Students are being asked to sign 12-month leases for the new academic year despite Covid, MLAs hear.

The South East region contains the main ferry and airport links, but does not include London.

Hundreds of students queue for hours after being offered the chance of walk-in jabs in Bournemouth.

The transport secretary says people should only go to amber countries in "exceptional circumstances".

The offer is open to people in Australia who want to come and work in Queensland.

A Belfast doctor says some patients feel GPs are not available to see them due to the pandemic.

As patients complain over GP access, a Belfast doctor says the pandemic workload has been "endless".

The 38-year-old pays tribute to those involved in the rollout after getting his jab on Tuesday.

Government guidance on travel to amber list countries is "very confusing", says Johan Lundgren.

Two cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 have been found at a West Bromwich school.

The individuals at Ryders Green Primary are said to have no recent foreign travel history, Sandwell Council said, adding they tested positive "several weeks ago" and "all appropriate infection prevention and control measures were taken at the time".

Image source, Reuters

The council's public health team said it was now working with Public Health England to test 120 children in two year groups and about 10 staff.

The B.1.617.2 variant, first discovered in India, is believed to spread more easily. However, there is little evidence to show it is capable of overcoming the vaccine.

“Our work with the pupils, families and staff attending Ryders Green School will help us to identify and contain the variant," said Dr Lisa McNally, Sandwell's director of public health.

"We cannot be complacent, we all need to do everything we can to stop the spread of Covid-19 and to keep ourselves and others safe."

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

It has been more than three weeks since a Covid-related death was recorded at one of Leicester's three hospitals.

The last death of a patient who had tested positive for coronavirus was on 26 April, according to the latest government data.

Image source, PA Media

Currently, there are 10 Covid patients - three of them on ventilators - being treated across Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital.

Since the start of the pandemic 1,468 patients with the virus have died in Leicester's hospitals with more than 4,500 being discharged.

Image source, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

A University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust spokesperson said they were "optimistic" about the "significant" decrease but urged people to continue following government Covid guidance and getting vaccinated when called up.

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Thursday morning.

Call for governments to take "urgent" action as figures show a third of children in Wales in poverty.

Ministers failed to prepare for a threat on the scale of the pandemic, the spending watchdog says.

Great Western Air Ambulance Charity is launching a recovery appeal after a sharp drop in funds.

The Mental Welfare Commission found cases where there was no legal authority for patients being moved.

The Australian flag carrier also said its debts had peaked as domestic travel returns to near-normal.

The BBC's Ritu Prasad and Holly Honderich discuss the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in their respective countries.