confusion about whether people should isolate when pinged by the covid tracing app. with increasing numbers of people being contacted, the business minister said it was up to individuals and employers to decide how to respond. we're encouraging people to stick with the app, to isolate, but they need to make their informed decision, so the legal position hasn't changed — you have to isolate if you are contacted by the nhs test and trace. but downing street now says it is crucial to self—isolate if you're contacted. we'll have the latest from westminster. also this lunchtime: in an exclusive bbc interview, the prime minister's former chief adviser, dominic cummings, says borisjohnson put politics ahead of people's lives during the pandemic.

at least 430 migrants made the journey across the english channel to the uk yesterday — a new record for a single day. we've just come across this small dinghy, probably three or four metres long. we think there's maybe 12,13 on board. a couple of small children at the front and a couple of women. i've asked them how long they've been at sea this morning — they've said a couple of hours. the met office issues its first ever amber weather warning for heat — as parts of the country will hit 33 degrees celsius. and we're at some eid al—adha celebrations — the first time many muslims have been able to mark the festival in person since the start of the pandemic. and coming up on the bbc news channel: coronavirus continues to dominate the build—up to the tokyo olympics as yet more athletes test positive — with just three days to go.

good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. downing street has tried to clear up confusion about whether people should self—isolate when pinged by the nhs covid app. the business minister, paul scully, suggested that self—isolation when pinged should be a matter for individuals and employers to decide. but number ten has since said it is crucial to isolate when contacted, and businesses should be supporting their employees to do so. labour has accused the government of making it up as they go along. theo leggett reports. it is being called the pingdemic

foot. from cafes the car factories, from hairdressers to hospitals, staff shortages across the country are reaching critical levels. hundreds of thousands of workers are in isolation because they have either been pinged by the app or contacted by nhs test and trace. ben porter runs this bar and restaurant on the dockside in bristol. it has been shut for the past week after 18 staff were contacted by nhs track and trace. we staff were contacted by nhs track and trace. ~ ., ., . j~:: :: and trace. we had to cancel 800 cuests, and trace. we had to cancel 800 guests. loss _ and trace. we had to cancel 800 guests. loss of _ and trace. we had to cancel 800 guests, loss of revenue - and trace. we had to cancel 800 guests, loss of revenue about i and trace. we had to cancel 800| guests, loss of revenue about 40 and trace. we had to cancel 800 - guests, loss of revenue about 40 k, guests, loss of revenue about a0 k, which is not ideal in this heat wave. we have an amazing balcony which seats about 150. so that would have been chock—a—block this week so it's a massive miss, missed week for us, really. it's a massive miss, missed week for us, reall . ~ , ., us, really. with the number of --eole us, really. with the number of peeple in _ us, really. with the number of people in isolation _ us, really. with the number of people in isolation rising - us, really. with the number of i people in isolation rising sharply, there have been stark warnings that transport networks and production lines could ground to a halt. and food supplies could be jeopardised.

the government says some fully vaccinated nhs workers will be exempt from isolation in exceptional circumstances. as will a small number of designated people in critical areas like transport and the supply of food, water and electricity. further details are expected today. meanwhile, ministers have pointed out that while people who are contacted by track and trace are legally obliged to isolate, those pinged by the act are not. we are those pinged by the act are not. - are encouraging people to stick with the app, to isolate, but the need to make their informed decisions. the legal position hasn't changed, you have to isolate if you are contacted by the nhs test entries, or if you are collecting isolation payments but not everyone has the app, for example, so it is not mandated. but downin: example, so it is not mandated. but downing street insisted it was crucial for people to isolate when asked to do so. it said...

we are getting into the realms of force. _ we are getting into the realms of force, dangerous force, where we have _ force, dangerous force, where we have had — force, dangerous force, where we have had clear and consistent messaging about the need to self—isolate which has suddenly been undermined by the minister this morning — undermined by the minister this morninu. , ., ., . ., morning. the rules are due to change sianificantl morning. the rules are due to change significantly in — morning. the rules are due to change significantly in mid-august, - morning. the rules are due to change significantly in mid-august, with - significantly in mid—august, with fully vaccinated people being allowed to take daily tests rather than going into isolation. calls for the change to be brought forward are growing ever louder. so for the government seems determined to stick to its plans. our political correspondent jonathan blakejoins us. we can't really blame people for being confused on this one? yes. we can't really blame people for being confused on this one? yes, and now that legal — being confused on this one? yes, and now that legal restrictions in - now that legal restrictions in england have been largely lifted, asking people to isolate if they test positive for coronavirus or if they have come into contact with

someone who has is really the only main way the government has to ensure that the virus doesn't spread too widely, and the danger is that if people do not do that, too many people fall ill, some seriously, while there are still a lot of people who are not fully vaccinated, there is a danger that the nhs could become overwhelmed. that is why the government's message on how closely people should stick to these legal requirements, if you are contacted directly by test and trace, or an advisory instruction if you are pinged by the test and trace app, really does matter. so the suggestion earlier from the business minister paul scully that this was a judgment call people should make, that they could make an informed decision, as you put it, was followed swiftly by a statement from downing street saying it was crucial people should isolate, either if they were told to by nhs test and trace directly, or if they received a notification via the app, adding

that businesses should be supporting people to do that. but it has created a level of confusion and that's why we've seen the criticism coming the government's way. the change coming mid—august between now and then, it is not clear if this system at the moment is sustainable as it is. , ., . . system at the moment is sustainable as it is. , ., ., ., ., ., system at the moment is sustainable asit ., ., ., ., ., ~ as it is. jonathan, for now, thank ou. number ten has rejected the latest criticism of borisjohnson's handling of the pandemic by his former chief adviser, dominic cummings. in an exclusive bbc interview, mr cummings produced a message in which the prime minister argued against a national lockdown, because he said everyone who was dying was over the age of 80. our political correspondent ben wright reports. he was borisjohnson's closest adviser in government. at the side of the parameter throughout much of the covid crisis but since quitting his job the covid crisis but since quitting hisjob in november dominic cummings has been scornful of his former friend. speaking to the bbc, he claimed the prime minister had

resisted a second lockdown, is covid crept back last autumn. his resisted a second lockdown, is covid crept back last autumn.— crept back last autumn. his attitude was at that point _ crept back last autumn. his attitude was at that point a _ crept back last autumn. his attitude was at that point a weird _ crept back last autumn. his attitude was at that point a weird mix - crept back last autumn. his attitude was at that point a weird mix of - was at that point a weird mix of partly, it is all nonsense, lockdown stunt work anyway, and partly, well, this is terrible, but people who are dying are essentially over 80, and we can't kill the economyjust because of people dying over 80. that's a very serious claim to make, what evidence do you have? lats that's a very serious claim to make, what evidence do you have?- what evidence do you have? lots of --eole what evidence do you have? lots of peeple heard _ what evidence do you have? lots of people heard the _ what evidence do you have? lots of people heard the prime _ what evidence do you have? lots of people heard the prime ministers. what evidence do you have? lots of i people heard the prime ministers say that, the prime minister texted back to me and other people. in a that, the prime minister texted back to me and other people.— to me and other people. in a series of whatsapp _ to me and other people. in a series of whatsapp messages, _ to me and other people. in a series of whatsapp messages, boris - to me and other people. in a series i of whatsapp messages, boris johnson of whatsapp messages, borisjohnson appears to say... going on to say... but the end of october, a second national lockdown was announced. downing street

said... and today ministers have been giving their reaction to mr cummings' claims. ~ , . ., , their reaction to mr cummings' claims. ~ ,. ., , , claims. mr cummings clearly has his own rather personal _ claims. mr cummings clearly has his own rather personal agenda - claims. mr cummings clearly has his own rather personal agenda to i own rather personal agenda to pursue. i think the facts speak for themselves, we have the uk vaccination programme which is the world's leading vaccination programme, a fact about which i think everybody in the whole uk can be extremely proud.— think everybody in the whole uk can be extremely proud. dominic cummings said this wasn't — be extremely proud. dominic cummings said this wasn't all _ be extremely proud. dominic cummings said this wasn't all about _ be extremely proud. dominic cummings said this wasn't all about revenge, i said this wasn't all about revenge, a claim dismissed by one former colleague. in a claim dismissed by one former colleauue. a claim dismissed by one former colleague-— a claim dismissed by one former colleauue. ..,, ., . colleague. in the case of dominic cummings. _ colleague. in the case of dominic cummings. i _ colleague. in the case of dominic cummings, i think _ colleague. in the case of dominic cummings, i think you're - colleague. in the case of dominic cummings, i think you're going l colleague. in the case of dominic| cummings, i think you're going to get a lot more of this from him, he is clearly a very bitter man. i know i employed him, i sacked is clearly a very bitter man. i know i employed him, isacked him, i know how he works, this will go on for some time. how he works, this will go on for some time-— how he works, this will go on for some time. , ., , . some time. many tories say dominic cumminus some time. many tories say dominic cummings is — some time. many tories say dominic cummings is better. _ some time. many tories say dominic cummings is better. he _ some time. many tories say dominic cummings is better. he denies i cummings is better. he denies revenge. laboursays cummings is better. he denies revenge. labour says he is an

important witness to what happened. every time the prime minister has dithered _ every time the prime minister has dithered and delayed and taken critical— dithered and delayed and taken critical decisions, i think what dominit— critical decisions, i think what dominic cummings said feeds into the feeling _ dominic cummings said feeds into the feeling he _ dominic cummings said feeds into the feeling he hasn't taken it as seriously— feeling he hasn't taken it as seriously as he should have. controversial, divisive, dominic cummings was by borisjohnson's side through covid and brexit, and he still has more to say. you can see "dominic cummings: the interview" tonight on bbc2 at 7pm — it'll also be on the iplayer, and as a podcast on bbc sounds. a30 migrants tried to cross the english channel in small boats yesterday to reach the uk — the home office says that is a record for a single day. so far this year, more than 7,000 people have been intercepted on small boats. the latest crossings come as the government's nationality and borders bill receives its second reading in parliament. our correspondent, jon donnison, has spent the last few days out on the channel.

rolling out of dover at dawn. eyes on the horizon as we head south. our skipper has told us it's the most likely time to spot migrants risking the crossing from france. and it doesn't take long. coast guard, this is city of westminster, we have spotted another small boat, which appears to be another migrant boat. amid one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, a tiny dinghy, bobbing on the waves. desperate people do desperate things. they've no motor, just paddles. where are you from, guys? sudan. from sudan? are you ok? help will be coming soon, they will come and pick you up. 0k. would you like some water?

yeah. how long have you been at sea, this morning? two o'clock, we started. why do you want to go to england? it's a safe place. and tell me about your journey from sudan. come from libya, libya to italia. libya to italy? and then through europe? and why did you leave sudan? because we need a safe place. safe place? yeah. here is some fruit, some biscuits, somejuice. after that, we shadowed them and called the coastguard, who organised their rescue. it's getting busier all the time. when we first sort of started seeing these migrants come across three or four years ago, there were just a few come across in dribs and drabs but now it seems like a very well organised people smuggling route. and not far away, we find another migrant boat. we're about eight miles off the coast of dover now and we've

just come across this small dinghy, probably three or four metres long. we think there's maybe 12 or 13 on board, couple of small children at the front and a couple of women. i've asked them how long they've been at sea this morning and they said a couple of hours. they must have set off before dawn. we've now called in the uk border force, the uk coastguard who are going to pick them up. rescued migrants are then brought to dover and ferried ashore for processing. the government says its new nationality and borders bill currently passing through parliament targets people smugglers, but it also includes a new law, meaning migrants arriving without permission could be jailed for up to four years. critics say it amounts to cruelty. it's a really callous, cold—hearted, brutal response by a government that's trying to arrest and prosecute its way out of a problem. it won't succeed. putting people injail who have come here because of the terrible things that have happened to them

in their lives is really draconian and punitive and all that it will do is fill up ourjails without resolving the issue. the number of migrants crossing the channel in small boats has risen sharply in the last few years. more than 2,000 — a record — made thejourney injune. but overall, the number of people claiming asylum in the uk actually fell last year to just below 30,000 and that's way down on the peak, back in 2002, of more than 80,000. and britain accepts far fewer asylum applications than many of its european neighbours. behind the migrant numbers, though, are the human stories. the government is pushing back. but for those making these dangerous journeys, the pull of a better life is strong. jon donnison, bbc news, in the english channel.

the met office has issued its first ever amber extreme heat warning. it will remain in force until late thursday, as parts of the uk are forecast to reach a sizzling 33 degrees celsius. public health england is warning people to look out for anyone who may be vulnerable. phil mackie reports. this is about as far as you can get from the sea. on days like this here is where you want to be. in landlocked worcestershire, this is the fifth day in a row that temperatures have hit 30 degrees or higher — no wonder it is part of the area where there is an amber warning for extreme heat. at least it is good for business too. it is excellent for business. we have seen restricted numbers but we are fully booked through to the end of the month. the important point here, this is supervised so it is safe? i have lifeguards on duty all the time, air cover, i have

rescue cover with safety boats. there are always people watching the water and keeping an eye on all participants with buoyancy aids. that is a really important point because here you have lifeguards like liv who are keeping an eye on things, and what we have seen over the last few days are people going to open water, especially in a landlocked area like this. there is no supervision, it is just not safe enough and sadly people have lost their lives. there are other risks with health problems caused by too much exposure to the sun and heat both by day and night. night time, normally that is when our bodies will rest and get a bit of recuperation but when it is so warm and sticky our bodies are working really hard to keep us cool. you will have noticed over the last couple of nights it is really hard to sleep. no—one is able to keep an eye on you and get help when you are having heat exhaustion

— within 30 minutes you can get heat stroke which is a medical emergency. that is when you have to call an ambulance and get aid straightaway. unfortunately, people can die of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. this is why keeping cool is so important in this hot weather. the heatwave is expected to last until the end of the week. here they are trying to have as much fun as possible whilst staying cool. given the freedom we have got with the restrictions leaving and everything it is nice to actually get out without facemasks and social distancing and stuff like that, do something normal again. this is so nice, really, to get that bit of normality back again, really. and with the heat as well? yes, absolutely. and it is possible to stay cool and safe on a perfect summer's day. and phil is in upton warren for us. it must be tempting to get in, phil? that is what i was going to say, it is so hot here at the moment. it is 29 degrees at the moment. it is likely to go over 30. as i said, it has been like that since friday and the temptation is to go out and

enjoy yourself and you have been cooped up and people are needing to take safety precautions. i have my sun cream and will go back in the shade and i have drunk loads of water to stay hydrated and people are concerned it will cause health problems if people don't take precautions. if you do go into open water like lakes, the temperature of the water is colder than the air and you can go into shock. here it is shallow and still, it is spring water, so the temperature of the water, so the temperature of the water is 27 degrees, it is like a bath! desperately tempting to get in, but i shall maintain my dignity and stay here for now.— in, but i shall maintain my dignity and stay here for now. our top story this lunchtime: confusion over whether people should isolate when pinged by the nhs covid tracing app.

downing street says it's crucial that they do. coming up: the seaside town desperate for visitors to stay for longer than just a holiday. coming up on the bbc news channel: with restrictions lifted, manchester is ready to host a capacity crowd once again as england's cricketers take on pakistan in their t20 decider later. the founder of amazon, jeff bezos, is preparing to blast off from the texas desert in the next hour, in his rocket ship new shepherd. he's hoping to reach the edge of space, and mark a giant leap forward in commercial space travel. virgin galactic founder richard branson successfully visited the edge of space in his own rocket powered space plane one week ago. sophie long reports from texas.

deep in the west texas desert, the richest man on earth is preparing to take his first passengers to space, making history and dreams come true. we're going to fly you up into space on the very first flight. with him will be trail—blazing aviator wally funk, who at 82, will become the oldest person ever to travel to space. woo! also on board will bejeff bezos's younger brother, mark, and joining them to enjoy a rare view of earth, dutch teenager, oliver damon. space ships are becoming it seems the new superyachts. the launch comes just over a week after another billionaire realised his lifelong dream. sir richard branson may have been the first billionaire to make it to the edge of space, but whenjeff bezos launches his new shepherd rocket, he'll be travelling faster and he'll go higher. it will travel at more than three times the speed of sound to 62 miles above the earth's surface, with no human pilot on board.

we've been training, this vehicle's ready, this crew's ready, this team is amazing, we just feel really good about it. the four passengers will float weightless for a few minutes before the capsule starts to freefall back to earth. parachutes will be released to soften its impact with the desert. if all goes according to plan, the four will emerge proof that are for future tourism, the sky is no longer the limit. and sophie is at the launch site in west texas. it helps to have a lot of money, doesn't it in this? it it helps to have a lot of money, doesn't it in this?— it helps to have a lot of money, doesn't it in this? it does, yes. as ou saw, doesn't it in this? it does, yes. as you saw. jeff _ doesn't it in this? it does, yes. as you saw, jeff bezos _ doesn't it in this? it does, yes. as you saw, jeff bezos will _ doesn't it in this? it does, yes. as you saw, jeff bezos will become i doesn't it in this? it does, yes. as i you saw, jeff bezos will become the you saw, jeff bezos will become the second billionaire to board a rocket and soar into space in the space of two weeks. i'm a few miles from the space port. the sunjust two weeks. i'm a few miles from the space port. the sun just rising two weeks. i'm a few miles from the space port. the sunjust rising here in texas. final preparations are now under way. the rocket new shepherd

is on the launch pad and we have seen pictures of crew travelling out to board the capsule. now, among them you saw 82—year—old wally funk, she is the first experienced in the crew. there is no human pilot. she underwent testing and training in the 60s, but never made it to space, because she is a woman and she has been seeking to become an astronaut since. the other seat should have went to a person who bought a ticket for $28 million, but can't make it. so that seat has gone to 18—year—old oliver damon. so they will be the youngest and oldest people ever to travel to space.— a premier league footballer has been arrested on suspicion of child sexual offences. the 31—year—old man, who hasn't been named for legal reasons, was detained on friday

by greater manchester police. in a statement, the player's club confirmed he'd been suspended and said it would continue to support the authorities with inquiries. the footballer has been bailed pending further inquiries. plenty of us will be heading to the uk's coastal towns for a holiday this summer, but many of those communities would like to attract people for a lot longer thanjust a few days. scarborough is a town needing more professionals, like teachers and health care workers, to live and work there. our correspondent david sillito grew up there, and has been back to find out more. we're in scarborough and, as lockdown lifts, the town's bustling, but at 5 o'clock in the morning, it's still gloriously peaceful. if you're going to come to scarborough, there's only one way to start the day. here, you go in there, you can be feeling a bit rubbish, you come out, you feel like superwoman. there are dolphins in the bay, there is porpoises, it isjust astonishingly lovely.

but it's notjust a love of the open water that this group has in common, they're all relatively new arrivals. if you can work from home, why not work with a view like this? i came to scarborough about two and a half years ago. _ it was literally a whim! my mum now lives in scarborough, moved up from northamptonshire. and the holiday business is also having a bit of a post lockdown moment. so how's business been over the last few weeks? very good. it means that we're full and people are staying for a bit longer. - and obviously they're - missing their breaks abroad, so instead of two or three nights, we are getting three and four- nights some weeks, so that's very good. | it feels much the same as it was when a teenager, some a0 years ago. but one thing has changed, someone like me on free school meals at the local comp, the chance of success these days is much lower.

goodness me, it's exactly the same. i went back to my old comprehensive and it's still doing well, but even here there have been ups and downs. like many coastal towns, the perception of the decline can be offputing for people deciding where to work. i think schools have struggled in the air struggled in the area for recruitment. there is a real problem about getting working age professional people to come to scarborough then? definitely. the journey down the a6a? yeah, and it's a fantastic place. did anyone say to you, "what are you doing going to scarborough? " they did, but we've got the north york moors on our doorstep, we have got dalby forest up the road and an hour that way takes you to the yorkshire dales and you couldn't really want for more actually and absolutely no regrets. the hope is this little post lockdown boom may leave a legacy, encouraging more people to rediscover the unique pleasures of a life by the sea.

in the run up to the olympics, the duke of cambridge has met team gb�*s boxing medal hope lauren price at kensington palace. price, who made more than 50 appearances for wales's women's national football team, has been telling prince william about her remarkable change of sport, and her preparations for the games in tokyo. i qualified a couple - of weeks ago out in paris. but going back in 2019, i i had just won the european games and then winning i the world championships, the following year in march, but obviously we hitl the covid pandemic and they got postponed. mentally, it was very tough, challenging at times. - i was 18 months out of the ring. and for those 18 months, how do you keep your mind and your body busy, active, you're doing sort of beneficial training? to be fair to gb boxing, they helped me out- massively, they sent _ equipment out to me, weights, i was doing squats with wheelie bins, using them as _ squat racks.

yeah, a lot of question marks in my head, 18 months out of| the ring, it is, am - i as good as i used to be? you'd come off one of the most amazing year in your career and yet that doubt starts to creep in? yeah, definitely, it was hard, i it was really mentally challenging, not so much physical, _ but more mentally than anything. well that interview took place a few weeks ago on lauren's 27th birthday and the duke had a surprise for her. we've got something for you lauren. thank you. you've to stay there, i'll bring it to you. we've got a little cake for you. oh, thank you veryl much, that's lovely. i hope it tastes all right. but, you take it home with you, don't eat it now. yeah, no i can't eat it now. happy birthday for today and i hope you have a good day. thank you. we'll all be wishing you well, lauren and cheering you on. thank you. i'm sure you will do us very proud in the olympics and you'll do everyone proud in your home town and your grandparents as well. so, yeah, best of luck. thank you very much. and you can see more of that conversation between the duke

of cambridge and lauren price on the bbc sport website. across the world muslims are marking eid al—adha, one of the most important festivals in the islamic calendar. in england it's the first time since the pandemic that many people have felt able to celebrate together. shabnam mahmood reports from a mosque in south london, where celebrations are in full swing. ? praying together — after nearly 18 months of lockdown restrictions the al—nagashi mosque in london has opened to a large congregation of muslims. i think it is the first time i am praying next to someone, whereas before we would have this big gap. so it is just really weird. like, oh, my god, this is what it used to feel like to be next to someone. you want to connect with your lord, and you want that security and you want the assurance, and this is the best way to do it.

it is actually really nice to seel a lot of people come together, like just in the community. i haven't seen this in a while. eid—ul—adha is the second most important festival in the islamic calendar. it follows the hajj, the annual muslim pilgrimage which takes place in saudi arabia. one of the most important things is that realising that our neighbours are here next to each other in times of need. from food banks, from looking after elders. i think bringing people together is what it is all about for the community, and for the mosque in particular. and i think the pandemic has demonstrated that we can do it, and this now, marking that celebration of continuing to even grow together as a community. but it is notjust all about worship, it is also a time to celebrate with family and friends. like christmas, there is a lot of present—giving and lots of great food. eid is a big celebration for us, some of done this, with cooked food,

we hired a bouncy castle and hired a venue that is connected to the park. we've got lovely people here around us, family and children, and having a good time. this community, like so many communities across the country, has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. making these celebrations all the more special. eid mubarak! that report by shabnam mahmood. time for a look at the weather, here's matt taylor. good afternoon. it is all about the heat for the majority today. that heat for the majority today. that heat is starting to send off a few isolating storm clouds like this in sheffield. most will stay dry and there is a met office warning for extreme heat in south—west wales and the south—west and the midlands. it could have an impact on infrastructure and travel too. it is

here where we could see temperatures around 32 degrees.