UK coronavirus deaths have smallest one-day increase since start of lockdown June 1, 2020 The UK’s number of coronavirus deaths had it smallest one-day increase yesterday since lockdown was implemented on 23 March. Health secretary Matt Hancock said at the daily press briefing that 111 people died from Covid-19 yesterday, bringing the total to 39,045. On Sunday, 1,570 tested positive for coronavirus, which represented “downward progress in the number [...]
UK launches review into impact of US sanctions on Huawei June 1, 2020 The government has launched a review into US sanctions on Huawei as speculation mounts that Boris Johnson will reverse his decision on allowing the Chinese firm to help build Britain’s 5G network. The review, which has already begun, will report back to the government in a matter of weeks and will look at export controls [...]
Facebook and Snapchat condemn racism in US as protests continue June 1, 2020 Tech giants Facebook and Snapchat have joined a growing roster of companies to have condemned racism in the United States as protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody entered their sixth day. Last week the unarmed Floyd was killed in Minneapolis when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nine [...]
Facebook employees stage rebellion over Mark Zuckerberg’s inaction on Trump June 1, 2020 Facebook staff have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with Mark Zuckerberg over his refusal to act against Donald Trump. Employees at all levels of the company, including some senior executives, took to criticising Zuckerberg for his decision to leave up the Facebook version of a tweet sent by Trump. The president appeared [...]
US riots: Fires burn near the White House as George Floyd protests turn violent June 1, 2020 Fires broke out near the White House and police clashed with demonstrators across the US last night as riots sparked by the death of George Floyd in police custody raged on. Troops were deployed in 15 US states and Washington DC as thousands defied curfew and took to the streets amid rising anger about race [...]
Coronavirus: 2m ‘shielding’ in UK allowed outside from Monday May 31, 2020 Over 2m people in England who have been “shielding” from the coronavirus pandemic due to being deemed extremely vulnerable will be allowed outside for the first time in 10 weeks from Monday. Yesterday the government announced that those who have been following the protocols will be able to go out with members of their family, [...]
Coronavirus: UK death toll rises by 113 to hit 38,489 May 31, 2020 A further 113 people have died of coronavirus in the UK, the Department of Health announced this afternoon. In total, that means as of 5pm yesterday, 38,489 people have been killed by the disease in this country. A further 1,936 people have tested positive for the disease, taking the total number of positive cases to [...]
Jim O’Neill: Project Birch must come with conditions attached May 31, 2020 Former Treasury minister and architect of the Northern Powerhouse project Jim O’Neill has said the government’s Project Birch bailout plan must come with conditions attached for the businesses involved. Speaking to the Telegraph, O’Neill also called for “great conditionality” to be attached to the scheme, which is expected to provide support for strategically key firms [...]
Governors call on ministers to drop plans to bring back all primary school children before summer holidays May 31, 2020 School governors have called on the government to drop its plans for all primary school children to return to school before the summer holidays, a day before some pupils are due to return. At the moment, the government’s intention is that all primary school age students will return for the final four weeks of term [...]
Sunak: Employers to contribute to furlough scheme from August May 29, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak this afternoon announced that firms will have to begin contributing towards the government’s furlough scheme from August. Speaking at today’s coronavirus press conference, Sunak laid out a raft of changes to the Treasury’s job retention programme, the cornerstone of the government’s economic response to the crisis. In August, firms will only be [...]