Brief. Me Better Faster January 5, 2026 1:44 am
NHS trusts in London preparing to make Covid vaccinations compulsory for workers, leaked email reveals
A major NHS trust in London is planning to make vaccinations against coronavirus a contractual requirement for all its staff, according to a leaked email seen by The Independent that also reveals other trusts may follow suit.
The letter to staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Foundation Trust, signed by the chief executive Lesley Watts, has not yet been sent to staff but has been shared with dozens of senior NHS bosses across London for them to “adapt and use in your trusts.” – The Independent
Belgium, Switzerland and Denmark announce easing of COVID restrictions
Belgium’s prime minister has announced the country will reopen restaurants and bars for outdoor service next month, and lift a night-time curfew.
The decision comes as COVID-19 cases continue to decrease.
And other countries, including Switzerland and Denmark, also announced on Wednesday relaxation of measures was incoming. – Euronews
Houston Rockets works with FBI after being hit by major cyberattack
The Houston Rockets are investigating a cyberattack that attempted to install ransomware on the basketball team’s internal systems, and the organisation is working closely with the FBI.
“The Rockets organisation recently detected suspicious activity on certain systems in its internal network. We immediately launched an investigation”, Houston Rockets said in an emailed statement on Wednesday, adding that cybersecurity experts were also helping. – TRT World
Turkish delegation to visit Egypt in May for ‘normalization’ talks: foreign minister
Jordan on Wednesday condemned Israeli police for sabotaging door locks at four Al-Aqsa Mosque minarets in a bid to silence the Muslim call to prayer.
The move came after waqf officials, who oversee Jerusalem’s holy sites, refused to turn off loudspeakers on the first day of Ramadan. They said the Israelis had wanted it quiet while new soldiers prayed at the Buraq (Western) wall. – Arab News
Corruption level worrying but ‘not yet a pandemic’: Malaysian top graft buster
Corruption in Malaysia is at a worrying level although the situation has yet to become a pandemic, its anti-graft chief said.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki was responding to a question during an interview with TVAlhijrah on Wednesday (Apr 14) on whether the increasing number of detentions and exposes indicated the severity of the corruption situation. – CNA
St Vincent volcano: UN warns humanitarian crisis will last months
The humanitarian crisis caused by volcanic eruptions on the Caribbean island of St Vincent will last for months, a UN official has warned.
Didier Trebucq said nearby islands including Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda could also be badly affected.
He said the UN was setting up an international funding appeal.
About 20,000 people have been evacuated from their homes since La Soufrière volcano began erupting last Friday. – BBC World
Daunte Wright shooting: Ex-officer Kim Potter charged over killing
BBC News says a white former police officer who shot dead a black motorist in Minnesota has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, prosecutors say.
Kim Potter was arrested and later released on $100,000 (£72,000) bail.
Police say Mrs Potter shot Daunte Wright accidentally, having mistakenly drawn her gun instead of her Taser.
Responding to the charges, the Wright family’s lawyer Ben Crump said the killing was an “intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force”.
Boris Johnson’s trade trip to India branded ‘crazy’ as alarming new variant sweeps country
The Independent says a leading scientist has branded Boris Johnson’s looming trade trip to India “crazy”, warning he risks bringing back an alarming new variant of coronavirus.
The B.1.617 strain lies behind a dramatic surge in infections which is wreaking havoc across the country – including in Delhi, the prime minister’s destination.
Mr Johnson has scaled back the visit in response to India’s concerns, but still intends to go at the end of the month, with Downing Street insisting “all elements will be Covid-secure”.
Biden, Merkel call on Russia to draw back troops from Ukrainian border
France24 says President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed to call on Russia to reduce its troops on the border with Ukraine, Merkel’s office said Wednesday.
During a phone conversation Wednesday, the two leaders both agreed that scaling down Russian troops there would help bring “a de-escalation” of tension in the region, the statement said.
In its readout of the call, the White House said “the leaders expressed concern about the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders and in occupied Crimea, and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
WHO worried COVID-19 rates could spike during Ramadan
Arab News says the WHO expressed concern on Wednesday that the COVID-19 pandemic could worsen in the Middle East and North Africa during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Detected cases of COVID infection in the region rose 22 per cent last week, while deaths rose 17 per cent, said Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the Cairo-based chief of the WHO for the eastern Mediterranean.
India records over 200,000 new COVID cases for the first time
Aljazeera says India has reported a record 200,739 COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, according to data issued by the health ministry, as many hospitals treating coronavirus patients reported severe shortages of beds and oxygen supplies.
Deaths stood at 1,038, taking the total to 173,123, the data showed on Thursday. The country’s total caseload reached 14.1 million, just behind the United States that leads the global tally with 31.4 million cases.
Defence expert in Chauvin trial calls Floyd’s death ‘undetermined’
TRT World says George Floyd died of a sudden heart rhythm disturbance as a result of his heart disease, a forensic pathologist has testified for the defence at former Officer Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, contradicting experts who said the Black man succumbed to a lack of oxygen from the way he was pinned down.
Dr. David Fowler, a former chief medical examiner for the state of Maryland and now a member of a consulting firm, said on Wednesday the fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd’s system, and possible carbon monoxide poisoning from auto exhaust, were contributing factors in the 46-year-old man’s death last May.
Unnamed Officer Involved in Jan. 6 Shooting Death Won’t Be Charged
VOA says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice have closed their investigation into the fatal shooting of a female protester during the violent riot January 6 at the U.S. Capitol, citing “insufficient evidence” to prosecute.
Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran from San Diego, was shot in the left shoulder by a yet unnamed U.S. Capitol Police officer. She was unarmed.
Live Updates
- Daunte Wright shooting: Ex-officer Kim Potter charged over killing
- WHO worried COVID-19 rates could spike during Ramadan
- India records over 200,000 new COVID cases for the first time
- Unnamed Officer Involved in Jan. 6 Shooting Death Won’t Be Charged
- Defence expert in Chauvin trial calls Floyd’s death ‘undetermined’
Many of Thursday’s front pages cover the fall-out from the row over former PM David Cameron’s lobbying for the collapsed finance firm Greensill Capital.
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Metro focuses on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s criticism of “dodgy contracts, privileged access, jobs for their mates,” which he calls a “return to Tory sleaze’. The Metro, along with several tabloids, carry a picture of the Queen and Prince Philip with some of their great-grandchildren. – (Metro)
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The Daily Telegraph says there will be a “crackdown” on civil servants who hold private-sector jobs alongside their government roles, after the Greensill scandal. The head of the civil service said these second jobs undermine Whitehall’s “integrity and impartiality.” – (Daily Telegraph)
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The i newspaper’s front page says a member of the UK lobbying watchdog is running his own lobbying firm. The paper says a senior member of the government’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments advertises his own access to ministers – but the Cabinet Office says his interests are “transparently declared.” – (the i)
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The Times leads on warnings from Heathrow Airport bosses that holidaymakers returning to the UK after the expected lifting of international travel restrictions on 17 May will face queues of up to six hours. The queues will be long because of the need for additional checks on compliance with Covid travel rules, the paper reports. – (Times)
US poised to impose sanctions on Russia for cyber-attacks – BBC Business
Asda in talks with bakery staff over redundancy – Sky Business
Decline in UK marketing budgets slows amid rebound hopes – CITYAM
CL Man City reach semis, Liverpool knocked out – Read on
Ben Stokes: Wisden name England all-rounder leading cricketer in world again – Read on
McGregor v Poirier 3: Conor McGregor trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier confirmed for Las Vegas – Read on
Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh died on Friday 9th April 2021. He had been married to Queen Elizabeth for almost 74 years.
Prince Philip funeral arrangement
Prince Philip’s funeral arrangements have been scaled down due to current Covid-19 restrictions.
You will be able to watch the live broadcast on the BBC on April 17.
It is understood the Duke of Edinburgh didn’t want a big fuss at the service and is not having a state funeral in line with his wishes.
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