this is bbc news, i'm simon mccoy. the headlines: travel company tui launches an investigation into claims that some passengers were ignoring coronavirus guidance on a flight from a greek island linked to 16 covid—19 cases. it was quite scary, to be honest. as soon as we boarded, we realised that many of the passengers hadn't really been educated about the wearing of facemasks. calls for next summer's gcse and a level exams to be put back — to make up for teaching time lost during the lockdown. the government's month—long "eat out to help out" scheme ends today — but some restaurant owners want it to be extended. the first commercial flight from israel to the united arab emirates touches down in abu dhabi — marking a major step in the normalising of relations between the two countries. the charge on single—use carrier bags is to be extended to all shops in england —

and the cost is to double to ten pence. and, an unprecedened presidential race, with challenges thrown up by covid—19. that's anything but normal: us virtual election" in half an hour, here on bbc news. good afternoon. the airline tui has launched an investigation after at least 16 cases of coronavirus were linked to one of its flights from the greek island of zante to cardiff last tuesday. some passengers have accused cabin crew of failing to challenge those on the plane who were not wearing face coverings. the 193 passengers and crew on board are being asked to self—isolate for a fortnight. caroline davies reports. sunshine getaways to the island of zante, an appealing prospect

to many uk holiday—makers. but for some, travelling back from holiday to cardif, it wasn't the return they were hoping for. it was quite scary, to be honest. as soon as we boarded, we realised that many of the passengers hadn't really been educated about the wearing of facemasks. many of them were wearing them around their chins, underneath their noses, they were taking them off to talk to fellow passengers and walking down the aisle with their mask off to speak to others. at least 16 cases of covid—19 have so far been linked to the flight. all passengers on board have been told to self—isolate. the airline that ran the flight, tui, have said...

but this isn't the first time holiday—makers returning from zante to the uk have had symptoms. last week, local health officials in plymouth said a group of 18 and 19—year—olds had also tested positive. zante itself has introduced its own restrictions, including closing restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes at midnight and banning more than four people at restaurant tables, advice shared on the foreign office website. it has raised questions about whether there should be localised quarantine for certain high—risk regions, rather than entire countries. if there is enough evidence to suggest that it is a hotspot and that the social distancing measures cannot be maintained adequately, then there is a case for people not to mix in those destinations. it is not currently the government policy to enforce quarantine for regions, islands or cities. as uk holiday—makers return home, public health officials are keeping a close eye on new infections.

labour has called for next summer's a level and gcse exams in england to be delayed — by up to two months — to allow pupils more time to catch up on lost teaching time after schools were closed during the pandemic. the shadow education secretary, kate green, said pupils have a "mountain to climb" to prepare for exams after months away from the classroom. the uk government has insisted exams will go ahead next year. tony bonsignore reports. it's only been a few weeks since this year's students got theirfinal grades but what to do about next yea r‘s exams? it's a question that is already testing politicians. labour's answer, delay gcses and a—levels in england until at leastjune, to make up for lost teaching time. we really feel it's important that we put young people first when planning for next year's assessments, and that means giving them as long as possible for teaching and for learning to take place, to make up for the disruption they've already suffered in the school year we've just had and while i hope there won't be disruption

in the coming year, i think we've got to accept it's quite possible there may be periods when children have to be out of school again for a time. it's far too early to be saying you're going to postpone things or cancel things as the labour party seem to be saying, that's the wrong approach. what we should actually be doing at this moment, is focusing on getting schools back in the saddle, running again, so that young people can resume their education. quual, which sets the rules for exams in england, has made some changes to what students have to do for subjects such as english literature and geography, to allow more flexibility. and it's already consulted on pushing back exams but hasn't yet made a decision. but how do teachers and pupils feel? there really isn't a very good reason for year 11 students to do quite so many exams. and if we were able to thin that out a little bit then that would, you know, already start to solve part of the problem. i have worked hard during lockdown but i do feel i haven't reached my full learning potential without a teacher present. i do feel i lack confidence going

into year 11 regarding my exams so i would like the idea of the exams being pushed back until the end of the year. i think delaying the exams could actually end up prolonging the inevitable. it's already a very stressful year for us and it could actually end up just adding more unneeded stress on year 13. the scottish government is also consulting on possible changes to highers and nationals. whatever decisions are made, the pressure is on for plans to be put in place quickly so that pupils know what they are working towards. let's speak to grainne hallahan from the times education supplement, who was a secondary school english teacherfor ten years. regardless of whether people want a delay or don't want a delay, they all want a decision one way or the other. absolutely. to say it is too $0011 other. absolutely. to say it is too soon to make a decision on the exams, we are talking about a huge

operation where thousands, hundreds of thousands of students are involved and it's not a matter of just wait and see. we need to have an answerand we just wait and see. we need to have an answer and we need an answer quickly in order to put all the necessary things in place to make sure the exams can go off properly. speaking with your teacher ‘s hat on, it's only this week when youngsters get back to school that teachers will understand what gap there is between those who have spent six months learning and those who, for whatever reason, has struggled with that. it's an interesting question because we are hearing things from scotland and teachers who have been in over the summer teachers who have been in over the summer break, but actually some of the things we were expecting to be difficult to have been quite straightforward. the students are keen to engage, they are really enthusiastic about their learning and their lessons but the gaps in their learning is quite worrying and it's not just their learning is quite worrying and it's notjust what their learning is quite worrying and it's not just what they have their learning is quite worrying and it's notjust what they have been learning during lockdown, they seem

to be missing information predating that time, so it's really important we can get a good start and have this decision made quite quickly as to what exams they will be sitting in the summer. what about that argument to cut the exams that pupils are taking? i think that speaks to a lot of teachers. when we have this consultation that came back saying gcses and a—levels had remained quite unchanged, it's a worry. english gcses, the language paper has two separate papers that the student sit, you could half that and thereby reduce the number of exams they would be sitting altogether. also the amount of contact they would be cramming for. you know better than i do but if you are sitting in a room full of pupils, some who have learned something and those who have not, it's very difficult to cater for both when you're sitting in a room of fewer people than you were a year ago. not only that we will be in

quite unusual circumstances. we will not be able to sit next to them, working one—to—one. we have so many thing stopping us to do more work with the students that it will be quite a challenge this year so having some changes made to the exams that are sensible and well thought through is what all teachers want. and huge pressure given what has happened this year that next year is not the fiasco. this year 's exams has been a disasterfrom beginning to end. cancelling the exams was a decision that had to be taken but then that seem to be wrong decision after wrong decision. we need to get this right from the start, we have learnt some lessons, let's make sure class of 2021 don't fall for the same fate as last year students. good to talk to you, thank you very much.

it's a first — a commercialflight has made history flying from israel to the united arab emirates, after the two countries agreed to normalise relations. it touched down in abu dhabi a short while ago. the word "peace" has been freshly painted on the side of the plane 7 in arabic, english and hebrew. an israeli delegation is onboard, as well as us aides who helped broker the agreement. president trump's son—in—law and middle east adviser, jared kushner was on board the flight. he spoke to journalists when after stepping off the flight at abu dhabi airport. we just completed a truly historic flight. the first ever commercial flight from israel to an arab gulf country. this hopefully will be the first of many. on the plane we asked the pilots to fly faster because there is great urgency between the people of both countries to break down old barriers, to get to know each other, to form new and hopefully very deep friendships. while this piece was forged by its leaders, it is overwhelmingly desired by the people. the middle east is filled with brilliant, industrious,

tolerant and innovative people and the future belongs to them. i ask everyone to day to join us in celebrating this piece and to help us expand it throughout the region and the entire world. thank you very much. the agreement between the two countries —— announced by president trump earlier this month — makes the uae only the third arab country to establish relations with israel. the start of a new era. top us aids with us officials heading for talks with us officials heading for talks with the uae. and making history, the flight is leaving tel aviv directly for abu dhabi. but i'm trying out a 32nd israeli test for covid—19 which has already set to be used at abu dhabi airport. this

start—up has done a deal with a firm in the uae. that's where we translate the smell or the molecules into a digital signal. high-tech is one reason while the gulf state now wa nts one reason while the gulf state now wants israel as a friend not an enemy. covid free. i have been hoping for israel to be part of the middle east and to be closer and to create a way for cooperation to unify ourselves around technology, around health, innovation. even without formal ties, in recent years ministers from israel have visited the emirates. two countries are both strong military powers that fear iran's regional ambitions. behind this is a recognition on the part of the uae that israel has certain capacities that can become very useful if both countries became threatened. if the region suddenly went to a much more dangerous level

of escalation. but palestinians call the normalisation agreement a stab in the back. in the past the arab world promised recognition for israel only when their conflict was solved. i would tell the israeli side they can have normalisation with all 22 arab states, they still have a military occupation alive and until they decide to get that boot off of our net, they have not made progress one iota. abu dhabi and tel aviv. .. progress one iota. abu dhabi and tel aviv. . . with progress one iota. abu dhabi and tel aviv. .. with direct contact now allowed, some young people chat online. as relations flourish with the uae, israel hopes that more arab states will soon follow its lead. the former president of india — pranab mukherjee — has died after testing positive for covid—19 earlier this month. the veteran politician was admitted

to hospital three weeks ago where he developed a lung infection. he had been in a deep coma and on ventilator support. mr mukherjee was the 13th president of india between 2012 and 2017. the headlines on bbc news: travel company tui launches an investigation into claims that some passengers were ignoring coronavirus guidance on a flight from a greek island linked to sixteen covid—19 cases. labour calls for next summer's gcse and a level exams in to be put back — to make up for teaching time lost during the lockdown. the government's month—long "eat out to help out" scheme ends today — but some restaurant owners want it to be extended. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, olly foster. good afternoon.

england cricketers play pakistan in the final t20 tomorrow but they've just named their squads for the white ball series against australia that starts this week. test captainjoe root is back in the one—day squad but won't be involved in the t20‘s that get under way on friday. jofra archer, sam curran and mark wood, who were rested after the test series against pakistan, are back in both formats . jason roy is struggling with a side strain and misses out and still no ben stokes who has been given time off to be with his family in new zealand. his father has been diagnosed with cancer. we've had the draw for the second qualifying round of the europa league. tottenham have a trip to bulgaria next month. the tie against lokomotiv plovdiv on september 17th is a straight knockout. rangers travel to gibraltar to face lincoln red imps. aberdeen are also away against norwegian‘s viking. motherwell have a short hop to face coleraine in northern ireland. linfield are at home to malta's floriana. welsh sides, the new saints,

bala town and connah's quay are also involved. there's the spurs tie and what a game for ireland's shamrock rovers, ac milan at home. the england women's first match in over seven months will be away against germany on october 27th. it will be a friendly against the two—time world champions behind closed doors in wiesbaden. the lionesses haven't played since the shebelieves cup in the united states in march. head coach phil neville will asemble his squad for a week long training camp at st george's park next month. england last played germany in november, a 2—1 defeat in front of a record crowd of almost 78,000 at wembley. there was an incredible finish to the bmw championship in chicago. a putting masterclass. the spaniard jon rahm was three shots off the pace heading into the final day but a round of six—under par 64 — the lowest round of the week saw him top the leaderboard. he looked set for the win but world number one dutstin johnson

pulled this out of the bag on the 18th to force a play—off. but rahm sank an even longer putt at the first extra on the same green — 66 feet — to take the title. the stress of waiting for dj, him making the putt and me making the putt. it has been a roller—coaster. the best way i can explain it, it was a lot ofjoy on the golf course today for me, not only because i played really well. it's a difficult course. you have to play really good. people were playing well and i knew we could get some birdies and i had fun doing it. the us open starts in the next couple of hours.

the grand slam has been hit with high profile withdrawals because of concerns over the pandemic and 17th seed benoit paire pulled out yesterday after testing positive for covid—19. the frenchman had two negative tests when he first arrived in new york two weeks ago. rafael nadal and and ash barty among those not taking part because of fears over travelling to the us which has had nearly six million cases of the virus. world number three dominic thiem says it was inevitable that a player would test positive at the event. there are so many... people involved in this tournament and the possibility that somebody is going to be positive is pretty high, so i just wish all the best to bete noire and hopefully no one else is positive as well, that's the most important thing. hopefully benoit

will get well soon again. that's it. that's all the sport for now. the eat out to help out scheme ends today in the uk. it's been enormously popular with 64 million discounted meals dished up in 84,000 restaurants and cafes across the uk. the idea was to help the hospitality industry get going again after the lockdown. the 50 percent discount applied monday to wednesday throughout august up to a maximum of £10 per person — and there have been calls for it to continue — as our business correspondent katy austin reports. trade has been sizzling this august in the olive cafe in bournemouth. its owner and chef credits the eat out to help out scheme for being fully booked monday to wednesday. trade is well up onjuly. people are more comfortable coming out, eating, and enjoying themselves. we do our best to make them happy. happy with their half—price

breakfast were this family. so we have done breakfast, dinner, breakfast, dinner, so, yeah, four times now. so we had to book all the restaurants before we left home to be able to get the availability. they are not the only ones who have taken advantage more than once. over the course of august, yeah, probably ten times. industry body uk hospitality says a third of bars and restaurants have yet to reopen. this is our outdoor terrace and it has just been busy like this pretty much constantly... the boss of this african restaurant nearby says the scheme has helped him recoup some of his lockdown losses but he says it needs to return. give september that breathing space, let the schools open, and then bring it back in october and november were predominately it is going to be the quietest part of the year and that is where the biggest worry is. the boom in visitors and people on staycations that bournemouth has seen this summer helps to explain why restaurants and pubs in the town have seen such a big boost from the government discount scheme. that is not the case everywhere, though. location is key in determining how

successful the past month has been for businesses. pub giant greene king has 3,000 pubs and restaurants. it says while it has seen a benefit overall, city centre venues lacking the usual office workers and tourists are struggling. a lot of our businesses were 50,70, 90% up year on year. london, our central london, was about 30% down year on year, so it is pretty stark. i have called for government to think about maybe doing a similar scheme for city centres and for london. you know, we need to get people back into our city centres and particularly into central london. the government doesn't plan to extend the scheme but said it is helping the sector in other ways too. this london cafe is one of a large number carrying on their own half offer in september. it still needs a boost following a terriblejuly. now we are telling everybody

that we continue, so you can see people are extremely happy and i think it will help us a lot for the trade. and as well we are going to have a lot of people who are back to work in the offices. with the furlough scheme coming to an end in october, businesses like these hope people's interests in eating out will still be on the menu come the autumn. katy austin, bbc news. the charge on single use carrier bags in england is to double from sp to 10p from next april, and all shops will have to charge for them. the government says it's part of a renewed drive to be greener, and cut unnecessary waste. our chief environment correspondent justin rowlatt has the details. at the moment, the 5p levy only applies to single use carrier bags in large stores, those employing more than 250 people. but, from next april, the charge will double and will apply in all shops. the government says the initiative

aims to protect sea creatures