News Round-Up

• “Daily Covid cases and hospitalisations spike 26% in a week” – Another 89,717 infections were confirmed in the U.K. overnight, Government dashboard data show, up 26% on the previous week and nearly double the number a fortnight ago, reports the Mail.
• “Map reveals how Covid cases are rising in every borough of England” – Government figures showed all 149 local authorities recorded an uptick in infections in the week to March 13th compared to the previous seven-day spell, reports the Mail.
• “AstraZeneca set to abandon push for U.S. vaccine approval” – The company has been in talks with U.S. regulators for months, the Telegraph reports.
• “Sajid Javid hints millions will be eligible for fourth (or fifth) jabs” – Sajid Javid said last night over-75s could be offered another Covid jab in the autumn, and that younger age groups could be called forward for a fourth Covid shot at the same time, reports the Mail.
• “WHO warns increasing Covid cases are just the ‘tip of the iceberg’” – The WHO is warning that a recent increase in global Covid cases is just the start of what could be another virus surge, this time fuelled by the more infectious ‘stealth’ variant, reports the Mail.
• “China risks collapsing the world economy as its Zero Covid strategy falls apart” – Between war in Ukraine and Beijing’s shutdowns, investors don’t know what to worry about the most, writes Ben Wright in the Telegraph.
• “How Putin spread fake news about fracking and branded drillers ‘as bad as paedos’” – In just six months Russia Today ran scores of anti-shale stories, reports the Sun.
• “Why Boris can’t blame rising energy prices on Ukraine” – Britain’s energy prices were skyrocketing before any economic sanctions were issued, with the energy crunch, exacerbated by global economies coming back online after lockdowns, seeing Ofgem hike April’s energy price cap by 54%, writes Kate Andrews in the Spectator.
• “Blow for Boris Johnson as he walks away empty-handed from Middle East talks” – The Prime Minister had hoped to secure an oil export agreement with Saudi Arabia and UAE in a bid to reduce Britain’s reliance on Russia’s gas supply, reports the Telegraph.
• “Britain faces double-digit inflation for first time in 40 years” – The Bank of England raised interest rates again amid fears the rate of inflation will increase to around 8% in the coming months – or even hit double digits, reports the Mail.
• “Why York University de-platformed me” – “Supposedly, I am a safety threat,” says Julie Bindel in UnHerd.
• “Hospital told police patient was not raped because alleged attacker was transgender” – Assault was confirmed through CCTV and witnesses despite previous denials, Lords told, as debate on single-sex wards policy continues, the Telegraph reports.
• “The soft censorship of the Online Harms Bill” – Why hasn’t the Government realised that this bill will unshackle rather than restrain these companies? It needs to re-examine the proposed legislation and stop seeing online harm purely from the point of view of protecting children from damaging internet content, says the Spectator in a leading article.
• “Defending journalism” – The Mail welcomes Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries’ promise of changes to the Online Safety Bill: there will be notification before any material is taken down; there will be a right of appeal; and the material concerned will not be removed until the appeal is completed.
• “There’s nothing woke about online safety” – The Bill is about safeguarding children and the vulnerable, not protecting adults from being offended online, argues Nadine Dorries in the Telegraph.
• “‘Schools are transitioning pupils without parents’ knowledge’ MPs told” – Conservative MP Miriam Cates claims parents are worried their children are being “transitioned without their knowledge” as Minister Robin Walker said schools will continue to teach LGBT content, reports the Mail.
• “When woke becomes racist: publishing’s insidious pigeonholing of black writers” – Many publishers thoughtlessly trumpeting diversity are reducing their writers to racial stereotypes, writes Claire Allfree in the Telegraph.
• “Teaching of race ideology in schools is ‘absolutely terrifying’, warns minister” – Kemi Badenoch, the Equalities Minister, says Critical Race Theory should have no place in lessons as she unveils No.10’s race strategy, reports the Telegraph.
• “Jacinda accused of dividing NZ with ‘white guilt’ school lessons” – New Zealand will introduce a new history curriculum in schools encouraging teachers and students to think more critically about British colonialism and the ongoing impact on Māori communities, reports the Mail.
• “Putting history in the dock is not the answer” – It holds us back if we use racism to explain all ethnic minority disadvantage and lets those really responsible off the hook, writes Kemi Badenoch in the Mail.
• “Zelensky urges Germany to tear down the new ‘Wall’ in Europe that ‘is growing bigger with every Russian bomb’ and accuses Berlin of putting its economy first in emotional address to parliament” – Appearing on a screen in his trademark khaki t-shirt and dark rings under his eyes, Zelensky was welcomed by MPs in the Bundestag with a standing ovation, reports the Mail.
• “Germany and Italy among nations trying to block more Russian sanctions” – The EU is beginning to split into “three sides” as Germany is accused of “openly putting the brakes on sanctions” amid concern about the impact on its own economy, reports the Mail.
• “President Zelensky restates red lines and insists Ukraine keeps land” – The Kremlin had drafted a proposed agreement with a list of 15 demands which insisted that Ukraine recognise the annexation of Crimea and the independence of Donbass, but Zelensky is having none of it, reports the Mail.

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