this is bbc news, the headlines: joe biden and kamala harris have been setting out their vision for the us, in their first joint appearance since he chose her, as his vice presidential candidate. mr biden said he had no doubt he had picked the right person. senator harris said the country is crying out for leadership. in belarus — people have come out in the capital minsk for a fourth night of protests against sunday's election result. clashes erupted hours after bela rusian leader alexander lu kashenko was declared the winner of the vote — which the eu has condemned as "neither free nor fair." an investigation is under way in scotland — after three people died when a passenger train came off the rails on a flooded track in aberdeenshire. scotrail has confirmed the fatalities were the driver, the conductor and a passenger. witnesses say heavy rain had caused a landslide nearby.

the official number of deaths in the uk from coronavirus has been reduced by 5,000, after a change in the way the figure is calculated. public health england has agreed to fall into line with the rest of the uk and only count deaths occurring within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. it means the total number of deaths has fallen from from 46,706 to 41,329. here's our health editor hugh pym. lockdown restrictions have eased, more people are out and about and today we learned the coronavirus death total has been lower than we thought because of a change in the way it's worked out. scotland, wales and northern ireland report those testing positive within 28 days of their death isa within 28 days of their death is a covid fidelity but english vessels included anyone who tested positive even if was months before a death which may have had the other cause. they may go now go the same whether the others. there is the graph

the others. there is the graph the daily coronavirus deaths in england in 28 days of a positive death test and hear the tests which —— debts which we re the tests which —— debts which were excluded in a previous calculation, difference now in total, about 5&00 fewer deaths. it was this academic expert spotted unusual fluctuations and realised england's calculation was different from the rest of the uk. when we look at the data, it was all over the place. 0ne look at the data, it was all over the place. one day there would be tens, and the next day 100, and it was hard to understand what was happening so understand what was happening so it's the right move today to provide clarity and for the other countries across the uk. it very cruel. anthony remembers his dad, tommy, who is 67 when he died after more than a month in intensive care. very, very well loved man, very kind, everybody started well with him. shocked and surprised when he impacted. however the

stats are calculated, he says, his family have stoppered devastating loss. it's not good to be recording debts, but it's far too many, and so many preve nta ble far too many, and so many preventable deaths as well. under the former definition, there were 77 more uk reported deaths in the latest 2a hours. just over 1000 new cases with a daily average over seven days up daily average over seven days upa bit daily average over seven days up a bit at 945. people will be free to analyse and draw their own conclusions. now it's time for coronavirus — your stories.

welcome to coronavirus your stories, a programme about how covid—19 is changing the lives of people around the world. i'm thomas and this week we are talking about relationships in the way we think about them. what the pandemic is done to change the way that we look at each other. later, ask you to imagine that you just met someone, imagine that you just met someone, you've been on a few dates, it's looking good and suddenly it's a lot down and you had to spend every minute of every day to get that. that's what happened to katie and ryan, a canadian and a brit travelling abroad. we will get the verdict on their lockdown love life in new zealand. first, since covid—19 swept the world, with perhaps all realised the importance of relationships, how much we all need to have somebody to love. we brought together to women who hear about a lot of relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly. since 1997,

carolyn hucks has been writing her advice column in the washington post, read another 200 newspapers in the united states. matchmaker deedee edit has been helping single people in nigeria trying to find meaningful romance in lockdown. the lockdown started in nigeria and in march, we had a huge spike in people wanting to date we started something called dating in quarantine which is like an on line speed dating, a great way to meet people. and a lot of relationships started from there. that was something that was really positive from the covid. so does that mean for you, didi, single people are more focused on finding someone. are more focused on finding someone. they are more focused now because everyone is indoors, there are more social spaces open, and with social distance, people are forced to get homes they do take time to

get homes they do take time to get to know people. there is no pressure of any physical interaction so you do get to know the person and who they really are. carolyn hax, you hear about all sorts of situations in a park and ask about people who are in relationships already, what has pandemic done, what are you hearing about most?” pandemic done, what are you hearing about most? i think the pandemic has a dense —— intensified whatever you have so if you are in a relationship thatis so if you are in a relationship that is a little bit suffocating, and you are to the point of desperation now, if you feel, if you felt a little bit alienate it, you feel like you never talk, ithink bit alienate it, you feel like you never talk, i think people who are together, want some space, people who are alone, wa nt to space, people who are alone, want to be together. it's almost like people were frozen exactly where they were when this started, so you have too

much of whatever you were frozen with. and you refer to the fact, carolyn hax, that it's more about talking, you can't get physical quickly so you need to have the skills to talk to somebody new. yes, and it's making much more creative ways to date because a ten did on line concerts together, they are having the video dates that you sent through, and you get together and have a glass of wine, so many creative ways to date that we never thought about until now, so it's been really exciting to see what's been happening with all of this. when covid is over and everything goes back to normal, i think everything goes back to normal, ithinka everything goes back to normal, i think a lot of first dates still might happen on video or on line, and social spaces anymore. if people are being forced to get to know each other and have conversations at arm's length and try to get to know each other intellectually, but can't hurt, i think. it

slows things down, and i think one of the markers of a dangerous relationship is that it happens very quickly so this might end up being a benefit in the long run, if people get used to dating more slowly. that's like a major, people have had deeper connections, we've had relationships start and end really quickly. it's really good. right now, the relationships forming have had deeper connections, because there is no physical pressure, you get another person, you get to see the space, you get to see so much about the person before you see them. so this is definitely everyone's favourite when it comes to dating. carolyn hax, you talked about people getting stuck where they are. you think there is a lot

of realisation going on, people finding out things about partners they may have known for a long time. people hearing their partners work's personas because they're working from home, overhearing meetings, and they can't believe that they married somebody who says, i wa nt married somebody who says, i want to circle back, i actually got a question from somebody saying her husband often used to come home from work to complain about what was going on. she is realised from overhearing him that she is the problem, she didn't know whether she should tell him that she has realised in all of the stories, that he was the one causing them, and a lot of people laid off and unemployed all the time. and that's driving the partner crazy because their relationship worked because they were apart 40, 50 hours a worked because they were apart 40,50 hours a week so it's really been eye—opening for a lot of people. carolyn hax, we

are talking about the stresses of pandemic and lot down, but have you seen positive takeaway is as well, meaningful changes for the better? absolutely. i think one of the things this whole situation has done is force people to reckon with things they don't want to think about and almost said this in response to the last question, sometimes getting bad information about people can be useful anyway. it's painful, but i think when people are realising that they had problems they were dealing with, and now they are forced to deal with them, i think people are going in better directions for themselves wherever possible and again, i don't want to overstate it because what's going on is terrifying and devastating and financially difficult, but people are really trying, it's

a real human test, and people are trying to make something of it. looking at the dark side, the difficult side, i read your column, carolyn hax, since i moved to the states in 1997 and you do often ring alarm bells in yourcolumn you do often ring alarm bells in your column about situations people are written. yes, and there are people right now in some dangerous situations. fridays, i do a live on line chat and a woman wrote in from an abusive situation and she was with her partner and the lockdown came just as she was about to leave. she had all her plans and they'll just about to leave. she had all her plans and they'lljust washed away suddenly so she was in this dangerous situation and over several fridays, i say we, because readers were making suggestions, and she ended up connecting with domestic violence support groups and she ended up getting out but it took weeks and it was

terrifying. i mean, she had options, but they were very limited all of a sudden. and i think this is not uncommon, i think this is not uncommon, i think people again, their safety is in being able to circulate, being able to get away, see a friend, go to work and when all those things were closed off, some people found themselves very quickly in big trouble. carolyn, you've been giving advice for a long time now and through some periods of great uncertainty and change and national trauma but given the fact we're through or have gone through lockdown, does this feel different in anything before? i'd never seen anything like this before. this is unprecedented. its scope, usually when something is going wrong, it affects a certain number of people, or people in

a certain socio—economic group, but this is hitting everybody and hitting everybody in an asymmetrical way so everybody is struggling but almost everybody is struggling with something different. it feels very, it's like you can look out the window and every thing seems normal but you know in the background, it's not normal, people don't feel like they can communicate or rally together for one they can communicate or rally togetherfor one thing to they can communicate or rally together for one thing to make it better, to help make sense so there is a sort of, i think people feel adrift and tired because being scared for a long period can make you very tired soi period can make you very tired so i think it'sjust, a lot of people are at loose ends and looking to connect. didi, you've been telling us about how you have more subscribers, you are working harder at this point but does that also lead to extra stress and tiredness for you? how is it personally for you? how is it personally for you? how is it personally for you now? at first, it did,

but then we had to go into our work wobbly. we do have work people around, so it's not as bad as it seems. but working with others has been easier. carolyn. people in my community are really rallying and being supportive, so the live discussions, for example, can turn around. if i'm feeling low, just having people weighing in. and looking out for each other and offering such good insights, and a good sense of community, has been really helpful. it is kind of long two tracks, i am tired, i am stressed. but at the same time, it's put me in touch with some of the things that i find most rewarding about my life. relationship advisors didi edit

in lagos and carolyn hax in washington dc on the many different stories they are hearing about relationships in this time of coronavirus. i'm thomas and you are watching coronavirus your stories, a programme about how covid 19 is changing lives around the world. next, we are going to hear about an unintended whirlwind romance between two young lovers who found themselves suddenly locked down together. backin back in the days before covid—19, a hairdresser, and a builder, for the past few years have been doing some world travelling. they hung out in australia. she dated his good friend. they dated in new zealand and then the virus took hold and everything changed. they spoke to me just before news came through further restrictions in new zealand, beginning with the moment they first realised they were going into lockdown together back in

march. katie and ryan, let's start with the moment you realised you were going to be lockdown together. what was that like? panic. laughter. please, no. it was a shock to the system but not necessarily a bad one. just a bit of a shock. i'm sure it was a shock for everyone, really, just knowing we would be cooped up ina knowing we would be cooped up in a house for a really long time. and it was really new because we did not really want to live with each other right away. how strict was your lockdown? for many six or seven weeks we kind of did not leave the house at all. we could go for avalon while we could not go out of your neighbourhood, only as far as three kilometre. for essentials, only one person from the household could go.

for essentials, only one person from the household could gom was a pretty straight. i want to roll back a bit. how did you meet? we met initially in australia, on a banana phone, four years ago. we were there doing our farm work to get second—year visa and we were both in mission beach in queensland. and that is where we met. just friends that... the first date we met...|j we met. just friends that... the first date we met... i was probably drunk. i don't know, i don't remember that but i will ta ke don't remember that but i will take it. would it be fat for me to say that, as romantic partners, you did not get together until you were in new zealand this year? yes, yes. fate hasjust kind of brought it together properly. i went away on a trip to the south island and upon coming back,

the spark ignited. an event you find out that from a few dates and knowing the spark is there, you're going to be living together and it is going to be non—stop. tell us about what that life was like? what was most memorable about having to be locked down together? we taught to think out how to walk ona taught to think out how to walk on a harness, so now he is our dog. so we can taking on our adventurous now. that's the best thing to come out of lockdown. for a cat, we always get people stopping and saying it isa get people stopping and saying it is a cat on get people stopping and saying it isa cat ona get people stopping and saying it is a cat on a lead! but in terms of living together, i guess, that was an adjustment for sure. i mean, we never

spent as much time with one single person and it took some adjustment. there were moments when we had to have, obviously, i was when we had to have, obviously, iwas upstairs, when we had to have, obviously, i was upstairs, she was downstairs, we were taking our free time but it kind of forced us free time but it kind of forced us to understand each other quickly and really get to know each other quickly and i'm sure that if it wasn't for lockdown, we would not be in a position we would not be in a position we are at the moment. what are some of the understandings you reached? basically... ryan stiles and when he snores really bad, he has to go to a different room. number two, don't mix the dirty laundry and the clean laundry together. life lessons! and ryan, what did you find out about katie?|j

did you find out about katie?” found out that basically i was searching for someone that was similarto me and searching for someone that was similar to me and i was searching for someone that wanted to explore and travel and see the world and, you know, we go on adventures of the time together and i have not had that for because i have always been like, you want to hear but my other partners were not interested but she is and i love that about her. she is always up for doing something fun. a new that about you but never thought you would be the romantic one. katie, looking back at where we started the conversation, went lockdown happen, you said you were panicking a bit, you are not ready for that sort of relationship and commitment. how do you feel now looking back at the way you went into

this? i did a lot more soul—searching than i thought. as soon as lockdown was over, we did take a week break because it was so much of seeing each other and being in each other‘s space and we needed time to brave and that week he went away, i realise this is what a normal relationship is supposed to feel like, and how much i cared for ryan and how much i wanted him around. i wasn't ready at the time but now i am and i'm glad he was patient with me during that period because i'm sure i was not always enjoyable. i'm sure i wasn't. you're from canada and the uk. what were your families thinking? what kind of reaction did you get from yourfamilies? my did you get from yourfamilies? my parents kind ofjust realising i am not coming back

probably ever, unless i have to. they know i am over here andi to. they know i am over here and i think they are just happy i found and i think they are just happy ifound someone and i think they are just happy i found someone and from what they know of ryan, they really love him and are quite supportive and are pushing from grandchildren. no pressure then? no, none at all. i think that would be sad ride not around anymore. probably really sad. and what about you ryan, when yourfamily sad. and what about you ryan, when your family and friends found out you were living with someone found out you were living with someone full—time? found out you were living with someone full-time? i must say, my mum was really happy that i found someone that stopped me from biting my nails stop all my life i have always been biting my nails and during lockdown, as we were always together, whenever i had my fingers in my mouth she would tell me to stop it and i actually grew some nails and it was really a surprise for my mum and she said to me, if katie is able to do that, she is the one. from the sound of

it, lockdown has worked for you? are you going to make any predictions about staying together? no, not so much predictions. i think if you have too many expectations you set yourself up for disappointment. we are going to keep on going with it. we do have some future plans about goals once residency happens. and any tips for anyone else because there are a lot of people out there who are still feeling lonely or looking for love. everybody has everybody interested in relationships? to the single ladies out there, give the nice guy a chance. that is one thing i never did, i don't know why, and it is the best thing that can ever happen. definitely, be open to kindness and accept it because

it works sometimes. and i say, just listen, boys, just listen. don'tjust say you just listen, boys, just listen. don't just say you are listening, actually take it in and listen properly. katie, does ryan live by his own advice? he does. it has been a work in progress. most times we are good. you have talked about residency. you are thinking about visas. given that your homes have changed so much, is it possible to talk about what feels like home to you now? yes, i mean, ifeel like in new zealand is my home now. i have been here for three years. i have a really greatjob that i love and all my friends, i have a cat, i have got ryan. as much as my family is back home, this

feels like my base now and where i want to start my life. the same. this is our home. coronavirus, this pandemic has been such an uncertain time for everybody stop how has falling in love help you get through it? it has helped push the negative to the side because, during the whole pandemic, we have both been thinking a lot about each other and about what direction, we, as a relationship, i going to go in. although it has been really worrying about the pandemic and everything, we have had our own little, i was going to say... battle. you help me pulled me out of bad places and i helped you. we help each other achieve our goals and what makes us

happy. i'm sorry about the pandemic but that is something we will take with us, keep on moving forward. a heartwarming story of love surviving lockdown. good luck to them. thank you for watching. hello. wednesday brought a real mishmash of weather across the british isles. a lot of heat and humidity again and yet, into saint ives and a number of coastal areas, were plagued with low cloud and fog, and then, as the day wore on, so the thunderstorms popped off, and that prospect is there again, through thursday. hot and humid weather with that risk of thunderstorms, especially so, although not exclusively, across the southern half of the british isles, because this overall set up of the low pressure, with the heat from the continent and the moisture from the surrounding seas, is still the dominant feature. and we start with the temperature somewhere in the teens for many, if not twenty degrees in one

or two spots in the southeast. and from the word go, there could well be some thunderstorms for central and southern parts of england, getting across the border into wales. quite a bit of murk there to the eastern side of the pennines, effecting some of the east and northern counties of scotland. best of the sunshine out west, later on in the day, pushing the temperatures to 22. similar sort of prospect in parts of northern ireland and somewhere again across central and southern parts of england will be pushing close to 30 degrees and the thunderstorms continue apace. there are warnings from the met office already about the potential for disruption from those storms. in fact, that continues right on into friday. as well another murky, muggy night to come, widely across the british isles. friday, a really cloudy start with a shield of cloud coming in from the north sea to affect many areas. 0nly beginning to break as we get on into the afternoon. and still that prospect, particularly across southern britain, of some really quite sharp thunderstorms.

the temperatures beginning to fall back a touch, but it will still feel very close, very oprpressive, simply because that overall situation really not changing, even as you move towards the weekend, southern britain still at risk from these thunderstorms. further north, it should be dry, thanks to the influence of the high pressure. but again, some of these northern and eastern facing coast could well be affected by some low level mist and murk, which will temper the feel of the day. but with some sunshine in the north you'll be looking at 22, possibly 23 degrees. and we don't really change things even as we push right through the weekend and into the start of the forthcoming week. take care, bye—bye.

she welcome to bbc news — i'm mike embley. our top stories: joe biden appeares in public for the first time with his new election running mate, kamala harris. i have no doubt that i picked the right person tojoin me as the next vice president of the united states of america's —— america and that is kamala harris. i am incredibly honoured by this responsibility and i'm ready to get to work. i am ready to get to work. anger continues over alleged vote rigging in the belarus election. the country's president compares protestors to criminals and the unemployed. beirut‘s children will carry the physical and psychological scars of last week's explosion into adulthood