Monday evening news briefing: Screeching U-turn on exam grades

Williamson apologises after exam results U-turn

Even for this Government, it is the mother of all U-turns. Gavin Williamson has confirmed that A-levels and GCSEs will be assessed on the grades awarded by teachers rather than the controversial algorithm which has caused upset and anxiety for so many students picking up their results this month. The Education Secretary said he was "sorry for the distress this has caused young people and their parents". Students will now take the higher of either the grade their school or college predicted or the moderated grade. Boris Johnson still has confidence in his beleaguered Education Secretary, despite widespread calls for his resignation, Downing Street said today. Our politics liveblog has the latest reaction. So what does this mean for A-level students who had their results downgraded? Here is the latest information on appeals. However, these charts show how the algorithm U-turn fails to fix grade inequality.

The U-turn comes after at least 25 Conservative MPs openly criticised the Government over its system for A-level results, including two serving ministers. Dozens of students set off on a march from Codsall Community School in Staffordshire to the Education Secretary's constituency office today, chanting "trust our teachers" and "you're having a laugh, Gav" on their half-mile trip. Blower's cartoon today summed up the mood on the impact of the system but to illustrate why the debacle had such cut-through, take a look at these comment pieces. Brian Payne, a teacher at a north London comprehensive, outlines why trusting an algorithm over teachers was a terrible mistake. Head teacher Miriam Oakley said she was left feeling sick thinking about the way children were being betrayed. And author Rebecca Bradley reveals how she was terrified at the prospect of Thursday's GCSE results.

Oxford and German vaccine trials in race for first jab

Covid-19 vaccines currently undergoing trials at Oxford University and in Germany are the most likely candidates to be ready this year, a leading expert has said. Kate Bingham, chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, said 100,000 people had already offered to take part in medical trials for potential vaccines. The organisation is said to now be overseeing a portfolio of six different vaccines across four different vaccine sites. Speaking as she called for more volunteers to come forward to take part in trials, Ms Bingham said: "I think we have a shot of getting a vaccine this year." Our liveblog has more on the race and read on for a profile of Professor Sarah Gilbert, the woman behind Britain's vaccine hope.

Temperatures in Death Valley possibly highest ever

Temperatures in California's Death Valley reached 54.4C (130F) on Sunday, possibly the highest ever reliably recorded on the planet. The extreme temperature was noted by the United States National Weather Service's automated weather station at Furnace Creek, near the border with Nevada, at 3.41pm. Although the reading is considered preliminary and not yet official, if verified, this will be the hottest temperature officially recorded since July 1913, also at Death Valley. Yet some experts question the accuracy of old temperature reports - and others across the globe - making this finding potentially more significant.

At a glance: Latest coronavirus headlines

• Wedding reception | Police break up party with more than 100 guests

• Travel latest | Greece and Croatia at risk as travel map shrinks

• Death toll | India passes new Covid-19 milestone

• No more nightclubs | Shutdown as cases rise among young

• Covid vaccine | China gives doses to volunteers before trials conclude

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

Mother charged with murder | The father of a 10-year-old boy found dead in west London has paid tribute to his "beautiful, bright, inquisitive and artistic child". Dean Freeman, a celebrity photographer, said he could not "begin to comprehend" the loss of Dylan Freeman, who was discovered at a property in Cumberland Park, Acton, on Sunday. The boy's mother Olga Freeman, 40, appeared before magistrates in Uxbridge today charged with Dylan's murder. Read on for details.

• Democratic convention | Four things to watch for in Biden's big week

• 'You'll have to kill me first' | Belarus' president rules out election

• 'Kensington-on-Sea' | Forest fire breaks out on Corfu's coastline

• Oil spill | Volunteers cut off hair in attempt to protect Mauritius

• Saving the planet | Why vegans 'should abandon soya milk'

Around the world: Girls in Kenya's 'shadow pandemic'

Naomi wants to be a doctor. She's 15 but looks younger, is softly spoken and lives in Kibera, Africa's biggest informal settlement (often referred to as slums). Naomi was raped by one of her neighbours after lockdown started. It happened after her mother, whose partner left her a few years ago, had lost her job selling kale by the side of the road because of the lockdown. She persuaded Naomi to ask for money from people in the community so the family could buy food. She was attacked, and now fears she will not be able to go to school. Read how teenage pregnancies are soaring as Kenya’s girls fall victim to a "shadow pandemic".

Monday interview

Gregory Porter - 'You might see my dreadlocks on my final tour'

Despite personal tragedy and Covid cancellations, the man with the most comforting voice in music is upbeat about the future – hat or no hat

Read the full interview

Comment and analysis

• Rosa Prince | A-level chaos may toxify the Tory brand for a generation

• Robin Pagnamenta | The socially toxic results of algorithmic bias

• Tim Stanley | We're living with the effects of other people's terror

• Norman Tebbit | War anniversaries more poignant in troubled era

• Jeremy Wilson | O'Sullivan is snooker's Messi and should win SPOTY

Editor's choice: Features and arts

1. Derren Brown's God complex | The religion (and atheism) behind his greatest stunts

2. Are you suffering with 'maskne'? | How to stop skin complaints caused by face coverings

3. Marriage diaries | My husband lost his job and I'm starting to resent him

Business and money briefing

Air travel in crisis | Ryanair has cut capacity by a fifth for September and October as bookings weaken amid the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Europe. Meanwhile, easyJet has reportedly confirmed plans to close bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle. Read on for details.

• Huge debts | Victoria’s Secret owed £466m before collapsing

• Property | London rents plummet as Airbnb lets flood the market

• On top of markets | Live stocks and shares updates 24 hours a day

Sport briefing

Lionel Messi | It is difficult to imagine Lionel Messi playing for a club other than Barcelona, but that once remote possibility is now a feasible outcome from this transfer period. Following reports that Messi might be considering pastures new, Daniel Zeqiri assesses his options. While the Argentine legend’s threat to quit Barcelona may just be posturing, Jason Burt outlines why Manchester City must try their luck.

• Man Utd season ratings | Player-by-player verdict on who should go

• Formula 1 | Boring Spanish Grand Prix highlights deep-rooted issues

• England v Pakistan | Latest from day five of rain-affected second Test

Tonight's TV

The Trial of Alex Salmond, BBC Two, 9pm | In this one-off documentary Kirsty Wark canvasses the views of Alex Salmond's friends and foes alike, as well as talking to three of the women who brought charges. Read more.

And finally... for this evening's downtime

Volkswagen ID.3 review | At last, we get our hands on this year's most important new car. Is the pure-electric ID.3 the revolution it promises to be? Certainly, there are high hopes and a lot of money involved. VW has approached the business of electric motoring with a great deal more commitment than some of its rivals. Read why Andrew English thinks the peoples' car plugs in but falls short.