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Face masks in shops will not be mandatory in England, Gove suggests Minister’s comments spark confusion over government plans to stem spread of Covid-19 Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageWearing face coverings in shops will not become mandatory in England, Michael Gove has suggested, sparking confusion over plans to stem the spread of coronavirus as the country emerges from lockdown.On Friday the prime minister indicated he was considering making masks compulsory in shops and other enclosed spaces, but Gove, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said instead that people could use their common sense. Continue reading... Go to Source

Government to spend £700m on readying UK border for Brexit Money will be used to hire 500 staff and build control posts to oversee customs proceduresMinisters are ploughing £700m into a Brexit border strategy to be ready once the country leaves the single market and customs union, hiring 500 extra staff and building control posts.The financial package comes days after a leaked letter from the international trade secretary, Liz Truss, revealed her concern that the country would not be ready for the transition period to end on 31 December. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK faith leaders urge chancellor to press G20 to cancel debts of poor countries Exclusive: Letter to Rishi Sunak warns of risks that coronavirus pandemic poses to poverty reduction effortsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageScores of senior UK faith leaders are calling on the chancellor to press for the cancellation of debts owed by the world’s poorest countries, which are facing the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.In a letter to Rishi Sunak more than 70 bishops, rabbis, imams and other faith leaders appeal to the chancellor to show “ambition and leadership” when G20 finance ministers meet this week. Continue reading... Go to Source

Robert Mueller breaks his silence and condemns Trump for commuting Roger Stone's sentence US special counsel defends his investigation into allegations of corruption during 2016 electionThe former special counsel Robert Mueller made a rare move on Saturday to publicly defend his two-year investigation into allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election – and to castigate US president Donald Trump’s decision to commute Roger Stone’s prison sentence.Mueller wrote an opinion article for the Washington Post [paywall] published under the headline “Roger Stone remains a convicted felon, and rightly so”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Madeleine McCann: Portuguese police search wells – report Sites are near a beach where suspect Christian Brueckner’s camper van was photographed in 2007Portuguese authorities have searched wells as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, according to reports. The Mirror reported that police and divers in the Algarve region examined three disused wells in Vila do Bispo for eight hours on Thursday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Revealed: 20 areas of England at most risk of coronavirus resurgence • Bradford, Sheffield and Kirklees among areas of concern• Army deployed for hotspot mobile testsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe government has drawn up a list of 20 councils facing the worst coronavirus outbreaks in England, with Bradford, Sheffield and Kirklees identified as areas needing “enhanced support”, according to a classified document leaked to the Observer and the Guardian.As evidence mounts that the relaxation of lockdown rules is leading to a resurgence of Covid-19 in some of England’s most deprived and ethnically mixed areas, officials have ordered the army to deploy extra mobile testing units, which will be sent into a series of hotspots a...

Donald Trump wears mask in public for first time during Covid-19 pandemic President wears face covering during visit to military hospital as cases of coronavirus surge across the United StatesDonald Trump wore a mask in public for the first time during a visit to a military hospital a short helicopter ride from the White House on Saturday evening. The president’s decision to wear a mask came as cases of coronavirus surged to record levels in the US and after aides and experts urged Trump to follow his own government’s guidelines on face coverings.Trump flew to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Washington DC to meet wounded service members and health care providers caring for Covid-19 patients. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump's commutation of ally Roger Stone's sentence sparks outrage Mitt Romney calls move ‘unprecedented, historic corruption’Analyst: ‘It’s a disgraceful, dark day for American democracy’Outrage is growing among opponents of Donald Trump’s decision to commute the prison sentence of his longtime friend and notorious Republican fixer Roger Stone despite the US attorney general having declared Stone’s conviction “righteous”.Criticism on Saturday came from both sides of the political aisle. Continue reading... Go to Source

Liverpool gangs 'dominate' gun and drugs trade outside London National Crime Agency uses encrypted chat to uncover gun factories in north-westOrganised criminal gangs from Liverpool have risen to the summit of the UK underworld and “dominate” the firearms and drugs-trade outside London, the latest intelligence from senior officers at the National Crime Agency (NCA) reveals.Analysis of encrypted messages from a communications system used by criminals has shown that the city has become the preeminent location for top-tier gangs sourcing high-volume importations of drugs and automatic weapons. Continue reading... Go to Source

Hundreds visit Leeds United ground to remember Jack Charlton Bouquets and tributes at Elland Road show how much Big Jack was admired in the city and beyondThey came in their hundreds, paying homage to the man known across the world as Big Jack. But beneath the stands of West Yorkshire’s Elland Road, Jack Charlton was most commonly remembered as an adopted Loiner, a citizen of Leeds.Charlton, who died on Friday aged 85, spent almost a quarter of his life marshalling the defence of Leeds United, retiring as a one-club man having made a record number of appearances. Continue reading... Go to Source

Labour calls for immediate publication of inquiry into Priti Patel bullying claims Senior shadow ministers concerned No 10 aides may be putting pressure on the inquiryAn inquiry into allegations that the home secretary, Priti Patel, bullied staff must be published immediately amid claims the inquiry’s chief is resisting pressure from Downing Street to exonerate her, Labour has said.The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, wrote to the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, on Saturday, saying the delay in publishing the findings is unacceptable. Continue reading... Go to Source

Hackney domestic violence charity faces battle to stay in premises Sistah Space, London’s only service for women of African and Caribbean heritage, faces a return to building it says is unsafeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLondon’s only domestic violence service for women of African and Caribbean heritage is facing eviction from its premises, and claims it has had to turn away survivors amid a dispute with the local authority.Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered outside Hackney town hall on Friday amid fears Sistah Space will be forced to return to its “dangerous” former building next month, amid the pandemic. Continue reading... Go to Source

Jack Charlton, England World Cup winner, dies aged 85 Centre-half was part of 1966 World Cup-winning teamCharlton also a successful Republic of Ireland managerJack Charlton, a World Cup winner with England and a former Republic of Ireland manager, has died aged 85. Charlton, the elder brother of Bobby, played 35 times for England as a central defender, including all six matches at the 1966 World Cup. Related: 'He was larger than life': football world pays tribute to Jack Charlton Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump commutes sentence of Roger Stone, longtime friend and adviser Move means Stone, due to serve more than three years for crimes related to Russia investigation, will not set foot in prisonDonald Trump has commuted the sentence of Roger Stone, a longtime friend and former campaign adviser who was to spend three years and four months in jail for crimes related to the Russia investigation.In a statement released on Friday evening, the White House denounced the prosecution of Stone on charges stemming from “the Russia Hoax” investigation. “Roger Stone has already suffered greatly,” the statement reads. “He was treated very unfairly, as were many others in this case. Roger Stone is now a free man!” Continue reading... Go to Source

Huawei believes it can supply 5G kit to UK despite US sanctions Chinese telecom firm stockpiles 500,000 pieces of equipment but fears wider ban Huawei believes it can supply 5G hardware unaffected by White House sanctions to the UK for the next five years, sidestepping the expected conclusion of an emergency review on Tuesday next week.The company has stockpiled 500,000 pieces of kit but fears a wider ban on its equipment will be unveiled to placate Conservative rebel MPs, who say the Chinese supplier represents a national security risk. Continue reading... Go to Source