COVID-19 Updates
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US unemployment claims rise by 1.5 million as pandemic pain continues
The massive wave of layoffs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic continued last week with another 1.5 million people filing for unemployment benefits despite US-wide reopenings and signs of…
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Shielding Muslims receiving pork items in England food packages
The government has been accused of “cultural and moral insensitivity” for sending pork sausages and bacon to clinically vulnerable Muslim families who are shielding during the coronavirus pandemic. Pork products,…
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Nicola Sturgeon announces easing of Scotland’s lockdown
People using trains, taxis, buses and ferries in Scotland will be required to wear face coverings from 22 June, but churches, dental surgeries and professional sports must wait a further…
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Covid-19: excess death rates more than twice UK average for 19 English councils
Nineteen local authorities in England have recorded excess death rates of more than twice the UK average during the Covid-19 crisis. London has been hardest hit, with 16 of the…
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Why protests aren’t as dangerous for spreading coronavirus as you might think | Ashish Jha
As the Covid-19 virus continues to spread unevenly across the world, politicians and opinion pages in the US are already blaming new cases of coronavirus on mass demonstrations against police…
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Bolton Octagon feels sharp edge of threat to regional theatre
The Bolton Octagon’s artistic director, Lotte Wakeham, and its CEO, Roddy Gauld, have coined a new term for their approach to the Covid-19 crisis: “positive realism”. If magic realism is…
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China out to offset coronavirus impact with construction boom, but sustainability in doubt
Questions have been raised as to whether China can sustain the strong construction activity drive intended to aid its economic recovery after seemingly turning to tried and tested infrastructure and…
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Thousands of Hong Kong restaurants to offer 30 per cent off in massive discount campaign to revive ailing economy
Thousands of Hong Kong restaurants will offer discounts of 30 per cent from next month in a bid to get the millions of recipients of a HK$10,000 (US$1,290) government handout…
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Coronavirus: China calls on banks to give up US$212 billion in profits to finance cheap business lending
China’s government is reaching beyond its monetary policy tool box to free up capital and direct funds towards the nation’s cash-starved businesses to help the economy claw its way out…
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Chinese e-commerce booms during mid-year festival, indicating consumer power still strong amid Covid-19
Chinese e-commerce giants JD.com and Alibaba have seen a boom in sales during the first big shopping festival since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, indicating that online shopping is…