Top story: Fears some measures might extend past 21 June
Good morning, Warren Murray hoping the bank holiday lets you ease into the week.
Scientists have warned ministers that a third wave of coronavirus may have begun in Britain, casting doubt on plans in England to lift all lockdown restrictions on 21 June, three weeks away. The vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, has refused to deny that some restrictions such as mask wearing and working from home might remain in place to reduce the spread of the virus. Senior scientific advisers believe that, where possible, working from home makes sense beyond June.
The number of age discrimination claims taken to employment tribunals has increased dramatically in England and Wales since the Covid lockdown, according to analysis. Redundancies among over-50s have hit an all-time high and more than a million over-50s remain on furlough, leading to fears their jobs may also be at risk. Stuart Lewis, founder of Rest Less, a jobs site for older people, said: “We know that once made redundant, older workers are more likely to drift into long-term unemployment than their younger counterparts. Age is a legally protected characteristic … [but] we know that age is often the last unspoken and accepted form of discrimination in the workplace.”
Almost two million private renters fear they will be unable to find another property if they lose their home after the eviction ban is lifted this week, ministers are being warned, with a potential “cliff edge” of homelessness looming in the months ahead. And as the hospitality sector throws its doors back open, pubs, bars, nightclubs and the like are grappling with a shortage of workers, with up to 50% of staff in some businesses not returning to their jobs because they have gone on to something else. Settle in at our live blog for more Covid developments.
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Bank on some sunshine – Today could be the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures predicted to soar past 25C on this bank holiday Monday. According to the Met Office, most parts of the country will experience a bright and sunny morning and the sunshine looks likely to continue into the afternoon. Clear skies are set to remain overnight for much of England and Wales. Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland will see some thicker cloud build but remain largely dry. The sunny end to this month is a marked contrast from the rest of May, which has been much wetter and colder than usual. April was unusually dry and cold.
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Netanyahu on way out? The far-right Israeli politician Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid have agreed to forge a coalition government that would oust the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, after 12 straight years in power during which he has survived repeated attempts to end his career. Bennett wants to annex most of the occupied West Bank, while Lapid is a former TV news anchor and self-proclaimed centrist popular with the country’s secular middle class. If Lapid can bring in other parties in the next three days, he could inform the president, Reuven Rivlin, that he believes he can form a government and go to parliament, the Knesset, for a vote. Netanyahu has called the deal the “scam of the century” – Bennett was his former ally and senior aide. If Lapid ends up failing to announce a government, a fifth Israeli election later this year is a possible outcome.
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Fire risk cladding still going up – More than 70 schools have been fitted out with combustible plastic foam insulation since it was banned on high-rise apartment blocks after the Grenfell disaster. A study by the insulation manufacturer Rockwool also found about 25 recently built hospitals, care homes and sheltered housing complexes were likely to have been constructed with combustible insulation. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was “major cause for concern”. The Department for Education has unveiled new fire safety proposals for schools that would continue to allow combustible cladding on structures below 18 metres in height.
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Hunt for Dordogne gunman – Police in France have continued their search for a heavily armed former soldier who allegedly opened fire when officers went to a domestic violence dispute. The man, who had an electronic tag because of a prior domestic violence conviction, was still at large in woodland. “He is athletic and moving quickly,” said Francine Bourra, the mayor of Le Lardin-Saint-Lazare village in the Dordogne region. “Each time there was contact with him, he’s opened fire.” Police told village residents to remain indoors.
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Alarming news – The BBC has been having problems with Bluetooth proximity sensors that are meant to help with social distancing. A source said that “one started smoking” and they had to be withdrawn from use. “If they can’t handle daily use and start setting on fire or overheating, then they shouldn’t be here.” Others complained they kept going off and were so noisy they disrupted recordings. Said a BBC spokesperson: “We are surprised that a problem with a single electronic device is a news story …” Now there’s a bit of ironic peevishness for you.
Today in Focus podcast: Avoiding Trump 2.0
The former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes has travelled the world looking for clues to how the US came to elect Donald Trump and he found parallels everywhere. But is there a way of stopping it from happening again?
Lunchtime read: ‘My job shouldn’t have to exist’
The Trussell Trust gave hungry Britons 2.5m food parcels in the last year. A million were for children. Its CEO, Emma Revie, talks about the failure of the benefits system, the strains of the pandemic – and her awe at the people who step up to help.
Sport
Thomas Tuchel is planning a move for Romelu Lukaku as he considers how to build a dynasty at Chelsea and mould a side capable of challenging for the Premier League title next season after winning the Champions League on Saturday night. Naomi Osaka has been fined $15,000 (£10,570) for her refusal to “honour her contractual media obligations” following victory in her first-round match at the French Open. Dominic Thiem became the first big name to fall at Roland Garros after throwing away a two-set lead to lose in five sets to Pablo Andújar in the first round of the men’s tournament. Jimmy Anderson approaches the latest milestones of his record-breaking career with an acknowledgment of his good fortune regarding injury and an insistence that his preference has always been to do it the hard way.
After the disruption of 2020, the first Grand Tour of the cycling season marked a return to something approaching business as usual as Egan Bernal secured the Giro d’Italia title by a margin of 1m 29s after the closing time trial in Milan. Hal Robson-Kanu will not repeat his heroics at the European Championship this summer after being left out of the 26-man Wales squad for this summer’s tournament. Roared on by the first home fans to populate Sandy Park for five months, the rampant Exeter Chiefs proved far too much for Newcastle in a 74-3 Premiership demolition. Harlequins clinched their first Premier 15s title to erase memories of two defeats against a Saracens side that had beaten them in the last two finals. And the Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier has died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident during qualifying on Saturday, MotoGP has announced.
Business
Major Asia-Pacific stock markets have fallen after Japan reported weaker-than-expected growth in factory output and Chinese manufacturing growth was flat. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong retreated while Seoul swung between small gains and losses. It’s bank holiday Monday in London, of course. The pound is worth $1.419 and €1.163.
The papers
Our Guardian splash in print today: “Combustible insulation put on 70 schools since Grenfell” but the picture slot goes to the “No 10 newlyweds” and the “mixed reception” to their being allowed to marry in a Catholic church despite Boris Johnson’s past divorces. The Telegraph says “No honeymoon for Mr and Mrs Johnson”, which could be taken as a play on the criticism, however they are literally not having a honeymoon, at least not straight away. Its main story is “UK vaccine passport plans to be scrapped” – there was a big protest about that over the weekend.
Races and ramps elsewhere. “Vaccines ramped up in race to 21 June” says the i, while the Times has “Second jabs for over 50s in race to save 21 June” and the Express reports that, yes, a “race” is on to “double jab all over 50s by June 21”. Splashing with that wedding, the Sun says “Something borrowed” – Carrie Symonds’ dress – and “something blue” – the Tory groom? Oh they mean his tie …
A lick of an ice-cream is metaphorically the “Taste of freedom” on the front of the Mirror as “Brits head for the beach” in warm bank holiday weather. The Mail throws more light on surgery delays it says are being caused by lockdowns: “Wait 2 years for a hip op”. And leading the Financial Times: “Cryptocurrency concerns push US watchdogs to take more active role”.
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