Author: WTX News Editor

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 16,899,588 DEATHS: 663,540 RECOVERED: 10,462,813 …………………………………… UK sees 30% more food waste as restrictions ease The Guardian says household food waste in the UK has increased by nearly a third as coronavirus lockdown restrictions have been eased and could spiral further, new research has warned.  The government’s waste advisory body, Wrap, said self-reported food waste was up by 30%, reversing progress made at the start of the pandemic as consumers…

Germans more optimistic about the post-lockdown world new survey reveals Germans are more confident about life post-lockdown than the French, Spanish and Italians, a Euronews-commissioned poll has found.  Data from the survey has found Germans feel a little less cautious than other Europeans as the continent emerges from months of restrictions due to the pandemic.  The survey recorded the views of 6,000 people in total – 1,500 from each of the participant countries – between…

Netanyahu says Hezbollah ‘is playing with fire’ but group deny involvement in border clash Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah carried out an infiltration attempt on the Lebanese-Israeli border on Monday, disputing the Iranian-backed Shiite group’s denial of being involved in the clash.  Netanyahu said: “We take a grave view of this attempt to infiltrate our territory, Hezbollah and Lebanon bear full responsibility for this incident and any attack from Lebanese territory against Israel.…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 16,652,674 DEATHS: 656,686 RECOVERED: 10,243,349 …………………………………… UK’s most ‘comprehensive flu vaccine program in history,’ aims to vaccinate 30m before winter covid spike RT News says the UK government has vastly expanded its free flu vaccination program, as the NHS prepares for a potential second spike in Covid-19 cases in winter. The hope is to vaccinate 30 million people during the upcoming flu season, in an effort to mitigate the effects…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Health and Prevention issued caution today for the upcoming Eid al Adha 2020 celebrations. And stressed the need to adhere to preventive measures during the holiday period to help curb the spread of Covid-19. Dr Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, on Monday praised the important role and great sacrifices that the heroes and key workers in the Emirates. He said…

When is Eid al Adha 2020 following this year’s global coronavirus pandemic? Saudi Arabia announced that Eid al Adha 2020 will fall on 31st July 2020. UAE authorities have called on the public to adhere to safety measures while celebrating Eid Al Adha 2020 in the United Arab Emirates. Hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings on earth and a massive logistical challenge for the Saudi government to oversee each year. The kingdom provides…

A weekend of protests in the US, 1 dead as violence erupts  The US saw violence erupt across some US cities over the weekend, in a wave of anger sparked by President Trump’s decision to increase the number of federal officers across the country. Protesters and federal agents squared off outside a courthouse in Portland, Oregon, in Seattle police were forced to retreat into a station house and fires were set in California and Virginia. …

2 Baghdad protesters dead after violent clash with police Two protesters died in Baghdad early on Monday after being shot with tear gas canisters in confrontations with security forces, medics said, the first victims of protest-related violence under Iraq’s new premier.  The deaths threaten to reignite a country-wide protest movement that erupted in October over government graft and incompetence. The protests had died down in recent months. There were angry rallies staged on Sunday over…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 16,424,841 DEATHS: 652,343 RECOVERED: 10,052,978 …………………………………… UK’s full recovery could take until 2024, says EY report The Guardian says the UK’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis could take 18 months longer than expected with hopes of a V-shaped recovery fading fast, according to a leading economic forecaster. Britain’s economic output is not expected to return to its 2019 level until the end of 2024, the EY Item Club said…

In today’s briefing update, the Sunday Papers report on new travel measures for those entering the UK and a new book detailing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s life in the Royal Family.   In our special feature, we look at global coronavirus updates.  ……………………………………… Tourists must quarantine on return home from Spain The Sunday Telegraph leads with the return of the 14-day quarantine for travellers entering the UK from Spain – in force from midnight on…

Thousands of worshippers flocked to Turkey’s iconic Hagia Sophia for the first Muslim Friday prayers since the 1930s. to the delight of Turkey and the Muslim world, it was once again declared a mosque instead of a museum by a decree from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The former Byzantine cathedral that became a mosque with the 1453 Muslim conquest of Istanbul and then a museum in 1934 after Turkey became a secular republic a condition…

UK scraps ‘loophole’ that allowed American woman accused of Harry Dunn’s death to claim immunity, in new deal with US The UK government has removed a critical loophole which allowed American Anne Sacoolas – who is alleged to have caused the death of British teenager Harry Dunn – to claim immunity, in a new deal struck with Washington.  In a written statement, Dominic Raab confirmed the UK and US had amended the “anomaly” after receiving…

Disney delays 3 major blockbuster films due to pandemic Walt Disney has delayed the release of three major films, dealing a fresh blow to cinema’s struggling amid the pandemic.  The new Avatar and Star Wars films have been delayed a year, while Mulan has been removed from schedules completely.  Mulan, already delayed because of cinema closures,  had been scheduled for release for the end of August.  A rise in coronavirus cases in the US and…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 15,656,884 DEATHS: 636,576 RECOVERED: 9,544,766 ……………………………………… New face-covering rules come into force in England today, fines of £100 for those who do not comply BBC News says face-coverings are now compulsory in shops in England after coronavirus rules came into force within 12 hours of the government issuing guidance on change.  Coverings are now mandatory in enclosed public spaces such as supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, transport hubs, banks and takeaways.…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 15,396,169 DEATHS: 630,720 RECOVERED: 9,372,191 ………………………………………  Boris Johnson says response shows ‘might of UK union’ BBC News says the response to the pandemic has shown the “sheer might” of the UK union, PM Boris Johnson has said. The PM is heading to Scotland this Thursday. The trip, a year on since he became PM, will see Mr Johnson meet members of the armed forces and their families. He said troops…

Ukraine bus siege ends with all 13 hostages free and gunman arrested 13 hostages have been freed after being held on a bus by a gunman for more than 12 hours after the bizarre request the country’s president posted a movie recommendation to social media. The armed man has been arrested. The SBU security service said a joint operation had resulted in all the hostages being released unharmed after a police stand-off in the city…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 15,099,524 DEATHS: 619,594 RECOVERED: 9,116,242 ……………………………………… Iran hits record 229 deaths from coronavirus in 24 hours Arab News says Iran reported a record 229 deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday as it struggled to contain a virulent second wave of the coronavirus. The virus has hit Iran harder than any country in the Middle East, but authorities were forced to ease lockdown measures in mid-April, as the economy collapsed in the…

Five ‘freedom fighters’ were killed in an Israeli missile that struck in the south of the Syrian capital of Damascus. In a conflict that Israel has denied being part of but has launched hundreds of attacks, including killing Russian soldiers. The missile attack was executed on Monday night and had targeted a weapons depots and military positions belonging to Syrian regime forces, something Iran alleges is Iranian-backed militia fighters south of Damascus. According to the…

Portland protests: Trump threatens to send more officers to US cities President Trump has threatened to send more federal law enforcement officers to major US cities to control the ongoing protests.  Mr Trump criticised a number of cities run by “liberal democrats” including NYC and Chicago, saying their leaders were afraid to act.  He said officers sent to Oregon had done a “fantastic job” restoring order aid days of protests in Portland. But locals say…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 14,858,918 DEATHS: 613,352 RECOVERED: 8,911,311 ……………………………………… Coronavirus: Above-inflation pay rise for almost 900,000 public sector workers BBC News says almost 900,000 public sector workers, many of whom have fought on the front line against coronavirus, are to get an above-inflation pay rise.  Doctors, teachers and police officers are among those who will receive salary increases of up to 3.1% in 2020/21. The cash will come from existing departmental budgets. Read…

Iran executes man convicted of CIA spying  Iran has executed a former translator convicted of spying for the United States and Israel and helping to locate Gen Soleimani who was killed by the US, the judiciary said.  Major General Qasem Soleimani – a top Iranian general – was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport in January and brought the US and Iran to the brink of conflict.  The judiciary’s Mizan Online website…

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…

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 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…

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…