The Government will make a one-off payment of £500 to low-income parents and guardians of children needing to self-isolate during the pandemic. The eligibility criteria for the Government's Test and Trace Support Scheme has now been updated to include "a parent or guardian who is staying off work to look after a child who is self-isolating". Work and Pensions Minister Justin Tomlinson announced the development at the Commons on Tuesday. The news comes after Labour called last month for the one-off payment to be available to anyone who does not have access to occupational sick pay and low-income parents of self-isolating children. The £500 Test and Trace Support Scheme, introduced in September, offers financial help to people on low incomes who cannot work during their self-isolation period and will, as a result, lose income. Those who meet the eligibility criteria will be paid directly into the bank account of the person who has been told to self-isolate. Responding to an … [Read more...] about Parents and guardians of children self-isolating will receive £500 support payment
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South Carolina adds firing squad to execution methods to address lethal injection shortage
Executions in South Carolina can now be carried out by firing squad after senators moved to address a shortage of lethal injection drugs. South Carolina 's state senate approved the move 32-11 on Tuesday, with a number of Democrats joining their Republican colleagues in the vote. It means that executions in the state can now be restarted after an almost 10-year delay, with those on death row having been able to exploit a grim courtesy that allows them to choose how they would die. Inmates have been allowed to choose between the electric chair and lethal injection - and prisoners have opted for the latter knowing that it is unavailable, thus delaying their execution. The vote to approve the use of firing squads is effectively a workaround for the supply problems and the bureaucracy surrounding executions. Advertisement The bill passed still allows prison officials to use the lethal injection when it is available, but when it is not, … [Read more...] about South Carolina adds firing squad to execution methods to address lethal injection shortage
COVID-19:Insurer Hiscox regrets ‘uncertainty and anguish’ caused by dispute over lockdown claims
Insurer Hiscox has said it regrets the "uncertainty and anguish" caused by its court wrangle over pay-outs to businesses forced to shut during the pandemic. Chief executive Bronek Masojada admitted Hiscox suffered "brand damage" over the dispute which concluded with a Supreme Court ruling in January. The comments came as it reported an annual loss of $268.5m after setting aside $475m to cover COVID-19 payouts, relating mainly to event cancellation and the remainder covering business interruption. Hiscox was one of the firms involved in a case in which the Supreme Court forced insurers to pay out on disputed claims worth at least £1.2bn. Pubs, cafes, wedding planners and beauty parlours argued they faced ruin when they were turned down for payouts on business interruption policies prompted by the first national lockdown. Advertisement Commenting on the case in its annual results, Hiscox said its cover was designed to respond to "local events" rather … [Read more...] about COVID-19:Insurer Hiscox regrets ‘uncertainty and anguish’ caused by dispute over lockdown claims
These traditional seaside postcards are just too saucy for the ‘woke’ generation
THESE kiss-me-quick quips from traditional saucy seaside postcards would no doubt prove too much of a handful for today’s snowflakes. We told yesterday how comic Colin Mills fears he will be “cancelled” by sensitive youngsters for his bawdy postcard-style humour. He says his shows are inspired by the pun-filled tongue-in-cheek humour of the traditional British postcard. Colin said: “I do feel like a dinosaur when you compare it to the old days and I’m only 53, but it has changed so fast in the past five years and it’s getting tougher.” But it’s not the first time the cheeky cards have faced stony-faced censors. In the 1950s, postcards filled with buxom bosoms, hen-pecked husbands and double-entres by illustrators Bamforth and Co and Donald McGill were outlawed by local councils. Entrepreneur Ian Wallace bought the rights to the Bamforth collection in 2001 and re-released the images to mark their 100th anniversary in 2010. He said in 2013: “Some shops had their … [Read more...] about These traditional seaside postcards are just too saucy for the ‘woke’ generation
Josh Taylor vs Jose Ramirez unification fight CONFIRMED with Scot hoping to bring belts home to show hero Ken Buchanan
JOSH TAYLOR'S shot at undisputed immortality has been confirmed for May 22 - and will hopefully set up another date with his hero. Scotland's WBA and IBF super-lightweight champ has his chance to complete the set against WBC and WBO boss Jose Ramirez. And the 30-year-old southpaw wants to get the mission completed in time to perk up Edinburgh legend Ken Buchanan, the 75-year-old undisputed lightweight king, who is living in a care home. “He used to come to my old amateur gym, Lochend, when I was an 18-19 year-old kid, and train,” Taylor told SunSport. “I would be training and when I finished he would tell me great old stories about Muhammad Ali and winning his world titles. “Even back then he would tell me I would be a world champion but also give me tips and advice on how to fight in the ring but also live the life outside it. “When I beat Regis Prograis to add the WBA to my IBF in 2019 he came down to my mum and dad’s house and said ‘you proved me right, son, … [Read more...] about Josh Taylor vs Jose Ramirez unification fight CONFIRMED with Scot hoping to bring belts home to show hero Ken Buchanan