SCHOOL CLOSINGS
British PM’s 1st day at 10 Downing St. will stretch from nuclear weapons briefing to Larry the cat
Read full article: British PM’s 1st day at 10 Downing St. will stretch from nuclear weapons briefing to Larry the catAfter a few hours of sleep to shake off a night of celebration and an audience with the king, Keir Starmer stepped through the front door of 10 Downing St. for the first time as prime minister on Friday.
Now there are 8: UK leader field slims as nominations close
Read full article: Now there are 8: UK leader field slims as nominations closeNominations in the race to replace British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have closed, with eight Conservative lawmakers securing enough support from their colleagues to make the first ballot.
Britain's Boris Johnson battles to stay as PM amid revolt
Read full article: Britain's Boris Johnson battles to stay as PM amid revoltA defiant British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is battling to remain in office, shrugging off calls for his resignation after two top ministers and a slew of junior officials said they could no longer serve under his scandal-plagued leadership.
In major blow, 2 key ministers quit Boris Johnson government
Read full article: In major blow, 2 key ministers quit Boris Johnson governmentBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson is clinging to power after two of his most senior Cabinet ministers quit, saying they had lost confidence in Johnson’s leadership amid shifting explanations about his handling of a sexual misconduct scandal.
Which Conservatives could succeed UK's Johnson if he falls?
Read full article: Which Conservatives could succeed UK's Johnson if he falls?British Prime Minister Boris Johnson managed to narrowly win a no-confidence vote from his own Conservative Party, but the result dealt a heavy blow to his authority.
UK women slam sexism of 'Basic Instinct' slur on lawmaker
Read full article: UK women slam sexism of 'Basic Instinct' slur on lawmakerWomen from across British politics called Monday for action to tackle misogyny after a newspaper ran a story accusing the deputy opposition leader of trying to “distract” the prime minister during debates by crossing and uncrossing her legs.
WHO: COVID-19 cases rise for 2nd straight week, deaths fall
Read full article: WHO: COVID-19 cases rise for 2nd straight week, deaths fallThe World Health Organization says the number of new coronavirus cases globally increased by 7% in the last week, driven by rising infections in the Western Pacific.
UK to end all COVID-19 travel rules ahead of Easter break
Read full article: UK to end all COVID-19 travel rules ahead of Easter breakBritain says all remaining coronavirus measures for travelers, including passenger locator forms and the requirement for unvaccinated people be tested for COVID-19 before and after their arrivals, will end Friday.
England lifts COVID restrictions as omicron threat recedes
Read full article: England lifts COVID restrictions as omicron threat recedesMost coronavirus restrictions, including mandatory face masks, have been lifted in England after Britain’s government said its vaccine booster rollout successfully reduced serious illness and COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Lawmaker's claim of anti-Muslim bias is new blow to UK govt
Read full article: Lawmaker's claim of anti-Muslim bias is new blow to UK govtBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered an investigation into a Conservative lawmaker’s claim that she was fired from a government job in part because of her Muslim faith.
U.K. gov't advisers recommend against 4th vaccine dose
Read full article: U.K. gov't advisers recommend against 4th vaccine doseU.K. government advisers have recommended against giving a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to nursing home residents and people over 80 because data shows that a third shot offers lasting protection against admission to the hospital.
UK makes omicron contingency plans for hospitals, schools
Read full article: UK makes omicron contingency plans for hospitals, schoolsThe U.K. government has been making contingency plans in case hospitals, schools and other workplaces are hit by major staff shortages amid the latest record spike in coronavirus infections.
Thousands line up for 'jingle jabs' on Christmas in England
Read full article: Thousands line up for 'jingle jabs' on Christmas in EnglandThousands of people across England are spending a few minutes of Christmas Day to line up under leaden winter skies to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as the omicron variant fuels a surge in infections across the country.
UK data suggest hospitalization is less likely with omicron
Read full article: UK data suggest hospitalization is less likely with omicronBritain’s public health agency says preliminary data suggest that people with the omicron variant are between 50% and 70% less likely to need hospitalization than those with the delta strain of the coronavirus.
UK health boss: COVID-19 rules could tighten by Christmas
Read full article: UK health boss: COVID-19 rules could tighten by ChristmasBritain’s health secretary has refused to rule out imposing tougher COVID-19 restrictions before Christmas amid the rapid rise of infections and continuing uncertainty about the omicron variant.
Nigeria slams UK's 'discriminatory' travel ban over omicron
Read full article: Nigeria slams UK's 'discriminatory' travel ban over omicronA Nigerian official has criticized a travel ban imposed on the West African nation by the British government amid fears about the new omicron variant as “punitive, indefensible and discriminatory.”.
South African scientists brace for wave propelled by omicron
Read full article: South African scientists brace for wave propelled by omicronWorried scientists in South Africa are scrambling to combat the lightning spread across the country of the new and highly transmissible omicron COVID-19 variant as the world grapples with its emergence.
UK to probe racial bias in medical devices after COVID toll
Read full article: UK to probe racial bias in medical devices after COVID tollThe British government is investigating whether built-in racial bias in some medical devices led to Black and Asian people getting sick and dying disproportionately from COVID-19.
The Latest: Arkansas governor decries federal mandates
Read full article: The Latest: Arkansas governor decries federal mandatesArkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says federal vaccination mandates announced by President Joe Biden last week hurt efforts to overcome the public’s resistance to taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
UK's vaccine assessor opts against COVID jabs for children
Read full article: UK's vaccine assessor opts against COVID jabs for childrenThe independent body advising the British government on the rollout of coronavirus vaccines says the direct health benefits of offering the jabs to all healthy 12-to-15-year-olds are marginal.
The Latest: Nevada hospitals see severe shortage of nurses
Read full article: The Latest: Nevada hospitals see severe shortage of nursesState health officials in Nevada say hospitals are seeing a severe shortage of nurses and some northern Nevada hospitals are nearly out of staffed beds for patients.
UK health chief sees 'unfair' pricing for COVID travel tests
Read full article: UK health chief sees 'unfair' pricing for COVID travel testsBritain’s competition watchdog says it will look into the cost of COVID-19 testing for travelers after Health Secretary Sajid Javid complained that high prices for the government-mandated tests were preventing some people from going on holiday.
UK spares key workers quarantine as staff shortages bite
Read full article: UK spares key workers quarantine as staff shortages biteBritain is easing coronavirus quarantine rules for essential workers including prison guards, veterinarians and garbage collectors in an attempt to end staff shortages that are hobbling parts of the economy.
England quarantine rules being relaxed to avoid shortages
Read full article: England quarantine rules being relaxed to avoid shortagesThe British government has sought to ease food supply pressures in England by exempting more than 10,000 workers from quarantine rules that had led to staff shortages and empty shelves and fears of panic-buying.
Virus surge fears, UK leader's quarantine, mar 'Freedom Day'
Read full article: Virus surge fears, UK leader's quarantine, mar 'Freedom Day'England’s nightclubs have reopened as the country lifted most remaining restrictions after more than a year of lockdowns, mask mandates and other pandemic-related curbs on freedom.
The Latest: Most of S Korean warship's crew have coronavirus
Read full article: The Latest: Most of S Korean warship's crew have coronavirusThe number of infected sailors on a South Korean destroyer on an anti-piracy mission off East Africa has soared to 247, the largest cluster for the country’s military during the coronavirus pandemic.
UK's France curbs irk travelers; health chief tests positive
Read full article: UK's France curbs irk travelers; health chief tests positiveTourists and the travel industry are venting frustration and anger after Britain's government reversed a plan to ease travel restrictions on France just two days after they were due to start.
The Latest: 3 lawmakers who fled Texas over vote have virus
Read full article: The Latest: 3 lawmakers who fled Texas over vote have virusThree of the Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas to stymie a Republican-backed effort to impose broad new voting restrictions have tested positive for COVID-19 in the nation’s capital.
Johnson: England to lift last virus restrictions on July 19
Read full article: Johnson: England to lift last virus restrictions on July 19British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that all remaining lockdown restrictions in England will be lifted in a week despite a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.
IS bride loses bid to return to UK to fight for citizenship
Read full article: IS bride loses bid to return to UK to fight for citizenshipFILE - This undated photo released by the Metropolitan Police of London, shows Shamima Begum. Shamima Begum who ran away from London as a teenager to join the Islamic State group lost her bid Friday Feb. 26, 2021 to return to the U.K. to fight for the restoration of her citizenship, which was revoked on national security grounds. (Metropolitan Police of London via AP, File)LONDON – A woman who ran away from London as a teenager to join the Islamic State group lost her bid Friday to return to the U.K. to fight for the restoration of her citizenship, which was revoked on national security grounds. Begum's lawyers appealed,, saying her right to a fair hearing was harmed by the obstacles of pursuing her case from the camp. The U.K. Supreme Court disagreed, ruling Friday that the right to a fair hearing does not trump all other considerations, such as public safety.
IS bride to return to UK to fight for British citizenship
Read full article: IS bride to return to UK to fight for British citizenshipLONDON A U.K. woman who as a teenager ran away to join the Islamic State group won the right Thursday to return to Britain to fight for the restoration of her citizenship, which was revoked on national security grounds. Shamima Begum was one of three east London schoolgirls who traveled to Syria in 2015. She resurfaced at a refugee camp in Syria and told reporters she wanted to come home, but was denied the chance after Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid revoked her citizenship. She challenged the decision, arguing she is not the citizen of another country and that Javids decision left her stateless. But the stripping of her citizenship without a chance to clear her name is not justice it is the opposite.