Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 5 Oct 2020

1. UK reports 22,961 new cases of coronavirus

The UK reported 22,961 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday – a figure that Public Health England has claimed is “artificially high” due to case reporting backlogs. Meanwhile, global cases have passed 35 million, now standing at 35,016,152 according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker. A total of 1,034,974 people have died around the world.

2. ‘Irresponsible’ Trump briefly leaves his hospital

President Trump has been driven past his supporters outside the Walter Reed Medical Center, before returning to hospital. The drive-by outing was criticised as “irresponsible” by a physician at Walter Reed and CNN said it “highlighted the President’s willingness to endanger staff and showed he does not comprehend the seriousness of the virus”.

3. Burglars to be tagged day and night under new plans

Burglars released from prison will be fitted with GPS tags so they can be tracked 24/7, says the policing minister. Kit Malthouse said: “In simple terms, it can tell all police forces whether a former burglar has been in their area and they can match it up with burglary data. Fifty per cent of burglaries are done by former burglars. It should be a major deterrent to them going out and plying their previous trade.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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.

Sign up

4. Azerbaijan says Armenia launched a rocket attack

Azerbaijan has accused Armenia of a rocket attack, intensifying tensions between the two countries. At least one civilian was killed and four more injured in the attack on Sunday on Ganja, Azerbaijan’s second largest city, 100km (60 miles) north of the Karabakh capital, Stepanakert. The latest clash brings the two former Soviet republics a step closer to outright war after eight days of fighting.

5. Strict measures included in planned three-tier lockdown

Leaked government documents suggest a new three-tier lockdown system is being planned for England, including the closure of pubs and a ban on all social contact outside of household groups. The Guardian says the draft traffic-light-style plan reveals tougher measures that could be imposed by the government locally or nationally if Covid cases are not brought under control.

6. Uber rival Ola banned from operating in London

An emerging rival to Uber has been banned from London’s transport regulator from operating in the capital. Transport for London told taxi app Ola, which has only operated in the UK since February, that it had been deemed not “fit and proper” to hold a licence. Helen Chapman, TfL’s director of licensing, regulation and charging, said: “Our duty as a regulator is to ensure passenger safety.”

7. Pope Francis says pandemic shows capitalism’s failings

Pope Francis says capitalism has failed during the Covid-19 crisis. Outlining his vision for a post-pandemic world, the Pope said: “The marketplace by itself cannot resolve every problem, however much we are asked to believe this dogma of neoliberal faith.” He added that free-market capitalism “reproduces itself” by resorting to the magic theories of “spillover” or “trickle”.

8. National poll puts Trump 14 points behind Joe Biden

A new national poll has put Donald Trump 14 points behind Joe Biden with less than a month until the election day. The NBC/Wall Street Journal survey indicating a 53-39% advantage for the Democratic party’s nominee ahead of the final weeks of the campaign. The polling was carried out immediately after last Tuesday’s raucous first presidential debate in Cleveland.

9. Queen praises role of trusted media news sources

The Queen has spoken of the need for trusted news sources during the coronavirus pandemic. The monarch said that “having trusted, reliable sources of information, particularly at a time when there are so many sources competing for our attention, is vital”. She added that the crisis has “demonstrated what an important public service the established news media provides, both nationally and regionally”.

10. William enraged Harry by speaking to Earl Spencer

Prince William infuriated Prince Harry by asking Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer to step in and stop him rushing into marriage to Meghan Markle, according to a new book. Battle of the Brothers claims that Harry did not blame his uncle for the intervention but was furious with his elder brother for pulling other family members into the row.