this is bbc news. the headlines at 8: on the edge of losing control of coronavirus — a warning from one leading scientist as more than 3,000 uk cases are recorded for a second day. this is still a very widely distributed infection, it's across the whole of the uk and, by every measure, the numbers are going up. oxford university and astrazeneca restart clinical trials of their coronavirus vaccine which was halted after a volunteer fell ill. sir terence conran, the designer and habitat founder who revolutionised british decor and dining, has died aged 88. a new trial to reduce pollution levels will cut the speed limit to 60 mph on four sections of motorway in england.

coming up at 8:30pm: global questions. a month after lebanon's catastrophic explosion in the port of beirut, what next for the country's crisis hit economy and political system? a leading scientist has warned that the uk is on the edge of losing control of coronavirus as infections rise. professor sir mark walport, a member of the government's sage advisory committee, said people need to limit their socialising to ensure children can remain at school and students at university. it comes as oxford university confirmed its clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine will resume. the trial was paused earlier this week due to a participant in the uk becoming ill.

this report from our health correspondent, lauren moss. 0n the final weekend before new restrictions are introduced, there's a stark warning about what could lie ahead. 3,500 more coronavirus cases have been diagnosed for the second day in a row. scientists say, although the rate of infection is lower than it was at the peak of the epidemic, covid—19 is growing in the community. i think one would have to say we're on the edge of losing control. and you've only got to look across the channel to see what's happening in france and what's happening in spain. the figures in the uk, on the 5th of september, it was around 1,800 people identified with the infection. 0n the 11th, it was 3,500. there's been an increase in coronavirus cases across all age groups. it's most pronounced among 20 to 39—year—olds. but there's also been a steep rise recently in people over the age of 80 testing positive. those numbers declined over

the summer but, as you can see, they're now going back up. to try and keep a lid on infections, the rule of six will limit the numbers we can socialise with in england from monday — and people are getting their heads around the new rules. why is it monday? why not bring it in straight away? i do think it's a funny system. if it's saving lives, then i think it makes sense, to be honest. it's a lot clearer. the rule of six, i think people understand it. i have to say, i'm in support of it. in birmingham and nearby sandwell and solihull, where the rate of infection is among the highest in the country, 1.5 million people will be banned from mixing with other households from tuesday. everyone is warned they have a part to play. the onus is on all of us to do everything we can to make sure we are abiding by the rules. and those rules, of course, ensure that we can, with close family members and close friends, socialise in appropriate circumstances. those rules also stress the vital importance of making sure that

children are at school, that students can study at university and that we can work in a covid—safe environment. restrictions on two households mixing were expanded into lanarkshire from midnight, and from monday in the rest of scotland there will be a limit of six people from two households allowed to meet. and in wales, indoor gatherings of more than six will be banned. there is positive news that the vaccine trial by oxford university is restarting after being paused when one participant became unwell this week. an independent investigation concluded it is safe to continue. but any vaccine is likely to be several months away. for now, we'll walk a fine line between maintaining a way of life and containing the virus that's changed it for so many. lauren moss, bbc news. well, the latest government figures show there were 3,497 cases recorded in the latest 24—hour period. that means the average number of new cases reported

per day in the last week is now 3,001. nine deaths were reported of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test, and that means, on average in the last week, 11 deaths were announced every day, taking the total number, across the uk to 41,623. tim robson, the north east's representative on the national pubwatch scheme, joins me now. how tempting must it be for a lot of people to think, next week it will change so let's make the most of it? my change so let's make the most of it? my message to them is they need to ta ke my message to them is they need to take recompense as to what will happen if they decide to do that because if they decide to go out in large groups it will only spread the virus and make it worse than what is. and for those of us thinking of out and meeting up in pubs,

republicans are aware of this and are prepared to displace them to stop them coming in. it's all part of the bigger picture. there is a need for there to be some serious measures taken to prevent the spread of this virus. how proactive or the police be this weekend to make sure eve ryo ne police be this weekend to make sure everyone is complying? they will be extremely proactive. council and police are working together to ensure that licensed premises meet required standards when people coming. if people come into a pub in large groups and they gather in groups larger than six then that pub may not be there the week after and they will lose their local. we have lost so many local so for that we don't need to lose any more. people need to think about what they do.

how much safe is it for people to socialise in a pub than managing it at home whereby all accounts we are not as conscious of the need to maintain social distancing? in a public house, there are lots of rules and regulations. that must be followed. and especially with covid, they would have done a risk assessment, they will stick to that, and if they feel there are issues with the operation of the running of the pub their livelihoods are at risk. this is notjust affecting the licensee in staff it is people who are visitors to the pub who are likely to lose their own likely edge local public house if they do do what is expected of them. how likely is it that in the next week or two we could see pubs being told to shut ain? we could see pubs being told to shut again? it's very likely, sadly. we have lost so many great pubs around

the area and as such this may continue if unfortunately people flout the rules. it's a two thing. the operation of the pub is such that they will make the pub as safe as they possibly can for people to come into that environment and they will and structure it in for us risk assessment in place that people get more inebriated and under the influence of alcohol they forget about the main issues which are occurring in society and sadly that isa occurring in society and sadly that is a very difficult situation, controlling individuals in the pubs late at night and that is why premises are putting midnight closures on the premises. we will wait and see if everybody can do as they are asked. thanks for your time. and we'll find out how this story and many others are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30pm and 11:30pm in the papers. 0ur guestsjoining me tonight are the broadcaster and psychotherapist lucy beresford and john rentoul, the chief political commentator at the independent. sir terence conran, the british

designer who transformed uk retail and interior design, has died at the age of 88. best known as the founder of habitat, sir terence brought modern style and simplicity to uk homes. today, the design museum described him as a visionary, saying he revolutionised the way we live in britain. in a statement, his family said he passed away peacefully at his home. david sillito looks back at his life. you know, i believe in what i call easy living. duvets, flatpack furniture, the wok. it wasn't just a shop. sir terence conran introduced britain to a new way of living — a design philosophy that had its roots in the festival of britain. newreel: bank holiday, and the festival spirit pulls the crowds to the southbank exhibition. as a young industrial designer, he worked on the exhibits at this

vision of the future. it had a powerful impact. i just saw the faces of people coming in in their long macintoshes with their sandwiches and their smiles. they hadn't seen anything cheerfulfor so long. habitat. 13 years later, he opened habitat. light, bright, modern, continental — furniture for the swinging ‘60s. it was the beginning of an empire. bhs, richard shops, mothercare, heal‘s. he helped turn dowdy old hepworth‘s into the high street titan next. he also had a chain of restaurants, and while the businesses had their ups and downs — food, clothes, furniture — he touched the lives of millions. and all of it came together with this — his last major project, the design museum. a shrine to the ideas that had

been his life's work. this is the great day of my life, to see the place actually finished. the life and style of modern britain owes much to sir terence conran. sir terence conran, who has died aged 88. let's talk to the restaurateur, chef and great british bake 0ffjudge prue leith. how did you get to know sir terence? i went to his very first restaurant. he must‘ve only been 25 when he opened it. in a way, it summed up what he believed in, things had to be plain, simple and useful, and you

just got served with the baguette and apple pie. it was really cheap, beautifully designed, white tiled walls and no fuss. there was... it was revolutionary, everything else at that time was white tablecloths and phony french food and over decorated and he was completely different. where did his obsession with that simplicity and pared back style co m e with that simplicity and pared back style come from? when he was at school, he he did not get on with anything academic. he met some artist who really inspired him about what you could do with your hands and, ultimately, terence was mad about crafts, he liked things to be useful and simple. he loved french

simple design. he imported all sorts of things. when you went round habitat in the 60s, it was unbelievably... you had a basket, you could pick up everything. everything you post you wanted because it was so original and simple and beautiful. a lot of that was french design. but of course it had all been designed by terence. and he never lost that. when he opened conran‘s a0 years later, although it was now high end luxury in chelsea, it was still basically simple and useful and desirable. he had a huge influence on our idea of what is tasteful and desirable.

hugely aspirational but also immensely democratic. he launched lots of restaurants but how good a cook was he? do you know? he was rather a good cook. i remember one meal he cooked at home. he was married to his third wife and i knew him who was herself, caroline conran, a terrific cook, so you never knew what she had done and what terence had done, but he would be really good at something like a baked ham and amazing simple salads and they came out of his garden. it sounds rather idyllic, but it was idyllic because it was based on truth. his was the first kitchen that i had ever seen which was both

the dining room and kitchen and had a huge table and it, and it was so convivial, so friendly. you never went into a room with terence when there wasn't a bottle of red wine on there wasn't a bottle of red wine on the table and he wasn't saying have a glass. i would like to think it would be a rather wonderful way to spend an evening around the table with sir terence conran, he must have been an immensely hospitable host. i think he was and i think thatis host. i think he was and i think that is why he was so keen on restau ra nts that is why he was so keen on restaurants being liked because he wa nted restaurants being liked because he wanted them to be... he wanted them to make people happy. it should not be complicated, as he said. it should not be exclusive or difficult. he was remarkable. but also when i knew him best he was not all that well. he would have dinner

with you that night, he had such energy, and he always wanted to do more. he published something like 50 bucks, he certainly opened 50 restau ra nts. bucks, he certainly opened 50 restaurants. i remember once i was the caterer for his design museum and he rang me up in a really quite... he was very famous by then and he had lots and lots of enterprises so he was a busy man but he rang me up to tell me that the croissa nts he rang me up to tell me that the croissants at the design museum that morning were not good enough. i really admire that. the boss tells of the caterer! we all need a critical friend, don't we? of the caterer! we all need a criticalfriend, don't we? thank of the caterer! we all need a critical friend, don't we? thank you very much for talking to us. toots hibbert, frontman of the legendary reggae band toots and the maytals, has died at the age of 77. one of jamaica's most influential musicians, he helped popularise reggae

in the 1960s with songs like pressure drop, monkey man and funky kingston. he even claimed to have coined the genre's name on 1968's hit do the reggay. hibbert‘s family said he died on friday. he had recently been treated in hospital for suspected coronavirus. the headlines on bbc news... 0n the edge of losing control of coronavirus — a warning from one leading scientist as more than 3,500 uk cases are recorded for a second day. oxford university and astrazeneca restart clinical trials of their coronavirus vaccine which was halted after a volunteer fell ill. a new trial to reduce pollution levels will cut the speed limit to 60 mph on four sections of motorway in england.

two former prime ministers have united to criticise borisjohnson‘s brexit legislation, saying the internal markets bill endangers the good friday agreement. 0ur political correspondent, leila nathoo, is here. two former prime ministers from different parties at that. different parties but on the same side of the brexit debate but they have accepted that it will happen but they have joined forces in the times newspaper to write an outrageous comment on boris johnson's plans for threatening to break essentially parts of the brexit divorce deal. we are talking about tony blair and sir john major. well-known voices, arguing against brexit for a long time, but now wanting to warn boris johnson about his plan, so let's have a recap about exactly what is going on. the brexit divorce deal was done and dusted, signed into law

last year. boris johnson was done and dusted, signed into law last year. borisjohnson had renegotiated after getting into power. he now says there has been a serious misunderstanding between the eu in the uk over parts of that divorce deal relating to northern ireland and is accusing the eu of extreme interpretation of those parts. he is introducing legislation which overwrites the certain parts and tony blairand which overwrites the certain parts and tony blair and sirjohn major tonight talk about this tactic is undermining the credibility of the uk, saying it is nonsense to say the government hasjust uk, saying it is nonsense to say the government has just discovered this could possibly threaten the good friday agreement, that is boris johnson's argument. they say his actions and peril of the good friday agreement because it removes certainty and predictability from the situation between northern ireland and the republic of ireland so strong words tonight from tony blairand sirjohn so strong words tonight from tony blair and sirjohn major talking about boris johnson's blair and sirjohn major talking about borisjohnson‘s tactics misfiring and saying if the

government does not respect the rule of law then parliament should compel them to do so. and boris johnson has had to have a phone call yesterday with a number of his own mps who are unhappy about this. there was a startling admission this week in the commons that the government was breaching international law, admitting they would breach international law by trying to introduce these new clauses that would go back on certain parts of the brexit divorce deal. this has raised hackles on the tory backbenches. this legislation is going through the commons next week. there was an online meeting on friday night where borisjohnson tried to reassure mps and explained by the government was doing this, saying it is a threat to the union, the eu could divide up northern ireland from the rest of great britain after brexit if there is no deal, and he is now also set out his position in the telegraph today, but he has not reassured backbenchers because there's still plenty of

opposition, there will be an amendment to this bill coming next week but remember if you think back to all late night knife had votes on brexit it's not the same because there is a huge government majority so ministers can be a bit more relaxed this time. —— knife edge. a man has appeared in court charged with arson and grievous bodily harm in relation to an incident in newquay in which a police officer sustained serious burns. devon and cornwall police said 30—year—old blagovest hadjigueorguiev appeared before truro magistrates‘ court today to face three charges. the afghan government has called for an urgent ceasefire on the first day of peace talks with the taliban. us secretary of state mike pompeo called the talks a truly momentous breakthrough. the discussions are taking place in the qatari capital, doha, after months of delay in an attempt to end decades of conflict in afghanistan. police on the greek island of lesbos

fired tear gas at protesting migrants who were left homeless when their camp burned down on wednesday. clashes broke out near a temporary camp built by greek authorities to house around 13,000 migrants and refugees — who had been living in squalor in the overcrowded moria camp — and are desperate to leave the island. efforts to build alternative accommodation for more than 12,000 former residents of the moria camp have been delayed by objections from local authorities. the speed limit is being cut on four sections of motorway in england as part of a trial to reduce pollution levels. speeds will be reduced from 70 mph to 60 in areas which have seen higher than recommended levels of nitrogen dioxide. the limit will be imposed 2a hours a day and its impact will be reviewed in a year's time. the m6, m1, m5 and the m602 will all be affected. 0ur correspondent danny savage told us more details from the m1 near rotherham. if you live by a motorway in the uk,

the chances are at times that the air pollution around you will be quite high, particularly if there is no breeze or if there is a trafficjam on that motorway. so, in a bid to get to government targets of bringing down pollution levels, highways england are introducing four stretches of motorway in england which will have a permanent 60 mph speed limit. one of those stretches is behind me here on the m1 in south yorkshire between sheffield and rotherham. there is another one in northern england over the pennines — the m602 that comes into manchester for the west and liverpool. and two stretches of motorway on the m5 and the m6, just stretches about four miles long or less, around birmingham where those speed restrictions will come into place. the difference is, we are all used to temporary speed limits on motorways at times. but this will be a permanent one. some time between now and the beginning of october, those speed limits will be introduced. they will be in force 2a/7 so, even if the road is quiet, you won't be able to drive

at 70 mph. there is an awareness campaign that will need to be done as well, and this is part of it, to actually say to people, please don't think that the default speed limit, which is a 70 on the motorway, will be in place if those roads are quiet. those stretches of motorway will have a permanent 60mph speed limit. if you break that limit, you run the risk of a fine and penalty points. so this will take place for a year, potentially, 12 months, until they review it to see whether they might roll it out further. but this is part of bringing down pollution levels but, ultimately, highways england are saying in the long run it is down to what comes out of your exhaust or tailpipe on your car. most of us drive petrol or diesel cars at the moment. the aspiration is to get more of us driving electric cars, hybrids in the future, which will have a dramatic effect on the levels of pollution. but for the time being, this is a scheme to try and reduce pollution levels and they say, by lowering the speed limit, there will be less pollution through those areas and better air quality.

around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. that's the grim statistic behind a special documentary presented by sir david attenborough. the loss in biodiversity would have catastrophic consequences for us all, threatening food and water security, and reducing our ability to control the climate. 0ur chief environment correspondent, justin rowlatt, reports. during his long career, sir david attenborough has seen first—hand some of the most extraordinary natural phenomena. there's more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with the gorilla than any other animal i know. but he has also lived through the most profound changes in the natural world in human history. his latest film contains the stunning images you'd expect

from an attenborough production, but this is not a celebration of the incredible diversity of life on earth. this is a warning. the natural world is being destroyed more rapidly than ever before. what's different is it is happening simultaneously in the amazon, in africa, in the arctic. it's happening not at one place and not with one group of organisms, but with all biodiversity, everywhere on the planet. for some animals, zoos like this, london zoo, are the last refuge. many, like these asiatic lions, are at risk of extinction in the wild. the programme says that, of the eight million species on earth, one million are now at risk of dying out completely. species have always come and gone — it's a key part of evolution.

but scientists estimate extinction is now happening at 100 times the natural rate, and it is accelerating. the programme features the last two members of one iconic species. i am caretaker of the northern white rhinos. we only have two left on the planet. they are mother and daughter. we do not allow any other species to walk this tragic road of extinction. you don't have to go far to understand what is driving this crisis. we are all responsible. the rise in human population and our insatiable appetite for new things stamps an ever bigger footprint on the natural world. but, says sir david,

all is not lost. his aim is not to try to drag people down into the depths of despair, but to take people on a journey that makes them realise that, if we understand what is driving these issues, we can also solve them. the coronavirus pandemic is a result of our encroachment into the natural world. it originated in bats and was first spread in a chinese market that sold wild animals forfood. but maybe the pandemic provides an opportunity for a rethink, the programme suggests. if we can reduce pollution, if we can stop wasting a0% of the food we produce, if we can cut the impact of the things we consume, then nature can begin to be restored. the programme revisits the gorilla sanctuary in rwanda. the government has increased protection and worked with local communities.

the programme team finds some of the children and grandchildren of those gorillas david attenborough met back in the 1970s. this is the daughter of poppy. the population is now thriving. i do truly believe that, together, we can create a better future. i might not be here to see it but, if we make the right decisions at this critical moment, we can safeguard our planet's ecosystems, its extraordinary biodiversity, and all its inhabitants. what happens next is up to every one of us. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello again. we have seen plenty of sunshine through the day across england and wales but, for scotland and northern ireland, the afternoon was quite different with rain edging in. and that rain is going to be with us

for most of the night. now, the rain will get into northwest england for a time, and there will be occasional patches probably getting into west wales as well. that leaves the midlands, east anglia, southern counties of england and southeast wales with dry conditions, and it's a mild night for all of us. tomorrow, our band of rain looking to let up across west scotland, where, by the end of that weekend, the hills could pick up over 100 milimetres of rain, and there's some threat of some localised flooding then. for england and wales, warm spells of sunshine widely, and i suspect this cloud in northern ireland, southern and some central areas of scotland will be prone to breaking up with some sunshine coming through later in the afternoon. top temperatures about 25—26 degrees for london and norwich respectively. that warming trend is set to continue into the early part of next week with a brief return of summer — temperatures reaching 30 degrees in london on monday.