Brief. Me Better Faster December 13, 2025 11:17 am
Fewer than a quarter with Covid symptoms request test, UK study finds
Fewer than a quarter of people in the UK with Covid symptoms are requesting a test, while only half say they are fully self-isolating after symptoms develop, researchers have found.
People in the UK must self-isolate for 10 days if they have Covid, with the period beginning from the onset of symptoms or, if there are no symptoms, from the day of a positive test result. – The Guardian
Istanbul Convention: Poland moves a step closer to quitting domestic violence treaty
Human rights groups raised the alarm on Wednesday after the Polish parliament moved a step closer to withdrawing the country from the Istanbul Convention.
The 2011 treaty, signed by 45 countries and the European Union, requires governments to adopt legislation prosecuting domestic violence and other forms of abuse against women. – Euronews
Wealthy Americans Dodge $175 Billion in Taxes Each Year
The Biden administration is planning to fund most of a massive investment in U.S. infrastructure and jobs by raising tax rates on the wealthy and on businesses. But a new study shows that wealthy individuals are already holding back about $175 billion in taxes every year through complex tax evasion schemes. Further, experts warn that higher rates could lead to even less compliance with tax laws. – VOA
Egypt gets 854,400 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine -ministry
CAIRO: Egypt on Wednesday received 854,400 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine as part of the global COVAX agreement, the health ministry said.
COVAX was established by the Geneva-based GAVI vaccine alliance and the World Health Organization (WHO) for the equitable distribution of vaccines. – Arab News
Japan set to impose emergency measures in Osaka area to curb COVID-19 cases
Japan’s government said on Thursday (Apr 1) it will impose COVID-19 emergency measures in Osaka, such as shorter business hours, asking people to work from home and that they should refrain from activities like karaoke.
Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said Olympic torch events in the prefecture’s main city should be cancelled, a day after he raised alarm about an emerging fourth wave of infections. – CNA
Brazil: More than 60,000 people died of Covid-19 in March
Some 66,570 people in Brazil died of Covid-19 in March, more than double the previous monthly record, figures show.
The country’s health service has been pushed to the brink as cases of the virus continue to climb.
President Jair Bolsonaro has faced intense criticism for his handling of the crisis and was hit by high-profile resignations this week. – BBC World
Met officer investigated over rape allegations
BBC World says the Met Police is investigating allegations that a serving officer raped two of his female colleagues.
The officer was not charged and has not been suspended but faces a misconduct hearing more than three years after the allegations were reported.
The women were awarded compensation but one of them says “we were just cast aside and not cared for”.
Richard Okorogheye: Police searching in Essex after confirmed sighting of missing student
The Independent says police investigating the disappearance of student Richard Okorogheye are conducting searches in Essex after a new confirmed sighting last placed him in the area.
The Met Police has released CCTV images of the 19-year-old in Loughton in the early hours of Tuesday 23 March.
Richard, a student at Oxford Brookes University, left his family home in the Ladbroke Grove area of west London on the evening of Monday 22 March, and was reported missing two days later.
France to close schools and extend Covid-19 lockdown to all of the country, Macron says
France24 says President Macron extended light lockdown measures from 19 areas including Paris to all of mainland France from April 3 for 4 weeks at a televised address on the resurgent Covid-19 pandemic on Wednesday.
Macron widened the light lockdown measures currently imposed on a third of the French population – including the Paris region – to all of mainland France. “We don’t have to lock ourselves in but we need to limit our contacts,” he said.
Covid-19 variants ‘stronger and faster,’ WHO emergencies chief warns as ‘worrying shift’ shows more young people in intensive care
RT News says global Covid-19 deaths and cases have continued to rise, the WHO has said as health chiefs warn of the threat of stronger variants and the growing number of young people in intensive care with the virus.
“It’s a watershed moment in the pandemic,” the director of the WHO’s health emergencies program, Mike Ryan.
“At the very moment that we need to stay the course with [health measures], we’re seeing the numbers starting to rise and governments going back to restrictive measures.”
Egypt launches inquiry into cargo ship grounding
Arab News says the Suez Canal Authority has launched an investigation into the giant cargo ship Ever Given’s grounding that it says will cover events before, during and after the accident.
The 430-meter-long container ship ran aground in the Suez Canal, halting maritime trade in the vital shipping channel for almost a week.
The carrier struck the eastern bank of the narrow canal on March 23 and became wedged diagonally across the channel.
Many of Lebanon’s children ‘may never get back to school’
Aljazeera says Lebanon’s dire economic crisis faces the risk of turning into an “education catastrophe”, a leading humanitarian organisation has warned, with vulnerable children facing the possibility of never returning to school.
In a report published on Thursday, Save the Children said since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 1.2 million children in Lebanon have been out of school.
Pfizer-BioNTech says Covid-19 vaccine is safe, effective on adolescents
TRT World says BioNTech-Pfizer have said their vaccine showed 100 per cent efficacy against the coronavirus in 12- to 15-year-olds, as they eye approval for adolescents to get the jabs before the next school year.
Phase 3 trials carried out on 2,260 adolescents in the United States “demonstrated 100 per cent efficacy and robust antibody responses,” the companies said in a statement on Wednesday.
Biden Unveils $2 Trillion US Jobs, Infrastructure Plan
VOA says domestic jobs and infrastructure plan with a price tag of $2 trillion was unveiled by Joe Biden.
“Our infrastructure is crumbling,” the president said.
“It’s going to create the strongest, most resilient, innovative economy in the world,” Biden predicted of his American Jobs Plan, which emphasizes union-backed employment
Live Updates
- Met officer investigated over rape allegations
- Richard Okorogheye: Police searching in Essex after confirmed sighting of missing student
- France to close schools and extend Covid-19 lockdown to all of the country
- Covid-19 variants ‘stronger and faster,’ WHO
- Egypt launches inquiry into cargo ship grounding
Most of Thursday’s front pages report on the backlash received after the government’s ‘landmark’ race review.
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The Times reports a government review into race and racism has been called “culturally deaf” after it said there was a “new story” to slavery, which was not about profit and suffering. The paper adds the review argued the era was about how “culturally African people transformed themselves.” The comments were condemned within an hour of publication. Labour said the report was trying to “glorify” and put a positive spin on slavery and empire.
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The i says Labour MP David Lammy responded to the review by saying: “We are being gaslighted.” The paper adds that the report’s recommendations include a crackdown on big tech to prevent abuse online, police cameras being switched on during stop-and-search and establishing a new body to tackle health inequalities.
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The Guardian leads with the news the boss of Bet365 was paid nearly half a billion pounds last year, in what the paper says is the latest string of record-breaking awards that have taken her total pay since 2016 to nearly £1.3bn.
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The Sun reports that the Queen has joined millions of Brits in receiving her second Covid jab. The 94-year-old was given the shot ahead of her first public appearance in five months, says the paper.
Minimum wage rises for two million workers – Read on
Google rejigs remote working as its reopens offices – Read on
England 2-1 Poland: What shape are Gareth Southgate’s side in? – Read on
Kieran Tierney: Arsenal defender provides three assists in Scotland romp – Read on
Miami Open: Naomi Osaka loses to Maria Sakkari in quarter-finals, Medvedev also out – 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