Jabs milestone as three quarters of UK adults vaccinated - NationalWorld digital front page

More than 75% of UK adults have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, marking a huge milestone in the coronavirus jab rollout.
More than 75% of UK adults have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, marking a huge milestone in the coronavirus jab rolloutMore than 75% of UK adults have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, marking a huge milestone in the coronavirus jab rollout
More than 75% of UK adults have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, marking a huge milestone in the coronavirus jab rollout

The milestone was reached less than six months after the rollout started, and comes the day after no deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 were reported for the first time since July 30 last year.

It was also announced that 50% of adults in England had received both doses.

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This is the equivalent of 75.2% of all people aged 18 and over.

The vaccination milestone was reached less than six months after the rollout started, and comes the day after no deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 were reported for the first time since July 30 last yearThe vaccination milestone was reached less than six months after the rollout started, and comes the day after no deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 were reported for the first time since July 30 last year
The vaccination milestone was reached less than six months after the rollout started, and comes the day after no deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 were reported for the first time since July 30 last year

Debate is continuing over whether the final stages of unlocking restrictions in England can go ahead on June 21, due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus variant first identified in India.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday (2 June) that there was “nothing in the data at the moment that means we can’t go ahead” with the next stage.

But he warned: “We’ve got to be so cautious because there’s no question, the ONS data of infection rates is showing an increase.

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He added: “What we need to work out is to what extent the vaccination programme has protected enough of us, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, against a new surge.

“And there, I’m afraid, the data is just still ambiguous.”

Thundery rain on the way

Tuesday (June 1) saw the highest temperature of the year recorded in a row after record temperatures on Monday (May 31) afternoon.

However, rainy weather and thunderstorms may hit parts of the country towards the end of the week.

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The Met Office forecast says scattered showers will cross northern UK on Thursday (3 June), although in the far north it will be fine and warm.

Elsewhere, it will brighten up, but there may be a slight dip in temperatures. However, it will still feel pleasant in most parts.

The Met Office UK outlook for Friday (4 June) to Sunday (6 June) said: “Risk of thundery rain in the far southeast Friday, otherwise fine overall but with some cloudier spells and showers at times. Light winds, warm days, although locally chilly nights.”

‘It will take much more than a good interview for Starmer to seriously challenge the Tories for power’

Keir Starmer’s interview with Piers Morgan aired on ITV on Tuesday evening (1 June), with tears, laughs and moments where the senior UK politician seemed to demonstrate genuine warmth, humanity and maybe even a passable sense of humour.

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Our politics writer Ethan Shone shares his analysis of the interview, as he says that “while Morgan was clearly on his very best behaviour - on his first big TV outing since Meghan-gate - Starmer seemed as relaxed as the British public has seen him yet.”

Most notably during the sections where Starmer discussed his early-life, his parents, and, in particular, the loss of his mother to Still’s Disease, he conveyed a part of his political origin story which has so far been absent from his pitch to voters, and which may prove fairly effective.

However, Ethan writes that “it will take more than a passable interview performance for Labour under Starmer to seriously challenge the Tories for power at the next election - if he even lasts that long.”

Football’s move away from Wembley is beneficial for fans

England are set to make their final preparations for the delayed Euro 2020 tournament this week, with warm-up games against Austria on Wednesday (2 June) and Romania on Sunday (6 June) set to be played at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

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NationalWorld explores the benefits of games being played outside of Wembley for football fans across the country, as it will make a refreshing change to see the men’s national team visit the North East for the first time since 2016, when Roy Hodgson’s side beat Australia at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

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