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Coronavirus: Emergency package to help workers with jobs and wages to be revealed The chancellor is set to unveil an emergency package today to help workers whose jobs and wages could be hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Treasury officials are working on plans to support people who find they cannot work and those who have lost their jobs because of the virus. Wage subsidies for some workers are being discussed after businesses called on Boris Johnson to pause a range of taxes, including National Insurance and income tax, to help employers and staff over the worst of the financial disruption. The Times has reported the Treasury is considering these measures, with one source suggesting the government could effectively underwrite 60% of the average national wage for each worker. It follows another emergency interest rate cut by the Bank of England to an historic 0.1%. Rishi Sunak has been under pressure from Labour, unions and senior Tory MPs to do more to protect workers.

Apple unveils new 5G iPhone 12 line in multiple sizes Apple has unveiled its delayed iPhone 12 line of smartphones in a range of sizes with new designs and 5G connectivity. Unveiled as part of a online-only event, which was pushed back by more than a month due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the new iPhones mark some of the biggest changes to Apple’s smartphones since the iPhone X in 2017. The four new devices take a design cue from the iPhones 4 and 5 from 2013 and the newer iPad Pro and Air lines, with squarer metal sides and flatter profiles. All of the new iPhones also have Apple’s latest A14 Bionic processor, which recently debuted with the revamped iPad Air announced in September. They also all have Apple’s Face ID recognition system for unlocking the smartphones and will support 5G for the first time. None of the new iPhones will ship with headphones or a power adapter, as a way of reducing the carbon footprint, but will contain a USB-C to Lightning cable in the box and will support faster wireless charging.

Train services across Britain to be stripped back from Monday Train services are to be pared back across Britain from Monday as passengers are urged to stop all non-essential travel to slow the spread of coronavirus. Ministers and rail operators across England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to make progressive cuts to timetables, with the aim of keeping core services running – but reflecting a drop of almost 70% in passenger numbers since the outbreak started. The government and industry decision will also enable rail freight services to run effectively. The speed with which services will be cut will be left to individual train operators, but they have pledged to maintain a sufficient timetable for key workers to travel to work and for the public to access medical appointments, as well as ensuring the flow of goods by rail. In the capital, a reduced London Underground service has already come into effect with the closure of 40 stations, and the axing of the night tube.

England lose Trippier after FA arranges disciplinary hearing over betting charge Gareth Southgate has lost Kieran Trippier for the Nations League tie against Denmark on Wednesday night as the full-back must attend a Football Association disciplinary hearing to answer charges relating to the breaking of betting rules – a situation that the England manager described as an unwanted distraction. Trippier was charged with several alleged breaches during July of last year, which was the same month that he moved from Tottenham to Atlético Madrid for £20m. He has said that he did not place any bets himself or profit from bets made by other people. The 30-year-old could be banned for up to six months if found guilty. The timing of this week’s hearing is unfortunate – the FA would not confirm that it will be on the day of the Denmark game – and Southgate admitted he had no control over it. It will take place via video conference call and leaves Southgate in a jam as Ben Chilwell has also been forced to withdraw from the squad.

Coronavirus: Follow government advice and COVID-19 pandemic will be over quicker, Britons told The health secretary has urged Britons to follow the government's coronavirus advice - saying life will return to normal more quickly if everyone does so. Matt Hancock said that embracing social distancing measures will help the UK avoid "difficult situations" like those seen in Italy, where hospitals are overwhelmed with gravely ill patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. "The more people follow the public health advice, the quicker we will be through this and the quicker we will be back to normal," he told Sky News. Biden leads Trump by 17 points as election race enters final stage Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s lead over Donald Trump has surged to a record 17 points as the US election enters its final sprint, an Opinium Research and Guardian opinion poll shows. Some 57% of likely voters intend to vote for Biden, while just 40% say they will vote for the incumbent president, the survey shows. The 17-point gap is even bigger than than 57%-41% margin found by CNN earlier this month. It is just short of the lead in the popular vote that Ronald Reagan enjoyed in his second landslide victory in 1984.

Coronavirus: New protections for workers with jobs threatened by virus expected in chancellor announcement New protections for jobs and wages are expected to be unveiled on Friday by chancellor Rishi Sunak, amid growing clamour for support for workers whose livelihoods are threatened by the coronavirus crisis. Labour released its own plan for the state to underwrite up to 90 per cent of wages in return for a guarantee from employers that they will not lay off staff. As Boris Johnson issued a plea for bosses to “stand by your workers”, shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused the government of being “too slow in developing a plan to keep people in work”. Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

World No 1 golfer Dustin Johnson tests positive for Covid-19 World No 1 Dustin Johnson has pulled out of this week’s CJ Cup after testing positive for Covid-19, the PGA Tour said in a statement on Tuesday. The 36-year-old American, who last competed at September’s US Open, notified Tour officials he was experiencing symptoms and was given a test at the weekend, leading to his withdrawal from the Las Vegas event as he begins to self-isolate. “Obviously, I am very disappointed,” Johnson said. “I was really looking forward to competing this week, but will do everything I can to return as quickly as possible. “I have already had a few calls with the Tour’s medical team and appreciate all the support and guidance they have given me.” Johnson has had a sensational year, winning three times and taking home his first FedExCup championship at East Lake last month.

I thought I was career-driven, but I can’t bear to leave my baby The dilemma I have a nine-month-old daughter and have begun to return to work. Before I gave birth I was sure this wouldn’t be a difficult decision; I’ve never been maternal and my career has always been a priority, so a pay decrease and inevitably getting overlooked for projects and progression wasn’t on the cards. However, watching her grow has been the most rewarding and enjoyable period of my life and I feel guilty. She loves nursery, but the thought of her interacting with her care workers more than me makes me very upset. I feel as if I’d be throwing these early years away.

Devon Malcolm's Oval heroics a worthy focus for Black History Month We are in the middle of Black History Month and the cricketing charity Chance to Shine has provided schools around the UK with some tools to celebrate black England cricketers. It is a very welcome pack. There are some great characters to celebrate but it soon becomes apparent that most of England’s black cricketers appeared in the 1980s and 1990s rather than in the 21st century and the most recent, Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer, came late to this country – Jordan via a cricket scholarship, Archer, who had represented Barbados Under-19s, via the encouragement of Jordan.

What I’ve learned from California’s big bucks cannabis experiment What feels illegal, but isn’t? Someone posted that question on Twitter the other day, which for some reason got picked up by football fans, who started replying with jokey comments such as “Roberto Baggio’s first touch” — a reference to the otherworldly ball control of the retired Italian attacking midfielder. Anyway, I mention it because when I read that question, I immediately thought of marijuana. I promise it’s not because I’m an addict — it’s just that I’m spending a lot of time in Los Angeles with my business at the moment, and you can’t avoid the heady aroma of cannabis throughout the city.

Club of the year Erdington show how rugby can be part of the community In these dark times there is a ray of light to be found in the heart of England. Just up the road from Spaghetti Junction to the north-east of Birmingham’s city centre sits the suburb of Erdington, officially rated the fifth-most deprived area in the UK. Less than three miles distant is Hodge Hill, which sits at No 3. How to work from home, the right way Yet it’s also important to bookend your day. In that Buffer survey, the most-cited WFH complaint was the inability to unplug after work. If you can’t commute or enter and leave a physical office, which provides clearer boundaries to the workday, Shockley suggests “psychological segues” that can help put you in the right mindset: like a 20-minute coffee in the morning and then exercise right after work to open and close the day. “Even if childcare isn’t an issue, it’s still easy when you’re home [to think]: ‘I have laundry to do, let me do it real quick,’” she says.