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by James PHEBY LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain on Thursday became the first country to approve an anti-Covid pill, as it greenlit the use of Merck’s antiviral drug to treat patients suffering from mild to moderate coronavirus, regulators said. “Today is a historic day for our country, as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for Covid-19,” said health minister Sajid […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Finance minister Rishi Sunak is to announce plans to make Britain the world’s first net zero financial services centre by 2050, the Treasury said Tuesday. The chancellor of the exchequer will set out the plans on carbon emissions in a speech at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow on Wednesday morning. Sunak will unveil proposals for financial institutions and listed companies that operate primarily in Britain to be required […]
NEWHAVEN, United Kingdom (AFP) — As a row over post-Brexit fishing rights between Britain and France escalated on Thursday, British fishermen complained they were being worn down as their livelihoods were forgotten during the standoff. In Newhaven on Britain’s southern coast, the fishing town’s main quay was almost deserted as a week of bad weather forced the local fleet, comprised of small trawlers, to remain in harbour. But amid threats from Paris to target British […]
by Véronique DUPONT with Stuart GRAHAM in Dundee Agence France-Presse NORTH RONALDSAY (ORKNEY), United Kingdom (AFP) – On a tiny island in Scotland’s far-flung Orkneys, thousands of sheep spend the winter munching on seaweed, a unique diet that scientists say offers hope for reducing planet-warming methane emissions. Around 60 people share North Ronaldsay — an island just over 3 miles (5 kilometres) long, ringed by rocky beaches and turquoise waters off the north coast of mainland […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Success at the upcoming COP26 climate summit is “definitely harder” than the 2015 Paris talks which resulted in a landmark accord, the British minister presiding over the gathering warned Saturday. The October 31-November 12 gathering in Glasgow is the biggest climate conference since the Paris summit and is seen as crucial in setting worldwide emission targets to slow global warming. Alok Sharma, the British minister in charge of the talks, […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Daily virus cases in the UK on Thursday soared to over 50,000 a day for the first time since July but the government again resisted calls to reimpose restrictions. According to the latest statistics, there were 52,009 new cases recorded in the UK — the highest figure since July 17. The UK has managed to administer two vaccine doses to 79 percent of those aged 12 and over and the […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Queen Elizabeth II spent a night in hospital after being advised to rest and cancel a visit to Northern Ireland this week, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday. “Following medical advice to rest for a few days, The Queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for some preliminary investigations, returning to Windsor Castle at lunchtime today (Thursday), and remains in good spirits,” a statement said. Britain’s domestic Press Association news agency said […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s government on Wednesday rejected calls to trigger “Plan B” measures to limit spiralling Covid infection rates, even as it warned that cases could reach as many 100,000 a day over the winter months. Healthcare leaders have urged the government to reinstate some restrictions to prevent the close-contact spread of the coronavirus, including the wearing of masks indoors, to ease pressure on hospitals. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid played down […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Healthcare leaders urged the British government Wednesday to reinstate some coronavirus restrictions to ease pressures on hospitals because of spiralling case numbers. But ministers remain opposed to reintroducing any curbs, arguing the situation is still far better than earlier this year and the country is learning to “live with the virus”. A total of 223 deaths from Covid-19 were registered on Tuesday — the highest 24-hour toll since March — […]
by Joe JACKSON Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday urged foreign investors to buy into post-Brexit Britain as he seeks to power future prosperity on renewable energy and green technology. His government also outlined more detailed plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, including a drive towards electric vehicles. The moves are part of a £90 billion ($125 billion, 107-billion-euro) plan that ministers say will support 440,000 […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain on Tuesday said it was monitoring a subvariant of the Delta strain of the coronavirus, which has been seen in a growing number of cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the government was keeping a “close eye” on the AY.4.2 variant but said there was no evidence it spreads more easily. “As you would expect, we are monitoring it closely and won’t hesitate to take action if necessary,” […]
by James PHEBY LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain has repeatedly trumpeted its mass vaccination program against Covid-19, hailing its early approval of jabs as a key part of the long struggle to return to normal life. But infection rates remain stubbornly high, contrasting sharply with its European neighbors and prompting fresh questions of the government. For two weeks, the number of new cases has wavered between 35,000 and 40,000 a day, and on Monday […]
