Stimulus package

STIMULUS checks could be sent out as soon as this weekend as the House is set to vote on the $1.9trillion Covid bill on Wednesday. A senior Democratic leadership aide told CNN that the vote will "most likely" take place mid-week. This is one day later than House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer previously announced. However, another aide told the outlet that the delay is not unexpected. "It's just a big, detailed bill, and it's just taking a minute to process all of it," the said. If House does pass the bill, the next step will be for President Joe Biden to give it the thumbs up. Thereafter, stimulus checks will begin being sent out to Americans who fit the bill. Over the weekend, Biden revealed that Americans could start receiving their $1,400 stimulus this month after the Senate passed the trillion-dollar Covid relief bill. The president made the comments during a press briefing on Saturday when Biden confirmed that people could start getting their … [Read more...] about Stimulus checks could be sent out as soon as this weekend as House set to vote on $1.9trillion Covid bill on Wednesday

PRESIDENT Joe Biden will give his first primetime address on Thursday. The speech will mark one year since Covid shut down much of the nation as the pandemic took a devastating foothold in America. "The president will deliver his first primetime address to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Covid-19 shutdown on Thursday," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing on Monday. "He will discuss the many sacrifices the American people have made over the last year and the grave loss communities and families across the country have suffered," she added. This will be Biden's first primetime address since he took office on January 20, 2021. More than 29.7million cases of Covid have been confirmed in the US. Over 515,000 Americans have died from the virus. The address is to come just days after the Senate passed another $1.9trillion Covid relief package – meant to ease the burden of some of the financial hardship Americans have faced … [Read more...] about Biden to give his first primetime address on Thursday – marking one year since Covid shut down much of the nation

Some 5,000 jobs in the steel industry are in the balance after Greensill Capital, one of the UK's largest speciality finance companies, went into administration today. Greensill, whose advisers include the former prime minister David Cameron, is a major provider of finance to Liberty Steel - the UK's third largest steel company. Liberty, which is part of the GFG Alliance controlled by the so-called 'Saviour of Steel' Sanjeev Gupta, employs 3,000 people directly at 11 sites including Rotherham and Stocksbridge in south Yorkshire, Newport in south Wales and Hartlepool. It also supports at least 2,000 more jobs in the supply chain. The site at Stocksbridge, where 762 people are employed, is said to be under the most immediate threat. Advertisement At a court hearing today, to pave the way for Greensill Capital's administration, lawyers for the stricken company revealed that Greensill had an estimated $5bn worth of exposure to Mr Gupta's GFG Alliance … [Read more...] about Collapse of finance company Greensill Capital leaves thousands of steel jobs in the balance

England’s 8million state school pupils are today flooding back to full classes for the first time since December. In the national lockdown, only vulnerable or key workers’ children could attend in person with the rest learning at home. Now all schools are opening to all pupils in the same week in Step One of Boris Johnson ’s roadmap out of lockdown. Secondary pupils will get twice-a-week tests and be told to wear face masks in the classroom to slow the spread. But worried unions had wanted a phased reopening amid fears it could lead to a rise of Covid rates in the community. Ministers insist the reopening will be “irreversible”, even if the R number goes above 1. But local closures could still spring into action if there’s a local spike. Here’s what you need to know. Which schools are going back when? All state schools in England are being told to welcome back all pupils from today, Monday 8 March. For primary schools, this should mean all pupils return to … [Read more...] about School return explained: New rules on testing and masks – as pupils face longer days

Millions of Brits think UK beaches are among the best in the world - with Bournemouth beach in Dorset voted the nation’s number one. The survey of 2,000 adults saw three Cornish beaches named in the top 10, including St Ives, Bude and Newquay - with the possibility of summer staycations on everyone’s mind for 2021. Devon is home to seven beaches featuring in the top 50, with Woolacombe, Dawlish and Torquay popular sights. Other popular beaches include Blackpool, Whitby and Brighton. It also emerged 75% consider the beach or sea to be an iconic British landscape, and a third reckon holidays to the UK’s seaside are underrated. Sarah Young, head of marine policy at WWF-UK which commissioned the research in partnership with Sky Ocean Rescue, said: "While we wait for travel restrictions to be lifted, there are a number of things we can be doing at home to protect our beautiful coastlines and ensure staycations can be enjoyed for years to come. "Over the months ahead, Sky Ocean … [Read more...] about Bournemouth Beach tops list of UK’s top 50 beaches according to Brits