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Two-thirds of UK’s furloughed workers continued job in Covid-19 lockdown Male employees flouted government wage subsidy scheme more than women, survey revealsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe majority of people who have been furloughed have carried on working during lockdown, with men significantly more likely than women to flout the rules of the scheme and work for their employer when they are not allowed to do so.Working mothers have also felt more compelled to volunteer to be furloughed than working fathers, research shared exclusively with The Observer reveals. Continue reading... Go to Source

Belarus presidential challenger goes into hiding on eve of election Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who is trying to unseat Alexander Lukashenko, fled her home after police detained staffers Belarus’s opposition candidate for president was forced to go into hiding the night before challenging the country’s longtime leader, Alexander Lukashenko, on Sunday in the country’s most dynamic election in a generation.Candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya left her apartment after police detained two senior staffers and seven other campaign members in what they called an attempt to scare the opposition before the crucial vote. She was expected to re-emerge to vote on Sunday with an entourage of campaign staffers and journalists. Continue reading... Go to Source

Lebanon information minister quits in first cabinet resignation Manal Abdel Samad apologises for failing Lebanese people over fatal Beirut port explosionLebanon’s information minister, Manal Abdel Samad, has quit in the first government resignation since an explosion in the port of Beirut killed more than 150 people and destroyed swathes of the capital.“After the enormous Beirut catastrophe, I announce my resignation from government,” she said on Sunday in a statement , apologising to the Lebanese public for failing them. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK weather: heatwave to continue before 'severe thunderstorms' roll in The mercury is set to hit 35C in Kent and Sussex on Sunday before thunderstorms arrive early in the weekMany Britons are set to bask in another hot day, with temperatures well above 30C.The mercury looks set to reach as high as 35C on Sunday – with Kent, Sussex and parts of London being the most likely to see the warmest temperatures, according to Met Office forecaster Craig Snell. Continue reading... Go to Source

Instagram ‘censorship’ of black model's photo reignites claims of race bias #IwanttoseeNyome outcry after social media platform repeatedly removes pictures of Nyome Nicholas-WilliamsFifteen minutes into her shoot with model Nyome Nicholas-Williams, photographer Alexandra Cameron knew she had captured the perfect image: a dreamy split second with Nicholas-Williams bathed under natural light, her eyes closed and arms wrapped around her breasts.The response on Instagram was ecstatic: “stunning … beautiful … this should be in a gallery!”. But within hours, Instagram had deleted the photo and Nicholas-Williams had been warned her account could be shut down. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus: Johnson urged to help out travellers stuck in quarantine Senior MPs, scientists and trade unions call for sick pay if holidaymakers forced to self-isolateCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBoris Johnson was under mounting pressure on Saturday to overhaul holiday quarantine rules and compensate those caught out while abroad, amid growing concerns over rising cases of Covid-19 in France.A cross-party group of senior MPs, scientists and trade unions said that holidaymakers already staying in a country that has been added to the quarantine list should be given statutory sick pay during their two-week isolation, in an effort to improve compliance and help those unable to work. Continue reading... Go to Source

‘We need justice’: seething protesters descend on the streets of Beirut Anger rises in the capital as crowd demands resignation of the Lebanese government following Tuesday’s explosionTens of thousands of demonstrators demanded the resignation of Lebanon’s embattled government on Saturday, clashing with police and soldiers and railing at a political class they universally blamed for the catastrophic explosion that destroyed parts of Beirut last Tuesday.The rally in the capital’s Martyrs’ Square was preceded by the resignation of three MPs from the nearby Lebanese parliament. The seething crowd called for others to follow, and Hassan Diab, the Lebanon prime minister, called for early elections, potentially after two months. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump signs order for coronavirus relief, with lower level of extra aid for jobless Trump gives speech at his golf club in New Jersey, and signs order which includes extended unemployment payments with $200 dropDonald Trump said on Saturday that he would extend enhanced coronavirus unemployment benefits and employment taxes into next year with executive orders, but cut the level of some of the support.Speaking at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump said he was taking action after Congress had failed to agree a deal, blaming “far left” Democrat demands in a campaign-style speech. Continue reading... Go to Source

'Polarised' debate on gender recognition is harming UK, says equalities chief David Isaac urges women’s groups and transgender campaigners to listen to each other and focus on consensusDavid Isaac: Equalities chief bids farewell after four ‘momentous’ yearsThe departing chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said the polarising debate around transgender rights will be damaging to the country if it continues.In his final interview, David Isaac, who left his position on Saturday after more than four years in post, urged supporters and opponents of gender self-identification to recognise that they had much in common. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK schools fear backlash from parents over 'unfair' A-level exam results Social mobility groups say Ofqual has a ‘moral imperative’ to address any exam result injustices that may occurSchools in England and Wales are braced for a fierce backlash from students and their parents this week, amid fears that A-level results to be published on Thursday will unfairly penalise disadvantaged students. Related: How are exam grades being decided in England this year? Continue reading... Go to Source

Beirut police fire teargas at protesters demanding justice over explosion Thousands turn out to call for accountability for one of world’s biggest non-nuclear blastsPolice in Beirut fired teargas and rubber bullets at thousands of people who had turned out to demand accountability for one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions the world has seen. They also shot live ammunition in the air, in an attempt to disperse the furious crowds.Driven by anger at the corruption and incompetence that appears to have fostered Tuesday’s tragedy, people gathered from early afternoon in the city’s central Martyrs Square, where activists have erected a mock gallows for Lebanon’s top politicians. Continue reading... Go to Source

Big Labour donors returning to party under Keir Starmer Several former financial backers report rejoining, with some ‘ready to give again’ in wake of Jeremy Corbyn’s departureFormer Labour donors who had abandoned the party are already considering renewing their support under Keir Starmer’s leadership, it has emerged.Figures who have given the party large sums in the past said they had rejoined Labour, with one major donor saying they were already prepared to give again. Another former supporter said there was “a long road” ahead after allegations of antisemitism in the party, but that they had been impressed with Starmer’s start. Continue reading... Go to Source

Brexit backers Tate & Lyle set to gain £73m from end of EU trade tariffs Greenpeace investigators say the firm, which also donated to the Conservatives, will be sole beneficiary of rule changes on importing raw cane sugar A company that backed Brexit and has donated to the Conservatives is in line to save £73m as the only direct beneficiary of a post-Brexit trade reform.Under plans that will come into force at the end of the year, the government has confirmed that companies will be able to import 260,000 tonnes of raw sugar cane from anywhere in the world, tariff-free. Continue reading... Go to Source

BBC presenter quits in protest over N-word allegedly used in attack being said on TV Radio 1Xtra presenter Sideman says he can no longer work for broadcaster after ‘slap in the face’A BBC radio presenter has quit his job after the corporation defended its decision to broadcast the N-word in a television news broadcast.Radio 1Xtra presenter Sideman said he no longer felt comfortable working for the national broadcaster after it stuck by the decision to broadcast the language in a report on a racially motivated hit-and-run attack. Continue reading... Go to Source

Tottenham protest marks anniversary of Mark Duggan's death Action supported by Black Lives Matter calls for end to ‘institutionally racist policing’ Chants of “no justice no peace” echoed around Tottenham police station on Saturday afternoon as hundreds of peaceful demonstrators gathered outside to call for an end to what they say is institutionally racist policing in this part of north London.The event marks the ninth anniversary of the fatal shooting by police in Tottenham of Mark Duggan. His death was followed by the biggest riots in recent times. The event is supported by Black Lives Matter, Tottenham Rights, Stopwatch and 4front. Continue reading... Go to Source

Alarm at fingerprinting and custody proposal for Channel migrants Immigration minister wants ‘real consequences’ to stop people making journey to UKUK proposals to introduce hardline measures to discourage refugees and illegal migrants from seeking sanctuary have been met with alarm.The immigration minister, Chris Philp, called for migrants caught crossing the Channel to be fingerprinted and face “real consequences”, before a meeting next week with his French counterparts. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus: just 10 enforcement orders issued for breach of UK quarantine rules Fears measures may be extended to France, but little enforcement appears to be taking placeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageJust 10 enforcement orders have been issued to people for breaking quarantine rules after arriving in the UK, it has emerged, as fears of an extension of the measures to other parts of Europe led to a surge in last-minute enquires from customers desperate to get away before any further crackdown.This week travellers arriving from Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas were told they would have to quarantine for 14 days following a rise in Covid-19 cases in those countries. Spain and Luxembourg had already been removed from the travel corridor list. Continue r...