Coronavirus

Biden announces government's intention to increase total U.S. COVID-19 vaccine orders by 50 percent

President Biden announced Tuesday that his administration intends to order an additional 100 million doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. The extra 200 million doses, which Biden said should arrive by the summer, would boost the country's supply by about 50 percent to 600 million shots total, meaning that there would be enough shots available to inoculate 300 million people in the coming months without the Food and...

Caribbean dream for couple who swapped home office in Edinburgh for remote working by the beach

Gillian and Jim Todd paid £2,000 for a Welcome Stamp Visa to spend a year working from home in Barbados

Prince Charles, football stars and celebrities urge people to remember Holocaust

The Prince of Wales has urged people to bear witness to the Holocaust as its last living survivors come to the end of their lives. In a message recorded for Wednesday’s Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) event, the prince spoke about the its theme of being the light in darkness. He said: "As I speak, the last generation of living witnesses is tragically passing from this world, so the task of bearing witness falls to us. That is why The Holocaust...

Boris Johnson appeals to EU not to restrict vaccine movements in row over supplies of AstraZeneca jab

Boris Johnson has appealed for the world to avoid restrictions to vaccine movements across borders.

Salla, coldest town in Finland, to bid for 2032 Summer Games

Salla, coldest town in Finland, to bid for 2032 Summer Games

‘Caring and dedicated’ teacher dies from Covid on 25th birthday

A “caring and dedicated” newly qualified teacher has died from coronavirus on her 25th birthday. Claudia Marsh died at the Royal University Hospital on her 25th birthday after contracting the virus. Ms Marsh was also an active charity volunteer, working with Talking Eating Disorders (TEDS) and homelessness organisation The Whitechapel Centre in Merseyside. On a fundraising page Claudia's family asked mourners to donate to the two charities in...

Biden orders 200m extra Covid vaccine doses in bid to vaccinate 300m Americans by end of summer

The Biden administration has purchased an additional 200 million vaccine doses from Moderna and Pfizer in an effort to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of summer. “This is enough vaccine to fully vaccinate 300 [million] Americans by end of the summer, beginning of the fall,” President Joe Biden said on Tuesday when making the announcement. Already the federal government received a commitment of 400 million doses between Pfizer and...

London headteacher sends letter advising ‘highly critical’ parents to retrain as teachers

A London primary school headteacher has told “highly critical” parents at his school to retrain as teachers. Pupils in schools and colleges in England, except children of key workers and vulnerable pupils, were told to learn remotely as part of the latest lockdown. Colin Dowland described how some parents of pupils at Woodridge Primary School in North Finchley had "taken advantage" of online learning platforms to send "highly critical messages...

Ghislaine Maxwell demands judge drop ‘mishmash’ case against her, arguing grand jury pool was too white

Lawyers for socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, accused of sex-trafficking on behalf of the late Jeffrey Epstein, are asking for her case to be thrown out on the grounds that it is a vague “mishmash” and that the grand jury reviewing her case was not representative enough. Ms Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 having been accused of both providing Epstein with underage girls to abuse, as well as allegedly participating in the abuse. She is currently...

Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte resigns in tactical bid to form new coalition

Italy’s prime minister has resigned after a key coalition ally withdrew its support over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Giuseppe Conte tended his resignation to the president, Sergio Mattarella, who held off on any immediate decision other than to ask him to keep the government running in the near term, Mr Mattaralla’s office said on Tuesday. Mr Conte is hoping to get the president’s support to attempt to form a new coalition...

Covid vaccine supply issues could see Dutch violence repeated in rest of EU

In recent nights, rioters have poured on to the streets of 10 Dutch cities in what has been the closest Europe has come to open revolt against the coronavirus restrictions imposed across the continent. The violence, the worst in four decades, might be put down to the liberty-loving culture of the country but, perhaps not coincidentally, the Netherlands is also the very last EU member state to start vaccinating the public and offer some hope that...

Emmerdale foreshadows Al Chapman murder twist with chilling death comment?

Emmerdale's Al Chapman could regret crossing Debbie Dingle and Priya Sharma, as the village turns against him

Will Boris Johnson Come To Regret His ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’ Apology For 100,000 Deaths?

You’re reading The Waugh Zone, our daily politics briefing. Sign up now to get it by email in the evening. You know things are bad when Boris Johnson says the word ‘alas’. You know they’re truly awful when he doesn’t. And as the prime minister used his No.10 press briefing to mark the passing of 100,000 deaths from Covid, there was no disguising the magnitude of the moment or the scale of the loss. The tone was suitably sombre as he (finally)...

‘He is complicit’: Lincoln Project targets Josh Hawley in latest video

The Lincoln Project slammed Missouri Senator Josh Hawley in its latest ad, tweeting that he “knew what he was doing. He is complicit”. The accusation relates to his efforts to support former President Donald Trump in his attempt to overturn the election result by baselessly claiming that he lost because of widespread voter fraud. The ad focuses on the Capitol riots on 6 January which left five people dead. It opens up on Mr Trump saying: "Josh...

The Trump Plaza near Mar-a-Lago in Florida will be renamed following riots at the US Capitol

The board of Trump Plaza in Florida has voted to remove the ex-president's branding from its twin-buildings following the riots at the US Capitol. The 32-storey tower in downtown West Palm Beach is a 10-minute drive from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago across the Intracoastal Waterway, where he has returned after leaving the White House to launch the Office of the Former President. Trump Plaza’s condo board voted on 19 January to rename the complex...

Biden takes steps to narrow racial divide, saying America is 'ready to change'

Biden takes steps to narrow racial divide, saying America is 'ready to change'

More than 100 million Covid-19 cases recorded worldwide

I took out a full-page ad in the New York Times today because mothers have been hit hardest by the pandemic

Today my organization, Girls Who Code, took out a full-page ad in the New York Times urging President Biden to implement a “Marshall Plan for Moms”. Why? Because I’m tired of waking up every morning to new headlines about the demise of women’s careers and hearing zilch about solutions. And I’m not alone. Our open letter was signed by 50 prominent women, from A-List celebrities to tech founders to labor leaders representing hundreds of thousands...

Custody sergeant is fifth Met staff member to die from Covid-19 in recent weeks

It comes after three police constables and a traffic police community officer have died since January 11.

Rumoured 2024 GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley says Trump needs a ‘break’ and shouldn’t be impeached

Nikki Haley, the former US ambassador to the United Nations and a rumoured 2024 presidential hopeful, told Fox News on Monday that former president Donald Trump deserves a “break” and shouldn’t be impeached for his accused role in inciting the attack on the Capitol. Nikki Haley: I don’t even think there’s a basis for impeachment... Now they’re going to turn around and bring about impeachment yet they say they’re for unity... I mean at some point...

Students and teachers protest in Paris over Covid pandemic

Students and teachers took to the streets in Paris and Nantes on Tuesday to criticise the French government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

HSBC accused of abetting China's attack on democracy: Protesters see Hong Kong accounts frozen

Appearing before MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee, bosses were quizzed about why bank accounts of pro-democracy protesters in the former British colony were frozen.

UK coronavirus death toll exceeds 100,000 after 1,631 more reported

More than 100,000 people in the UK have now died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, the latest government figures show. A further 1,631 deaths were reported on Tuesday, bringing the national total to 100,162. This figure stands at 103,602 where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate. Health secretary Matt Hancock said the UK’s death toll was "heart-breaking" and warned there was still "a tough period ahead". Labour leader...

Foreign aid budget to be cut to £10bn, Dominic Raab confirms

Foreign aid budget to be cut to £10bn, Dominic Raab confirms

Portugal urged to seek international help as COVID-19 deaths hit record

Portugal urged to seek international help as COVID-19 deaths hit record

Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods chosen as best 2020 film by the National Board of Review

With three months to go until the big night, the race to the 2021 Oscars is starting to pick up. The National Board of Review on Tuesday selected Da 5 Bloods, Spike Lee's Netflix film about Vietnam War veterans, as Best Film, also giving Lee the award for Best Director. The film additionally was awarded Best Ensemble. The National Board of Review includes academics and filmmakers, and its best film pick is one of numerous honors to be handed out...

UK Covid deaths surpass Great Plague, Aids pandemic and every terror attack and war since 1945 combined

The number of Covid-19 deaths in the UK has surpassed the combined death toll of the Great Plague, the Aids pandemic and every single terror attack and war since 1945. The UK recorded a further 1,631 deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the official tally above 100,000. The actual number is expected to be much higher when all excess deaths since the pandemic began are taken into consideration. Follow the latest Covid news – live The...

Antony Blinken confirmed by Senate as secretary of state

President Joe Biden’s nominee Antony Blinken has been confirmed by the Senate as the next secretary of state, after a bipartisan confirmation vote with a final tally of 78-22. Lawmakers, including some Republicans, have said that they want Mr Biden’s national security team in place as soon as possible. Avril Haines and Lloyd Austin have already been confirmed as director of national intelligence and secretary of defence respectively. The Senate...

David Attenborough warns planet is on the verge of another mass extinction event

In the latest episode of A Perfect Planet, Sir David Attenborough warns that the planet is 'collapsing' in a terrifying message

SpaceX targeting Wednesday for Starship SN9 test flight

SpaceX's latest Starship prototype will take to the skies Wednesday (Jan. 27), if all goes according to plan.

Catholic at centre of life-support dispute has died, lawyers say

The man, who comes from Poland but lived in the West Country, fell into a coma late last year after suffering brain damage.

AstraZeneca Boss Predicts UK Will Vaccinate Around 30 Million People By March

The boss of AstraZeneca has predicted the UK will have vaccinated “maybe 28 or 30 million people” by March amid a row over the slow roll-out of the jab in the European Union. Pascal Soriot, chief executive of the drugmaker, which developed its shot with Oxford University, gave an optimistic prediction for the UK’s vaccination programme, adding that he expected the UK to hit the target to administer jabs to the top four priority groups by...

Blind guinea pig and her carer sister looking for new home

A blind guinea pig and her sister who helps guide her are looking for a new home. Ami, a six-year-old black guinea pig, is given guidance by her grey sister, Yuki, because she is completely blind. The pair were taken in by RSPCA Danaher Animal Home, Essex, in early January after their owner could no longer care for them – and the charity is now seeking a new home for them. “Poor Ami also has a little head tilt caused by a previous ear problem,”...

Two men extradited from Australia to face U.S. charges for $50 million text messaging fraud

Two men extradited from Australia to face U.S. charges for $50 million text messaging fraud

Campaigners challenge the Crown Prosecution Service over ‘shocking’ fall in rape convictions

The End Violence Against Women coalition claims the CPS changed the framework by which prosecutors consider alleged rape and sexual assault cases

Republicans take Rand Paul’s exit ramp as Senate barrels towards Trump impeachment trial

Conservative constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley and Senator Rand Paul have spent the last two weeks building the rhetorical off-ramp for any senator grappling with the consequences of convicting Donald Trump at his upcoming impeachment trial. On Tuesday, by and large, Senate Republicans took it. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and 44 other Republicans voted in support of Mr Paul’s point of order on Tuesday to dismiss the...

Campaigners' anger at government's fresh delay to post-Brexit environment legislation

Campaigners have criticised the government's "dither and delay" over flagship environmental legislation after it was held up once again.

Psaki says 'all violence' is being reviewed by National Security

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that all political violence, including protest violence in Portland, Oregon, is being reviewed by the National Security team.

Corrections and clarifications

. An article said Theresa May was the first “foreign head of state” to meet Donald Trump in the White House in 2016. The meeting was in January 2017, and while May was the first foreign leader to visit, it was as a head of government, not of state ( Johnson has ‘hurt UK’s credibility,’ says May, 20 January, page 4, later editions). . An article about Joe Biden’s inner circle erred in saying John Kerry, like the president, had Irish roots ( White...

Zoom down: Internet outage knocks out popular apps across East Coast

Numerous internet-users on the East Coast reported problems accessing popular apps like Gmail, Slack, Zoom, and YouTube on Tuesday, throwing a wrench in attempts to work or attend school from home amid the pandemic. The cause of the outage is unclear so far. Downdetector, a crowd-sourced site that tracks tech problems, reported spikes in issues with Verizon, Gmail, Zoom, YouTube, and cloud provider Amazon Web Services, all concentrated on the...

Biden deportation freeze blocked by judge

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s move to freeze deportations of illegal immigrants for the next 100-days. The 14-day restraining order issued by Texas judge Drew Tipton follows a legal challenge by the state’s attorney general Ken Paxton. In the complaint filed with US District Court, Mr Paxton sought the restraining order against a Department of Homeland Security directive that placed a halt to deportations on...

'Impossible to work': readers on potential impact of hotel quarantining

The government is expected to announce new travel restrictions this week, including a possible quarantine period in a hotel for those arriving in the UK. Ten-day stays are likely to cost the traveller more than £1,000. Three people have spoken about their reasons for flying abroad, and how they feel about new UK travel restrictions that may come into place. ‘It’s going to be impossible for me to work’ For Iain, who is 47 and lives in Brighton, a...

NHS chief says police and teachers should be bumped up vaccine list

NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens says police and teachers should be bumped up vaccine priority list after the initial wave of vulnerable people are vaccinated.

Covid cases hit 100m globally with more than quarter of all cases in the US

The coronavirus has infected more than 100 million people worldwide about 13 months after the novel virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, according to Johns Hopkins University. Although the United States only makes up just over 4 per cent of the world’s population, the country accounts for more than 25 million of the confirmed cases. India has reported the second-highest number of Covid -19 cases with 10.6 confirmed infections. Brazil then...

Biden confronts Putin over his critic's arrest, in a phone call the Kremlin describes as 'frank'

Joe Biden has spoken to Vladimir Putin for the first time since taking office, with the US president raising concerns over the treatment of Alexei Navalny.

Labour proposal to cut jury sizes to tackle court backlog sparks backlash

Labour has been accused of undermining the “ancient and fundamental right” of jury trial with proposals to cut the number of jurors to combat a growing backlog of court cases. David Lammy, the shadow justice secretary, called for the government to temporarily allow panels of seven people, rather than the current 12, to decide innocence or guilt in trials. The Lord Chief Justice has previously voiced support for the move, as more than 54,000...

Paramilitary killer behind gun and grenade attack at IRA funeral is released from prison

A notorious paramilitary killer who killed three people in a gun and grenade attack after an IRA funeral has been freed from prison.

National Guard commander for DC says Trump officials restricted his response to riots

The commander for Washington DC’s National Guard has said that Trump officials at the Pentagon restricted his ability to respond to the Capitol riots on 6 January. Major General William J. Walker told The Washington Post on Tuesday that his authority as a commander – which typically allows him to deploy National Guard troops in an emergency – was essentially removed prior to the riot carried out by the former president’s supporters. The Pentagon...

PM hopes to present roadmap out of lockdown to nation in mid-February

The chief executive of AstraZeneca (pictured), which manufactures the Oxford jab, said he was confident the UK rollout would accelerate.

Tucker Carlson defends QAnon believers

Fox News host Tucker Carlson is once again courting controversy after he likened media criticism of the QAnon movement to government censorship of the mind. The entertainer made the comments during a recent broadcast of his show. After playing a montage of news clips that featured reporters arguing that QAnon is dangerous, Carlson railed against the idea of government censorship of people's minds. None of the journalists in the clips played by...