Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 8 Jun 2020
- 1. Minneapolis to dismantle its police department
- 2. Slave trader statue toppled during anti-racism protests
- 3. Quarantine rules come into force in the UK
- 4. US officially demands that the UK hands over Prince Andrew
- 5. Isolated Covid-19 victims not found for weeks after death
- 6. Labour disputes Matt Hancock’s claim on testing
- 7. New York Times opinion editor quits amid furore
- 8. UK fears Barnier has lost his grip on fishing
- 9. Downing Street plans new laws on foreign takeovers
- 10. White House election could end special relationship with UK
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
1. Minneapolis to dismantle its police department
Minneapolis City Council has pledged to dismantle the local police department. Nine of 13 councillors said a “new model of public safety” would be created amid nationwide protests sparked by George Floyd’s death last month. Meanwhile, thousands are expected to gather today for a public viewing of Floyd’s body in Houston, his home city in Texas before he moved to Minnesota.
2. Slave trader statue toppled during anti-racism protests
Thousands of people attended largely peaceful anti-racism demonstrations in cities across the UK at the weekend. In Bristol, Black Lives Matters protesters pulled down a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston and pushed it into Bristol Harbour. Boris Johnson claimed the weekend’s protests were “subverted by thuggery” after some demonstrators clashed with police.
George Floyd: how the US race protests spread around the world
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. Quarantine rules come into force in the UK
Quarantine rules requiring all people arriving in the UK to self-isolate for 14 days have come into effect. From today, people arriving by plane, ferry or train - including UK nationals - will have to provide an address where they will self-isolate and face fines of up to £1,000 if they do not follow the rules. Home Secretary Priti Patel said the laws are designed “to prevent a second wave” of coronavirus.
What are the UK’s quarantine rules - and why are they so controversial?
4. US officially demands that the UK hands over Prince Andrew
The US has formally demanded that the UK hands over Prince Andrew to be questioned over his links to his billionaire sex offender friend Jeffrey Epstein. The Sun says the US Department of Justice bypassed Buckingham Palace in a move that means Andrew, who “categorically denies” any wrongdoing, could now be forced to appear in a UK court as a witness within months.
Can Prince Andrew be subpoenaed in Jeffrey Epstein case?
5. Isolated Covid-19 victims not found for weeks after death
People dying at home alone of Covid-19 have sometimes not been found for up to two weeks, say doctors. In some cases victims of the disease have gone undetected for so long that their bodies have started to decompose. Campaigners for the elderly say the news shows the vulnerability of isolated older people living on their own.
Coronavirus: is loneliness a hidden lockdown killer?
6. Labour disputes Matt Hancock’s claim on testing
Matt Hancock’s claims that the government hit its target of testing all care workers and elderly residents by 6 June has been disputed. The health secretary said tests had now been offered to every care home for over-65s or those with dementia, with kits delivered to nearly 9,000 locations. However, Labour said the goal had been missed and the government had been “too slow to act”.
Coronavirus: behind the UK government’s testing strategy
7. New York Times opinion editor quits amid furore
The opinion editor of the New York Times has resigned amid a row over an article by a Republican senator calling for military forces to be sent to deal with anti-racism protests. James Bennet stepped down after Tom Cotton's article “Send in the Troops” caused a revolt in the newsroom. The Arkansas senator had called for “an overwhelming show of force”.
8. UK fears Barnier has lost his grip on fishing
The UK fears that EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has lost his grip on fishing discussions, diminishing hope of progress towards a trade and security deal with the EU. Although Barnier had been expected to announce a compromise proposal on access to British waters last week, he was blocked at the last minute by member states with large fishing communities.
Post-Brexit trade talks: what each side wants
9. Downing Street plans new laws on foreign takeovers
Boris Johnson is to announce new laws to prevent foreign takeovers that pose a risk to national security. The prime minister is calling for legislation to make it mandatory for British companies to report attempted takeovers that could cause security risks. The Times says the move comes as concern grows about the influence of China.
10. White House election could end special relationship with UK
The UK’s special relationship with the US may end after the forthcoming White House election, some of the UK’s most senior retired diplomats and Conservative foreign policy specialists have concluded. A victory for Donald Trump would be a “challenge” to relations, they say. Meanwhile if the Democrat Joe Biden wins, Washington may view the EU rather than the UK as its primary partner.
The future of the UK’s ‘special relationship’ with the US
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 24 September 2023
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
By The Week Staff Published
-
Crossword: September 24, 2023
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: September 24, 2023
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 24 September 2023
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 22, 2023
Daily Briefing Zelenskyy visits Washington as Biden unveils more Ukraine aid, Rupert Murdoch steps down at Fox and News Corp., and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 21, 2023
Daily Briefing Biden extends temporary protections to 470,000 Venezuelans, Republicans grill Garland on Biden and Trump investigations, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
Woman reunited with egg she signed in 1951
It Wasn't All Bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 20, 2023
Daily Briefing Zelenskyy, Biden urge UN members to oppose Russian aggression, hardline Republicans block spending bill as shutdown looms, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 19, 2023
Daily Briefing Iran, US swap prisoners in a complex deal, Canada accuses India of role in Sikh leader's assassination, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 18, 2023
Daily Briefing Protesters call for ending fossil fuel ahead of UN meetings, Trump doesn't 'even think' about going to jail, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 15, 2023
Daily Briefing A grand jury indicts Hunter Biden on gun charges, House defense spending bill stalls as shutdown looms, and more
By Harold Maass Published