Month: June 2021

England and Scotland played out a goalless draw at Wembley to leave both countries with their hopes of reaching Euro 2020’s knockout stage very much alive. The first meeting between the men’s teams in a major tournament since Euro 96 was played out in a typically raucous atmosphere despite only 22,500 fans in attendance –

Getty Images UK coronavirus infections have risen slightly in the last week, with an estimated 119,000 people – up from 110,000 – now positive for the virus. The Office for National Statistics figures, up to 12 June, suggest one in every 540 people is infected. The more infectious Delta variant accounts for almost all of

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has apologised to rape victims for low conviction rates in England and Wales and promised to “do a lot better”. In an exclusive BBC interview, he said it was “not good enough” and admitted budget cuts were partly to blame. Rape convictions have fallen to a record low in recent years.

Family handouts Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi should have been identified as a threat on the night of the atrocity by those in charge of security, a public inquiry into the 2017 attack has found. Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders found there were missed opportunities to prevent the “devastating impact”. He said it was

Getty Images Child protection services in England are too focused on investigating families in crisis and do not provide enough early support, a report says. An independent review of council-run children’s social care said services to protect vulnerable children were in urgent need of investment and reform. It concluded that with an increasing demand for

PA Media Dominic Cummings has published expletive-laden messages apparently from Boris Johnson, in which the PM brands the health secretary “hopeless”. It is the latest salvo in a bitter war of words between Mr Cummings and Matt Hancock over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Downing Street did not deny the authenticity of the messages.

Getty Images Vaccinations are to be made compulsory for care home staff working with older people in England, the BBC understands. The move first reported in the Guardian, is expected to be announced by the government in the next few days. Care staff are expected to be given 16 weeks to have the jab –

Morgan family The Met Police was institutionally corrupt in the way it concealed or denied failings over the unsolved murder of Daniel Morgan, a report says. The force’s first objective was to protect itself, the head of an independent panel, Baroness Nuala O’Loan, said. Mr Morgan was attacked with an axe in the car park

Ian Forsyth Health Secretary Matt Hancock has insisted he does not expect any further delay to the final easing of coronavirus restrictions in England. Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Monday that measures would remain in place until 19 July because of the rapid spread of the Delta variant. Mr Johnson said that would be

Scotland’s first match at a men’s major finals in 23 years ended in anguish after Patrik Schick’s incredible halfway-line goal helped the Czech Republic inflict a deflating opening Euro 2020 defeat at Hampden. Schick’s goal, which added to his headed first-half opener, punctured a carnival atmosphere with a sharp dose of reality for Steve Clarke’s

Getty Images Senior ministers have signed off a decision to delay the lifting of all coronavirus restrictions in England beyond 21 June. Government sources have told the BBC most current rules will remain for another four weeks after this date. It means nightclubs will stay closed and people will be encouraged to still work from

Leaders of the major industrial nations have pledged one billion Covid vaccine doses to poor countries as a “big step towards vaccinating the world”, Boris Johnson has said. At the end of the G7 summit in Cornwall, the PM said countries were rejecting “nationalistic approaches”. He said vaccinating the world would show the benefits of