Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume, "the architect of the Northern Ireland peace process", has died.
The former leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) had been ill for some time.
Having committed his life to the pursuit of Irish unity by peaceful means, he was fiercely criticised for holding secret talks with Gerry Adams.
Image:In 1998, John Hume and his Unionist counterpart David Trimble were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace
But in 1993, Mr Hume persuaded the British and Irish governments that the gun could be taken out of Irish politics.
When the IRA declared its ceasefire the following year, Sinn Fein were brought in from the political cold.
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It was the beginning of a peace process that would culminate in the Good Friday Agreement and power-sharing government at Stormont.
In 1998, Mr Hume and his Unionist counterpart David Trimble were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
More from Northern Ireland
Speaking at the award ceremony in Oslo, Mr Hume said: "I want to see Ireland as an example to men and women everywhere of what can be achieved by living for ideals rather than fighting or dying for them."
In a statement, his family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that John passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning after a short illness.
"We would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt thanks to the care and nursing staff of Owen Mor nursing home in Derry.
"The care they have shown John in the last months of his life has been exceptional."
They added: "John was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather and a brother. He was very much loved, and his loss will be deeply felt by all his extended family.
"It seems particularly apt for these strange and fearful days to remember the phrase that gave hope to John and so many of us through dark times: we shall overcome."
Irish prime minister Micheál Martin described Mr Hume as one "of the greatest Irish people that ever lived" and said his life was one of "towering achievement".
"John Hume was a great hero and a true peace maker," he said, adding: "All people on this island will give thanks for his life."
Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster said he was a "giant in Irish nationalism".
"In our darkest days he recognised that violence was the wrong path & worked steadfastly to promote democratic politics," the Democratic Unionist Party leader wrote on Twitter.
Author and journalist Eamonn Mallie, who knew him well, said: "Hume was driven by one thing - a passion for peace. He hated that violence. He resented that violence.
"At every conference, constant at the northern star, Hume spelled out, underscored, amplified, the grotesqueness of what the IRA were doing."
Mr Hume had come to prominence during the civil rights movement in his native Derry.
An MP for 22 years, an MEP for 25, he became a towering figure in the Anglo-Irish politics of the 20th century.
Former US president Bill Clinton described him as "the Martin Luther King of Northern Ireland", while former British prime minister Tony Blair said he made an "epic" contribution to the peace process.
"John Hume was a political titan; a visionary who refused to believe the future had to be the same as the past," Mr Blair said.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MLA said: "His legacy is Ireland at peace with itself. His legacy is the ending of 800 years of history and allowing us now to achieve all sorts of possibilities.
"We're no longer fighting with each other and there's no prospect that we will in the future.
"We're at peace, we have a democratic opportunity to set our own future. John Hume did that."
Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume, "the architect of the Northern Ireland peace process", has died.
The former leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) had been ill for some time.
Having committed his life to the pursuit of Irish unity by peaceful means, he was fiercely criticised for holding secret talks with Gerry Adams.
Image:In 1998, John Hume and his Unionist counterpart David Trimble were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace
But in 1993, Hume persuaded the British and Irish governments that the gun could be taken out of Irish politics.
When the IRA declared its ceasefire the following year, Sinn Fein were brought in from the political cold.
Advertisement
It was the beginning of a peace process that would culminate in the Good Friday Agreement and power-sharing government at Stormont.
In 1998, John Hume and his Unionist counterpart David Trimble were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
More from Northern Ireland
Speaking at the award ceremony in Oslo, Hume said: "I want to see Ireland as an example to men and women everywhere of what can be achieved by living for ideals rather than fighting or dying for them."
In a statement, Mr Hume's family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that John passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning after a short illness.
"We would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt thanks to the care and nursing staff of Owen Mor nursing home in Derry.
"The care they have shown John in the last months of his life has been exceptional."
They added: "John was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather and a brother. He was very much loved, and his loss will be deeply felt by all his extended family.
"It seems particularly apt for these strange and fearful days to remember the phrase that gave hope to John and so many of us through dark times: we shall overcome."
Irish prime minister Micheál Martin described Mr Hume as one "of the greatest Irish people that ever lived" and said his life was one of "towering achievement".
"John Hume was a great hero and a true peace maker," he said, adding: "All people on this island will give thanks for his life."
Author and journalist Eamonn Mallie, who knew him well, said: "Hume was driven by one thing - a passion for peace. He hated that violence. He resented that violence.
"At every conference, constant at the northern star, Hume spelled out, underscored, amplified, the grotesqueness of what the IRA were doing."
John Hume had come to prominence during the civil rights movement in his native Derry.
An MP for 22 years, an MEP for 25, he became a towering figure in the Anglo-Irish politics of the 20th century.
Former US president Bill Clinton described him as "the Martin Luther King of Northern Ireland", while former British prime minister Tony Blair said he made an "epic" contribution to the peace process.
"John Hume was a political titan; a visionary who refused to believe the future had to be the same as the past," Mr Blair said.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MLA said: "His legacy is Ireland at peace with itself. His legacy is the ending of 800 years of history and allowing us now to achieve all sorts of possibilities.
"We're no longer fighting with each other and there's no prospect that we will in the future.
"We're at peace, we have a democratic opportunity to set our own future. John Hume did that."
The decision was taken by the Strategic Coordination Group on the weekend after they met to discuss the increased lockdown restrictions announced last week across parts of the North West. New measures forbid people from different households from meeting each other inside their homes or in gardens, while also banning separate households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues. Out of the top 20 worst affected local authority areas for Covid-19 infections in England, Greater Manchester boroughs - home to almost 3 million people - comprise more than a third of the list, with seven entries.
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "People should not be alarmed that a major incident has been declared."
He called the move "standard practice for complex situations" and said it would allow a "central command structure" to be created to enable agencies to "draw on extra resources".
The decision was taken by the Strategic Coordination Group on the weekend after they met to discuss the increased lockdown restrictions announced last week across parts of the North West.
New measures forbid people from different households from meeting each other inside their homes or in gardens, while also banning separate households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues.
Out of the top 20 worst affected local authority areas for Covid-19 infections in England, Greater Manchester boroughs - home to almost 3 million people - comprise more than a third of the list, with seven entries.
The decision comes after Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester tweeted: "I listened to the Government when they came to me late on Thursday & asked for our support for new restrictions.
"I am now asking them to listen to us: please reinstate the shielding policy in Greater Manchester from first thing tomorrow.
"Failure to do so is wrong and inhumane."
(THIS IS A LIVE BLOG - SCROLL DOWN FOR REGULAR UPDATES)
8.38am update: 90-minute tests "a game-changer", sayhs Zahawi
Business and Industry Minister Nadhim Zahawi described 90-minute tests for coronavirus as a "game changer".
He told BBC Breakfast: "This is a game changer because the ability to do a test by just over an hour or 90 minutes will make a massive difference to our response to coronavirus whether at hospitals if somebody's coming in for surgery and people need to know very quickly if they've got coronavirus.
"You need to be able to test very rapidly and get those results that are accurate rapidly."
Asked if the tests will be used in care home settings, Mr Zahawi said 50,000 tests are being delivered to care homes daily, adding: "This will make a further difference because being able to administer these tests without any clinical training is another game changer."
8.35am update: Germany posed to begin testing travellers
Mandatory testing of travellers returning to Germany from countries with a high risk of COVID-19 infection will take effect later this week, Health Minister Jens Spahn said.
He told German broadcaster ARD: "We have first drafts.
"We want to coordinate this well with the states because they need to be able to implement it at airports and train stations."
Sadiq Khan has ordered Boris Johnson not to seal off London in a angry letter in which he complains of not being informed of the Government's plans.
Mr Khan was writing after news emerged relating to an exercise staged last week in which a major resurgence of COVID-19 in the capital was central.
Reports in several media outlets suggested the M25 would be used as a "quarantine ring" - effectively sealing the city off.
Mr Khan write: "Our surprise is such that far reaching contingency plans have been discussed and tested without the involvement of London's government."
8.19am update: Sewage surveillance stepped up in fresh bid to halt second wave
Health experts are to begin testing sewage to identify coronavirus hotspots across the UK.
Results from the programme will indicate which areas of the country need to go into lockdown to prevent a second wave of infections.
The tests are being rolled out nationwide after trials across 44 sites in England provided accurate information on local COVID-19 flare-ups.
The scientists behind the tests believe infected people shed virus material in faeces within hours of symptoms appearing, meaning regular checks of sewage could identify the presence of the virus much quicker than swab tests.
Under the existing programme people are only tested once they start to show symptoms which normally take five days to appear.
Researchers from Bangor University in North Wales have been analysing sewage since March and found the volume of virus in samples plummeted after lockdown was imposed.
7.52am update: HSBC suffers profit crash
HSBC has suffered a 65 percent drop in pre-tax profit in the first half of the year as Europe's largest bank was struck by a dive in interest rates and coronavirus disruption.
The bank reported profits of 4.3 billion US dollars (£3.2 billion) in the half year to June 30, down from 12.4 billion dollars (£9.5 billion) in the same period in 2019.
The bank has endured a torrid year on the markets with the London listed shares falling more than 40% from 595p to 342p as of June 30.
Group chief executive Noel Quinn said: "Our first half performance was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, falling interest rates, increased geopolitical risk and heightened levels of market volatility."
7.43am update: Major incident in Greater Manchester
Soaring numbers of coronavirus cases have prompted authorities in Greater Manchester to declare a major incident amid assurances that there is "no cause for alarm".
The decision was taken by the Strategic Coordination Group on the weekend after they met to discuss the increased lockdown restrictions announced last week across parts of the North West.
New measures forbid people from different households from meeting each other inside their homes or in gardens, while also banning separate households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues.
Out of the top 20 worst affected local authority areas for Covid-19 infections in England, Greater Manchester boroughs - home to almost 3 million people - comprise more than a third of the list, with seven entries.
A major incident has been declared by authorities in Greater Manchester following recent rises in coronavirus infection rates.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the decision was taken to help agencies respond "as effectively as possible", including with extra resources.
People "should not be alarmed" by the news as it was "standard practice", Manchester City Council said.
Greater Manchester is one of the areas subject to new lockdown measures.
The new restrictions announced on Thursday - that also apply in east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire - ban separate households from meeting each other at home.
The new rules also banned members of two different households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues, but those businesses are permitted to remain open for those visiting individually or from the same household.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which is made up of ten councils - Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan - said the public should be "reassured" that the guidelines remain unchanged.
"This move was simply to enable public agencies to access any additional resources they need as quickly and efficiently as possible," a GMCA spokesperson said.
"This is no more than a boost to our capabilities... and maximise our resources in the drive to reverse the spike in infection which we have witnessed in the last seven to 10 days."
Out of the top 20 worst affected local authority areas for Covid-19 infections in England, Greater Manchester boroughs make up more than a third of the list with seven entries.
Oldham, the second worst affected borough in the country, saw its seven-day rate jump from 41.6 to 62.8 per 100,000 people, with 148 new cases reported in the past week.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said declaring a major incident was "standard practice for complex situations which require a co-ordinated multi-agency response".
"Although the council and partner organisations have been working closely to tackle the impacts of the pandemic since early this year, declaring a major incident means we can ramp this up further," he said.
"Following last week's government announcement of preventative public health measures across Greater Manchester to address the rising number of Covid-19 cases, the public would expect us to give this situation our concerted collective attention.
"That, with a view to enabling these restrictions to be lifted as soon as possible, is exactly what we are doing."
GMP Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey said: "It is part of our desire to protect the population of Greater Manchester and provide them with the highest levels of assurance that agencies are doing all they can to reduce infection rates and bring Greater Manchester back to as near a state of normality as current times allow.''
The Department of Health and Social Care is yet to comment.
The tests, described as “transformative”, provide results within 90 minutes and will start being distributed next week. The development means a large majority of people could soon be tested in airports, offices, schools, pubs and restaurants.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night defined the plans as “lifesaving”.
The news comes as the Government is seeking to put an end to the pandemic without the need for a second strict nationwide lockdown that would damage the economy even more.
Both tests will initially be rolled out in the NHS and care homes, and over the next few months, they will be available to the rest of the population.
The new tests will be provided routinely to people who show no symptoms, as opposed to only being available to patients who suspect they might be infected.
The news brings fresh hopes that local outbreaks will be spotted before they get out of control, eliminating the need for local lockdowns.
The tests can also diagnose a flu even if the patient does not have Covid-19.
This means the spread of both viral diseases will be tracked, allowing for rapid action from health authorities who would put in place flu jab operations.
Ministers seek to avoid a flu wave this winter that would add even more pressure to the health services.
The other method is called DNANudge and it will be introduced next month.
It uses swab tests more rapidly as it does no need to be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Current tests can take 24 hours to four days to deliver results.
The firms developing the tests did not reveal the price but said it is a similar price to or cheaper than current tests.
Tests already available are around £18 privately but cheaper to the NHS.
Mr Hancock described the tests as “life-saving innovations”.
He said: “Millions of new rapid coronavirus tests will provide on-the-spot results in under 90 minutes, helping us to break chains of transmission quickly.
“The fact these tests can detect flu as well as Covid-19 will be hugely beneficial as we head into winter, so patients can follow the right advice to protect themselves and others.”
The Government has the capacity to test 220,000 people a day but ministers want to ramp this up to 500,000 by autumn.
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “The news of quicker tests is encouraging and should mean we have a further weapon in our armoury to defeat the virus.”
Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “Having the ability to rapidly test and report the results will help the NHS and other care providers with the challenge of continuing to restart routine services, plan for winter and deal with a potential second surge in Covid-19.”
Diners across the UK will be able to enjoy half-price meals throughout August from Monday, as part of a government scheme aimed at boosting restaurants and pubs post-lockdown.
"Eat out to help out" applies to eat-in food and drink on Monday to Wednesdays at more than 72,000 venues.
The discount is capped at £10 per person and does not apply to alcohol.
But critics said unhealthy food should have been excluded from the scheme, over fears it could fuel obesity.
The scheme is designed to encourage people to visit restaurants, cafes and pubs, which have been badly hit by the lockdown.
Around 80% of hospitality firms stopped trading in April, with 1.4 million workers furloughed - the highest of any sector - according to government data.
Many venues which have reopened since 4 July have also been forced to operate at a lower capacity to comply with social distancing rules.
The offer only applies at participating eateries in areas of the UK that are not in local lockdown - but major chains including Pizza Express, Costa Coffee, McDonald's and Nando's are among the 72,000 to have signed-up.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "Our 'eat out to help out' scheme's number one aim is to help protect the jobs of 1.8 million chefs, waiters and restaurateurs by boosting demand and getting customers through the door.
"The industry is a vital ingredient to our economy and it's been hit hard by coronavirus, so enjoy summer safely by showing your favourite places your support - we'll pay half."
No vouchers are required to use the offer, with the participating establishment deducting 50% from the bill and charging the discount to the Treasury.
There is no minimum spend and you can use the discount as often as you like on eligible days. However, it does not apply to takeaways.
Officials said there had been more than 3.3 million hits on the "eat out to help out" restaurant finder website since it started up last week.
Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson, the party's health spokeswoman, said with research suggesting obesity increases someone's risk of dying from coronavirus, the chancellor should have prevented people using the discount to buy junk food.
"We all recognise the need to support the high street through the pandemic, but the government should have been more discerning with this scheme," she said.
"With a number of fast-food chains signing up to the scheme, it seems clear that public health did not factor into the government's decision.
"The government must put public health first and exclude from the scheme meals and drinks proven to contribute to obesity. We cannot afford to risk lives as we reopen the economy."
The scheme has also drawn criticism from some anti-obesity campaigners, with the National Obesity Forum saying it would be a "green light to promote junk food".
