Officials say visas not yet approved for World Health Organization delegation due to visit WuhanCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageChina has blocked the arrival of a team from the World Health Organization investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, claiming that their visas had not yet been approved even as some members of the group were on their way.The...

News narrows chances of hitting goal of protecting more than 13 million of most vulnerable people by 15 FebruaryCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageHealth officials have warned that supply “delays” mean the Covid vaccination programme is only set to hit its target pace in the second half of this month, narrowing the chances of hitting the goal of protecting more than...

The prime minister aims to be credible rather than accountable in a time of Covid. That’s a mistakeIt was during the Vietnam war that the euphemism “credibility gap” was coined to describe the Lyndon Johnson administration. The phrase was used instead of saying what everyone thought – that the US government was systematically lying. The president’s team reasoned that to restore...

Lockdown in bad weather with little natural light seems daunting but there are routines and techniques that can help usWith new national lockdowns coming into force across the UK, we take a look at how to cope – from staying connected to getting out in the open. Continue reading...

At the age of 58, after decades of working as a teacher, Pamela Catcheside retrained as a researcher, transforming a lifelong passion into a careerName: Pamela CatchesideAge: 80 Continue...

Symbolic #WeatherCorrection is part of campaign for inclusivity in societyMove over, Siegfried. Ahmet is on the way.A journalists’ group has named a low pressure system bringing low temperatures, dark clouds and snow to Germany after the boy’s name of Turkish origin in an effort to increase the visibility of the country’s increasingly diverse population. Continue...

Williamson to tell MPs he has asked Ofqual to come up with plan to replace GCSEs and A-levelsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageExams in core subjects may still go ahead in England this summer despite the extended lockdown, according to plans being considered by Gavin Williamson.The education secretary is due to make a statement in the Commons on Wednesday after the...

First minister links easing of coronavirus curbs to vaccine plan but says there is still uncertainty over deliveriesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNicola Sturgeon has warned there is no certainty the lockdown across mainland Scotland will be lifted at the end of January, or that schools will reopen.The first minister said there was no definitive answer on when...

Reports say that arriving will have to produce a negative test but hauliers will be exemptCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageInternational travellers entering the UK are to face new restrictions, a senior government minister has indicated, amid reports people arriving from abroad will be required to produce a recent negative coronavirus test.Details of the plans are due...

The ‘carbon dividend’ is so elegant that it seems too good to be true. Governments should make it a post-pandemic priorityOver the past year – when societies around the world have had to grapple with their greatest challenge in decades – climate change hasn’t been at the top of the agenda. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone away. Far from it – in fact, we just experienced the hottest...

Survey finds medics have concerns about scrapping of second appointmentsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDoctors are having their second dose of the Covid vaccine delayed, amid concern from medical organisations about the policy to widen the gap between injections and the threat to medics and their patients if they are not fully protected.A survey of doctors across the...

We speak again to victims of the virus on the slow process of recovery, and the many setbacks they have endured since catching the diseaseAs weeks have turned to months, and months roll into a year, the shadow cast by Covid-19 continues to lengthen – not least for many of those who have survived the disease.Earlier this year, some of those who caught the virus early in the pandemic told the...

From finally seeing the back of Donald Trump to being in a football stadium – the new year is full of promiseYou probably found a few things to enjoy about last year: you rediscovered your bicycle, perhaps, or your family, or even both, and learned to love trees. And don’t forget the clapping. Plus some brilliant scientists figured out how to make a safe and effective vaccine for a brand new...

Concerns over privacy as TraceTogether scheme is used by almost 80% of the nation’s population Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSingapore has announced its police will be able to use data obtained by its coronavirus contact-tracing technology for criminal investigations, a decision likely to increase privacy concerns around the system.The technology, deployed as both...