This is bbc news. Im lukwesa burak. The headlines at 7 police are dealing with an ongoing incident aboard an oil tanker near the coast of the isle of wight, and have now made a request for military support. More pressure on the government, as thousands of doctors back the footballer Marcus Rashfords campaign for Free School Meals during the school holidays. After a public backlash, the welsh goverment says it will review its ban on supermarkets selling non essential items during the countrys two week lockdown. The new well being hubs, designed to help nhs staff cope with the stress of battling covid, as fears grow of a Mental Health crisis amongst health workers. And Lewis Hamilton makes history, as he breaks the record for the most
formula 1 wins ever at the grand prix in portugal. Good evening and welcome to bbc news. Police are continuing to investigate an incident on board an oil tanker the nave andromeda in waters off the isle of wight. Its thought stowaways may be causing problems for the crew of the liberian registered vessel, which is positioned south of ventnor. The bbc has been told that Hampshire Police have now made a request for military support. Lets talk to our correspondent duncan kennedy, who is at lee on the solent. Duncan, we have this request for military support, what else can you tell us . Well, lots of developments all day long. Let me take you through it chronologically, starting with when the ship arrived in the solent. That was about 9am this morning. We have been told by sources that the crew knew there we re sources that the crew knew there were some stowaways on board. Dont know how they knew how many there we re know how they knew how many there were but there were some stowaways on board. The ship had been sailing from lagos in nigeria to southampton behind me with a consignment of oil. At around behind me with a consignment of oil. Ataround 9am, behind me with a consignment of oil. At around 9am, these stowaways a p pa re ntly at around 9am, these stowaways apparently became violent towards the crew. The crew then locked themselves in what is called a citadel, a safe room on board the ship, designed to help protect them from pirates on the high seas. Then the crew managed to contact the authorities on shore and the coastguard sent out two search and rescue helicopters to hover overhead. That has been the situation all day. The ship about five miles or so off the south east
corner of the isle of wight. Just in the last few moments, we have had a statement from Hampshire Police giving a few more details as to what has happened. They say that they understand that the crew received verbal threats from these stowaways before they locked themselves in this room and it is the police understanding that no one has so far been hurt in this incident. They say they have set up a three mile exclusion zone around the tanker as a matter of precaution and they are working with what they call their fellow partner agencies, including hm coastguard and the border. Separately, about an hour or so ago, the bbc was told that the police had contacted, had asked for military assistance in this incident. We dont know whether that means border force, or some other actually ministry of defence military force that we dont know what they are talking about when they say
contacting military for military assistance. Its also not clear whether they are activating some sort of plan or whether that military assistance is just on standby. We know that the home office are well aware of what is going on and are monitoring things closely, but so far as what exactly is going on out there five miles out in the middle of the solent is unclear but certainly developing this evening. 0k, duncan, we will leave it there, thank you for the update. Richard meade is the managing editor of the shipping news organisation, lloyds list. Thank you forjoining us here richard on bbc news. First off, this call for assistance, military assistance, how significant is that . Well, until we know exactly whats going on on board, its hard to say but i would assume that would be fairly standard protocol in a situation like this. We know there are stowaways on board and that the crew had an incident, in terms of trying to detain them in a cabin. That comes from senior officials within the ship that was the point at which it became problematic for the crew to deal with and then various authorities were contacted earlier today that we are working on the assumption that the crew boarded, the stowaways boarded the vessel in lagos. Now, that puts them on board the ship for nearly 20 days because they left lagos on october the 6th. So whether or not they have been on board and dealing with the crew happily until now or it was only this morning that they were discovered, we just dont know yet. But for whatever reason, it was this morning that it escalated. Going back to the stowaways, you came out very early with the information on how many were on board this afternoon. You also initially said that it was understood that they boarded the vessel from various ports. Are we now shall, as it really been confirmed they all boarded in lagos . Its not been
fully confirmed. We got the information via liberian flag, who initially confirmed that the stowaways had been identified from various ports. We looked at the vessel tracking, intelligent state approved their ship has not called ata approved their ship has not called at a port since the 6th of october, so at a port since the 6th of october, so it would have been very hard for any so it would have been very hard for a ny stowaway so it would have been very hard for any stowaway to board the ship at sea. So working by logic alone, it would be fair to assume that these stowaways boarded at lagos. Thats not to say they couldnt have boarded at anchorage through other means but it would have been very difficult, so that is the assumption. They also made two stops i believe, one at the Canary Islands in las palmas where there was anchorage, a brief period waiting of the french coast. What sort of implications does this have, in terms of what to do next . We dont know whether they are asylum seekers. They may just know whether they are asylum seekers. They mayjust be stowaways but i understand under maritime law,
there are implications of what would happen next . In terms of the security of navigation, the priority is to get the ship docked and to understand exactly what is going on. There will be questions asked, in terms of how stowaways could get on board a ship, there should be security protocols to prevent this. Its not unheard of. Its a fairly routine occurrence in shipping. Security protocols are not applied as robustly as they perhaps should be in all ports and lagos is known to have some Security Issues. The point at which this becomes a uk issue, uk immigration will be involved and as your reporter already said, there are various security agencies and the Maritime Coastguard Agency will be dealing with the safety of navigation as the situation is dealt with. This is a liberian flagged vessel, what sort of responsibilities does the flag state have on this question might looking through maritime law, those stowaways could well be sent back to
the flag state, which is liberia mark andi the flag state, which is liberia mark and i think its very unlikely they would be sent to liberia. The incident occurred in lagos, nigeria, but the fact they are in uk waters means its a uk coastal waters case to deal with. What happens with the stowaways once they are unsure is a matter for stowaways once they are unsure is a matterfor uk stowaways once they are unsure is a matter for uk immigration stowaways once they are unsure is a matterfor uk immigration but it would be unlikely the liberian flag state would be held accountable for the stowaways. There will be questions asked in terms of their security protocols, certainly. But in terms of the stowaways themselves, i would be very surprised if they were sent to liberia. How long do you the nave andromeda to stay on the location is off the isle of wight . Presumably it is the priority for the Security Services to get this into port as quickly as possible, simply because this is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and no one wants
a three mile exclusion zone around that. Its a busy waterway. I would assume once the Security Issues have been dealt with and everybody is sure the safety is being dealt with, this is a question of getting the ship out of harms way and dealing with this onshore as quickly as we can. What would be your understanding as to why the captain, the master of the ship, refused to head to southampton . He was given clea ra nce for head to southampton . He was given clearance for that. Im afraid at the moment that is a matter of pure speculation so i cannot really comment. It could be any number of Security Issues. The master has control of the vessel, the coastal state will advise and take direction from the various people they are dealing with. I can only assume he was dealing with information at the time. There are a lot of different people being involved in this. Liberian flag state is run but it is a greek sessile. There are various other actors involved. I would assume this would be dealt with
pretty quickly. Do you have the information as to when they found out that those stowaways were on board and why wait until they approach the english coast . We dont know. This is the big question, whether or not the stowaways had been detected before they came into uk waters and the violent incident that sparked this was simply a question of something escalating. We dont know. That is an interesting point because either they have been hiding safely on the ship for 20 days and the crew were unaware they we re days and the crew were unaware they were there, which i find very hard to believe. Or displayed up this morning for a specific reason. We understand that the crew were asking the questions about documentation and where they were from, they refused to give anything and that was the point at which they became violent, when they were asked to go ina cabin, violent, when they were asked to go in a cabin, they didnt want to be locked into a cabin. We understand that was the point at which became a
violent situation. Richard meade, thank you for that, lloyds list. A government minister has defended the decision not to extend Free School Meals to disadvantaged children over the school holidays. Brandon lewis said providing support through local councils was the right way to help struggling families during the pandemic. Pressure is mounting on the government from many sides, including more than 2,000 doctors, whove signed a letter saying, england should follow scotland, wales and northern ireland, in further funding meals outside of term time. Heres our correspondent, fiona trott. Ill show you what ive got in the fridge. When planning ahead still isnt enough. So, this is just what ive got to last me until payday. Claire is a single mum of three and she says without Free School Meal vouchers, this week will be a struggle. Im really anxious because im just like, have i got enough thats going to last until i get that payment on the last day of the month when i can go and do my shopping . You know, it is very stressful, very ha rd. There are parents like claire across the uk, and businesses who want to help. This cafe in cornwall is making free lunch bags for children a Community Response to a political decision not to extend Free School Meals in england. Its complementary to what we are doing as a government. We are supportive of that. We support local authorities to do it thats what the £63 million is there for, and its notjust £63 million, of course, andrew, its on top of hundreds of millions. But some say thats not enough. Local communities are stepping in, over 2000 paediatricians stepping in, signing an open letter to the government, saying childhood hunger is not acceptable. Its that knowledge that what happens to you when youre a child affects your whole future life course, and making sure a child is well fed and well nourished is notjust about making sure that they go to bed with a full tummy, although thats important, but its making sure they grow up
to be a healthy adult who has all the same opportunities anyone else would have. And its an investment in that childs future to make sure they have Good Nutrition throughout their lives. Footballer Marcus Rashford is also putting pressure on the government. He successfully campaigned to extend Free School Meals earlier this year. Today, more than 800,000 people have signed his petition to do the same again. Some conservative mps also want a rethink. Lets remember the government did this for easter, for whitson and summer and no government, let alone any labour government, has done that before. Given the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic, i think we should continue that into next year. So, i think the government got it wrong and that is what i said, and i voted to abstain in this case. So you are not all having a sandwich tomorrow, then . Claires family hope the government will change its position before christmas, but like many families across england, this half term break will be hard. Fiona trott, bbc news, leeds. Lets ta ke lets take you through the latest government figures on covid i9 cases. There are currently 19,719 new Coronavirus Infections recorded in the latest 24 hour period in the uk. That means the average number of new cases reported per day in the last week, is 21,628. 1,015 people had been admitted to hospital on average each day over the week to last tuesday. 151 deaths were reported thats people who died within 28 days of a positive covid 19 test. That means on average in the past week, 179 deaths were announced every day, which takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 411,896. The headlines on bbc news
police are dealing with an ongoing incident aboard an oil tanker near the coast of the isle of wight and have now made a request for military support. More pressure on the government, as thousands of doctors back the footballer Marcus Rashfords campaign for Free School Meals during the school holidays. After a public backlash, the welsh goverment says it will review its ban on supermarkets selling non essential items during the countrys two week lockdown. The two week self isolation period for contacts of people who test positive for covid 19, could be cut to ten days or even a week, the government has confirmed. It comes amid strong criticism of the test and Trace Programme from the senior conservative mp, sir bernard jenkin. Writing in the sunday telegraph,
sir bernard said a vacuum of leadership in test and trace, is affecting how far people comply with it. Catherine burns reports. From the start, the message has been clear. If youve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus, you need to self isolate for 1h days. Isolate for 14 days. You must self isolate. You must self isolate. We isolate and we keep out of circulation. But now the government and its advisers are considering cutting the time frame. I know that there is work going on to look at the length of isolation. Well be using the results from our large Covid Infection survey, which goes back to people over time in order to inform those discussions. People tend to show symptoms of covid 19 around 4 6 days after being exposed. It can take up to two weeks, though. So, if you want to catch as many cases as possible, then the best idea is to stick to that 14 day
self isolation period. But that only works if everybody actually sticks to the rules. And a recent study found thatjust 11 of people who were asked to self isolate for two weeks actually did it. If the evidence shows that one has to isolate for 1h days, then yes, i would isolate for 1h days. If they can prove that youre safe after seven days, i think it would be a much better concept, especially for schoolchildren. It was quite frustrating, especially when you get to the end of that period and you think, shes got no symptoms, none of us have got any symptoms, so it did feel a bit long. Isolation isjust one part of the test and trace system. The other elements are not without problems. Its not turning round tests quickly enough, and its not getting through to enough close contacts of people who have tested positive. The boss, dido harding, is coming under ever so polite criticism by a senior tory backbencher. I do mean this as kindly as possible to her. Shes been a tremendous asset. But the test and trace capability clearly needs to move up several gears, and its what leadership does, not who leadership is, that really matters. For now, cutting isolation period down isjust an idea thats being looked at. The rules havent changed, and people are still being asked to stay at home for two weeks. Catherine burns, bbc news. The welsh first minister has told the bbc there will be no change to the ban on supermarkets selling non essential items during the countrys firebreak lockdown. But Mark Drakeford said the ban would be clarified after supermarkets were forced to close parts of their stores, selling products such as clothes, shoes and toys. Our wales correspondent, tomos morgan, reports. Across wales, supermarkets have had to close certain aisles, and items like toys, books and electrical goods have been covered up. Its been done because the Welsh Government have restricted stores from selling non essential goods. But its led to a public outcry over this, the first weekend of the latest lockdown. And it has led to tens of thousands signing an online petition. I think its absolutely totally ridiculous. I get the fact that they dont want to disadvantage the small, independent businesses, however, i do think on this occasion theyve got it wrong. I applaud the Welsh Government for introducing this fair play scheme. Welsh ministers say that this rule is a matter of fairness, to smaller businesses, like this one, that have been forced to shut over the next two weeks. Predominantly, we sell toys. Obviously, supermarkets sell toys as well, and if they were allowed to sell and we werent allowed to sell, then that would have a dramatic effect, especially during the key selling period, because we are so close to the peak selling time of christmas. This evening, first minister Mark Drakeford confirmed the ruling wouldnt be changed, but said there would be clarification and discretion
to its implementation following a review with retailers tomorrow. If there are some anomalies that we hadnt spotted and now have the experience of this weekend, then those are the things that we would aim to put right. The basic principle wont be changed . The basic principle is really important. We must stay at home, we mustnt mix with other people and we need to stick to that for the next two weeks. Ever since this announcement was made, theres been confusion from big retailers and theres been a growing sense of anger and frustration amongst many online. It seems just two days into this firebreak, and the publics resolve in following a more stringent set of measures is already being tested. Tomos morgan, bbc news, cardiff. The number of People Killed in a suicide bomb attack in the afghan capital, kabul has risen to 2a most of the dead were students. The Islamic State group has said it carried out the attack, in a mainly
shia muslim neighbourhood. The un has described the bombing as a callous and senseless war crime. Secunder kermanis report contains some flashing images. The narrow street outside the Tuition Centre was packed when the suicide bomber struck. Fear, panic and shock amongst the students. Like this 18 year old, many were preparing for their University Entrance exam next year. Translation i was walking towards the centre when i heard a huge bang. I fell unconscious. When i woke up, i saw my classmates and friends wounded and lying down on the ground. Everyone was crying. At the scene today, abandoned textbooks and shattered glass. The suicide bomber was coming down this alley, trying to get inside that gate to the Tuition Centre when he was challenged by some of the guards and he blew himself up. You can still see some of the marks left by the shrapnel in the wall and the impact the explosion had. Most of the residents of this area
belong to afghanistans shia minority, they have been targeted by the Islamic State group. Still, there is defiance. Translation i dont feel safe but i wont surrender. If the taliban or daesh fight with weapons, i will fight with my notebook, my pen and my education. I have faith that i will win. There has been a surge in fighting in the country over the past few weeks, largely between the Afghan Government and the taliban. Peace talks have started but seem to have stalled. Is is much less powerful than the taliban and is not part of those negotiations. They can still carry out deadly attacks. Today, the young victims of this latest atrocity were laid to rest. Written on one of the placard, a simple question. What was my crime . Secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. Coronavirus measures are hardening across europe,
as countries struggle to come to terms with rising infections. In the latest developments, spains Prime Minister, pedro sanchez, has ordered a night time curfew effective immediately, from 11 this evening and lasting until 6am in the morning. From monday, all bars and restaurants in italy will close from 6pm. People will also be barred from eating or drinking outside at that time. The measures will last a month. Italy reported yet another record breaking tally for new infections on sunday. So too did the netherlands where cases exceeded 10,000. And in france cases exceed 50,000 sunday, breaking yesterdays record daily increase. In here in the uk, there have been nearly 20,000 new infections sunday down slightly from saturdays meanwhile, bulgarias Prime Minister has become the latest prominent politician to test positive for covid 19. Lets get more on the situation in madrid this report from our correspondent there, guy hedgcoe. Seven months after introducing a state of emergency, its been reintroduced. This time, the measures will not be quite as tight, although a National Curfew is being introduced. Translation the freedom of movement of people is prohibited from 11 p m to 6am throughout the country. It will only be possible to circulate in this time zone for the justified reasons established in the regulation. For example, to acquire medicines, to carry out 1s work or obligations, to return home or take ca re of obligations, to return home or take care of adults or miners. Also, local authorities will be able to restrict movement between regions
and take other measures they deem necessary. Spain has become the first european country to surpass 1 million cases of covid 19. There is concern that in some areas, such as the northern regions, high infection rates are putting renewed pressure on health care services. Across the mediterranean in italy, cinemas, swimming pools and gyms are being shut down, while bars and restau ra nts shut down, while bars and restaurants will have to close by early evening. The measures were agreed between the Prime Minister and regional leaders as a resurgence of the virus has pushed daily infection rates to new records, with over 21,000 new cases reported on sunday. Translation managing the pandemic means to permit to our medical system to give a prompt response, guaranteeing cure and proper hospitalisation to all citizens but it means to prevent a second complete lockdown like the one we had in spring. The country
cannot afford it. But, as the government in rome attempts to stop the spread of the virus across italy, the prospect of renewed restrictions on daily life and business is not without imposition. In rome, supporters of the far right scuffled with police enforcing the night time curfew. These protests, while limited, underscore the balancing act that italy and the rest of europe must face to control the virus while sustaining their own economies. Its been seven months but ballet dancers have returned to the stage at birmingham rep theatre as doors opened to the public once again. Theres hand sanitiser, temperature checks, and even socially distanced tu tus to keep everyone safe, as ben sidwell reports. Excited, very excited. Really excited, so glad to be back, back to the theatre. It feels very liberating to be out and doing something normal. The arts is a real go to thing for me, and itsjust so wonderful to see it back. Its been 220 days since the birmingham repertory theatre opened its doors to an audience. Its incredible, actually. Were sort of amazed were here. Theres something just so horrible about a completely empty theatre. Theres nothing so dead as an empty theatre and its been like that for seven months so to have life in it, its a wonderful feeling, actually. The birmingham royal ballets five socially distanced shows sold out in a matter of hours. Usually able to hold almost 900, each performance will be watched by fewer than 150 people. So excited. Theres been so many ups and downs along the way. We followed the same model that the professional sports world
was approved by government to do. So, so artists came back, working and divided into bubbles. Included in the 80 minute performance, the World Premiere of a new ballet, lazuli sky, inspired by ideas of social distancing and with costumes to keep dancers apart on stage. It was absolutely lovely. Weve really missed it, weve really missed being in live theatre. Its extremely moving being there. I found it a little overwhelming how few audience members there were. When you go back in and you can see that it can work, i dont understand why it hasnt, why it cant go back to normal like this everywhere. A ballet for the moment to mark a return to theatre. Ben sidwell, bbc news. Ben rich has the weather. Hello, good evening. Im sure you dont need me to tell you its been a very wet weekend across many parts
of the uk. Quite a blustery weekend as well. On the satellite picture, you can see this cloud, the area of low pressure bringing the wind and rain. Behind me, anotherarea of cloud, this is hurricane epsilon which is drifting northwards. It wont be a hurricane as it moves its way towards our shores but it will be an extremely deep area of low pressure. The centre of the low with the strongest winds will stay way to the strongest winds will stay way to the north west but this is just going to continue to drive some very u nsettled going to continue to drive some very unsettled weather through the coming days. It will be windy, there will be some heavy rain at times but not all the time, rough seas across western parts particularly, signs it will turn a little milder later in the week, particularly down towards the week, particularly down towards the south. Through this evening and overnight, we continue to see showers, some heavy, some thundery blown in on a brisk breeze. The showers most plentiful across the west. Further east, more in the way of dry weather, seven clear spells and that is where we will see the lowest temperatures, down to 2 3 in
some spots. Tomorrow, we will have seven spells of sunshine butjust like today, there will be some heavy thundery showers around. These tending to migrate eastwards through the day, so the chances of showers in scotland and england will increase but felt northern ireland, wales and the south west, beware showers as we go through the afternoon, more spells of sunshine. Quite windy towards the south, lighter winds developing further north. It will be a fairly cool day with cries of between 10 14. North. It will be a fairly cool day with cries of between 10411. As we move through monday night, this area of low pressure will start to clear away. Briefly, see the little bump in the isobars question mother is a little ridge of high pressure. That will settle things down for a while. Could be a chilly start to Tuesday Morning but the more spell is very, very brief. Some heavy rain. Northern Scotland Holding onto some brightness. Another windy day, highs of 1014. It brightness. Another windy day, highs of 10 14. It stays very unsettled as we had through the middle part of
the week. This big
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