sarah corker, bbc news.hemselves stuck at home. sony's playstation 4 is the most popular games console in the world, and the gaming giant is hoping its new playstation 5 will be just as successful. but it looks like it could face stiff competition from rival microsoft with its new xbox. bbc click‘s marc cieslak has more. you wait years for a new console to arrive, then two come along at once. these new consoles arrive at a time when video games are more popular than ever. 0nline play has allowed people to feel connected with other human beings, even when they can't physically meet. a survey conducted since the start of the covid—19 pandemic revealed that video games had had a positive effect on the people that play them, with 39% of people saying games made them feel less anxious or less isolated. 50% of players polled in the uk said that playing games made them feel happier. first up, the playstation 5, launching in the us tomorrow and the rest of the world a week later. it's a more powerful machine which w

sarah corker, bbc news, in salford.mal bravery after saving soliders' lives in afghanistan. kuno was shot while tackling a gunman on operations last year. the belgian shepherd dog ran through gunfire to intercept an al-qaeda insurgent. his injuries led to him having part of his paw amputated, but kuno is now making the most of his retirement thanks to a pair of prosthetic back legs. today, he joined a select group of 72 animals to receive the pdsa dickin medal — the animal equivalent of a victoria cross. time for a look at the weather. here's matt taylor. thank you, george, and more good news for western scotland and northern ireland, out of the wind but not as soggy in the next few days and something brighter on the horizon are not the only change. today we saw temperatures around the 12 degrees mark across the

sarah corker, bbc news.ing covid restrictions at christmas. it comes as a survey for the bbc suggests scots have considerably more confidence in the scottish government's handling of the pandemic than they have in the uk government's response, even though scotland has suffered only a slightly lower death rate than england. coronavirus also appears to be having an impact on voters' views on whether scotland should be an independent country. as our scotland editor, sarah smith, reports. practising during a pandemic means finding new, outdoor locations. john is a freelance musician who's had a passionate interest in politics ever since, aged 17, he cast his first vote in the scottish independence referendum. he voted then to stay in the uk. he would make a different choice today. so, you voted no six years ago, why have you changed your mind since then? well, for many reasons, like, brexit, like taking away my european union citizenship, the handling of the coronavirus pandemic from both governments. nicola is

sarah corker, bbc news.know they stand a chance of getting home to their families. plans to help students in england, wales and scotland get back have been announced today. they'll be offered coronavirus tests before they leave. and there'll be a travel window for students in england as soon as the lockdown ends at the start of december. similar plans are expected in northern ireland. our education editor branwenjeffreys has been talking to students at de montford university in leicester. being wiped down for the next student — this is rapid testing in action. lottie, a first year at de montfort, doesn't have symptoms. she'll get a result within hours. but will students turn up to be tested before christmas? i know a lot of the people that i have been able to make friends with, not that i've been able to make many, cos you can't go out and socialise, i know that a lot of them would come and get tested just to know that they they can go home, whether it meant that they had to isolate or not. being able to go

sarah corker reports.der valley, delivery rider beate is hebden bridge's version of amazon and deliveroo combined. this is bertha and she's just great. she's done, i think, about 1,500 miles since we started doing this. so she's worked really hard! beate and her electric bike, bertha, are part of a team of 16 couriers. this business was set up as demand grew for local deliveries from local shops during lockdown. so what kind of things do you deliver? oh, my goodness. we've delivered everything from vintage clothing down through organic vegetables to, you know, things that need to be kept cool. we've got chiller boxes. today, she's doing the cheese run. the crumbly cheese is the latest retailer to start delivering by bike. when pubs and cafes shut, andrew's wholesale trade disappeared, but he's managed to pick up new customers. it works brilliantly for us. people can access — those that are shielding that are stuck indoors, they can access what we do and then it's delivered to their door without any worries

sarah corker, bbc news, in south cumbria.vily criticised for putting the reputation of the church ahead of its duty to survivors of child abuse. the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse examined more than 3000 accusations up to 2015. it said cardinal vincent nichols had not shown "compassion towards victims in the recent cases" that it had looked at. sangita myska reports. westminster cathedral, the home of the catholic church in england and wales, part of an institution so preoccupied with its reputation that it catastrophically failed children in its care. the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse says that over half a century, 900 alleged victims reported over 3000 instances of abuse perpetrated by priests, monks and other church staff. the true scale of the abuse, the report says, will never be known. that the evidence that i give... shall be the truth... cardinal vincent nichols, who gave evidence to the public inquiry into 2018, was singled out for stinging criticism. the report says he should have shown le

sarah corker, bbc news, in salford.s have been welcomed by many who are desperate to spend time with friends and family again. but for others, the chance to socialise more is throwing up all kinds of dilemmas. jon kay reports from plymouth. all sam wants for christmas is... ..christmas. it's the only time of the year that i get everybody together. it is very important, it is special. she is desperate for her children and grandchildren to see the tree inside and to celebrate like they do every year. it's not the presents, it's having all my family around me. that is the important thing. even if it is onlyjust for one day, just to let families get together to enjoy christmas. what about the risks to public health of people mixing? i think that's the problem. people cannot go silly. they have to be sensible if they want to do this, otherwise we will have a rottenjanuary. little gatherings would be ok maybe? hopefully. it's a big decision for politicians and for families right across the uk. some say it should be up to indi

sarah corker, bbc news, in salford.ar was entitled to diplomatic immunity. the teenager died after being injured outside an raf base in northamptonshire. anne sacoolas — who was accused of driving on the wrong side of the road — was allowed to leave the uk after he died. duncan kennedy reports. harry dunn was just 19 when he died in august of last year. he was knocked off his motorbike here by an american woman driving on the wrong side of the road. she was anne sacoolas, who left britain two weeks after the crash, claiming diplomatic immunity through her husband's job at an american airbase. harry's parents, charlotte and tim, have tried to get mrs sacoolas to come back. but after reviewing the case, the high court today ruled that mrs sacoolas did indeed have diplomatic immunity. it's a decision that's left tim and charlotte profoundly disappointed. we've had many tears and tantrums, but we've kept our feet on the ground. we've already launched an appeal. you know, she cannot move on, surely, with her life in a wholes

sarah corker, bbc news.among 11 sports hit hard by coronavirus restrictions, that will benefit from a £300 million fund to get them through the winter. but men's professional football won't get any of the government money, despite the financial difficulties facing clubs. our sports editor dan roan reports. behind closed doors, the action continued from racing at chelmsford to atp tour finals tennis at the 02 arena in london but with no gate receipts since march, sport are facing an unprecedented financial crisis and the day came a rescue kids to help them survive the winter. this package alone compares very favourably, we believe it is the most generous single package of any country around the world. you gave more than five times more than that amount to the arts in the summer so what would you say to those who think that's unfair? first of all, it is worth remembering we have provided well over £1 billion worth of support for sports already to everything like thejob retention scheme, various loan facilities

our consumers affairs correspondent, sarah corker, reports.er becomes aggressive. get out, right now. he repeatedly tries to rip off the facemask off the shop worker. take it off. the abuse against retail staff is escalating. this is what happened in surrey when a customer was asked to follow the shop's one—way system. shelves of wine destroyed and staff threatened. the co—op says one in four of their front line staff have faced anti—social behaviour or been attacked this year. in manchester, store manager matthew says it is happening on a daily basis. there was a gentleman causing trouble because he was refusing to follow the social distancing measures and was approached by a member of staff and asked to leave the store and in doing so he spat at a member of staff several times. it puts the fear into you so you won't go near anyone or approach them. retailers have spent time and money making stores coronavirus secure. staff say some customers are growing increasingly frustrated with the rules and incidents of verbal and physical abuse are ris

our business correspondent sarah corker has been meeting people from the travel and tourism industrys in the pandemic. dusk at coniston water in cumbria. this beauty spot, like the rest of england, is now locked down for a second time. it's been quiet. it certainly going to get quieter in the next few weeks. during the first lockdown, joanne and her husband sean lost their jobs lockdown, joanne and her husband sean lost theirjobs as coach drivers —— drivers. he has found new employment, but it is 450 miles away in cornwall. it is a financial stretch. it cost me hundred pounds to come home for the week, if i come home for the weekend. i try and keep what i spend right down to the minimum, but emotionally, it is having an effect on me. joanne is working again as well but the couple are now £7,000 a year worse off and the pandemic has taken its toll.“ has devastated me. i'm trying not to cry, but it has devastated me. and i am struggling. i'm struggling. sorry. the travel and tourism industry has been at the sharp end of this economic crisis. in the west midlands, sian lost herjob as a

our consumer affairs correspondent sarah corker is in manchesterfor us now. than what went before. yes, fiona. here, the christmas decorations are up and shops in manchester and across england are fiow manchester and across england are now gearing up to reopen next week. that has come as a huge, huge relief for retailers, but as you say still challenging times ahead for pubs, restaurants and their suppliers, especially in areas with the highest levels of infections. in tier 3 areas hotels, bars, restaurants, cinemas, they will have to remain closed. they can only do deliveries and take aways. in tier 2 only pubs doing substantial meals will be allowed to reopen, and there will be fio allowed to reopen, and there will be no household mixing indoors. essentially, the christmas party season in those highest tier areas is effectively cancelled. businesses will be starved of that lucrative christmas trade. hospitality businesses say they have invested huge sums of money in making sure their premises are safe, and they say, arguably, people socialising in these cov

sarah corker, bbc news, in hebden bridge.arity for small businesses. we will be asking whether the current restrictions are fair on smaller retailers. we saw in the report there about smaller retailers doing well. it is easier if you think about it in a small community with disposable income, it is other larger high street chains, such as ca rd larger high street chains, such as card shops and clothing retailers, supermarkets can sell your products and yet for you it is considered nonessential. is that fair, we will be talking to karren brady about that later on. you're watching bbc breakfast. still to come on the programme. the so—called "taxi firm for astronauts" — spacex hasjust dropped off four more passengers at the international space station. we'll bring you the latest on that mission in ten minutes — and we'll be chatting to the british astronaut tim peake after eight. good morning from bbc london, i'm tolu adeoye. a petition's been launched to ban certain foods from nurseries after a toddler chocked to death on a pie

sarah corker, bbc news. it absolutely is. good morning, everybody. we are here because you canjust everybody. we are here because you can just about still see it but let me show you some footage of how it looked early on when it was dark. the colours are so vibrant, you can see the shapes, there is candy sticks, there is also snowflakes and swirls and dots. it was lovely. it ru ns swirls and dots. it was lovely. it runs from the 4th of december to the 3rd of january. it runs from the 4th of december to the 3rd ofjanuary. it is runs from the 4th of december to the 3rd of january. it is closed runs from the 4th of december to the 3rd ofjanuary. it is closed on christmas day. you have to pre—book and all covid rules apply of course when you are here. normally where i'm standing it would be the christmas market but this year because of covid it isn't taking place, which is why for the first time we have seen the beautiful display of lights on the front of the palace itself. it has been a cold start to the day an

sarah corker, bbc news. let's return to our breaking news.elfast to hear more from our correspondent chris page. *mike * mike ministers were meeting, bring us * mike ministers were meeting, bring us up—to—date with what we understand. -- stormont. it is understood that that meeting has been within the last hour and ministers have agreed to a tougher appeared on restrictions which will kick in from next friday so nonessential resell will close and all shops here have been open i like england, they will have to shut for two weeks from next friday. —— unlike england. also that includes gyms, they will be closing to come and places of worship including the both regular meetings and weddings and funerals and those sorts of ceremonies can still go ahead. hospitality sector, there has been a shutdown since the middle of october, but that is actually partially coming to an end tomorrow, unlicensed premises. premises they don't serve alcohol like cafes are able to open and they still will be able to open and they still will be able to open however tha

sarah corker, bbc news, and south cumbria.irst lockdown. a lack of resources, enabling children to learn at home, has been one factor. the government has, for example, supplied laptops to schools in england, but has struggled to deliver the amount originally promised. 0ur education editor, bra nwen jeffreys reports. in schools across england an invisible, digital divide. i am truly angry about it. they talk about levelling up. this isn‘t levelling up, this isn‘t equity, this is unfair. for parents, the fear their children will fall behind. that is my worry, that they are going to miss out on a lot and it is affecting them. salma‘s five children share one tablet, not a problem until this year. with many parents are struggling to send work back to school online, salma told me they can‘t afford another device. just in sheffield, 11,000 children are in the same position. we had the choice of if you could only manage doing one piece of work we could upload that. so they lost out on the rest because my priority was to upload that on

our consumers affairs correspondent, sarah corker, reports.asked to leave the store and in doing so he spat at a member of staff several times. it puts the fear into you so you won‘t go near anyone or approach them. retailers have spent time and money making stores coronavirus secure. staff say some customers are growing increasingly frustrated with the rules and incidents of verbal and physical abuse are rising. and this level of violence is absolutely not acceptable. some of the uk‘s leading retailers are now calling for stronger penalties for those who abuse shop workers. tougher sentencing and legislation sends a really important reset message that this is not acceptable behaviour. people are coming to work to earn money to support their families and they deserve to be treated with the same respect that we would all want to be treated with ourselves. reminding customers to wear a facemask or to observe social distancing can be triggers for abuse. julian owns two convenience stores and says tensions are rising. people are just becoming agit

sarah corker reports.g this. so she's worked really hard! beate and her electric bike, bertha, are part of a team of 16 couriers. this business was set up as demand grew for local deliveries from local shops during lockdown. so what kind of things do you deliver? oh, my goodness. we've delivered everything from vintage clothing down through organic vegetables to, you know, things that need to be kept cool. we've got chiller boxes. today, she's doing the cheese run. the crumbly cheese is the latest retailer to start delivering by bike. when pubs and cafes shut, andrew's wholesale trade disappeared, but he's managed to pick up new customers. it works brilliantly for us. people can access — those that are shielding that are stuck indoors, they can access what we do and then it's delivered to their door without any worries. with non—essential shops in england shut for a second time, the british retail consortium estimates £2 billion worth of sales will be lost every week during november. it's forced independen

estimated £1 billion is owed to investors all over the world. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent, sarah corkercialfuture, she was persuaded by an independent salesman to lend dolphin trust £15,000, a third of her pension. she did get some interest payments, but was supposed to get the rest of her money back last year. she is still waiting. there is a very slim chance that i will get any of that money back, to be honest with you. and just like you know, we are in a situation, my partner and myself, we are both self employed, we have a relatively large mortgage, still, for our age that was going to help pay it off. and now i am not quite sure how we're going to do it. dolphin trust, now known as german property group, promised huge returns and their original capital back if investors lend their money for up to five yea rs. lend their money for up to five years. the firm has now collapsed and owes an estimated £1 billion to investors around the globe. the businessman behind dolphin trust was charles smethurst, seen here on the right. charles smethurst, ceo and founder of dolphin trust... the bbc