| | Covid passes introduced in Wales | |  | | | | | | | | | The vote was on a knife-edge but it got through with a majority of just one. That was enough for Wales to introduce NHS Covid passes - a proof of vaccine or conoravirus infection status - for anyone attending big events or nightclubs. From today they’re compulsory for over 18s, and show whether someone is fully vaccinated or has had a negative lateral flow test. The country joins Scotland as the only other UK nation to bring them in. Northern Ireland has an informal arrangement where indoor seated venues are advised to ask for vaccine status and recent lateral flow tests while England scrapped the plans. But they could still be introduced if coronavirus infections surge during winter.
The move to introduce passes in Wales has had a mixed reception. Some feel reassured, including one woman who's been shielding saying it’s a "brilliant idea", while others such as nightclub bosses claiming they’re being "singled out". The pass - needed for events with a minimum of 500 people - would cut transmission of the virus, according to Welsh Education Minister Jeremy Miles, who says public services were expected to face "significant pressure" this winter. The risk of Covid will increase as the weather gets worse and people spend more time indoors, adds Dr Mair Hopkin, chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Wales. And this worry came as the head of the Health Security Agency, Jenny Harries revealed the UK is facing an uncertain winter with the spread of coronavirus and the flu. | | | | | |
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| | Sydney celebrates end of 107-day lockdown | | | | | | | | | It’s been 107 days since people could travel beyond 5km (3.1 miles) and visit other households but lockdown has finally been lifted in one Australian city. To mark Sydney reopening, people queued at pubs, shops, barbers, restaurants and nail salons to celebrate their new freedoms after the state of New South Wales reached its target of getting 70% of over-16s double jabbed. "We're stoked to be back, we're having the best Monday in months, even before Covid," one pub licensee says. "It's been a difficult 100 days," says State Premier Dominic Perrottet, adding: "But the efforts that people have made right across the state, to go out and get vaccinated, has enabled this great day." | | | | | |
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| | Prince Charles on climate change | | | | | | | | | He’s long argued business leaders would be crucial in tackling climate change, he’s converted his cars to reduce his carbon footprint, installed solar panels and heat pumps, created new eating habits. Prince Charles has made changes in light of issues surrounding the climate and global temperature rises. We've interviewed the Prince of Wales about the climate and he reveals how he understands why groups like Extinction Rebellion are taking part in protests but says action like blocking roads "isn't helpful". He also describes the upcoming COP26 summit on climate change as "a last chance saloon" and says it would be "a disaster" if the world did not come together. Read his interview in full here. | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | The old habits of secrecy haven't left Kim Kuk-song. It has taken weeks of discussions to get an interview with him, and he's still worried about who might be listening. He wears dark glasses for the camera, and only two of our team know what we think is his real name. Mr Kim spent 30 years working his way to the top ranks of North Korea's powerful spy agencies. The agencies were the "eyes, ears, and brains of the Supreme Leader", he says.
He claims he kept their secrets, sent assassins to kill their critics, and even built an illegal drugs-lab to help raise "revolutionary" funds. Now, the former senior colonel has decided to tell his story to the BBC. It's the first time such a senior military officer from Pyongyang has given an interview to a major broadcaster. Mr Kim was the "reddest of the red", he says. A loyal communist servant. But rank and loyalty do not guarantee your safety in North Korea. He had to flee for his life in 2014, and since then he has been living in Seoul and working for South Korean intelligence. | | | | | | | | | | | | Laura Bicker | | BBC News, Seoul | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | The energy crisis leads several front pages this morning with many papers focusing on a "clash", as described by the Times, over help for businesses. It says Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng insists "lots of conversations" are taking place with the Treasury, which denies being involved and accuses him of "making things up". "Look who's not talking," headlines the Metro as it also leads this story and according to the Daily Telegraph this row is a "typical example of squabbling between ministers" when the prime minister is away. Meanwhile, the Guardian says NHS waiting lists are triggering a "tide of abuse" against staff and the Daily Mail reports there is one GP for every 2,000 patients. Read the newspaper review in full here. | | | | | |
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| | | | | Epstein Met to take no further action after review | | | | | | | PE Periods and low confidence put some girls off sport | | | | | | | US Couple accused of selling nuclear submarine secrets | | | | | | | Energy No commitment from Kwarteng on business gas help | | | | | | |
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| | If you watch one thing today | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | If you listen to one thing today | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | If you read one thing today | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | Need something different? | | | | | | | | | Record-breaking wildfires are threatening the future of California’s famous sequoia trees, so what's being done to protect these natural wonders? Firefighters have been wrapping them in aluminium blankets to help keep them safe. Interested? Find out more here.
As we’re talking about nature, let’s move on to the next one. Cows have been brought in to trample and clear long grass to restore wildflower meadows. It's known as conservation grazing and means, in time, flowers will grow, attracting birds and bees to Mussenden Temple in Northern Ireland. Take a look.
And finally, a couple in a long distance relationship have been brought back together. They've not seen each other in person for almost two years because of the pandemic. But after Chris Quealy, 72, proposed to his beloved Penny Steven, 69, he was given an exemption from the Australian government to travel to England so they can marry. Here’s their tale. | | | | | |
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| | On this day | | | | | | | 1987 A major sonar exploration of Loch Ness in Scotland fails to find the world-famous monster known affectionately as Nessie - watch our archive report about the search. | | | | | | | | |
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| | | Let us know what you think of this newsletter by emailing bbcnewsdaily@bbc.co.uk. If you’d like to recommend it to a friend, forward this email. New subscribers can sign up here. | | | | | |
