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Coronavirus developments at a glance—5 June

European Commission pushes for rapid spending of Covid-19 funds, UK university finances and more

Europe
Of the €13.9bn the European Commission has proposed allocating to the EU’s 2021-27 R&D programme from a controversial Covid-19 financial recovery package, it wants 69 per cent to be committed within the first two years.

UK
England’s regulator has suspended an assessment of universities’ finances after it realised almost 200 institutions had not factored the coronavirus crisis into recent financial forecasts.

Clive Dix has been appointed deputy chair of the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, which is leading efforts to find and manufacture a coronavirus vaccine.

Scotland’s fair access tsar has called for “vigorous action” on widening participation, warning progress could be thrown off course by universities’ efforts to contain damage from the coronavirus.

Worldwide
Two of the world’s leading medical journals are facing growing pressure over their publication of problematic studies on Covid-19.

The global vaccine alliance Gavi says it will be able to immunise 300 million children after world leaders promised $8.8 billion to the initiative.

Australia
Universities in Australia have criticised a report that claims seven institutions are facing high financial risks as a result of declining international student enrolments linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Workplace design flaws and poor staff management have been highlighted by the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, a University of Wollongong business academic has said.