Babak Belurs

Jumat, 15 Mei 2020

Coronavirus: London congestion charge brought back with price rise - BBC News

The congestion charge for people driving into central London will be reintroduced on Monday under the terms of a £1.6bn government bailout.

It follows a deal in which Transport for London (TfL) secured emergency funding to keep Tube and bus services going until September.

From 22 June, the congestion charge will also rise from £11.50 to £15.

Downing Street defended the changes saying it "only applied to a small area of central London".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said roads in these areas "would come to a halt without it" and it was an "important tool to ensure that emissions in London remain low and support better air quality".

TfL said the resumed congestion charge would apply between 07:00 and 22:00, seven days a week.

A system of reimbursement for NHS workers in place before the congestion charge was suspended on 23 March will also be extended to care home workers.

Mayor of London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the measures were designed to avoid a build up of traffic after the government urged people returning to work to avoid public transport.

TfL said the plans would "create more space for social distancing when walking and cycling, ensuring that the people who have no choice but to return to work in central London can do so as safely as possible".

Some streets will be converted to walking and cycling only, with others restricted to all traffic apart from buses.

Mr Khan warned public transport must only be used "as a last resort".

Coronavirus: How to socially distance on public transport

The low emission zone and ultra low emission zone - imposing levies on high-polluting vehicles - also comes back into operation on Monday.

Under the new conditions, children will no longer have free travel across London and restrictions on travel passes for people with a disability or over the age of 60 travelling will also be imposed during peak hours.

Fares on buses - scrapped to help protect drivers from Covid-19 - will also be reintroduced.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said these other changes would be put in place "as soon as practicable".

Mr Khan said the deal was necessary because coronavirus had had a "catastrophic impact on TfL's finances".

"I want to be completely honest and upfront with Londoners," Mr Khan said.

"This is not the deal I wanted. But it was the only deal the government put on the table and I had no choice but to accept it to keep the Tubes and buses running."

The DfT also announced TfL will introduce above-inflation fare rises from next year. Fares will go up by 1% above the rate of inflation.

Mr Khan has frozen single fares since he became mayor in May 2016 .

Natalie Chapman, of the Freight Transport Association, said the congestion charge hike "ignored the needs of London businesses".

She added: "How are shops to be supplied, restaurants and cafes to be stocked and the rest of the capital's economy to obtain the products it needs when those charged with delivering these needs are to be punitively taxed at a time when their own industry is in recovery?

"Logistics operators have been forgotten in this bailout and are being expected to stage their own financial recovery while facing punitive charges at a time when many have been unable to work for the past eight weeks."

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2020-05-15 12:34:00Z
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Brexit crisis: David Frost condemns Barnier as talks judder to halt - EU issued ultimatum - Express.co.uk

Mr Frost was speaking following the third round of talks with the EU as they try to strike an agreement on a post-Brexit free trade agreement.

But the UK's chief negotiator has been left furious by the lack of progress being made in talks, with London wanting a deal agreed before the end of the transition period in December.

He raged the EU is insisting on including a set of "novel and unbalanced proposals" on the so-called “level playing field” which would "bind this country to EU law or standards", something Mr Frost said is "unprecedented in Free Trade Agreements and not envisaged in the Political Declaration".

The UK's chief negotiator warned that until Brussels changes its stance on this, further progress can't be made.

Mr Frost said: “We have just completed our third negotiating round with the EU, once again by videoconference. I would like to thank Michel Barnier and the negotiating teams on both sides for their determination in making the talks work in these difficult circumstances.

“I regret however that we made very little progress towards agreement on the most significant outstanding issues between us.

“It is very clear that a standard Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, with other key agreements on issues like law enforcement, civil nuclear, and aviation alongside, all in line with the Political Declaration, could be agreed without major difficulties in the time available.

brexit uk eu talks

Brexit talks between the UK and EU are threatening to descend into chaos (Image: GETTY)

"Both sides have tabled full legal texts, there are plenty of precedents, and there is clearly a good understanding between negotiators.

“The major obstacle to this is the EU’s insistence on including a set of novel and unbalanced proposals on the so-called “level playing field” which would bind this country to EU law or standards, or determine our domestic legal regimes, in a way that is unprecedented in Free Trade Agreements and not envisaged in the Political Declaration.

"As soon as the EU recognises that we will not conclude an agreement on that basis, we will be able to make progress.

Mr Frost admitted that while there have been many "useful discussions" around several elements on fisheries, the EU is refusing to give ground on its demands for access to British in a way that is incompatible with our future status as an independent coastal state waters".

He warned the UK "cannot agree arrangements that are manifestly unbalanced and against the interests of the UK fishing industry".

Mr Frost raged: “Although we have had useful discussions on fisheries on the basis of our draft legal text, the EU continues to insist on fisheries arrangements and access to UK fishing waters in a way that is incompatible with our future status as an independent coastal state.

"We are fully committed to agreeing fishing provisions in line with the Political Declaration, but we cannot agree arrangements that are manifestly unbalanced and against the interests of the UK fishing industry.

Mr Frost also warned the eU will have to change its approach before the next round of talks between the two sides begins in just two weeks' time.

“It is hard to understand why the EU insists on an ideological approach which makes it more difficult to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

“We very much need a change in EU approach for the next Round beginning on 1 June. In order to facilitate those discussions, we intend to make public all the UK draft legal texts during next week so that the EU’s Member States and interested observers can see our approach in detail.

“The UK will continue to work hard to find an agreement, for as long as there is a constructive process in being, and continues to believe that this is possible.”

But Mr Barnier immediately hit back at the UK, describing the latest round of talks as "disappointing" and warned "we're not going to bargain away our values for the benefit of the British economy.

brexit timeline

Brexit news: The UK wants a trade deal with the EU signed before the end of this year (Image: EXPRESS)

He also warned the EU would not sign a trade teal with Britain without level playing field guarantees of fair competition or without a comprehensive agreement on fisheries.

The Brexit negotiator told a European Commission press conference: "You cannot have the best of both worlds.

"In parallel to these negotiations, both the UK and the EU have a legal commitment to implement the Withdrawal Agreement.

"Here, citizens' rights are the priority for both sides and since the very beginning the UK tells us it has some concerns about the treatment of British nationals in the EU.

"We yesterday received a letter from Michael Gove.

"I want to tell you that the commission is very, very attentive to this issue and we have just published guidelines to support all 27 member states to live up to the commitments of the Withdrawal Agreement."

Trade talks between the UK and EU began in March after Britain officially left the bloc on January 31.

Boris Johnson has always insisted he wants an agreement between the two sides in place before the end of the transition period on December 31.

The UK has until June 30 to request an extension to this deadline, and has been urged to do so by Brussels.

But despite the coronavirus pandemic sweeping through Europe, Mr Johnson is continuing to stand his ground on a deal being agreed this year.

This has infuriated leading EU figures, including Mr Barnier and European commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who have warned this deadline will be impossible to meet.

This is a breaking story. More to follow...

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2020-05-15 11:38:00Z
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North East has 4,320 new coronavirus infections every DAY as Yorkshire is worst-hit for new cases - The Sun

THE North East and Yorkshire has the highest coronavirus infection rates of any UK region, new data reveals.

Research conducted by Cambridge University and Public Health England suggests the region has a coronavirus infection rate of 0.8 and is seeing around 4,320 infections a day.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

It means for every 10 people who catch the virus in the North East and Yorkshire, they pass it on to eight others between them.

The figure is worryingly close to the Government's benchmark of one, which it has said the "R" rate of infection must stay below in order to ease the lockdown.

Meanwhile, the North West is the second worst-hit region for new cases, where 2,380 infections are being recorded each day.

The South West has an R rate of 0.76, slightly more than the North West which has a rate of 0.73.

Both the East of England and South East have a rate of 0.71, followed by the Midlands with 0.68.

REGIONS HIT

Of the 10 towns with the highest infection rates across the UK - eight are in the North.

The remote town of Barrow-in-Furness has the highest coronavirus infection rate in the country - with 882 cases per 100,000 people - 0.88 per cent.

It means Barrow's infection rate is more than double that of Wales at 368.7, triple England's rate of 246.4 and of Scotland's infection rate of 253.1 as well as quadruple the rate recorded of 222.8 in Northern Ireland.

A new strategy announced by the government on Sunday included a warning system for local outbreaks that could allow it to tailor the severity of lockdown measures in each region.

When asked whether the R rate should be looked at regionally, Professor Sebastian Funk of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told BBC Radio 4: "I absolutely do so, yes."

Pushed on whether the Government should react to different R rates regionally in policy terms too, he added: "I think that is something that we will probably have to do going forward."

LONDON FALLING

It comes as London, which has so far been the UK's worst hit location, records just 24 new cases each day - and it could be virus-free within a fortnight.

The capital's "R" reproduction rate has fallen to 0.4, down from around 2.8 before the lockdown.

The fall means that the number of new cases being recorded in London is now halving every 3.5 days, the Telegraph reported.

At the peak of the crisis, the number of people being infected in the capital each day stood at 213,000, and that figure fell to around 10,000 after the lockdown was imposed.

LIVES LOST

It comes as coronavirus fatalities in the UK have risen to 33,614 after 428 more deaths were recorded yesterday.

A total of 233,151 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 across Britain - up 3,446 cases from Wednesday.

And new figures reveal that the number of coronavirus deaths in UK care homes has now surpassed 12,000.

The tally in care homes is now 12,526 - with the South East and North West being the worst affected regions.

London recorded the first explosion of UK cases and was the early epicentre of the UK's outbreak, but is now doing better than the country as a whole, which currently has an "R" value of 0.75.

Asked if 24 new cases a day in the capital is robust, Prof Funk said: "Well, there is some variation around this and there is some uncertainty in this, but what we have observed in London is that case numbers and death numbers have come down faster than in other parts of the country - albeit from a considerably higher level.

"So I think it... well, I would say it is a little bit higher than that, but it is probably lower than the rest of the country."

Barrow-in-Furness has the highest coronavirus infection rate in the countryCredit: Alamy

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2020-05-15 11:17:00Z
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London coronavirus cases fall to just 24 a day with predictions it could be wiped out from capital in a - The Sun

LONDON is currently recording just 24 new cases of coronavirus a day and could be virus-free within a fortnight, new modelling suggests.

Research by Public Health England and Cambridge University suggests that the capital's "R" reproduction rate has fallen to 0.4, down from around 2.8 before the lockdown.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

That means that for every ten people who catch the virus, they pass it on to just four others between them.

The fall means that the number of new cases being recorded in London is now halving every 3.5 days, the Telegraph reported.

But, leading experts today questioned the accuracy of the data, warning it might not reflect the true picture.

One epidemiologist said an R rate of 0.4 in the capital was "extremely unlikely" and another expert admitted he expects the number of new daily cases in London to be higher than 24.

At the peak of the crisis, the number of people being infected in the capital each day stood at 213,000, and that figure fell to around 10,000 after the lockdown was imposed.

But rates around the country vary greatly meaning there is still considerable risk of infection for Brits.

Coronavirus fatalities in the UK have risen to 33,614 after 428 more deaths were recorded yesterday.

A total of 233,151 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 across Britain - up 3,446 cases from Wednesday.

London has always been weeks ahead of the rest of the country - in terms of the bug's spread.

London is currently recording just 24 new cases of coronavirus a day, new modelling suggestsCredit: AFP or licensors

The capital recorded the first explosion of cases and was the early epicentre of the UK's outbreak, but is now doing better than the country as a whole, which currently has an "R" value of 0.75.

The North East and Yorkshire, taken together, have the highest rate of any region, with 0.8, and are seeing around 4,320 infections a day.

Second is the North West, which is seeing 2,380 infections a day, while all other regions are seeing fewer than 1,500.

It comes as:

Asked if 24 new cases a day in the capital is robust, Dr Sebastian Funk told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Well, there is some variation around this and there is some uncertainty in this, but what we have observed in London is that case numbers and death numbers have come down faster than in other parts of the country - albeit from a considerably higher level.

"So I think it... well, I would say it is a little bit higher than that, but it is probably lower than the rest of the country."

Asked whether the R rate should be looked at regionally, Prof Funk said: "I absolutely do so, yes."

Pushed on whether the Government should react to different R rates regionally in policy terms too, he added: "I think that is something that we will probably have to do going forward."

A new strategy announced by the government on Sunday included a warning system for local outbreaks that could allow it to tailor the severity of lockdown measures in each region.

POSITIVE NEWS

Conservative MP Bim Afolami said the new figures could strengthen the case for further easing of the lockdown in London.

“If you look at other countries, they’ve often adopted regional approaches," he told the Telegraph.

"If it makes sense from a health perspective, we need to consider it.”

Former Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers added: “These figures are good news.

"They show lockdown measures have been working and I think they make the case for further easing of the lockdown in London.

“It’s vital that we do find ways to let the economy recover – and London is the powerhouse of the economy.”

CAUTION NEEDED

But experts warned it's still "too early" to draw any concrete conclusions from the Cambridge University findings.

Prof Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: "The level is below one as a result of the lockdown, put simply if you don't bump into anyone, you cannot pass on the virus, even if you have it.

"The key point limiting opening up is that the virus has not changed, it's not weaker or less infectious so we are, in a way, back at a similar point to the beginning of the epidemic.

"What's changed is that everyone is now aware of the situation and most people treat it seriously, so as long as that remains the case the numbers could now be kept under control."

Prof Jones said scientists cannot predict with certainty how exactly how the R rate will develop as lockdown is eased.

WIDESPREAD INFECTION

Around one in three Brits - 17.3million people - may already have been infected with coronavirus, experts say.

Researchers from the University of Manchester believe 29 per cent of the UK population had had the disease by April 19.

The Office for National Statistics claims most victims of the Covid-19 crisis have been in the over-65s category, accounting for 30,978 fatalities.

Around 12 per cent of Covid-19 deaths have occurred in those who are under the age of 65, accounting for 4,066 deaths.

When it comes to people in the under-65 category, those who are still of a working age, the figures revealed that there have been 8.4 deaths per 100,000 people.

The infection rate in the capital is now half that in the rest of the countryCredit: AFP or licensors

This is in contrast to the over-65 group where there have been 286 deaths per 100,000.

Meanwhile the first coronavirus antibody test that could help ease lockdown in the UK has been given the go-ahead by Public Health England.

No10 is now keen to get its hands on "as many of these as possible" after the potentially game-changing kit was developed by Swiss healthcare company Roche.

Yesterday a top official at the World Health Organisation warned that countries could face a second wave of the virus later in the year if they lift lockdowns too early.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Dr Hans Kluge, the body's director for the European region, said: “I’m very concerned about a double wave in the fall.

"People think lockdown is finished. Nothing has changed.

"The full disease control package has to be in place. That's the key message."

He added that countries would have to proceed "gradually and carefully" until a vaccine had been developed.

The UK coronavirus death toll hits 33,614 after another 428 more die with 233,151 now infected

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2020-05-15 10:46:21Z
CAIiENyUc8gB1uKGuik5ijzf25EqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow0Ij8CjCRwIgDMOSMzAU

North East has 4,320 new coronavirus infections every DAY as Yorkshire is worst-hit for new cases - The Sun

THE North East and Yorkshire has the highest coronavirus infection rates of any UK region, new data reveals.

Research conducted by Cambridge University and Public Health England suggests the region has a coronavirus infection rate of 0.8 and is seeing around 4,320 infections a day.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

It means for every 10 people who catch the virus in the North East and Yorkshire, they pass it on to eight others between them.

The figure is worryingly close to the Government's benchmark of one, which it has said the "R" rate of infection must stay below in order to ease the lockdown.

Meanwhile, the North West is the second worst-hit region for new cases, where 2,380 infections are being recorded each day.

The South West has an R rate of 0.76, slightly more than the North West which has a rate of 0.73.

Both the East of England and South East have a rate of 0.71, followed by the Midlands with 0.68.

REGIONS HIT

Of the 10 towns with the highest infection rates across the UK - eight are in the North.

The remote town of Barrow-in-Furness has the highest coronavirus infection rate in the country - with 882 cases per 100,000 people - 0.88 per cent.

A new strategy announced by the government on Sunday included a warning system for local outbreaks that could allow it to tailor the severity of lockdown measures in each region.

When asked whether the R rate should be looked at regionally, Professor Sebastian Funk of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told BBC Radio 4: "I absolutely do so, yes."

Pushed on whether the Government should react to different R rates regionally in policy terms too, he added: "I think that is something that we will probably have to do going forward."

LONDON FALLING

It comes as London, which has so far been the UK's worst hit location, records just 24 new cases each day - and it could be virus-free within a fortnight.

The capital's "R" reproduction rate has fallen to 0.4, down from around 2.8 before the lockdown.

The fall means that the number of new cases being recorded in London is now halving every 3.5 days, the Telegraph reported.

At the peak of the crisis, the number of people being infected in the capital each day stood at 213,000, and that figure fell to around 10,000 after the lockdown was imposed.

LIVES LOST

It comes as coronavirus fatalities in the UK have risen to 33,614 after 428 more deaths were recorded yesterday.

A total of 233,151 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 across Britain - up 3,446 cases from Wednesday.

And new figures reveal that the number of coronavirus deaths in UK care homes has now surpassed 12,000.

The tally in care homes is now 12,526 - with the South East and North West being the worst affected regions.

London recorded the first explosion of UK cases and was the early epicentre of the UK's outbreak, but is now doing better than the country as a whole, which currently has an "R" value of 0.75.

"So I think it... well, I would say it is a little bit higher than that, but it is probably lower than the rest of the country."

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW

Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.

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Coronavirus: Care home residents make up more than a third of deaths linked to COVID-19 - Sky News

More than a third of the coronavirus-related deaths in the UK have been among care home residents in England and Wales, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

There were 12,526 deaths among care home residents during March and April where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. This includes whether the disease was the underlying cause or not.

The Department of Health said on Thursday that 33,614 people have so far died from coronavirus in the UK.

There were 45,899 deaths of care home residents in March and April, more than more a quarter were linked to coronavirus.

Among the more than 12,500 deaths, 9,039 (72%) occurred within a care home.

A further 3,444 (27%) occurred within a hospital.

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2020-05-15 10:07:30Z
52780785508245

Jumat, 15 Mei 2020

Coronavirus: London congestion charge brought back with price rise - BBC News

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Brexit crisis: David Frost condemns Barnier as talks judder to halt - EU issued ultimatum - Express.co.uk

North East has 4,320 new coronavirus infections every DAY as Yorkshire is worst-hit for new cases - The Sun

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

REGIONS HIT

LONDON FALLING

LIVES LOST

LONDON FALLING

'THE WILD WEST'

BURNING UP

TRAGIC FIND

CARE TRAGEDY

OUR AGONY

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW

London coronavirus cases fall to just 24 a day with predictions it could be wiped out from capital in a - The Sun

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

POSITIVE NEWS

CAUTION NEEDED

WIDESPREAD INFECTION

'THE WILD WEST'

BURNING UP

TRAGIC FIND

CARE TRAGEDY

OUR AGONY

North East has 4,320 new coronavirus infections every DAY as Yorkshire is worst-hit for new cases - The Sun

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

REGIONS HIT

LONDON FALLING

LIVES LOST

LONDON FALLING

'THE WILD WEST'

BURNING UP

TRAGIC FIND

CARE TRAGEDY

OUR AGONY

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW

Coronavirus: Care home residents make up more than a third of deaths linked to COVID-19 - Sky News