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Two-metre distancing restriction could be scrapped in time for new school year

Boris Johnson is expected to make a decision on reducing the two-metre social distancing restriction to allow schools in England to reopen fully by September.

The Prime Minister is reportedly looking at following World Health Organisation advice and cutting the distance people should remain apart from two metres to one.

Such guidance aimed at stopped the spread of coronavirus is already followed by countries including France, Denmark and Singapore.

Trump rejects calls to rename bases that honour Confederate officers

Donald Trump has said he will "not even consider" changing the name of Army bases named for Confederate officers, as anti-racism protests continue across the country.

The president made the comments days after Defence Secretary Mark Esper indicated he was open to discussing such changes and in the wake of the funeral of black man George Floyd.

Mr Floyd’s death at the hands of a white police officer prompted calls for changes to police practices, an end to racial prejudices and sparked protests all over the world.

Home Secretary leads condemnation of 'sickening' attack on police in London

A "sickening" attack on police officers who stopped to help an alleged assault victim in north-east London has been condemned by the Home Secretary.

Video shared on social media showed an officer pinned down on the ground and being kicked, while his colleague is pushed when she tries to intervene.

Several men, including one with a baseball bat, are seen surrounding the officers swearing, shouting and filming on their phones, with one even taking a selfie during the assault.

Both officers suffered minor injuries in the incident in Hackney at around 3.30pm yesterday.

Watson speaks out amid transgender row over JK Rowling tweets

Emma Watson has become the latest figure to speak out in support of transgender people after author JK Rowling sparked controversy with her comments about gender.

She joined fellow Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe by wading into the row, which followed series of controversial tweets from Rowling over the weekend.

Watson said on Twitter: "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are.”

It comes after Rowling hit back at criticism of her comments on transgender women, saying she spoke out because she had been sexually assaulted and suffered from domestic abuse.

Marmite shortage as pub closures lead to scarcity of brewers yeast

Marmite has been forced to temporarily stop producing large jars of spread because pub closures indirectly resulted in a scarcity of brewers yeast.

The spread, made with yeast extract, is now only being produced in a 250g size jar as a result of brewers' yeast being more difficult to get hold of amid the pandemic.

Brewers slowed and stalled production when pubs were forced to shut in an attempt to slow the infection rate of Covid-19.

On this day...

1509: Henry VIII married his sister-in-law, Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon, the first of his six wives.

1952: English cricketer Denis Compton hit his 100th century.

1955: Some 82 spectators were killed when a car skidded off the track during the Le Mans 24-hour race.

1975: The first oil was pumped ashore from the North Sea Argyll oil fields.

1990: It was reported that divorce was costing Britain £4 million a day in legal and welfare payments.

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