Plus, the lawyer who became a cat...
| Cladding crisis funding expected |
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| | | Since the Grenfell Tower fire, we know around 700,000 people live in high-rise blocks with flammable cladding. These flats are often owned by leaseholders, who face huge bills to fix the problem. In addition, insurance costs have gone up. Some are having to pay thousands for round-the-clock fire wardens. And many flats are effectively worthless, as banks won’t offer mortgages on them. Today, the government is expected to announce extra funding to fix cladding. The detail is not known, but a committee of MPs has estimated the cost of the crisis is £15bn. Just £1.6bn has been announced so far. However, some leaseholders’ problems don’t end with the cladding. Post-Grenfell checks have uncovered other problems, such as a lack of fire breaks. And, even if the government pays to fix cladding, many are already tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket. We've heard of examples such as this first-time buyer who had to declare bankruptcy - while this woman has to meet a £40,000 bill, and these people have already paid £500,000 for “waking watches”. Meanwhile, people using an existing fund have been told not to speak to the media without government approval. | |
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| Trump impeachment trial to continue |
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| The US Senate has said the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump is constitutional, allowing full proceedings to begin. Mr Trump's defence team argued he cannot face trial after leaving the White House. But a 56-44 majority voted to continue. Mr Trump is accused of "inciting insurrection" before the Capitol riot last month. However, a two-thirds majority is needed to convict - and with the Senate split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, he is expected to be acquitted. | |
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| Care homes only got 10% of PPE |
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| Care home staff were not given personal protective equipment (PPE) early in the pandemic because the government prioritised the NHS, MPs have said. The Commons Public Accounts Committee said care homes received only a fraction of the PPE needed. Between March and July 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care provided NHS trusts with 1.9 billion items of PPE, the equivalent to 80% of estimated need. The adult social care sector was given 331 million items - just 10% of its need. At the same time, about 25,000 patients were discharged to care homes from hospitals without being tested for Covid-19. . | |
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| | | | | The boot of the red car lifts up to reveal a sea of plastic bags. Inside each one are the essentials for bringing up young children: nappies, wipes, baby food and shampoo, as well as sanitary items for their mums - all free to those in need. Within a minute or two, the first customer arrives. Soon followed by another, and another. Since the first lockdown, on every Thursday Emilie de Bruijn runs this "baby bank" out of the back of her car in Hartlepool, County Durham. Covid has put paid to the indoor space she used in normal times. It's also increased demand amongst families now suffering real and deepening hardship. | |
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| | Katie Razzall | BBC Newsnight | |
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| | | | The possible 10-year prison sentence for people who lie about travelling to Covid hotspots features on most of the front pages. The Telegraph says it's "longer than the maximum sentence for child sex offences or violent firearm crimes". Meanwhile, the Express and the Mirror report on a hospital that charges staff £500 a year to park. Read all the front pages here. |
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| | | | | Covid Europe's oldest woman survives |
| | | | Myanmar Woman 'shot' fights for life |
| | | | Pubs Landlords plead for reopening date |
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| If you watch one thing today |
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| If you listen to one thing today |
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| If you read one thing today |
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