In an infringement procedure. How italy once the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic has managed to get its infection rate lower than many european countries. Save the whales the operation to clear a loch of a pod of whales, before huge naval exercises get under way. The empire windrush brings to britain 500 jamaicans. And, at the start of black History Month, its organisers say its more important than ever in the wake of the black lives Matter Movement. And coming up on bbc news. Theyve said theyre sorry, but will phil foden and Mason Greenwood be named in the england squad today after breaking quarantine rules in iceland . Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. Restrictions on households mixing indoors, already in place in parts of the north east of england, are to be extended to liverpool, warrington, hartlepool and middlesbrough. The announcement from the health secretary, matt hancock, means about a third of the uk is now under stricter measures to try to curb the spread of coronavirus. It comes as official figures show the governments test and trace strategy in england is still failing to reach nearly 30 of the contacts of people whove become infected. But there has been some hopeful news. A major study by scientists at Imperial College london indicates the growth rate of infections could be slowing. Their react study estimates the r number the viruss reproduction rate appears to have fallen to 1. 1 since government measures such as the rule of six were introduced. Our first report is from our Health Correspondent richard galpin. The infection rate here in liverpool has shot up. 13 fold increase in one month. People are not following social distancing rules, part of the problem. There has been a surge of people moving into and around the city recently, including students, but now all of that is about to change. The rules across the Liverpool City Region will be as follows. We recommend against all social mixing between people in different households. We will bring in regulations as we have in the north east to prevent in law social mixing between people in different households in all settings except outdoor public spaces like parks and outdoor public spaces like parks and outdoor hospitality. People here in liverpool had been expecting tougher measures to be brought in now. Liverpool had been expecting tougher measures to be brought in nowli think measures to be brought in now. think it needs to happen because when all the students comeback it has gone higher, it has spiked definitely. Nothing has really been done about it. Closing pubs early hours, i dont really see the point in it but i do think its in the best interest to keep the public safe. All this a huge blow for the city, and the authorities want help from the government. The hospitality sector will be seriously hard in liverpool, and we are very heavily dependent, as are leeds and manchester and the big cities, dependent on hospitality. They help pay for Business Rates and support the local economy and jobs. But it is not just liverpool the local economy and jobs. But it is notjust liverpool facing a rapid rise in coronavirus cases. This town moseley on merseyside is in the unenviable position of having the second highest rate of the virus in the country. And these latest restrictions being imposed by the government are not going down well in some parts of england. What is most frustrating and annoying and potentially damaging to our area is the fact this decision is being made without any consultation with us. There is a myth being bandied around that there has been lots of exchanges of information and ideas, and it is categorically untrue. Exchanges of information and ideas, and it is categorically untruem also today are potentially positive development in the battle with the virus. A survey by Imperial College london has found some early evidence the growth of new cases may have slowed. It could mean measures to try to control the virus are working. This really important to differentiate between the numbers of the virus which has gone up substantially, and thats why we are ina substantially, and thats why we are in a really critical phase right now, and the rate of rise of the virus, which was going up exponentially from the beginning of september, and that rate of rise seems to have slowed down in the very recent data. Latest figures from the test and trace system show more people getting test results back within 2a hours, but also more than 30,000 people tested positive for the virus in england in the week to september the 23rd, an increase of 61 on the week before. The highest weekly number since test and trace was launched. Richard galpin, bbc news. Lets speak to our correspondent andy gill, in liverpool. As we heard, some people would like even tougher restrictions. Thats right. The reaction from politicians and businesspeople in liverpool is a mixture concern and dismay. Concern the measures might not be enough to squash the virus. Leaders here say it isa squash the virus. Leaders here say it is a step in the right direction but question if it is enough to stop the escalating virus, and they want to see the science of the government has used to base these decisions on. The dismay comes from the announcement mr hancock made when he failed to give Financial Support of the hospitality industry. Yes the six local authorities will get their share of a £7 million package but nothing for pubs, clubs and restau ra nts. 0 n nothing for pubs, clubs and restaurants. 0n hospitality is really important to the liverpool area, it supports 57,000 jobs, and the political leaders say without urgent intervention there could be irretrievable damage to the hospitality industry. They want urgent further talks with the government about trying to get financial help for that sector. We have spoken to one Restaurant Owner in liverpool who says the announcement today is the worst of both worlds. The fact households cannot go out and mix together will hit 80 of his trade. He has called it death by attrition and says this comes at a time when his custom had been going back up. Thank you. A further half a Million People in north wales will come under local lockdown restrictions this evening. From six oclock, People Living in affected areas wont be able to leave without a reasonable excuse, such as work or education. Lets speak to our wales correspondent, hywel griffith, in llandudno. What response there . Well, frustration and anger in some quarters that this local lockdown is being applied in an area that depends so much on people being able to travel in and out of the area. After 6pm tonight, people shouldnt be visiting the area, and they shouldnt be leaving either so people can return home if they are here on holiday but some of the hotels have been showing me their bookings, basically wiped out for the next two weeks, potentially the month. Other restrictions, as in parts of england, restrictions on who can meet indoors, in wales you cannot meet anyone you dont already live with inside if you live in a local lockdown area. Thank you. The European Union is taking taking legal action against the British Government over the brexit withdrawal agreement. Ministers at westminster have admitted a planned new law will breach part of the agreement reached between Boris Johnson and brussels. The European Commission president , ursula von der leyen, said the eu had asked the uk to remove the problematic parts of the internal market bill by the end of september, and that deadline had now passed. This draft bill is, by its very nature, a breach of the obligation of good faith laid down in the withdrawal agreement. Moreover, if adopted as is, it will be in full contradiction to the protocol of ireland, northern ireland. The deadline lapsed yesterday. The problematic provisions have not been removed. Therefore, this morning the commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to the uk government. This is the first step in an infringement procedure. Lets talk to our Political Correspondent chris mason at westminster, but first our brussels correspondent, nick beake. Ursula von der leyens tone and manner is reserved but one wonders if that is how she and others there really feel about this. It is certainly a dramatic headline today but i think it was the inevitable step for the eu to take, thats because it gave the uk an ultimatum to perform a u turn and london did nothing, so i think the eu was keen to show it meant business. Lets be clear, any Legal Process would go on and on and the eu have given the uk one month to reply to this. The question is what does this do for the ongoing trade talks . We know there are big differences on things like fishing and state aid. The problem will be in the future because as it stands the eu says that it will not sign off this deal so long as the controversial parts of the uk internal market bill remain. So that is the problem going forward. Today it seems like we have got both sides trying to walk along two parts. One is the trade talks, the other is the Legal Process. It is pretty difficult and obviously it is pretty difficult and obviously it isa is pretty difficult and obviously it is a precarious balancing act. Nick, thank you. Chris mason, precarious, what reaction where you are . Something of a shrug of the shoulders here. I think plenty are well used to walking on at least two tight ropes as far as brexit negotiations are concerned. The uk government knew this was coming. It is worth putting into context as well these kind of Legal Processes are regularly under way, at least a couple of dozen on average affecting any given eu member state at one time at the moment, and crucially the talks that nick was referring to there are still ongoing. The Nuclear Option here would be for either side to walk away from the negotiating table. They are not doing that, and there is one month for the uk to reply to this letter. And it is a rather crucial month because there isa summit rather crucial month because there is a summit coming up in a couple of weeks on both sides hope that by then or shortly after then there may bea then or shortly after then there may be a deal on the table. There will still be questions in the future about what the uk government is planning as far as the so called internal market bill is concerned but they could yet be overtaken by events. The crucial factor here is that the talking is still happening. Thank you. Ministers are understood to be considering plans to house Asylum Seekers on disused ferries moored off the british coast while their claims are assessed. New figures reveal more than 1,900 migrants reached the uk by boat in september more than in the whole of last year. Simonjones reports. Destination dover. This boat carrying 20 migrants, which set off from northern france, was being tracked by a military drone. But despite a pledge by both the british and french authorities to make the route unviable, people have been crossing the channel in boats in record numbers. Now the British Government is said to be considering bringing into service disused ferries to house migrants while their asylum applications are considered. Number ten and the home office have been clear that they are going to take whatever action is necessary to put a stop to these small boats crossings, and that includes addressing what is called the draw factors the things that make britain an attractive place to come to. Theyre looking at a whole range of things from cruise ships and ferries through to offshore fast track assessment centres, through to changing the immigration law. So far this year, more than 7,000 migrants have reached the uk by boat. In september around 1,950 people made the crossing thats a higher figure than for the whole of last year, when 1,835 migrants crossed the channel. The home office doesnt like to use the word crisis, but it admits its facing a crisis in the asylum accommodation system. Its currently providing shelter for 60,000 people. That number has gone up considerably during the coronavirus pandemic due to delays of processing asylum claims. The home office is already using this former barracks in folkestone to house Asylum Seekers, and another site in pembrokeshire. A Group Supporting migrants say the idea of turning to ferries is ludicrous. Its another one of the governments crazy schemes. I dont think it will come to anything. We used prison ships in the Victorian Era and theres a reason we dont do that any more. Its because its not an acceptable way to keep fellow human beings. The government says it wants to provide protection to those who need it while preventing abuse of the asylum system. The un says in the context of overall european migration, the numbers reaching the uk are manageable. Simonjones, bbc news, dover. The time is quarter past one. Our top story this lunchtime. Tougher coronavirus restrictions are to be imposed across more parts of Northern England to try to combat a sharp rise in infections. And why zoos fear the pandemic may threaten important Breeding Programmes like this one, involving rhinos at whipsnade. Coming up on bbc news. Another big name falls at the french open. Second seed Karolina Pliskova is knocked out in the second round at roland garros. One of the most contentious battle grounds in the Us Election Campaign is that of race. In yesterdays tv debate President Trump refused to condemn far right groups, and said it was left wing groups, who he called antifa, who were responsible for the violence in many us cities. Our correspondent Aleem Maqbool has been to portland in oregon, to talk to both sides. There are flashing images in his report. Its become the us capital of radicalism. Most American Cities have seen some demonstrations this year, but here they havent stopped. And its become a huge election issue. Well, this is what almost every night has looked like, here in down town portland, in the four months since the Police Killing of george floyd in minneapolis, with hundreds of protesters on one side, Law Enforcement agents on the other, and there have been many flashpoints of violence. Some feel over aggression by the Security Forces has exacerbated tensions, but the white house says this isnt demonstrating about racial justice, just rioting by anarchists or antifa. A riot is the voice of the unheard. So if you dont want riots, maybe you should listen. Its not antifa in the streets. Its the people in the streets. Its the people that are being pushed around, the people that dont have food, the people that cant pay their rent. But it has led to loss of life. In late august, a large convoy of Trump Supporters drove past the protesters in portland, some firing paintballs at them. Later that day one trump supporter from a far right group was shot dead. The left wing activist who is suspected of killing him died in a police raid on his home. Its partly why the neo fascist group the proud boys earlier this week decided to hold a rally in portland. Theyd predicted thousands would attend. In the end it was a few hundred. Were here to shut down this violence and bring awareness, national attention. Hopefully donald trump sees this and hes already decreed this an anarchist city, which is great, because its true. In the debate, when asked to condemn the actions of white supremacists, the president could only manage this. What do you want to call them . Give me a name. White supremacists, proud boys, proud boys. Proud boys, stand back and stand by, but ill tell you what, ill tell you what, somebodys got to do something about antifa and the left because. The proud boys have revelled in his response. Back in portland, at the same time as the proud boys gathering, an illustration of the totally different worlds on display in the us these days. A rally still focused on why so many black people are killed by the police. Theyre trying to say were trying to destroy america and democracy, but they know thats garbage. They are just falling behind the rhetoric that dehumanises us so that can lower the value of our lives to justify committing acts of violence against us. Its those at this rally whove been taking to the streets night after night. Many americans support their efforts to bring about change, but for many others these scenes are making them all the more determined to vote for donald trump. Aleem maqbool, bbc news, in portland. The commission that oversees us president ial debates says itll introduce new measures to ensure the remaining two encounters between donald trump and joe biden are more orderly. Tuesdays debate saw the two candidates talking over each other and exchanging insults. Its estimated that the president interrupted joe biden more than 70 times. Six months ago, italy was the global epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic the first country in the west to see widespread transmission, and the first in the world to impose a national lockdown. But now italys infection rate is considerably lower than that of many other european countries. Our rome correspondent mark lowen has been finding out why. Covids once global epicentre isnt letting down its guard. Spot checks by Italian Police to ensure rules on overcrowding and mask wearing are followed. Its one of the tools italy has used to get infection rates down to some of the lowest in europe, keeping the virus in check while others struggle with a fresh spike. We issue fines when needed, says giovani cipriani, but none today. Usually everyone wears masks. Awareness of the consequences of breaking the rules has helped instill a sense of discipline here. But in reality, police have had to intervene relatively rarely, as italy has on the whole followed restrictions, and now its reaping the benefits. Italy is taking safety as seriously as its food. Many restaurants have screens, disposable or digital menus. Customers are recorded for contact tracing. Its given them the freedom to stay open and busy, unlike others in europe. The trauma of covid frightened italians into compliance. Because we were the first and we had a very long quarantine and we really felt it, and it was a very strong period for everyone, so we really felt it. And there were many, many people dying and we could see all the. Not here but on the news, those people dying alone. It has been very strong. The governments reward for a lower infection rate has been broad public support, but it knows success is fragile. Im really proud of italians because they did follow the rules. But, you know, the war is not over yet. So we need still to wait and see whats going to happen in october, november, and during the winter. But right now, i think things are going very well. Alert to the fact schools reopened later here than elsewhere in europe, theres now mass testing for students and teachers. This at a high school near rome. Rapid results come within 30 minutes. Tests, rules, compliance a formula italy hopes can halt a second wave and ease the legacy of pain from the first. Mark lowen, bbc news, rome. October is black History Month in the uk. For more than 30 years, the annual event has celebrated the achievements and contributions of people of african and caribbean descent. And this year, its organisers say the huge growth of the black lives Matter Movement means its more relevant than ever. Greg mckenzie has been to meet some of the people involved in this years events. Waiting to be disturbed by the next person who sees in my skin a good reason for a tone dive into condescension. Newsreel arrivals at tilbury, the empire windrush brings to britain 500 jamaicans. From slavery to windrush, britains black History Month isnt about far away people. Its about uk history. Launched back in the 1980s, over seven days, it was a chance to educate and inform people about black history, which wasnt being taught in our schools. The black cultural archives in brixton, south london, holds a treasure trove of research and information, stemming back some 2000 years. Theres a lot more that needs to be done to understand that black history is not confined to a month, its not confined to particular periods, especially of recent history in britain, but theres this influence and contribution, you know, stretching back thousands of years. The month of october isnt about creating a separate history, its simply about remembering a history that already exists. I drown it out with music, screaming at how often i scrape its breath into my palm and will it to beat slower. Tolu is a poet, and today, a collection of her works will be published as part of the 20 in 2020 campaign. I mean, if we look at the history of the uk, black people in particular have played a particular part in building the infrastructures of this country. Its either been built by them or on their backs, and so, black History Month is a time to remember that. There will be many events taking place throughout the month of october, up and down the uk, including phenomenal women at the Southbank Centre in the capital. The exhibition honours the achievements of black women in academia. We both wanted to capture these women as powerful, as symbolising something also about their professions, because if were going to take the time to do an exhibition, its really important that their stature and their authority was reflected in the portraits. The recent black lives matter protests have highlighted the reality of the global injustices and systematic racism that black people have faced for years. Black History Month is a time to look forward and celebrate the here and now, as well as a time to reclaim history and reimagine how shared history will be told in the future. Greg mckenzie, bbc news. A ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds has come into force in england. It will now be illegal for businesses to supply them to customers, though there are exemptions to protect people who need items because of medical conditions. A huge naval exercise involving ships, submarines and aircraft from nearly 20 countries is due to begin in a loch on the west coast of scotland this weekend. But, as well as hosting the uks Nuclear Armed submarines, gare loch has also become home to a pod of whales. The race is now on to herd them safely to sea, as lorna gordon reports. They are creatures of the deep. The northern bottlenosed whale would not normally be found in shallow coastal waters, but for the last month this pod has been in a sea loch in argyll, and now a flotilla of boats is going to try to herd them on a 30 mile journey to safety. We are going to create a noise, not to disturb or distress the whales but to encourage them to move away from this area, and we will do that with boats within the gare loch and we have boats meeting us deeper water to block off access to the other lochs that the whales have been seen in. Wales are particularly sensitive to underwater sound. A large military exercises about to begin involving submarines. Vets are on hand, as ourflotation begin involving submarines. Vets are on hand, as our flotation devices begin involving submarines. Vets are on hand, as ourflotation devices in case any of the wales get stranded during the rescue operation. More boats will also be deployed to stop pod swimming at the clyde into glasgow, but it will be some time before we know if this has all been successful, given the distance that needs to be covered before the whales are returned to the open sea. Lorna gordon, bbc news. Eviction teams have begun attempts to remove dozens of protestors from woodland in buckinghamshire, which is on the planned hs2 rail route. Activists who oppose the high speed line have been occupying parts ofjones hill wood for months. The area is said to have inspired many of roald dahls most famous stories. Most zoos and aquariums say theyre finding it impossible to get money from the governments coronavirus bail out scheme. Only one zoo out of about 300 in england has successfully made a claim, and some fear that without more support theyll go bankrupt. Ministers insist their rescue package will provide a safety net if zoos get into really serious financial difficulties. Justin rowlatt reports. Oh my god, look at this it may not look like the perfect first date, but for rare southern white rhinos this meeting is significant. Two female rhinos have arrived at whipsnade zoo as part of a worldwide Breeding Programme for endangered animals and theyve been introduced to the resident male, sizzle. Breeding threatened species is a key part of what modern zoos do. More and more were finding that these conservation Breeding Programmes are acting as an insurance population for species facing imminent extinction in the wild. But britains zoos are under threat as never before. Lockdown hit them hard. They endured a double whammy no visitors, but of course they still need to feed the animals. It costs up to £1 million a month just at london and whipsnade zoos, and most british zoos, london included, get no public funding. Wow, look at that. Many zoos are now relying on charitable donations just to stay afloat. London zoo expects to be £20 million down by the end of the year, and restrictions on visitor numbers because of social distancing mean it cannot expect to get that money back. Back injune the government announced a £100 million rescue package for englands zoos and aquariums, but the bbc has learned just one zoo out of around 300 in england has managed to access the cash. Theres a stipulation that they must be down to their last 12 weeks funding of reserves, and by the time they get to that point any good zoo will have been putting contingency plans in place, so plans to rehome their animals and to scale down their collections, just to maintain their Animal Welfare and their care standards. So effectively by that time the zoo would be on its way to closure already . Thats right, thats far too close to closure for it to be beneficial to most of our zoos and aquariums. The government says it believes its rescue package will provide zoos with the safety net they need if theyre in serious financial difficulties. But many zoos are still worried about how theyll survive. Hi, baby ede a super rare baby okapi takes its first teetering steps at london zoo. Her keeper, gemma, who shot this footage, has called her ede. With some zoos themselves facing extinction, ede could be one of the last beneficiaries of the international
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