A Littlehampton man has denied coughing in the face of a police officer and assaulting a woman in Angmering. Terry Higgins, 47, of St Augustine Road in Littlehampton, pleaded not guilty to two assaults and two theft charges at Worthing Magistrates’ Court today (July 8). He was accused of coughing in the face of a police community support officer in New Road, Littlehampton, on April 1 and charged with assault by beating of an emergency officer. Higgins denied three separate charges relating to incidents in May, including assault by beating of a woman named Olivia Shearly in The Square, Angmering, on May 20. The same day, Higgins is accused of stealing food from the Co-op in The Square and denied a further charge of stealing from a Co-op in Station Parade, East Preston, on May 10. Chairman of the bench Gavin Oclee-Brown ordered Higgins to appear at two separate trials in October at Worthing Magistrate’s Court. On October 13 he will stand trial for the charge of assaulting an emergency officer and 10 days later, on October 23, will face the two thefts and additional assault charge. He was granted unconditional bail in relation to assaulting the police officer, but was given conditions relating to the other three charges. Mr Oclee-Brown set a curfew of 7pm to 7am where he must remain at his St Augustine Road address and he was told to appear at Littlehampton Police Station every weekday. We would like to include that a young person from Milton Keynes has coloured a photo for our news site for all of the hard work that we do: "Hi Everyone, I decided to make a poster for the mk3 news webpage because Of all the hard work that gets put into it."

Worthing care home Parkside Lodge was one of the first to sign up to the new GladtoCare Awareness Week, celebrating all those who work in the care industry. The inaugural #GladtoCare week is running from July 6 to 12 and it is hoped it will become an annual event. Kristie Marku, registered manager at Parkside Lodge, in Wykeham Road, said her team was keen to be involved and immediately registered an interest. She explained: “This is a truly special campaign that we’re proud to be a part of. What a wonderful way to offer thanks to our staff, as well as to all those in the care industry across the nation who have worked incredibly hard to keep us all safe and healthy.” Parkside Lodge was one of the first to sign up to the new #GladtoCare #Awareness Week. A free digital toolkit gave access to decorative bunting, display posters, social media frames and bespoke activity calendars, full of ideas for getting residents involved. The home will also be able to take part in the Showcase #Saturday on July 12, with a takeover of GladtoCare’s #social channels feature virtual tours. Person Centred Software launched the #GladtoCare campaign in 2018 to show carers they were appreciated and to raise their morale. This year, it wanted to create a whole week dedicated to carers. Heidi Thomas, head of marketing, said: “The current situation in care homes caused by coronavirus has been tremendously difficult, with care workers putting themselves at increased risk to do a job that often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. Parkside Lodge was one of the first to sign up to the new GladtoCare Awareness Week “Whilst it’s been great to see the public get behind key-workers with Clap for Carers, much of what has been reported in the media has contributed to increased uncertainty and misunderstanding about care homes and the care sector in general, which we are keen to dispel. “Our aim with GladtoCare Awareness Week is to challenge the public’s perception of care by shining a light on all of the incredible work that’s been done, and continues to be done, within the industry.”

july/07/2020 Summer’s a brave choice to host World Chocolate Day at least in countries where the weather is nice and the chocolate is particularly prone to melting. British chocolate lovers like ourselves can probably breathe a sigh of relief as we gorge ourselves stupid, even if we’re wearing a T-shirt and sitting outside to make the most of the 13C weather we’ve come to expect from early July. The event is dedicated to all things cocoa-based, and it’s certainly not time to discriminate. Indulge yourself, share with others, and whatever you do this World Chocolate Day, don’t buy yourself an 85% dark chocolate and sea salt bar solely as a tool to look down on those who prefer white chocolate, because dark chocolate is real chocolate, unlike that sweet filth other people eat. Don’t be that person. No-one likes that person.

The bubonic plague was once the world's most feared disease, but can now be easily treated The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is "carefully monitoring" a case of bubonic plague in China's northern Inner Mongolia region, but says that it is "not high risk". A herdsman is stable in hospital after being confirmed with the disease at the weekend. A WHO spokeswoman said the case was being "well managed". The bubonic plague was once the world's most feared disease, but can now be easily treated. What has the WHO said? Spokeswoman Margaret Harris said: "Bubonic plague has been with us and is always with us, for centuries. We are looking at the case numbers in China. It's being well managed. "At the moment, we are not considering it high risk but we're watching it, monitoring it carefully." The WHO said it was informed on Monday of the case of the herdsman, who is being treated at a hospital in Bayannur. Chinese news agency Xinhua says Mongolia had also confirmed two cases last week - brothers who had eaten marmot meat in Khovd province. Russian officials are warning communities in the country's Altai region not to hunt marmots, as infected meat from the rodents is a known transmission route. Marmot-hunting is banned near Mongolia but goes on despite warnings What is bubonic plague? Bubonic plague, caused by bacterial infection, was responsible for one of the deadliest epidemics in human history - the Black Death - which killed about 50 million people across Africa, Asia and Europe in the 14th Century. There have been a handful of large outbreaks since. It killed about a fifth of London's population during the Great Plague of 1665, while more than 12 million died in outbreaks during the 19th Century in China and India. Black Death 'spread by humans not rats' Why hasn't the US eradicated the plague? But nowadays it can be treated by antibiotics. Left untreated, the disease - which is typically transmitted from animals to humans by fleas - has a 30-60% fatality rate. Symptoms of the plague include high fever, chills, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. Could there be another epidemic? Bubonic cases are rare, but there are still a few flare-ups of the disease from time to time. Madagascar saw more than 300 cases during an outbreak in 2017. However, a study in medical journal The Lancet found fewer than 30 people died. In May last year, two people in Mongolia died after eating the raw meat of a marmot. However, it's unlikely any cases will lead to an epidemic. "Unlike in the 14th Century, we now have an understanding of how this disease is transmitted," Dr Shanti Kappagoda, an infectious diseases doctor at Stanford Health Care, told news site Heathline. "We know how to prevent it."

Cancer patients need to take extra care About 2.5 million people most at risk of needing hospital treatment if they catch coronavirus are being asked to stay at home. This "shielding" is to protect lives. Why do it? While everyone is being advised to keep their distance from other people to help stop the spread of coronavirus, some people with underlying health conditions need to take even more precautions to protect themselves. The virus poses a high risk if someone who is shielding is exposed to it. Coming out of lockdown The guidance on shielding is being kept under review. Infection levels in the community are now falling so the risk of exposure is significantly less than it has been. People who are shielding in England and Northern Ireland are able to spend some time outdoors, as long as they continue to follow social distancing rules. They can also gather in groups of up to six people outdoors, including individuals outside of their household, and form a "support bubble" with one other household. People shielding in Scotland and Wales have been told they can also now spend time outdoors for exercise, either on their own, with their family or with people from another household. Single adults or single parents who are shielding will be able to bubble with any household, and households with a shielded person in it can also bubble with any single person (or single adult with children). In England and Northern Ireland, the shielding advice is set to be paused from 31 July. After that date people will no longer need to shield but should take particular care when outside and strictly maintain social distancing. Who should shield? Those most at risk, who include: Solid organ transplant recipients Some people with cancer who are undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy People on immunosuppression drugs Women who are pregnant and have heart disease People with severe respiratory conditions - cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and COPD Some people with rare diseases such as severe combined immunodeficiency Anyone in this highest-risk category who has not yet received a letter from the NHS or been contacted by their doctor should get in touch with their GP or hospital doctor by phone or online. This does not include all elderly people, although they are strongly advised to practise social distancing. What about children? In England, the vast majority of children considered extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 will no longer need to shield from the end of the July. New guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says that most youngsters with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and kidney disease do not need to continue to shield and could, for example, go back to school. Just over 90,000 people shielding are under 18. However, children will only be removed from the shielding list by their GP or specialist doctor after discussions with the child and their family. Is it compulsory? Experts strongly advise people with serious underlying health conditions to follow the advice. If this applies to you, shielding is for your personal protection - it is your choice to decide whether to follow the recommendations. You could call your doctor to discuss this. What does it entail? It means staying at home and following the guidelines. You should not go out to work, to shop or visit friends in their homes. You should avoid any face-to-face contact, so that means no visitors. Visits from people who provide you with essential healthcare and personal support are fine. Carers and care workers should stay away if they have any of the symptoms of coronavirus, and anyone coming into your home should keep their hands clean by washing them with soap and water. What about any people I live with? They do not need to shield themselves but must make sure they follow recommendations to shield you. They should also stringently follow the guidance on social distancing. They should also keep some physical distance (2m when possible) from you and keep to a minimum the time spent in shared spaces such as the kitchen, bathroom and lounge. Shared spaces should be kept well ventilated - open a window. If you can, use a separate bathroom and bedroom from the rest of the household, and also make sure you use separate towels. Don't share cutlery If you share a toilet and bathroom, make sure the kitchen when others are not in there and take your meals back to your room to eat. Coronavirus is spread through droplets (from coughs and sneezes), so do not share cutlery or crockery unless it is clean. Use a dishwasher if you have one. Soap or washing-up liquid and water gets rid of the virus too. Keep surfaces that are frequently touched - door handles, taps and handrails - clean. What about my medicine and food? People in England can register to get essential food and medicine supplies if friends or family cannot help. Similar support is available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. People will retain their priority for supermarket delivery slots, and still be able to access help with shopping, medication, phone calls and transport to medical appointments when shielding is eased in England and Northern Ireland on 1 August. How long will shielding last? In England, people have been asked to shield until 31 July In Wales people have been asked to shield until 16 August In Scotland people have been asked to shield until 31 July In Northern Ireland people have been advised to shield until 31 July The ultimate ambition is to be able to control the virus enough so that people can move out of shielding. A vaccine could help enable this. What should I do if I get a cough or fever? These are symptoms of coronavirus. It does not mean that you definitely have it, but you should contact the NHS 111 online coronavirus service, or call NHS 111 or your doctor. Do this as soon as you get symptoms. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or hospital. In an emergency, call 999 if you are seriously ill. Other tips to stay safe and well Good hygiene can stop the virus spreading: Keep physically active. Look after your mental wellbeing. Stay in touch with friends on the phone, by post or online. Prepare a hospital bag just in case. This should include your emergency contact, a list of medicines you take and any information on your planned care appointments, as well as things you would need for an overnight stay, such as a toothbrush and pyjamas.

In the latest incident of violence linked to 'tension over masks' a 'decent and hardworking man' was set upon with a colleague saying bus staff 'should not have to enforce the law' A savage gang attack by five passengers who did not want to wear masks on a bus in France has left its driver brain dead. The gruesome attack on the man, identified only as Philippe, is the latest violence to be linked to strict measures aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Masks are currently compulsory on all public transport in France, but members of the group refused to put them on when they got on the vehicle – a cross between a bus and a tram run by the Chronoplus company – in the south west city of Bayonne on Sunday evening, at about 7pm. "They got on the bus without masks, and also refused to show a ticket," an investigating source told the media. "The first to get on had a dog with him – they just assumed they could all get on and do what they want, but the driver had to do his job. "When he stood up to them, a very unpleasant argument developed, and voices were raised and then the driver was attacked when everybody spilled out on to the bus platform. "Philippe was punched and kicked repeatedly and then left with serious injuries, before the gang escaped." Philippe was rushed to a nearby hospital and placed in intensive care, before being declared ‘brain dead’ on Monday. Police meanwhile tracked down the 30-year-old man with the dog, who identified the other four attackers. All were in custody in Bayonne on Monday, but have not been identified, said a spokesman for Bayonne prosecutors. All have been described as "down and outs on the margins of society – ones used to drinking heavily and taking drugs." A colleague of Philippe described him as a "decent and hardworking man who always looked after passengers." He added: "There has been a lot of tension over masks, because they are the law, but bus staff are not police, and we should not have to enforce the law." The Chronoplus colleagues said there had been three other assaults related to masks in recent days, but none as serious as the one involving Philippe. Claude Olive, the Mayor of Bayonne, said meetings were in progress to try and improve security on buses. "This was a barbaric attack," said Mr Olive. "Philippe was a wonderful person who should have been protected." Masks became mandatory as France began to move out of Covid-19 lockdown towards the end of May.

These are the road closures which are planned to take place across Worthing, Shoreham, Littlehampton and the rest of West Sussex between July 3 and 10. This information is provided by West Sussex County Council in partnership with Balfour Beatty Living Places. Please note that dates may be subject to change due to weather conditions and any unforeseen circumstances. For further information visit: www.westsussex.gov.uk/travelinfo or follow @WSHighways on Twitter. Handcross Road, Balcombe: Access to telegraph poles in order to provide fibre overhead cabling and tree cutting. Road Closure. BT – July 3 to July 3 London Road, Balcombe: Carriageway Patching. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 6 to July 9 Bedford Avenue, Bersted: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 6 to July 6 Manor Place, Bognor Regis: Erection of scaffolding around Royal Hotel development. Road Closure. King And Drury – August 19 to August 19 Old Park Lane, Bosham: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 3 to July 3 Billingshurst Road, Broadbridge Heath: Road layout improvement works. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – May 7 to July 17 Broadbridge Heath Bypass, Broadbridge Heath: Developer works. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – January 20 to July 17 Theatre Lane, Chichester: Safety zone around scaffolding within the carriageway. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 1 to July 13 Chidham Lane, Chidham And Hambrook: Lay new gas main. Road Closure. SGN – July 6 to July 10 Waltham Park Road, Coldwaltham: Access required to underground,overhead structures for tree cutting and cabling for new fibre connection. Road Closure. BT – July 7 to July 8 Northgate Avenue To Priors Walk, Crawley: Installation of power cables. Footpath Closure. West Sussex Highways – June 15 to July 7 Mason Road, Crawley: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 9 to July 9 Brainsmead, Cuckfield: New connection to water main. Road Closure. South East Water – July 6 to July 10 London Lane, Cuckfield: One-way (eastbound) road closure between The Glebe and Broad Street - this is to mitigate issues with traffic flow whilst Pendlands Farm roundabout is constructed. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – June 15 to September 20th Bookers Lane, Earnley: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 6 to July 6 Easebourne Street, Easebourne: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 7 to July 7 Piggery Hall Lane, East Wittering: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 3 to July 3 Barnham Road, Eastergate: Repair collapsed sewer. Road Closure. Southern Water – June 22 to July 10 Fernden Lane, Fernhurst: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 7 to July 7 Downs Road, Funtington: Replace old telegraph pole and arial cable. Road Closure. BT – July 7 to July 7 Keymer Road, Hassocks: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 9 to July 9 Balcombe Road, Haywards Heath: Construct new roundabout for new development at Penlands Farm. Road Closure. P J Brown Construction Ltd – June 22 to September 20th Cootes Avenue, Horsham: New service connection. Road Closure. UK Power Networks South Eastern – June 22 to July 3 Horsham Gates Roundabout, Horsham: Water mains diversion. Road Closure. Southern Water – May 11 to July 10 North Street, Horsham: Water mains diversion. Road Closure. Southern Water – May 11 to July 10 School Lane, Horsted Keynes: Access to the overhead structure for new fibre connection. Road Closure. BT – July 9 to July 9th College Lane, Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common: Repairs on existing drain. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 6 to July 10 Pookbourne Lane, Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common: Night Road Closured between Stairbridge Lane Junction with the A2300. Overnight Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – June 2 to August 17 Burgess Hill Link Road, Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common: Night time closure between Jobs Lane Eastern Roundabout to Cuckfield Road Roundabout. Overnight Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – April 28 to October 28 Burgess Hill Link Road, Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common: Closure of the Cuckfield Road North and South (on different weekends) to facilitate full depth reconstruction of the A2300. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – May 6 to April 25th South Street, Lancing: Tamping works at the Level Crossing. Road Closure. Network Rail -Promoters National – July 5 to July 5 Pook Lane, Lavant: Lay new water main. Road Closure. Portsmouth Water – July 6 to November 20 Lineside Way, Littlehampton: Survey works underneath the Rail Bridge. Road Closure. Network Rail -Promoters National – July 6 to July 10 Berry Lane, Littlehampton: Due to mast in the sports ground at risk of collapse. Road Closure. Vodafone – July 5 to July 11th Fernden Lane, Lurgashall: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 7 to July 7 Ancton Lane, Middleton-On-Sea: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 8 to July 8 Old Holbrook, North Horsham: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 10 to July 10 Harting Combe Road, Rogate: Installation of new underground dual 33kV HV electricity circuits between existing substation on Bedford Road, Petersfield, to Fernhurst Substation. Road Closure. Scottish& Southern Electricity Networks – May 26 to October 25 Orltons Lane, Rusper: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 10 to July 10 The Mount, Rusper: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 10 to July 10 Norfolk Bridge Roundabout, Shoreham-By-Sea: Parking and loading bay suspension to north side of Brighton Road except bus laybys. Road Closure. Adur & Worthing District Council – June 19 to July 31 Ham Road, Shoreham-By-Sea: Deliveries to construction site on 03/07/20, 30/07/20, 03/08/20, 17/08/20 and 27/08/20. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 3 to August 27th Ham Road, Sidlesham: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 6 to July 6 Mill Lane, Sidlesham: Wate mains renewal works. Road Closure. Portsmouth Water – February 11 to August 11 East Street, Thakeham: Carry out periodic pole test examination on telephone poles. Road Closure. BT – July 6 to July 6 Hylters Lane, West Dean: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 10 to July 10 Itchenor Road, West Wittering: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 3 to July 3 Woodmancote Lane, Westbourne: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 10 to July 10 Goring Street, Worthing: Tamping at the crossing in connection with platform extension works. Road Closure. Network Rail -Promoters National – July 5 to July 5 Moat Way, Worthing: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 9 to July 9th Field Row, Worthing: Lay new service. Road Closure. SGN – July 6 to July 10 Montague Street, Worthing: Road closure with parking bay suspensions for social distancing measures. Road Closure. Adur & Worthing District Council – June 19 to July 31 Portland Road, Worthing: Create wider pavement for social distancing measures. Road Closure. Adur & Worthing District Council – June 19 to July 31 Sea Place, Worthing: Replacement gas mains, connections and services. Road Closure. SGN – July 6 to December 1st Railway Approach, Worthing: Closure for safety whilst building is demolished. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – June 3 to December 18 Grevatts Lane West, Yapton: Carriageway pothole repairs. Road Closure. West Sussex Highways – July 8 to July 8.

For NHS The secondary school in The Boulevard, Worthing, launched DHS4NHS, a charity campaign, during the Easter holidays, to raise money for Worthing Hospital. Staff and pupils completed exercise challenges from running or cycling 5km to doing 500 sit ups or yoga moves, and raised £4961.64 – including gift aid. Worthing Food Bank received hundreds of donations from staff, and thank you cards designed by students as part of a weekly creative challenge were sent to key workers at the hospital and care homes. Pupils and staff did exercise challenges to raise money for the NHS Design and technology technician Sue Slater has also made more than 1,000 PPE visors for local care homes and hospices, the majority to St Barnabas House. Matt Angell, facilities director, oversaw the production and said: “We are very proud of Sue’s efforts and delighted to have been able to contribute to keeping our heroic key workers safe.” During the lockdown, a new sports hall is being built, with completion set for the autumn term. Following the approval of plans earlier this year, work began eight weeks ago. The skeleton structure, using approximately 625 tonnes of concrete and 25 tonnes of steel, is now in place and construction continues at pace. The school community has pulled together in the lockdown Headteacher Sue Marooney said: ‘It is really exciting to finally see the tangible beginnings of a project that has long been in the planning. "This development is of huge significance to our school and the local community and I am delighted with the progress made so far. I look forward to the huge positive difference these improved facilities will make once completed." The hall will have markings for badminton, netball, basketball, and five-a-side football, plus four cricket practice lanes and fully controllable LED lighting and an indoor viewing gallery. Alongside construction of the sports hall, the existing outdoor courts are being updated and resurfaced, with LED floodlighting. Netball and tennis will be the primary sports. PPE visors were made at the school and sent out for use in the community The sports hall 'skeleton' is now erected The sports hall 'skeleton' is now erected The sports hall 'skeleton' is now erected

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after an assault in Goring. On Thursday (June 25), a woman was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises to her face after being assaulted just west of the Sea Lane Café in Marine Drive. Sussex Police said the altercation was between two women at around 3.30pm. The other woman, aged 35, was arrested on suspicion of grievious bodily harm and has been released under investigation, police said. Police Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have any relevant camera phone or dash cam footage to get in touch. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police online or by calling 101 quoting serial 1025 of 25/06.

A car collision has happened in Littlehampton. According to traffic reports, two cars collided in Church Street, Littlehampton, earlier this morning ( July 6th ). The incident happened at the junction near St Winefride's Road, affecting both directions of traffic. Traffic is reportedly coping well. Littlehampton.

Police “can’t stop people coming to the coast”, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has warned. A heavy police presence at Hove Lawns responding to a mass gathering last week Mrs Bourne’s comments came as she answered councillors’ questions at a virtual meeting of the Sussex Police and Crime Panel on Friday (June 26). The questions came in light of an incident, which saw police issue dispersal orders to a mass gathering at Hove Lawns on Wednesday, June 24. Those to speak included Crawley Borough councillor Michael Jones (Labour), who said: “The emergency dispersal orders issued in Brighton filled me with very deep concern. Sussex PCC Katy Bourne speaking on Friday “But we have got a lot of seaside towns in Sussex clearly; Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham beach, Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne, St Leonards, Hastings. The list goes on. “Not only is there clearly a threat to public health for those going to the beach if they are not socially distancing, but it seems to me to be serious increased risks for residents of those towns as well. “It would be terrible if the R, rate of infections, were to increase in these areas because of this and be very unfair on those local residents.” Cllr Jones also asked if Mrs Bourne felt the “mixed messaging” from government had made the situation more difficult and whether Sussex Police has sufficient resources to deal with such gatherings. In response, Mrs Bourne said: “You raised some really important points and I don’t think any of us disagree with your concerns around our residents and our coastal areas. “We have got over 100 miles of coastline in Sussex and, with the best will in the world, police can’t stop people coming to the coast. “All along the police response to this – as we have eased out of lockdown – was the Four E approach. It was to engage with the public, to explain to them why we are doing the social distancing and to encourage them to go home and only to use enforcement as a last measure, as you would expect. “I think actually Sussex Police has been really good around this and where they have had to issue fixed penalty notices, they have. “But very interestingly what we are finding is that, very often, a number of these fixed penalty notices are issued to people [from] outside of Sussex.” She added that she felt Sussex Police did have sufficient resources to respond to such incidents and had enough PPE to keep themselves safe. On Cllr Jones’ point about “mixed messages” from the government, Mrs Bourne said: “I think it is recognising that the challenges coming out of lockdown were always going to be much harder and unless you can actually go back to normal life as we all remember it, it is going to be difficult. “But the police are quite clear about where their powers lie. It is not in holding up tape measures to make sure people stay two metres apart, hence they have adopted the Four E approach, which has been nationally adopted by policing.” Similar concerns were raised by East Sussex county councillor Carolyn Lambert (Lib Dem), who asked whether police would be able to impose a lockdown to prevent people from coming to the coast. Mrs Bourne, however, said such a measure would be up to government and advised Cllr Lambert to address concerns to her local MP. She said: “Police are there to enforce the law and obviously the coronavirus bill has a certain amount of powers within it and police will take public safety measures very seriously. “Where they can they will assist local authorities and help as much as they can. But we can’t set up roadblocks, because that is not within the laws. “I am not an expert on the coronavirus bill but it is worth taking up with your local member of parliament.” Hastings Borough councillor Paul Barnett (Labour), however, pointed to road closures around Camber Sands the previous day.  He said: “This is a very worrying week for all towns on the south coast. “We did see yesterday (Thursday, June 25) the police close roads between Rye and Camber to prevent any further access to Camber Sands. They did so very quickly, within an hour or so of hearing of the problem. “I suppose what I am hoping is that you will be able to reassure me that speed of action is available to other towns along the south coast, as soon as there is a concern around overcrowding. “I am slightly concerned to hear you say you don’t think the police have any responsibility for controlling social distancing, because on July 4 we are all going to be worried about how to manage social distancing. And I think there are very limited powers for local government to staff to do anything about it.” In response, Mrs Bourne said: “I am very concerned my words are going to be taken out of context here, so let me be quite clear. “It is not the police’s job to hold up a tape measure around social distancing and it never has been. But it is their role to uphold measures within the Coronavirus Act an emergency piece of legislation which is quite specific about what can and can’t be done. “Where you are talking about lockdown measures actually they are public safety measures and they are done with the local authority in the lead. I would expect any of these decisions to be made through the strategic coordinating group. “This is a multi-partnership response where it would occur and it is always with public safety in mind.” It's all about protecting the public. And being fair. For everyone. MKLN3

A new police scheme in Sussex has given extra support to more than 1,400 people reporting domestic abuse. The 39-strong specialist unit, the Local Resolution Team, introduced in March this year, deals by appointment with any cases that are not immediately urgent, including a new video appointment service when conversations cannot take place face to face. Officers discuss the incident with the caller, carry out an initial investigation and provide safeguarding advice, to leave the victim feeling safer than before and can explore further investigative opportunities to prosecute those responsible for domestic abuse, advice on obtaining court orders to prevent further abuse, and also arrange access to sources of independent advice and support. Part of the safeguarding advice includes referrals to independent support agencies in Sussex such as Rise, Worth Services and The Portal. A new police scheme in Sussex is helping suport domestic abuse victims Chief Inspector Oliver Fisher of the force’s Public Protection Command said; “This additional way of responding to domestic abuse, made possible by funding provided by the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, has been so well received by callers that it is now a permanent part of our investigation work. “Reaction from people who have used the new service has been overwhelmingly positive.” Ch Insp Fisher shared positive comments from people. One person said: “It was really thorough, a long conversation, going through questions and a discussion about what would come next.” Another said: “The person who I spoke to was very reassuring and caring. Made me feel like I wasn’t in the wrong”: “The person who I spoke to was very reassuring and caring. Made me feel like I wasn’t in the wrong.” Ch Insp Fisher said: “We aim to be in touch with the caller within 12 hours of their initial contact, and the vast majority of victims are then seen, in person or online, within 48 hours of that initial contact. “We naturally prefer to see someone face to face in private at a police station. However, we recognised that current restrictions for people in vulnerable categories, self-isolation, or travel, meant that some would not be able to attend so we have now adopted new video conferencing technology. “In these cases our officers obtain a safe contact number, then using very discreet and safe means, set up a video meeting with the caller.” After the video meeting, Ch Insp Fisher said the caller is guided through how to remove any trace of the video appointment from their device, which is disguised in the first place to hide any links with the police. He added: “We have successfully used this system to safely carry out online no less than 437 of 1,440 appointments, from which further investigations can then develop. The system is now a permanent feature of our work. “But it is still important to be clear that wherever there’s an emergency that’s ongoing or life is in danger, call police on 999 and we will arrange an immediate response. This new approach applies only when that is not the case.” Sussex Police has also been carrying out domestic abuse awareness publicity at local supermarkets as part of an online campaign. A spokesman said: “Even though our social media pages are already reaching out those affected by domestic abuse, we recognise that not everyone has access to the internet, and some may have their access controlled.” Chief Superintendent Steve Rayland, the force lead on Public Protection, said it was important people know that alongside these new initiatives the force continues to respond to domestic abuse as normal, arresting perpetrators and protecting vulnerable people. “No matter what is going on around us there is no excuse for domestic abuse, it simply isn’t acceptable,” he said. “The police priority hasn’t changed so if you are a victim of domestic abuse I would urge you to make contact with us so that we can help.” Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “It has been more important than ever that people who feel threatened and vulnerable have someone they can reach out to, who will listen and help them. “I’m pleased that, following the extra investment into Sussex Police this year, they have been able to put in place these innovative, ground-breaking measures to protect victims at a time when it has been incredibly difficult for them to safely reach out for help. “Sussex Police are really going the extra mile during this crisis to ensure that people do not feel they have to suffer in silence.” If you are a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who is, and there is an emergency that is ongoing or life is in danger, call police on 999. If you cannot talk because the perpetrator is nearby, you can then press the numbers ‘55’ into your mobile phone which will alert the operator to your situation. The Sussex Safe Space website also provides a valuable directory of help and support from all agencies, available near you.

The Department for Transport recently announced that a scheme offering an automatic extension on MOTs is to be ended early. It introduced the exemption to testing during the height of the coronavirus lockdown to reduce travel and pressure on testing centres. However, will millions of cars returning to the road, the extension is to be stopped at the start of August. The annual test is a government-mandated check of your car’s roadworthiness and, with some age-related exceptions, there’s no getting away from it. And with things returning to normal, drivers will have a lot of questions around the MOT, ranging from what it costs to how long it takes and what it covers, so here is our guide to everything you need to know about the MOT. What is the MOT? The MOT test is an annual check of a vehicle’s roadworthiness, essentially to ensure that it meets basic standards for safety. Different vehicles undergo different tests, with separate categories for cars, motorbikes, and large passenger and goods vehicles. The MOT is a test of your vehicle's roadworthiness (Photo: Shutterstock) When is my car's MOT due? Cars are exempt from the MOT for the first three years of their lives but then must be tested once a year until they reach 40 years old. After this, they are exempt from the MOT, although you can still present them for testing. Your car’s first MOT will be due on the third anniversary of its first registration and the pass certificate remains valid for 12 months from that date. You can submit your car for a test up to one month (minus a day) before the current MOT runs out and keep the same renewal date. For example, if your MOT runs out on May 15, the earliest you can get an MOT to keep the same renewal date for next year is April 16. If you take your vehicle for its MOT on April 14 the expiry date changes to April 13 the following year. Remember, if it fails the test before the renewal date, the old certificate is still valid, but the vehicle might not be safe to drive. How much does it cost? The maximum price a garage can charge for a Class 4 (car) MOT is £54.85, as set by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). However, some garages and dealerships will offer cheaper tests as a way to attract customers (and ensure they get their business if any repair work is needed). How long does the MOT take? There is no set length of time for an MOT test but, according to MOT specialists Halfords Autocentres, it will typically take between 45 minutes and an hour. Can anyone carry out an MOT? No, the test can only be carried out at an accredited MOT testing station and by a qualified MOT tester who has undergone specific training. All test centres will display the MOT symbol of three intersecting white triangles on a blue background and while they are no longer required to display the qualification certificates of all their MOT technicians many still choose to do so. What does the MOT cover? The MOT test looks at the mechanical and electrical operation of your car to ensure it meets certain safety standards. The test changed in 2018 to include new fault categories and stricter emissions testing. The technician will either grant a pass certificate or issue a failure notice on the grounds of major or dangerous faults. Minor faults do not constitute a fault but act as an advisory of issues that will need to be addressed soon. A full list of items checked can be found on the DVSA website but major areas covered include the structural integrity of the vehicle; braking, suspension and steering; fuel system; tyre condition; lighting; exhaust system and emissions; seats; horn and registration plates. What can I check myself? Some issues are pretty hard to spot to the untrained eye but many failures are easily avoided. The 10 most common reasons for MOT failures include issues with lights, tyres, brakes, suspension and visibility. Many of these can be avoided by carrying out some basic maintenance, and the DVSA gives the following list of items it recommends drivers check themselves: the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean all lights work the brakes work engine oil water level in the radiator or expansion tank brake fluid level battery windscreen washer fluid level tyres - they must have the correct tread depth and be free of cuts and defects How do I check when my MOT is due? You should be given a paper copy of the pass certificate after each test, which includes the expiry date. If you’ve lost this or can’t be bothered rummaging around in your filing, the DVSA has a tool for checking your car’s MOT status as well as its MOT and safety recall history. Can I drive a car without an MOT? No. An MOT is a legal requirement and if you are caught driving a car without a valid MOT certificate you can be fined £1,000. Despite what some people might tell you, there is no MOT grace period after its expiry date. The only times you can legally drive without an MOT are if you are driving the car to an MOT testing station to have a pre-booked test carried out, if you are taking it to be repaired, or if the vehicle is more than 40 years old, and thus exempt from the test.

A decision to stop offering senior rail cards as an alternative to bus passes has been supported by a West Sussex County Council scrutiny committee. The decision, which will save the council around £50,000 over two years, had been called in for further debate by Labour councillors, including group leader Michael Jones. Mr Jones questioned whether the loss of the card would lead to more people abandoning public transport and using their cars, whether that conflicted with the council’s pledge to tackle climate change – and whether the savings justified the impact it would have on some older people. During a meeting of the environment and communities scrutiny committee on Thursday (July 2), he called on cabinet member Roger Elkins to abandon his decision. Mr Jones accused Mr Elkins of ignoring the results of a public consultation, which showed two-thirds of respondents were opposed to scrapping the scheme. He added: “Of the one-fifth of respondents who replied saying they were in favour of scrapping the scheme, it was notable that very few of them were actually rail card holders.” He added: “Of the one-fifth of respondents who replied saying they were in favour of scrapping the scheme, it was notable that very few of them were actually rail card holders.” There were strong words from Lt Col George Barton, (Con, Sompting & North Lancing) who said the decision to scrap the scheme ‘frightened the living daylights’ out of him. Calling the idea a farce and ‘a total nonsense’, Lt Col Barton called for the money to be found elsewhere and accused the council of finding it ‘more acceptable to punish an easy target – the retired’. Roger Oakley (Con, Worthing East) said he had some sympathy with Mr Jones’ argument but added: “The saving may be a small amount but anybody who has a household budget knows we must always look after our pennies. “No matter how small the saving is it is an important saving in light of current issues and the money that’s being spent to deal with our Covid crisis.” Most members agreed with a recommendation from chairman Andrew Barrett-Miles that the decision to cancel the rail card be supported and Mr Jones’ call-in rejected. The rail card will be scrapped from October and Mr Barrett-Miles also recommended that the council better publicise it during its final few months to give eligible residents the chance to apply for one. To apply for a rail card, log on to the county council’s website www.westsussex.gov.uk . For advice, email buspass@westsussex.gov.uk or call 033 022 26222.

Three Worthing siblings have cycled 100 miles to support the NHS. Samuel Ludlow, 12, and twins Ben and Emma Ludlow, nine, spent several weeks working on their NHS 100-mile bike challenge. Samuel said: “We used our 30 minutes of exercise each day to clock up at total of 100 miles and have raised more than £500 for Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.” The children wanted to raise money for the NHS as several of their school friends’ mums are nurses and have been working on the front line in the battle with Covid-19. They came up with the idea of cycling 100 miles to raise £100 and said they would use their daily exercise to build up the total, continuing every day until they had completed the challenge. click here A Personal Message From: News Reporter: Dwayne Hards "Thank You to Samuel Ludlow and twins Ben and Emma Ludlow You have helped our NHS a lot, the thought that you are using your own time to help our #NHSHeroes is absolutely outstanding! I thank You all greatly, keep up the work!"

According to Sussex Police, three men entered a 'garden room' in The Strand, Goring, at around 11.50pm on Friday, June 19, in possession of a knife. They demanded property, police said, but no items were reported stolen. The trip fled the scene prior to police officers arriving, but police dog Sparky, a German Shepherd, tracked him to a nearby street where he was detained. A drone was then launched and detected the other two suspects, using a thermal imaging camera, hiding in a neighbouring garden. All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, police said. A 16-year-old boy from Worthing was released on conditional bail until July 13, and a 24-year-old man and a 21-year-old man, both of no fixed address, were released on conditional bail until July 11, pending further enquiries. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Steve Smethurst, said: “Our officers swiftly responded to this incident and located all three suspects in the immediate area. This was made possible with the help of a specially trained police dog, a police drone using thermal imaging technology and the intelligence of response officers on foot, demonstrating excellent teamwork.” The incident remains under investigation and anyone with any information is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 1660 of 19/06.

The end of season prizes were dished out virtually. Here are the winners. 1. Community Player of the Year George Williams 2. Women's Player of the Year Jess Driscoll 3. Disability Player of the Year Keith Coltart 4. Academy Player of the Year Finn Brennan

Police have put out a partial registration number of a car used by a masked and armed robber who threatened his victim with a knife. Officers are asking for witnesses to the robbery, which tool place on Conniburrow at around 5.40pm on Sunday. The victim was walking along Cleavers Avenue towards Mallow Gate when a car travelling from the opposite direction came to an abrupt stop near him. A man got out of the car, approached the victim and then put both of his hands into the pocket of the victim’s hoodie and took cash. The offender then took out a knife and threatened the victim before getting back in the car and driving away. He is described as a slim black man, approximately 5ft 10ins tall, wearing all dark clothing with a hood up and a black mask covering his mouth and nose. The car is described as a dark blue sports-style Volkswagen Golf with a partial registration RV60*** or GV60 *** Investigating officer Detective Constable Sebastian Kuzoe, based at Milton Keynes police station, said: “I am appealing for anyone who has any information that could help with this investigation to get in touch. “You can contact us using our online form or by calling 101, quoting reference number 43200194359. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously via their website or by calling 0800 555 111.” MK Local News 3

Credit: ONS

People in Leicester have been told to stay at home since Monday As half a million people in Leicester return to lockdown, data published this week shows who might be next. For the first time, we can look at the trends in confirmed infections in every local authority in the UK. Public health officials are monitoring more concentrated outbreaks in smaller areas, like the one at a food processing plant in Merthyr Tydfil. But government sources suggest that lockdowns on the scale of Leicester's are "not imminent in other areas". Leicester and Merthyr stand alone The figures for the last week in June show there were 141 infections per 100,000 people in Leicester, similar to the previous week. That is the highest of any local authority area in the UK with the exception of Merthyr Tydfil. Almost all of the other areas in the top 10, places like Bradford, Barnsley and Rochdale, have seen infection rates fall in the last week. And the infection rates in these areas are only a third of Leicester's. In fact, across the country, most places saw fewer than 10 positive tests per 100,000 people in the most recent week's data. That's much less than a tenth of Leicester's figures. The cluster of dark blue in the north of England on this map are places like Bradford and Rochdale, where the infection rates are in the top 10, but still far below Leicester and, in most cases, falling. Nowhere in Northern Ireland or Scotland saw a rate of infections above five positive tests per 100,000 people. The biggest movers Merthyr again stands out as the area that has seen the biggest increase in infection rates. After that, Knowsley, Bolton and then Hammersmith and Fulham have seen the largest rises in infection rates, but these areas still saw fewer than 25 infections per 100,000 people in the week to 28 June. Leicester's infection rate has stayed stubbornly high across the last two weeks for which we have data. The biggest falls are areas in Wales that, like Merthyr, have seen outbreaks in food-processing plants in recent weeks. After Wrexham and Anglesey, the places with the next largest falls include Barnsley, Rochdale and Bradford, part of that dark blue clump in northern England. Why is Merthyr different? On the face of the numbers, Merthyr looks like the most infectious part of the UK. It saw the highest rate of infections in the last week of data and the biggest rise. But government officials are more worried about Leicester. We know what caused the spike in Merthyr Tydfil: an outbreak in a food-processing plant. In very local outbreaks like those, officials might test everyone in a plant, leading to a sudden spike in confirmed cases that falls away over the following weeks. Of the 108 positive tests in Merthyr in that week, 104 were on one day, with no more than a single infection reported on any other day. Public Health Wales told the BBC that, at the moment, it sees "no evidence of a big surge of infections in the wider community in Merthyr". There will continue to be very local outbreaks, like the 11 cases in Dumfries and Galloway that saw mobile testing vans sent to two factories, and the extension of a five-mile travel limit in seven postcodes. But the infections may not show a spike when you look across a whole local authority. So, at the moment, the data doesn't suggest that anywhere the size of a full local authority is close to Leicester.

Indicators from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey covering the period 25 June to 28 June 2020 to understand the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on people, households and communities in Great Britain. This is the latest release. View previous releases Almost 8 in 10 working adults (78%) said they had either worked at home or travelled to work this week, a similar level to last week (77%). Nearly half of working adults (49%) said they had travelled to work at some point in the past seven days, up from 44% last week and 41% the previous week. Working adults continue to move away from exclusively working at home, which has dropped to 29%, from 33% last week. Over 4 in 10 adults (43%) who have left their homes this week have worn a face covering to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), a similar level to the past two weeks. Of those adults who had used public transport in the past seven days, 86% had worn a face covering while doing so across all of Great Britain, while 91% had in England. The proportion of adults saying their well-being has been affected (45%) was broadly the same as last week, although fewer are reporting issues that may be associated with lockdown restrictions, such as feeling bored, spending time alone or finding working from home difficult. 1 in 20 adults (5%) reported that they found it difficult or very difficult to pay usual household bills prior to the coronavirus pandemic; since the pandemic, this has risen to over 1 in 10 (11%) adults. Back to table of contents 2.Understanding the impact on societyThis weekly bulletin contains data and indicators from a new module being undertaken through the Office for National Statistics' (ONS's) Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) to understand the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on British society. The statistics in this publication are based on a survey of 2,500 adults aged 16 years and over in Great Britain conducted between 25 and 28 June 2020 (inclusive). Results this week are based on 1,994 responding adults (80% response rate). It contains breakdowns of results by sex and for identified "at-risk" groups that have been advised to take additional precautions. This includes those aged 70 years and over and those with certain underlying health conditions. The full list of conditions is included in the Glossary. This bulletin presents a summary of results, with further data including confidence intervals for the estimates contained in the associated datasets. Where changes in results from previous weeks, or differences between groups are presented in this bulletin, associated confidence intervals should be used to assess the statistical significance of the change. Not all differences commented on in this bulletin are statistically significant. Throughout this bulletin, "this week" refers to responses collected during the period 25 to 28 June 2020 and "last week" refers to those collected during the period 18 to 21 June 2020. Back to table of contents 3.Leaving homeOf adults in Great Britain, over 9 in 10 (91%) said they had left their home for any reason in the past seven days, a decrease when compared with last week (94%). Lower proportions of those aged 70 years and over reported that they had left their home this week (83%). !Official guidance on staying at home varies across England, Wales and Scotland. This section gives the reasons people are leaving their home, but an estimate of compliance is not provided. The most popular reason to leave home this week continues to be shopping for basic necessities, with 79% of those who have left their home reporting doing so. Over 1 in 10 (12%) adults also said they had shopped for non-essential items such as clothes, furniture, and so on - the same level as last week. It should be noted responses to the survey were collected after non-essential shops could re-open in England on 15 June and Wales on 22 June, but before shops in Scotland were permitted to re-open on 29 June. Almost 1 in 10 (8%) adults that had left their home this week did so to visit an outdoor beauty spot or beach, an increase from 5% last week. Figure 1: The most common reason for leaving home continues to be shopping for basic necessities Great Britain, 25 to 28 June 2020 18 to 21 June 25 to 28 June To shop for basic necessitiesFor exercise for example a run walk or cycleTravelling to and from workMeeting up with people in a personal placeMeeting up with people in a public placeTo run errandsFor any medical need or to provide care or to help a vulnerable personTo shop for other thingsTo go to a garden centreTo visit an outdoor beauty spot or beachTo take children to or from schoolTo do leisure activitiesOther (please specify)For voluntary workTo visit a tourist attractionTravel within the UK for holidays or short breaksTaking part in a regular indoor activity 020406080100 % To do leisure activities ● 18 to 21 June: 3.8 ● 25 to 28 June: 6.2 Source: Office for National Statistics – Opinions and Lifestyle Survey Notes: Question: In the past seven days, for what reasons have you left your home? Respondents were asked to select all that apply. The values for "travel within the UK for holidays or short breaks"; “travel outside of the UK for work”; “travel outside of the UK for holidays or short breaks” and “to visit a library” have been suppressed for either last week, or this week and last week because of small sample size. 4. Base population: adults that said they had left their home in the past seven days. Download this chart Image .csv .xls Face coverings In the past seven days, over 4 in 10 adults (43%) who have left their homes have worn a face covering to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) - a similar level to last week (44%). Women and those aged over 70 years were most likely to report wearing a face covering when outside of their home this week (49%), followed by adults with an underlying health condition (46%). For those that had worn a face covering, the most common situation was while shopping (61%), followed by visiting a health or medical centre (23%). Regardless of whether they had worn a face covering in the past, half of adults (50%) said they were either very or fairly likely to wear one in the next seven days. It became mandatory to wear face coverings on public transport in England on 15 June. Of those adults who had used public transport in the past seven days, 86% had worn a face covering while doing so across all of Great Britain, while 91% had in England. Repairs and work in the home This week we asked people how comfortable they felt having someone in their home to carry out emergency repairs, or non-emergency work. Over half of adults (51%) said they felt either very comfortable or comfortable having someone come into their home to carry out an emergency repair such as fixing a boiler, or electrics. However, less than 4 in 10 (37%) adults felt comfortable or very comfortable to have someone in their home to carry out non-emergency work - and 42% reported feeling either uncomfortable or very uncomfortable in this scenario. More about coronavirus Find the latest on coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK. All ONS analysis, summarised in our coronavirus roundup. View all coronavirus data. Find out how we are working safely in our studies and surveys. Back to table of contents 4.WorkOver half of working adults (52%) said the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was having an impact on their work. This has fallen from 61% last week. The most common impacts reported were: being furloughed a decrease in hours worked being worried about health and safety at work Almost 8 in 10 (78%) working adults said they had either worked at home or travelled to work this week, a similar level to last week (77%). The proportion of working adults who reported they had travelled to work in the past seven days increased to 49% this week from 44% last week and 41% the week before. Almost 3 in 10 of adults (29%) who had worked in the last seven days said they had done so exclusively at home - a decrease from 33% last week. This supplements findings from the latest Business Impacts of Coronavirus Survey (BICS) collected between 15 and 28 June, where businesses continuing to trade reported 2% of the total workforce had returned from remote working in the two weeks prior to completing their questionnaire. Official estimates of labour market participation can be found in the Labour market overview. Figure 2: A larger proportion of workers are travelling to work this week when compared with previous weeks Great Britain, 25 to 28 June 2020 Neither worked from home nor travelled to work - other Neither worked from home nor travelled to work - furloughed Travelled to work only Both worked from home and travelled to work Worked from home only 21 to 24 May28 to 31 May4 to 7 June11 to 14 June18 to 21 June25 to 28 June 0255075100 % Source: Office for National Statistics – Opinions and Lifestyle Survey Notes: Base population for percentage: all adults in employment. This definition is different to some other surveys and is included in the Glossary. The main reasons for respondents neither working from home nor travelling to work (other) in the past seven days include temporary closure of business or workplace, on annual leave or sick leave, variable hours, being on maternity or paternity leave or being unable to work because of caring responsibilities. Percentages may not sum to 100 because of rounding. Download this chart Image .csv .xls We asked people who had worked from home this week why they had done so, and respondents could give more than one reason. 63% reported they had worked from home because their employer had asked them to, 42% said that they were following government advice to work from home, and 42% reported that they were working from home because their workplace was closed. This week, of the adults who had reported the coronavirus pandemic was having an impact on their work, 16% said they were concerned about their health and safety at work, which has increased from 8% last week, but is at a similar level to two weeks ago (15%). Of those people who travelled to work in the past seven days, over 4 in 10 (43%) did work that required direct physical contact with other people. Almost two-thirds (63%) of workers in this group reported either often or always wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while at work, which has increased from 52% last week. Of those whose work did not require having direct physical contact with other people, 42% reported they had always stayed at least two metres away from others in the workplace, and an additional 39% said they had managed to do this "often" - an overall increase when compared with last week (30% and 48% respectively). Of those whose work did not require direct physical contact with others, over 3 in 10 (31%) had, however, reported they had either often or always worn PPE at work in the past seven days. More detailed information on changes to labour market participation can be found in Coronavirus and the latest indicators for the UK economy and society: 25 June 2020. Back to table of contents 5.Homeschooling and back to schoolAt the time of the survey, some children in England were able to return to school. Of adults with children of school age, 4 in 10 (40%) reported that they had been asked to send their children back to school, with almost 7 in 10 (68%) of these saying that their children were now attending school some or all of the time. Although this week there has been an increase in the proportion of adults with children who can now attend school (32% last week), the proportion whose children are attending some or all of the time has decreased from 78% last week. For children still being homeschooled, this week they spent on average 11 hours learning - a similar amount to last week (12 hours). Of those who have homeschooled their children this week, over 6 in 10 adults (62%) said their children were struggling to continue their education at home - a similar level to last week (60%). Lack of motivation, lack of guidance and support, and limited parent or carer time to support were the most common reasons for children to be struggling. A detailed analysis of the social impacts the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had on younger people, was published on Monday 22 June. Back to table of contents 6.Indicators of well-being and financesAlmost 7 in 10 adults (69%) said they were very or somewhat worried about the effect that the coronavirus (COVID-19) was having on their life now, which has increased when compared with last week (64%). Although a similar proportion of adults said their well-being had been affected by the coronavirus pandemic this week when compared with last week (45% compared with 47%), there has been a decrease in the proportions of people reporting issues that may be associated with lockdown restrictions. These include: 45% reporting they felt bored, compared with 60% last week 34% saying they were spending too much time alone, which has decreased from 40% last week 21% reporting there was a strain on personal relationships compared with 27% last week 13% finding working from home difficult, which has decreased from 22% last week Figure 3: People are still concerned about the future, but smaller proportions of people are feeling stressed or anxious and bored this week Great Britain, 25 to 28 June 2020 18-21 June 25-28 June Feeling worried about the futureFeeling stressed or anxiousFeeling boredFeeling lonelyUnable to exercise as normalSpending too much time aloneMaking my mental health worseStrain on my personal relationshipsSpending too much time with others in householdFeeling like a burden on othersNo one to talk to about my worriesFinding working from home difficultStrain on my work relationshipsOther 010203040506070 % Source: Office for National Statistics – Opinions and Lifestyle Survey Notes: Question: In the past seven days, how has your well-being being affected? Respondents were asked to select all that apply. Base population: adults that said coronavirus was affecting their well-being. Download this chart Image .csv .xls This week we asked people how easy or difficult it has been to pay household bills both before and since the coronavirus pandemic. Among adults, 1 in 20 (5%) reported that they found it difficult or very difficult to pay usual household bills prior to the coronavirus pandemic . Since the pandemic, this has risen to over 1 in 10 (11%) adults. More than 1 in 10 adults (11%) reported that they have had to borrow more money or use more credit than usual since the coronavirus pandemic, and just under 3 in 10 adults (28%) said that their household would not be able to afford to pay an unexpected but necessary bill of £850. Figure 4: A larger proportion of adults are now finding it difficult or very difficult to pay usual household bills when compared with before the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Great Britain, 25 to 28 June 2020 Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Very easyEasyNeither easy nor difficultDifficultVery difficultNot applicableDon’t know or prefer not to say 051015. Text Credit: ONS

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.  Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face. The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow). At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available. To prevent infection and to slow transmission of COVID-19, do the following: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub. Maintain at least 1 metre distance between you and people coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your face. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Stay home if you feel unwell. Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs. Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization. Most common symptoms: fever. dry cough. tiredness. Less common symptoms: aches and pains. sore throat. diarrhoea. conjunctivitis. headache. loss of taste or smell. a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes. Serious symptoms: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. chest pain or pressure. loss of speech or movement. Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms.  Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility. People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home. On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days.

Air France-KLM plans to cut more than 7,500 jobs at its French arm as the airline industry reels from the coronavirus crisis. Europe's second-biggest airline will cut 6,560 staff at Air France, with its regional French carrier Hop! losing 1,020 jobs, the company said on Friday. In a statement, the firm said: "Recovery looks set to be very slow" due to uncertainties around Covid-19. The cuts will take place over the next three years. The group also cited the lifting of travel restrictions and changing customer demand as potential cause for concern in the future. EasyJet plans to close bases and cut staff German airline Lufthansa plans to cut 22,000 jobs At the height of the pandemic, revenues fell by 95% and the Air France airline was losing €15m (£13.5m) per day. Air France does not expect that activity will return to its pre-pandemic level before 2024. The group's flagship airline expects to have cut more than 6,000 jobs by the end of 2022, out of a current total of 41,000 staff. "Natural departures", such as retirements and employees who leave of their own accord, are expected to make up about half of the reductions at Air France. Its sister airline Hop! will see 1,020 jobs cut over the next three years. It currently employs more than 2,000 people. Protestors at the entrance of an airport in Morlaix, western France The company said: "Air France and Hop! are working together with the unions to implement plans that give priority to voluntary departures, early retirement arrangements and professional and geographical mobility." Air France also said that a wider "reconstruction plan" would be presented at the end of July, along with one for the wider Air France-KLM group. Union members and staff staged protests at several sites across France on Friday, including outside the company's offices near Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport. The French government has pledged billions of Euros to support Air France-KLM and the wider aviation industry as demand for travel has crashed as a result of coronavirus-related lockdown measures. Loans to Air France were contingent on the carrier scrapping some domestic flights in a bid to cut its carbon emissions. Other airlines have also been forced to adopt similar measures in anticipation of a long, slow return to former levels of demand. EasyJet previously said that it may need to reduce staff numbers by up to a third because of the coronavirus pandemic. In June, Lufthansa said it planned to cut 22,000 jobs, and British Airways said in April that it could cut up to 12,000 jobs from its 42,000-strong workforce.

Thames Valley Police said a boy received a "small puncture wound to his back" A school where a pupil was stabbed has been put into special measures after inspectors found pupils involved in violent and dangerous behaviour. Police were called to Stantonbury International School in Milton Keynes in January after the boy "received a small puncture wound to his back". Inspectors from the education watchdog Ofsted said: "Many pupils do not feel safe attending this school." The school has insisted children are safe when attending the campus. Thames Valley Police officers were called to the school in January It said it had put plans into action to tackle the issues raised by the Ofsted inspectors who visited the campus in January, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The Ofsted report said many pupils "feel intimidated by others' conduct". It added: "At times, pupils are violent towards each other. "Leaders have not been effective in managing pupils' behaviour. It is increasingly rowdy and sometimes dangerous." Ofsted decided to carry out the unannounced inspection after being contacted by parents at the school - which has 1,626 pupils aged 11-19. Inspectors also spoke of overworked teachers, a badly planned and taught curriculum, and a lack of leadership. In January the school said a letter about the incident would be sent home with every child The school is part of The Griffin Schools Trust, which runs 13 schools across the Midlands and South East of England. Stantonbury International School said: "The trust has made significant changes to the leadership of the school. At the time of the inspection the joint heads, supported by the executive head, had already introduced the required strategies to ensure pupils feel safe in school." Special measures is the lowest rung on Ofsted's rating system. It means the school will be monitored before being re-inspected. A 15-year-old was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and it is understood later received a youth conditional caution.

Portugal's foreign affairs minister has said his country's exclusion from a list of countries for which quarantine will not apply for people returning to England is "absurd". Augusto Santos Silva told the BBC not including Portugal was "senseless and unfair". The list of countries exempt from quarantine was published on Friday. Boris Johnson said 14-day quarantines would remain for countries where the virus was not under control. Other countries excluded from the list, which comes into effect on 10 July, include the US, China, the Maldives and Sweden. Where can I go on holiday? A guide to destinations The countries you can visit Mr Santos Silva told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "We are very disappointed with the decision of the British authorities. We think it is senseless and unfair. "It is quite absurd the UK has seven times more cases of Covid-19 than Portugal so we think this is not the way in which allies and friends are treated." The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, tweeted comparing the UK's number of coronavirus cases with that of the Algarve, saying: "You are welcome to spend a safe holiday in the Algarve." Labour shadow transport minister Jim McMahon said people up and down the country were keen for the quarantine measures to be lessened but said "this is a mess". "First we had the quarantine that they were slow to implement, then they said they'd do air bridges," he said. "Now we see a plan to let residents of 60 or more countries into England without any reciprocal arrangements." Scotland and Wales are yet to decide whether to ease travel restrictions and described the changes as "shambolic". The quarantine rules will also remain in place in Northern Ireland for visitors arriving from outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland. What quarantine lifting means to passengers 'Refunds unlikely' if travellers have to self-isolate How is lockdown being lifted across Europe? Some of those on the list include popular short-haul destinations such as Turkey and Cyprus, as well as long-haul locations including Australia, Barbados, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam. However, some countries will require visitors to isolate on arrival or will bar them from entering at all. Media caption Coronavirus: How to fly during a global pandemic A list of countries which will be exempt from the Foreign Office's advice against "all but essential travel" from Saturday has also been published. The Foreign Office is expected to update its travel guidance on Saturday, including naming which countries will have a reciprocal arrangement with the UK and not require British visitors to quarantine on arrival. The introduction of the quarantine on 8 June was met with criticism from the travel, tourism and hospitality industries and the easing of restrictions on arrivals from some countries has been welcomed.

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Areas of Leicestershire that are included in the localised coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown and what this means. On 29 June, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock set out the local action being taken in Leicester following a surge in coronavirus cases in the area. This morning, the local councils set out the following areas of Leicestershire that are included in the localised lockdown: in Blaby District: Braunstone Town (including Fosse Park) Glenfield Glen Parva Leicester Forest East (east of the M1) Thorpe Astley in Charnwood: Birstall Thurmaston all areas of Oadby and Wigston See latest information and advice on coronavirus for Leicester. Changes in the Leicester area Within this boundary, restrictions will be put in place pending a review from 18 July. This means: non-essential shops that reopened on 15 June have been asked to close from today (30 June) bars, restaurants and hairdressers will not reopen on 4 July schools will close from Thursday 2 July except to vulnerable children and children of key workers. They will not reopen until next term the relaxation of shielding measures due on 6 July cannot now take place in Leicester single-adult households (those who live alone or with dependent children only) can still form a support bubble with one other household people are still able to meet in a group of up to 6 and only outdoors, provided strict social distancing is followed people in Leicester are recommended to stay at home as much as they can we advise against all but essential travel to, from and within Leicester. Written by gov.uk on the 30th of June 2020

Anybody heading to the supermarket will need to make sure they're following the right rules. As lockdown measures ease in most of England, many people have been left confused about where wearing a face is compulsory, and where it isn't. Face masks are currently compulsory for those using transport, but in shops they are not required to be worn by law. Despite this, shops have their own individual rules and guidelines on whether customers should wear face coverings when browsing in store. Here are all the latest rules and guidelines on wearing face masks for supermarket shoppers at five of the UK's most popular food retailers, according to Surrey Live. Aldi Aldi issued face masks to all staff early on in the pandemic but it is not compulsory for them to wear. "Aldi will be providing the option of face masks to all its store-based colleagues to further support their safety as they continue to feed the nation," a statement said. "This move is in addition to the previously announced provision of gloves and clear screens that are being installed at more than 7,000 checkouts. "Colleagues can also now access the Government’s Covid-19 testing programme for critical workers.” Customers also have the choice of whether they want to wear a face covering or not. Asda The supermarket giant has also left the choice up to customers when they visit stores. A spokesperson said: "We are complying with all Government guidelines and we welcome customers wearing face masks or not. "Our colleagues all have the option of wearing face masks which we have supplied and the colleagues in clinical settings (pharmacy and optical) have been required to wear masks since the start of the pandemic as per the government guidelines on clinical workers." Tesco The supermarket chain has not made wearing masks compulsory for customers or staff, although they are available if staff wish to wear them. Instead, social distancing measures have been introduced, including how many shoppers can shop at one time. The retailer previously said the government guidance refers to indoor spaces where social distancing is not possible. Sainsbury's Similar to its rival, the supermarket chain has masks available for all colleagues should they wish to wear them. A spokesperson explained: "Masks are available for all our colleagues who wish to use them while they work or travel to their place of work.” However, no one in the store is made to wear these and social distancing measures have been introduced to keep shoppers safe. Marks and Spencer M&S Foodhall stores have remained open throughout the pandemic and made changes to how operations are run. Face visors have reportedly been available to staff since the beginning of April. However, wearing the visors - or any face coverings - is not enforced.

People arriving in England from more than 50 countries including France, Spain, Germany and Italy will no longer need to quarantine from 10 July, the Department for Transport has confirmed. A full list of exempt countries posing "a reduced risk" from coronavirus will be published later. Most travellers to the UK currently have to self-isolate for two weeks. The Foreign Office is also changing its advice against all but essential travel to a number of countries from Saturday. The quarantine restrictions only came into force in early June, in a bid to stop coronavirus entering the country at a time when UK infections were falling. 'Refunds unlikely' if travellers have to self-isolate How is lockdown being lifted across Europe? Where can I fly to from Scotland's airports? The new exemptions mean people arriving from selected countries will be able to enter England without needing to self-isolate, unless they have been in or transited through non-exempt countries in the preceding 14 days. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Breakfast the full list of "50 plus" exempt countries would be published on Friday afternoon. He said countries on the list would be labelled as either amber or green, in line with a traffic-light system based on their prevalence of coronavirus. All amber countries - including France, Germany, Italy and Spain - will have "reciprocal arrangements" in place, meaning travellers from the UK will not have to quarantine on arrival there either, Mr Shapps said. People will still be unable to travel to countries on the red list, which will include the US, Mr Shapps told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. And countries categorised as green, which have "very low" levels of coronavirus, will have restrictions for UK arrivals, he told Breakfast. "I take New Zealand as a good example. They do have restrictions when you arrive, but we thought it was right to include them [on the UK's list of exempt countries] because people may want to come here from New Zealand, and that's no particular threat to our hard-won gains that everyone's been going through, staying at home," he said. He said Greece would not be on the amber list because the country would not make a decision about its own restrictions for UK travellers until mid-July. 'Hope' devolved nations will follow Mr Shapps said he had "held off" from his announcement in the hope that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would reach a decision at the same time as England. The Scottish government has not yet finalised its decision on easing restrictions on international travel. The Welsh government is also yet to decide whether it will follow England in relaxing restrictions. In Northern Ireland, quarantine regulations remain in place for travellers arriving from outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Mr Shapps said there was "still an opportunity" for the devolved nations to match England's decision ahead of the changes coming into effect on 10 July. "I very much hope that we can do this as four nations at the same time - I think it would just simplify it for people a great deal - but they will need to make that decision themselves," he said. Coronavirus: How to fly during a global pandemic Ministers have been under pressure to ease quarantine measures because of the impact on the travel industry. The Department for Transport said a risk assessment had been conducted by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, in close consultation with Public Health England and the chief medical officer. It considered factors including the prevalence of the virus, the numbers of new cases and potential trajectory of the disease in that destination, the department said. The list of exempted countries would be kept "under constant review", so that if the health risks increase, self-isolation measures could be re-introduced, the DfT added. Mr Shapps said people who were currently quarantining because of returning from abroad would be able to end their isolation period on 10 July. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office will set out exemptions for a number of destinations from its current advice against non-essential international travel, which has been in place since 17 March. Mr Shapps said the move marked "the next step in carefully reopening our great nation". All passengers, except those on a small list of exemptions, will still be required to provide contact information on arrival in the UK, including details of countries or territories they have been in or through during the previous 14 days. A spokesman for trade association Airlines UK said the announcement was "very welcome" and meant airlines would "be able to re-start services to many key markets in time for peak summer travel". "There's no doubt quarantine has had a devastating impact on our industry and whilst it's welcome the government has removed its blanket ban we would encourage rigour and science is applied in all future decisions surrounding our businesses," he said. The quarantine policy has been criticised by some Tory MPs, including former transport minister Theresa Villiers. She said it had damaged the travel industry without reducing the risk from coronavirus. Asked on the Today programme about jobs already lost in the hospitality and aviation industries - in part as a result of the restrictions on international travel - Mr Shapps said: "The question I suppose everybody would have to ask is where is the right balance between making sure that we put lives first but also protect livelihoods. And this is not an easy balance." The announcement comes as the prime minister is due to lead a press conference, ahead of businesses including pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas reopening in England on Saturday.

Prince Andrew under pressure after arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell Royal ‘bewildered’ after US attorney asks him to come forward following arrest of his friend over alleged sex crimes. Pressure on Prince Andrew to speak to FBI investigators was mounting after his friend Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested on charges of sex trafficking and perjury as part of its ongoing inquiry into the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. At a press conference in New York in which prosecutors detailed the allegations facing Maxwell, they urged the Prince to come forward. “We would welcome Prince Andrew coming in to talk with us, we would like to have the benefit of his statement,” said Audrey Strauss, acting US attorney for the southern district of New York. “I have no further comment beyond what I just said, which is that our doors remain open, as we previously said, and we would welcome him coming in and giving us an opportunity to hear his statement.” A source close to the prince’s working group said that his lawyers have twice communicated with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in the past month. “The duke’s team remains bewildered given that we have twice communicated with the DOJ in the last month and to date we have had no response,” the source said. Strauss’s remarks came following the arrest of Maxwell, the British socialite and close friend of the convicted sex offender Epstein was seized at a luxury hideaway in a small town in New Hampshire early on Thursday. The prince has made no secret of his longstanding friendship with Maxwell, or that she introduced him to Epstein, who killed himself in his jail cell last August facing charges of sex trafficking minors, which he denied. Prosecutors have continued their investigation and sought testimony from Prince Andrew. He faces accusations from Virginia Giuffre, who has claimed she was forced to have sex with him at Maxwell’s home in London when she was 17. Her claims have been categorically denied by the prince. On Thursday, investigators accused Maxwell of “slithering away” into hiding. They claimed she had previously lied repeatedly about her direct and indirect involvement in the abuse of underage girls, because, they alleged, the truth was “almost unspeakable”. “Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse,” the federal prosecutor Strauss told the press conference in Manhattan. “In some cases, Maxwell participated in the abuse.” “She set the trap. She pretended to be a woman they [alleged victims] could trust.” Maxwell has long been accused by many women of recruiting them to give Epstein massages, during which they were pressured into sex. Those accusations, until now, never resulted in criminal charges against her. She has always denied wrongdoing in of her dealings with Epstein or females associated with him. Maxwell had kept a low profile, and her location was unknown since Epstein’s arrest last July on charges that he abused and trafficked in women and girls in Manhattan and Florida between 2002 and 2005. The search for Maxwell has been the subject of intense speculation, with reported sightings and rumours of her whereabouts popping up across the US and even abroad. She was arrested in Bradford, New Hampshire, at 8.30am. At a press conference in New York, William Sweeney, assistant director-in-charge of the New York FBI Office, said: “We have been discreetly keeping tabs on Maxwell’s whereabouts.” He added that authorities had recently learned that Maxwell, “slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire”, continuing to live a “life of privilege”. Sweeney continued: “We moved when we were ready.” The 17-page, six-count indictment filed by the Manhattan US attorney charges Maxwell with a host of crimes, including conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and perjury. The indictment described Maxwell’s relationship to Epstein as “personal and professional” – and that she was “in an intimate relationship” with him from about 1994 to 1997. Epstein paid Maxwell “to manage their various properties”, the document says. The court paperwork provides detail into how Maxwell allegedly lured minors into Epstein’s orbit. According to charging documents, Maxwell “befriended” some of these victims, “including by asking the victims about their lives, their schools, and their families”. She and Epstein forged relationships with these girls, taking them shopping and to the movies. The alleged grooming happened, according to the documents, at Epstein’s mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, his ranch in Sante Fe, New Mexico, as well as Maxwell’s residence in London. After developing a rapport, the documents allege, “Maxwell would try to normalise sexual abuse for a minor victim by, among other things, discussing sexual topics, undressing in front of the victim, being present when a minor victim was undressed, and/or being present for sex acts involving the minor victim and Epstein”. The indictment claims that Maxwell would sometimes give Epstein massages in front of victims whereas other times, she urged them to give him massages, “including sexualized massage during which a minor victim would be fully or partially nude.” These would often involve Epstein sexually abusing the minors. On some occasions, it is alleged Maxwell was “present for and participated in the abuse”. To hide her involvement with Epstein’s abuse, Maxwell gave false information “under oath” in civil litigation, the indictment claims. Several of Maxwell’s attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment. Maxwell’s father was the British media baron Robert Maxwell. She was a one-time girlfriend of Epstein’s and key presence at his side in his glittering social life, which often included rich, influential and powerful people from around the world in politics, the arts and science. Giuffre, one of Epstein’s alleged victims, has said in a civil lawsuit that Maxwell recruited her into Epstein’s circle, where she claims Epstein forced her to have sex with him and friends including Andrew – who has consistently denied the allegations. His lawyers insist the US Department of Justice has rejected three offers of help volunteered by the prince this year. Maxwell has said Giuffre’s allegations are untrue. Giuffre in response filed a defamation suit against Maxwell in 2015.

The record numbers come at a time when the U.S. is gripped in a pandemic, an economic downturn and a racial reckoning over police brutality that has erupted at times into civil unrest Firearm-related background checks reached 3.9 million in June, the most since the tracking system was created more than two decades ago amid multiple crises in the coronavirus pandemic, an economic downfall and protests over police brutality and racial injustice. The lastest numbers are the most since the FBI began tracking such checks in 1998. More than 19 million checks -- a key barometer for gun sales -- were conducted in the first half of 2020, more than all of 2012 and many years prior. Gun sales usually see an uptick in presidential election years over fears an incoming president could restrict access to firearms. GUN SALES SKYROCKET IN ILLINOIS OVER PROTESTS, CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Gun sales soared in March as governments across the United States began issuing stay-at-home orders and other unprecedented lockdown measures as the coronavirus took a grip across the country. Long lines were seen outside gun shops in the days following the government mandates and business closures and gun shop owners had difficulty keep their shelves stocked with firearms and ammunition. Interest in firearms ownership continued as the economy took a sharp decline and civil unrest erupted following the May 25 death of George Floyd. “Civil unrest, rioting, looting and calls to defund police are unquestionably motivating factors of why this trend is increasing. Americans are right to be concerned for their personal safety,” said Mark Oliva, director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which represents gunmakers.

The Social Distancing Guidelines mean keep 2M apart from people who do not live in your household but in schools it is impossible as it causes mental health issues and isolation which is unfair.

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Government figures once again show no new coronavirus cases in MK over the past 24 hours. The total number of lab-confirmed cases has stood at 517 for several days. This is despite a major outbreak confirmed late last week by local public health officials at an MK children's nursery. Twenty children, staff and family members at Westcroft's Acorn nursery all tested positive between Monday June 15 and Thursday June 25. Yet none of these has been reflected in the daily figures published by the government. The error has led to doubt about Covid-19 statistics for MK and elsehwere. Even city mayor Andrew Geary said today: "The number of reported positive confirmed cases is now published as 517, although we know this to be inaccurate due to the reported outbreak at a nursery in Milton Keynes last week which have not yet been included." Nationally the death count was down to 25 today, and daily number of lab-confirmed cases was 815. This brings the total UK death toll to 43,575 and the total number of positive tests to 311,965.

1. Corporal punishment Not only does corporal punishment make teens / kids more violent and potentially future aggressors, it also is illegal under international human rights laws and the country you live in laws ( varies ) it also has bad psychological effects on children and may cause Depression, PTSD, it sickens children, and you may use more force than intended it is never ok to use physical force against children unless life or death urgent ie self defence. 2. Calling the police on your teen, child Don't use the police to help you discipline your child. Whether you’re sick and tired of your 12-year-old picking on his sister or you want to convince your 15-year-old that she should stop talking back, think twice before using the police as a scare tactic. It's not always effective, and you may not get the results you were hoping for. Although there may be times when you actually need to call the police on your child—such as safety concerns, illegal activity, or dangerous behavior—it should not be used as a discipline strategy. Wanting to scare your child into behaving is not a good reason to call the police. There are better ways to get your child's attention without involving local law enforcement. 7 Reasons Why Calling the Police on Your Kid Isn't a Good Idea Here are seven reasons why calling the police on your child for misbehaving isn't a good idea. It Shows You Can't Handle the Situation Calling the police reinforces that you don’t have any effective ways to discipline your child at home. It also shows that you need the police to serve as your backbone. Believe it or not, healthy discipline gives children a sense of security.1 Children need to be confident that you are capable of keeping them under control, even when they can't control themselves. Turning to the police for backup may cause your child to lose respect for your authority. Your Child May Not Learn the Lesson You Intend If you call the police about a mild offense, like when your child refuses to sit in time-out, the police aren't going to do anything beyond talk to your child. Usually, in these situations, police give kids a warning or tell them to "behave." But there is little they can do beyond that. Additionally, receiving a warning like that may backfire. Children sometimes conclude that having the police called isn't a big deal because nothing happened to them. Instead, losing privileges for 24 hours is likely to be more effective than a brief scolding from a police officer. Scare Tactics Don't Create Lasting Change Scare tactics tend to be effective in the short-term. But over time, they lose effectiveness. Children may change their behavior for a few days—or even a few weeks—following police intervention. But, as the fear subsides, old behavior patterns are likely to return. Children also quickly realize that having the police called on them is only scary for a few minutes. Longer lasting consequences are much more likely to be effective.2 It Prevents the Police From Taking Other Serious Calls The role of a police officer is to keep the community safe. Calling the police to your home to scold your child prevents them from doing their job. Remember, your community's police force has many other important tasks, like preventing crime and responding to emergencies. What's more, these situations could be a matter of life or death for people in the community. If the police are delayed in responding because they are at your house, you could be putting someone else's life in danger. The Outcome May Be Out of Your Hands When you call the police, you may not have control over how they respond to your situation. Their response will depend on your child’s age and the severity of the issue. Even if you say you don’t want your child charged with a crime, you may not have a choice. Sometimes state laws dictate that charges be filed after you make the phone call. Then the court system has control over what happens to your child, not you. While there may be times that warrant a call to the police, be aware of the potential consequences before you pick up the phone. Calling the Police Will Impact Your Relationship Contacting the police about your child's misbehavior is likely to take a toll on your relationship with your child, especially if the situation was not a dangerous or life-threatening one. Consequently, your child may feel a deep sense of betrayal and may not trust you in the future. Unfortunately, a damaged relationship with your child can lead to increased behavior problems.3 Rather than thinking you're there to help them, children often assume you're out to get them. The Police Don't Provide Treatment If your child’s behavior problems are severe enough that you’re considering calling the police, seek professional help. Your child may have a behavior disorder, a mental health issue, or may simply need a different approach to discipline. Unless it's an emergency, speak with your child’s pediatrician and request a referral to a therapist.4 It’s important to rule out issues like ADHD or ODD, which may respond better to treatment than police intervention. What to Do Instead If your discipline strategies aren't working and you feel like your child is out of control, it may be time to re-evaluate your approach. Talk to your child's pediatrician about your struggles and ask for suggestions.5 Doctors sometimes have access to parenting resources, classes, and support groups that can be beneficial in helping you address your child's behavior. Many times, parents consider calling the police because they feel like they are out of options. Support groups and parenting classes can help you expand your discipline toolbox and give you ideas on how to handle difficult and challenging behaviors. Cases When You Should Call the Police When kids are actively threatening to hurt themselves or someone else, and they have the means to do it, you need to take action to keep everyone safe.6 In some circumstances, that may mean calling the police. Only you will know if this is the right approach to the situation. You also may need to call the police if you realize that your child has been involved in criminal activity. For instance, if you find stolen goods or evidence of a crime, contact the police. Failing to do so, could result in legal issues for you and other family members as well. Meanwhile, if you have a troubled teen who is already involved with the justice system, you may have specific instructions on when to contact the police. A curfew violation, for example, may be a serious issue if your child already has legal issues. So, be sure you are following the instructions you were given. Sometimes parents can feel overwhelmed by a child's behavior, and in the heat of the moment, it makes sense to call the police. But, unless your safety, your child's safety, or someone else's safety is at risk, you should step away from the situation for a few minutes and allow yourself to calm down. Once you're thinking clearly, then you can make the decision that is best for everyone involved. And it makes kids, teens hate the police which means fear which means in an emergency they won't go to the police. 3. Yelling Shouting at children makes them stressed and can cause anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties. 4. Taking electronics away When you confiscate electronics it doesn't work it just causes behavioural difficulties and anxiety. 5. Threats These are illegal internationally and wrong. It is never ok to threaten a child. MKLN&A-UK3

Happy Canada Day! On July 1, 1867, the nation was officially born when the Constitution Act joined three provinces into one country: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Canada province, which then split into Ontario and Quebec. However, Canada was not completely independent of England until 1982. The holiday called Dominion Day was officially established in 1879, but it wasn't observed by many Canadians, who considered themselves to be British citizens. Dominion Day started to catch on when the 50th anniversary of the confederation rolled around in 1917. In 1946, a bill was put forth to rename Dominion Day, but arguments in the House of Commons over what to call the holiday stalled the bill. The 100th anniversary of the nation's official creation in 1967 saw the growth of the spirit of Canadian patriotism, and Dominion Day celebrations really began to take off. Although quite a few Canadians already called the holiday Canada Day (or Fête du Canada), the new name wasn't formally adopted until October of 1982. HOW TO CELEBRATE CANADA DAY There are many ways to celebrate Canada Day. First: What's a patriotic celebration without a parade? Typically, parades are held in cities, towns, and villages all over Canada (though many of this year's event will be virtual, due to the coronavirus pandemic). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have an established group called the RCMP Musical Ride. These 32 officers, who are rotated after three years' service, perform equestrian drills for the public throughout Canada. Other Canada Day traditions that are gaining footholds are picnics, festivals, sporting events, and fireworks. Many Canada Day events are planned all over the country, including Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and Victoria (though, again, 2020 may look a bit different). If you want to celebrate at home, shout Canada outside, take part in school / work celebration activities.

Happy Canada`s day to everyone MKLN

Sooner or later, many families face the prospect of moving. Disruptive as moving can befor parents, the experience can be even more traumatic for kids, who may not be a partof the decision to move and might not understand it. Kids can need some time and special attention during the transition. Try these tips tomake the process less stressful for everyone. Making the Decision to Move Many kids thrive on familiarity and routine. So as you consider a move, weigh thebenefits of that change against the comfort that established surroundings, school, andsocial life give your kids. If your family has recently dealt with a major life change, such as divorce or death, youmay want to postpone a move, if possible, to give kids time to adjust. The decision to move may be out of your hands, perhaps due to a job transfer orfinancial issues. Even if you're not happy about the move, try to maintain a positiveattitude about it. During times of transition, a parent's moods and attitudes can greatlyaffect kids, who may be looking for reassurance. Discussing the Move With Kids No matter what the circumstances, the most important way to prepare kids to move is totalk about it. Try to give them as much information about the move as soon as possible. Answerquestions completely and truthfully, and be receptive to both positive and negativereactions. Even if the move means an improvement in family life, kids don't alwaysunderstand that and may be focused on the frightening aspects of the change. Involving kids in the planning as much as possible makes them feel like participants inthe house-hunting process or the search for a new school. This can make the changefeel less like it's being forced on them. If you're moving across town, try to take your kids to visit the new house (or see it beingbuilt) and explore the new neighborhood. For distant moves, provide as much information as you can about the new home, city,and state (or country). Access the Internet to learn about the community. Learn wherekids can participate in favorite activities. See if a relative, friend, or even a real estateagent can take pictures of the new house and new school for your child. Moving With Toddlers and Preschoolers Kids younger than 6 may be the easiest to move, as they have a limited capacity tounderstand the changes involved. Still, your guidance is crucial. Here are ways to ease the transition for young kids: Keep explanations clear and simple. Use a story to explain the move, or use toy trucks and furniture to act it out. When you pack your toddler's toys in boxes, make sure to explain that you aren'tthrowing them away. If your new home is nearby and vacant, go there to visit before the move and takea few toys over each time. Hold off on getting rid of your child's old bedroom furniture, which may provide asense of comfort in the new house. It might even be a good idea to arrangefurniture in a similar way in the new bedroom. Avoid making other big changes during the move, like toilet training or advancinga toddler to a bed from a crib. Arrange for your toddler or preschooler to stay with a babysitter on moving day. Moving With School-Age Kids Kids in elementary school may be relatively open to a move, but still need seriousconsideration and help throughout the transition. There are two schools of thought about "the right time to move." Some experts say thatsummer is the best time because it avoids disrupting the school year. Others say thatmidyear is better because a child can meet other kids right away. To avoid glitches that would add stress, gather any information the new school will needto process the transfer. That may include the most recent report card or transcript, birthcertificate, and medical records. Moving With Teens It's common for teens to actively rebel against a move. Your teen has probably investedconsiderable energy in a particular social group and might be involved in a romanticrelationship. A move may mean that your teen will miss a long-awaited event, like aprom. It's particularly important to let teens know that you want to hear their concerns and thatyou respect them. While blanket assurances may sound dismissive, it's legitimate tosuggest that the move can serve as rehearsal for future changes, like college or a newjob. However, also be sure to let them know that you hear their concerns. After the move, consider planning a visit back to the old neighborhood, if it's feasible.Also, see if if the teen can return for events like prom or homecoming. If you're moving midway through a school year, you might want to consider letting anolder teen stay in the old location with a friend or relative, if that's an option. After Moving Day After the move, try to get your child's room in order before turning your attention to therest of the house. Also, try to maintain your regular schedule for meals and bedtime togive kids a sense of familiarity. When your child does start school, you may want to go along to meet as many teachersas possible or to introduce your child to the principal. Set realistic expectations about the transition. Generally, teachers expect new kids tofeel somewhat comfortable in their classes in about 6 weeks. Some kids need less time;others might need more. Encourage your child or teen to keep up with old friendsthrough phone calls, video chats, parent-approved social media, and other ways to stayconnected. After the move, if you're still concerned about your child's transition, a family therapistmight provide some helpful guidance. A move can present many challenges, but good things also come from this kind ofchange. Your family might grow closer and you may learn more about each other bygoing through it together.

Boris Johnson says Britain must "build, build, build" to bounce back from the coronavirus crisis Boris Johnson has said now is the time to be "ambitious" about the UK's future, as he set out a post-coronavirus recovery plan. The PM vowed to "use this moment" to fix longstanding economic problems and promised a £5bn "new deal" to build homes and infrastructure. Plans set out in the Tory election manifesto would be speeded up and "intensified," he added. Labour and the CBI said he was not focusing enough on saving jobs. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there was "not much of a deal and not much that's new". The BBC's economic editor, Faisal Islam, said there was "nothing really new" in the plans, but was a pledge from the Treasury to "speed up capital investment that has already been announced and tolerate higher levels of debt". Chancellor Rishi Sunak later confirmed he would deliver an economic update on 8 July "setting out the next stage in our plan to secure the recovery". The PM's speech came as new figures showed the UK economy shrank faster than at any time since 1979 between January and March. Boris Johnson's economy speech fact-checked What a shrinking economy means in one town Where do governments go when they need money? In a wide-ranging speech in Dudley, in the West Midlands, Mr Johnson vowed to "build, build, build" to soften the economic impact of coronavirus. He said the government wanted to continue with its plans to "level up" - one of its main slogans of last December's election - as "too many parts" of the country had been "left behind, neglected, unloved". Infrastructure projects in England would be "accelerated" and there would be investment in new academy schools, green buses and new broadband, the PM added. Projects in the £5bn investment plan include: £1.5bn for hospital maintenance, eradicating mental health dormitories, enabling hospital building and improving A&E capacity - the government said this is "new" money in addition to £1.1bn it announced in its Spring Budget £100m for 29 road network projects including bridge repairs in Sandwell and improving the A15 in the Humber region - this money had already been announced Over £1bn to fund a schools building project, as announced on Monday - this cash comes from the government's existing infrastructure plan A £12bn affordable homes programme to build 180,000 new affordable homes for ownership and rent over the next eight years - the programme beings together three pots of money already announced by previous Tory governments and Mr Johnson's administration Other projects announced in the government's Spring Budget, which will now be accelerated, include: £83m for maintenance of prisons and youth offender facilities, and £60m for temporary prison places. £900m for "shovel ready" local projects in England this year and in 2021 £500,000 - £1m for each area in the towns fund to spend on improvements to parks, high street and transport 'Economic impact' Mr Johnson acknowledged jobs might be lost because of the economic hit from the pandemic, but said a new "opportunity guarantee" would ensure every young person had the chance of an apprenticeship or placement. Asked whether the plans went far enough for those who end up unemployed, the PM said the strategy was for "jobs, jobs, jobs". But he could not put a figure on how many roles would be created through his plan, adding: "We don't yet know what the full economic impact is going to be... [but] we will do everything we can to get this economy moving." The prime minister loves a big, historical comparison. He is a keen student of Winston Churchill - and has even written a book about him. Over the last few days, the comparisons the government has sought to draw have been with former American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his "New Deal." As my colleagues at Reality Check point out, the plan set out today is a tiddler compared to what FDR did, and a fair chunk of it is re-announcing what we already knew the government was planning. But Boris Johnson is attempting to set out in a broader context the government's vision - and his pride in saying he wants to spend a lot to revitalise the economy and haul it out of the doldrums. Under what Mr Johnson dubbed "project speed," planning laws would also be streamlined to encourage building. Changes, planned for September, include: A wider range of commercial buildings will be allowed to change to residential use without the need for a planning application Builders will not need a normal planning application to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings, if they are rebuilt as homes Homeowners will be able to build additional space above their properties "via a fast track approval process" and subject to neighbour consultation Pubs, libraries, village shops will be protected from the changes as they were are "essential to the lifeblood of communities," the government said. Mr Johnson acknowledged the planning changes might meet resistance in traditional Tory-voting areas, but said: "Sometimes you have got to get on with things." The prime minister gave a hint of what the government's post-lockdown strategy might look like today, but there was nothing really new here. The Treasury will speed up capital investment that has already been announced and tolerate higher levels of debt. But they believe their existing plans for boosting infrastructure spending are already a significant fillip to the economy, and they want to see what happens as it re-opens. One set of figures released today shows household savings increased during lockdown, but will people have the confidence to spend? The scale of government support for businesses and employees in recent months probably does justify New Deal-style rhetoric. Extending support at that level may yet be required, and is far from ruled out. But for now, they are holding fire as they assess the permanent scars to the UK economy. The PM said the UK "cannot continue to be prisoners of this crisis" and the government was "preparing now, slowly, cautiously to come out of hibernation". "This country needs to be ready for what may be coming," he added, in preparation for an "economic aftershock". "We must use this moment now… to plan our response and to fix the problems that were most brutally illuminated in that Covid lightning flash." But Mr Johnson said his response would not be a return to the austerity that followed the financial crisis. He attempted to calm Tory fears that he had shifted to the left, saying: "I am not a communist". Instead, he claimed he had been inspired by US president Franklin D Roosevelt, who led America out of the Great Depression with his New Deal in the 1930s. In the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, President Roosevelt launched one of the largest, most expensive US government programmes which included building schools, hospitals and dams. 'Not enough' Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "We're facing an economic crisis, the biggest we've seen in a generation and the recovery needs to match that. What's been announced amounts to less than £100 per person. "And it's the re-announcement of many manifesto pledges and commitments, so it's not enough." The Labour leader added: "We're not going to argue against a recovery plan, but the focus has to be on jobs." The CBI said the prime minister had set out the "first steps on the path to recovery". But director general Carolyn Fairbairn added: "The focus on rescuing viable firms cannot slip while the UK looks to recovery, or earlier efforts could be wasted."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock first mentioned an "outbreak" in Leicester on 18 June Pubs and restaurants in Leicester may stay closed for two more weeks due to a surge in coronavirus cases, the city's mayor has said. Sir Peter Soulsby said the government had recommended current restrictions are maintained for a further fortnight. He told the Today programme the city could "remain restricted for two weeks longer than the rest of the country". The prime minister said Public Health England and local authorities had the power to bring in a local lockdown. There have been 2,987 positive cases in Leicester since the pandemic began, with 866 of those - 29% - reported in the two weeks to 23 June. Leicester reacts to lockdown extension plan Businesses left 'in limbo' by proposed extension Coronavirus restrictions across England are due to be eased from 4 July, with pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and hotels allowed to reopen. But Sir Peter said he had received an email from the government overnight and "it seems they're suggesting we continue the present level of restriction for a further two weeks beyond 4 July". Image captionSir Peter Soulsby has expressed scepticism about extending restrictions Sir Peter criticised the analysis as "superficial" and said he did not know whether the government had the power to impose an extension if council officials concluded it was not necessary. "I think it's very unclear as to what difference it would make if they continue the regulations in Leicester and why you would do it," he said. "Frankly, if the virus is out of control and spreading in Leicester with the restrictions, I can't understand how extending them for a further two weeks would make any difference to that." Media captionBoris Johnson: "We are concerned about Leicester" Local leaders are due to discuss the situation with Health Secretary Matt Hancock later before he addresses the House of Commons. The prime minister's official spokesman said Public Health England (PHE) and councils had the power to impose a local lockdown by temporarily closing public spaces, businesses and venues. He said local health authorities could also halt admissions to hospitals. Boris Johnson said a local "whack-a-mole" strategy used to deal with outbreaks in Weston-super-Mare and around GP surgeries in London would be "brought to bear in Leicester as well". "We are concerned about Leicester, we are concerned about any local outbreak. I want to stress to people that we are not out of the woods yet," he added. We should get used to these local flare-ups - they are going to become a way of life over the coming months. The virus, while at low levels, is still here. There are around 1,000 positive tests every day across the UK on average - and then there are the unknown number of silent spreaders, those who do not show symptoms and hence do not get tested. What's important is that these clusters are brought under control quickly and don't spread. The fact a local outbreak has been identified in one part of Leicester suggests the system is working to some extent - although it's fair to ask whether it could have been spotted more quickly given cases have been growing for a number of weeks. With extra testing facilities parachuted in officials will be desperately trying to get a clear idea of just how far it has spread so delaying the further easing of restrictions is the logical step. If more cases keep emerging a local lockdown will be on the cards. Should it be like this? Some argue we should have suppressed the virus further before easing - essentially going for elimination like New Zealand. But for a country like the UK where the virus had spread further before lockdown and with its size of population and packed cities that is somewhat harder. Image captionSohail Ali (right) said further uncertainty was unwelcome Business owners in the city who had been preparing to reopen on 4 July said they were dismayed at the prospect of having to wait a further two weeks. Restaurant owner Sohail Ali said the uncertainty had made him "very nervous". "Everyone has got bills to pay, mouths to feed, so we need to make sure that we can get our businesses back open," he said. Blake Edwards, owner of the Flappers and Gentlemen salon, said continuing restrictions would be "heartbreaking". Image captionLyndsey Portas said she couldn't believe Leicester was worse than any other big cities Lyndsey Portas, who owns a fruit and veg stall at the city market, said she "can't believe" Leicester is "worse than more heavily populated cities". "It would have been nice to have felt it was a bit back to normal, but if it's spreading through the community, it does need to be stopped." Jo Collins, who works in a city centre pub, wants to get back to work to provide for her children. Image captionPub worker Jo Collins wants to return to work after spending three months on universal credit The 30-year-old said: "I've got kids and I was off sick before this started for three months so I couldn't get furlough, so I've been on universal credit instead. "It's unfair on Leicester and I'd be gutted if this carries on. We can definitely open safely." How can family and friends visit my home safely? What could local lockdowns look like? How many confirmed cases are there in your area? Ivan Browne, Leicester's director of public health, said local cases were "very much around the younger working-age population and predominately towards the east part of our city" and "likely [due to] a combination of factors". Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe previously called for local lockdown due to a "perfect storm" of poverty, positive tests and higher ethnic diversity. About 28% of Leicester's population is of Indian heritage, and a further 21% are from black or Asian backgrounds. What the data does and doesn't tell us The figure for confirmed cases in Leicester is almost three times that published by the government. This is because the government's published data for local cases only cover tests carried out in hospitals and for health workers - known as Pillar 1. Tests outside of hospitals, known as Pillar 2, are not broken down by local authority but PHE has started publishing a weekly round-up by region. In the week of 18 to 24 June the East Midlands went from 18,516 confirmed cases to 19,861, equivalent to 28 new confirmed cases for every 100,000 people. PHE does not provide figures down to a local authority area, but a map in its report showed Barnsley, Bradford and Rochdale all recorded at least 45 new cases per 100,000 people in the week ending 21 June. In its weekly report PHE said case detections were highest in the north of England and there had been increases outside of hospital testing in Yorkshire and the Humber over the previous two weeks. "At a local authority level, activity was highest in parts of West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and in Leicester," it added. Dr Manish Pareek, a consultant at Leicester Royal Infirmary, said recent cases of Covid-19 he had seen were from "inner-city areas which have high levels of ethnic diversity, pockets of deprivation but also quite crowded housing with inter-generational and multi-occupancy households". These factors "are almost like a perfect storm for a virus to be spread within," he added. The Department of Health and Social Care said it was working with PHE, the city council and local partners "to help prevent further transmission of the virus". Four mobile testing sites and thousands of home testing kits have been sent to Leicester, a spokesperson added.

There are plenty of people without millions of subscribers that do good numbers on YouTube. Which makes many of us wonder how many subscribers do you really need to start earning an income. In this post you’ll learn about YouTube’s partner program and their requirements and other means of monetisation that are far more lucrative. YouTube Partner Program The first step in monetizing your YouTube account is joining the YouTube Partner Program. The YouTube Partner Program is a monetization program that helps creators make money when people view their videos through advertisements. Since Google owns YouTube, the program uses Google AdSense to display ads of your choosing. With the YouTube Partner Program, you are given the freedom to choose what kind of ads and videos you want and don’t want to use to monetize your content. Your options for ads include commercials that play before your video, a banner underneath your video, or an ad above suggested videos on the right. When a viewer watches or clicks on a commercial or ad, you receive a small commission. This could be a few cents to a couple of dollars per view or click. The amount of money you receive depends on several factors including the advertiser’s bid, the type of content being shown, and the length of your video. The YouTube Partner Program requires you to apply to monetize your YouTube channel. But once you are accepted, you will be able to start converting your viewers and subscribers into an income! What are the requirements? YouTube has recently announced several new eligibility requirements for joining their Partner Program in order to avoid spammers, impersonators, and others with bad intentions from detracting from channels with quality content. To be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program, your channel must have: Have at least 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months Have at least 1,000 subscribers Once your account meets these requirements, you can begin the application process which involves agreeing to their terms and conditions, signing up for Google AdSense, and setting your monetization preferences. You’re a member of the YouTube Partner Program! Now what? According to the YouTube Partner Program requirements, you need at least 1,000 subscribers to be eligible to monetize your account through their program. However, there are a lot of factors that contribute to receiving a substantial payout from AdSense. As you already know, the amount of money you can make on YouTube varies due to the nature of ads and what kind of viewership you have. Some ads pay per view, but many ads pay per click. To get the most out of your ad revenue, you want to have a high viewer engagement rate. The more viewers you have interacting with your ads, the more money you will make. While you can’t control how enticing each displayed ad is to your viewers, you can control what kinds of ads appear with your videos. The success of your ads depend on how well they match your audience’s interests, as well as the length of your video. Think about it. A 30 minute video gives a viewer 30 minutes to click on an ad as opposed to a video that’s only 5 minutes. It also gives Google AdSense more chances to display relevant ads, especially when considering the timed commercials that play throughout a video. When you initially enter your monetization and ad preferences, make sure to only choose ads that will appeal to your target audience. This includes topics, colors, and formats that are guaranteed to get your viewers’ attention. Metrics are just as important The best way to determine how successful your videos are is by looking at your channel’s metrics and analytics. These not only tell you how well your videos are performing, but how likely you are to start increasing the money you make via ads and other monetization methods. There are three main ratios that help you gauge how your channel is doing: Likes to Views Ratio The likes to views ratio shows how popular your videos are. If a viewer really likes your video, if it provided them with unique content and they found high value in it, they will take the time to give it a like. Tubular Insights states that for every 100 views, you should get at least 4 comments. Comments to Views Ratio Comments to views will tell you about what kind of engagement your videos are getting. Just like with ads, high engagement is an important goal. The more people who interact with your video, the more likely they are to interact with your ads. A good comments to views ratio is 5% according to Tubular Insights, so 5 comments for every 100 views. Subscriber to View Ratio Your subscriber to view ratio tells you what percentage of your subscribers are watching your videos. Views per video will vary widely. You could have thousands of subscribers and only receive a few hundred views for one video but 100k on the next. When you average everything together, you want to shoot for a subscriber to view ratio of at least 14% according to Tubular Insights. However, the more subscribers and views you start to receive, the harder it will be to keep this ratio high. If your subscriber to view ratio doesn’t reach 14%, it isn’t an indication of failure. Take the popular YouTuber PewDiePie. He has 55 million subscribers and receives about 4 million views per video. That’s a subscriber to view ratio of a little over 7% but he is still receiving millions of views per video and making $12 million a year. Metrics like these are a great measurement tools, but can be subjective to your content or audience. Better ways to earn from your subscribers The YouTube Partner Program is far from the only way of monetizing your YouTube channel. There are plenty of ways to make money on YouTube without ads. Below are a few. 5x your income selling digital products One of the most profitable ways of earning money on YouTube is through selling your own digital products. The best part? You don’t need 100,000 subscribers for this. Heck a 1000 subscribers can be enough to get you started. We actually have a guide on this. ( 4 Step system to earn 1000$ from 1000 followers ). You could sell items such as: E-books Lightroom Presets Stock Photography Courses And 100 more. Here’s a list of 101 great product ideas. And so much more! The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating and selling digital products. And the profit could be incredible! Take Sorelle Amore who made $25k by selling her presets on Sellfy. All you have to do is create your own online shop and start adding links to your YouTube videos. Talk about different products as an affiliate Along with linking to your own merchandise on your YouTube videos, you can also add affiliate links to make money. Affiliate marketing is when a brand or product pays you a percentage of their sales when you refer a person and they buy their product. If you do affiliate videos just right, market it to the right people, and get high video views, you could easily make several thousands dollars a month through affiliate marketing on YouTube. Great videos to encourage affiliate sales include: Product Reviews Product Tutorials Product Round-Ups If you are just starting out and don’t have a large subscriber base, this is a great way to work towards landing sponsored posts. Sponsored videos are booming Another popular way to earn money on YouTube is through publishing sponsored videos. Sponsored videos are a lot like affiliate marketing in that you are recommending products, except you work directly with a brand and they pay you upfront for the entire video. Your income does not rely on how many products you sell, but usually on how many people will see your message. There is no set subscriber amount to get sponsored but, usually, the more subscribers and views you have, the better. Brands want to know that their product will be advertised to plenty of people who would be interested in it. If your account isn’t huge but you still want to work with brands, a great way to win them over is by having, and pitching them, a good engagement rate. Another factor that would help brands want to partner with you is by having the verification badge next to your channels name. The verification badge means that you are an established creator, brand, or business. According to YouTube’s verification guidelines, you need a certain subscribers number to get verified and that number is 100,000. Turn Subscribers Into Money Making money on YouTube is something that everyone can do! It’s not just something for those “famous” on YouTube. With hard work and the knowledge to turn subscribers into an income, you will be making money on YouTube in no time!

Most people can easily tell fruits and vegetables apart. However, the distinction between different types of fruit is less clear — and you may particularly wonder how a banana should be classified. This article tells you whether a banana is a fruit or a berry. What’s the Difference Between Fruits and Berries? The word fruit is used to describe the sweet, fleshy, seed-holding structures of a flowering plant. A fruit is the reproductive organ of such plants, and its main function is to distribute seeds to new areas where the plant may grow. Fruits can be divided into two main categories: fleshy or dry (1). Dry fruits are foods we don’t typically think of as fruit, such as nuts, legumes and coconuts. On the other hand, fleshy fruits are the types we’re accustomed to — common fruits, such as apples, cherries and bananas. Fleshy fruit can be further subdivided into simple fruits, aggregate fruits or multiple fruits. Berries are a subcategory of simple fleshy fruit (1). Therefore, all berries are fruit but not all fruits are berries. SUMMARYFruits are the reproductive organs of a flowering plant. They can be divided into several subcategories, one of which is berries. Bananas Are Botanically Berries As surprising as this may sound, botanically speaking, bananas are considered berries. The category a fruit falls under is determined by the part of the plant that develops into the fruit. For instance, some fruits develop from flowers containing one ovary while others develop from flowers containing several (1). What’s more, a fruit’s seeds are surrounded by three main structures: Exocarp: The skin or outer part of the fruit. Mesocarp: The flesh or middle part of the fruit. Endocarp: The Inner part that encloses the seed or seeds. The main characteristics of these structures further contribute to the fruit’s classification (1). For instance, to be considered a berry, a fruit must develop from one single ovary and generally have a soft exocarp and fleshy mesocarp. The endocarp must also be soft and may enclose one or more seeds (2). Bananas fulfill all of these requirements. They develop from a flower containing one single ovary, have a soft skin and a fleshy middle. Moreover, bananas contain several seeds which many people don’t notice as they’re small. SUMMARYBananas develop from a flower with one single ovary, have a soft and sweet middle and contain one or more seeds. Therefore, they fulfill the requirements of botanical berries. Bananas Are Not Thought of as Berries Many are surprised to learn that bananas are classified as berries. Most people think of berries as small fruits that can be picked of plants, such as strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. However, botanically, these fruits aren’t considered berries. That’s because rather than developing from flowers with one ovary, they develop from flowers with multiple ovaries. That is why they’re often found in clusters and categorized as aggregate fruit (3). On the other hand, bananas and other fruit that fall under the berry classification rarely contain the word “berry” in their name and aren’t typically thought of as berries. The confusion started when people began calling certain fruits “berries” thousands of years before botanists came up with a precise classification of the different types of fruit. Though this classification now exists, most people remain unaware of it. To add to the confusion, botanists also sometimes disagree on the exact classification of some fruit (1, 4). That’s also why the word “fruit” is used to qualify most fruits, including bananas — instead of the name of the subcategory under which they fall. SUMMARY Fruits were named thousands of years before botanists came up with an official classification. This is a main reason why bananas don’t contain the word “berry” in their name and aren’t thought of as such. Other Surprising Fruits That Are Also Berries Bananas aren't the only surprising fruit to fall under the berry subcategory. Here are other unexpected fruits that are considered berries — botanically speaking (2): Tomatoes Grapes Kiwis Avocados Peppers Eggplants Guavas Just like bananas, all of the fruits above develop from flowers containing one ovary, have a fleshy middle and contain one or more seeds. This makes them botanical berries, despite rarely being thought of as such. SUMMARY Tomatoes, grapes, kiwis, avocados, peppers, eggplants and guavas are some other fruits that fulfill the requirements to be considered botanical berries. Yet, like bananas, they’re seldom thought of as such. The Bottom Line Berries are a subcategory of fruits, the sweet, fleshy, seed-holding structures of a flowering plant. Bananas develop from a flower with a single ovary and have a soft skin, fleshy middle and small seeds. As such, they meet all botanical requirements of a berry and can be considered both a fruit and berry.

The Rolling Stones, seen here in 2019, said "cease and desist" requests were ignored The Rolling Stones have warned US President Donald Trump that he could face legal action if he continues using their songs at his campaign rallies. A statement from the band's legal team said it was working with the performing rights organisation, the BMI, to stop the unauthorised use of their music. The Trump campaign used the song You Can't Always Get What You Want at last week's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The same song was used by the Trump campaign during the 2016 US election. "The Rolling Stones do not endorse Donald Trump," the band tweeted in 2016. In a statement released on Saturday, representatives for the group said that "further steps to exclude" Mr Trump from using Rolling Stones material in future presidential campaigning was necessary after previous "cease and desist directives" had been ignored. The BMI has reportedly notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the use of their songs without permission will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement, and would be subject to legal action. Tulsa rally fails to draw expected crowds amid virus fears Rolling Stones release their first new song in eight years In April, the Rolling Stones - fronted by 76-year-old singer Sir Mick Jagger - released their first new single in eight years, Living In A Ghost Town. Earlier this month, the family of rock musician Tom Petty issued a cease and desist letter to the Trump campaign over the unauthorised use of his song I Won't Back Down at the Tulsa rally. In a statement posted on Twitter, the family said that the late artist would "never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate". Skip Twitter post by @tompettyTom Petty ✔@tompetty 485K 3:22 AM - Jun 21, 2020 Twitter Ads info and privacy 122K people are talking about this Report End of Twitter post by @tompetty Petty died in 2017 of an accidental drug overdose after taking painkillers, aged 66. Campaigning will continue in the coming months as Mr Trump prepares to face Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden in November's presidential election.

Lazarus Chakwera's political fortunes were revived by a court ruling that annulled last year's flawed election Lazarus Chakwera has been sworn in as president of Malawi after winning an election rerun. "Time has come for us to wake up and to make our dreams come true," Mr Chakwera said in his victory speech. He defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of the vote in Tuesday's poll. In February, Malawi's constitutional court annulled Mr Mutharika's victory in the May 2019 election, citing vote tampering. The country was bitterly divided in the run-up to this week's election. Other countries in Africa have had elections annulled - it happened in Kenya in 2017 - but for the opposition candidate to then go on and win a rerun is unprecedented. Speaking ahead of Saturday's results, Mr Mutharika said that while he found the election "unacceptable", it was his "sincere hope that we should take this country forward instead of backwards." How brave judges rejected a 'second-rate election' A quick guide to Malawi Saulos Chilima, Mr Chakwera's running mate, was also sworn in as vice-president at a ceremony in the capital, Lilongwe. Mr Chakwera, a Pentecostal preacher and former theology lecturer, will first have to heal a nation that has been through many months of political turmoil. What did the new president say? "Fellow Malawians to stand before you as your president today is an honour," Mr Chakwera said in a speech after being sworn in. He vowed to unite the country and fight poverty. "Of what use is freedom from oppression if you and I are slaves to starvation? Or freedom from colonialism if you are a slave to tribalism?," he said. "Time has come for us to go beyond dreaming, time has come for us to wake up, to arise from slumber, and to make our dreams come true," Mr Chakwera said. "With your help we will restore faith in having a government that serves; not a government that rules, a government that inspires, not a government that infuriates, a government that listens, not a government that shouts but a government that fights for you and not against you," he added. Mr Mutharika did not attend the ceremony because the law does not require the outgoing president to be present when a successor is taking over, the BBC's Peter Jegwa in Lilongwe reports. Why was there a new vote? A rerun of the 2019 election was ordered after the Constitutional Court found the original ballot had been marred by widespread irregularities. That election saw President Mutharika narrowly re-elected by fewer than 159,000 votes. Mr Chakwera, who came second in that election, argued that tallying forms had been added up incorrectly and tampered with. Getty Images Malawi's 13-month election First electionon 21 May 2019 Mutharikasworn in on 27 May 2019 Thousands proteston 20 June 2019, complaining of fraud Constitutional courtoverturns result on 3 February 2020 and orders re-run Court rejectsMutharika's appeal on 8 May 2020 Source: BBC Uncertainty around the result sparked months of tension, which spilled over into clashes between opposition supporters and police. February's annulment led some to celebrate, but Mr Mutharika described it as a "serious subversion of justice" which marked the death of the country's democracy. There were concerns over the logistics and safety of carrying out an election in the midst of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. This week's rerun was largely peaceful, despite deep tensions Who is Lazarus Chakwera ? The opposition leader, a former cleric, heads up the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Born in Lilongwe to a subsistence farmer, the philosophy and theology graduate has pledged to raise the national minimum wage, among other reforms. AFP Lazarus ChakweraCandidate for the Tonse Alliance Born5 April 1955 Studied theologyin Malawi, South Africa and USA Pastor and lecturerworked at the Assemblies of God School of Theology Authoredseveral books on religion including Reach the Nations Ran for presidentin 2014 and came second Source: BBC Monitoring Mr Chakwera leads a nine-party coalition, the Tonse Alliance, and had the backing of former President Joyce Banda as well Mr Chilima, who served as deputy to Mr Mutharika.