The Prime Minister has told the Mayor of Greater Manchester that he is prepared to intervene and impose the highest level of coronavirus restrictions on the region if they can’t reach an agreement.

The Mayor, Andy Burnham, is seeking a bigger package of financial support for businesses that would be forced to close as a result of the Tier 3 restrictions.

He has told Boris Johnson that local leaders are ready to meet the government at any time to seek agreement. Manchester has some of the highest levels of coronavirus transmission in the UK.

Meanwhile Lancashire has agreed to impose the highest restrictions, joining the Liverpool city region on Tier 3 — or Very High Alert.

It means no mixing between households indoors — or outdoors in certain settings including private gardens. Pubs and bars will close unless they serve a substantial meal. And people must avoid non-essential travel into or out of the area.

However there are some difference between Manchester and Liverpool, despite them both being placed at Tier 3. In Lancashire, unlike Liverpool, gyms and leisure centres won’t have to close but soft play centres and car boot sales will.

The Mayor of Liverpool says it’s “madness” to have different rules for Lancashire and he’s warned that it is “sowing confusion”.

Meanwhile people from areas of the UK with high levels of coronavirus – including Tier 2 in England – are now banned from entering Wales.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by deputy political editor Vicki Young, Judith Moritz in Lancashire and Wales correspondent Hywel Griffith.

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A boat carrying nearly 270 people has capsized off northern Cyprus as a search and rescue operation is under way.

The ship began taking on water and “was in danger of sinking at a location four nautical miles off Kyrenia Port,” the Turkish Interior Ministry said.

“There has been a loss of life and there are injuries,” the prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said.

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55 million people across England will be in the two toughest levels of measures when lockdown ends next week. What’s the rationale for the new tier system? Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

Tougher rules for England will “strike a balance” when the national lockdown ends next week, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

At a Downing Street briefing, the prime minister acknowledged that the stricter three-tiered system of regional measures to tackle coronavirus would bring “heartbreak and frustration”.

Most of England will be in the toughest two levels of measures from 2 December and the system will be reviewed every two weeks, with the first review scheduled for 16 December – so an area’s tier level may change before Christmas.

Policy Editor Lewis Goodall reports and Kirsty Wark is joined by former health secretary Andrew Lansley, Labour shadow minister Cat Smith and former chair of Pizza Express Luke Johnson

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Joe Biden has said he is “honoured and humbled” after winning the US Presidential election. He crossed the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes needed by winning the states of Pennsylvania and Nevada.

In a statement the President-Elect said: “In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America. It’s time for America to unite. And to heal.”

The election has seen the highest turnout since 1900. Mr Biden has won more than 73 million votes, the most ever recorded for a US presidential candidate.

The result denies Donald Trump a second term after a divisive presidency defined by the coronavirus pandemic, bitter culture wars and social unrest.

Tina Daheley presents BBC news reporting from north America editor Jon Sopel in Washington and Nick Bryant with the Biden campaign in Wilmington, Delaware.

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One of the world’s biggest disinfectant manufacturers has issued an urgent warning, after President Trump suggested people could inject themselves with the substance to treat coronavirus.

The company which makes products including Dettol and Vanish warned that “under no circumstance” should its products be administered to humans “through injection, ingestion or any other route”.

Disinfectants are poisonous if ingested and even external exposure can be dangerous to the skin, eyes and respiratory system. The President’s comments were heavily criticised by medical experts. Later he said he was simply being sarcastic. 50,000 people have now died in the United States from coronavirus infection.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting from North America Editor Jon Sopel.

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