Author: News Desk

UK signals it will suspend extradition deal with Hong Kong after tensions rise following controversial law and 5G network ban Dominic Rabb is expected to suspend the UK’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong later amid rising tensions between London and Beijing.  It comes after the controversial national security law imposed in Hong Kong and the UK’s decision to ban Huawei from the UK’s 5G network. The UK has offered residency rights to three million Hong Kongers leading China to accuse the UK of meddling in its internal affairs.  Beijing says it is committed to upholding international law and has accused…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 14,646,707 DEATHS: 608,978 RECOVERED: 8,737,835 ……………………………………… England’s tests and trace scheme ‘breaks data law’ BBC News says privacy campaigners say England’s test and trace programme has broken a key data protection law.  The Department of Health has conceded that the initiative to trace contacts of people infected with Covid-19 was launched without carrying out an assessment of its impact on privacy.  The Open Rights Group (ORG) says the admission means the initiative has been unlawful since it began on 28 May.  Read the full story on  BBC News ……………………………………… Senior doctors warn a second-wave could…

The UAE Mars probe named ‘Hope probe’ or Amal probe in Arabic has transmitted its first signal from space early Monday morning. This came after the spacecraft’s solar panels were deployed to charge its batteries following its separation from the launch vehicle. The UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced that the Ground Control station located in the Al Khawaneej area of Dubai had successfully received the first transmission from the Hope Probe at 3:10 am, Monday. The UAE Space Agency and MBRSC have announced that the first transmission was received at 3:11am (12:11am GMT). The…

In today’s briefing update, the Sunday Papers report on Prince Andrew ‘missing’ from Princess Beatrice’s official wedding photos and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country will not need another national lockdown.  In our special feature, we look at global coronavirus updates.  ……………………………………… Sunday Papers Johnson: we will not need another national lockdown The Sunday Telegraph says Boris Johnson has told the Sunday Telegraph that the nation will not need another national lockdown. The PM is quoted as saying the option of a nationwide lockdown is now akin to a “nuclear deterrent”. The paper notes that the PM’s comments appear…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 13,952,406 DEATHS: 592,757 RECOVERED: 8,284,285 ……………………………………… £3bn to help NHS prepare for possible second-wave BBC News says the NHS in England will get an extra £3bn of funding to prepare for a possible second wave of coronavirus, Boris Johnson is set to announce.  The funding will also help ease winter pressures on the health services, Downing Street said. It follows warnings a second wave this winter could see around 120,000 Covid-19 deaths in UK hospitals.  The PM is also expected to use a press conference on Friday to commit to a new target for testing…

Twitter hack: Obama, Musk, Gates and Kanye accounts hacked by Bitcoin scam in an unprecedented  attack Billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates are among many prominent US names targetted by hackers on Twitter in an apparent Bitcoin scam. Their official accounts also requested donations in the cryptocurrency. “Everyone is asking me to give back,” a tweet from Mr Gates’ account said. “You send $1000, I send you back $2000.”  Twitter said it was a “coordinated” attack targeting its employees “with access to internal systems and tools.”  “We know they [the hackers] used this access to take control of…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 13,697,662 DEATHS: 586,896 RECOVERED: 8,155,874 ……………………………………… US, UK Covid-19 vaccines show signs of immunity in patients Arab News says two of the world’s most promising studies to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 have said subjects in their trials have shown early signs of immunity. Two of the world’s most promising studies to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 have said subjects in their trials have shown early signs of immunity.  The trials, run by teams at Oxford University in the UK and pharmaceutical company Moderna in the US, have both received significant government funding in their…

#LFC will lift the premier league trophy next week at the #Kop end of Anfield.

UK’s inflation rate The UK’s inflation rate rose to 0.6% in June as the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown started to ease.  The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) picked up slightly from May’s four year low of 0.5%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.  Food and alcohol prices fell but clothing and games rose, the ONS said. Despite the slight increase in the rate, inflation remains below the Bank of England’s 2% target.  https://twitter.com/Suren_Thiru/status/1283282091443134464 Jonathan Athow, at the ONS, said: “The inflation rate has increased for the first time this year, but remains low by historical standards.  “Due to the impact of…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 13,462,873 DEATHS: 581,317 RECOVERED: 7,852,445 ……………………………………… UK’s Huawei 5G network ban ‘disappointing and wrong’ BBC News says China’s ambassador to the UK has called Britain’s decision to ban Huawei from its 5G network “disappointing and wrong.” The UK government has ordered companies to strip equipment from Huawei out of the system by 2027. It comes after the US imposed sanctions after claims the Chinese firm poses a national security threat – something Huawei denies. President Trump welcomed the UK’s decision, calling Huawei “unsafe.” Read the full story on BBC News ……………………………………… British airlines to…