UK police on Monday said they were investigating a knife attack on a woman in a London park, with online footage showing she was wearing a T-shirt with a cartoon from Charlie Hebdo, the French magazine targeted by jihadists. The 39-year-old woman was treated in hospital for a minor slash injury after the attack on […]
Britain
E.Guinea closing UK embassy over sanctions against president’s son
The central African state of Equatorial Guinea announced Monday it was closing its embassy in London after Britain imposed sanctions against the son of its veteran president over corruption allegations. “The first decision that the government has taken is the total closure of our diplomatic mission in London,” Foreign Minister Simeon Oyono Esono told state […]
Health minister sorry for saying UK should not ‘cower’ from Covid
Britain’s Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Sunday apologised after he tweeted that the country need not “cower” in the face of coronavirus, having himself recovered from a bout of the disease. “I was expressing gratitude that the vaccines help us fight back as a society, but it was a poor choice of word and I […]
UK hosts 51 countries for climate talks ahead of COP26
Britain hosts climate and environment ministers from 51 countries on Sunday for “critical” climate talks ahead of November’s COP26 summit in Glasgow. British minister Alok Sharma, President of COP26, will lead the two-day meeting, which London said will address “key issues that require resolution” at the summit. Sharma “hopes to build common ground and sketch […]
France asks EU’s Frontex to guard Europe’s northern border
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Saturday that he has asked the EU border agency Frontex, which has long been guarding Europe’s southern borders, not to neglect the northern coastline, either, in the fight against illegal immigration. “I myself have contacted Frontex, which is predominantly taking care of southern Europe, and asked them to […]
Australia to deport UK’s Katie Hopkins over virus breach
Australia has cancelled far-right British commentator Katie Hopkins’s visa after she boasted about flouting the country’s strict hotel quarantine rules, a senior official said Monday. Hopkins had flown into Sydney to appear on a reality television show when she posted a video on Instagram talking about answering the door naked and maskless to workers delivering […]
UK govt in Covid confusion ahead of ‘freedom day’
The UK government was thrown into turmoil on Sunday by its own rules on Covid self-isolation just as it controversially prepares to ditch pandemic curbs in England. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and finance minister Rishi Sunak will be working remotely in the week ahead after they came into contact with a person infected with Covid, […]
Anger as England extends restrictions on France travel
Frustrated holidaymakers and travel industry leaders rounded on the UK government Saturday after a last-minute change maintained quarantine for residents returning to England from France. From Monday, the government plans to lift most pandemic curbs on everyday life in England, and fully vaccinated residents will no longer have to quarantine after travel to “amber list” […]
UK health minister gets Covid ahead of ‘freedom day’
British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Saturday he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was self-isolating — just as his government prepares to jettison most pandemic restrictions in England. “I was feeling a bit groggy last night, so I took a lateral flow test this morning and it’s come out positive,” he said in a […]
UK publishes plans to decarbonise transport by mid-century
Britain unveiled plans Wednesday to decarbonise its transport systems, phasing out the sale of all polluting road vehicles by 2040 and committing the aviation sector to a 2050 net zero emissions target. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the proposals would provide a “credible pathway” for the whole transport sector to reach net zero by mid-century, as […]