Ruston daily leader

People injured during protests against the military coup in Myanmar have vowed to continue demonstrating - even though they know they may die. On Sunday, police fired on crowds in several places around the country, reportedly killing 18 people, on the bloodiest day since the 1 February coup. Generals seized power in Myanmar after claiming there was fraud in last November's election which the party of de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi won by a landslide. Daily demonstrations are getting increasingly violent as police and troops try to stamp them out. And the UK's foreign secretary has said people are showing "huge bravery" against the military regime. Advertisement During the protests, one woman shouted: "Yes, I'm afraid but we will fight for our freedom. I can die now but I will never forgive you." More from Myanmar Myanmar coup: Court files fresh charges against Aung San Suu Kyi after 18 killed in protests Myanmar … [Read more...] about Myanmar: People vow to continue protests despite knowing they may be killed

A group of 45 Conservative MPs from "Red Wall" seats have called for a permanent reduction in business rates to help firms come out of "cold store" after the coronavirus crisis. In a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of Wednesday's Budget , MPs from the Northern Research Group (NRG) have demanded a "bold move" to support shops and high streets up and down the country. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Business rates are paid on the use of a building for non-domestic purposes. At last year's Budget, Mr Sunak announced a 12-month suspension of business rates to help firms affected by COVID lockdown restrictions. Advertisement But he is now under pressure to make that assistance permanent - although the Treasury has said it won't publish the results of a fundamental review of business rates until the autumn, when there is more economic certainty. Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry, the chair of the NRG, … [Read more...] about Budget 2021: Conservative MPs demand permanent cut to business rates to help firms come out of ‘cold store’

The chancellor is expected to give £408m to help museums, theatres and galleries to reopen in England as coronavirus restrictions ease. Rishi Sunak will announce the support for the badly-hit culture sector in his Budget on Wednesday, as many theatres mark a year of forced closure this month. The Budget will also include a "significant chunk" of a £300m sports recovery package being allocated to cricket, as fans prepare for the sport to resume this summer. But it comes as debate rages on how to pay for the extra spending, after latest figures showed public sector net debt rose by £316.4bn in the 10 months since the start of April, almost entirely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Office for National Statistics said state debt increased to £2.1trn by the end of January - around 97.9% of GDP - the highest debt to GDP ratio since the financial year ending 1963. Advertisement Former chancellor Ken Clarke told Sky News that Mr Sunak should ditch the … [Read more...] about Budget 2021: Sunak prepares to pump cash into COVID recovery as tax rise debate continues

The 2021 Budget will feature everything from booze, fuel and cigarettes to wages, housing and Britain's Covid response. Rishi Sunak is set to focus on four themes - "support, vision, recovery, honesty" - when he addresses the nation in his annual statement next Wednesday. The Tory Chancellor is tipped to extend furlough, the Stamp Duty cut and other Covid support by three months, and the £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift by six months. He will unveil grim financial projections on Britain's economy and begin to sketch a vision for how it'll be made better post-vaccine - with grants of up to £18,000 for lockdown-battered firms to reopen. He could announce a string of other measures to help the economy recover - though some of these, like schemes to push people back into shops and restaurants, may not come until later. And aides promise he'll be "honest" about the need to claw back £280bn of Covid spending - as corporation tax could be hiked and income tax allowances … [Read more...] about When is the 2021 Budget – and what will be in it? Stamp duty, furlough and more

There is no evidence of a difference between school staff testing positive for coronavirus antibodies and the wider working-age population, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The main findings from the Schools Infection Survey come ahead of children going back to classrooms in England next week as part of the first phase of lifting the coronavirus lockdown. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Families of school children to get rapid tests As of 10 December 2020, it is estimated 14.61% of primary school staff had COVID-19 antibodies, suggesting they had been infected with the illness, while 15.72% of secondary staff were thought to have had them. That's a small rise on the previous month, where 12.63% of primary teachers and 12.27% of secondary staff were thought to have antibodies. Advertisement In total, 14.99% of … [Read more...] about COVID-19: School staff not more likely to test positive for coronavirus antibodies, new figures suggest