Plus, will next summer's exams be cancelled?
   
  Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser. You can unsubscribe here.  
   
 

By Andrew McFarlane

 
 

Trump tests positive for Covid-19

 
 
Donald and Melania Trump

US President Donald Trump is in quarantine, along with First Lady Melania, after they tested positive for coronavirus. "We will get through this together," he said in a tweet revealing the news. The 74-year-old president had earlier announced the couple would be isolating after White House adviser Hope Hicks tested positive.

Ms Hicks, 31, had travelled with Mr Trump on presidential jet Air Force One to a TV debate in Ohio and by helicopter to a rally in Minnesota. She was pictured getting off the presidential jet in Cleveland without a face covering. Mr Trump largely spurns mask-wearing. It is not clear how his positive test will affect arrangements for the second presidential debate, which is scheduled for 15 October in Miami, Florida.

 
 
 

MP's lockdown breach 'indefensible'

 
 

The actions of an SNP MP who travelled by train to Westminster with Covid symptoms are "utterly indefensible, says Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Margaret Ferrier is facing calls to resign,  having also admitted she tested positive before making the return rail journey. The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, who has been suspended by the SNP, says she deeply regrets her actions and has informed the police. Party leader Ms Sturgeon says: "It's hard to express just how angry I feel on behalf of people across the country making hard sacrifices every day to help beat Covid." Ms Ferrier was among the MPs who called on No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings to resign over his visit to north-east England during lockdown. Former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, told BBC Newsnight if Ms Ferrier "had a shred of decency" she would resign.

 
 
 

Loss of smell may be clearest Covid symptom

 
 

While people have been alert to coughs or fevers signalling they might have coronavirus since it emerged, the loss of smell - only added to the official list of symptoms in May - could be a more reliable indicator  of Covid-19, according to research. A University College London study of 590 people who lost their sense of smell or taste earlier in the year found four in every five had coronavirus antibodies. Of those with antibodies, 40% had no other symptoms. Its findings emphasise the importance of people self-isolating if they can't smell "everyday" items like perfume, bleach, toothpaste, or coffee, says lead author Prof Rachel Batterham. The thing to look out for is a loss of smell without having a blocked or runny nose, she adds. The study was, however, constrained by the fact participants all had mild symptoms, so they may not be representative of all Covid patients.

 
 
 
 

Will next summer's exams be cancelled?

 

Even after a summer of U-turns, it seems unlikely that next year's exams in England will be completely cancelled. Not least because of the chaos and protests that followed attempts to produce estimated grades this year - and all the political signals are for pushing ahead with written exams.

But with all the lost months of teaching time there are going to be changes - and an announcement could come next week. Even before anything has been officially decided, the results days for next year's exams already seem to have been set a week later than this year.

 
 
 
 
 
  Read full analysis >  
 
 
 
 

Sean Coughlan

Education correspondent, BBC News

 
 
 
 
 

What the papers say

 
 
Daily Mail and Metro front pages

The actions of SNP MP Margaret Ferrier make several front pages. She "took Covid to the Commons", is how the Daily Telegraph describes her taking the train to Westminster, despite experiencing symptoms. The i claims she "broke [the] rules five times" in total. "One rule for them," complains the Daily Mail, which also references former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn breaking the "rule of six" and the prime minister's father, Stanley Johnson, neglecting to wear a face covering in a shop. Another politician - Mayor of Middlesbrough Andy Preston - has pledged to defy the local lockdown in his area, claiming the rules are based on "factual inaccuracies and a monstrous and frightening lack of communication and ignorance", says the Metro. And Guardian analysis suggests the infection rate has "at least doubled" in 11 out of 16 English cities and towns that have been subject to long-term local lockdowns, prompting concerns the restrictions are confusing. Read the review.

 
 
 

Daily digest

 
 
   

Speed record Driver dies during attempt at ex-RAF base

 
   

Turkey EU warns of sanctions over 'provocations' in Mediterranean

 
   

E-scooters MPs call for legalisation on public roads

 
   

Newcastle United Singapore company pushes ahead with bid

 
 
 

If you watch one thing today

Graphic depicting armpit and leg hair
‘If mum says hairy is sexy, then it’s sexy!’
 
 
 
 

If you listen to one thing today

Andrew Flintoff in 2005
Flintoff, bulimia and the strain of success
 
 
 
 

If you read one thing today

Children enjoying the spoils of trick or treat
Can you go trick or treating this year?
 
 
 
 

Need something different?

 
 

It's 25 years since Oasis recorded (What's the Story) Morning Glory? at Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth. And Peter Shuttleworth, of BBC Wales News, hears from a man who says he sparked a fight between Noel and Liam Gallagher he thought had split the band before they had even finished the record. It's also Friday, which means you can test your knowledge in our quiz of the week .

 
 
 

On this day

 
 
   

1978 Police begin using radar speed guns to catch speeding drivers - watch how we reported the first drivers getting nabbed.

 
 
 

Let us know what you think of this newsletter by emailing [email protected]. If you’d like to recommend it to a friend, forward this email. New subscribers can sign up here.

 
 
 
 
UK News World News Politics Magazine Reporters Video & Audio
 
 
 
 
News Sport Weather iPlayer Sounds Arts
 
 
 
 
BBC logo
Terms of use    |    Privacy and Cookies    |    Unsubscribe
 
 
 
.
 
To stop receiving ‘BBC News Daily’ newsletters click here to unsubscribe. Or you can update your email preferences in your BBC account settings.

Please note that some features and content in this newsletter are only available to people in the UK.
You can update your personal details including your postcode and email address in your
account settings. Find out everything you need to know about using your BBC account, all in one place.

BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
Copyright © 2‌020 BBC
 
.