Lord Browne of Madingley, the former BP boss, is to step down early as the UK chairman of Huawei Technologies as it faces a government ban on involvement in the UK’s 5G infrastructure. Sky News has learnt that Lord Browne gave two months’ notice of his resignation in the last few days, meaning he will
The United Arab Emirates has postponed to July 17 the launch of its mission to Mars due to weather conditions at the launch site in Japan, the UAE government communications office said on Tuesday. The UAE’s Hope Probe was due to set off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center at 12:51am UAE time on Wednesday (02:21
Contact tracers in England have been locked out of their work accounts this morning, preventing them from reaching people who could have contracted coronavirus, Sky News understands. A Tier 2 COVID-19 contact tracer has told Sky News that anyone whose Amazon Web Services (AWS) account was activated on 13 May has been unable to log
The UK’s budget watchdog has revised sharply higher its projections for the cost of the government’s response to the coronavirus crisis and warned the country remains on track for its worst economic slump in 300 years. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said it now expected the chancellor’s support programmes for the economy – part-bolstered
Boris Johnson has ordered all Huawei technology to be stripped out of the UK’s 5G network by 2027. In a major U-turn, the prime minister also banned the purchase of any new 5G equipment from the Chinese tech giant from the end of this year. The government acknowledged the move would delay the roll-out of
China has accused the US of “stirring up tension” after America’s secretary of state said it would take a tougher stance on Beijing’s “bullying” in the South China Sea. Territorial disputes over small island chains in the region have been going on for years between China and neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines and
After sending humans into orbit and landing a probe on the Moon, China is aiming for another milestone in its space ambitions with the launch of a Mars rover next week. China is among a trio of nations, with the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, sending a mission to the Red Planet this
7:00 AM ET All 22 teams participating in the NBA season restart have arrived at Walt Disney World, cleared the initial quarantine period and begun practicing on courts set up in converted ballrooms. Players have checked into their temporary homes at one of three resort locations and have been introduced to the meal service and
A body found in a California lake is that of Glee star Naya Rivera, police say. The 33-year-old went missing after renting a boat on Lake Piru, northwest of Los Angeles, with her four-year-old son last Wednesday. The Ventura County Sheriff’s office said they are “confident” the body they found on Monday morning is that
Face coverings must be worn in shops and supermarkets in England from Friday 24 July, Boris Johnson has announced. Enforcement will be carried out by police – not retail staff – and anyone failing to wear a face covering while shopping will be subject to a fine of up to £100, or £50 if paid
For employers and employees these are challenging and confusing days. Challenging because the UK is on the brink of an historic recession. Thousands of business owners are uncertain of their future viability, and more than nine million workers are wondering if they will be among the millions left unemployed when the government stops paying their
Coronavirus infections could grow “out of control” in the UK with a second spike leading to 120,000 deaths in a “reasonable worst-case scenario”, ministers have been warned. The forecast counts the number of people who could die in hospitals before next June and comes from a report commissioned by Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief
The British government is expected to take a new and final decision on the future 5G network today, further restricting the involvement of the Chinese telecoms firm Huawei. Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the National Security Council later before the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden makes a statement to parliament. An original decision, made
Social care workers do not qualify for the government’s new health and care visa under the UK’s post-Brexit immigration system, Downing Street has confirmed. Home Secretary Priti Patel has unveiled details of how the UK’s new points-based system will operate when it comes into effect on 1 January next year, after EU freedom of movement
Katie Price has said her son Harvey is in intensive care in hospital. Eighteen-year-old Harvey, who is partially blind, has Prader-Willi syndrome, autism, and learning and behavioural difficulties as a result of a rare genetic disorder. In a message to her 1.9 million Twitter followers on Sunday night, Price wrote: “I can confirm that Harvey
Ireland may bring in tougher measures to ensure people stick to quarantine rules after reports of US travellers hitting the tourist trail hours after landing. The 14-day period was introduced in April, and in May travellers were required to give the address where they are isolating. But over the weekend there was anger on Twitter