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Top DfE official's exit 'proof that ministerial accountability is dead' Unions criticise government over Jonathan Slater’s departure from education departmentBoris Johnson has been accused of presiding over the death of ministerial accountability after No 10 removed the most senior civil servant in the Department for Education (DfE) from his post in the wake of the exams fiasco.Jonathan Slater will step down as permanent secretary within days after Johnson decided there was “a need for fresh official leadership” in the department, the DfE said. His departure was announced a day after the resignation of Sally Collier as chief executive of the exams regulator Ofqual. Continue reading... Go to Source

Germany scraps plans for Brexit talks at EU ambassadors summit Exclusive: Brussels laments ‘completely wasted’ summer as Berlin takes Brexit off agenda due to lack of ‘tangible progress’Germany has scrapped plans to discuss Brexit at a high-level diplomatic meeting next week because there has not been “any tangible progress” in talks, the Guardian has learned, as Brussels laments a “completely wasted” summer.EU officials now believe the UK government is prepared to risk a no-deal exit when the transition period comes to an end on 31 December, and will try to pin the blame on Brussels if talks fail. Continue reading... Go to Source

Top DfE civil servant Jonathan Slater to step down after exams row Slater’s departure follows that of Ofqual chief Sally Collier, whose resignation was announced on TuesdayJonathan Slater, the most senior civil servant in the Department for Education (DfE), is to step down from his post in the wake of the exams fiasco.Slater will step down on 1 September after the “prime minister concluded that there is a need for fresh official leadership” in the department, the DfE said. Continue reading... Go to Source

Two dead in Kenosha after gunman opens fire on BLM protesters Three shot by gunman thought to be linked to a militia as Wisconsin city rocked by further violence Two people were shot dead and another injured when a gunman thought to be linked to a militia opened fire during protests against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.David Beth, the county sheriff, said one of the victims was shot in the head and a second in the chest shortly before midnight on Tuesday. Continue reading... Go to Source

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