Brief. Me Better Faster December 27, 2025 2:33 pm
Yes but no but yes: flight bookings soar despite baffling travel rules
Airlines have dramatically increased the number of flights to “amber list” holiday destinations amid growing confusion over the government’s traffic light strategy. – The Guardian
Over a dozen firefighting teams deployed to blaze at Poland’s largest coal mine
Thirteen firefighting teams were deployed in Poland on Saturday to tackle a blaze at the country’s largest brown coal mine.
The fire broke out at midday at Belchatow mine, which has large reserves of lignite or brown coal. Huge clouds of black smoke covered the area, which also includes Poland’s largest lignite power plant. – Euronews
Wealthy Americans Hold Back $600 Billion in Taxes Annually, Treasury Says
The Biden administration says wealthy Americans withhold more than $600 billion in unpaid taxes from the Treasury every year, and it has proposed a detailed plan to bulk up the Internal Revenue Service’s enforcement arm in an effort to increase tax compliance among high net worth individuals. – VOA
Iran says inspectors may no longer get nuclear sites images
Iran’s parliament speaker said Sunday that international inspectors may no longer access surveillance images of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites, escalating tensions amid diplomatic efforts in Vienna to save Tehran’s atomic accord with world powers. – Arab News
21 runners die in extreme weather in China cross-country race
Twenty-one people running a mountain marathon cross-country race have died in northwestern China after hail, freezing rain and gale winds hit the high-altitude track, state media reported. – CNA
Mount Nyiragongo: DR Congo residents flee as volcano erupts
Thousands of people have fled their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a large volcano erupted.
Fountains of high lava burst from Mount Nyiragongo into the night sky forming a thick red cloud over the town of Goma, which has a population of two million. – BBC World
The papers are dominated by news Britain’s vaccines are “highly effective” against the variant first identified in India. Also featured is royal news – including the Queen’s return to royal duties.
The Sun on Sunday says if everyone gets their jabs there should be no need for any wobbling over the lifting of restrictions next month.
“Great jab job” is the message from the Sunday Mirror. It says that in the struggle against the virus “science has triumphed again”.
But the paper warns there can be “no let-up” in the delivery of the vaccination programme.
Vaccines effective against variant
The Sunday Telegraph says the vaccines – Pfizer or AstraZeneca – being administered in Britain are “highly effective” against the Indian variant. The paper reports Public Health England experts said the first real-world data showed double doses of either vaccine were nearly as effective against the strain as they are against the dominant Kent variant.
The front-page picture is HM the Queen as she returns to royal duties, six weeks after the death of her husband, Prince Philip. Palace sources said the Queen has a “strong desire” to return to full-time duties. She was pictured wearing a brooch gifted to her by her late husband.
Read the full story on The Telegraph
Ministers: Jab beats variant
The Mail on Sunday says the news the vaccines ‘beat’ the variant means PM Boris Johnson’s roadmap for easing restrictions is “back on track”. The paper says experts at the Porton Down research centre have concluded that the vaccines work to stop infection, transmission and hospitalisation in the same way as they do with the Kent strain.
The Mail’s featured picture is the Queen as she ‘goes back to work’ The paper claims the Queen is ‘deeply’ upset by Harry’s latest interview. Also pictured is Prince William, who the paper says is ‘livid’ at Martin Bashir.
Read the full story on The Daily Mail
On course for freedom day
The Sunday Express says the “astounding” new data shows Britain is “winning the war” against Covid-19. The paper reports that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine give 88% protection against symptomatic infection, while two AstraZeneca jabs give a 60% rate.
As in most of the papers, a picture of the Queen is featured. The Sunday Express’s take is ‘duty first as royal rift rumbles on.’
Read the full story on The Daily Express
Herd immunity was UK policy, says Cummings
The Sunday Times leads with accusations from Dominic Cummings that PM Boris Johnson is pursuing a secret policy of herd immunity in response to the pandemic. The PM’s former chief aide also claimed that all three lockdowns could have been avoided if someone “competent” had been in charge, the paper says.
A picture of Princess Diana with Martin Bashir’s wife and his newborn baby is on the front splash. As the disgraced reporter rejects claims he is responsible for Diana’s death and insists they were friends.
Also featured is the Sunday Times Rich List – pictures include JK Rowling, Marcus Rashford, Harry Styles and Dua Lipa.
Read the full story on the Times
We must act to tackle appalling failures at BBC, warn ministers
The Observer says ministers are to conduct a wider-than-anticipated review of the BBC’s operations next year, according to the paper. The news comes following the findings into how disgraced journalist Martin Bashir secured his famous 1995 interview with Princess Diana. The BBC’s former director-general, Lord Hall, resigned his post as director of the National Gallery on Saturday in wake of Lord Justice Dyson’s independent report into the programme.
The paper reports the ‘No 10 tried to block data on virus spread in schools’. They say the government leaned on PHE not to publish critical data, according to documents seen by the paper.
Read the full story on The Guardian
Heathrow Airport to open terminal for ‘red list’ arrivals – BBC News
COVID-19: UK sees ‘fastest output growth since 1998’ but cost pressures rise – Sky Business
Saturday Sitdown: Public media played key role during Covid, says STV boss – CityAM
Josh Taylor v Jose Ramirez: Scot becomes first Brit to unify division in four-belt era – Read on
Fury v Wilder: Third fight signed for 24 July at Las Vegas venue – Read on
US PGA Championship: Phil Mickelson takes one-shot lead into final round – 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