Getty Images There is nothing in the current Covid data to suggest new curbs are needed in England at this stage, ministers say. Health minister Edward Argar appealed for “cool, calm heads”, while colleague Steve Barclay said there had been “significant behaviour change” as a result of Plan B measures. Daily Covid cases have been
Month: January 2022
PA Media Ministers have been tasked with developing “robust contingency plans” for workplace absences, as the government warned rising cases could see up to a quarter of staff off work. Public sector leaders have been asked to prepare for “worst case scenarios” of 10%, 20% and 25% absence rates, the Cabinet Office said. The UK
Kiran Ridley/Reuters A giant European Union flag displayed at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to mark France taking on the bloc’s presidency has been removed after it was criticised by right-wing politicians. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said “replacing” the French flag at the monument was an attack on the country’s identity. A government
Getty Images Twenty Conservative MPs and peers have called on the prime minister to tackle the spiralling cost of living. Five ex-ministers are among those who have written to the Sunday Telegraph arguing for a cut in environmental levies and the removal of energy taxes. Their call follows big increases in wholesale gas prices. Experts
Getty Images A South Korean citizen has crossed the heavily fortified border into North Korea in an apparent defection, South Korea’s military says. The person was able to evade detection for several hours despite a search operation by South Korean troops. Military chiefs in Seoul said they did not know if the person was still
AFP A large fire is raging at the Houses of Parliament in the South African city of Cape Town. Video footage shows a plume of black smoke filling the sky, with huge flames coming out from the roof of the building. Dozens of firefighters are at the site battling the blaze; it is not yet
Jaxon Smith-Njigba turned in the best receiving performance in bowl game history as No. 6 Ohio State stormed back to beat No. 11 Utah, 48-45, in the Rose Bowl. Smith-Njigba had 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns and what we all thought could be the game-winning score in an incredible throw-and-catch from C.J. Stroud with
PA Media Face masks are to be worn in secondary classrooms in England’s schools to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant, the government has announced. The temporary reintroduction of face coverings aims to address concerns about schools remaining open for face-to-face learning this coming term. Meanwhile, six school staff unions have issued a demand
Reuters Three people are missing and presumed dead, after a devastating wildfire in the central US state of Colorado. The blaze swept through several towns, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee. The local sheriff had initially said there were no fatalities, calling it a “miracle”. But a spokeswoman
Getty Images Flight cancellations in the US have hit a new peak in a Christmas season hit hard by the Covid pandemic and bad weather. Nearly 4,400 flights around the world were cancelled on Saturday, more than 2,500 of them in the US, air traffic site FlightAware reported. Airlines have been struggling with staffing problems
Getty Images A total of 874 cars have been set alight during New Year’s Eve celebrations in France, police say. However, the interior ministry said the number was much lower than in 2019. Authorities also reported a rise in the number of people stopped and detained. A curfew to tackle Covid-19 meant no significant disruption
PA Media Further Covid restrictions in England must be an “absolute last resort”, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said, despite rising case numbers in the UK. Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Javid said the UK must look to “live alongside” coronavirus in 2022. The number of people in intensive care was not following the
Aaron Chown Tony Blair, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Baroness Amos are to be appointed as members of the Order of the Garter, England’s oldest and most senior order of chivalry. The former Labour prime minister now becomes known as Sir Tony. The appointments are the personal choice of the Queen, who has up to
Reuters North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has said the faltering economy will be the national priority this year as the country faces a “great life-and-death struggle”. He was speaking at the end of a key ruling party meeting, which coincides with him being in power for 10 years. A self-imposed coronavirus blockade has left North
EPA The funeral mass for South African anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu is set to take place on Saturday morning in Cape Town. Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who helped end the racist regime in South Africa, died last Sunday aged 90. His death prompted an outpouring of grief among South Africans. Thousands have
Getty Images Residents of Boulder County in Colorado have returned to scenes of devastation after snowfall helped extinguish the last of a raging wildfire. The fire swept through 6,000 acres in just a few hours, destroying hundreds of homes. One local resident said some families in the area that “lost everything” and it was a