news--2020-06-20--Soho House empire lands $100m injection from Burkle-led group

Soho House has secured a $ 100m ( £81m ) equity injection to shore up its finances after the coronavirus pandemic hampered spending across its global network of upmarket venues .
Sky News has learnt that Ron Burkle , the American billionaire who is Soho House 's biggest investor , led a group comprising new and existing shareholders in providing the new money in recent weeks .
Sources said the investment was made at the same $ 2bn valuation at which the company raised $ 100m late last year , underlining its backers ' confidence in the future of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites have reopened as overseas governments have eased lockdown restrictions , with its UK clubs and hotels hoping to resume trading early next month , in line with government guidance .
Soho House , which has explored a public listing in New York for the last couple of years , has grown at breakneck pace over the last decade , opening clubs in Barcelona , Hong Kong , Istanbul , Mumbai and West Hollywood .
Further openings are planned in Paris , Rome and Tel Aviv .
The company now has roughly 110,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over £1000-a-year in fees to gain access to venues , as well as discounted hotel rooms and consumer products sold under the Cowshed brand .
One insider said member retention had improved during the COVID-19 pandemic , with the group offering credits against membership fees to spend on other Soho House products .
The club , which has launched a chain of Soho Works work spaces which are broadly comparable to the likes of WeWork , has added features during the lockdown such as a digital conferencing service .
Originally conceived by founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executives in the advertising , media and creative industries , a Soho House membership has become a status symbol for international executives working in sectors including music , fashion and broadcasting .
Mr Jones , who is married to the broadcaster Kirsty Young , opened its first site on Greek Street in Central London in 1995 .
The company prides itself on offering members a discreet and relaxed environment in buildings often housing a hotel , restaurants , gym and other facilities .
Its clubs have become a home-from-home for A-list celebrities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eddie Redmayne among those photographed emerging from Soho House parties .
Soho House 's breakneck expansion has been facilitated by a series of deals , including the sale by Mr Jones of a controlling stake in the company to Richard Caring , the textiles tycoon , in 2008 .
That transaction valued the company at about £130m , with a subsequent takeover by Ron Burkle , a Californian supermarket billionaire , four years later attributing a £250m price tag to Soho House .
Both Mr Jones and Mr Caring have remained as shareholders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run the business as its chief executive .
Last October , it announced a further $ 100m fundraising led by Raycliff Capital , an investment firm , with participation from Simon Property Group .
The investors were chosen partly to help provide strategic insight aimed at assisting Soho House 's opening programme , The company 's expansion is driven by a capital expenditure-light model , with partners developing buildings in selected cities at their own cost , with Soho House as a tenant which then receives a payment if the landlord sells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopened sites in cities such as Hong Kong and Malibu had performed strongly in recent days , providing evidence of `` demand and bounce-back '' from COVID-19 .
Soho House has also added a strand of membership called Cities Without Houses to enable thousands of people to join its `` community '' , even if they live in a location without one of the group 's venues .
A Soho House spokesman said this weekend : `` We have secured additional equity funding as a follow-on to last year 's equity investment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soho House .
`` It is led by Ron Burkle personally , and shows his belief in the business . ''
Last year , it reported turnover for 2018 of £432.5m , a rise of 20 % .
Membership subscriptions accounted for just under 25 % of the total , with food and beverage sales up 20 % to £190.5m .
At the time it reported the results , it said 36,000 people were on its global membership waiting list .

Soho House has secured a $100m (£81m) equity injection to shore up its finances after the coronavirus pandemic hampered spending across its global network of upmarket venues.
Sky News has learnt that Ron Burkle, the American billionaire who is Soho House's biggest investor, led a group comprising new and existing shareholders in providing the new money in recent weeks.
Sources said the investment was made at the same $2bn valuation at which the company raised $100m late last year, underlining its backers' confidence in the future of the business.
Many of the group's sites have reopened as overseas governments have eased lockdown restrictions, with its UK clubs and hotels hoping to resume trading early next month, in line with government guidance.
Soho House, which has explored a public listing in New York for the last couple of years, has grown at breakneck pace over the last decade, opening clubs in Barcelona, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Mumbai and West Hollywood.
Further openings are planned in Paris, Rome and Tel Aviv.
The company now has roughly 110,000 members, many of whom pay well over £1000-a-year in fees to gain access to venues, as well as discounted hotel rooms and consumer products sold under the Cowshed brand.
One insider said member retention had improved during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the group offering credits against membership fees to spend on other Soho House products.
The club, which has launched a chain of Soho Works work spaces which are broadly comparable to the likes of WeWork, has added features during the lockdown such as a digital conferencing service.
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Originally conceived by founder Nick Jones as a networking venue for executives in the advertising, media and creative industries, a Soho House membership has become a status symbol for international executives working in sectors including music, fashion and broadcasting.
Mr Jones, who is married to the broadcaster Kirsty Young, opened its first site on Greek Street in Central London in 1995.
The company prides itself on offering members a discreet and relaxed environment in buildings often housing a hotel, restaurants, gym and other facilities.
Its clubs have become a home-from-home for A-list celebrities, with the likes of Kate Moss and Eddie Redmayne among those photographed emerging from Soho House parties.
Soho House's breakneck expansion has been facilitated by a series of deals, including the sale by Mr Jones of a controlling stake in the company to Richard Caring, the textiles tycoon, in 2008.
That transaction valued the company at about £130m, with a subsequent takeover by Ron Burkle, a Californian supermarket billionaire, four years later attributing a £250m price tag to Soho House.
Both Mr Jones and Mr Caring have remained as shareholders since then, with the former continuing to run the business as its chief executive.
Last October, it announced a further $100m fundraising led by Raycliff Capital, an investment firm, with participation from Simon Property Group.
The investors were chosen partly to help provide strategic insight aimed at assisting Soho House's opening programme,
The company's expansion is driven by a capital expenditure-light model, with partners developing buildings in selected cities at their own cost, with Soho House as a tenant which then receives a payment if the landlord sells the building.
An insider said its reopened sites in cities such as Hong Kong and Malibu had performed strongly in recent days, providing evidence of "demand and bounce-back" from COVID-19.
Soho House has also added a strand of membership called Cities Without Houses to enable thousands of people to join its "community", even if they live in a location without one of the group's venues.
A Soho House spokesman said this weekend: "We have secured additional equity funding as a follow-on to last year's equity investment, which underlines the $2bn valuation of Soho House.
"It is led by Ron Burkle personally, and shows his belief in the business."
Last year, it reported turnover for 2018 of £432.5m, a rise of 20%.
Membership subscriptions accounted for just under 25% of the total, with food and beverage sales up 20% to £190.5m.
At the time it reported the results, it said 36,000 people were on its global membership waiting list.


news--2020-06-20--Stonehenge: People urged not to travel to celebrate summer solstice

Fans of the summer solstice have been told to stay away from Stonehenge this year and encouraged to log in rather than turn up .
World Heritage , which runs the Neolithic site , said it will live stream the sunrise and sunset instead .
Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain , Wiltshire , dates back to around 3000 BC and is one of the most famous landmarks in England .
Traditionally , hundreds of people gather around the collection of standing stones to mark the longest day of the year , when the sun takes its longest journey through the sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on mass gatherings and social distancing rules following the coronavirus pandemic , this year 's event has been cancelled .
While touching the stones has been banned since 1977 , rules had been traditionally relaxed during the summer and winter solstice , as well as the spring and autumn equinox , allowing people to get closer to the stones .
In a statement on its website , World Heritage said : `` For everyone 's safety and wellbeing , we 've had to cancel this year 's summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Summer Solstice : we know how special this occasion is to so many of you , and we 'll be live streaming both sunset on 20 June and sunrise on 21 June across English Heritage 's social media channels for free . ''
More than half a million people have signed up to World Heritage 's Summer Solstice Live Facebook page , to watch the sun go up virtually .
Summer solstice - which is also known as midsummer - marks the longest day of the year when the sun is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the inspiration behind Stonehenge 's original construction has been lost in the mists of time , many believe it was built in order to track solar alignment during key celestial events .
Sunset tonight will be at 9.22pm , while sunrise on Sunday will be at 4.44am .
Stonehenge say their visitors centre will fully reopen on 4 July .

Fans of the summer solstice have been told to stay away from Stonehenge this year and encouraged to log in rather than turn up.
World Heritage, which runs the Neolithic site, said it will live stream the sunrise and sunset instead.
Image: Summer solstice is normally a key event for the Amesbury site
Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, dates back to around 3000 BC and is one of the most famous landmarks in England.
Traditionally, hundreds of people gather around the collection of standing stones to mark the longest day of the year, when the sun takes its longest journey through the sky.
However, due to a ban on mass gatherings and social distancing rules following the coronavirus pandemic, this year's event has been cancelled.
Image: The ancient site is thought to have been built to track solar alignment
While touching the stones has been banned since 1977, rules had been traditionally relaxed during the summer and winter solstice, as well as the spring and autumn equinox, allowing people to get closer to the stones.
In a statement on its website, World Heritage said: "For everyone's safety and wellbeing, we've had to cancel this year's summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge.
Image: People can get up close and personal to the stones for solstice
"Please don't travel to Stonehenge for Summer Solstice: we know how special this occasion is to so many of you, and we'll be live streaming both sunset on 20 June and sunrise on 21 June across English Heritage's social media channels for free."
More than half a million people have signed up to World Heritage's Summer Solstice Live Facebook page, to watch the sun go up virtually.
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Image: The sunrise will be live streamed on the English Heritage site
Summer solstice - which is also known as midsummer - marks the longest day of the year when the sun is at its highest position in the sky.
While the inspiration behind Stonehenge's original construction has been lost in the mists of time, many believe it was built in order to track solar alignment during key celestial events.
Sunset tonight will be at 9.22pm, while sunrise on Sunday will be at 4.44am.
Stonehenge say their visitors centre will fully reopen on 4 July.


news--2020-06-20--Coronavirus: R number jumps to 1.79 in Germany after abattoir outbreak

The coronavirus reproduction rate , known as the R number , has jumped to 1.79 in Germany .
The Robert Koch Institute ( RKI ) for public health confirmed the rate was now far above what is needed to contain the outbreak over the longer term .
The R number equates to how many people , on average , will be infected by each person who has COVID-19 .
If R is above 1 , an outbreak can grow exponentially , but if it is below 1 , the number of infections shrink and coronavirus can be brought under control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who get the virus will infect 179 others .
The latest rate , published in RKI 's daily situation report , compares with a value 1.06 on Friday .
The development is a setback for a country viewed as doing much better compared to many other EU nations in the pandemic due to its early and widespread testing procedures .
The increase in R comes after hundreds of workers tested positive for COVID-19 at an abattoir in northern Germany this week , prompting the closure of local schools and an urgent investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest meat processors , said it had stopped slaughtering on Wednesday and was shutting the abattoir in stages .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker More than 1,000 workers were tested and a total of 657 people tested positive for coronavirus , DW News reported .
There have also been local outbreaks in locations such as logistics centres and refugee shelters .
Other infections have been linked to church services and family parties .

The coronavirus reproduction rate, known as the R number, has jumped to 1.79 in Germany.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for public health confirmed the rate was now far above what is needed to contain the outbreak over the longer term.
The R number equates to how many people, on average, will be infected by each person who has COVID-19.
If R is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially, but if it is below 1, the number of infections shrink and coronavirus can be brought under control.
An R of 1.79 means 100 people who get the virus will infect 179 others.
The latest rate, published in RKI's daily situation report, compares with a value 1.06 on Friday.
The development is a setback for a country viewed as doing much better compared to many other EU nations in the pandemic due to its early and widespread testing procedures.
The increase in R comes after hundreds of workers tested positive for COVID-19 at an abattoir in northern Germany this week, prompting the closure of local schools and an urgent investigation.
Toennies, one of Germany's biggest meat processors, said it had stopped slaughtering on Wednesday and was shutting the abattoir in stages.
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More than 1,000 workers were tested and a total of 657 people tested positive for coronavirus, DW News reported.
Toennies co-owner Clemens Toennies has apologised.
There have also been local outbreaks in locations such as logistics centres and refugee shelters.
Other infections have been linked to church services and family parties.


news--2020-06-20--Five cruise ships detained in Essex and Bristol over welfare fears for crew

Five cruise ships in Essex and Bristol have been detained over `` concerns '' for the welfare of their crews .
Some of the crews had been on board for more than 12 months , payment of wages was late and `` a number of expired and invalid Seafarers Employment Agreements '' were found by surveyors acting for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency ( MCA ) .
That means the ships are in contravention of the Maritime Labour Convention , the MCA said .
The Astoria , Astor , Columbus and Vasco de Gama , which are berthed at Tilbury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained , while The Marco Polo at Avonmouth Docks , Bristol , has also been held .
All five belong to Global Cruise Lines Limited and employ hundreds of crew each .
They were all in the middle of cruises when they had to sail back to the UK because of the coronavirus pandemic and many crew have been unable to fly home due to global travel restrictions .
A sixth ship , the Magellan , was inspected but no significant deficiencies were found so it was not detained .
The All India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Indian foreign office earlier this week saying 164 Indian crew members on the Astoria have been `` stuck in foreign waters for the past 90 days and need help '' .
Many of the crew had begun a hunger strike onboard in protest and said they wanted the Indian government to help get them back to India , the letter said .
The ship 's owner said 50 out of 262 Astoria crew members had `` commenced a strike , including no longer performing routine maintenance work onboard '' , but said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have endured a prolonged period quarantined on board our ships during lockdown and are understandably anxious and distressed , '' chief executive Christian Verhounig said , adding that many were unable to fly home .
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said : `` The welfare of seafarers is of the utmost importance and we take any reports of safety concerns around crew incredibly seriously .
`` Following today 's investigation , five ships have been detained and we will not hesitate to continue to use every power within our control to safeguard the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the UK . ''
The ships will be detained until the breaches of the labour convention are resolved .
Katy Ware , director of Maritime Safety and Standards , said : `` This sends a very clear message that crew welfare remains a top priority for us both as a Flag and a Port State .
`` We must care for the well-being and health of our seafarers who work so hard in the industry . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left Manzanillo , Mexico , in mid-February and arrived in Poole , Dorset , on 10 March before leaving there on 14 March and arriving in Tilbury the next day , where it has remained during lockdown .
Columbus sailed from Malta to Tilbury and the Magellan travelled to the Essex port from Reykjavik , Iceland .
Both have been there since April .
The Astor , which sailed from Bremen in Germany and the Vasco de Gama from Cape Town in South Africa , have both been at Tilbury since May .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian passengers at the end of March on Rottnest Island so they could quarantine for 14 days before being allowed on the mainland .
The Marco Polo arrived at Avonmouth Docks on 22 March from Aqaba in Jordan .
Global Cruise Lines , which has its head office in the Greek capital of Athens , is `` designed to manage cruise ships around the world '' , its website said .

Five cruise ships in Essex and Bristol have been detained over "concerns" for the welfare of their crews.
Some of the crews had been on board for more than 12 months, payment of wages was late and "a number of expired and invalid Seafarers Employment Agreements" were found by surveyors acting for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
That means the ships are in contravention of the Maritime Labour Convention, the MCA said.
Image: The Vasco de Gama (R) dropped Australian passengers off in March before heading to South Africa then arriving in Essex in May
The Astoria, Astor, Columbus and Vasco de Gama, which are berthed at Tilbury Docks in Essex, have all been detained, while The Marco Polo at Avonmouth Docks, Bristol, has also been held.
All five belong to Global Cruise Lines Limited and employ hundreds of crew each. They were all in the middle of cruises when they had to sail back to the UK because of the coronavirus pandemic and many crew have been unable to fly home due to global travel restrictions.
A sixth ship, the Magellan, was inspected but no significant deficiencies were found so it was not detained.
The All India Seafarer and General Workers Union wrote to the Indian foreign office earlier this week saying 164 Indian crew members on the Astoria have been "stuck in foreign waters for the past 90 days and need help".
Many of the crew had begun a hunger strike onboard in protest and said they wanted the Indian government to help get them back to India, the letter said.
The ship's owner said 50 out of 262 Astoria crew members had "commenced a strike, including no longer performing routine maintenance work onboard", but said all were eating.
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Image: The Astor, pictured here in France, sailed from Bremen in Germany to Tilbury Docks in May
"Our crew have endured a prolonged period quarantined on board our ships during lockdown and are understandably anxious and distressed," chief executive Christian Verhounig said, adding that many were unable to fly home.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "The welfare of seafarers is of the utmost importance and we take any reports of safety concerns around crew incredibly seriously.
"Following today's investigation, five ships have been detained and we will not hesitate to continue to use every power within our control to safeguard the health and happiness of every seafarer currently working in the UK."
The ships will be detained until the breaches of the labour convention are resolved.
Katy Ware, director of Maritime Safety and Standards, said: "This sends a very clear message that crew welfare remains a top priority for us both as a Flag and a Port State.
"We must care for the well-being and health of our seafarers who work so hard in the industry."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Shipping records show the Astoria left Manzanillo, Mexico, in mid-February and arrived in Poole, Dorset, on 10 March before leaving there on 14 March and arriving in Tilbury the next day, where it has remained during lockdown.
Columbus sailed from Malta to Tilbury and the Magellan travelled to the Essex port from Reykjavik, Iceland.
Both have been there since April.
The Astor, which sailed from Bremen in Germany and the Vasco de Gama from Cape Town in South Africa, have both been at Tilbury since May.
The Vasco de Gama had dropped off Australian passengers at the end of March on Rottnest Island so they could quarantine for 14 days before being allowed on the mainland.
The Marco Polo arrived at Avonmouth Docks on 22 March from Aqaba in Jordan.
Global Cruise Lines, which has its head office in the Greek capital of Athens, is "designed to manage cruise ships around the world", its website said.


news--2020-06-19--Coronavirus: A third of care home residents still waiting for COVID-19 tests

A third of care home residents have n't been tested for COVID-19 , despite government promises that all residents and staff would be tested by `` early June '' .
New research from The Data Analysis Bureau ( T-Dab ) suggests that while testing has risen in the last month , many residents are still missing out .
In May , Health Secretary Matt Hancock said `` every resident and every member of staff in our elderly care homes in England '' would be tested `` between now and early June '' .
But the study of around 32,000 care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been tested , while 15 % of care homes have not had any of their residents tested .
Nadra Ahmed from the National Care Association said : `` It 's disappointing .
We stressed from the beginning that testing was key to making sure we had a handle on where the virus was and how to contain it within care home communities .
`` It is disappointing to think that only not everyone has had tests , despite being told everybody can have them and they are available . ''
The T-Dab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests the proportion of care home residents in England tested in this period has increased from 13 % in mid-May to 53 % as of Thursday .
But it also signals just 10 % of residents were tested in the last seven days .
T-Dab director Simon Briscoe said : `` The rate of testing rose dramatically in the last week of May and into June as the government sent roughly one million test kits to care homes .
`` The many links in the chain of testing from care home staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test centres , combined to leave testing rates very low .
`` With barely half of residents having been tested it shows that more than simply issuing testing kits is required to provide care homes with the support and guidance they need . ''
This week 's figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 14,028 coronavirus-related deaths recorded in care homes in England and Wales in the year to 5 June .
That means nearly half of all deaths from the virus are happening in care homes .
Helen Wildbore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association , said : `` These figures will be hugely concerning and disappointing for relatives and friends of older people receiving care , who were promised this testing system would be rolled out to prevent spread of the virus .
`` We have n't learned lessons from elsewhere in the world about test , test , test being the route to saving lives . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offer testing to every care home for the over-65s , or those with dementia , in England by 6 June .
`` We sent more than one million test kits to almost 9,000 care homes , and are now sending out thousands more tests every day to residents and staff in all remaining care homes . ''
But many fear that with care home staff not medically trained to test vulnerable patients , more will have to be done to improve testing numbers among the most vulnerable in society .

A third of care home residents haven't been tested for COVID-19, despite government promises that all residents and staff would be tested by "early June".
New research from The Data Analysis Bureau (T-Dab) suggests that while testing has risen in the last month, many residents are still missing out.
In May, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said "every resident and every member of staff in our elderly care homes in England" would be tested "between now and early June".
But the study of around 32,000 care home residents found that 37% have not been tested, while 15% of care homes have not had any of their residents tested.
Nadra Ahmed from the National Care Association said: "It's disappointing. We stressed from the beginning that testing was key to making sure we had a handle on where the virus was and how to contain it within care home communities.
"It is disappointing to think that only not everyone has had tests, despite being told everybody can have them and they are available."
The T-Dab research based on Person Centred Software statistics suggests the proportion of care home residents in England tested in this period has increased from 13% in mid-May to 53% as of Thursday. But it also signals just 10% of residents were tested in the last seven days.
T-Dab director Simon Briscoe said: "The rate of testing rose dramatically in the last week of May and into June as the government sent roughly one million test kits to care homes.
"The many links in the chain of testing from care home staff, local health officials, a website and test centres, combined to leave testing rates very low.
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"With barely half of residents having been tested it shows that more than simply issuing testing kits is required to provide care homes with the support and guidance they need."
This week's figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 14,028 coronavirus-related deaths recorded in care homes in England and Wales in the year to 5 June. That means nearly half of all deaths from the virus are happening in care homes.
Helen Wildbore, director of The Relatives & Residents Association, said: "These figures will be hugely concerning and disappointing for relatives and friends of older people receiving care, who were promised this testing system would be rolled out to prevent spread of the virus.
"We haven't learned lessons from elsewhere in the world about test, test, test being the route to saving lives."
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A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We have achieved our target to offer testing to every care home for the over-65s, or those with dementia, in England by 6 June.
"We sent more than one million test kits to almost 9,000 care homes, and are now sending out thousands more tests every day to residents and staff in all remaining care homes."
But many fear that with care home staff not medically trained to test vulnerable patients, more will have to be done to improve testing numbers among the most vulnerable in society.


news--2020-06-20--Coronavirus: Brazil becomes second country to pass one million COVID-19 cases

Brazil has surpassed more than one million confirmed coronavirus cases - second only to the US - with total deaths fast approaching 50,000 .
There were 1,032,913 confirmed cases on Friday , with 1,206 new deaths taking the total official fatalities to 48,954 , the health ministry said .
The ministry said the sharp increase was due to reporting system corrections in some states from previous days .
Friday also saw a new record daily number of cases , with 54,771 , suggesting the COVID-19 outbreak is far from over .
But some experts say the true extent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing a lack of widespread testing .
`` That number of one million is much less than the real number of people who have been infected , because there is under-reporting of a magnitude of five to 10 times , '' said Alexandre Naime Barbosa , a medical professor at Sao Paulo State University .
`` The true number is probably at least three million and could even be as high as 10 million people . ''
Brazil confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus on 26 February .
The virus has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 82 % of Brazil 's municipalities , health ministry data has shown .
President Jair Bolsonaro has been widely criticised for his handling of the crisis , after he dismissed the pandemic as `` a little flu '' and has refused to wear a mask or practise social distancing .
He has also promoted two anti-malarial drugs as remedies , chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , despite little evidence they work .
The country still has had no permanent health minister after losing two since April , following clashes with Mr Bolsonaro .
Pressure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ineffective state and local isolation orders has led governors and mayors to begin lifting restrictions on commerce and other economic activity .
But public health experts have warned that loosening restrictions too soon threatens to accelerate contagion and drive up fatalities .
`` We think that there will be a new wave after the loosening of these measures , '' said Ricardo Langer , a doctor treating COVID-19 patients at the Maracan stadium field hospital in Rio de Janeiro .
A worsening outbreak could also weigh on already-grim economic forecasts .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 4.7 % this year , while economists surveyed by the central bank think it will fall more than 6 % .

Brazil has surpassed more than one million confirmed coronavirus cases - second only to the US - with total deaths fast approaching 50,000.
There were 1,032,913 confirmed cases on Friday, with 1,206 new deaths taking the total official fatalities to 48,954, the health ministry said.
The ministry said the sharp increase was due to reporting system corrections in some states from previous days.
Friday also saw a new record daily number of cases, with 54,771, suggesting the COVID-19 outbreak is far from over.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:58 ‘Gravediggers don’t stop digging’
But some experts say the true extent of the outbreak far exceeds the official figures, citing a lack of widespread testing.
"That number of one million is much less than the real number of people who have been infected, because there is under-reporting of a magnitude of five to 10 times," said Alexandre Naime Barbosa, a medical professor at Sao Paulo State University.
"The true number is probably at least three million and could even be as high as 10 million people."
Brazil confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus on 26 February.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 7:22 'Bolsonaro weakens the stay at home message'
The virus has spread relentlessly across the country, reaching 82% of Brazil's municipalities, health ministry data has shown.
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President Jair Bolsonaro has been widely criticised for his handling of the crisis, after he dismissed the pandemic as "a little flu" and has refused to wear a mask or practise social distancing.
He has also promoted two anti-malarial drugs as remedies, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, despite little evidence they work.
The country still has had no permanent health minister after losing two since April, following clashes with Mr Bolsonaro.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:15 Strong divisions in Brazil as infections soar
Pressure from Mr Bolsonaro and public fatigue after months of ineffective state and local isolation orders has led governors and mayors to begin lifting restrictions on commerce and other economic activity.
But public health experts have warned that loosening restrictions too soon threatens to accelerate contagion and drive up fatalities.
"We think that there will be a new wave after the loosening of these measures," said Ricardo Langer, a doctor treating COVID-19 patients at the Maracan stadium field hospital in Rio de Janeiro.
A worsening outbreak could also weigh on already-grim economic forecasts.
The government has said the economy will contract by 4.7% this year, while economists surveyed by the central bank think it will fall more than 6%.


news--2020-06-20--Black Lives Matter: Anti-racism protesters march in UK cities for fourth weekend

Thousands of protesters have taken part in a fourth weekend of demonstrations across the UK in support of the Black Lives Matter movement .
Several hundred people turned out in London 's Hyde Park , while scuffles broke out in Glasgow as police tried to corral protesters into George Square on World Refugee Day .
Police in the Scottish city were earlier given temporary powers to search any person or vehicle in the city after the Scottish government urged people to not protest due to the coronavirus pandemic .
In London the protests seemed largely good-natured and peaceful , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the demonstrations over the past three weekends since the killing of George Floyd in the US after a police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 minutes .
Almost 230 protesters have been arrested in the capital and images of 35 people wanted over violent clashes during recent protests have been released by the Met .
Sky News ' Beckie Williams , in Hyde Park , said : `` Last weekend the protests in London turned violent , and the weekend before .
`` But on the whole they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly what the police are urging here today .
There is a strong police presence , not just here in Hyde Park but outside the park as well . ''
One woman called Paulette told Sky News : `` We 're not here for violence but just to be heard .
I 'm here for equality and justice .
`` This has gone on too long and we want to see improvement , especially for young black boys and girls , whether they 're in full time education , applying for these big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available to them like their white counterparts . ''
Other protesters walked from the nearby US embassy to Parliament Square and then met those who marched from Hyde Park .
Sky 's foreign affairs editor Deborah Haynes spoke to one demonstrator called Melanie , who said : `` We 're all here to fight for equality .
To get the word out that we 're here and we want change .
`` So many people have died - I 'm not saying people are innocent but no one deserves to die in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 've been racially abused by police so it touched a nerve with me and I feel like I needed to come and fight for equality .
`` I want people to think , why are they doing this… to read up and educate themselves . ''
Sky News ' Tom Parmenter , in the centre of Manchester , said the rally there was peaceful .
A woman called Debbie told him : `` This is about a continuous thing that 's gone over history .
`` One of my daughters has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being avoided .
I 'm speaking out on behalf of my family . ''

Thousands of protesters have taken part in a fourth weekend of demonstrations across the UK in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Several hundred people turned out in London's Hyde Park, while scuffles broke out in Glasgow as police tried to corral protesters into George Square on World Refugee Day.
Police in the Scottish city were earlier given temporary powers to search any person or vehicle in the city after the Scottish government urged people to not protest due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Image: There were scuffles between protesters and police in Glasgow
In London the protests seemed largely good-natured and peaceful, after more than 100 police officers were assaulted during the demonstrations over the past three weekends since the killing of George Floyd in the US after a police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 minutes.
Almost 230 protesters have been arrested in the capital and images of 35 people wanted over violent clashes during recent protests have been released by the Met.
Sky News' Beckie Williams, in Hyde Park, said: "Last weekend the protests in London turned violent, and the weekend before.
"But on the whole they have been largely peaceful and that's certainly what the police are urging here today. There is a strong police presence, not just here in Hyde Park but outside the park as well."
One woman called Paulette told Sky News: "We're not here for violence but just to be heard. I'm here for equality and justice.
"This has gone on too long and we want to see improvement, especially for young black boys and girls, whether they're in full time education, applying for these big companies and for the opportunities to be available to them like their white counterparts."
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Image: Police clashed with protesters as they tried to guide them into George Square
Other protesters walked from the nearby US embassy to Parliament Square and then met those who marched from Hyde Park.
Sky's foreign affairs editor Deborah Haynes spoke to one demonstrator called Melanie, who said: "We're all here to fight for equality. To get the word out that we're here and we want change.
"So many people have died - I'm not saying people are innocent but no one deserves to die in a horrible way like George Floyd did.
"I've been racially abused by police so it touched a nerve with me and I feel like I needed to come and fight for equality.
"I want people to think, why are they doing this… to read up and educate themselves."
Image: Police in Glasgow were given temporary powers to allow them to search any person or vehicle in the city
Sky News' Tom Parmenter, in the centre of Manchester, said the rally there was peaceful.
A woman called Debbie told him: "This is about a continuous thing that's gone over history.
"One of my daughters has talked about being on the bus and being avoided. I'm speaking out on behalf of my family."


news--2020-06-20--Pub patrols and drinks by app: New rules for hospitality as chancellor hints 2m rule will be relaxed

The chancellor has hinted heavily that social distancing rules will be relaxed when they are reviewed next week - as new guidance is being drawn up for the hospitality industry .
Modifying the two-metre rule to one metre will `` make an enormous difference '' to businesses , Rishi Sunak has said , in the clearest hint yet that the government will make the change .
During a visit to shops in North Yorkshire , he said : `` Obviously we need to go through that review but I 'm very understanding of the calls for action on that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our pubs , for our restaurants , ( they ) are keen to see if there 's some change that can be made there . ''
As lockdown continues to be eased across the UK , new guidelines are expected to be set out that will include rules for pubs , where pints will have to be ordered on a phone app and social distancing will be enforced by patrols .
These are just some of the regulations to expected to be announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on how pubs , cafes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England from 4 July .
According to The Times , guidance for the hospitality sector includes not setting restaurant tables in advance and room service in hotels being left outside doors .
Licensing laws will also be shaken up to allow all pubs , restaurants and cafes to sell alcohol outside , causing police concerns increased numbers will gather on pavements , which could lead to a rise in disorder , the paper reports .
Today the virus death toll increased by 128 - the lowest jump on a Saturday during the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care homes and the community to 42,589 .
There were 71 deaths in England , two in Scotland , one in Wales and another in Northern Ireland reported by 5pm yesterday .
It comes as the government reviews the social distancing guideline that tells people to stay at least two metres away from each other to limit the spread of the virus .
The review is expected to conclude next week and any easing would have an impact on prospects for the hospitality sector and for schools .
Kate Nicholls , chief executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drop from two metres to one is `` the difference between surviving and businesses going to the wall and not being able to reopen when this crisis ends '' .
Operating with a one-metre rule would mean businesses could earn 70 % of normal revenue , meaning they could keep afloat until the virus situation improves , she added .
She called on the government to commit to the 4 July date by Monday at the latest , as `` people are making redundancies now '' across the sector .
Ms Nicholls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have that date confirmed without delay .
We are right at the deadline . ''
Social distancing affects also affects how many pupils can be in a classroom at once across schools nationwide .
The PM has said he wants all children back at school in September , when children in Northern Ireland will also be returning , after their social distancing was cut to one metre .
It comes after the government downgraded the COVID-19 alert level for the UK from four to three , suggesting transmission of the virus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exponential rate .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The UK 's chief medical officers said the move was recommended by the Joint Biosecurity Centre after a `` steady decrease '' in COVID-19 cases in England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland .
The coronavirus reproduction rate - known as the R number - remains unchanged at 0.7 to 0.9 in the UK , meeting the government 's target of keeping it below 1.0 .
The PM said lowering the alert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some progress '' on social distancing measures .
Also on Friday , the government promised £1bn to help pupils catch up , with many not having been in the classroom since March .
But headteachers said they had not been consulted about the scheme , which will provide funding for tutors for some of England 's most disadvantaged children .
In Wales , First Minister Mark Drakeford announced plans to end its five-mile restriction on travel next month and allow holidaymakers to return a week later .

The chancellor has hinted heavily that social distancing rules will be relaxed when they are reviewed next week - as new guidance is being drawn up for the hospitality industry.
Modifying the two-metre rule to one metre will "make an enormous difference" to businesses, Rishi Sunak has said, in the clearest hint yet that the government will make the change.
During a visit to shops in North Yorkshire, he said: "Obviously we need to go through that review but I'm very understanding of the calls for action on that, particularly for our hospitality industry, for our pubs, for our restaurants, (they) are keen to see if there's some change that can be made there."
As lockdown continues to be eased across the UK, new guidelines are expected to be set out that will include rules for pubs, where pints will have to be ordered on a phone app and social distancing will be enforced by patrols.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:39 Chancellor hints 2m rule could be relaxed
These are just some of the regulations to expected to be announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on how pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels can reopen in England from 4 July.
According to The Times, guidance for the hospitality sector includes not setting restaurant tables in advance and room service in hotels being left outside doors.
Image: Social distancing has hit the hospitality industry hard
Licensing laws will also be shaken up to allow all pubs, restaurants and cafes to sell alcohol outside, causing police concerns increased numbers will gather on pavements, which could lead to a rise in disorder, the paper reports.
Today the virus death toll increased by 128 - the lowest jump on a Saturday during the lockdown - bringing the total in hospitals, care homes and the community to 42,589.
There were 71 deaths in England, two in Scotland, one in Wales and another in Northern Ireland reported by 5pm yesterday.
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It comes as the government reviews the social distancing guideline that tells people to stay at least two metres away from each other to limit the spread of the virus.
The review is expected to conclude next week and any easing would have an impact on prospects for the hospitality sector and for schools.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, told Sky News the drop from two metres to one is "the difference between surviving and businesses going to the wall and not being able to reopen when this crisis ends".
Operating with a one-metre rule would mean businesses could earn 70% of normal revenue, meaning they could keep afloat until the virus situation improves, she added.
She called on the government to commit to the 4 July date by Monday at the latest, as "people are making redundancies now" across the sector.
Ms Nicholls said: "It's absolutely critical we have that date confirmed without delay. We are right at the deadline."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:32 Why does the two-metre rule matter?
Social distancing affects also affects how many pupils can be in a classroom at once across schools nationwide.
The PM has said he wants all children back at school in September, when children in Northern Ireland will also be returning, after their social distancing was cut to one metre.
It comes after the government downgraded the COVID-19 alert level for the UK from four to three, suggesting transmission of the virus is no longer high or spreading at an exponential rate.
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The UK's chief medical officers said the move was recommended by the Joint Biosecurity Centre after a "steady decrease" in COVID-19 cases in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The coronavirus reproduction rate - known as the R number - remains unchanged at 0.7 to 0.9 in the UK, meeting the government's target of keeping it below 1.0.
The PM said lowering the alert level allowed ministers to "start making some progress" on social distancing measures.
Also on Friday, the government promised £1bn to help pupils catch up, with many not having been in the classroom since March.
But headteachers said they had not been consulted about the scheme, which will provide funding for tutors for some of England's most disadvantaged children.
In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced plans to end its five-mile restriction on travel next month and allow holidaymakers to return a week later.


news--2020-06-20--Donald Trump: Tulsa prepares for election rally while marking Juneteenth

Donald Trump will mark the resumption of his election campaign with a huge and controversial gathering in Tulsa , Oklahoma , tonight .
The American president suspended his early campaign rallies for the November election in April because of the coronavirus outbreak .
But tweeting about tonight 's rally , he said : `` Big crowds and lines already forming in Tulsa .
My campaign has n't started yet .
It starts on Saturday night in Oklahoma ! ''
The location of the rally and its timing present dual controversies .
The state of Oklahoma and the city of Tulsa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus cases .
While some parts of the world are experiencing a second COVID-19 spike , much of America is still ascending the first curve , prompting many to question the safety of a mass gathering even if social distancing and masks are encouraged .
According to a database of health authority figures complied by The New York Times , there have been at least 9,706 cases of coronavirus in Oklahoma .
As of Friday evening , at least 367 people had died .
Despite the upward trend , the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Oklahoma is `` one of the first states that has safely and measurably reopened '' .
`` Oklahoma is ready for your visit , '' the governor told President Trump at a White House meeting on Thursday .
`` It 's going to be safe and everyone 's really really excited . ''
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker The city 's BOK stadium has a capacity of 19,000 .
Organisers have said that 10,000 people will be permitted to enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on entry .
Sanitiser will be on offer as will masks , but they will not be compulsory .
Many thousands more are expected to gather outside where they have been queueing since Wednesday .
In the line some sported Trump merchandise from head to toe : `` Four More Years '' baseball caps , `` Make America Great Again '' T-shirts and `` Fake News , Enemy of the People '' banners .
Several blocks away , a contrasting America was on display .
In the Greenwood district of the city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Juneteenth - the day the last slaves in America realised they were free .
It was insulting for many here that the American president chose to coincide his rally with this anniversary .
And it was an insult compounded when he claimed that `` no one has ever heard of Juneteenth '' .
`` Juneteenth means everything to me .
Juneteenth is the place where black people can come and we can discuss and we can share , '' local Vickey Scott told me .
In Tulsa though , there is an added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another event that many people really have n't heard of - the Tulsa Massacre .
In May 1921 , the Greenwood district of Tulsa was booming .
Known as Black Wall Street , it was a place where African Americans who had fled slavery in the Deep South had made successful lives .
But after an incident in which a 19-year-old black boy was accused of assaulting a 17-year-old white girl , a riot turned into a massacre with a mob of white men murdering as many as 300 African Americans .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial violence and yet until recently it had been almost entirely airbrushed from history books .
Much of the district was destroyed and the survivors sent to internment camps on the city 's edge .
`` At least 300 died , '' Kavin Ross told me .
His grandfather was among thousands whose businesses were destroyed in the massacre .
`` I have no problem with the president coming here .
It 's just the attraction that he brings .
He rallies , he dog whistles his base who are saying 'white power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'build that wall ' , all that racist rhetoric .
We do n't need that here in Tulsa .
We 're just trying to heal , '' Mr Ross said .
All these years on , the racial divide in Tulsa is still clear , so clear that locals say it is marked by the railway line which cuts across the city from west to east .
To this day , north Tulsa , dominated by the Greenwood district where the massacre happened , is the black neighbourhood .
To the south it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenwood reflect the struggles with Reconciliation Way and Martin Luther King Jnr Boulevard , a new name , unveiled in 2011 .
But at the point where the road crosses the railway , Martin Luther King Jnr Boulevard ends .
Agreement could n't be reached with the predominantly white council to extend the street name south of the railway line .

Donald Trump will mark the resumption of his election campaign with a huge and controversial gathering in Tulsa, Oklahoma, tonight.
The American president suspended his early campaign rallies for the November election in April because of the coronavirus outbreak.
But tweeting about tonight's rally, he said: "Big crowds and lines already forming in Tulsa. My campaign hasn't started yet. It starts on Saturday night in Oklahoma!"
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:41 Juneteenth and the airbrushing of history
The location of the rally and its timing present dual controversies.
The state of Oklahoma and the city of Tulsa are still experiencing a daily upward trend of coronavirus cases.
While some parts of the world are experiencing a second COVID-19 spike, much of America is still ascending the first curve, prompting many to question the safety of a mass gathering even if social distancing and masks are encouraged.
According to a database of health authority figures complied by The New York Times, there have been at least 9,706 cases of coronavirus in Oklahoma. As of Friday evening, at least 367 people had died.
Despite the upward trend, the state's governor, Republican Kevin Stitt has said that Oklahoma is "one of the first states that has safely and measurably reopened".
"Oklahoma is ready for your visit," the governor told President Trump at a White House meeting on Thursday. "It's going to be safe and everyone's really really excited."
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The city's BOK stadium has a capacity of 19,000. Organisers have said that 10,000 people will be permitted to enter. A temperature check will be made on entry. Sanitiser will be on offer as will masks, but they will not be compulsory.
Many thousands more are expected to gather outside where they have been queueing since Wednesday.
In the line some sported Trump merchandise from head to toe: "Four More Years" baseball caps, "Make America Great Again" T-shirts and "Fake News, Enemy of the People" banners.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:25 'Trump has caused an awakening' - Malcolm X's daughter
Several blocks away, a contrasting America was on display. In the Greenwood district of the city, this weekend began with the marking of Juneteenth - the day the last slaves in America realised they were free.
It was insulting for many here that the American president chose to coincide his rally with this anniversary.
And it was an insult compounded when he claimed that "no one has ever heard of Juneteenth".
Image: Mark Stone speaks with a Tulsa resident
"Juneteenth means everything to me. Juneteenth is the place where black people can come and we can discuss and we can share," local Vickey Scott told me.
In Tulsa though, there is an added poignancy for the black community because of another event that many people really haven't heard of - the Tulsa Massacre.
In May 1921, the Greenwood district of Tulsa was booming. Known as Black Wall Street, it was a place where African Americans who had fled slavery in the Deep South had made successful lives.
Image: The aftermath of the Tulsa Massacre, during which mobs of white residents attacked black residents and businesses
But after an incident in which a 19-year-old black boy was accused of assaulting a 17-year-old white girl, a riot turned into a massacre with a mob of white men murdering as many as 300 African Americans.
It is America's worst single incident of racial violence and yet until recently it had been almost entirely airbrushed from history books.
Much of the district was destroyed and the survivors sent to internment camps on the city's edge.
"At least 300 died," Kavin Ross told me. His grandfather was among thousands whose businesses were destroyed in the massacre.
"I have no problem with the president coming here. It's just the attraction that he brings. He rallies, he dog whistles his base who are saying 'white power' and 'white lives matter' and 'build that wall', all that racist rhetoric. We don't need that here in Tulsa. We're just trying to heal," Mr Ross said.
Image: Trump supporters sell merchandise ahead of the rally
All these years on, the racial divide in Tulsa is still clear, so clear that locals say it is marked by the railway line which cuts across the city from west to east.
To this day, north Tulsa, dominated by the Greenwood district where the massacre happened, is the black neighbourhood. To the south it's white.
The street names in Greenwood reflect the struggles with Reconciliation Way and Martin Luther King Jnr Boulevard, a new name, unveiled in 2011.
But at the point where the road crosses the railway, Martin Luther King Jnr Boulevard ends. Agreement couldn't be reached with the predominantly white council to extend the street name south of the railway line.


news--2020-06-20--Coronavirus: Piers Corbyn among 23 people charged over protests held during lockdown

Jeremy Corbyn 's brother is among 23 people who have been charged in relation to protests held during the coronavirus lockdown .
Piers Corbyn , who is the elder brother of the former Labour leader , has been charged twice under the Coronavirus Regulations 2020 for attending demonstrations on 16 and 30 May , Met Police said .
The 73-year-old 's alleged offences relate to a central London demonstration against the government lockdown and another two weeks later following the death of George Floyd in the US .
Another 22 people have been charged in relation to protests on 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 6 June and 13 June , the force said .
The charges include breaking the government lockdown , assaulting emergency service workers , possession of Class A drugs and causing intentional harassment , alarm or distress .
On 16 May , 13 people were charged with breaking lockdown after protesters gathered across the country holding placards that said `` tell us the truth - no more fake pandemic '' and messages relating to 5G conspiracy theories and COVID-19 .
They come from London , Milton Keynes , Northampton and Doncaster and range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During protests in London on 1 June , only one person was charged - an 18-year-old homeless man called Brendon Cummins - for assaulting an emergency worker .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker In relation to Black Lives Matter protests in London on 6 June , two men were charged .
Christopher Scott , 28 , of Southwark , is accused of assaulting two emergency service workers and Orson Shandilya , 23 , of Harlesden , is charged with causing intentional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Class A drug .
Last weekend , when counter-demonstrations were held to `` protect statues '' of colonial figures and slavetraders called into question amid anti-racism protests , seven people were charged .
They include Andrew Banks , 28 , who was jailed for two weeks for outraging public decency after he was seen urinating next to a memorial to murdered police officer PC Keith Palmer in Westminster .
The other charges in relation to 13 June include violent disorder and criminal damage , with defendants from Sunderland , Hertfordshire , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson has urged people not to defy lockdown rules and attend any type of protests , as currently only groups of six people are allowed to gather by law .
On Friday , the UK 's coronavirus alert level was downgraded from four to three , which means health officials believe the virus in general circulation but transmission is no longer high or rising exponentially , and there could be a `` gradual relaxing of restrictions '' .

Jeremy Corbyn's brother is among 23 people who have been charged in relation to protests held during the coronavirus lockdown.
Piers Corbyn, who is the elder brother of the former Labour leader, has been charged twice under the Coronavirus Regulations 2020 for attending demonstrations on 16 and 30 May, Met Police said.
The 73-year-old's alleged offences relate to a central London demonstration against the government lockdown and another two weeks later following the death of George Floyd in the US.
Another 22 people have been charged in relation to protests on 16 May, 30 May, 1 June, 6 June and 13 June, the force said.
Image: Charges have been brought in relation to Black Lives Matter protests in London, as well as counter-demonstrations
The charges include breaking the government lockdown, assaulting emergency service workers, possession of Class A drugs and causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress.
On 16 May, 13 people were charged with breaking lockdown after protesters gathered across the country holding placards that said "tell us the truth - no more fake pandemic" and messages relating to 5G conspiracy theories and COVID-19.
They come from London, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Doncaster and range from 27 years old to 73.
During protests in London on 1 June, only one person was charged - an 18-year-old homeless man called Brendon Cummins - for assaulting an emergency worker.
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In relation to Black Lives Matter protests in London on 6 June, two men were charged.
Christopher Scott, 28, of Southwark, is accused of assaulting two emergency service workers and Orson Shandilya, 23, of Harlesden, is charged with causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress and possession of a Class A drug.
Image: A woman is pictured attending an anti-lockdown protest in Hyde Park, London, on 16 May
Last weekend, when counter-demonstrations were held to "protect statues" of colonial figures and slavetraders called into question amid anti-racism protests, seven people were charged.
They include Andrew Banks, 28, who was jailed for two weeks for outraging public decency after he was seen urinating next to a memorial to murdered police officer PC Keith Palmer in Westminster.
Image: A number of people have been charged in relation to counter-demonstrations held alongside anti-racism marches in London
Image: Andrew Banks, 28, admitted outraging public decency over this picture on 13 June
The other charges in relation to 13 June include violent disorder and criminal damage, with defendants from Sunderland, Hertfordshire, Walsall and east London.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people not to defy lockdown rules and attend any type of protests, as currently only groups of six people are allowed to gather by law.
On Friday, the UK's coronavirus alert level was downgraded from four to three, which means health officials believe the virus in general circulation but transmission is no longer high or rising exponentially, and there could be a "gradual relaxing of restrictions".


news--2020-06-20--Coronavirus: Australian state of Victoria reimposes restrictions after spike in cases

The Australian state of Victoria will reimpose tighter coronavirus restrictions after a spike in cases .
From Monday , there will be a stricter limit on the number of people allowed to meet up in public or visit another person 's home after 25 new cases of COVID-19 were reported overnight - the highest increase in two months - state Premier Daniel Andrews said .
The number of infections in Victoria , Australia 's second-most populous state , has increased by at least 10 for the fourth day in a row , sparking fears of a second spike .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ignoring restrictions by gathering in large groups and kissing and hugging others .
He told a news conference on Saturday : `` It is unacceptable that families anywhere in our state just because they want this to be over pretend that it is .
It is not over . ''
Brett Sutton , Victoria 's chief health officer , added : `` We are absolutely at risk of a second peak but we can get on top of it . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is responsible for around a quarter of Australia 's total reported 7,400 coronavirus cases .
While some of the country 's states and territories have reached zero active cases , Victoria has spiked to 116 .
New stricter measures will come into force on 22 June and stay in place until 12 July .
They will see the number of people allowed to gather in public reduced to 10 and those allowed to visit other people 's homes to just five .
Plans to open gyms , cinemas and theatres will still go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers will be limited to 20 .
State officials have pushed back plans to increase the number of people allowed in venues from 20 to 50 , with a review planned for 12 July .
Mr Andrews also warned that suburbs found to be viral hotspots could face stricter lockdowns .
The Australian Football League ( AFL ) called off a game scheduled to take place in Melbourne on Sunday after a player tested positive .
The AFL has recently restarted fixtures , playing in empty stadiums .
Australia has reported just 102 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low number on a global scale .

The Australian state of Victoria will reimpose tighter coronavirus restrictions after a spike in cases.
From Monday, there will be a stricter limit on the number of people allowed to meet up in public or visit another person's home after 25 new cases of COVID-19 were reported overnight - the highest increase in two months - state Premier Daniel Andrews said.
The number of infections in Victoria, Australia's second-most populous state, has increased by at least 10 for the fourth day in a row, sparking fears of a second spike.
Mr Andrews blamed the rise in cases on people ignoring restrictions by gathering in large groups and kissing and hugging others.
Image: Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews blamed people for ignoring the restrictions
He told a news conference on Saturday: "It is unacceptable that families anywhere in our state just because they want this to be over pretend that it is. It is not over."
Brett Sutton, Victoria's chief health officer, added: "We are absolutely at risk of a second peak but we can get on top of it."
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Victoria is responsible for around a quarter of Australia's total reported 7,400 coronavirus cases.
While some of the country's states and territories have reached zero active cases, Victoria has spiked to 116.
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New stricter measures will come into force on 22 June and stay in place until 12 July. They will see the number of people allowed to gather in public reduced to 10 and those allowed to visit other people's homes to just five.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:19 May: Kangaroos reclaim the streets in Australia
Plans to open gyms, cinemas and theatres will still go ahead in Victoria on Monday, but customers will be limited to 20.
State officials have pushed back plans to increase the number of people allowed in venues from 20 to 50, with a review planned for 12 July.
Mr Andrews also warned that suburbs found to be viral hotspots could face stricter lockdowns.
The Australian Football League (AFL) called off a game scheduled to take place in Melbourne on Sunday after a player tested positive. The AFL has recently restarted fixtures, playing in empty stadiums.
Australia has reported just 102 deaths related to COVID-19, a relatively low number on a global scale.


news--2020-06-20--Coronavirus: Trump campaign team hit by outbreak ahead of first rally

Six members of Donald Trump 's campaign team have tested positive for coronavirus ahead of his first election rally since lockdown , which will be attended by a maximum of 10,000 supporters .
While some parts of the world are experiencing a second COVID-19 spike , much of America is still ascending the first curve .
And this has led many to question the safety of a mass gathering in Tulsa , Oklahoma , even if social distancing and masks are encouraged .
These fears are unlikely to have been assuaged by a statement from Tim Murtaugh , communication director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the president was due to appear .
`` Per safety protocols , campaign staff are tested for COVID-19 before events , '' the statement said .
`` Six members of the advance team tested positive out of hundreds of tests performed , and quarantine procedures were immediately implemented .
`` No COVID-positive staffers or anyone in immediate contact will be at today 's rally or near attendees and elected officials .
`` As previously announced , all rally attendees are given temperature checks before going through security , at which point they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitiser . ''
Large crowds gathered hours before the president was due to appear at the BOK stadium , around midnight UK time .
Those in attendance were asked to agree to waive their rights to sue the Trump campaign should they catch coronavirus .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Oklahoma and the city of Tulsa are still experiencing a daily upward trend of cases .
At least 10,040 people have tested positive in the state and 368 people have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Here in Tulsa County in Oklahoma , today they reported their highest-ever number of cases .
`` And so with that backdrop , I think by any measure it is an unusual decision by Donald Trump and his team to hold the rally in the stadium . ''
He added : `` Some people here are wearing masks , but most people are not and on top of that , many are actually asking us why we are wearing masks - inferring that as part of the 'fake news ' we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus . ''
The American president suspended his early campaign rallies for the November election in April because of the pandemic .
But tweeting about tonight 's rally , he said : `` Big crowds and lines already forming in Tulsa .
My campaign has n't started yet .
It starts on Saturday night in Oklahoma ! ''
The BOK stadium has a capacity of 19,000 .
Organisers have said 10,000 people will be permitted to enter .
Sanitiser will be on offer as will masks , but they will not be compulsory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gather outside where they have been queuing since Wednesday .

Six members of Donald Trump's campaign team have tested positive for coronavirus ahead of his first election rally since lockdown, which will be attended by a maximum of 10,000 supporters.
While some parts of the world are experiencing a second COVID-19 spike, much of America is still ascending the first curve.
And this has led many to question the safety of a mass gathering in Tulsa, Oklahoma, even if social distancing and masks are encouraged.
These fears are unlikely to have been assuaged by a statement from Tim Murtaugh, communication director for the Donald Trump Campaign, hours before the president was due to appear.
Image: A member of the Oklahoma National Guard pictured outside the rally venue
"Per safety protocols, campaign staff are tested for COVID-19 before events," the statement said. "Six members of the advance team tested positive out of hundreds of tests performed, and quarantine procedures were immediately implemented.
"No COVID-positive staffers or anyone in immediate contact will be at today's rally or near attendees and elected officials.
"As previously announced, all rally attendees are given temperature checks before going through security, at which point they are given wristbands, facemasks and hand sanitiser."
Large crowds gathered hours before the president was due to appear at the BOK stadium, around midnight UK time.
Those in attendance were asked to agree to waive their rights to sue the Trump campaign should they catch coronavirus.
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Oklahoma and the city of Tulsa are still experiencing a daily upward trend of cases.
At least 10,040 people have tested positive in the state and 368 people have died.
Sky's Mark Stone said: "Here in Tulsa County in Oklahoma, today they reported their highest-ever number of cases.
"And so with that backdrop, I think by any measure it is an unusual decision by Donald Trump and his team to hold the rally in the stadium."
He added: "Some people here are wearing masks, but most people are not and on top of that, many are actually asking us why we are wearing masks - inferring that as part of the 'fake news' we are compounding what they see as a fake virus."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:46 The dual controversies of Trump's rally
The American president suspended his early campaign rallies for the November election in April because of the pandemic.
But tweeting about tonight's rally, he said: "Big crowds and lines already forming in Tulsa. My campaign hasn't started yet. It starts on Saturday night in Oklahoma!"
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:41 Juneteenth and the airbrushing of history
The BOK stadium has a capacity of 19,000. Organisers have said 10,000 people will be permitted to enter. Sanitiser will be on offer as will masks, but they will not be compulsory.
Many thousands more are expected to gather outside where they have been queuing since Wednesday.


news--2020-06-20--Coronavirus: Beijing to test all food and parcel delivery workers amid new spike in cases

Beijing will test all food and parcel delivery workers for coronavirus in an effort to control a new spike in cases .
Chinese officials are stepping up nucleic acid testing for couriers who work in Beijing after traces of COVID-19 were found on chopping boards at Xinfadi food market in the southwest of the city , state media said .
It comes after 200 new coronavirus cases were reported in the capital since June 11 in the biggest spike in infections since the previous peak in early February .
Officials have been testing people who work in catering and deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who live near the market .
But now nucelic acid testing , which involves taking a swab from the back of the throat , is being rolled out across all delivery workers , according to local reports .
A total of 2.3 million tests had been carried out across the city of 20 million people , Zhang Qiang , an official from Beijing 's municipal committee , said at a news conference , with more planned for next week .
Residents of 40 communities in the city are currently self-isolating at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Flights have been grounded and the Xinfadi food market has been shut down .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Workers at SF Express , China 's second biggest courier firm , arrived in batches at testing points in Beijing on Friday evening , Beijing News reported .
Food delivery firm Meituan Dianping confirmed that all of its riders in the city would be tested and those who had carried out deliveries in high-risk areas would be temporarily taken off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home for 14 days .
Customers will be able to view details on disinfection of the delivery package and their courier 's body temperature online , Meituan said .
Mainland China saw 27 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday , with four imported and the other local transmission reported in the northern Hebei province that surrounds Beijing .
There were no new deaths recorded on Friday , leaving the official death toll at 4,634 .

Beijing will test all food and parcel delivery workers for coronavirus in an effort to control a new spike in cases.
Chinese officials are stepping up nucleic acid testing for couriers who work in Beijing after traces of COVID-19 were found on chopping boards at Xinfadi food market in the southwest of the city, state media said.
It comes after 200 new coronavirus cases were reported in the capital since June 11 in the biggest spike in infections since the previous peak in early February.
Officials have been testing people who work in catering and deal with imported food, as well as those who live near the market.
But now nucelic acid testing, which involves taking a swab from the back of the throat, is being rolled out across all delivery workers, according to local reports.
Image: Nucleic acid testing is being rolled out further, with 2.3 million tests done so far
A total of 2.3 million tests had been carried out across the city of 20 million people, Zhang Qiang, an official from Beijing's municipal committee, said at a news conference, with more planned for next week.
Residents of 40 communities in the city are currently self-isolating at home to avoid any further spread, he added.
Flights have been grounded and the Xinfadi food market has been shut down.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
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Workers at SF Express, China's second biggest courier firm, arrived in batches at testing points in Beijing on Friday evening, Beijing News reported.
Food delivery firm Meituan Dianping confirmed that all of its riders in the city would be tested and those who had carried out deliveries in high-risk areas would be temporarily taken off duty, undergo tests and be quarantined at home for 14 days.
Image: Some communities are on lockdown and workers are being tested amid a new spike in cases
Customers will be able to view details on disinfection of the delivery package and their courier's body temperature online, Meituan said.
Mainland China saw 27 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, with four imported and the other local transmission
reported in the northern Hebei province that surrounds Beijing. There were no new deaths recorded on Friday, leaving the official death toll at 4,634.


news--2020-06-20--Black Parade: Beyonce drops surprise new track and launches directory of black-owned businesses

Beyonce has used a holiday marking the end of slavery to drop a surprise new song entitled Black Parade .
The Queen of Pop released the track on Juneteenth , on Friday , which celebrates the official end of slavery in the United States in 1865 .
Just before dropping the track Beyonce announced a project of the same name which provides an online directory of black-owned businesses ranging from fashion and art to food and drink .
On her website , she wrote : `` Happy Juneteenth Weekend !
I hope we continue to share joy and celebrate each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggle .
`` Please continue to remember our beauty , strength and power .
`` BLACK PARADE celebrates you , your voice and your joy and will benefit Black-owned small businesses .
`` Being Black is your activism .
Black excellence is a form of protest .
Black joy is your right . ''
Beyonce , from Houston , Texas , then released the song , co-written with her husband Jay Z , which is nearly five minutes long and is about black pride and calls for reparations for slavery .
She sings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South , I 'm going back where my roots ai n't watered down .
`` I ca n't forget my history is her-story , yeah .
We black , baby , that 's the reason why they always mad . ''
Later in the song , she adds : `` Need peace and reparations for my people . ''
In the bridge , she sings : `` We got rhythm , we got pride , we birth kings , we birth tribes . ''
The new track comes less than a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a white police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds , prompting worldwide anti-racism protests .
Beyonce , one of the world 's biggest and most influential artists , has been vocal throughout the protests , and also the coronavirus crisis .
In April , as more and more Americans died of the virus , she warned African-Americans were being disproportionately affected .
She demanded `` real justice '' for Mr Floyd and her BeyGood foundation donated to the coronavirus relief effort .
: : Listen to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The singer also joined the call for charges against officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor , who was shot dead in March by officers who burst into her Kentucky home .
On her website , under the new Black Parade project , she published a letter to the attorney general of Texas , Daniel Cameron , telling him he has to change the pattern of a black person being killed by police , followed by inaction and delays in the investigation .
Black Parade is Beyonce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to The Lion King companion album last year .
In April , she and rapper Megan Thee Stallion released a remix of the latter 's viral hit Savage .

Beyonce has used a holiday marking the end of slavery to drop a surprise new song entitled Black Parade.
The Queen of Pop released the track on Juneteenth, on Friday, which celebrates the official end of slavery in the United States in 1865.
Just before dropping the track Beyonce announced a project of the same name which provides an online directory of black-owned businesses ranging from fashion and art to food and drink.
Image: Beyonce wrote Black Parade with her husband, Jay Z
On her website, she wrote: "Happy Juneteenth Weekend! I hope we continue to share joy and celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle.
"Please continue to remember our beauty, strength and power.
"BLACK PARADE celebrates you, your voice and your joy and will benefit Black-owned small businesses.
"Being Black is your activism. Black excellence is a form of protest. Black joy is your right."
Beyonce, from Houston, Texas, then released the song, co-written with her husband Jay Z, which is nearly five minutes long and is about black pride and calls for reparations for slavery.
Image: Beyonce has called for 'real justice' for George Floyd. Pic: Shutterstock
She sings: "I'm going back to the South, I'm going back where my roots ain't watered down.
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"I can't forget my history is her-story, yeah. We black, baby, that's the reason why they always mad."
Later in the song, she adds: "Need peace and reparations for my people."
In the bridge, she sings: "We got rhythm, we got pride, we birth kings, we birth tribes."
Image: Breonna Taylor was killed by police officers who entered her home in March
The new track comes less than a month after African-American man George Floyd was killed after a white police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, prompting worldwide anti-racism protests.
Beyonce, one of the world's biggest and most influential artists, has been vocal throughout the protests, and also the coronavirus crisis.
In April, as more and more Americans died of the virus, she warned African-Americans were being disproportionately affected.
She demanded "real justice" for Mr Floyd and her BeyGood foundation donated to the coronavirus relief effort.
:: Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The singer also joined the call for charges against officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead in March by officers who burst into her Kentucky home.
On her website, under the new Black Parade project, she published a letter to the attorney general of Texas, Daniel Cameron, telling him he has to change the pattern of a black person being killed by police, followed by inaction and delays in the investigation.
Black Parade is Beyonce's first new solo music since she contributed to The Lion King companion album last year.
In April, she and rapper Megan Thee Stallion released a remix of the latter's viral hit Savage.


news--2020-04-29--Coronavirus: UK could have highest COVID-19 death toll in Europe, minister admits

The UK could end up with the highest death toll of people with coronavirus in Europe , a minister has acknowledged .
Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News it `` may well be '' the case that the death toll of people with COVID-19 in Britain eventually surpasses the totals seen in the likes of Italy , Spain and France .
`` We 've been on similar trajectories to France and Italy , '' he told Kay Burley @ Breakfast .
`` It may well be that we are , who knows , we do n't know that at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we just need to focus on managing this pandemic .
Getting things moving in the right direction , making sure that we can save lives , making sure we 've got capacity in the NHS to cope with this .
`` All of those things are being done .
People are working incredibly hard in the NHS to help people who are suffering from this virus .
`` That 's our focus now , not necessarily contemplating where we may or may not end up in terms of total deaths at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Department of Health show that a total of 21,678 people have died in UK hospitals after testing positive for the coronavirus .
As of Wednesday morning , there have been 23,660 deaths in France , 23,822 in Spain and 27,359 in Italy , according to Johns Hopkins University : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker But the true UK death toll will be much higher , as the daily Department of Health total does not include deaths in care homes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government will for the first time include these deaths in its daily total .
At the moment , there is an 11-day lag for the Office of National Statistics ' ( ONS ) data on the number of people who have died in care homes and their own homes after catching the virus .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the move at the daily coronavirus news conference on Monday .
The Department of Health and Social Care said figures dating back from early March up to 28 April would also be declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidence that the government will be able to meet its target of 100,000 daily COVID-19 tests by the end of this month .
From today , care home residents and staff , together with NHS patients and staff , can now get tested whether they have symptoms or not .
People over the age of 65 , plus anyone in their households , are also eligible , but only if they have symptoms .
Some 43,453 tests were carried out across the UK on Monday .
`` The capacity will be there and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be tested because we are widening this right out today so that anyone over the age of 65 , anyone working in a key industry can get a test , '' Mr Eustice said .
`` They just need to go online and book one . ''

The UK could end up with the highest death toll of people with coronavirus in Europe, a minister has acknowledged.
Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News it "may well be" the case that the death toll of people with COVID-19 in Britain eventually surpasses the totals seen in the likes of Italy, Spain and France.
"We've been on similar trajectories to France and Italy," he told Kay Burley@Breakfast.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:33 How many people are dying of COVID-19?
"It may well be that we are, who knows, we don't know that at the moment.
"For now, we just need to focus on managing this pandemic. Getting things moving in the right direction, making sure that we can save lives, making sure we've got capacity in the NHS to cope with this.
"All of those things are being done. People are working incredibly hard in the NHS to help people who are suffering from this virus.
"That's our focus now, not necessarily contemplating where we may or may not end up in terms of total deaths at the end of this."
The latest figures from the Department of Health show that a total of 21,678 people have died in UK hospitals after testing positive for the coronavirus.
As of Wednesday morning, there have been 23,660 deaths in France, 23,822 in Spain and 27,359 in Italy, according to Johns Hopkins University
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But the true UK death toll will be much higher, as the daily Department of Health total does not include deaths in care homes and the community.
Later on Wednesday, the government will for the first time include these deaths in its daily total.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:27 How good are masks at stopping virus spread?
At the moment, there is an 11-day lag for the Office of National Statistics' (ONS) data on the number of people who have died in care homes and their own homes after catching the virus.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the move at the daily coronavirus news conference on Monday.
The Department of Health and Social Care said figures dating back from early March up to 28 April would also be declared.
Meanwhile, Mr Eustice has expressed confidence that the government will be able to meet its target of 100,000 daily COVID-19 tests by the end of this month.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:17 Hancock announces expansion of COVID-19 testing
From today, care home residents and staff, together with NHS patients and staff, can now get tested whether they have symptoms or not.
People over the age of 65, plus anyone in their households, are also eligible, but only if they have symptoms.
Some 43,453 tests were carried out across the UK on Monday.
"The capacity will be there and we are confident that those 100,000 people will be tested because we are widening this right out today so that anyone over the age of 65, anyone working in a key industry can get a test," Mr Eustice said.
"They just need to go online and book one."