Plus, how bees and drones find landmines
| World leaders call for pandemic treaty |
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| | | A new treaty, similar to one after World War Two, isbeing called for to help the world prepare for future pandemics. More than 20 world leaders have backed a new global settlement saying coronavirus has posed the biggest challenge since the war. The past year has seen millions of deaths, various lockdowns and a race to create effective vaccines. “Weaknesses and divisions” have been exploited by the virus, leaders say, so they “must seize this opportunity and come together as a global community”. This letter comes as there are real worries another pandemic or health crisis is a matter of "not if, but when", they added. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, President Emmanuel Macron of France and German chancellor Angela Merkel are among those who say in the same spirit as after the two world wars, countries must now "be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly co-ordinated fashion", a move which is backed by the head of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Leaders say in their letter: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe." | |
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| George Floyd 'fading away' during arrest |
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| The last harrowing minutes of George Floyd's life have been heard on the opening day of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the white American police officer accused of killing him. Donald Williams III, a witness for the prosecution, said Mr Floyd was "slowly fading away" during the nine minutes Mr Chauvin kneeled on his back and neck. His lawyer argued his use of force was "unattractive but necessary". Mr Chauvin, 45, who was dismissed from the police, denies murder and manslaughter charges, which carry sentences of up to 40 years in prison. In May 2020 Mr Chauvin was captured on video kneeling on the neck of Mr Floyd, who is black, in the city of Minneapolis. This sparked protests in the US and across the world against police brutality and racism and this trial is being seen by many as a pivotal moment in US race relations. |
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| 'Trust the facts' over Covid jab - Lenny Henry |
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| Sir Lenny Henry writes an open letter urging black Britons to take the Covid-19 vaccine and hopes it will help to stop "disproportionate" ethnic death rates. He says people should "trust the facts" and guard against misinformation but blames an "element of mistrust" in the system as to why the black community is cautious about getting vaccinated.The comic says people felt "certain institutions and authorities haven't particularly done right by the black community in the past" so asked "why should they do something for us now? Why are they doing us all a big favour?" Sir Lenny's letter comes as vaccination rates among black British ethnic groups are considerably lower than among white Britons. The disparity exists despite a widespread study suggesting black people are twice as likely as white people to catch the coronavirus. His appeal has been backed by other high-profile figures, such as actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, musician KSI and actress Thandie Newton, and the NHS. | |
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| | | | | The Covid-19 vaccine blocks pretty much all cases of serious illness - but the government has been much more cautious about saying whether it stops people carrying the virus and infecting others. Until evidence had built up from lots of people being vaccinated, scientists could not say for sure the jab would stop transmission - and there was concern those vaccinated might stop taking precautions, potentially leading to a rise in infections. But with some now refusing the vaccine in the belief it will not stop them passing on the virus, is this caution becoming counterproductive? | |
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| | Rachel Schraer | Health reporter | |
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| | | | Lockdown easing and news that 60 million Novavax coronavirus vaccine doses are to be made in the UK dominates many of the front pages today. England is “on track” to reopen says Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he urges people to abide by the rules, the Times reports, and the Independent headlines on “UK vaccine boost – as great unlock begins”. The Daily Mail says the prime minster is facing growing pressure for lockdown to be lifted faster while the Telegraph looks further ahead, saying world leaders are calling for a “pandemic treaty” to protect states. As well as lockdown and the vaccines development running in a number of papers, the Metro and the Guardian cover the trial into the death of George Floyd, which began yesterday. | |
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| | | Williamson School abuse allegations are 'shocking and abhorrent' |
| | | | GHB Killer drug to be reclassified as Class B substance |
| | | | Coronavirus Senior scientist warns of 'impending doom' in US |
| | | | Egypt Suez Canal reopens after stranded ship is freed |
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| If you watch one thing today |
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| If you listen to one thing today |
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| If you read one thing today |
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| Need something different? |
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| As stay-at-home restrictions ended in England yesterday, you can take a look at how some people spent the first day enjoying their new freedoms. And in case you missed it, check out these pictures from the Ever Given container ship which is on the move again after blocking the Suez Canal for almost a week. | |
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| | | | 1979 Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Airey Neave is killed by a car bomb while leaving the House of Commons - watch the report from the scene of the attack |
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| Let us know what you think of this newsletter by emailing bbcnewsdaily@bbc.co.uk. If you’d like to recommend it to a friend, forward this email. New subscribers can sign up here. | |
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