Your morning briefing: What you should know for Tuesday, August 24

Sean Morrison

24 August 2021, 1:01 pm

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2-min read

(ES Composite)

PM urges world leaders to stand by Afghan people ahead of G7 meeting

Boris Johnson has promised “to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever” to protect human rights in Afghanistan as he calls an emergency meeting of leading nations.

The Prime Minister will chair a virtual meeting of the leaders of the G7 countries and the Nato and UN secretaries-general on Tuesday,

No 10 was keen to stress that the UK did not want to act alone on Afghanistan, and that the meeting would provide an opportunity for nations to agree a unified approach.

And the PM is expected to tell his counterparts they must match the UK’s commitments on aid and the resettlement of those most in need.

Almost 5,000 Covid cases linked to 50,000-people Boardmasters festival

Almost 5,000 Covid-19 cases may be linked to a surf festival in Cornwall.

Organisers of Boardmasters said they are working with public health officials after a number of revellers tested positive for the virus when they returned home.

Some 4,700 coronavirus cases are now suspected to be linked to the event near Newquay, which took place between August 11 and 15.

The cases have been spread across the UK. About 800 of the infected people are living in Cornwall, the council said.

Police arrest dozens of people during Extinction Rebellion protests in London

Police arrested dozens people during the first 24 hours of Extinction Rebellion protests in central London.

Demonstrators blocked roads in central London, including around Trafalgar Square, as they demanded the UK Government immediately end investment in fossil fuels that are driving climate change.

Last night officers were continuing to remove demonstrators from under vehicles in Garrick Street.

Scotland Yard said a “significant” operation would be put in place to manage the protests over the busy bank holiday weekend, but acknowledged the activists’ “important cause”.

The group has planned two weeks of action in the capital.

Prisoners to get jobs in butchers and abattoirs after staff shortages

Butchers and other meat industry employers are set to hire prisoners and ex-inmates in a bid to ease labour shortages.

Meat industry leaders met with members of the government to discuss how businesses could work with prisons to plug the vacancies.

There are about 14,000 job vacancies in the UK meat industry, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers told to the BBC.

This is, according to the British Meat Processors Association, about 15 per cent of the industry’s workforce.

Love Island winners are crowned

Millie Court and Liam Reardon have won Love Island 2021.

Four couples were left in the competition on Monday night, competing to take home the £50,000 prize.

Laura Whitmore hosted the live final - which was held in front of a small live audience at the Love Island Villa in Mallorca.

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Your morning briefing: What you should know for Friday, August 20

Your morning briefing: What you should know for Thursday, August 19

Your morning briefing: What you should know for Wednesday, August 18