BBC News Guernsey

A member of the Guernsey Society of Architects has said they want to work with the island's politicians to support the local industry.

Architects in Guernsey are backing States proposals to use capital projects to boost the island's economic recovery from coronavirus.

Olly Brock said he hoped a closer relationship would allow local services to invest in island architects, and "grow" the skills on-island.

"We just want to put a marker in the sand with our politicians to hope they work with us," he said.

The head of Condor Ferries says the UK-approved Covid-19 vaccine will need special care when it's transported to Guernsey.

Approximately 900 doses are expected to be delivered to Guernsey in the coming weeks.

Condor CEO Paul Luxon says the ferry provider will be working closely with freight company Ferryspeed to transport the doses.

Quote Message: Some of these vaccines have to be in quite specific, temperature-controlled environments. Ferryspeed, as the island's logistics provider that looks after temperature-controlled transport are well placed, and we would liaise with them to ship those relevant trailers. from Paul Luxon CEO, Condor

Some of these vaccines have to be in quite specific, temperature-controlled environments. Ferryspeed, as the island's logistics provider that looks after temperature-controlled transport are well placed, and we would liaise with them to ship those relevant trailers.

A plan to make the most of money in dormant bank accounts in the bailiwick will go before the States this month.

It looks to create a statutory scheme that would see money from bank accounts untouched for 15 years or more, under certain guidelines, transferred to a central pot.

That money would then be given to good causes by the Policy and Resources Committee.

The early detection of the fault has brought forward the estimate of how long repairs will take.

Students from Guernsey are getting more than 450 students home by putting on 10 extra flights, the bailiwick's strategic education advisor has said.

It is all part of Operation Jingle Bells - the project to ensure university students would be able to travel home and isolate before Christmas.

However, students returning to Guernsey from university will be required to self-isolate for two weeks on arrival.

Lauri Baker said students "who were desperately keen to make it back to the island for their Christmas break" and families had been really receptive to the information sent out, with information packs from the States telling them how to prepare for their self-isolation on arrival.

She said: "There's been lots and lots of really, really interesting joint work between the Education Department, but also our colleagues in public health to make sure that we could provide... a way to support them."

Rachel Merrien, who is studying to be a PE teacher at the University of Chichester, said the guidelines had been very detailed.

Quote Message: They've been really prepared in making it really easy for us to understand, saying: 'This is what you do two days before. This is what happens when you're travelling. This is what happens when you get to the airport. This is what you need to wear when you go on your flight.' It's been really easy for us to be able to make sure that we're keeping ourselves safe, as well as the community at home. " from Rachel Merrien Student

They've been really prepared in making it really easy for us to understand, saying: 'This is what you do two days before. This is what happens when you're travelling. This is what happens when you get to the airport. This is what you need to wear when you go on your flight.' It's been really easy for us to be able to make sure that we're keeping ourselves safe, as well as the community at home. "

The Guernsey Basketball Association has teamed up with the Health Improvement Commission to support the Count 14 campaign, which looks to remind islanders of drinking guidelines.

Count 14 was launched in September to raise awareness of recommended guidelines, which advise that to keep health risks from alcohol low, men and women should not drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, and those should be spread evenly over three or more days.

Adam Farish, from the association, said sports teams were known for fostering a strong sense of community and, with that, comes a drinking culture.

He said it was important to remain mindful about health and wellbeing.

Despite the Arcadia group going into administration, it does not mean stores will disappear from the High Street, says the chairman of the Guernsey Retail Group.

Jonathan Creasey says there could be a rescue package put together to save some of the more profitable stores.

Arcadia, which owns Burton, Dorothy Perkins and Topshop, has hired administrators from Deloitte after the coronavirus pandemic severely reduced sales across the group.

Across the British Isles, the stores employ more than 13,000 people.

• Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins owner Arcadia has gone into administration, putting 13,000 jobs at risk

Guernsey Velo Club has announced the relaunch of its academy.

With sponsorship, the academy riders are aiming to compete off island in 2021 in the UK, France and Jersey.

President Mark Smith says he hopes the young riders will be able to grab valuable experience elsewhere once travel restrictions have been lifted.

Preparations are under way at Guernsey Ports for a mass of students returning to the island this Friday.

It's part of Operation Jingle Bells which was put together by the States of Guernsey.

It was set up to ensure there were enough flights put on ahead of the Christmas holidays and students could be home in time for the festive period.

Extra flights were added from Manchester, Gatwick, Southampton, Exeter, East Midlands and Bristol.

Students were also sent information by the States of Guernsey to remind them of the isolation requirements once they arrive on island.

Head of passenger operations and aviation security Steve Langlois said he expects the peak of arrivals to be this Friday and those arriving should expect longer wait times to go through arrivals as a result.

Guernsey's lifeboat service has saved almost 600 lives and brought another 2,000 to safety since it joined the RNLI, according to its operations manager.

The service had its 1,500th call-out on Friday. That call involved both island lifeboats in assisting police in a missing person search, who was later found safe ashore.

Originally established in 1803 through local public interest, the lifeboat station was taken over by the RNLI in 1861.

Crew members have been widely recognised for their bravery, through receipt of numerous awards from various states, foreign lifeboat organisations, insurers and the RNLI.

These include two RNLI gold, three silver and 15 bronze medals.

Operations manager Chris Harvey said there were many memorable deployments but the 1981 operation to save crew members on the MV Bonita, an 8,000 tonne Ecuadorian cargo boat caught in a hurricane that December 1981 is "probably one of our most famous ones".

Bus services from Guernsey's airport are being temporarily suspended to stop inbound people who need to self-isolate under coronavirus rules from using them, the States has said.

The 71, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95 are to stop serving until Sunday, 6 December.

The States said arriving airline passengers were not permitted to use the public bus service and the suspension would "discourage anyone from being tempted to use public buses" when there were "expected to be a high number of flight arrivals".

The bailiwick is in Phase 5c of its Exit from Lockdown Framework.

Anyone arriving into the bailiwick needs to create a Travel Tracker account and register their journey to determine self-isolation requirements.

The Guernsey Sports Commission has said it is "concerned" and "disappointed" about the impact an extended closure of the Sir John Loveridge Hall at Beau Sejour will have on sports and organisations who "rely on the space".

The States announced last week that the Sir John Loveridge Hall at Beau Sejour would be turned into a Covid-19 vaccination centre from 21 December until probably mid-May next year.

It means the hall will not be available for the wide range of sports it currently hosts.

The commission said it understood "the need for the community vaccination centre", but was disappointed "that the impact on sport and physical activity does not appear to have been given sufficient priority within the criteria for selecting the site".

Other sporting organisations have also raised concerns, including basketball and football representatives.

Organisers of the Guernsey Rally have cancelled the 2021 event, due to be held next February 2021 "after much consideration".

They said despite "support and permissions from local authorities", further planning had been "proving difficult" for travel arrangements for officials and participants because of coronavirus restrictions and self-isolation periods in place.

Work was under way to plan the 2022 event, they added.

The States of Guernsey is urging local businesses to review an updated "essential guide" before the end of the UK Brexit transition period.

The guide has information for businesses on employing EU citizens, importing and exporting goods, data sharing and data protection.

The transition period is due to finish on 31 December.

Guernsey's Covid-19 Response Appeal has raised more than £250,000, the Policy & Resources Committee has said.

Deputy Gavin St Peter tweeted the answer from the committee about the appeal and how money raised was used.

It said appeal donations totalled £271.896.91, which included a specific donation of £107,000 towards the purchase of a mobile X-ray machine which was operating.

Also from the appeal cash, £142.000 was spent on additional equipment to "undertake the Bailiwick Extended Testing System".

It also said that additional donations totalling £185,000 were made directly to the Committee for Health and Social Care to "specifically to fund the cost of additional ventilators, which were purchased".

The balance of the appeal's proceeds, about £23,000, was "used to contribute towards the costs of the government's Covid-19 response".

The team behind the 30 Bays in 30 Days swims is throwing its first winter event.

Islanders will be taking to the seas as part of the 12 Bays of Christmas.

It follows on from the successful 30 Bays in 30 Days event earlier this year which saw people swimming bailiwick bays over the course of a month.

Organisers said the Christmas challenge would encourage islanders who had continued swimming since the summer, or were seasoned year-rounders, to take a dip in 12 bays listed on a map between 1 and 31 December.

People hoping to take part were being told the safety of swimmers was paramount so only those who were medically fit should consider participating, they added.

Participants would only be considered as registered for the event if they have signed up via the Les Bourgs Hospice website, with donations going towards the hospice itself, they also said.