When lockdown has ended, we must continue to live simpler lives to benefit both us and the planet, says Mariella Frostrup

The dilemma I know we’re in the middle of a global pandemic with the economy knackered and the free world led by a man like Trump. I know our freedom has been temporarily taken away from us. But I’m dreading the end of lockdown.

For years I’ve craved a slower pace of life. Lockdown has allowed me to spend time with my family – and not on the relentless promise of success in my career. It has allowed me to play and learn with my child, rather than rush to drop-off or pick-up at wraparound care. It has allowed me to walk in woodland rather than standing on a crowded commuter train. In many ways it has been idyllic.

One boss, Dale Vince of the green energy firm Ecotricity, explains how he will get his 700 staff back to work

• Coronavirus – latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Almost all the desks at Ecotricity’s headquarters in Stroud are empty. Pot plants, cards and personal photos are the only signs of the hundreds of employees at the green-energy firm who used to file in and out of the building in the Cotswold town every day.

Like most office-based employers, the firm’s founder, Dale Vince, sent virtually all of his 700-strong workforce home at the start of the lockdown in March. Now he is considering how to bring some of them back in anticipation of government guidance for reopening non-essential businesses.

Leaders of Unison, Unite, the GMB and Usdaw join TUC in calling for radical overhaul of health and safety in the workplace
• Coronavirus – latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Britain’s biggest trades unions have warned Boris Johnson that they will not recommend a return to work for their three million members until the government and employers agree a nationwide health and safety revolution as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a letter to the Observer, leaders of the “big four” – Unison, Unite, the GMB and Usdaw – together with the Trades Union Congress, say many of their members have already lost their lives “transporting people and goods, protecting the public and caring for the vulnerable”.

Reaction from Fox News contributor Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and Republican presidential candidate.

"I totally support your mask policy," a comment on Costco's Facebook said. "It is small minded individuals who don't understand the reason for it."

Meet Sweety! The Ragdoll cat who gets into some cute crazy (yet very relatable) shenanigans!

Created by artist @redfur_13.art, who shared on her Webtoons bio, "My name is Red, and I own a young ragdoll cat named Sweety. She had two litters when she was young, and now has a forever home with me. "

You can follow the comic series, which updates twice a week) on Instagram or Webtoons! 

Astra Lost in Space anime, Shinkalion film, 2019 Godzilla film, Fly Me to Saitama film, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim game also nominated

Hi from Estonia. This is Bjanka. She is very sweet and cheerful. She really likes to dance on her hind legs. Bjanka also loves to play with balls and soft toys.

Master of lying in wait for an ambush

Barcelona returned to training after the La Liga champions allowed their stars to enter their facility to prepare for a potential restart to football in Spain. Lionel Messi and company took the fields at Joan Gamper training centre for individual sessions, for which the players arrived alone in kit and took to the three pitches without passing through the changing rooms. As well as doing their routines, they were also subjected to tests to see what effect two months of Coronavirus quarantine has had on their bodies.

"Finally, we are getting back to normal. We hope to carry on and then get back to enjoying what we like most," Arturo Vidal told sports daily Marca. Sevilla, Villarreal, Osasuna and Leganes also returned to training, while Real Madrid—who were two points behind league leaders Barca when play stopped in mid-March—will likely start again on Monday should their players pass virus tests carried out on Wednesday.

That would mark almost two months since Real had been placed in quarantine following a positive test for a member of the club's basketball team. According to Spanish media, none of Real's players have suffered from virus symptoms, but Zinedine Zidane will have to do without Serb attacker Luka Jovic after Real announced on Friday he had fracture his right heel. Footballers in Spain have restarted training following the announcement last week of government plan that aims to end quarantine for professional players.

Individual training sessions are the first step to what La Liga hopes will be a return to action in June that will complete the 2019-20 season behind closed doors. The first aspect of a four-phase de-escalation programme allows a maximum of six players on the pitch at any one time.

La Liga's programme will then permit training in small groups before a return to larger team sessions. In the fourth and final phase, in early June, the government has said outside events can go ahead when attended by fewer than 400 people.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Another 626 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain, bringing the total Coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 31,241, environment secretary George Eustice said. The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

Earlier in the day, the National Health Service (NHS), England, said a six-week-old baby has become one of the latest to die after testing positive for the novel Coronavirus. Chairing the Downing Street daily press briefing, Eustice unveiled a £16-million fund to help support charities which feed some of the country's most vulnerable people hit by the pandemic.

"It is absolutely vital they have the resources they need and this funding will help the most vulnerable in our society get the food they need at this enormously challenging time," he said. The funding is part of the 750-million-pound pot announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak for charities across Britain during the Coronavirus outbreak. As to the exit strategy of lockdown measures, the secretary told reporters that there is not going to be "dramatic overnight change" in the country's lockdown measures.

16m pounds
Fund unveiled to help support charities

Russia reports 10,817 cases in 24 hours

The overall number of Coronavirus cases in Russia increased to 1,98,676 on Saturday after the emergence of 10,817 new infections in the last 24 hour, health authorities said. According to the country's anti-Coronavirus crisis centre, the death toll currently stood at 1,827, while 31,916 people have recovered from the illness so far.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

The Maharashtra health department Thursday said 22 cases of Chikungunya disease were confirmed in Kolhapur district of the sate. "Of the 20 villages

Scores of people suffering with the crippling fever, Chikungunya, have been reported from West Bengal's North 24 Pargana District. Twenty-one of the

A meningitis outbreak has killed 931 people in four West African countries since January, with most of the deaths occurring in Nigeria, the UN children's fund said Wednesday.

For the first time chikungunya, the mosquito-borne disease has spread in the western hemisphere confirms the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tuesday,

The money crunch has not brought down the demand for chocolates , according to recent survey. The financial cris

A study has revealed that women look their oldest every Wednesday afternoon at around 3.30 pm. And here's the reason

Regular family dinners contribute positively to emotional well being, pro-social behavior and life satisfaction in ad

Parents concerned about their kids' waistlines may relax now, 'fat free chocolate' is about to become reality. Sci

Wearing high heeled shoes make you look fashionable with a stylish walk and oodles of oomph. Stilettos can give your l

Yoga is an ancient Indian science involving the physical, mental and spiritual disciplines to improve the mind, body an

We have to learn to live with the virus. We need to introduce certain behavioral changes to implement these (social distancing) practices, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary at the Health Ministry.

Obesity let the girl is very headache. But do you know? Bitter melon and chinese tea is the good food to weight lose. Brewing green tea with Bitter...

NEED POWER PLANT? A PRAGMATIC APPROACH IS NEED OF THE HOUR

Electric power is a growing need in a developing...

The purpose of any website is to earn profit for the owner. The website not only upholds the brand value of the products, it attracts customers for the business. For that reason the website must be attractive, user-friendly, well...

Overcomplicated prescriptions discourage individuals from taking action to improve their lives. Through the years, I have read a large number of health books that offered unworkable advice....

Profit booking, weak rupee and lower crude oil prices dragged the Indian equity markets lower on Friday.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Wednesday opened on a positive note during the morning session of the trade.

Everyone thought go belong to aerobic exercise, can only achieve the result of thin body. In fact, as long as through different walk fast, also can achieve the result of thin local oh! Below share thin abdomen moves quickly to you, let...

Japan is popular diet is bile acid diet? Bile acid is what? Bile acid is the main component of bile, can effectively break down fat. Moreover, our daily contact eucommia tea, can effectively promote the secretion of bile acid!...

1.Unappropriate arrangements of supper: Many people have the habit of eating simple for breakfast and lunch. However, when comes to time of eating with families in the evening, they will take no scruples of whether it is chicken,...

Factors affecting one’s increasing waist circumstances mainly include heredity, dietary habits, physical activity,sedentary lifestyles and so on. Among these factors, genetic background relatively attracts...

Stress Vs