Brief. Me Better Faster December 22, 2025 10:56 am
Return to crowded A&Es and long ambulance delays will put patients at risk, warn experts
Hospital emergency departments are facing a return to dangerous overcrowding within weeks, with queues of ambulances waiting hours to hand over patients, accident and emergency doctors have warned.
A “system failure” of the wider NHS system to support patients means more people are being forced to turn to A&E, said Dr Adrian Boyle, vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. – The Independent
Europe has reached a ‘breaking point’ over organised crime, says Europol
The threat posed by organised crime in Europe has never been higher, according to the EU’s law enforcement agency.
A new report published Monday by Europol says the pandemic is likely to fuel gang activity on the continent for years to come, in large part due to an unprecedented influx of cocaine.
The organisation’s director Catherine De Bolle told AFP that Europe is at a “breaking point”. – Euronews
Minnesota sports teams postpone games after Daunte Wright’s shooting
Professional sports in Minneapolis have been effectively suspended following the fatal police shooting of a 20-year-old Black man in the suburb of Brooklyn Center and subsequent outcry.
Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Minnesota Twins, National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL) were all set to play at home on Monday. – TRT World
Prince Hamza of Jordan will not face trial: Jordanian media
Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh denied there had been a “coup,” and that the former Crown Prince Hamza bin Hussein will not face a trail, local media reported on Monday citing lawmakers.
Members of parliament, Saleh Al-Armouti, Mohammad Al-Alaqma and Omar Ayasrah, told Roya News TV that their prime minister confirmed that “there was no coup” and that those involved were arrested with the exception of Prince Hamzah, “who will be dealt with within the framework of the royal family.” – Arab News
Indonesia Muslims begin Ramadan with social distanced prayers, COVID-19 vaccines
Muslims in Indonesia began marking Ramadan with communal prayers on Tuesday (Apr 13) in a socially distanced contrast to the empty mosques of a year ago when Islam’s holiest month coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus cases are spiking in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, but vaccines are being administered and the government is loosening restrictions. – CNA
Taiwan: ‘Record number’ of China jets enter airspace
Taiwan has said a record number of Chinese military jets flew into its airspace on Monday.
The defence ministry said 25 aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers entered its so-called air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday.
The incursion is the largest in a year and comes as the US warns against an “increasingly aggressive China”. – BBC World
Covid-19: England gets third jab as Moderna rollout begins
BBC says England is giving out its first doses of the Moderna jab, the third Covid-19 vaccine in the nation’s rollout.
It will be available at 21 sites, included the Madejski Stadium in Reading and the Sheffield Arena.
Along with the Pfizer jab, it offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s, after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.
Crowds of drinkers in London’s Soho celebrate pubs reopening ‘like VE Day’
The Independent says London’s Soho was busier than ever on Monday night — although some of those enjoying the reopening of pubs admitted there was “very little” social distancing being adhered to.
Police patrolled central London as crowds flocked to Old Compton Street, signalling the end of certain lockdown restrictions and the reopening of pubs and bars’ outdoor areas across England.
Europe’s Covid-19 death toll surpasses one million as cases continue to rise
France24 says Europe passed the grim milestone of one million coronavirus deaths on Monday, as the WHO warned that infections are rising exponentially despite widespread efforts aimed at stopping them.
The death toll across Europe’s 52 countries, compiled by AFP from official sources, totalled at least 1,000,288 by 1830 GMT.
“We are in a critical point of the pandemic right now,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19.
Report finds drugs, negligence led to fatal Egypt train collision
Arab News says Egypt’s Public Prosecution said that railway employees acted with gross negligence in the Sohag train accident after finding that the driver and assistant “were not present” in the cab car at the time of the collision.
It comes as the prosecution releases its report into the fatal crash, which killed 20 people and wounded 199 others.
According to a statement, the superintendent of the nearby Maragha station tower had consumed hashish before the crash, while the assistant driver of the train consumed the same drug and Tramadol, a pain medication.
Japan to release contaminated Fukushima water into sea
Aljazeera says Japan says it will release more than one million tonnes of contaminated water from the ruined Fukushima nuclear power station back into the sea, in a decision that drew swift condemnation from South Korea and environmental groups and is likely to anger the fishing industry.
The work to release the water will begin in about two years, the government said and the whole process is expected to take decades.
Curfew in Minneapolis after police killing of Black man
TRT World says the policewoman who fatally shot 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Minneapolis suburb accidentally confused her handgun with her taser, police say, sparking tensions in city already on edge because of George Floyd’s murder trial.
Authorities in and around Minneapolis have announced a curfew, dramatically escalating tensions in the US city.
“I have declared a state of emergency in the city of Minneapolis, and we are following that up with a curfew that will begin at 7:00 pm (2300 GMT) tonight (and) go until 6:00 am tomorrow morning,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.
Police kill student who fired at them at Tennessee high school, authorities say
The Guardian says a student at a Tennessee high school has been shot and killed by police after opening fire on officers responding to reports of a gunman on campus, authorities said on Monday.
Police found the student in a bathroom at Austin-East magnet high school in Knoxville. They ordered him out, but he wouldn’t comply, and that is when he reportedly opened fire. Police fired back.
Live Updates
- Covid-19: England gets third jab as Moderna rollout begins
- Crowds of drinkers in London’s Soho celebrate pubs reopening ‘like VE Day’
- Europe’s Covid-19 death toll surpasses one million as cases continue to rise
- Report finds drugs, negligence led to fatal Egypt train collision
- Curfew in Minneapolis after police killing of Black man
Most of Tuesday’s front pages are focused on the statements Prince William and Prince Harry released regarding the death of their grandfather, Prince Philip. The papers also feature the reopening of pubs, as the UK celebrates the road to freedom as lockdown measures eased on Monday.
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Daily Mirror says “We’ll miss you, grandpa”, covering the “poignant tributes” of Princes William and Harry. They thanked him for support, advice and all the laughs the paper reports.
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The Sun carries quotes from both princes over an image of the Duke of Edinburgh with his great-grandson, Prince George. Prince William recalls his children enjoying the great-grandfather’s “mischievous sense of humour”, while Prince Harry extols him as a “legend of banter”.
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The Metro draws a sharp contrast between the two brothers’ tributes, calling them “words apart”. It says both their tributes were heartfelt and moving, but could not have been more different – with Prince William praising a “lifetime of service” while Prince Harry made reference to his “banter”.
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The i newspaper features a picture of shoppers queuing as restrictions were eased – and high street footfall rocketed. Its lead story reports that ministers are considering offering people “mix-and-match” booster vaccines in the autumn, with an extra dose of another type of vaccine to increase immunity further.
Microsoft makes $20bn bet on speech AI firm Nuance – BBC Business
Promising signs for UK travel industry as spending picture improves – Sky Business
Buzzfeed UK revenue falls as pandemic hits digital advertising – CITYAM
Back to back wins give West Ham hope – Read on
Brighton edge towards safety with Everton draw – Read on
NBA: ‘Oh my goodness!’ – Charlotte Hornets’ Miles Bridges skies for emphatic dunk – 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