Belfast news

• Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson leave hospital following Covid-19 diagnosis

  16-03-2020 23:59 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson have left hospital and are self-isolating in Australia after testing positive for coronavirus.
  
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• Stormont ministers agree measures to delay spread of coronavirus

  16-03-2020 23:54 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Stormont ministers have agreed to introduce a package of measures in an effort to delay the spread of Covid-19.
  
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• Pub industry ‘could be lost within days without Government action’

  16-03-2020 23:54 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The UK’s pub industry will be lost within days without “immediate and decisive” Government action, its leaders have warned.
  
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• Tony Adams pleased as PCA joins forces with Sporting Chance

  16-03-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Tony Adams is pleased to permanently add cricket to Sporting Chance’s portfolio of clients, with the charity launching its partnership with the Professional Cricketers’ Association and Professional Cricketers’ Trust on Monday.
  
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• Met Gala 2020 postponed, Anna Wintour confirms

  16-03-2020 23:19 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The Met Gala, one of the biggest dates in the fashion industry diary, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, host Anna Wintour has said.
  
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• 250,000 will die unless stricter virus measures are adopted, warn scientists

  16-03-2020 23:17 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Around 250,000 people will die in Britain as a result of the coronavirus outbreak unless more draconian measures are adopted to protect the population, scientists have warned.
  
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• Borders slam shut as world goes into coronavirus lockdown

  16-03-2020 23:14 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Canada, Norway and Denmark are among a host of countries who have announced emergency border closures in a bid to impede the spread of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 6,000 people.
  
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• Coronavirus: Unique animal sanctuary fears for future as school visits likely to end

  16-03-2020 23:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  An animal lover who has spent the last decade building up a non-profit educational sanctuary has told of his concerns that school closures over coronavirus could put an end to his main revenue stream.
  
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• Coronavirus: Northern Ireland councils to focus on bins and burials

  16-03-2020 23:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Councils in Northern Ireland will focus on critical core services - bins, burials and registrations - as the coronavirus crisis deepens.
  
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• Coronavirus: Hospitality sector to feel 'immediate pain', warns body's chief

  16-03-2020 23:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Guidance from the Prime Minister to stay away from pubs and restaurants due to coronavirus will be "devastating" for local businesses and workers, the head of Hospitality Ulster has said.
  
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• Coronavirus: Community shows solidarity as people rally to help vulnerable and elderly

  16-03-2020 23:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  An Armagh-based community group has prepared care packages for distribution around the elderly and people with mobility issues.
  
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• George Alagiah withdraws from BBC newsroom amid Covid-19 outbreak

  16-03-2020 22:58 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  George Alagiah said he has made the “difficult decision” to withdraw from the BBC’s newsroom amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
  
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• Dedicated shopping sessions for elderly at Lidl in Northern Ireland

  16-03-2020 22:45 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Dedicated shopping sessions for elderly people are to be introduced at discount supermarket Lidl in Northern Ireland.
  
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• Coronavirus: Children who receive free school meals must not miss out: expert

  16-03-2020 22:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A child poverty expert has called for Government action to make sure children entitled to free school meals do not miss out if their schools shut.
  
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• Children who receive free school meals must not miss out: expert

  16-03-2020 22:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A child poverty expert has called for Government action to make sure children entitled to free school meals do not miss out if their schools shut.
  
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• Clubs join FIFA Ultimate Team tournament during football’s coronavirus hiatus

  16-03-2020 22:13 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Football fans will have somewhere to focus their attention after 128 clubs signed up to take part in a huge FIFA Ultimate Team tournament.
  
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• Mosques urged to suspend all congregational activities to fight coronavirus spread

  16-03-2020 22:05 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Mosques and Islamic centres across the UK have been advised to suspend all congregational services to protect worshippers from coronavirus.
  
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• Coronavirus: Belfast leisure centres and council facilities to close to public - Belfast Live

  16-03-2020 22:01
  
  Coronavirus: Belfast leisure centres and council facilities to close to public  Belfast Live
  
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• Using mindfulness during coronavirus: Northern Ireland expert’s tips on lowering anxiety

  16-03-2020 22:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Bridgeen Rea-Kaya is a pioneer of the practice of mindfulness in Northern Ireland but even she is not immune to the anxiety currently sweeping the nation over the spread of coronavirus.
  
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• PFA suspends annual awards ceremony amid coronavirus pandemic

  16-03-2020 21:57 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The Professional Footballers’ Association’s annual awards ceremony has been postponed, the players’ union has announced.
  
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• Acclaimed director Mel Brooks, 93, latest celebrity to back social distancing

  16-03-2020 21:54 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Revered director Mel Brooks is the latest celebrity to urge people to enact social distancing in an attempt to halt the spread of Covid-19.
  
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• Coronavirus: North West 200 organisers set to announce cancellation of Race Week

  16-03-2020 21:25 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Northern Ireland's leading outdoor sporting event, the North West 200, is set to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Belfast Telegraph can confirm.
  
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• Claws out for Cats as it wins six prizes at the Razzies

  16-03-2020 21:19 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The much-derided Cats has won six prizes at the 40th Golden Raspberry Awards, which “honour” the worst in film each year.
  
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• Coronavirus: PM says everyone should avoid office, pubs and travelling

  16-03-2020 21:12 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Other "drastic" steps include more working from home and whole households staying at home for 14 days if one person has symptoms.
  
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• Irish Government warns against all non-essential travel including to UK

  16-03-2020 21:09 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The Irish Government has recommended all citizens should avoid non-essential overseas travel until March 29 in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
  
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• Tyson Fury’s promoters cast doubt on unification fight with Anthony Joshua

  16-03-2020 21:03 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Tyson Fury’s promoters have distanced themselves from a unification world heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua.
  
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• Why stockpiling loo roll makes a lot more sense than standing in the pub laughing off coronavirus

  16-03-2020 21:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The world as we know it is shutting down. People are a bit giddy because it hasn't fully sunk in with them how serious this is. You can't even go to Mass now. I suppose the bishops are thinking of days past, when gathering people into churches to pray for God's mercy only hastened the spread of contagion.
  
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• Michelle O'Neill and John O'Dowd have just made greater cross-border co-operation on coronavirus more, not less, difficult to achieve

  16-03-2020 21:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A few days ago the entire Executive stood shoulder-to-shoulder and spoke from the same script as they addressed the media. We were assured that the huge challenges presented by Covid-19 would be tackled jointly and rigorously.
  
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• Government’s coronavirus advice branded ‘catastrophic’ for pubs and arts venues

  16-03-2020 20:59 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The Government’s advice for people to avoid pubs, clubs and theatres in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus is “catastrophic” for jobs and businesses, sector leaders have said.
  
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• Health Secretary: We are in a war against an invisible killer

  16-03-2020 20:57 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Britain is fighting a “war against an invisible killer” – and everything must be done to stop it, the Health Secretary has said.
  
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• Coronavirus: 3,000 tourism businesses 'may not survive'

  16-03-2020 20:53 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Balmoral Show has been postponed and an announcement is due on support for businesses.
  
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• Palace to study impact of coronavirus advice

  16-03-2020 20:50 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Buckingham Palace is studying the implications of the new Government advice on the coronavirus and its impact on forthcoming events.
  
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• Arlene Foster – Draconian measures taken in NI to tackle coronavirus

  16-03-2020 20:45 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Draconian measures have been taken in Northern Ireland to stop people from socialising in pubs and keep their distance from others, First Minister Arlene Foster said.
  
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• US tells older people to stay home and all ages to avoid crowds

  16-03-2020 20:40 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The White House has urged all older Americans to stay home and everyone to avoid crowds and eating out at restaurants as part of sweeping guidelines to combat an expected surge of coronavirus cases.
  
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• Irish citizens urged not to travel overseas until March 29 as coronavirus cases expected to increase 30% per day

  16-03-2020 20:38 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Irish citizens are being urged not to travel abroad before March 29, including to England.
  
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• Possibility of postponing schools’ summer exams to September discussed

  16-03-2020 20:34 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and school leaders have discussed the possibility of postponing the summer exams to September because of the coronavirus outbreak.
  
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• Deposit return scheme delayed by more than a year due to coronavirus

  16-03-2020 20:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The implementation date for Scotland’s deposit return scheme has been delayed by more than a year amid fears of the effects of coronavirus.
  
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• Participants receive first dose of experimental coronavirus vaccine

  16-03-2020 20:19 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The first participants in a clinical trial for a vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus have received an experimental dose at a research institute in the US state of Washington
  
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• Coronavirus: Who should stay home and for how long?

  16-03-2020 20:17 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  “Drastic” plans to respond to the coronavirus pandemic have been set out by the Government.
  
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• West End and UK theatres shut down to fight spread of coronavirus

  16-03-2020 20:10 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Theatres in the West End and around the UK will close from Monday night as part of stringent new measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
  
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• Coronavirus elderly advice: How can I look after my older relatives?

  16-03-2020 20:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  What measures are being taken and what advice is there for looking after older and elderly people?
  
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• Lockdowns and stocks down as virus fight shifts away from China

  16-03-2020 20:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The global battle to contain the coronavirus has reached a new level of urgency as governments locked down borders, millions of workers, students and worshippers were ordered to stay home, and pleas went out to send masks and ventilators to places struggling with soaring caseloads.
  
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• Coronavirus: NI schools to remain open for now - Weir

  16-03-2020 19:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  However, the education minister says they will have to close at some point because of coronavirus.
  
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• Anne out and about visiting equestrian centre amid coronavirus pandemic

  16-03-2020 19:51 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A smiling Princess Royal carried on with her royal role as she visited an equestrian centre amid the coronavirus outbreak.
  
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• National League suspended as FA advise all grassroots football to be postponed

  16-03-2020 19:47 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The National League has suspended matches and the Football Association is “advising that all grassroots football in England is postponed for the foreseeable future” due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
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• Economy will come roaring back after Covid-19, says Johnson

  16-03-2020 19:45 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Boris Johnson has said the economy will take a short-term hit from the coronavirus outbreak, but should come “roaring back” as the disease declines.
  
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• Branson criticised as Virgin Atlantic staff forced to take unpaid leave

  16-03-2020 19:41 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Billionaire Sir Richard Branson has been urged by Labour politicians to cover the wages of Virgin Atlantic staff forced to take unpaid leave due to the coronavirus.
  
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• Idris Elba says he has tested positive for Covid-19

  16-03-2020 19:38 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Actor Idris Elba has announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19.
  
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• At a glance: The latest measures announced to combat Covid-19

  16-03-2020 19:34 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Boris Johnson has acknowledged that “drastic action” is needed as the UK faces a rapid growth in the number of coronavirus cases.
  
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• Chief medical officer defends UK’s testing for Covid-19

  16-03-2020 19:29 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  England’s chief medical officer has defended the Government’s position on testing people for Covid-19 after the World Health Organisation (WHO) said countries must “test, test, test”.
  
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