Your morning briefing: What you should know for Friday, September 18

Sean Morrison @seanmorrison_18 September 2020

Total number of people in lockdown rises above 10 million

The total number of people in the UK in lockdown has risen above 10 million as tough new measures to control the spread of coronavirus come into force in the north east.

The new restrictions cover Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.

Residents will be banned from socialising in homes or gardens with people outside their own households or support bubble, food and drink venues will be restricted to table service only.

Leisure and entertainment venues must also close at 10pm under the new rules, which came into effect at midnight.

Weekly coronavirus cases in Europe eclipsing rates at March peak, says WHO

The spread of coronavirus has returned to "alarming rates of transmission" in Europe this month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

Dr Hans Kluge, the European director of WHO, said 300,000 new infections were reported last week and more than half of the countries reported a rise of more than 10 per cent in cases over the last two weeks.

Such statistics should be “a wake-up call for all of us”, Dr Kluge said.

He warned that new weekly coronavirus cases in Europe are exceeding the numbers reported when the pandemic first peaked in March.

Home Office 'basing immigration policies on anecdote and prejudice’

The Home Office has been accused of basing immigration policies on "anecdote, assumption and prejudice" instead of evidence, and having no idea of the effect they have on migrants.

The department shows far too little concern over the damage caused by its failures on "both the illegal and legitimate migrant populations", according to a scathing review from the Public Accounts Committee.

The findings, said the Home Office has "no idea" what its £400 million immigration enforcement annual spending achieves, and instead appears to formulate policies not on evidence but on "anecdote, assumption and prejudice".

European Commission president ‘convinced’ trade deal can be secured despite Brexit bill row

The European Commission chief has said she is "convinced" a trade deal remains possible with the UK but called Boris Johnson's controversial Brexit Bill an "unpleasant surprise".

Ursula von der Leyen said Downing Street's attempts to override the Brexit treaty with the UK Internal Market Bill had "distracted very strongly" from the two sides being able to secure a deal before the approaching deadline on December 31.

The bill, which looks at how England trades with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland post-Brexit, has proved controversial both in and outside of the House of Commons.

Councils handing out record number of 'petty' anti-social behaviour orders

Councils have issued record numbers of "petty" anti-social behaviour orders last year targeting messy gardens, sitting on the pavement and even feeding stray cats.

"Overuse of the blank cheque powers" has led to legal restrictions on the public in England and Wales over other minor matters such as swearing and spitting, said campaigners Manifesto Club.

Last year, a record 10,413 fines were issued for breaches of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) which allow local authorities to ban activities deemed "detrimental" to local residents.

On this day...

1709: Samuel Johnson, poet and lexicographer, was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, the son of a bookseller. His dictionary, which took him eight years to compile, contained some eccentric explanations, such as "Oats: A grain which in England is generally given to horses but in Scotland supports the people".

1810: Chile revolted and gained independence from Spain.

1851: The New York Times was first published.

1905: Greta Garbo, the Swedish shop girl who became one of the most famous film stars of all time, was born.

1948: Some 7,000 tons of food supplies and petrol were airlifted into Berlin by British and American aircraft, defying a three-month Russian blockade.

1949: The British pound was devalued by 30% by Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps, from 4.03 dollars to 2.80 dollars. On the same day, the milk ration was reduced to two pints a week per person.

1951: The Al Read Show started on BBC radio, with Jimmy Edwards and Pat Kirkwood. Read originated the catchphrases "Right monkey" and "You'll be lucky!"

1961: UN secretary-general Dag Hammarskjold was killed when his plane was sabotaged and crashed in the jungle in Northern Rhodesia.

1970: Rock star Jimi Hendrix died in an ambulance on the way to hospital, apparently suffering from a drug overdose.

1976: In China, 800 million citizens paid a last tribute to their leader Mao Tse-Tung at the beginning of a memorial service. For three minutes, one-fifth of the world's population stood in silence.

1981: France abolished execution by guillotine.

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