Wednesday 21 October
- Covid: Hancock defends ‘fair’ tier 3 offer for Greater Manchester.
- UK Covid death toll rises by 241 in highest daily increase for months.
- India to roll out quick and cheap coronavirus paper test.
- 50% of workers fear losing job in next 12 months: Global economic survey.
- US says nearly 300,000 excess deaths in 2020 as Covid-19 rages.
- Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Group cuts nearly 6,000 jobs and closes regional carrier Cathay Dragon.
14-year-old girl wins $25K prize for a discovery that could lead to a cure for Covid-19
WTX News says Anika Chebrolu, from Texas, has won the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The 14-year-old was awarded a $25,000 prize for a discovery that could provide a potential therapy to Covid-19.
Covid: Hancock defends ‘fair’ tier 3 offer for Greater Manchester
BBC News says Matt Hancock has said a £60m offer to help Greater Manchester deal with the toughest Covid restrictions “remains on the table”.
The area will get £22m to help enforce the “tier three” rules that begin in the area on Friday.
Hancock said the “door is open” to more talks on a £60m package to support businesses and employees – but local leaders want at least £65m. Labour mayor Andy Burnham said people faced “a winter of real hardship”.
Read the full story on BBC News
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UK Covid death toll rises by 241 in highest daily increase for months
The Guardian says the UK death toll from coronavirus rose by 241 on Tuesday – the highest daily reported rise since the first wave of the pandemic.
While the Tuesday total is often larger because of a delay in reporting deaths over the weekend, this week’s is nevertheless the highest figure since 5 June.
Last month, the government’s chief scientific adviser warned the UK was on course for 200 deaths a day by mid-November. The latest daily total suggests the deadly impact of the virus is running ahead of his prediction.
Read the full story on The Guardian
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India to roll out quick and cheap coronavirus paper test
France24 says a fast and cheap paper-based coronavirus test will soon be available across India, with scientists hopeful it will help turn the tide on the pandemic in one of the world’s worst-hit nations.
India has recorded more than 7.5 million infections, second only to the US and the outbreak has spread from densely packed megacities like Mumbai to rural communities with limited medical services.
Read the full story on France24
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50% of workers fear losing job in next 12 months: Global economic survey
Arab News says more than half the global workforce fears being made redundant in the next 12 months, according to a World Economic Forum-Ipsos survey.
The study questioned 12,000 adults in 27 countries about employment prospects during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
And although at least 50 per cent were concerned about losing their jobs over the coming year, two-thirds of workers worldwide said they could learn the skills needed for the jobs of the future through their current employer.
Read the full story on Arab News
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US says nearly 300,000 excess deaths in 2020 as COVID-19 rages
Aljazeera says nearly 300,000 more people have died in the US during this year’s coronavirus pandemic than would be expected during a typical year, with at least two-thirds thought to be caused by Covid-19, the CDC said in a report released on Tuesday.
The CDC said 299,028 more people died between January 26 and October 3 than the average numbers from the previous four years (2015 – 2019) would have indicated.
Read the full story on Aljazeera
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Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Group cuts nearly 6,000 jobs and closes regional carrier Cathay Dragon
CNN says airline Cathay Pacific Group, the owner of Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific, is cutting 5,900 jobs across its global workforce in a bid to stay afloat, the company said Wednesday.
“We have taken every possible action to avoid job losses up to this point. We have scaled back capacity to match demand, deferred new aircraft deliveries, suspended non-essential spend, implemented a recruitment freeze, executive pay cuts and two rounds of Special Leave Schemes,” Cathay Pacific chief executive officer Augustus Tang said.
Read the full story on CNN
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- Trump records show Chinese business pursuits and bank account: NYT.
- VIDEO: Trump and Biden feud over presidential debate topics.
- France beheading: Macron promises crackdown on radical Islam after murder of teacher Samuel Paty.
- Nigeria unrest: Protesters ‘shot dead’ in Lagos.
- For Middle East children, pandemic adds to misery of displacement.
- Thailand admits first foreign tourists in 7 months.
Trump records show Chinese business pursuits and bank account: NYT
France24 says Donald Trump spent years cultivating business projects in China, where he maintained a previously unknown bank account, The New York Times reported Tuesday, as the US president attempts to portray election rival Joe Biden as weaker on Beijing.
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VIDEO: Trump and Biden feud over presidential debate topics
WTX News says President Trump and Joe Biden are feuding over plans for their final TV debate, just weeks ahead of the US election.
The president’s campaign accused organisers of Thursday’s showdown of helping the Democrat by leaving out foreign policy as a topic.
France beheading: Macron promises crackdown on radical Islam after murder of teacher Samuel Paty
France24 says Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that the “Cheikh Yassine Collective” is to be dissolved due to its “direct” implication in the terror attack against teacher Samuel Paty and that further measures against radical Islam are to be taken over the next few days.
Nigeria unrest: Protesters ‘shot dead’ in Lagos
BBC News says a number of people taking part in a protest against police brutality have reportedly been shot dead or injured in Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos.
A witness told the BBC he had counted about 20 bodies and at least 50 injured after soldiers opened fire. Amnesty International said it had obtained credible reports of deaths.
For Middle East children, pandemic adds to misery of displacement
Arab News says millions have been displaced by recent wars in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) — a significant number of them children. Cut adrift in an unfamiliar world in search of safe harbour, the trauma of losing their homes is often compounded by the brutalizing experience of displacement.
Thailand admits first foreign tourists in 7 months
CNA says Thailand’s tourist industry on Tuesday took a modest step towards reviving its coronavirus-battered fortunes by welcoming 39 visitors who flew in from Shanghai, the first such arrivals since regular travellers were banned from entry almost seven months ago.
