Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 3 March 2021
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
- 1. Sunak to extend furlough
- 2. Meghan ‘faced bullying claim’
- 3. Parents ‘blackmailed’ over tests
- 4. Pressure grows on Sturgeon
- 5. Free trip to Moon on offer
- 6. China faces new Uighurs allegation
- 7. Parton sings for her jab
- 8. Pontins blocked Irish names
- 9. Texas to lift mask rule
- 10. Soho locals say no to al fresco
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. Sunak to extend furlough
The chancellor is set to extend the furlough scheme until the end of September in his Budget speech today. Rishi Sunak will say the scheme will help millions through “the challenging months ahead”. However, Labour said the support schemes should have been extended “months ago”. Bridget Phillipson, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said Sunak has focused on “getting his moment in the sun rather than protecting jobs and livelihoods”.
Spring budget 2021: predictions and talking points
2. Meghan ‘faced bullying claim’
Royal aides say the Duchess of Sussex faced a bullying complaint from one of her closest advisers during her time at Kensington Palace. The complaint claimed that Meghan drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member, says The Times. A spokesman for the Sussexes said they are the victims of a calculated smear campaign.
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.
Why the Oprah interview is ‘final straw’ for the royals
3. Parents ‘blackmailed’ over tests
Parents say they have been “blackmailed” by schools into giving consent for Covid tests after being told their children will be banned from face-to-face lessons if they refuse. They say they are “gobsmacked” after headteachers wrote to explain that any pupils who do not agree to take lateral flow tests at the start of term will be segregated from their peers. The Department for Education says the tests are voluntary.
Everything we know about schools reopening
4. Pressure grows on Sturgeon
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is under renewed pressure to answer allegations that she misled parliament after the publication of previously hidden legal advice and new witness evidence. She is expected to appear today at an inquiry looking into the mishandling of harassment complaints against her predecessor, Alex Salmond. Sturgeon denies any wrongdoing.
Four things we learned from Salmond’s ‘explosive allegations’
5. Free trip to Moon on offer
A Japanese billionaire has invited eight members of the public to join him for a free trip around the moon on Elon Musk’s SpaceX flight. “I want people from all kinds of backgrounds to join,” said Yusaku Maezawa in a video on Twitter. He says the successful applicants will advance “whatever activity” they are in to “help other people and greater society in some way”, and be willing to support other crew members who share similar aspirations”.
6. China faces new Uighurs allegation
China’s transfer of hundreds of thousands of Uighurs in Xinjiang to new jobs often far from home is leading to a thinning out of their populations, according to a study. The BBC says the research shows that the policy involves a “high risk of coercion” and is designed to assimilate minorities by changing their lifestyles and thinking. Beijing says the transfers are designed to raise incomes and alleviate chronic poverty.
Will other nations join US in accusing China of ‘genocide’
7. Parton sings for her jab
Dolly Parton has been given a Covid-19 vaccine after urging others to follow her example by adapting the lyrics to one of her hit songs, Jolene. “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I'm begging of you, please don't hesitate,” sang the 75-year-old in a video before receiving the Moderna shot at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee yesterday. Parton has donated $1m (£716,000) to the centre.
Podcast: is Dolly Parton having a millennial moment?
8. Pontins blocked Irish names
The holiday firm Pontins says it will change its working practices after it was revealed that it had a blacklist of Irish surnames it used to prevent bookings for its holiday parks from Gypsies and Travellers. The Equality and Human Rights Commission said the names included Boyle, Keefe, Gallagher, O'Donnell, McGuiness, Murphy, and O'Reilly. The Traveller Movement charity said the Pontins policy was “truly shocking”.
9. Texas to lift mask rule
Texas will lift its requirement to wear masks and allow businesses to reopen at full capacity next week. “It is now time to open Texas 100%,” said governor Greg Abbott, a Republican. The move puts the state at odds with the position of US President Joe Biden, who has said coronavirus restrictions are still necessary. Michigan, Louisiana and Mississippi have also dropped laws requiring masks.
Has the US ever had coronavirus under control?
10. Soho locals say no to al fresco
Soho residents are protesting against plans to revive alfresco dining in the West End, complaining that it will be too noisy and they will be unable to park on the road. Last summer, the streets of the West End resembled European capital city pavements, says the Daily Telegraph, with diners sat outside and traffic diverted away from busy restaurant streets. The Soho Society has complained that residents have not been consulted.
How the pandemic will change city life forever
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
-
Why the Roman Empire is suddenly everywhere online
The Explainer It fell more than 1,500 years ago — so why is it dominating social media?
By Justin Klawans Published
-
How climate change is going to change the insurance industry
The Explainer Some regions will soon be 'uninsurable'
By Devika Rao Published
-
TV to watch in October, from 'Loki' to 'The Fall of the House of Usher'
The Explainer Celebrate spooky season with some eerie streaming shows
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 26 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 25, 2023
Daily Briefing GOP leaders pressure far-right holdouts to help prevent a shutdown, Hollywood writers reach tentative deal to end strike, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 24, 2023
Daily Briefing Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenian population to leave region amid fears of persecution, Atlantic coast remains under flood warnings from Ophelia, and more
By Justin Klawans 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