Brief. Me Better Faster December 13, 2025 10:30 am
Women less likely to be reaping benefits of financial support ‘for self-employed workers’
Women are less likely than men to be getting the benefits of the government’s financial support for self-employed workers, according to a new study.
Research, carried out by Women’s Budget Group, found by the end of January 2021 only 29 per cent of all claims for the government’s self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) were made by women, despite them constituting 35 per cent of self-employed workers. – The Independent
Notre-Dame Cathedral fire: Two years on, how is restoration work going at the Paris landmark?
Chauvet added the actual restoration project could start officially by the end of the year, and he hopes mass can be held in 2024.
French President Emmanuel Macron has set that year as his goal for finishing the interior restoration for the cathedral, in line with when Paris will host the Olympics.
Securing the cathedral has been a necessary but costly first step of the process, estimated at €160 million. It involved removing the stained glass windows, checking the gargoyles, removing rubble and installing protective nets in the choir to catch falling stones. – Euronews
Suspect on the Run in Texas Fatal Shooting of 3
A manhunt was under way Sunday for a former sheriff’s deputy wanted in the fatal shooting of three people in Austin, Texas. An official said it wasn’t known if the suspect was still in the city.
Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said those who live near where the shooting happened late Sunday morning no longer had to shelter in place, but he said they should “remain vigilant.” He said officials were transitioning the search for Stephen Broderick, 41, from the area to a “fugitive search.” – VOA
Anger over ‘theatrical farce’ of new vote to re-elect Assad
Hong Kong bans flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines over mutant COVID-19 strain
Hong Kong will suspend flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines for two weeks from Tuesday (Apr 20), after the N501Y mutant COVID-19 strain was detected in the Asian financial hub for the first time, authorities said in a statement late on Sunday.
The three countries would be classified as “extremely high risk” after there had been multiple imported cases carrying the strain into Hong Kong in the past 14 days, the government said. – CNA
Table Mountain fire: Historic buildings destroyed in Cape Town
A wildfire on the slopes of South Africa’s Table Mountain has spread to the nearby University of Cape Town campus, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of students, officials say.
The blaze spread quickly after breaking out on Sunday morning near a memorial to politician Cecil Rhodes. A restaurant was destroyed.
The university’s historic library and other buildings were also affected. – BBC World
Dursley stabbing: Joshua Hall’s family pay tribute
BBC News says the family of a 17-year-old boy who died following a stabbing at a sports club have paid tribute to his “caring and kind soul”.
Joshua Hall died in hospital on Saturday after he was stabbed at Cam Sports Club in Gloucestershire.
His family said they wanted him to be remembered “not for this senseless act but for the love he brought to life”.
A 15-year-old boy, from Dursley, is charged with murder and due to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court later.
Australia opens quarantine-free travel bubble with New Zealand
France24 says emotions ran high Monday as excited passengers set off on the first flights to take advantage of a quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand, allowing families split by the pandemic to finally reunite.
“(I’ll) yell, scream, cry, hug, kiss, (feel) happy — all of these emotions at once,” Denise O’Donoghue, 63, told AFP at Sydney airport as she prepared to board her flight.
The arrangement means that for the first time in almost 400 days passengers can fly across the Tasman Sea without undergoing mandatory Covid-19 quarantine when they arrive.
Masks come off as Israel vaunts virus victory
Arab News says Israelis stepped into the streets without masks on Sunday for the first time in a year, a key milestone as the country vaccinates its way out of a coronavirus nightmare.
“It’s very strange but it’s very nice,” said Eliana Gamulka, 26, after getting off a bus near the busy Jerusalem shopping boulevard of Jaffa Street and removing her face covering.
“You can’t pretend that you don’t know anyone any more,” she smiled.
India sees new record rise in daily COVID cases and 1,619 deaths
Aljazeera says India has reported a record rise in coronavirus infections of 273,810, as hospitals across the country struggle with a shortage of hospital beds and oxygen supplies and capital New Delhi announces a complete curfew starting Monday night.
India’s overall coronavirus caseload is now past 15 million, second only to the United States globally. The country’s deaths from COVID-19 rose by a record 1,619 to reach a total of 178,769, according to health ministry data.
Top European football clubs announce breakaway Super League
TRT World says a group of 12 European clubs have split football by announcing plans to walk away from the Champions League to create a breakaway competition, drawing an angry response and the threat of legal action from governing body UEFA.
“AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have come together as founding clubs,” said a statement by the group late on Sunday.
The agreement provides that the founding clubs will receive an upfront net grant of approximately $4.19 billion in aggregate.
Police Search for Motive in Indiana FedEx Shooting
VOA says authorities are searching for a motive in the shooting death of eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, Thursday.
Police also said Saturday that the gunman, 19-year-old Brandon Hole, a former employee of the facility who took his own life after shooting the victims, legally bought the two assault rifles used in the attack, despite a “red flag” law in Indiana designed to prevent violent and unstable individuals from buying firearms.
George Floyd killing: protests flare as Americans await verdict in Chauvin trial
The Guardian says protests against police killings flared across the US this weekend, from Minneapolis to Chicago to Portland, as Americans wait for a verdict in the trial of the white police officer charged with murdering George Floyd last year.
Closing arguments are expected in the Derek Chauvin trial on Monday. The most serious charge the former Minneapolis officer is facing in Floyd’s death is second-degree murder, but the jury might choose to find him guilty on third-degree murder or manslaughter, or acquit him altogether.
Chauvin Outcome is expected to resonate nationwide, particularly in cities that have seen continuing demonstrations over police violence.
Calls for India travel ban as scientists analyse variant
Sky News says British scientists must urgently learn as much as possible about the Indian COVID-19 variant, a leading epidemiologist has warned, as calls mount for the country to be added to the government’s “red list”.
Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), which provides evidence on coronavirus to the government’s Sage committee, said as much information about the new variant must be gathered “as quickly as possible”.
According to the latest update from Public Health England, 77 confirmed cases of the B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India, have been detected in the UK, including 73 in England and four in Scotland.
Live Updates
- Australia opens quarantine-free travel bubble with New Zealand
- Masks come off as Israel vaunts virus victory
- India sees new record rise in daily COVID cases and 1,619 deaths
- Top European football clubs announce breakaway Super League
- Police Search for Motive in Indiana FedEx Shooting
- George Floyd killing: protests flare as Americans await verdict in Chauvin trial
Monday’s front pages lead heavily with the aftermath of Prince Philip’s funeral, including the Queen’s upcoming 95th birthday on Wednesday, and William and Harry reuniting.
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The Sun says “United in grief” – a reference to Prince William and Prince Harry meeting each other at their grandfather’s funeral. The brothers and their father spoke out of sight of cameras, according to the paper. – The Sun
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The Daily Mirror’s headline says “We’ll be at your side” as the paper reports that a “rota” – led by the Princess Royal – will ensure the Queen is not alone. Meanwhile, Prince Harry is expected to miss the Queen’s birthday on Wednesday as he flies back to the US to be with his pregnant wife, the Duchess of Sussex, according to the paper. – Daily Mirror
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Another story featured prominently on Monday’s front pages is the plan for a European football Super League – a proposal which has sparked an intervention from Downing Street.
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The Times reports that Boris Johnson has said the league would damage the sport and urged the six English clubs who have signed up to the plan not to progress any further. Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are involved in the project. – The Times
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The Daily Telegraph reports PM Boris Johnson said the club breakaway would “strike at the heart of the domestic game”. He joined the Premier League and Uefa in condemning the proposal. Football fans are also angry as smaller and improving clubs will not be able to qualify, the paper says. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the new league would be tantamount to a “closed shop at the very top of our national game”, the paper adds. – The Daily Telegraph
Two men killed as Tesla without anyone in the driver’s seat crashes into tree and catches fire – Read on
Low-deposit mortgage scheme launched – Read on
Priti Patel: Facebook encryption plan ‘must not hamper child protection’ – Read on
European Super League: Uefa and Premier League condemn 12 major clubs signing up to breakaway plans – Read on
Lewis Hamilton v Max Verstappen show in full swing after Emilia Romagna GP – Read on
World Snooker Championship: Neil Robertson, Yan Bingtao and Dave Gilbert through at Crucible – Read on
A spat over Covid vaccine doses has erupted between the European Union and the UK threatens to have far reaching implications over coronavirus jab disruption.
Brussels demanded access to AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in UK plants to make up for a shortfall after the pharmaceutical giant said it would have to cut the amount of doses delivered to the bloc by the end of March.
What do we know about the dispute? And what potential implications could the rumbling dispute have on future Covid vaccine rollouts? – (ITV)
Recent and upcoming changes
Restrictions are easing across the UK.
In England
Step 1 of the roadmap out of lockdown has begun. Shielding ends on 31 March.
In Scotland
People will be asked to ‘Stay Local’ from 2 April. A timetable for further lockdown easing from 5 April is on GOV.SCOT.
In Wales
The stay at home restriction was lifted on 13 March. Read about the rules on GOV.WALES.
In Northern Ireland
The next review will happen on or before 15 April. You can read the guidance on current restrictions on nidirect.
latest Covid-19 news
For the latest Covid-19 news visit the UK governement website