Brief. Me Better Faster December 31, 2025 9:24 pm
Coronavirus Cases: 136,654,228
Deaths: 2,949,751
Recovered: 109,887,550
Union in peril as PM ‘speaks for England alone’, former civil servant warns
The pandemic has seeded the idea of a prime minister “who speaks for England alone” as relations between the four nations of the UK deteriorate amid “deep-rooted complacency”, a senior former civil servant has warned.
There is widespread ignorance towards the union, meaning ministers can be kept in the dark about major reforms with little consideration for the four nations, Sir Philip Rycroft, the permanent secretary to the Brexit department until 2019, says in a report. – The Guardian
Covid-19: Paris police bust 100 at clandestine restaurant
Paris police fined over 100 diners late Friday at an underground restaurant flouting coronavirus restrictions and arrested its organiser, after a week of allegations that ministers attended similar rule-breaking events.
Officers were “called out for an excessive noise complaint about a restaurant” and “put an end to a gathering of over 110 people,” the French capital’s police posted on Twitter. – Euronews
County Plans to Return California Beachfront Taken From Black Family in 1920s
Los Angeles County plans to return prime beachfront property to descendants of a Black couple who built a seaside resort for African Americans but suffered racist harassment and were stripped of the property by local city leaders a century ago, a county official said Friday.
“It is the county’s intention to return this property,” Janice Hahn, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, told a news conference at what was known as Bruce’s Beach in the city of Manhattan Beach. – VOA
‘Green Paradise’ brings hydroponics to Libya
Under a yellow tarpaulin stretched over an arched metal frame, Siraj Bechiya and his partner inspect their hydroponically grown lettuce, pioneers of the method in mostly desert Libya where conventional agriculture struggles.
Zip ties, punctured plastic cups as pots and PVC tubing bought in DIY shops hold the precious crops at “Green Paradise” — so dubbed by the two young Libyan entrepreneurs spearheading the project. – Arab News
Japan begins COVID-19 shots for those over 65 as fourth infection wave looms
Japan began COVID-19 vaccinations for its sizable elderly population on Monday (Apr 12), with imported doses still in short supply and the pace unlikely to stop a fourth wave of infection.
Shots for people aged 65 and above began at about 120 sites across the country, using Pfizer’s vaccine made in Europe and delivered to the regions in the past week. – CNA
St Vincent volcano: Eruptions likely in coming days, experts warn
The Caribbean island of St Vincent is likely to see further volcanic eruptions and ash fall over the coming days, experts have warned.
The La Soufrière volcano first erupted on Friday, blanketing the island in a layer of ash and forcing more than 16,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Smaller explosions continued over the weekend, causing power cuts and disrupting water supplies. – BBC World
England Covid lockdown eases: PM warns people to ‘behave responsibly’
BBC News says Boris Johnson has warned people to continue to take steps to “suppress Covid” as the latest stage of lockdown easing comes into effect.
Pub gardens, indoor gyms and hairdressers are among the businesses that can now reopen in England.
Mr Johnson welcomed the “major” step towards normality, but urged everyone to “behave responsibly”.
David Cameron accepts ‘lessons to be learnt’ as he breaks silence over lobbying scandal
The Independent says David Cameron has insisted he broke no rules over his lobbying for the failed finance firm Greensill, but admitted he should have communicated with the government “through only the most formal of channels”.
The former PM said he understood public concern about his contact, including by text message and email, with cabinet ministers including Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, and Matt Hancock, the health secretary.
Germany remembers victims of Nazis 76 years after liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp
Euronews says wreaths were laid at the infamous Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald on Sunday, 76 years after its liberation by the allies.
The president summed up the atrocities committed at Buchenwald and other camps during the Third Reich.
“With its large number of victim groups, Buchenwald represents the entire barbarity of the Nazis’ aggressive nationalism on the outside, dictatorship and oppression on the inside, and Völkisch thought,” he said. “Buchenwald stands for racial ideology, torture, murder and extermination.”
Suez Canal shipping course could be expanded
Arab News says the shipping course of the Suez Canal could be expanded under plans being considered by the waterway’s authority.
A shipping course of a vessel is the direction in which it is to be steered.
Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority, said that the canal’s continuous development operations had helped it to maintain its position as the first choice for major shipping lines.
India overtakes Brazil as world’s second worst-hit country
Aljazeera says India has reported a record 168,912 COVID-19 infections overnight, overtaking Brazil to become the second-most affected country globally by the coronavirus.
India’s overall tally reached 13.53 million, while John Hopkins University put the total number of cases in Brazil at 13.48 million. The United States leads the global tally with 31.2 million cases.
Myanmar sees massive spike in civilian deaths as junta intensifies attacks
TRT World says a security guard was wounded in a bomb blast outside a military-owned bank in Myanmar’s second-biggest city, as the civilian death toll from the junta’s brutal crackdown on dissent topped more than 700 at the weekend.
Myawaddy Bank’s biggest branch in Mandalay was targeted on Sunday morning and a security guard was injured in the explosion, according to local media.
Minnesota Police Shoot, Kill Man After Traffic Stop Incident
VOA says the family of a 20-year-old Minnesota man told a crowd that he was shot by police Sunday before getting back into his car and driving away, then crashing the vehicle several blocks away. The family of Daunte Wright said he was later pronounced dead.
Officials from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the agency was on the scene of a shooting involving a police officer in Brooklyn Center on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Wrights demanded answers from police.
Live Updates
England Covid lockdown eases: PM warns people to ‘behave responsibly’
- David Cameron accepts ‘lessons to be learnt’ as he breaks silence over lobbying scandal
- India overtakes Brazil as world’s second worst-hit country
- Minnesota Police Shoot, Kill Man After Traffic Stop Incident
Harry’s return & pubs reopen
Most of Monday’s front pages carry news related to the Duke of Edinburgh’s death – Prince Harry’s return to the UK and Prince Philip’s death leaving a “huge void” in the Queen’s life.
Another top story for the front splashes is the easing of England’s lockdown restrictions – as the PM warns caution.
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The Sun says Prince Harry flew into Britain on Sunday ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday. It is the first time Harry has been back in the UK since he and his wife Meghan stepped back from royal duties. Meghan, who is heavily pregnant, will remain in the US on the advice of her doctors.
Read the full story on the Sun
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The Times reports Prince Andrew said his father’s death had left a “huge void” in the Queen’s life. The Princess Royal said her father was her “teacher, supporter and critic”. Prince Andrew said Britain had lost “the grandfather of the nation”, adding that the Queen’s family was “rallying round” to support her after she lost her husband, the paper adds. The photo dominating the front page is of the Queen and Prince Philip at Balmoral in 1972, which has been posted on the Royal Family’s Instagram account.
Read the full story on the Times
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The Daily Telegraph also leads with the Queen’s tribute to her husband. “The Queen, as you would expect, is an incredibly stoic person. And she described his passing as a miracle,” Prince Andrew said. On Sunday, a special remembrance service for Prince Philip was held in Canterbury Cathedral.
Read the full story on the Daily Telegraph
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The i leads with the PM’s comments to ‘behave responsibly, as scientists warn that infections could spike again if social distancing is not observed, the paper adds. It comes as a record number of second doses were administered in the UK on Saturday – more than 475,000.
Oxford Street: Wooing shoppers back to Europe’s busiest high street – Read on
Italian firm launches surprise bid in race for the National Lottery – Read on
Post Office chief Read delivers plan to share profits with postmasters – Read on
Snobs, no-shows and the best Zoom backgrounds – our six key talking points – Read on
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West ‘strictly only talk about the kids or business’ – Read on
BBC receives complaints about TV coverage of duke’s death – 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