say police.
The Court of Appeal rejected CR4C's bid for an appeal and told them to pay costs.
A programmer is telling the story of "the worst year of his life" through an interactive video game.
A woman who attended a Bristol rave says she sustained "life-changing' injuries" from a police dog.
Crossways Infant School in Thornbury will shut until December after a visiting nurse tests positive.
England will move to a tougher version of tiered coronavirus restrictions when lockdown ends next week.
Restrictions will be temporarily eased around the UK, but there are still rules about what you can do.
BBC News spoke to key government figures, scientists and health officials involved from the start.
Several vaccines are showing promise and one is already being reviewed by the UK regulator.
Explore the data on coronavirus in the UK and find out how many cases there are in your area.
Forest Green return to winning ways thanks to Jake Young's goal that piles more pressure on struggling Southend.
Leading scorer Paul Mullin strikes in the 95th minute to rescue a draw for Cambridge at fellow high-fliers Cheltenham.
Leicester make a bonus-point winning start to life under head coach Steve Borthwick as they beat Gloucester.
Two goals at the start of the second half help steer League Two high-flyers Cheltenham to victory over Walsall.
Nicky Cadden's last-gasp free-kick steals a point for Forest Green in an entertaining draw at Barrow.
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1. How to thrive when WFH. Even before the new abnormal of lockdown, most of us were tired most days of the week. Now we are juggling the demands of family, school and work from our homes. Life got a whole lot more exhausting. Here are some tips for recharging. READ MORE 2. Economic rebound set to reverse. The UK economy rebounded strongly from July to September, growing 15.5%, but economists warn it is likely to shrink again due to the reimposition of lockdowns. In July and August, GDP grew due to loosening restrictions and the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. However, the economy is still smaller than pre-pandemic, with the services sector hardest hit and construction not yet recovered. ONS research for October also highlighted sectors struggling, with 72% of businesses in food and accommodation and 69% in arts, entertainment and recreation experiencing lower turnover than usual. Financial Times 3. Redundancies reach record high. Redundancies reached a record high of 314,000 in the three months to September, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.8%, official data shows. Analysts suggested that many redundancies were made as the furlough scheme tapered down and that the October extension “came too late” to save some jobs. The data showed a particular rise in 16-24-year-olds losing their jobs, with unemployment rate in this group at 14.6%. Unemployment rose across the UK, with the highest rate in the north east (6.7%) and Wales seeing the largest rise since the previous quarter. BBC 4. Is COVID curbing entrepreneurship. One in five self-employed workers anticipates switching to other forms of employment, in a sign that the pandemic is reversing the long-term trend of growth in numbers of people working for themselves. According to a survey by the LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance, more than half of self-employed workers said they had less work than usual in August. In the gig economy, more than a quarter using apps to find work said they’d had more work; however, 78% said they felt their health was at risk while working. The Times 5. Building resilience during lockdown. Lockdowns at the start of the pandemic contributed to increased levels of anxiety, depression and sleeplessness. As many places re-enter restrictions, psychologists say it’s important to make a conscious effort to look after your mental wellbeing as everyday activities become less accessible. Planning your time, scheduling in leisure and exercise and even just deciding when you’ll stop work can give back a sense of autonomy. We recommend setting small goals to give yourself successes to celebrate and spending time alone getting to know your strengths. See item one above for further ideas. Editor |
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6. Lockdown’ named the word of 2020. Perhaps not a surprise, but "lockdown" has been declared the word of the year for 2020 by Collins Dictionary. It "encapsulates the shared experience of billions of people", Collins said. Other pandemic-linked terms in the top 10 are "furlough", "key worker", "self-isolate" and "social distancing", as well as "coronavirus". The abbreviation "BLM", for the Black Lives Matter movement, also features. BBC 7. Brexit defeat in the Lords. The Government suffered a heavy defeat in the House of Lords last Monday when peers voted by 433 to 165 to remove clauses in the Internal Market Bill designed to allow ministers to overrule parts of the EU Withdrawal Agreement. However, Boris Johnson vowed to reinstate them when the bill returns to the Commons next month. Labour has warned that the bill risks making the UK an “international pariah” – and that it will undermine UK relations with the new US president-elect, Joe Biden. The Guardian 8. Drowning in the flow of the mighty Amazon. Every second, its customers spend some $11,000 on its products; in the year of Covid, its value peaked at $1.6trn. Already the world’s richest man before Covid struck, founder Jeff Bezos has seen his personal fortune grow to $178.1bn. Yet even as Amazon puts countless small firms out of business, it continues – thanks to its complex offshore billing structure – to pay a derisory amount of tax: 2.1% last year on UK sales of £13.7bn. The Independent 9. Quote of the week. “The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.” Charles Bukowski quoted in the Daily Mail 10. The bottom line. Only 7% of British workers want to return to the office full-time after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. 18% say they would now choose to work from home every day, and 32% say they’d like to be at home most days. The Times |
The chancellor says the economic impact of coronavirus, "and the action we’ve taken in response" has led to "a significant but necessary increase in our borrowing and debt".
How you and your family can celebrate Christmas and minimise the spread of coronavirus.
Cardiff shoppers share their views about Covid rule changes between 23 and 27 December to allow three households to mix.
A BBC investigation has found that some people have been left with huge debts and escalating costs after buying homes through the government's shared ownership scheme.
Scientists demonstrate a scanning device that will make it easier to study the brain.
US President-elect Joe Biden says closing the border would be "just not right".
More than 1 in 5 secondary school pupils in England were out of school last week because of coronavirus.
'All the governments agreed' on the five-day plan for Christmas in the UK, says Michael Gove.
Kuno lost a paw after being hit by bullets in Afghanistan and is now being honoured for his bravery.
Hospital staff speak of "tired" colleagues while they tackle the second wave of coronavirus.
It's tougher than last time following complaints the previous system wasn't sufficient.
Usman and Sharon were connected forever after being caught up in the bombing's aftermath.
Harry Dunn's parents have lost their High Court battle against the Foreign Office over whether their son's alleged killer had diplomatic immunity.
Harry Dunn's parents have lost their High Court battle against the Foreign Office.
Covid-19 case numbers are dropping in most parts of England, but the South East's cases are rising.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson urges people to be "jolly careful" during the festive season and remain "prudent" into the new year.
The number of people seeking help for OCD has risen since the coronavirus pandemic started.
The health secretary says devolved nations will have to agree on an approach to help keep people safe.
Schools are being advised to make sure classrooms are "well ventilated" to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Why this case - which returns to court today - is bigger than the fate of one teenage runaway.
Life imitates art for John Boyega as he plays a police officer fighting racism, in the same year he took centre stage at the Black Lives Matters protest.
Why news on this vaccine is particularly important for people living in the UK.
Paraclimbing medalist Leanora Volpe doesn't like to be defined solely as a disabled athlete.
Kanane Francis says he wants to encourage young black riders to get into horse racing.
The health secretary says the bulk of the vaccine rollout will happen in early 2021.
The performance in Inverness by folk rock band Torridon was allowed under level one rules in the Highlands.
Alex Collins became partially paralysed after diving into a shallow river to retrieve a plastic ring.
Scientists at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire have developed a new type of latex.
Home Secretary Priti Patel gives an "unreserved" apology if she upset people after report into her conduct.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says doses of a vaccine will be available for rollout next month if approved.
Cath's son received a prison sentence after being radicalised by far-right groups online.
Google says it monitors posts for violations 24 hours a day and complies with all local laws.
Goods moving between the UK and EU will be subject to new customs controls & checks when the Brexit transition period ends in January.
The Coronation Street star's jewellery is up for auction to raise money for a hospice.
The health secretary refuses to say if he has fought for NHS workers to be exempt from a public sector pay freeze.
Saffra Monteiro caught it as a girl and wants young people to take viruses, like Covid-19, seriously.
The spoof created by actors Brendan O’Rourke and Kevin Mains stars some of Hollywood’s big names.
There are concerns people will not be able to contribute presents because of the pandemic.
A shop manager has described the abuse she's experienced at work during the pandemic.
Sophie from Huddersfield sought help to overcome loneliness.
Father Christmas explains how to have a Covid secure Christmas
The popularity of chess is rocketing with five times the number of new online players than last year.
A care home in Teignmouth is one of the first in England piloting a testing system to allow visitors.
The son of a woman who died in the Grenfell Tower fire is taking the government to court over evacuation plans for high-rise buildings.
Keegan, 15, spends his Friday afternoons delivering fish and chips to elderly residents of Golspie in the Highlands.
Marjorie Wells, 91, gives her advice on fighting loneliness during a lockdown.
Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton spoke to CBS This Morning about the lack of diversity in Formula 1.
The band has to stay two metres apart behind screens as their traditional festive concert moves online.
Andrew Monck has moved from Australia to join his girlfriend Rosanna Wilson at her home in Devon.
After losing her brother in 1990, Dr Sharon McDonnell has gone on to run the largest ever UK survey of bereaved families.
This year's Woman's Hour Power List celebrates women who are helping to tackle the climate crisis.
The East London artist "hired a microphone" and made much of her new album in her basement.
Diabetes UK estimates up to 40% of young women with type 1 diabetes will suffer from an associated eating disorder.
The former minister for sports was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 44 years old.
Two former activists describe how they looked to America for inspiration.
