Coronavirus news UK: Sunak urged to consider four-day week to boost economy, as Spain says will not quarantine UK visitors
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Your support makes all the difference.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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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
Pakistan has reported 153 coronavirus deaths in a new daily record.
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.
Pope Francis during his audience with doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals from Lombardy (EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT HANDOUT)Additional reporting by Reuters
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.
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
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