Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 7 Jul 2020

1. Boris Johnson sparks anger with care home ‘slap in face’

Care leaders, unions and MPs have condemned Boris Johnson after he accused care homes of failing to follow proper procedures during the coronavirus pandemic. Nadra Ahmed, chair of the National Care Association, said the comments were “a huge slap in the face for a sector that looks after a million vulnerable people, employs 1.6 million care workers and puts £45bn into the economy every year”.

Behind closed doors: coronavirus crisis in care homes

2. China warns Britain not to make it an enemy

China’s ambassador has warned Britain that it will “have to bear the consequences” of making an enemy of the country. After reports that the government might remove Huawei from the 5G network, Liu Xiaoming said: “I do hope the British government will make the decision in the best interests, not only in China’s interests, not only in the interests of UK-China co-operation, but also in the interests of the UK itself.”

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Huawei banned: the risks and benefits of Chinese 5G tech

3. Harry calls for reckoning with Commonwealth past

Prince Harry says people must be aware of “institutional racism” to help right the wrongs of “hundreds of years gone by”. Speaking with the Duchess of Sussex to a group of young Commonwealth leaders, he said: “When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past. It’s not going to be easy and in some cases it’s not going to be comfortable.”

Should Britain topple slavery-linked statues?

4. Pubs close after customers test positive for Covid-19

Three pubs in England have closed after customers tested positive for coronavirus just days after the reopening at the weekend. The Lighthouse Kitchen and Carvery in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, said it was “slowly” working through a list of customers who had left details at the weekend. The other pubs are the Fox and Hounds in Batley, West Yorkshire, and the Village Home Pub in Alverstoke, Hampshire.

Coronavirus: what will the UK’s post-lockdown rules be?

5. First charges laid under new Hong Kong security laws

A 23-year-old man has become the first person to be charged under Hong Kong’s new security legislation. Tong Ying-kit was charged with terrorism and inciting secession after he allegedly drove a motorbike into a group of police officers. The new law, imposed last week following anti-government protests in Hong Kong, outlaws all activities the government deems to be secessionist, subversive or terrorist.

Reaction: how China’s new security law ‘crushes Hong Kong dissent’

6. Face-to-face GP appointments ‘coming to an end’

The Royal College of General Practitioners says there is a “compelling case” for all patients to be assessed online or over the phone before a doctor decides whether they need to come in to the surgery. During the coronavirus pandemic, the proportion of face-to-face appointments has dropped from 70% to 23%. The number of family doctors has fallen in recent years.

7. Former MP sang ‘I’m a naughty Tory’ after alleged assault

A former Conservative MP chased a woman around his kitchen singing “I’m a naughty Tory” after sexually assaulting her, a court has heard. Charlie Elphicke is alleged to have invited the woman to his home for a drink before groping and trying to kiss her on his sofa. The woman said he asked whether she liked “lace and leather”.

8. Government to impose ban on hunting trophies

The government will press for a ban on the import of hunting trophies, according to The Daily Telegraph. A source close to the PM said: “It cannot be right that endangered and defenceless animals should be shot for pleasure and their mortal remains stuffed on the mantel pieces of this country.” Last year’s Conservative election manifesto included a pledge to end the import of endangered animal parts.

Prince William criticised for justifying trophy hunting

9. Former Melania Trump aide to publish ‘explosive’ memoir

A former senior aide to Melania Trump, the US president’s wife, has written an “explosive” memoir revealing details of her 15-year friendship with the first lady. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff was appointed shortly after Donald Trump won the 2016 election, but says she was “thrown under the bus” after claims surfaced that her firm had received $26m in payments to help plan Trump’s inauguration ceremony.

10. Woman charged over false Central Park allegation

A white woman who falsely accused an African American man of threatening her life after he asked her to leash her dog in Central Park, New York, has been charged with filing a false report. Amy Cooper, 41, was filmed telling the man she would tell the police an African American man was threatening her life - an accusation that was not true. The video clip went viral.