News- UK

Face masks in schools: Tory MPs expressed alarm before U-turn Government decided to only partially enforce face coverings after intervention, Tory sources claimCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageConservative MPs expressed alarm to whips and ministers before the government U-turn on masks in schools, after which the government decided to only partially enforce face-coverings, Tory sources have claimed.Whitehall sources briefed on Tuesday afternoon that the government was planning to follow Scotland’s lead and impose mandatory face masks for secondary school pupils in communal areas. Continue reading... Go to Source

BBC comedy boss says diversity discussed in every conversation Shane Allen says push for more diversity will soon produce noticeable changes in outputBBC bosses are discussing diversity in “every conversation” about new programmes, according to the corporation’s head of comedy, who said it would soon produce noticeable changes in output.Shane Allen said the BBC’s director of content, Charlotte Moore, was constantly asking staff to make sure they include diverse voices. Continue reading... Go to Source

Obesity increases risk of Covid-19 death by 48%, study finds Comprehensive study suggests vaccine may not work as well for overweight people Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageObesity increases the risk of death from Covid-19 by nearly 50% and may make vaccines against the disease less effective, according to a comprehensive study using global data.The research from leading global experts warns that the risks for people with obesity are greater than previously thought. Continue reading... Go to Source

Two dead in Kenosha on third night of unrest after Jacob Blake shooting Three shot, two fatally, as Wisconsin city rocked by further violence on streetsTwo people were shot dead and another injured when at least one gunman opened fire on protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid demonstrations against the police shooting of Jacob Blake three days ago.David Beth, the county sheriff, said one person was shot in the head and another in the chest just before midnight on Tuesday. Another was shot in the arm. The victims have not been identified. Continue reading... Go to Source

Education secretary defends school face masks U-turn after Tory backlash Government told to ‘get a grip’ after Gavin Williamson’s latest policy reversalCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe UK education secretary, Gavin Williamson, has defended the government’s U-turn on pupils in England wearing face masks in schools after coming under fire from Conservative MPs over the move.Just hours after the cabinet minister Alok Sharma said on Tuesday morning there were no plans to review the policy amid pressure from headteachers, the government performed an about-turn and said pupils would no longer be advised against using face masks in secondary schools. Continue reading... Go to Source

Choosing Tony Abbott as UK trade envoy 'staggering', says Labour Emily Thornberry labels ex-Australian PM a ‘Trump-worshipping misogynist’ amid reports of roleThe shadow trade secretary, Emily Thornberry, has condemned reports that Boris Johnson is preparing to appoint the former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott to a senior trade role, calling Abbott a “Trump-worshipping misogynist”.The Department of Trade declined to comment publicly on Wednesday but insisted no decision had yet been made, after the Sun reported that Abbott would be given a leading role on the board of trade. Continue reading... Go to Source

Republicans shatter norms by using government roles during political convention Trump allies and family members also used misleading claims to portray the president as the best hope for America’s futureAllies of Donald Trump shattered political norms, stirred controversy and issued misleading claims against Democrats during the second night of the Republican party’s national convention on Tuesday.In speech after speech, a collection of Trump’s family members, allies, rightwing campaigners and swing-state farmers portrayed the president as the best hope for America’s future. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson drops advice against face mask use in English schools Prime minister makes another coronavirus U-turn days before return to classroomsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePupils in England will no longer be advised against using face masks in secondary schools after Boris Johnson made an 11th-hour U-turn days before classrooms reopen.In lockdown areas such as Greater Manchester, which have greater restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, wearing face coverings will become mandatory in school corridors where social distancing is more difficult. Continue reading... Go to Source

Schools in England prepare to defy official advice on face masks Headteachers call for urgent rethink on facial coverings as part of coronavirus strategyCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageHundreds of schools in England are preparing to allow or encourage pupils to wear face coverings in communal areas in defiance of UK government guidance on coronavirus.Boris Johnson is under growing pressure to review Public Health England advice that “does not recommend” the use of face masks in schools. Continue reading... Go to Source

Harry Maguire found guilty of aggravated assault and attempted bribery in Greece Manchester United defender had denied all chargesMaguire announces intention to appealHarry Maguire has been found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery by a three-member misdemeanours court convening on the Greek island of Syros.The £190,000-a-week Manchester United and England defender had denied all charges and said he would appeal. Maguire was given a prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days that was suspended on account of the charges being misdemeanours and and the court’s acknowledgement of his clear criminal record. His two co-defendants, who included his footballer brother Joe, were handed 13-month sentences. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ofqual head Sally Collier resigns over exams fiasco Exams regulator chief, who oversaw development of flawed algorithm, steps downThe head of England’s exam regulator, Sally Collier, has resigned over the exams fiasco that has engulfed schools and universities.News of her departure came hours after the education select committee announced she had been called to give evidence to MPs on the exams debacle at a hearing next Wednesday. An education source said: “She knew she’d reached the end of the line.” Continue reading... Go to Source

Woman in 'extreme poverty' found dead next to crying baby in Glasgow Mercy Baguma, an asylum seeker from Uganda, was left destitute after leave to remain expiredA woman who was living in “extreme poverty” and relying on charities and friends to buy food has been found dead next to her crying baby in a flat on the Southside of Glasgow.The woman has been named as Mercy Baguma, 34, from Uganda, by the charity Positive Action in Housing who reported that her one-year-old son was suffering from malnutrition and required hospital treatment. It is believed that he has since been released into the care of his father, who also lives in Glasgow. Continue reading... Go to Source

Harry Dunn death: Anne Sacoolas faces possible trial in absentia Attorney general considers option with prospect of Sacoolas’ return to UK remoteThe attorney general, Suella Braverman, is considering trying the wife of a US intelligence officer in her absence on a charge of causing the death by dangerous driving of the teenager Harry Dunn.The 19-year-old was killed on 27 August last year when a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire was in a collision with the motorbike he was riding. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK coronavirus live: new face mask rules for older pupils in Scotland; MPs to question Ofqual and Williamson Exam watchdog chiefs and education secretary to face questions; secondary school pupils to cover faces from Monday Scottish secondary pupils to wear face coverings in corridorsEngland won’t review face mask rules in schools, says ministerAstraZeneca starts antibody drug trial in UKCreditors to vote on £1.2bn Virgin Atlantic Covid rescue dealCoronavirus global updates – live 12.43pm BST Headteachers and teaching unions have been responding to the decision in Scotland that all secondary pupils should wear face masks in schools from Monday. If there’s to be a U-turn in England, they want it sooner rather than later, but most agree - whatever the government sa...

UK sets out law to curb illegal deforestation and protect rainforests Critics say government’s proposals for prohibitions and fines are seriously flawedThe government has announced plans to introduce a new law to clamp down on illegal deforestation and protect rainforests by cleaning up the UK’s supply chains.The proposals, published on Tuesday, suggest the introduction of legislation to prohibit larger businesses operating in the UK from using products grown on land that was deforested illegally. Continue reading... Go to Source

'The Trump show' continues as RNC heads to second night packed with Donald's family – US politics live Melania, Eric and Tiffany Trump all expect to appear on TuesdayLast night Republicans argued that only Trump can save AmericaKey takeaways from the first night of Republicans’ dark conventionWisconsin police fire teargas during second night of protest over Jacob Blake shooting503 US deaths and 40,309 new coronavirus cases were reported yesterdaySign up to our First Thing newsletter 12.39pm BST It is Tuesday, so there is new polling data from the weekly Axios-Ipsos coronavirus index. If you’d wanted to invent something new that would show up how starkly polarised American politics is, I’m not sure you could have done a better job than with Covid-19.Here are some of the...

UK weather: homes flooded as 70mph winds batter nation Firefighters rescue campers in Wales and trains are delayed as Storm Francis sweeps BritainHomes have been flooded, travel disrupted and firefighters called out to rescue a group of campers stranded on a riverside site as Storm Francis swept across the UK.Winds of up to 70mph and heavy rainfall battered much of the country, and emergency services warned that trees could be brought down and power cuts triggered. Continue reading... Go to Source

Greta Thunberg returns to school after year of climate activism Swedish environmental activist says she’s heading back to the classroom after travelling the world, spreading her conservation message Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has returned to school after a year off campaigning to curb climate change.“My gap year from school is over, and it feels so great to finally be back in school again!” the 17-year-old tweeted, attaching a smiling photo of herself with a schoolbag on her back and her hands resting on a bicycle. Continue reading... Go to Source

Republicans argue only Trump can save America at first night of convention President’s allies and family issued dark warnings of what’s at stake in the election, and an array of misleading claimsRepublicans have used the first night of their national convention to issue dark warnings about the future of America, arguing that re-electing Donald Trump is the only way to save the country from falling into socialism, economic ruin, violence and anarchy.Monday night’s theme was officially the “land of promise,” but the collection of speeches offered an almost apocalyptic vision of what’s at stake in November’s elections, and a dizzying array of misleading claims. Continue reading... Go to Source

Tuesday briefing: Apocalyptic themes as Republicans back Trump Democrats will ‘disarm you, lock you in your homes’ … expectant mothers told only zero caffeine is safe … and how chairs shape our lives for the worseGood morning, Warren Murray with the news tamed and corralled for your inspection. Continue reading... Go to Source

Headteachers launch stinging criticism of education secretary England’s school leaders accuse government of failing to listen during coronavirus crisisThousands of headteachers have written to the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, accusing the government of repeatedly failing to listen or collaborate as schools prepare to reopen to millions of children across England.In what appears to be a damaging breakdown in relations, headteachers say they are facing some of the most significant challenges of their professional lives but feel they are “working in isolation”, unsupported by the government. Continue reading... Go to Source

David Olusoga: racism in British TV has led to 'lost generation' of black talent Lack of BAME people in executive and behind-camera roles down to being ignored or worn down by industry, says historianSystemic racism in British television has forced out a generation of black talent who quit because they were being ignored or worn down by their experiences, the industry’s leaders were told on Monday.In a devastating critique, the prominent broadcaster and historian David Olusoga said the impact of this “lost generation” could be seen in unrepresentative programmes that failed to reflect modern Britain. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK delays Zaghari-Ratcliffe release for fear of offending Trump, lawyers claim Lawyers call for meeting with defence secretary and accuse government of waiting for US permission to pay money owed to IranThe British government has deliberately delayed taking steps necessary to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe – including payment of a £400m debt owed to Iran – for fear of offending the Trump administration, lawyers acting for the British-Iranian woman have alleged.The lawyers requested a meeting with the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, and his advisers at the “earliest convenience” to discuss the approach the government was taking on the issue of debt owed to Iran. Continue reading... Go to Source

Teachers hit back at claims coronavirus is spread by school staff Unions react angrily to report from Public Health England on Covid-19 in schoolsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUnions have reacted angrily to claims that coronavirus is more likely to be spread by teachers than pupils, warning that everyone has a responsibility to try to avoid bringing Covid-19 into school and transmitting it to others.It follows a report by Public Health England (PHE) which found that though Covid-19 outbreaks were “uncommon” in English schools after they reopened in June, the virus was more likely to be spread by staff than pupils. Continue reading... Go to Source

Tests indicate Alexei Navalny was poisoned, says German clinic Kremlin critic being treated with same antidote used after 2018 nerve agent attack in SalisburyTests indicate that Alexei Navalny was the victim of a poisoning and he is being treated with atropine, the same antidote used after the 2018 nerve agent attack in Salisbury, the German clinic where the Kremlin critic is a patient said on Monday.While Berlin’s Charité hospital did not identify the specific poison responsible for Navalny’s sudden illness on an internal Russian flight last Thursday, the substance was part of a group that affects the central nervous system, and includes nerve agents and pesticides, as well as some drugs. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump formally renominated by Republicans as convention gets under way – live Kellyanne Conway set to leave White House at end of monthWisconsin protests after video appears to show police shooting man 446 deaths and 32,340 new cases of Covid-19 reported in US on SundaySign up to our First Thing newsletter 6.56pm BST More on lawsuits facing the Trump organization – New York state Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit investigating whether Trump inflated the valuations of certain assets. New York’s Democratic attorney general asked a court Monday to enforce subpoenas into an investigation into whether President Donald Trump and his businesses inflated assets on financial statements.Attorney General Letitia James filed a petition in state trial court in New York C...

Berlin reports rise in fatalities as new bike lanes fail to keep cyclists safe Campaigners demand more rules for lorries after initial hope pandemic would mean less trafficA coronavirus-related drop in traffic and new protected bike lanes have failed to make Berlin’s roads safer for cyclists, as the German capital reports a four-year record in fatalities.A woman run over by a right-turning articulated lorry in the district of Reinickendorf on Friday became Berlin’s 14th official cycling fatality of 2020 – more than twice as many as the six recorded in 2019. Continue reading... Go to Source

Councils scrapping use of algorithms in benefit and welfare decisions Call for more transparency on how such tools are used in public services as 20 councils stop using computer algorithmsCouncils are quietly scrapping the use of computer algorithms in helping to make decisions on benefit claims and other welfare issues, the Guardian has found, as critics call for more transparency on how such tools are being used in public services.It comes as an expert warns the reasons for cancelling programmes among government bodies around the world range from problems in the way the systems work to concerns about bias and other negative effects. Most systems are implemented without consultation with the public, but critics say this must change. Continue reading... Go to Source

Parents in England could be fined if they keep children off school Schools minister Nick Gibb says fines would be ‘last resort’ as PM says risk of children getting Covid-19 is smallCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageParents in England could be fined if they decide to keep their children off school from September, the schools minister, Nick Gibb, has said.Financial penalties would be a “last resort” but were still available to local authorities if youngsters were kept away from the classroom, he said. Continue reading... Go to Source

Christchurch gunman planned to burn mosques down, New Zealand police say Court hears that Australian planned to attack a third mosque before he was arrestedA court in New Zealand has heard for the first time an official account of how a terrorist who murdered 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch planned and executed the attacks – and his intentions to burn down both places of worship and attack a third.The details of the attack were read at the beginning of a high-security hearing to decide whether the Australian man who has admitted committing the mass shootings will ever leave prison. Continue reading... Go to Source