Image source, PA Media

There's been concern from UK students that they might not be able to leave their university and return home for Christmas because of the pandemic.

About 40 universities have reported coronavirus cases and thousands of students are self-isolating as the new term begins.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has now said he understands there has been "anxiety about the impact safety measures will have on Christmas plans". The government is working with universities to make sure students can return home to spend the Christmas holidays with their families, if they choose to.

Measures will be put in place to "minimise the risk of transmission" he added - these could include students having to self-isolate at the end of term, and in-person learning ending earlier.

For those who choose to stay at university over the festive holidays, their universities will make sure they stay safe, added Mr Williamson.

"Inevitably, there will be cases of Covid in universities just as there are in wider communities," he told MPs in the House of Commons. "But we believe universities are well-prepared to handle outbreaks as they arise."

Welcome to the BBC’s coronavirus livepage, where we’re covering the number of world deaths from the virus passing one million.

• UN Secretary General António Guterres called the figure “mind-numbing” and urged nations to pull together to beat the pandemic
• World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris said the one million deaths was a “very sad milestone”, but said there was hope as “this virus is suppressible, it is not the flu”
• New tighter lockdown restrictions in north-east England to combat a rise in cases are causing confusion. After one minister admitted she didn't know whether the rules applied to beer gardens, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was unable to clear up the confusion
• To boost the post-Covid economy, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to make “radical” changes to the education system in England, announcing adults without an A-level or equivalent qualification will be offered a full funded college course.

New rules for north-east England, which outlaw households mixing indoors, kick in tomorrow. This morning, Skills Minister Gillian Keegan admitted she didn't know whether the ban extended to - for example - beer gardens.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked the same question after giving a speech in Exeter.

"Outside the areas such as the North East where extra measures have been brought in, it’s six inside, six outside," he replied.

"In the North East and other areas where extra tight measures have been brought in you should follow the guidance of local authorities, but it’s six in a home or six in hospitality but as I understand it, not six outside."

The BBC has been told mixing with other households in pub gardens or outdoor restaurant spaces is not being made illegal but goes against advice.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "For the prime minister to not understand his own rules is grossly incompetent.

"These new restrictions are due to come into force across huge parts of the country tonight. The government needs to get a grip."

Boris Johnson has been questioned by the media after giving his speech in Exeter on skills and education. Here are some of his replies:

On whether university students affected by restrictions should get refunds...

"That's really a matter for them and their places of education. I hope they continue to get value."

On new rules for pubs...

"Nobody in their right mind wants to stop people singing and dancing in pubs... but we are still in a serious situation."

On how he feels after suffering from Covid earlier this year...

"I'm fitter than I was before, it may irritate you to know... thanks basically to losing weight. When you reach 17 stone 6, as I did... it's probably a good idea to lose weight."

On the 10pm pub curfew...

"This is not the same as the lockdown in March. The crucial thing is, by our collective action, we allow hospitality to keep going."

Image source, PA MEDIA

Pubs, hotel bars and restaurants will have to close early in Northern Ireland under new coronavirus rules coming into force from midnight on Wednesday.

No alcohol or food will be served after 22:30 and all customers must leave by 23:00, First Minister Arlene Foster says.

She said there could be "no exceptions" to the rule, and it would also apply to weddings and other social events.

The rest of the UK has already imposed a 22:00 closing time on pubs and restaurants. It's led to some criticism as crowds of people have been seen gathering in city centres after closing time since the measures came in.

Image source, PA Media

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been setting out plans to help people learn new skills - and ultimately find new work - amid fears of unemployment caused by the pandemic.

Speaking in Exeter, he said a "huge number will have to change jobs and skills" and that coronavirus "has massively accelerated changes already happening in the UK economy".

The government, he said, is trying all kinds of "imaginative ways" to save jobs - but admitted: "Alas, we cannot save every job."

Instead, said Mr Johnson, "what we can do is give people the skills to find and create new and better jobs".

There has been a "haemorrhaging" in adult education, and the PM said he wanted "to change that right now".

One main plan being introduced is that any adult in England without an A-level or equivalent will be offered a fully-funded college course.

They'll be made available from next April and these courses will offer "skills valued by employers", he said.

Some jobs in traditional shops, pubs or restaurants may be gone for good, he suggested.

"Before Covid people were already shopping ever more online, were already sending out for food," said the PM, adding that the pandemic "has compressed that revolution".

Labour said earlier that the plans would not reverse the impact of "a decade of cuts".

Close to 1,000 people from 37 countries around the world have signed an open letter calling for a "People's Vaccine", and treatments available to everyone free from patents.

Addressed to pharmaceutical leaders, it has been signed by those who have recovered, those who have lost relatives to the virus, and hundreds who are at a higher risk of developing severe forms of Covid-19.

The letter, external says that after seeing the virus spread around the world at "terrifying speed", they realise the only hope is to make sure everyone who needs a vaccine gets one.

"This will only be possible if corporations like yours share knowledge so that a vaccine can be produced in vast quantities by as many manufacturers as possible," it reads. "We need a People's Vaccine - not a profit vaccine."

The UK has pledged £500 million ($643m) in aid funding to the Covax vaccines procurement pool, which aims to help poorer countries access a coronavirus jab when one is developed.

Image source, GARY MASLIN

A tax on visitors to Snowdonia National Park has been suggested as a way of making tourism in the area sustainable.

It comes after crowds flocked to Snowdonia over the summer as coronavirus travel restrictions led people to holiday in the UK.

The park's engagement officer Helen Pye said there was an "opportunity for Wales to look at different ways of doing tourism".

The Welsh government said national parks had received an extra £800,000 to deal with the effects of Covid-19.

Image source, EPA

The Gavi Vaccine Alliance has announced further collaboration with the Indian pharmaceutical company Serum Institute.

Gavi and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will fund a further 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from Serum, bringing it to a total of 200 million doses for low and middle income countries – with a maximum price of $3 (£2.33) per dose.

Different companies and countries are striking up vaccine deals around the world. There are concerns that wealthier countries will push out more vulnerable nations, and authorities are trying to make sure any vaccine developed is rolled out globally.

You can read more about who will get the vaccine first here

James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

There are three main symptoms of coronavirus. If you get just one of them, you should get a test. What are the symptoms?

• New and continuous cough - coughing a lot for more than an hour, or having three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• Fever - a temperature above 37.8C
• Change in smell or taste - either you cannot taste or smell anything, or these senses are different to normal

Public Health England says about 85% of people with Covid will have at least one.

Read on for more advice on what to do when you need to seek help.

Today is World Heart Day, and the World Heart Federation (WHF) is raising awareness of the dangers coronavirus poses to heart health. Those who suffer from a cardiovascular disease or who have high blood pressure face a higher risk of complications from the virus.

"In the time of Covid-19, cardiovascular disease patients are faced with a double-edged threat. Not only are they more at risk of developing severe forms of the virus, but they may also be afraid to seek ongoing care for their hearts," the group said.

Tens of thousands of heart procedures have been delayed in the UK due to the pandemic.

According to the WHF, those at risk should not be afraid to seek in-person medical care. They should also follow social distancing and mask use advice, keep taking their medicines, and also try to secure a large supply of their medicine so they don't have to put themselves at risk too frequently.

Exercise, eating healthily and reducing stress are also important.

You can learn more on the World Heart Federation website, external.

Image source, EPA

As we mentioned a little earlier, a government minister was unable to clarify some elements of the new coronavirus restrictions coming into force across parts of north-east England.

Here's what we do know about the rules:

• Mixing between households in any indoor setting, such as pubs and restaurants, will be against the law from Wednesday
• This applies to people in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham
• People in these areas were already being advised not to mix households - but now it's actually being made into law
• Anyone found to be breaking the rules could be dispersed by police, and those over 18 could face a £200 fine for their first offence
• The fine would be halved if paid within 14 days
• Subsequent offences would be doubled up to a maximum of £6,400
• National rules such as the 'Rule of Six' also apply

One of the things we still don't know is whether or not the rules allow people to mix households in outdoor settings such as beer gardens.

The Department of Health has been approached for comment and asked when the new rules will be published.

The world has recorded more than one million deaths due to the coronavirus.

World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a UN briefing on Tuesday that it was was "a very sad milestone".

"So many people have lost so many people and haven't had the chance to say goodbye. Many people who died died alone... It's a terribly difficult and lonely death," she said.

But Dr Harris added that there is still hope.

"The one positive thing about this virus is it is suppressible, it is not the flu."

Fiona Walker
BBC Scotland

Covid survivor Tam McCue is one of the lucky ones.

I first met him when he was just out of intensive care in the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Scotland, where he had been on a ventilator for nearly two weeks.

At one point Mr McCue, who could barely speak, didn't think he would live.

Fast forward five months and Mr McCue, of Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, is back from the brink.

The 64-year-old told BBC Scotland: "I just want to move forward. I don't want to go back and say 'Look at me. I've beat this. I've kicked its back end'. I haven't. I have [come] out the other end, definitely. Might be a long way to go."

Read more here.

The number of weekly deaths where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate has risen to more than 100, official figures for England and Wales show.

Some 139 deaths were registered in the week ending 18 September where "novel coronavirus" was mentioned - accounting for 1.5% of all deaths, the Office for National Statistics said. , external

It is the second consecutive weekly rise in such deaths.

The latest figures for each of the UK nations show 57,860 deaths have been registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

Young people’s job prospects have been hit hardest by the pandemic in the UK, where thousands have been furloughed or made jobless. Many have had to look for other ways of making money.

We talked to three young women from London who lost their jobs as the country went into lockdown and started their own businesses.

Mortage approvals in the UK last month hit the highest levels since 2007, new data suggests, as the market continues to recover from the coronavirus lockdown.

The Bank of England says some 84,700 mortages were approved in August, up from 66,300 in July.

The Bank said the August figure, however, only partially offset weak numbers seen from March to June.

There have been a total of 418,000 approvals so far in 2020, compared with 524,000 in the same period in 2019.

Anna Holligan
BBC News Hague correspondent

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte once described the Dutch approach to tackling Covid-19 as an "intelligent lockdown" and has been openly sceptical about the benefits of mask wearing. But as the Netherlands enters its second wave with some of the worst infection rates in Europe he had little choice but to tighten the rules.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, people in Amsterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven and Rotterdam are being advised to wear face coverings in shops. Despite Mr Rutte's previous assertions that masks may even be counter-productive, this morning as I cycled by my local supermarket everyone I could see was abiding by the new guidance.

Restaurants and bars across the country must close by 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT). Fans are banned from attending sports events. Businesses such as hairdressers and dentists must log their clients contact details. People are encouraged to work from home and stay indoors if they have coronavirus-like symptoms.

This week the Netherlands broke its own daily infection record, and is expecting 5,000 new cases every day by next week. Hospital admissions have risen for the 26th consecutive day and ICU numbers are creeping up again.

Last night, standing alongside the prime minister, Health Minister Hugo de Jong said of the Dutch efforts, "We are doing our best, but the virus is doing better."

Image source, Reuters

More than one million people have died from Covid-19. UN Secretary General António Guterres has called that number "mind-numbing", and has stressed the need for all nations to work together against the virus.

"Responsible leadership matters, science matters, cooperation matters and misinformation kills," he said in a statement.

"As we remember so many lives lost, let us never forget that our future rests on solidarity -- as people united and as united nations."

Image source, REUTERS

A UK government minister has been unable to clarify parts of the new coronavirus restrictions coming into effect in north-east England.

People who break a new law against mixing socially in seven parts of the North East face a maximum £6,400 fine.

The tougher measures - which are coming into force on Wednesday amid a spike in Covid-19 cases - will affect about two million people.

Skills Minister Gillian Keegan was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether the new restrictions apply to outside areas, such as pub and restaurant gardens.

"I'm sorry I can't clarify that. I don't know the answer to that question but I'm sure they can find out," she said.

Pressed on how people can be expected to keep up to date with the latest restrictions if a minister cannot, she said: "I'm sorry I can't answer that question. I'm sure there are many people who could. I don't represent the North East."

Labour's shadow health minister Alex Norris said Keegan's admission "will do little to inspire public confidence", adding government "incompetence" was hampering the UK's coronavirus response.