Author: WTX News

The world is facing a public health crisis that may be the worst for over a century. All other news stories have been pushed to the sidelines, as the world scrambles to contain the coronavirus outbreak. But how will global affairs change in the wake of this health crisis? Will the pandemic offer US-Iran relations a glimmer of hope?  Iran and the United States The US and Iran have had a troubled relationship since 1953. As they both struggle to confront this emergency, will the pandemic offer a glimmer of hope for US-Iran to have a better relationship in the…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are – UK, schools and universities are calling for urgent clarity from the government after the announcement that GCSEs and A-Levels will be cancelled amid the coronavirus crisis.   India, poor testing rates in the world’s second-most populous country may have hidden the true number of coronavirus cases. India has said it will not expand its testing, despite the WHO calling on nations to test, test, test. Italy, despite a severe lockdown Italy is threatening to ban outdoor exercise as frustrations grow over the number of people ignoring the…

LIVE: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has begun the daily press conference on the coronavirus inside No 10 after the announcement that English schools will close to all but children of key workers and the most vulnerable. He is joined by two government scientific and medical advisers, Sir Patrick Vallance and Dr Jenny Harries. England’s schools to close ‘until further notice’ on Friday The benefits of schools remaining as open are changing swiftly, Williamson says. He says schools are finding it difficult to continue as normal, as staff levels drop. He says schools will shut their gates on Friday afternoon…

The death toll from the coronavirus in the UK rises to 104, an increase of 32, a rise of 30%. The number of confirmed cases of the virus has now surpassed 200,000 globally. There have been at least 8,000 deaths around the world and the vast majority of confirmed cases – 80% – have occurred in Europe and the Western Pacific region, which includes much of Asia. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to address the nation in a press conference at 17:15 GMT with the latest updates relating to the coronavirus outbreak. The UK’s Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson,…

Much to the dismay of the fans of the Royal family, it has been reported that the relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry is the worst it has ever been. And it does not look like it is going to get better anytime soon. According to the Daily Mail, “Those close to the brothers say things between them are worse than ever.” The relationship has got to the point where they don’t communicate anymore. It appears as though the main reason behind Prince Willam’s anger is attributed to the fact that he feels “insulted by his brother’s recent comments, including…

Emergency fund for Saudi filmmakers The non-profit Red Sea International Film Festival Foundation announced a fund of SR220,000 on Tuesday. The emergency fund will provide grants to support Saudi filmmakers.  The fund aims to help Saudi filmmakers who have suffered a financial loss because of the coronavirus. Creative industries are facing cancellations or postponed events because of safety measures.  All Saudis working in the film industry are eligible for the one-time emergency grant of up to SR5,000. The grants are issued on a merit basis and applications will remain open until the fund is exhausted.  https://twitter.com/RedSeaFilm/status/1239956941826293760 The Red Sea Film…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are – UK, a headteachers’ leader has said many schools will not make it past Friday. Adding large schools would struggle to stay up and running as more and more staff get sick.  India, hundreds of women have ignored the government’s orders not to mass gather, as they took to the streets to protest the citizenship law. One woman said the virus was less of a threat than the Citizenship Amendment Act. EU, European leaders have agreed to close the external borders to limit the spread of the coronavirus.…

In an alarming statement from Germany’s foreign minister, he said that President Trump has tried to buy Vaccine cure for Coronavirus from the Germans. In a swift rebuttal by the German Minister, he said ‘the rights to coronavirus vaccine research were not for sale,’ Reports suggest that President Donald Trump wanted the US to buy exclusive access to a potential vaccine developed by a German biotech firm. The comments, made in an interview to media group Funke, come as scientists raced to develop a vaccine against the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 6,000 people and seen millions placed under…

UK to announce new financial measures to support the economy during Covid-19 after PM tells the public to avoid social contact. The government will announce more financial measures to help the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.  Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the public to avoid unnecessary travel, social contacts and if possible, work from home. And to stay clear of pubs and restaurants.  People in at-risk groups will be asked to self-isolate for 12 weeks – as the UK death toll hit 55.  There is an estimated 35,000 – 50,000 cases of Covid-19 in the UK.  Economic announcement Last…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are – UK on LOCKDOWN, PM says avoid pubs, travelling and the office as new UK measures are introduced to fight the spread of coronavirus. ‘Hundreds’ of inmates have escaped Brazil’s jails ahead of a coronavirus lockdown. In France, 100,000 police are set to patrol the streets to enforce new lockdown measures. Mike Pompeo tells China to quit blaming the US for the coronavirus pandemic, it comes after China suggested the US military brought the virus into Wuhan. Spain has become the fourth highest coronavirus-infected nation, taking over South Korea…

Morning Briefing In today’s briefing update, The headlines are –  UK’s COVID-19 approach ‘concerning’ says Jeremy Hunt after the government failed to ban public gatherings, close schools. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has been told to self-isolate after his wife tested positive for COVID-19. A Chinese official said US military may have infected Wuhan with the virus and asks ‘where is your patient zero’?  In New Zealand, flowers and messages of support have been laid outside the Al-Noor mosque in tribute to the victims of the horrific shooting, ahead of the first anniversary.  Entertainment, Brad Pitt has signed up for a celebrity…

Volunteers helping the self-isolated in London and around the rest of the country have offered up their spare time, in an attempt to help stop the virus spreading and support the most vulnerable.  The volunteer groups have been taking essential supplies to people who are unable to leave their home in the coming weeks to contain Covid-19.  https://twitter.com/josefinebjork/status/1239249255770054658 ‘Young people should be helping’ A 17-year-old boy from London who set up his own volunteer group said: “It’s only right that we help out.”  Josh St John James, 17, set up his group of young volunteers to offer support in any…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are –  The UK government will hold daily televised press conferences to update the British public on the Covid-19 pandemic.  The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates to near zero in another move to help shore up the US economy during the coronavirus outbreak. In LA & NY restaurants, bars and cinemas are all set to be closed.   Germany will reintroduce border controls with five countries due to the spreading of the virus, it will go into effect Monday morning.  Iran has reported 113 new virus deaths as concerns…

Earlier this evening at 9 pm Italian time, all the Italians switched off there lights at home and stood together on the streets, balconies and rooftops and held up a there mobiles phone lights, in unity. This was the amazing result. Watch the video and turn on to the lights. https://youtu.be/A_pDKAfISJI Italy is under lockdown after the outbreak of coronavirus. It is the worst affected country in the EU. *🇮🇹FlashMob ITALIA PATRIA NOSTRA 🇮🇹15 Marzo * – ore *21:00* – Tutti alle finestre per un Minuto di LUCI CON TORCE LUMINARIE LAMPADINE O ADDIRITTURA LA TORCIA DEI NOSTRI TELEFONINI 📲… Un…

Midlands 18:37: Location: The M1 northbound between junctions J20 and J21 Return To Normal: Normal traffic conditions are expected between 19:15 and 19:30 on 15 March 2020 London 12.36: Location: M25 is congestion around junction 7 to 9

Brief. BRIEF.Me During a week that has been dominated by the outbreak of Coronavirus, the Sunday papers are all focussed on the government’s plan and response to the coronavirus outbreak. The over 70s face a stay at home order,  the NHS and private hospitals are to “team-up” and the Army is set to guard hospitals and supermarkets. Spain and France are both enforcing a national emergency response. Spain has declared a state of emergency and France shuts bars and restaurants. We understand the Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce a cancellation of all gatherings. In sport, Liverpool FC are about…

All English premier league games have been suspended until 4th April 2020. Uefa has also suspended all Champions League and Europa League games. The Scottish FA has suspended all professional and grassroots football in Scotland until further notice. The suspension of elite football in England means the England friendlies against Italy and Denmark, scheduled for 27 March and 31 March respectively, will not take place. All Premier League matches have been postponed until 3 April at the earliest because of the coronavirus. That means all professional football in England & Scotland are off including all European ties. https://twitter.com/danroan/status/1238410100785766400 The Premier…

Pakistan: Media Mogul arrested for corruption  Authorities arrested a media mogul on corruption charges on Thursday in a decades-old case. His representatives believe the charges are due to the broadcasting of several investigative programmes.  The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman- the editor-in-chief of the Jang Group. His company includes some of the biggest newspapers in Pakistan as well as the Geo television network. https://twitter.com/MurtazaViews/status/1238087650990587906 He was arrested due to land transactions dating back to 1986, accusing him of scoring illegal concessions in the purchase of plots in the city of Lahore.  In a statement, Geo denied the allegations…

A Pakistani dies in Italy, he was a foreign national living in Brescia. He became the first foreigner to die of COVID-19 in Italy. The Pakistani was a coronavirus patient in the hospital but died earlier this week, according to a spokesperson of the Pakistani Foreign Office. The Pakistani national passed away in Brescia, about a 100 kilometres from Milan, the spokesperson added. The Pakistani Consulate in Milan was in touch with the concerned family, as well as the authorities in Italy, the spokesperson said. Italy’s lock-down is unprecedented in western Europe. It aims to stop people from moving around or…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are –  UK’s COVID-19 approach ‘concerning’ says Jeremy Hunt after the government failed to ban public gatherings, close schools. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has been told to self-isolate after his wife tested positive for COVID-19. A Chinese official said US military may have infected Wuhan with the virus and asks ‘where is your patient zero’?  In New Zealand, flowers and messages of support have been laid outside the Al-Noor mosque in tribute to the victims of the horrific shooting, ahead of the first anniversary.  Entertainment, Brad Pitt has signed…

Breaking News Rome: Lockdown in Italy, all shops & public places are closed. The health system is under pressure but a glimmer of hope as the first man recovers COVID-19. Italy is under a national week-long lockdown on Tuesday after the government extended a travel ban from Lombardy to the entire country in a drastic bid to halt the world’s second-biggest coronavirus outbreak. Italians that are moving around must sign a form self-certifying that they are travelling for “proven work needs,’’ situations of necessity, to buy drugs or to return home. “There won’t be just a red zone,” Prime Minister…

Could Rishi Sunak be Boris Johnson’s successor? After that performance, maybe.  It was his big moment, Rishi Sunak rose to his feet in the Commons yesterday and delivered his first Budget speech. Boris Johnson had every reason to be nervous.  https://twitter.com/hmtreasury/status/1237804629531992065 Sunak’s Budget report came less than a month after Sajid Javid quit the role after a fallout with the PM over special advisers.  Few had ever heard of Sunak when Johnson handed the reigns to him giving him the second most powerful job in government.  Despite having little time to prepare a budget,  Sunak found that last week he…

BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING In today’s briefing update, The headlines are – Coronavirus, President Trump has banned flights from Europe to the US in a bid to stop the spreading of the virus. The new travel restrictions do not include the UK. In the UK, two more people have died after testing positive for the virus. 2 Americans and 1 Brit have been killed after more than 18 rockets hit an Iraqi base housing American troops. In the US, Chelsea Manning is recovering in hospital after a reported suicide attempt.  Entertainment, actor Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson have tested…

French authorities and French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM) have advised all large Mosques to close in France for Friday (Jumma) prayers in France to combat Coronavirus Outbreak. As of next Friday, all large mosques in places such as Paris, Ivry, Argenteuil and Strasbourg which accommodate more than 1,000 people would be advised not to open for Friday prayers. The death toll in France has reached 30, and the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) has given instructions to the country’s 5 million Muslims to be followed in all Islamic places of worship. According to the spokesperson from the…

WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic, giving the virus the highest level classification the World Health Organisation can give.  https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1237777021742338049 WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “deeply concerned” by “alarming levels of inaction” over the virus. The new classification comes as UK cases reach 456 in the biggest one-day surge.  Dr Tedros said declaring the coronavirus as a pandemic did not change the advice given about what countries should do.  He has urged governments to take “urgent and aggressive action” in tackling the outbreak.  “Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled,” he said.  “The…