Coronavirus: UK officially enters deepest recession on record as Covid-19 hammers economy

Latest updates and essential advice from the news source you trust Trouble viewing? [View in browser]( [Image]( [Image] Daily news briefing Latest updates and essential advice from the news source you trust Pupils prepare to protest over exam results ‘fiasco’ Pupils in England have said they are [prepared to take to the streets in protest]( at this year’s A-level results as ministers come under fire for a last-minute change to the grading system that critics said “beggars belief”. The National Union of Students backed the use of demonstrations, saying schoolchildren had been left with no choice. Ministers are facing increasing pressure after Ofqual, the exams watchdog, said it could not clarify an eleventh-hour change to allow mock grades to be considered, in some cases until days after the results are released. The U-turn by ministers had been designed to head off anger when pupils receive their grades on Thursday but appears to have only inflamed the tensions. The UK has recorded a second consecutive day of [more than 1,000 new positive cases]( of coronavirus for the first time since late June. In an update on Wednesday, the government official data said 46,706 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after contracting Covid-19 — up by 77 on the previous day. The Department of Health and Social Care added that in the 24-hour period up to 9am, there had been a further 1,009 lab-confirmed cases. Overall, a total of 313,798 cases have been confirmed. Three people have died after a [train derailed in Aberdeenshire]( amid torrential rain and flooding. The train’s driver, a conductor and a passenger were all killed when an early-morning Aberdeen to Glasgow service came off the tracks near Stonehaven on Wednesday. All three were pronounced dead at the scene, said British Transport Police. Six other people were injured and taken to hospital but were not thought to be seriously hurt. Emergency services as well as fire crews and the police responded to the incident. Podcast [Image]( The Independent Coronavirus Podcast Subscribe now wherever you listen for all the latest coronavirus news. [Listen now]( The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider a [contribution]( or [subscription](. Top stories [I'm an image]( PREMIUM [Why Democrats are excited about Kamala Harris vs Mike Pence]( [I'm an image]( [Last minute exams u-turn a 'complete fiasco', Starmer says]( [I'm an image]( [How are GCSEs and A-Levels being marked during coronavirus?]( More news [Why has the UK economy been so badly hit?]( [Harris calls out Trump for following 'miracle' Covid cures]( [Defence policy review undermined by lack of openness, MPs warn]( [Temperature tops 34C for sixth day in a row]( [Another Sky’s Catrin Vincent: ‘Men should hold themselves accountable’]( //link.e.independent.co.uk/click/21190026.89322/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1lZGl0b3ItbmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249Y2hhbmdpbmctd29ybGQlN0MwNjIwLTA2MjAlN0Nwcm9zcGVjdGluZyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1uZXdz/583d2887487ccd777a8b7489Ce69f52ab Suggested for you [I'm an image]( [3.4 million infected in England, study finds – live]( [I'm an image]( [300,000 students to receive A-level results amid ‘complete fiasco’]( [I'm an image]( [Insurers paid almost £1m a day to support families of Covid victims]( [I'm an image]( [6% of people in England infected with Covid-19, antibody study finds]( Follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.