The UK’s chancellor, Rishi Sunak, was urged to consider introducing a four-day working week to as a means of overhauling the British economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas are among the signatories of a letter sent to Mr Sunak and seen by The Independent arguing for reducing working hours to provide greater opportunities amid growing levels of unemployment, borrowing an idea from New Zealand’s popular prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Spain has decided to accept UK travellers from Sunday without a retaliatory two-week quarantine, while Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, has said a review of the current two-metre social distancing rule will be finishing “shortly” after Boris Johnson told the public to “watch this space”.
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Number of Covid-19 cases in Brazil tops one million
More than one million people have now tested positive for coronavirus in Brazil.
It is the second-largest number of infections in the world to the US, where around 2.2 million people have contracted the virus.
Our reporter Kate Ng has the full story:
Portugal's ambassador to the UK says country 'would be happy to receive' British tourists
Portugal's ambassador to the UK has said the nation wants to welcome British tourists again now the coronavirus alert level has been reduced.
"There was very good news for you, for us, for Europe that the alert system has come from four to three and that means a significant improvement in the control of the pandemic here in the UK," Manuel Lobo Antunes told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We think that the situation is under control and we would be happy to receive, as before, as many British as possible."
Additional reporting by Press Association
Queen sends message to UK businesses
The Queen has spoken of her “great pride” in the contribution the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and its members are making to “champion trade and rebuild communities”.
The head of state’s personal message of support for UK businesses was sent to the BCC in the week many non-essential shops reopened as the coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased.
“At a time of great difficulty for many, it is heart-warming to see the civic response and generosity of so many businesses, small and large, to the challenges posed, whether supporting the health sector or vulnerable communities," the Queen said.
Full story below:
Coronavirus cases jump in some US states
Troubling spikes in coronavirus infection rates were reported in several US states on Friday, mainly in the south and west.
Arizona, where doctors and public health administrators have called for making face coverings mandatory in public, reported a record 3,246 new infections over the previous 24 hours, nearly twice those tallied on Wednesday.
Florida, one of the last states to impose stay-at-home restrictions and one of the first to begin lifting them, reported 3,822 new cases. This was a daily record.
"The situation in Florida and Arizona is really concerning," William Hanage, an epidemiology professor at Harvard University, adding that the spike in cases was not just due to more testing but indicative of an "underlying outbreak of unknown size."
Additional reporting by Reuters
Relaxing two-metre rule is 'reasonable political decision', scientific adviser says
A review into the two-metre social distancing rule will conclude within the coming days, as a government scientific adviser claimed it is now a “reasonable political decision” to relax the measure and accelerate school openings.
Boris Johnson, who commissioned the review earlier in June, hinted on Friday the government could alter the coronavirus advice to one metre – raising hopes in the hospitality sector after warnings many business will be unable to re-open under two metre restrictions.
Ashley Cowburn reports:
Police urge people not to attend illegal raves at weekend
Lockdown-breaking revellers are being urged not to attend illegal raves at the weekend as police warned they could face criminal prosecution.
David Jamieson, West Midlands police and crime commissioner, said young people risked their families' wellbeing by breaching social-distancing rules.
He added there was an "indication" there may be an illegal gathering in or around the region this weekend.
Forces across the country have also urged people not to attend illegal raves because they are not safe and risk spreading coronavirus.
An estimated 6,000 people attended two raves in Greater Manchester last weekend.
Additional reporting by Press Association
Jeremy Corbyn's brother charged for breaking lockdown rules
Jeremy Corbyn’s brother is among more than 20 people so far charged with committing criminal offences at protests during the coronavirus pandemic, writes Lizzie Dearden.
Piers Corbyn, 73, has been charged with breaking the Health Protection Regulations at two anti-lockdown protests on 16 May and 30 May.
Australian state to make coronavirus restrictions stricter following jump in infections
An Australian state plans on tightening restrictions over coronavirus from Monday after recording double-digit increases in cases four days in a row.
Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria, said household gatherings will be restricted to five guests and outdoor gatherings to 10 people until midnight on July 12.
Mr Andrews said Victoria recorded 25 new cases on Saturday, the biggest daily increase in two months.
The planned easing of restrictions for cafes, restaurants and pubs, from a maximum of 20 guests to a maximum of 50, will be deferred for three weeks.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Yorkshire town reacts to coronavirus outbreak
On a rainy day in Cleckheaton, few people seemed overly fearful that the West Yorkshire town has this week found itself at the centre of a major new coronavirus outbreak, writes Colin Drury.
They were, however, almost uniformly angry that, for nine days, authorities here had attempted to keep it secret.
“Why weren’t we told straight away?” asks one woman. “How could they possibly think that was for the best?”
France's health ministry covered in red paint
French demonstrators have doused the country's health ministry with red paint to symbolise the blood of its coronavirus victims and to protest against poor working conditions for healthcare workers in the public sector.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Pakistan sees record number of deaths in 24 hours
The number of confirmed cases rose to 171,665 as infections continue to spiral.
Pakistan recorded 6,604 new infections in the last 24 hours. The total death toll stands at 3,382.
Hospitals are filling up and in many cities across the country, COVID-19 patients are being turned away.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
South Korea sees largest daily increase in cases in weeks
South Korea has reported its largest 24-hour increase in confirmed coronavirus cases in about three weeks amid an upward trend in new infections.
Officials said Saturday the 67 new cases raise the country's total to 12,373, with 280 deaths.
The 67 cases is the largest daily increase since South Korea reported 79 cases on 28 May.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Delayed by coronavirus, Putin’s Victory Day parade causes bemusement
This coming Wednesday, Russia will mark victory over fascist Germany with a rescheduled military parade on Moscow’s Red Square, Oliver Carroll writes.
The prospect of a Victory Day parade in the middle of a pandemic has created many contradictions.
The president will get his day in the sun, but it won’t be anything like the day he once dreamed about.
Zimbabwe health minister set to appear in court
Zimbabwe's health minister is expected to appear in court on Saturday to face allegations of illegally awarding a multi-million-dollar contract for coronavirus testing kits, drugs and personal protective equipment to a shadowy company.
The country's anti-corruption agency arrested Obadiah Moyo on Friday as the scandal roiled the country.
The government cancelled the contracts following public uproar.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Staff at US embassy in Afghanistan test positive for coronavirus
The US State Department says Covid-19 infections have been reported at its embassy in the Afghan capital.
Workers who are affected include diplomats, contractors and locally employed staff.
An official at the embassy in Kabul said as many as 20 people were infected, the majority of whom are Nepalese Gurkhas, who provide embassy security.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Pope holds first audience for group of people since lockdown relaxed
Pope Francis held his first audience for a group of people since Italy lifted its coronavirus lockdown.
"You were one of the supporting pillars of the entire country," he told doctors and nurses from the badly-hit northern Lombardy region, who gathered in the Vatican's frescoed Clementine Hall on Saturday.
"To those of you here and to your colleagues all across Italy go my esteem and my sincere thanks, and I know very well I am interpreting everyone's sentiments," he said.
Chancellor says review of two-metre rule will 'make enormous difference' to businesses
Rishi Sunak has said the review of the two-metre rule will "make an enormous difference" to businesses in a major hint it will be relaxed.
"The outcome of that review will be announced this week," the chancellor said.
"Obviously that's something that will make an enormous difference I think to many businesses who are keen to see a change," he told reporters during a visit to shops in North Yorkshire.
Additional reporting by Press Association
Chancellor urged to consider four-day working week
MPs and campaigners are urging the chancellor to consider a four-day working week as a way to overhaul the economy in the wake of the pandemic, writes political correspondent Ashley Cowburn.
In a letter to Rishi Sunak, seen by The Independent, the signatories argue reducing working hours provide greater opportunities amid growing levels of unemployment.
Rishi Sunak urged to consider four-day working week in response to pandemic
The IndependentExclusive: Signatories including John McDonnell and Caroline Lucas say ‘shorter working time has been used throughout history as a way of responding to economic crises’Beijing sees fall in new infections amid tightened restrictions
China's capital has recorded a further drop in new confirmed coronavirus cases as tightened measures to contain the spread remain in place.
Officials reported 22 new cases in Beijing on Saturday, along with five others elsewhere in the country.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
