Brief. Me Better Faster December 28, 2025 5:13 pm
Britain’s immigration plans will ‘damage lives’ and undermine international cooperation, warns UN
The UK’s new immigration plans will “damage lives” and undermine international cooperation on refugee issues, the UN has warned.
In a damning critique of Priti Patel’s asylum overhaul, the UN’s refugee agency said it was “deeply concerned” about the “discriminatory two-tier” approach and urged the Home Office to “rethink” the proposals. – The Independent
Police in Brussels break up crowds of people celebrating the end of curfew
Hundreds of revellers in Brussels had to be dispersed by police Saturday night.
The crowds of mainly young people had gathered in the Place Flagey to celebrate the first day of the lifting of curfew.
Police used water cannon as the mayor of Ixelles, Christos Doulkeridis, urged people to go home. – Euronews
Famous German Architect Killed in Illinois Bike Accident
Helmut Jahn, a prominent German architect who designed an Illinois state government building and worked on the design of the FBI headquarters in Washington, was killed in a bicycle accident outside Chicago. – VOA
Turkey wants to start a fresh chapter with EU despite obstacles
Since the approval of its candidacy to EU membership in 1999, Turkish relations with Brussels have been strained, exacerbated by Turkey’s controversial moves in the eastern Mediterranean and concerns over its ongoing democratic issues. – Arab News
Death toll rises to 85 in Afghanistan girls’ school bomb attack
The death toll in a bomb attack targeting schoolgirls in Kabul on Saturday has risen to 85, Danish Hedayat, head of media for the second vice president of Afghanistan, told CNN on Monday.
Another 147 wounded people were wounded in the attack in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood, said Hedayat. – CNA
Golden Globes controversy: Scarlett Johansson joins criticism
Actor Scarlett Johansson has joined criticism of the body behind the Golden Globe Awards over how it plans to tackle discrimination.
Golden Globe organisers the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has been accused of a lack of diversity and shadowy workings.
Earlier this week the body voted in reforms to widen its membership. – BBC World
Lockdown: Boris Johnson to announce 17 May changes for England
BBC News says the PM is set to announce the return of indoor hospitality and household mixing from next Monday as part of the next steps of easing lockdown in England.
Boris Johnson is expected to say that further relaxation of measures can go ahead as the data supports it. The relaxation of rules could include people being allowed to hug each other.
Michael Gove said No 10 wanted to see “friendly contact” between people restored.Ministers will meet in the morning to agree on the next step, due on 17 May.
France’s number of patients in intensive care falls below 5,000
France24 says the number of Covid-19 patients in France’s ICU fell below 5,000 for the first time since March 29 on Sunday in a sign that the third wave of the Covid-19 is easing, health ministry data showed.
The number was down for a sixth day in a row at 4,971, against 5,005 the previous day, the ministry said.
The ministry also said a total of 106,392 people had died from COVID-19 as of Sunday, up 115.
US Navy seizes weapons in Arabian Sea ‘destined for Yemen from Iran’
Arab News says the US Navy said it has seized an arms shipment of thousands of assault weapons, machine guns and sniper rifles hidden aboard a ship, apparently bound for Yemen to support the country’s Houthi rebels.
An American defense official told The Associated Press that the Navy’s initial investigation found the vessel came from Iran, again tying the Islamic Republic to arming the Houthis despite a United Nations arms embargo.
At least 11 killed in Afghanistan bus bombing
Aljazeera says at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured after a roadside bomb struck a bus in Afghanistan’s southern Zabul province.
The blast took place late on Sunday night, said Zabul’s provincial governor’s spokesman, adding 25 people were injured including women and children who were in critical condition.
Violence in the country has been rising sharply in recent weeks after the United States announced it would withdraw troops by September 11.
Iraqi journalist shot in head day after anti-government activist killed
TRT World says an Iraqi journalist is in intensive care after being shot in the head only 24 hours after a leading anti-government activist was killed.
Anti-corruption campaigner Ehab al Wazni was shot dead early on Sunday in Karbala, sending protest movement supporters onto the streets to demand an end to such bloodshed and official impunity.
Wazni had led protests in the Shia shrine city of Karbala, where pro-Tehran armed groups hold major sway.
US ‘Turning the Corner’ Against Coronavirus, White House Says
VOA says the US is “turning the corner” in the fight against the Covid-19, a key White House official said.
Jeffrey Zients told CNN that the U.S. has “enough supply [of vaccines] for all Americans,” even as the number of new daily vaccinations has dropped to 2.1 million, down 40% from last month’s peak pace.
Gunman attacks birthday party, Kills 6
VOA says a man fatally shot six adults, including his girlfriend, and then himself at a birthday party in Colorado, early Sunday, sparing the children who were present, officials said.
“The suspect, a boyfriend of one of the female victims, drove to the residence, walked inside and began shooting people at the party before taking his own life,” a statement said.
Live Updates
Lockdown: Boris Johnson to announce 17 May changes for England
France’s number of patients in intensive care falls below 5,000
US Navy seizes weapons in Arabian Sea ‘destined for Yemen from Iran’
- At least 11 killed in Afghanistan bus bombing
Iraqi journalist shot in head day after anti-government activist killed
US ‘Turning the Corner’ against Covid-19, White House Says
Monday’s front pages are heavily dominated by the Labour party’s reshuffle, following the disaster of the local election
Labour reshuffle – Keir ‘plunged into crisis’
The i says Anneliese Dodds has been demoted as shadow chancellor and now replaced by Rachel Reeve and Nick Brown will leave the chief whip role. The reshuffle comes after Labour lost more than 320 councillors at the polls in England last week and eight councils. The paper says the reshuffle was delayed as leader Keir Stramer and his deputy “haggled over her future.”
The Guardian’s front splash says Keir’s plan to demote Ms Rayner was “derailed” following a backlash from the deputy’s supporters. The paper says Rayner is considered a future leadership challenger. The front page was released before the reshuffle got underway and says Keir’s leadership has been “plunged into crisis.”
The Daily Telegraph says the hard left has warned Keir Starmer that he will face a leadership challenge unless the party improved its performance. The paper says allies of Jeremy Corbyn accused Keir of lacking “basic political skills” and vowed to push back against his modernising plans. Khalid Mahmood who quit as shadow defence minister following the election disaster said the party is seen as being “out of touch” and “captured by urban liberals.”
Britain lockdown easing – ‘hugs for Britain’
Metro leads with “Darling hugs of May” as Boris Johnson is expected to announce that hugging loved ones will be allowed from 17 May. He is expected to say that further social distancing measures will be relaxed including groups of up to six can meet indoors.
The Daily Mirror uses the same headline as Metro – a play on the 90s comedy TV series. The paper says Micheal Gove confirmed the relaxing of rules on Sunday, saying: “Intimate contact, between friends and family, we want to see restored.”
The Daily Mail says the relaxing of the rules is a “huge hug for Britain,” saying the PM will “herald a return to freedom” in his speech on Monday. The paper reports that, with a third of adults now vaccinated with two doses of a Covid-19 jab, it’s expected the PM will announce that friends and family can hug from next Monday. England’s pubs, restaurants and cafes will also be able to let in customers for indoor service.
The Daily Express says the relaxation of rules – labelled “new freedoms” by the paper – are apparently here to stay, the paper quotes the PM. Boris Johnson said on Sunday: “The road map remains on track. We can now look forward to unlocking cautiously but irreversibly.”
Cryptocurrency: Musk’s SpaceX to launch dogecoin moon mission – read on
US passes emergency waiver over fuel pipeline cyber-attack – read on
Service sector confidence surges as vaccine rollout continues – read on
West Brom down after defeat at Arsenal – read on
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Manchester United ‘will delay City’s title as long as we can’ – read on
Lewis Hamilton takes control after the Spanish Grand Prix through Mercedes’ racing instinct – read on
A spat over Covid vaccine doses has erupted between the European Union and the UK threatens to have far reaching implications over coronavirus jab disruption.
Brussels demanded access to AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in UK plants to make up for a shortfall after the pharmaceutical giant said it would have to cut the amount of doses delivered to the bloc by the end of March.
What do we know about the dispute? And what potential implications could the rumbling dispute have on future Covid vaccine rollouts? – (ITV)
Recent and upcoming changes
Restrictions are easing across the UK.
In England
Step 1 of the roadmap out of lockdown has begun. Shielding ends on 31 March.
In Scotland
People will be asked to ‘Stay Local’ from 2 April. A timetable for further lockdown easing from 5 April is on GOV.SCOT.
In Wales
The stay at home restriction was lifted on 13 March. Read about the rules on GOV.WALES.
In Northern Ireland
The next review will happen on or before 15 April. You can read the guidance on current restrictions on nidirect.
latest Covid-19 news
For the latest Covid-19 news visit the UK governement website