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Fury as Boris Johnson accuses care homes over high Covid-19 death toll Industry hits back at PM’s comments, describing them as ‘huge slap in the face’ for sectorCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCare leaders, unions and MPs have rounded on Boris Johnson after he accused care homes of failing to follow proper procedures amid the coronavirus crisis, saying the prime minister appeared to be shifting the blame for the high death toll.With nearly 20,000 care home residents confirmed to have died with Covid-19, and estimates that the true toll is much greater, there has been widespread criticism about a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing and clear guidelines for the sector. On Monday, the total UK coronavirus death toll rose ...

Dominic Raab unveils UK sanctions against human rights abusers ‘Magnitsky sanctions’ to target violators in Saudi Arabia, Russia, Myanmar and North KoreaLong-awaited UK government sanctions against human rights abusers, including a close aide to the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, have been unveiled by the foreign secretary.The measures announced by Dominic Raab on Monday against individuals in Saudi Arabia, Russia, Myanmar and North Korea include asset freezes and travel bans and represent the first time the UK will alone name and penalise individuals and organisations accused of human rights abuse. The measures came into force immediately. Continue reading... Go to Source

Athlete stopped by Met police says it feels like 'being black is a crime' Bianca Williams says she feels obliged to speak out, as Keir Starmer questions police actions An athlete who was stopped and handcuffed by police alongside her partner and baby son has said the experience left her feeling like “being black is a crime”, as politicians questioned the officers’ actions.Bianca Williams and her partner, Ricardo dos Santos, who are both trained by the former Olympic champion Linford Christie, were stopped while driving back to their home in Maida Vale, west London, on Saturday. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK calls halt to data on number of people tested for Covid-19 After ‘temporary pause’ in publishing figure, government makes decision permanentCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe UK government has said it will no longer publish data on the number of individual people being tested for coronavirus, after five weeks of failing to release such daily statistics.Downing Street said the decision had been taken because figures only count people having their first Covid-19 test, and as NHS and care staff can now often have regular tests, this could skew the statistics. Continue reading... Go to Source

Harry and Meghan say Commonwealth ‘must acknowledge the past’ Couple say process will be uncomfortable but ‘needs to be done because everyone benefits’The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said the Commonwealth “must acknowledge the past” even if it is “uncomfortable”, as the couple spoke of historical injustice, unconscious bias and racism in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.They said the Commonwealth, which grew out of the British empire and is headed by Prince Harry’s grandmother the Queen, needed to follow the example of others, and they accepted it would not be easy. Continue reading... Go to Source

Bakery known for anti-Tory slogans appears in government ad campaign Haxby Bakehouse owner and Labour member Phil Clayton is demanding the ads be pulled There are thousands of bakeries the UK government could have chosen to star in its latest public information campaign, but the Haxby Bakehouse was probably the only one to produce loaves flour-stencilled with “F*ck Boris” during last year’s general election. A photograph of its owner, Phil Clayton, dusted with flour and carrying a tray of freshly baked goods appeared in national newspapers on Saturday with the headline “Welcome back to freshly baked bread”, to promote the government’s “enjoy summer safely” campaign. Continue reading... Go to Source

Outdoor theatre on cards this summer but Christmas pantos in doubt Culture secretary says social distancing needed, as Labour warns £1.5bn aid for UK arts ‘too late’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOutdoor theatre performances could be back this summer but it will be “challenging” for pantomimes to return by Christmas, according to the culture secretary, as the government announced a £1.57bn bailout for the UK arts sector.Amid warnings the theatre sector was on the brink of collapse because of the coronavirus crisis, with venues forced to shut for months throughout the lockdown, the government announced a support package that has been welcomed by the arts industry. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ennio Morricone, Oscar-winning Italian film composer, dies aged 91 Morricone’s work helped define the western but he went on to work across all film genres•Peter Bradshaw on Ennio Morricone: a composer with a thrilling ability to hit the emotional jugularEnnio Morricone, the Italian composer whose symphonic scores backed everything from spaghetti westerns to romance, horror and sci-fi films, has died aged 91.Morricone had broken his femur days ago and died during the night in a clinic in Rome. His death was confirmed by his lawyer, Giorgio Assumma. In a statement, Assumma said that the composer “died at dawn on 6 July in Rome with the comfort of faith. He preserved until the final moment full lucidity and great dignity. Continue reading... Go to Source

Dominic Raab to unveil UK sanctions against human rights abusers ‘Magnitsky sanctions’ to target violators as part of post-Brexit independent regimeLong-awaited UK government sanctions against human rights abusers in Saudi Arabia, Russia and North Korea are to be unveiled by the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab.The measures to be announced on Monday include asset freezes and travel bans and represent the first time the UK will alone name and penalise individuals and organisations accused of human rights abuses. The move follows the passage of the 2018 Sanctions Act setting up an independent post-Brexit sanctions regime. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boohoo to investigate use of Leicester factory with 'unacceptable' conditions Workers were paid £3.50 an hour in conditions that allegedly put them at greater risk of Covid-19Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe online fashion retailer Boohoo has pledged to investigate how its clothes came to be made by a Leicester garment factory where workers were paid just £3.50 an hour in conditions that allegedly put them at greater risk of catching Covid-19.Shares in the company slumped by 9% on Monday morning, the first day since revelations about its supply chain came to light. Continue reading... Go to Source

London law firm did PR for Malaysian fugitive accused of corruption Schillings, which represents the Duchess of Sussex, was paid $1.3m for work for Jho Low, financier at centre of 1MDB scandalThe law firm that represents the Duchess of Sussex, has received $1.3m (£1m) for its work on a public relations campaign for a fugitive Malaysian financier accused of masterminding one of the world’s largest corruption scandals, documents show.Schillings, a London-based firm that specialises in managing the reputations of wealthy clients, was paid the sum for working for the fugitive businessman Jho Low between January 2019 and March 2020, according to US lobbying disclosures. Some of its activities were aimed at “informing public opinion” in the US. Continue reading... G...