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But the proportion of cases apparently caused by the new variant appear to be rising in most of the UK.
A £500 payment is already available for those on low incomes who cannot work from home, No 10 says.
A 14-year-old boy is suspected of murder over "inconceivable violence" before Keon Lincoln's death.
The chief rabbi has described the event, which was held at a school, as a "shameful desecration".
Doctors in the rainforest’s biggest city Manaus are struggling to control rising numbers of deaths from Covid-19 and soaring cases.
Two people died in the blaze at the Cameron House hotel in West Dunbartonshire three years ago.
Thirty-nine Vietnamese migrants suffocated in a sealed container en route to Essex in October 2019.
Clothing was the hardest-hit sector last year, seeing a 25% drop in sales overall.
The Japanese car maker has told the BBC its Sunderland plant is secure for the long term.
The premiere of No Time To Die, Daniel Craig's final 007 outing, is pushed back again due to Covid.
Scottish postie Nathan Evans has quit his job and signed to a record label after storming TikTok with sea shanties.
Stars of the Essex-based reality show pay tribute to a "true gentleman" and "one of the good guys".
Democrat Ala'a and Republican Caleb, both 16, on whether President Biden's call for unity can be achieved.
The 78-year-old Scottish comedian received his first dose of the vaccine near his home in Florida.
Friday's front pages suggest ministers are considering making a cash payment to everyone who tests positive.
When her friends died in childbirth, a Nigerian woman hatched a plan to make a difference.
Annette keeps in touch with her two granddaughters by reading to them over video call.
The author behind the book speaks exclusively to the BBC about the news of a second series.
Busts of influential civil rights leaders sit alongside portraits of famous presidents.
The world's first coronavirus quarantine began in Wuhan a year ago - how has China changed since then?
BBC correspondents look at why their local authorities are in trouble - and it isn't just Covid...
The Hollywood star explains why a role in the hit French comedy series was too good to refuse.
Some of those leading the nation's vaccination effort have told of their experiences.
When Farah Sayeed told her mother she wasn't coming home after university, it caused a painful rift.
Africa will have to wait "weeks if not months" before getting WHO-approved vaccines, officials say.
As a cheap and reliable way to store information, the humble QR code is finding new uses.
Staff shortages have proved a problem for Barts NHS Trust, which is struggling amid the second wave.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will be sidelined for between four to six weeks with a hamstring injury, says manager Pep Guardiola.
Angelo Mathews grinds out a century for Sri Lanka as England's bowlers toil on a hard-fought first day of the second Test in Galle.
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy will undergo hernia surgery and is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks.
The rescheduled Tokyo 2020 may have to be held behind closed doors if they are to go ahead this year, athletics chief Lord Coe says.
Watch the best of the action as LA Lakers' Lebron James scores a season-high 34 points in their 113-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the opener of a seven-game road trip.
Two of the three approved Covid vaccines are being rolled out across the UK, so when might you get one?
The length of quarantine has changed for contacts and people arriving from abroad.
How does it work when a government wants to borrow money, and when does it have to pay it back?
As most schools close across the UK, lessons from BBC Bitesize move on to BBC Two and CBBC.
People across the country are being urged to "double down" and stick to the lockdown rules.
Schools are currently closed across the UK to most pupils.
Immunity is the crucial question and understanding it will tell us how the pandemic will end.
Stamp duty changes introduced to boost the housing market are due to end in March.
Unlike many countries, the UK has not banned travel despite new variants emerging here and overseas.
Mass testing can reduce the transmission of Covid-19 - especially by those who do not have symptoms.
Scientists have discovered a new mutated version of the virus from Brazil, in addition to the ones from the UK and South Africa.
Millions in the UK have now received the Pfizer Covid-19 jab, the first vaccine to be approved.
With similar symptoms, deciding whether or not you need to get tested for coronavirus can be tricky.
We answer some of your questions about vaccination, travel rules and school closures
Asad Bhatti, from Redhill, Surrey, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates on Friday.
Kent Police say it was the biggest plot to supply fake notes ever uncovered in the UK.
We answer questions about the roll out of vaccinations to the elderly and vulnerable.
Four charities will refurbish and profit from bikes left at Southern Railway's stations for months.
We look at what lockdown means for moving house, funerals and visiting care homes.
The move leaves the chain on the brink of collapse, with the possible loss of up to 12,000 jobs.
Two men are killed when their Volkswagen Golf is involved in a two-car crash in Chertsey.
Attendance figures show 46% of secondary schools had pupils isolating because of Covid outbreaks.
A 15-year-old boy groomed by a drugs gang was left "high and dry" by social workers, his mother says.
Christmas gatherings were cut back but was there still an impact on Covid cases?
Coronavirus lockdown rules are changing across the UK, but who is responsible for enforcing them?
Public Health England answer questions about vaccinations, shop workers and lockdown.
People across the country are being urged to "double down" and stick to the lockdown rules.
A second coronavirus vaccine - from Oxford University/AstraZeneca - has been approved.
The FA Cup fourth-round tie between Bournemouth and Crawley is rescheduled to Tuesday, 26 January.
Sussex sign highly-rated teenage left-arm seamer Sean Hunt from Surrey.
Portsmouth continue their impressive League One form with a sixth successive clean sheet in a big win against AFC Wimbledon.
Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy join a host of international stars who have been retained by their respective teams for this summer's Hundred competition.
National League clubs are dealt a major blow after being told future funding from the government will be issued as loans.
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1. How to get your emails under control. Still ploughing through your post-festive break emails? Or are you an inbox-zero type who has already dealt with the deluge? For those still catching up, here are some tips on handling an overwhelming inbox and some tricks that will come in handy next time you return from a break. [MORE] 2. Year 2020 was better than you think. For many, 2020 was a disastrous year, but it wasn’t all bad. Here are several achievements to celebrate. [1] The ozone hole over Antarctica closed; [2] Germany is changing 62 military bases into nature reserves; [3] Whales came back to the Atlantic Ocean after more than 100 years; [4] Britain reported the smallest number of people that became infected with HIV in history; and [5] the vaccine against Covid-19 became the fastest developed vaccine in history. Sir David Attenborough 3. Firms bend lockdown rules. Companies have been accused of putting workers’ lives at risk by bending lockdown rules. The Observer says the “irresponsible firms” exploit looser regulations to bring thousands of non-essential workers into busy workplaces. No enforcement notices have been served on companies by Health and Safety Executive inspectors for Covid safety breaches since the country went into the latest lockdown despite them being contacted 2,945 times. Metro 4. Fake commutes have real benefits. It can be a walk around the block. It can be a stop at your local coffee pickup counter or your favourite drive-thru. Many workers have replaced their pre-coronavirus commutes with allotted time around work shifts where they break away from what can be the monotony of working from home, also known as the pretend or "fake commute." Personally, I miss having a clear dividing line in my weekday. Researchers recommend this practice as a means to fend off burnout. WSJ 5. Economy to ‘get worse before better’. The chancellor warned that he expects the UK economy to “get worse before it gets better”, with the latest lockdown slowing chances of economic recovery. His economic update came as the Federation of Small Businesses warned that one in five firms had cut staff in the previous quarter and 5% expect to close in the next year, equating to around 250,000 companies. Its survey of small businesses found that confidence is at its lowest level since the coronavirus lockdown in March of last year, due to the pressures of Covid-19 and Brexit. CityAM |
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6. Dream team conquers K2 in winter. Here's a story to lift the spirits. Ten Nepali climbers have claimed the greatest prize left in mountaineering: the first winter ascent of K2. Their conquest of one of the world's highest peaks, known as the savage mountain, comes after six winter failures since the 1980s and is a remarkable achievement. BBC 7. Doing good boosts emotions. Voluntary work doesn’t just do good for the recipients, but can also give the volunteer a boost, research shows. A UK study found that 68% of people helping out schools with a range of activities, from mentoring to mock interviews, gave them greater motivation in their own work. Eight in 10 of the volunteers also felt they improved their own communication skills. Many people on our 10/10 programme have shared their own experiences, whether delivering a neighbour's shopping or offering a friendly phone call to combat loneliness. People Management 8. Furlough struggle for working mums. More than 70% of working mothers who asked to be furloughed after schools closed had their requests refused, according to a TUC survey. The results also showed almost half of women were worried that childcare responsibilities could result in negative treatment at work, and 90% said they felt more stressed or anxious during the latest lockdown. The TUC general secretary said that mothers are “shouldering the majority of childcare” and that it is “not sustainable” for parents to work as normal while looking after children and supervising school-work. The Guardian 9. Bosses get a new job description. The working world has undergone a dramatic shift amid the pandemic, with remote work and organizational changes accelerating a new trend in management. As bosses continue to oversee increasing numbers of employees and their traditional tasks get overtaken by automation, experts predict managers’ roles will shift from that of an authoritarian figure to a nurturing mentor. That means providing more emotional support for employees and helping them navigate organisations, requiring bosses to become “social-emotional experts” in order to gain trust, boost engagement and foster collaboration. WSJ 10. The bottom line. Britain’s gyms, swimming pools and leisure facilities, which have had to close during the current lockdown, are losing £90m a week, according to campaign group ukactive. January is usually a busy month for the sector as people seek to stick to their New Year resolutions. Daily Mail |
Annette keeps in touch with her two granddaughters by reading to them over video call.
Scottish postie Nathan Evans has quit his job and signed to a record label after storming TikTok with sea shanties.
Dr Nighat Araf records messages in Urdu and Punjabi, urging people to trust the Covid jab.
Robert and Claire Davies stayed with friends after concern their bungalow might be flooded.
More rain and snow is expected in the next week with the prime minister urging people to follow advice to stay safe.
There have been concerns about scepticism towards the vaccine in some Muslim communities.
John opens up to Hollyoaks actor on 5 Live Drive about how a storyline saved their life.
Attacked because of her disability, Andrea was left with a fractured skull and a perforated eardrum.
An emergency call handler paralysed below the waist walks one mile to raise funds for the NHS.
Cancer patient Luke Grenfell-Shaw completes the first part of his round-the-world challenge.
Dinosaurs In Love went viral, musician Tom Rosenthal and his daughter Fenn were the ones behind it.
Senior mortician Hannah Leahy says the level of Covid fatalities is taking its toll on staff the Royal London Hospital.
Kathleen celebrated her milestone birthday at her care home in Exeter, where staff and residents had a party.
Martin Freeborn's wife, Helen, lost her fight against Covid at the Royal London Hospital, where staff are struggling to cope with rising admissions.
Expert’s report finds eight-year-old Saffie ‘could have been saved’ if treated adequately for her injuries.
'Truth pages', where students share their experiences of racism, have been on appearing on social media since the killing of George Floyd.
Jumping on a plane looks and feels different to how it did before the pandemic
The health secretary says everyone must continue to "stay at home whenever possible".
Kori, from Ripley in Derbyshire, was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
The chief executive of NHS England is optimistic about vaccinating all adults before Autumn this year.
The foreign secretary added there would be a crackdown on those failing to isolate after travelling abroad.
Illusionists are celebrating a century since the trick of sawing a woman in half was first performed.
Lockdown has seen an increase in children under 11 seeking counselling according to the NSPCC.
People listened to the likes of Bach and Handel as they waited for their jab at Salisbury Cathedral.
The Duke of Cambridge praises his grandparents for getting the vaccine in a video call with NHS staff.
In the Middle Ages, Lichfield Cathedral was a pilgrimage for the sick - now it's become a vaccination centre.
Supermarkets around the UK are stepping up enforcement of mask-wearing rules.
Bears Nobby, Hamish, Luka and Sisu are enjoying the snow which has fallen across the county.
The threat of unidentified Covid strains from abroad means tougher action is needed, the PM says.
Antonio says he felt he was discriminated against because of his skin colour when he was sectioned.
Joe Wicks inspired the nation to get moving during the first lockdown, but there's a new character on the fitness scene.
Video calls between children and care home residents are giving boosts to young and old.
As the coronavirus pandemic puts pressure on NHS resources, millions pf people remain on waiting lists for other treatments.
Some MPs worry "buy now, pay later" services could be tempting online shoppers into overspending.
Grant Shapps explains why UK-bound arrivals from South America and Portugal will be banned.
Charlie Haylock says he initially thought the request "was a scam".
Schools and businesses have been providing laptops to help students who have no devices with home learning.
The 19-year-old mounted pavements and jumped red lights through London and three counties.
A Scottish postie has seen his live of sea shanties take off on TikTok.
The playful pair have learnt a new trick in lockdown, which is melting hearts.
Ros Atkins asks what the definition of “staying local” means during the UK’s third lockdown.
As the UK records its highest death toll, Fergal Keane has been to see the strain the NHS is under for the second time.
Three Covid-19 vaccines have now been approved for use in the UK. The BBC's Laura Foster explains which groups will get it first.
A GP in Stroud has been able to vaccinate her father, and see him for the first time since March.
The education secretary says suppliers have been told that "that type of behaviour will not be tolerated".
A group of leading charities say more must be done this lockdown to support people who are shielding.
Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden says NHS staff are facing "devastating" abuse from coronavirus sceptics.
The home secretary says police officers are "now moving more quickly to issue fines where people are clearly breaching coronavirus regulations".
PureGym says the first vaccination centre in one of its buildings could open "in a matter of days".
Three vaccines have been approved in the UK - what are the differences between them?
Food poverty campaigner and chef Jack Monroe is shocked at food parcels sent to children on free school meals in England while in lockdown.
An RAF aircraft breaking the sound barrier causes a loud bang in skies across the East of England.
A 20-year-old man who spent a week in intensive care says many young people are in denial about Covid.
Emma has a 17-year-old, triplets and stage four cancer - here's how she's doing in England's lockdown.
Seven mass vaccination centres have opened across England to help deliver the Coronavirus vaccine.
A BBC investigation finds women suffered life-changing conditions after going to Turkey for surgery.
"Numbers are increasing not decreasing" - inside an emergency body storage facility in Surrey.
Armed police searched the supermarket after staff and customers were threatened.
Matt Hancock tells the BBC asymptomatic testing in Liverpool helped its Covid case rate fall rapidly.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says lockdown rules are "tough" but "may not be tough enough".
Two families from Hampshire unknowingly shared one camera roll over two decades.
App developer Ben Hogan uses a delivery robot to help him pop the question to his partner.
Two young women who turn 21 this year reflect on the impact 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic had on their lives and share their hopes for 2021.
The Duke of Cambridge asked how staff were coping during the pandemic, and he thanked them for their sacrifice.
A Portsmouth hospital is treating more than twice the number of patients than at its spring peak.
Companies that trade with the UK say higher prices and less choice are on the way.
How do hospitals become overwhelmed and what can be done to stop it from happening.
