Daily News Briefing
Brief. Me - December 13, 2025 5:33 pm
Strong decline in coronavirus across England since January, React study shows
BBC News says there has been a “strong decline” in levels of coronavirus infections in England since January, say scientists tracking the epidemic.
Imperial College London’s React study found infections have dropped by two-thirds across England since lockdown began, with an 80% fall in London.
But virus levels are still high, with one in 200 testing positive between 4 and 13 February.
This is similar to levels seen in late September 2020.
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Budget to provide fresh Covid rescue package as tax rises deferred
The Guardian says Rishi Sunak’s March budget will be a fresh Covid rescue package that will defer plans for significant tax increases as the chancellor throws his weight behind a cautious approach to reopening the economy, government sources have confirmed.
Boris Johnson signalled that the government would take a slow path towards reopening hospitality, which could mean pubs and restaurants are not able to serve customers without restrictions on groups until June or July. Even then, venues are likely to need to continue to have social distancing measures in place.
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Italian PM Draghi wins confidence vote, vows ‘reconstruction’ from Covid-19 crisis
France24 says Premier Mario Draghi easily won a confidence vote in Parliament’s upper chamber Wednesday night after vowing to do whatever it takes to lead Italy out of the coronavirus pandemic and rebuild its economy into a more sustainable and equitable one for future generations.
The Senate voted 262-40 with two abstentions to back Draghi’s technical-political government, which he formed at the request of Italy’s president to steer Italy through the health and economic crises. A confidence vote Thursday in the lower Chamber of Deputies is also expected to give Draghi broad backing, since he has secured support from across Italy’s political spectrum.
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Heavy snowfall, gales as winter storm hits Middle East
Arab News says snow blanketed parts of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel on Wednesday, covering areas it has not reached in years, disrupting traffic and postponing vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 and even exams at some universities.
It snowed for the first time in years in Marjayoun in southern Lebanon, and in Bayda in northeast Libya.
Gale force winds knocked out electricity in vast parts of Lebanon, forcing many Lebanese, already used to power cuts, to rely on generators for longer hours. Rescuers pulled four motorists out of their snow-covered cars, the National News Agency said.
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‘Wildly unfair’: UN boss says 10 nations used 75% of all vaccines
Aljazeera says the UNs chief has sharply criticised the “wildly uneven and unfair” distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, pointing out that just 10 countries have administered 75 per cent of all vaccinations.
Addressing a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council, Antonio Guterres said 130 countries have not received a single dose of vaccine.
“At this critical moment, vaccine equity is the biggest moral test before the global community,” he said.
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Hackers disrupt Myanmar govt sites as part of anti-coup protests
TRT World says hackers have attacked Myanmar government websites to protest against the military coup, as the junta pressed on with its attempts to stymie nationwide opposition with internet blockades and troop deployments.
The cyber attacks came a day after tens of thousands of people rallied across the country to protest against the generals toppling Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government earlier this month.
A group called Myanmar Hackers disrupted websites including the Central Bank, the Myanmar military’s propaganda page, state-run broadcaster MRTV, the Port Authority, and the Food and Drug Administration.
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Biden ‘Open’ to Funding Study About Slavery Reparations
TRT World says Joe Biden is open to studying whether the descendants of enslaved people should get reparations, the White House said Wednesday.
In response to a question about H.R. 40 — a bill floated in Congress for nearly 30 years that would fund a study of slavery and recommend “appropriate remedies” — White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would support a study.
“He continues to demonstrate his commitment to take comprehensive action to address the systemic racism that persists today,” Psaki said.
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Facebook blocks Australians from viewing and sharing news
Sky News says Facebook has blocked Australians from viewing and sharing news on the platform in the latest dispute between digital firms, journalism, and governments.
Australians woke up on Thursday to find they could not share or view Australian and international news content, a move confirmed by the US-based Facebook in a blog post.
It is in response to the Australian government’s proposed law that would force Facebook and search engine Google to strike deals with news companies to pay for Australian news.
UK WEATHER FORECAST
SUNRISE 07:11
Sunset 17:23
TODAY
Outbreaks of rain will sweep eastwards across the UK this morning. The rain will be followed by brighter skies from the west but with showers in places, these most frequent in the northwest. Breezy.
TONIGHT
This evening, showers will continue in the north-west for a time, however these will clear, leaving a largely dry and clear night for the UK. Later, cloud will begin to build over western areas.
Tweets
I can’t think of two women I respect more than @SerenaWilliams and @NaomiOsaka. Congratulations Naomi! #ausopen
— The Ellen Show (@TheEllenShow) February 18, 2021
No one:
— M@ (@AsMattTweetsIt) February 16, 2021
Not one single soul:
Kendall Jenner: “For years I’ve been working to craft the worlds best tasting tequila.” pic.twitter.com/ftmhoXAMAv
FROM WTX NEWS
https://wtxnews.com/2021/02/16/staggering-rise-in-anti-asian-hate-crimes/
https://wtxnews.com/2021/02/15/5-affordable-luxury-jewellery-2021/
RENAISSANCE
I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse
Keir Starmer to vow to be as bold as Labour in 1945, amid rising criticism of his leadership
Keir Starmer will pledge to be as bold as when Labour built the NHS and the welfare state, as he hits back at growing criticism with a blueprint for recovery from the pandemic.
The crisis sparked by Covid-19 is “a call to arms” like 1945, the Labour leader will say – drawing a direct parallel with the way Clement Attlee transformed Britain from the ruins of war.
“I believe people are now looking for more from their government – like they were after the Second World War,” Sir Keir will say, arguing Boris Johnson’s “failed Conservative ideology” cannot provide that. – The Independent
Pablo Hasel: Clashes at more Spain protests in support of arrested rap artist
Protesters in Madrid and Barcelona clashed with police for the second night in a row on Wednesday amid rallies in support of rap artist Pablo Hasel.
Hasel was arrested after barricading himself at a university with dozens of supporters to avoid prison and has portrayed his case as a fight for free speech.
A 24-hour standoff between police and Hasel ended early on Tuesday when anti-riot officers arrested him in northeastern Lleida University. – Euronews
Texas grid was ‘minutes’ from failing, lawmaker says
UAE coronavirus safety violators face prison and fines
The UAE’s Federal Public Prosecution has warned that people who willingly violate disease prevention law could face imprisonment and fines.
The authority cited two federal laws where persons infected with a communicable disease, including their close contacts, were mandated report to the health ministry or health authorities to receive treatments, and must adhere to preventive measures, state news agency WAM reported. – Arab News
Myanmar junta targets paralysing strikes, as arrests near 500
Myanmar’s military junta has issued arrest warrants against six celebrities for encouraging strikes that have paralysed many government offices in protests against this month’s coup, with total arrests since then now nearing 500.
Late on Wednesday (Feb 17), security forces opened fire in Myanmar’s second biggest city of Mandalay as they confronted railway workers who had stopped trains running as part of the civil disobedience movement.
One person was wounded, residents said. – CNA
Nasa Mars rover: Perseverance robot heads for daunting landing
The moment of truth has arrived for the US space agency’s Perseverance rover.
The six-wheeled robot is fast approaching Mars after a seven-month, 470-million-km journey from Earth for what unquestionably will be the most challenging part of its mission.
It’s got to put itself down safely on the Red Planet – a task that has befuddled so many spacecraft before it.
But if Perseverance is successful, it has an amazing opportunity to find signs of past life on Mars. – BBC News
Business news
Rent debt crisis ‘could lead to homelessness’ – BBC Business
Ford joins motor industry race to all-electric future – Sky Business
Nearly 2m have not worked in UK for past six months, study finds – FT News
Tesla cuts prices of base variants of Model 3, Model Y – Reuters
Sports News
Australian Open: Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams in straight sets to reach final – Read on
Man City beat Everton to go ten points clear with 17th win in a row – Read on
Mark Wood: England bowler asks to withdraw from IPL auction – Read on
LGBT+ History Month: NFL player Ryan Russell on his decision to come out as bisexual – Read on
Cultura
Demi Lovato ‘had three strokes and a heart attack’ after 2018 overdose – Read on
Nicki Minaj: Man arrested over death of rapper’s father Robert Maraj – Read on
Hugh Grant says son ‘stabbed himself due to frustrations with homeschooling’ – Read on
Fears for Kanye West amid Kim Kardashian ‘divorce’ as ‘he knows marriage is over’ – Read on
YOUR QUESTIONS answered
what happened at the capitol?
On January 6, 2021, a mob of rioters supporting United States President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election stormed the U.S. Capitol, breaching security and occupying parts of the building for several hours.
After attending a rally organized by Trump, thousands of his supporters marched down Pennsylvania Avenue before many stormed the United States Capitol in an effort to disrupt the electoral college vote count during a joint session of Congress and prevent the formalization of President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory.
After breaching police perimeters, they occupied, vandalized, and ransacked parts of the building for several hours. The insurrection led to the evacuation and lockdown of the Capitol building and five deaths. – Read on
what does brexit mean?
Brexit was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) at the end of 31 January 2020 CET.
To date, the UK is the first and only country formally to leave the EU, after 47 years of membership within the bloc, after having first joined its predecessor, the European Communities (EC), on 1 January 1973.
It continued to participate in the European Union Customs Union and European Single Market during a transition period that ended on 31 December 2020 at 23:00 GMT. – Read on
covid-19 meaning
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020 and a pandemic in March 2020.
As of 11 January 2021, more than 90.3 million cases have been confirmed, with more than 1.93 million deaths attributed to COVID-19.
coronavirus definition
Meaning of “coronavirus” and related terminology “coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
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Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19)