the office for national statistics said gross domestic product, which measures the value of goods andvices produced by the economy, dropped by 9.9% last year. the economy did grow slightly in december by1.2%, as some restrictions were eased in the run—up to christmas, avoiding the uk's first double—dip recession since the 1970s. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has told the bbc the economy "experienced a significant shock", and the government would set out the next steps of the response to the pandemic in the budget next month. our economics correspondent andy verity reports. 2020, the year that will be remembered not only for a pandemic but for an unprecedented economic roller—coaster caused by the government's anti—virus measures. the figures today show the economy shrank faster than it had in 300 years and surged back in the summer then slow down again before christmas. laboursay then slow down again before christmas. labour say the 9.9% year on year drop in gross domestic product, or gdp, which measures goods and services, meant the uk had not only the worst death toll but the worst e

yes, the office for national _ was the message tonight? yes, the office for national statistics community, picking up people who don't know they have got the virus, does show case rates continuing to fall but health officials and the health secretary at the briefing noted that the rate of decline was slowing up a bit and although the overall daily reported case numbers are coming down, it was pointed out to us that in some areas they were flattening and one in five local authority areas, they were going up. professorjonathan van tam, professor jonathan van tam, england's professorjonathan van tam, england's deputy chief medical officer, made the point that of 0fficer, made the point that of course cases still remain high overall. he went on to say, do not wreck this now and this is not a battle we have won yet. i think the message to the public, particularly over the weekend, is you may have had your first dose or both doses of the vaccine but don't think you can cut corners with the rules. hugh . m, cut corners with the rules. hugh pym. thank _ cut corners with the rules. hugh

the office for national statistics over _ workplaces? death compared to some other occupation groups and the risk is similar to the general population. so in a way we have some reassuring evidence that the teaching staff.— reassuring evidence that the teaching staff. reassuring evidence that the teachin: staff. ., ., , teaching staff. how important is it thou . h for teaching staff. how important is it though for teachers _ teaching staff. how important is it though for teachers to _ teaching staff. how important is it though for teachers to be - teaching staff. how important is it i though for teachers to be vaccinated pretty much in their entirety before they return? and that has been called for by some of the teaching unions. ., , , , ,., unions. so, i really support the stance taken _ unions. so, i really support the stance taken by _ unions. so, i really support the stance taken by the _ unions. so, i really support the stance taken by the joint i unions. so, i really support the i stance taken by the joint committee for vaccination

a small survey by the office for national statistics suggests compliance remains high but behaviouralre support is needed. if you look at those 0ns data, it also tells us that 47% of people are having to travel to work. at the real problem is not people breaking the rules and choosing to go out, the real problem is people being forced to go out by rules and regulations which are too lax. the latest figures from the 0ns infection survey suggest rates fell across the uk in the first week of february. one in 80 had the virus in england put it was one in 85 in wales, one in 75 in northern ireland and one in 150 in scotland. we need to remember that vaccinating 20% of the population will not have a huge impact on transmission which is white all the vaccinations are hugely important as part of the strategy and we still need to focus efforts on reducing case numbers in parallel with vaccination because we don't expect vaccination to have an impact on that in the coming months. on monday, the government hopes to have hit its target for offering jabs to the top four priority groups. it will be

the office for national statistics said that in 2020 the total value of goods and services produced ins gdp, fell by 9.9%. there was growth of 1% in the last three months of the year, which means the uk isn't technically now in recession. but with lockdown expected to stay in place until early spring, experts say the hit to the economy will continue at least until the effects of the vaccination programme kick in. here's our economics editor, faisal islam. cupid's arrow�*s being felt rather less than normal at what should be a bumper time forflorists, such as susan in stevenage. it caps the toughest of years. i'm not even going to do valentine's day. i can't pre—order hundreds of roses and then not sell. it's been a really hard year. i've just had to sit and watch my weddings one by one postpone to the following year. what am i going to do if i can't do this? if my weddings keep postponing, if they start cancelling, i don't think i'll be here 2022. susan's just one of the stories that made 2020 the wrong sort of economic history. even compared to other large shocks, depressions and wars

the latest data from the office for national statistics shows covid deaths are falling. they dropped more than 10% in the uk to 7,320 in the week to five february. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown — and whether a phased return to school can start next week. prince harry and meghan are going to give a tv interview to oprah winfrey. if you want to get in touch it is w@vicderbyshire victoria@bbc.co.uk 0r@annita—mcveigh #bbcyourquestions military leaders in myanmar say armed forces had no choice but to take power as demonstrations continue over the coup earlier this month. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. good morning, 43% of all deaths registered in england and wales in the week to february 5 mentioned covid—19 on the death certificate — the third highest proportion recorded during the pandemic — according to the latest figures from the ons infection survey. the latest data does show that deaths from covid are falling. a total of 7,320 deaths registered in england and wales in the wee

people are currently infected with coronavirus according to the latest figures from the office for national statisticsg off. as cases come down, more questions are being asked about how soon lockdown measures can be eased. here's our health editor hugh pym. surge testing in action. in walsall volunteers and council staff collect swab samples. it is one of the communities notified this week of cases of people testing positive with the south african variant. it’s with the south african variant. it's a with the south african variant. it�*s a mammothjob but we are getting a mammoth job but we are getting there. the boxes are slowly stacking up. great response from the community. wejust hope up. great response from the community. we just hope that continues. community. we 'ust hope that contin._ community. we 'ust hope that continues_ community. we 'ust hope that continues. ., , , continues. house visits continue, encouraging _ continues. house visits continue, encouraging people _ continues. house visits continue, encouraging people to _ continues. house visits continue, encouraging people to get - contin

looking at leisure in more detail, economists or the office for national statistics looks at this forrst quarter of the year, there was a drop in gdp, that was about 2.9%. the second quarter of the year was when we were really in the full first national lockdown including april, huge swathes of the economy shut down. and in the second quarter, it was 19% fall. that is about a fifth white off the gdp just in those three months. as you might expect, as the economy started to reopen again, the summer onwards, there was a rise again. then when we get into the winter, again, we were not quite sure whether the economy would continue to grow again, but it looks like it did, only by 1%. however, for now, we have avoided what they call a double dip recession, so a recession is two consecutive quarters where the economy contracts and goes into reverse, which we did see last year. at the moment, things are still in an upward trajectory. the big question is what happens next? these figures are backward —looking and don't reflect the current lockdown. the chief economist for the bank of england so

new figures from the office for national statistics show a drop in scotland and northern ireland, withtions remaining level in wales. the latest official data also shows the r number has fallen. anything below one means the pandemic is shrinking. it now stands at between 0.7 and i. it comes amidst calls for the government to give more details on the easing of lockdown measures. in a further development, the government says it plans to give everyone in england who is over 50 or clinically vulnerable at least one dose of vaccine by may. our health correspondent katherine da costa reports. the uk has made a strong start to its vaccination programme. more than 10 million people have now had theirfirst dose. in the next few weeks, experts say immunisation should have a real impact on reducing deaths and hospital admissions. that has prompted a small number of conservative backbenchers to renew calls for an early end to lockdown. we know what the government said was the reason for this third lockdown. now that that threat is receding, we ought to be, and indeed we are, and the government say

began nearly 20 years ago and that's despite the closure of the balls while britain's office for national statistics say is the reasons for this spike are complex alcohol charities think the reasons are simple well it's hard to pinpoint the exact reasons behind the rice frontline services have seen how the social isolation and executive living through a pandemic has led to an increase in potentially harmful drinking. there cane's not alone in terms of rising alcohol consumption during the pandemic with multiple reports released last autumn identifying a similar trend in the us we discussed the issue with the media and legal analysts lionel and british politician broadcaster george galloway. the 16 percent increase in the death rate is only the tip of the iceberg some helplines are recording 500 percent increases in the number of people getting them up. in 5 of you adults report that they are drinking more a 3rd of those who are parents that's nearly one in 3 it's 30 percent exactly i think there's a problem we get into when we confuse oftentimes correlation with cause there's a lot of things that ha

and the bank of england has been forecasting a recovery for next year but the office for national statistics data that has been released today certainly shows just how big a roller coaster ride it was during 2020 as the pandemic hits and those 3 lock downs that were experienced here in the u.k. took that toll on the overall contraction in g.d.p. gross domestic product was 9.9 percent and as you say that's more than double the previous worst recorded annual statistic it did go up and down though in the 3rd quarter of 2020 the economy grew by 16 percent it grew by one percent in the 4th quarter as well but the overall impact of minus 9.9 percent just shows how grim it was in that 1st part of the year when everything essentially was shut down not the bank of england is as i say forecasting a some degree of recovery based on the power of vaccinations in 2021 but there's a lot of pressure given the economic impact of 2020 for the government here in the u.k. to start relaxing lockdowns politicians of the conservative side the ruling conservative side saying that when you look at just how bad the e

direction as many rent is of moved out due to the pandemic in bragg's it now according to the office for national statistics almost 900000 new k. residents left the country but our property boom is good for the economy we're not just talking about the destructive financial crises that come with booms and busts but more money being spent on ever more expensive property takes money out of the economy especially from productive areas like manufacturing and research and development. joining me from oxford in the u.k. is andrew barber andrew is a professor at the same business school which is part of the university of oxford his latest book is called real estate investment and finance strategies structures and decisions good to have you with us so just like the stock market it now seems property prices are rising detached from reality are they well there's a bit of evidence that that something curious has been going on not just in the face of the college and didn't it but also since 2007 when. the cost of easing program seems to have found its way into the house prices so it looks like governments of boring moll

the office for national statistics figures suggest that in the third week injanuary, one in 55 peopleive for coronavirus. by the end of that month, it was rarer. cases had fallen to under one in 65 people. and at the start of february, fewer still — one in 80 people. the numbers are going down across the uk. one in 115 in england. it's one in 125 in wales. for northern ireland, it's one in 105. and scotland has the lowest rates, at one in 180. we've been in this position before, poised on the verge of restrictions easing. on the 10th of may last year, the prime minister announced how we would come out of the first lockdown. ..provide the first sketch of a roadmap for reopening society. but things are different now. like then, case numbers are falling, but from a much higher level. back in may, hospitals were treating almost 12,000 covid patients. now, it's more like 19,000. on the other hand, though, we didn't have a vaccine then. almost 17 million people have had their first dose, and about 600,000 of them have now had their second boosterjab, too. we're waiting for numbers showing w

according to the office for national statistics, more than 130 people working in the industry in britainkets have left farmers and farm workers more isolated. but mental health groups say young farmers are changing the way the issue is discussed and viewed, as our rural affairs correspondent, claire marshall, has been finding out. i don't think i'd be here myself if it wasn't for my daughter. andy and his daughter vicky are a team, running the family farm in leicestershire. i have lost some friends through suicide. that sort of hits home. vicky was once a beautician. shejoined him when he felt he couldn't cope any more. we tend to sort of have this image of big, butch rugby players, or big men. but mental health doesn't discriminate against anybody. it's hard to take advice when you're in that dark, dark place. i still have bad days, as we both do. it'sjust coping through the bad days. and at least now we have more of an understanding of each other. the coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact. it was shows like this, key events in the countryside calendar, that would help to keep th

new figures from the office for national statistics show that more than 30 thousand people who died withovember had a disability. nikki fox reports. disbelief, the overwhelming feeling. i'm in your flat and you're everywhere, but not here. a poem written in grief. andrea's sister kath died last november, after she caught coronavirus. she was 49. it spreads, it spreads so easily. my sister was at home. she never went anywhere. she got it and died. a huge sci—fi fan, kath had many passions and then the pandemic hit, so she stayed at home to stay safe. unless you've got people with, a person with disabilities in your family, people don't realise just how fragile people's lives can be. sometimes i think people think, "oh, well, they're disabled. they're not having much life anyway." but they do, you know? everybody has a life. today's findings highlightjust how devastating the pandemic has been for disabled people, and the findings are bleak. six out of ten people who have died were disabled. they are up to 2.9 times more likely to die than those without a disability. they don't start with a

picture is brighter, with falling daily case numbers — and in a weekly survey by the office for national statisticshe latest 0ns survey of community infection suggests in england last week one in 65 had the virus. it was the same in northern ireland. in scotland, it was one in 115. in all three, case rates were falling. in wales, one in 70 had the virus, with case numbers broadly unchanged. the latest r number range — anything above one suggests the virus is accelerating — was between 0.7 and one, a little lower than before. so which areas have the highest and lowest case numbers? sandwell, knowsley and corby have the most cases per 100,000 people, though they're falling. the shetland islands, orkney islands and torridge in devon have the fewest. i think it's encouraging that hopefully we're going in a negative direction. less hospitalisation, less infections. but we probably need to go much, much further before we start thinking about rolling back the lockdown. another survey by the 0ns looks at attitudes during different lockdowns, while noting direct comparisons aren't straightforward. in the sp

picture is brighter, with falling daily case numbers — and in a weekly survey by the office for national statisticst ons survey of community infection suggests in england last week one in 65 had the virus. it was the same in northern ireland. in scotland, it was one in 115. in all three, case rates were falling. in wales, one in 70 had the virus, with case numbers broadly unchanged. the latest r number range — anything above one suggests the virus is accelerating — was between 0.7 and one, a little lower than before. so which areas have the highest and lowest case numbers? sandwell, knowsley and corby have the most cases per 100,000 people, though they're falling. the shetland islands, orkney islands and torridge in devon have the fewest. i think it's encouraging that hopefully we're going in a negative direction. less hospitalisation, less infections. but we probably need to go much, much further before we start thinking about rolling back the lockdown. another survey by the ons looks at attitudes during different lockdowns, while noting direct comparisons aren't straightforward. in the spring of

new figures from the office for national statistics show a drop in scotland and northern ireland — withremaining level in wales. it comes amidst calls for the government to give more details on the easing of lockdown measures. in a further development, the government says it plans to give everyone in england who is over 50 or clinically vulnerable at least one dose of vaccine by may. 0ur health correspondent katherine da costa reports. england katherine da costa reports. has made a strong stai the england has made a strong start to the vaccination programme. more than 10 million people have now had their first dose. in the next few weeks, experts say immunisation should have a real impact on reducing deaths and hospital admissions. that has prompted a small number of conservative backbenchers to renew calls for an early end to lockdown. we know what the government set was the reason for this third lockdown. now that threat is receding, we ought to be, and indeed we are, and the government says we are, looking to open up. we also know now that the vaccines are going to benefit, with the

the headlines on bbc news: the latest data from the office for national statistics confirm covid deathsth february. nicola sturgeon is due to announce later how scotland will begin to emerge from lockdown and whether a phased return to school can start next week. former military personnel dismissed from the forces because of their sexuality can now reclaim the medals that were taken from them. losing access to free school meals meant many children in england risked going hungry during half—term. but following a campaign by footballer marcus rashford, eligible children now receive a shopping voucher or food parcel instead. john maguire has been looking at the impact it's having. come rain, shine or snow, zane powles is out pounding the pavements of grimsby. how was today? tough, hard work, really hard work. but got through, did it, so that's what it's all about. getting the kids fed, seeing the parents, supporting them, doing my thing. can you show me your knee? i've got an ice pack underneath, so i've got compression and ice, just to ease some of the pain. the primary school teacher's c

next, figures for the office for national statistics show the level of coronavirus in the uk going down. it comes as the welsh government says it has met its target of offering a vaccine to the top four priority groups of the first nation in the uk to do so. this minister grievances discussions are beginning with tourism and hospitality leaders about the possibility of easing restrictions around easter. hywel griffith reports from tenby in pembrokeshire. picture postcard views on the pembrokeshire coast. tenby depends on the town filling up with tourists every year. but for now, it's stuck in shutdown. it's hard to gloss over the financial impact. at this b&b, they don't know when they'll get to welcome their first paying guest of the year. it's tough. it's a bit of a guessing game. it's trying to balance what we spend now for when we will be able to get the money back in and how much work we can do. another year, another start of a year not knowing when we'll be able to open. forjane and many others, today brought a dose of good news. vaccinations are ahead of schedule in wales. corona

new figures from the office for national statistics show that more than 30,000 people who died with coronaviruse overwhelming feeling. i'm in your flat and you're everywhere, but not here. a poem written in grief. andrea's sister kath died last november, after she caught coronavirus. she was 49. it spreads, it spreads so easily. my sister was at home. she never went anywhere. she got it and died. a huge sci—fi fan, kath had many passions and then the pandemic hit, so she stayed at home to stay safe. unless you've got people with, a person with disabilities in your family, people don't realise just how fragile people's lives can be. sometimes i think people think, "oh, well, and it's the same with elderly people, oh, well, they're old, they've had their life." "oh, well, they're disabled. they're not having much life anyway." but they do, you know? everybody has a life. today's findings highlightjust how devastating the pandemic has been for disabled people, and the findings are bleak. six out of ten people who have died were disabled. they are up to 2.9 times more likely to die than those witho

the week ending february the 5th registered on the death certificate, according to the office for national statistics i have had no heating or hot waterfor ten days now. i have a statement from the government about the use of food banks in what they�*re doing help people. we are committed to supporting the lowest paid families during the pandemic, so we have put hundreds of billions of sportjobs and introducing the 170 million covid winter grant scheme which will see every councillor in england keep vulnerable children woman fed during the february half term. some of the biggest names in british theatre including damejulie walters, sir ian mckellen and patrick stewart have added their names to an open letter urging the government to ensure visa—free work in the eu. they say new visa rules, post—brexit are a "towering hurdle" that must urgently be addressed. mps on the culture, media and sport committee will hear evidence from musicians and artists this morning. let�*s talk to self—employed professional folk singer iona fyfe. hello to you, good morning. before brexit you are able to tour in europe the

the office for national statistics figures suggest that in the third week injanuary, one in 55 peoplenth, it was rarer. cases had fallen to under one in 65 people. and at the start of february, fewer still, one in 80 people. in the most recent figures, four last week, it was won in 115. ——for last week, it was one in 115. the numbers are going down across the uk, one in 115 in england. it is one in 125 in wales. for northern ireland, it�*s one in 105, and scotland has the lowest rates, at one in 180. we�*ve been in this position before, poised on the verge of restrictions easing. 0n the 10th of may last year, the prime minister announced how we would come out of the first lockdown. ..provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society. but things are different now. like then, case numbers are falling, but from a much higher level. back in may, hospitals were treating almost 12,000 covid patients. now, it�*s more like 19,000. 0n the other hand, though, we didn�*t have a vaccine then. almost 17 million people have had their first dose, and about 600,000 of them have now had the

first kpi, key performance indicator, that we look at, the percentage of people who the office for national statisticsst piece. but there is an important _ the first piece. but there is an important time _ the first piece. but there is an important time dimension - the first piece. but there is an important time dimension to i the first piece. but there is an i important time dimension to it, isn't _ important time dimension to it, isn't there?— important time dimension to it, isn't there? yes, again, the first iece of isn't there? yes, again, the first piece of that _ isn't there? yes, again, the first piece of that time _ isn't there? yes, again, the first piece of that time dimension, i isn't there? yes, again, the first. piece of that time dimension, which is something... i hesitate to say impossible because nothing in life tends to be impossible, is incredibly hard to do, the time between somebody starting to feel a bit sick, a bit poorly and coming forward for that test. we are not able to measure that because that is individuals and at the individual will know that but the speed at which everyo

the office for national statistics figures suggest that in the third week ofjanuary, one in 55 peoplee uk would have tested positive for coronavirus. by the end of that month it was rarer. cases had fallen to one in 65 people. and at the start of february, fewer still, one in 80 people. in the most recent figures for last week it was one in 115. the numbers are going down across the uk. 0ne numbers are going down across the uk. one in 115 in england. 0ne the uk. one in 115 in england. one in the uk. one in 115 in england. 0ne in125 in the uk. one in 115 in england. one in 125 in wales. for northern ireland, one in 105 and scotland has the lowest rates at one in 180. we have beenin rates at one in 180. we have been in this position before. poised on the verge of restrictions easing. in may ten last year the prime minister announced how we would come out of the first lockdown.— of the first lockdown. provide the first sketch _ of the first lockdown. provide the first sketch of _ of the first lockdown. provide the first sketch of a _ of the first lockdown. provide the first sketch of a r

an analysis from the office for national statistics noted while the hazard ratio suggested higher risks, the number of deaths are too long or the reliable inference. well, here to do all of this for us and understand it and explain it, dr. william grace, oncologist and hematologist. dr. grace, it's amazing that people read the titles of reports but they don't read the report. talk about the confounding factors and other issues with the study. are these variants more deadly given what we're seeing with the trajectory of this virus? >> not really. just more reports to make you dependent on politicians. basically the death rate is going down all over the world, this is a disease that entirely affects those people that have low vitamin d levels. those that have normal on high vitamin d lefts have unaffected by this disease. they basically don't flow they have it. most of the people i know that have vitamin d and get the disease said they would rather have covid than a common cold because the side effects from the disease is so little when you're on vitamin d and zinc. so people are now load

figures from the office for national statistics show the economy did grow slightly in december, at i.2%wn restrictions were eased. in the run—up to christmas. in the daily mail, the chief economist for the bank of england, andy haldane sounds optimistic. he says �*the economy is poised like a coiled spring' — and ready to rebound when lockdown is lifted and poeple start spending again. speaking this morning, the chancellor rishi sunak says the economy had suffered a �*serious shock�* and that his focus was on supporting people through the crisis. i think today's figures show that last year, our economy experienced a significant shock. and whilst there were some signs of resilience overwinter, what's clear is right now, many families and businesses are experiencing hardship. that's why we've put in place a comprehensive plan forjobs to support people through this crisis, and we will set out the next stage of our economic response at our budget in early march. let's discuss this with our business correspondent, victoria fritz. good morning, victoria. we have the figures for the last quart

involving covid—19 in england up to november last year, according to new data from the office for national statisticselief, the overwhelming feeling. i'm in your flat and you're everywhere, but not here. a poem written in grief. andrea's sister kath died last november after she caught coronavirus. it spreads, it spreads so easily. my sister was at home. she never went anywhere. she got it and died. a huge sci—fi fan, kath had many passions but then the pandemic hit and she stayed at home to stay safe. one of kath's support workers tested positive for the virus, which is how she may have caught it. unless you've got people with, a person with disabilities in your family people don't realise just how fragile people's lives can be. sometimes i think people think, oh, well, and it's the same with elderly people, oh, well, they are old, they've had their life, oh, well, they are disabled. they are not having much life anyway. but they do, you know? everybody has a life. today's findings highlightjust how devastating the pandemic has been for disabled people and the findings are bleak. six out of ten peopl

people are currently infected with coronavirus according to the latest figures from the office for national statisticsue to fall everywhere except for wales, where numbers appear to be levelling off. as cases come down, more questions are being asked about how soon lockdown measures can be eased. here's our health editor hugh pym. surge testing in action. in walsall, volunteers and council staff collect swab samples. it's one of the communities notified this week of cases of people testing positive with the south african variant. it's a mammothjob but we're getting there. the boxes are slowly stacking up. great response from the community. we just hope that continues. house visits continue, encouraging people to get tested, but the overall national picture is brighter, with falling daily case numbers and in a weekly survey by the office for national statistics which picks up those who are positive but don't have symptoms. the latest 0ns surgery of community infection suggests in england last week, one in 65 had the virus. it was the same in northern ireland. in scotland, it was one in 115. in all thre

the office for national statistics suggest that the varying b 117 now makes up 7% of all other cases, vulnerable, and to our caters, just yesterday. we are steadily working our way up towards the half—million mark for vaccinations, and on the verge of reaching 30% of the adult population here in northern ireland. there is a time line between immunisation and protection, so those being vaccinated must continue to do all they can to protect themselves, and others, from infection. the decision facing the executives today have not been straightforward, there are many factors that have been assessed on balance, but what is clear is that we must proceed with great care and with caution. we need our decisions to be both safe and sustainable, and i'm determined that through the proper sequencing of actions, as we emerge from these restrictions, that we leave lockdown is in the rear view and that we do not step backwards again. a clear priority at this point is to continue to keep the r rate below 140 cases and to achieve this it is considered that a full listing of the current restrictions is

the office for national statistics says the country's gross domestic product shrank by 9.9% in real termsompared with the previous year. that's worse than the eurozone's 6.8% slump. coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions caused the uk's first contraction since the global financial crisis in 2009. it's the largest fall since data became available in 1949. retailers, bars and restaurants have been periodically forced to suspend operations under measures designed to stop the spread of covid-19. -- gdp during the current january to march period to fall from the previous quarter. a nationwide lockdown remains in place to cope with the highly transmissible form of the virus. >>> preeminent japanese writer kensington bureau has deposited more than 10,000 pages of handwritten manuscript and documents to his alma mater, the university of tokyo. oe was born in 1935 and has been a major figure in japan's literary scene since the mid-1950s. in 1994, he became the second japanese person to win the nobel prize in literature. officials at the university say the documents were being kept at the writer's

the bank of england has been forecasting a recovery for next year but the office for national statistics data that has been released today certainly shows just how big a roller coaster ride it was during 2020 as the pandemic hits and those 3 lock downs that were experienced here in the u.k. took that toll the overall contraction in g.d.p. gross domestic product was 9.9 percent and as you say that's more than double the previous worst recorded and you will statistic it did go up and down though in the 3rd quarter of 2020 the economy grew by 16 percent it grew by one percent in the 4th quarter as well but the overall impact of minus 9.9 percent just shows how grim it was in that 1st part of the year when everything essentially was shut down not the bank of england is as i say forecasting a some degree of recovery based on the power of vaccinations in 2021 but there's a lot of pressure given the economic impact of 2020 for the government here in the u.k. to start relaxing lockdowns politicians of the conservative side the ruling conservative side saying that when you look at just how bad th

still experience symptoms three months after their diagnosis, according to a study by the office for national statistics and frontline staff who are suffering long—term effects which means they're unable to return to work should receive compensation. andy moore reports. oh, no. 38.9. i don't know what to do. sophie is a 27—year—old nurse, but the only temperature she's taking these days is her own. ten months after first contracting the disease, she is still off work and feels ill every day. imagine running a marathon with no finish line at all, so ijust feel that i'm running every single day, entirely exhausted, and i have no idea when this will end. iona is a secondary school teacher who is convinced she caught covid in the classroom last march. it's believed around one in ten people who get the disease are still suffering months later. that's tens of thousands of people. iona used to go running on a regular basis. now, just walking is difficult. it's sort of felt like being slowly erased, because all your plans and all the things you normally do in your life are just being taken away one by one. all

and charities are now paying for them to be given priority for vaccines the office for national statistics says nearly 51000 coronavirus deaths were recorded in england between january and november last year more than 30000 of them that's around 60 percent were people with a disability health officials this week moved an extra 820000 people up the vaccine priority list the campaign is a saying that doesn't include people with mild or moderate learning disabilities data from the o. s. suggest that women with disabilities have died at 4 times the rate of non-disabled women for men the rate is 3 and a half times higher. is the c.e.o. of mencap an ngo that works to support people with learning disabilities here in the u.k. she joins me now by skype from stonehaven in scotland tell us more about how people with learning disabilities have been treated during this pandemic good evening yes we have found sadly that co-create has just shown a huge bright light on many of the inequalities that people with a learning disability have faced for many many years even before any of us had heard the word c

the office for national statistics figures suggest that in the third week injanuary, one in 55 peoplet of february, fewer still, one in 80 people. in the most recent figures, for last week, it was one in 115. the numbers are going down across the uk, one in 115 in england. it is one in 125 in wales. for northern ireland, it's one in 105, and scotland has the lowest rates, at one in 180. we've been in this position before, poised on the verge of restrictions easing. 0n the 10th of may last year, the prime minister announced how we would come out of the first lockdown. ..provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society. but things are different now. like then, case numbers are falling, but from a much higher level. back in may, hospitals were treating almost 12,000 covid patients. now, it's more like 19,000. 0n the other hand, though, we didn't have a vaccine then. almost 17 million people have had their first dose, and about 600,000 of them have now had their second boosterjab, too. we are waiting for numbers showing what impact this is having on the virus, but the early si

bad i mean the bank of england has been forecasting a recovery for next year but the office for national statistics data that has been released today certainly shows just how big a roller coaster ride it was during 2020 as the pandemic hits and those 3 lock downs that were experienced here in the u.k. took that toll the overall contraction in g.d.p. gross domestic product was 9.9 percent and as you say that's more than double the previous worst recorded annual statistic it did go up and down though in the 3rd quarter of 2020 the economy grew by 16 percent it grew by one percent in the 4th quarter as well but the overall impact of minus 9.9 percent just shows how grim it was in that 1st part of the year when everything essentially was shut down the bank of england is as i say forecasting a some degree of recovery based on the power of vaccinations in 2021 but there's a lot of pressure given the economic impact of 2020 for the government here in the u.k. to start relaxing lockdowns politicians of the conservative side the ruling conservative side saying that when you look at just how bad the economy

the office of national statistics says government borrowing for this financial year has now reached £270 we're joined by our business presenter, ben thompson. good morning to you. take a look at that figure for us, £8.8 billion, and what it means that the budget next month and for those because for the government to come up more gradually, and support schemes rather than bringing them to a sudden close.— rather than bringing them to a sudden close. ,., ., ., ., , ., sudden close. good morning to you. it's hard sudden close. good morning to you. it's hard to — sudden close. good morning to you. it's hard to get _ sudden close. good morning to you. it's hard to get your _ sudden close. good morning to you. it's hard to get your head _ sudden close. good morning to you. it's hard to get your head around - it's hard to get your head around numbers of this magnitude, isn't it? that borrowing figure set to soar even more before the end of the financial year at the end of march. and so expect to see that 220 billion figure reach something closer to 390 billion by the time the full year is accou

this morning, figures from the office for national statistics show 9,010 covid deaths were registeredght has this. 0k? just some of the millions who have now been vaccinated against covid—i9. but while these people were told to wait to be called up — now, in england, those over 70 who haven't yet been given an appointment are being urged to contact the nhs themselves online, or by calling 119. my advice to you is very simple — do not delay, have the vaccine that will protect you against the current threat. and don't worry, you can be re—vaccinated. it follows concerns about the performance of the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine, after a small study found it gave minimal protection against mild disease from the south africa variant. but scientists say that shouldn't deter people from getting a jab in the uk, where the dominant strain of the virus is different. i don't think it's an immediate concern and every bit of immunity to this virus that you can accumulate is a good thing because it will, in all likelihood, reduce the severity of disease if you do catch this virus — even if it is from