Communication solution

Philip Jansen, the chief executive of BT Group, gave boardroom colleagues an ultimatum over his own future that led to the departure this week of the company's chairman, Jan du Plessis. Sky News has learnt that Mr Jansen told fellow directors of the telecoms giant over a period of several months that he had become frustrated with the speed at which BT was taking key strategic decisions. The BT chief, who joined in 2019, indicated that he was prepared to resign unless Mr du Plessis was replaced by a chairman who could accelerate the pace of change at the former state monopoly, according to several people close to the company. Mr du Plessis, one of the most experienced chairmen in corporate Britain, said on Monday that he would leave once a successor was identified. He has chaired companies including SAB Miller, the brewer, and British American Tobacco, and held non-executive directorships at Marks & Spencer and Lloyds Banking Group. Advertisement Mr … [Read more...] about BT chief Jansen gave board ultimatum over chairman’s future

President Jair Bolsonaro has told Brazil to stop "whining" about coronavirus and move on from the disease. Brazil currently has the second highest COVID-19 death toll in the world after the US, with more than 261,000 fatalities. On Thursday, it recorded 75,102 new coronavirus cases in a day - the biggest daily rise since July and the second highest on record. But speaking to crowds in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, Mr Bolsonaro said: "Enough fussing and whining. How much longer will the crying go on? Live COVID updates from the UK and across the world Advertisement "How much longer will you stay at home and close everything. No one can stand it anymore." He added that he "regrets the deaths" but the country "needs a solution". More from Brazil COVID crisis: Have global lessons been recognised? COVID-19: Brazil crisis like 'medieval plague' as patients suffocate without oxygen The new COVID variants: Can we … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Jair Bolsonaro tells Brazil to ‘stop whining’ about virus despite world’s second highest death toll

NEW Zealand was hit by a fourth earthquake as video showed a tsunami wave surging towards the shore. Terrified residents had fled to high ground ground before another quake struck the Kermadec Islands around noon on Friday. The 6.5 magnitude quake struck at 12.12pm local time and followed one of 8.1 by the islands, off northeastern New Zealand on Friday morning. New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency issued a tsunami warning after the earlier earthquake struck around 8.29am time at a depth of six miles. People across the country had been woken up by a rumbling sound as their houses shook after the quakes struck. Video showed large surges of water coming ashore at Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast of the country. Gina Chaffey-Aupouri​, who has lived there for the last 60 years, told Stuff.co.nz she has never seen anything like it as she watched from the hill above as the water move in strange ways. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen a surge," she … [Read more...] about New Zealand is rocked by FOURTH earthquake as tsunami warning is eased after disturbing video shows huge wave surge

"Because of the pandemic, it is difficult to travel from Germany to Iraq. So everyone wants to follow the pope's visit on television or YouTube," says Raad Washan Sarah Sharafana, a priest in Berlin. He belongs to the Chaldeans, the Iraqi branch of Catholicism. For weeks now, when he celebrates Mass in the Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd, the 51-year-old has also been praying for a safe and successful journey for the pope. Never before has the head of the Catholic Church visited Iraq. And seldom has one of the pontiff's 32 visits abroad raised as many expectations as the upcoming four-day tour. Everyone wants to follow the pope's visit on television, says Raad Washan Sarah Sharafana In Berlin, Alen Albezo is one of the congregation of roughly 50 people who attend mass every Sunday, even during the pandemic. The parish is made up of much younger people than the average Catholic parish in Germany. Albezo is 21 and stays around after Mass talking to people from his own … [Read more...] about Iraqi Christians in Germany have high hopes for Pope Francis’ visit to their old home

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday that people needed to "stop whining" about COVID-19 in his latest outburst against the protective measures to contain the crisis. The far-right leader's comments come as Brazil goes through its deadliest week of the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 1,300 deaths per day. "Stop whining. How long are you going to keep crying about it?" Bolsonaro said as he called for easing restrictions. "We regret the deaths ... But where's Brazil going to end up if we just close everything?" The South American country of 212 million people has had an outbreak of cases, partly due to a variant of the virus detected in the Amazon rainforest. Bolsonaro previously compared COVID-19 to a "little flu" and promoted hydroxychloroquine as medication, despite studies showing its inefficiency against the virus. At least 260,000 people died in Brazil because of COVID-19. Watch video 03:04 Share Virus runs rampant … [Read more...] about Coronavirus digest: Brazil’s Bolsonaro tells people ‘stop whining’