Concerts held on Italian glacier with instruments made of ice

An ice music festival is being held in Italy's Presena glacier

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  • UK to quarantine visitors from nations with high COVID-19 risk, Daily Mail says

    Travelers from Brazil and South Africa, and neighbouring countries, will be met on arrival and escorted to hotels to quarantine, under plans being discussed by UK ministers, the Daily Mail said. Johnson favoured a more targeted approach than making all air passengers go into quarantine, said the report, which added that the quarantine decision would be taken on Monday.

  • Government quietly changes law to give councils lockdown powers until July 17 this year

    The Government has quietly extended lockdown laws to give councils the power to close pubs, restaurants, shops and public spaces until July 17 this year. The news will be a major setback for those hoping that life might have returned to normal by early summer once more people are vaccinated against coronavirus. It comes after Boris Johnson admitted late last week that "it's too early to say when we'll be able to lift some of the restrictions". The Government had pledged to review the lockdown measures in the middle of next month. The changes to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No.3) Regulations 2020 were made as part of a review of the third lockdown by Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, earlier this month. This law (originally introduced on July 18 last year) allows a local authority to close or limit access to premises or outdoor spaces in its area to prevent the spread of coronavirus, including stopping events. The regulation, which applies to England only, was due to expire last week but has now been extended until July 17, around the date when school summer holidays begin, as part of a slew of other measures. Mark Harper, the chairman of the Coronavirus Recovery Group of Tory MPs which is campaigning against unnecessary restrictions, said: “The extension of councils’ Covid powers until July will be of great concern to those worried about their jobs and businesses. “Given the limited time allowed for debate this change in the law was little noticed. “Once the top four risk groups have been vaccinated and fully protected by March 8, assuming the Government hits the February 15 deadline, the Government must start easing the restrictions. “Vaccinations will of course bring immunity from Covid, but they must bring immunity from lockdowns and restrictions too.”

  • Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 'besotted' with new puppy that has helped them get over death of Lupo

    When their beloved cocker spaniel, Lupo, died last month, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were heartbroken. But their grief was tempered by the arrival of a new puppy, with whom the whole family is said to be “besotted.” The new cocker spaniel, whose name has not yet been revealed, was given to the family by the Duchess’s brother, James Middleton, before Lupo died. And ensuring it remains a family affair, the puppy is Lupo’s niece. Mr Middleton, 33, bred his first litter of puppies from his dog Ella in 2011. He kept one, called Luna, but gave her brother Lupo to the Duchess in early 2012 after the Duke deployed for six weeks to the Falkland Islands while serving as an RAF search and rescue pilot. Last summer, Mr Middleton, who at the time was staying with his parents at their Berkshire home, bred another litter of six puppies with Luna as their mother. The Cambridges, along with their children Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, two, are said to have had the pick of the litter.

  • Bridgerton fans spot blunder in opening scenes of hit Netflix period drama

    Other amusing production mistakes were also being shared on Twitter

  • Tougher travel restrictions on the way, Matt Hancock warns

    ‘The new variant I really worry about is the one that’s out there but hasn’t been spotted’

  • Nicola Sturgeon taunts Boris Johnson as row blows up over SNP ‘roadmap’ to new Scottish independence vote

    A new poll says 49 per cent of people in Scotland back independence compared with 44 per cent against

  • Biden on collision course with Saudi Arabia that could upset Trump's alliance against Iran

    The Biden administration has already set itself on a collision course with Saudi Arabia after its director of National Intelligence vowed to declassify a report on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The push to release the intelligence community’s assessment of the murder of the dissident journalist, which is believed to implicate Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has the potential to trigger a major fallout with the kingdom. Avril Haines, who was confirmed in her new role on Thursday, told Congress “we will follow the law” regarding the report, referring to the Trump administration’s refusal to release the full version for US House representatives. The CIA is said to have concluded with a high degree of confidence that Prince Mohammed, or MBS - a close ally of the previous government - ordered the Washington Post columnist’s assassination at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. However, its contents have not been made public. MBS, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, has denied he ordered the murder and the Trump administration publicly stood by him despite international condemnation.

  • Vaccinated people could still spread virus, warns Van-Tam

    The number receiving the first dose of the vaccine across the UK has passed 5.8 million.

  • Scientist advising Government urges tougher lockdown

    Professor Susan Michie said current lockdown measures are ‘the problem’ and not people who aren’t sticking to the rules.

  • Matt Hancock says 'we're a long, long, long way' from lockdown measures easing

    The health secretary warned the NHS is still under pressure from high COVID infection rates.

  • Former MI6 chief says he was 'shocked' not to be consulted over decision to use Huawei technology in Britain's 5G

    A former MI6 chief says he was “shocked” not to be consulted over the decision to use Huawei technology in British infrastructure. Sir Richard Dearlove said he had been “militant” at the time the original decision was taken as he felt the government was “going in the wrong direction”. Speaking to the Danube Institute, a think tank, Sir Richard, head of the Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6, from 1999 to 2004, said he never believed assurances that allowing the Chinese technology giant into Britain's 5G infrastructure was safe. “The problem is I’ve been trained as a poacher, not as a gamekeeper,” he said. “If you’re a poacher you know what you can achieve.” “I was Chief when the original deal was signed with Huawei and at the time we were not consulted. “The government let this go through and some of us, when we heard about it, were intensely shocked. “We were becoming partially dependent on Chinese technology and I think there’s no question now with 5G this is something we need to scale back and we need to be wary of. “We need now to encourage replacements [and] have an industrial policy which makes sure that our dependence on Huawei is reduced.”

  • Boris Johnson first European leader to get call from President Biden

    Boris Johnson told Joe Biden his arrival in the White House was a "moment of hope in a dark time" as he became the first leader outside North America to speak to the US President. The Prime Minister is believed to be the third world leader to speak to Mr Biden after his scheduled call was brought forward by two days in what will be seen as a major boost for the special relationship between the UK and US. Mr Johnson spoke to Mr Biden in a 35 minute phone call from his office at 10 Downing Street. The pair discussed "a very wide range of subjects", sources said, describing the conversation as "very warm, friendly and wide ranging with agreement on key issues". One source said Mr Johnson welcomed the “fantastic initial announcements from the Biden administration and ‘moment of hope’ in a dark time”. Announcing the phone call on Twitter, Mr Johnson said it was "great to speak to President Joe Biden".

  • UK records 1,348 more coronavirus deaths

    Public warned not to break rules after receiving vaccine - as they could still spread the virus

  • Rishi Sunak doubles one-off payment offer for universal credit claimants to £1,000

    Rishi Sunak has doubled his offer of a one-off payment to millions of universal credit claimants to £1,000 to replace the weekly £20 uplift, and stave off a growing rebellion among Tory MPs. The Chancellor is hoping that paying an upfront sum could trigger a spending spree to help the economy, The Telegraph understands. Businesses are set to be hit with a double whammy of tax rises in March's budget, however, as Mr Sunak is lining up a gradual reintroduction of business rates and a rise in corporation tax. Writing in The Telegraph, Andrew Griffith MP, a former business adviser to Boris Johnson in 10 Downing Street, backed an increase in corporation tax. He writes: “Today the UK has the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7. Increasing corporation tax rates towards the £1 in every £4 of business profits rate, last seen as recently as 2013, would still see the UK be one of the most internationally competitive economies, particularly if accompanied by modernisation of R&D tax credits and the Government’s ambitious investment in skills.” The £20 a week uplift in universal credit during the pandemic is due to end on March 31 and Mr Sunak is under pressure from Tory MPs in traditionally Labour areas to extend it. However, the Chancellor is said to be loath to continue it, fearing that it would then become a permanent increase costing £6 billion a year. Instead, he is offering to pay the uplift for a year in one £1,000 payment, twice as much as the £500 one-off sum previously reported. A Treasury source declined to comment on the specifics but confirmed that a one off payment was on the table.

  • The Masked Singer: Bush Baby’s identity revealed in latest episode

    *Spoiler warning* Latest episode of the hit ITV reality show featured all the usual intrigue

  • Police injured breaking up 200-person party in Knightsbridge

    Two police officers have been injured breaking up a party attended by 200 people in breach of Covid-19 lockdown rules in Knightsbridge. On Sunday, 17 January, at approximately 03:30hrs, police received reports of a mass gathering taking place at an address on Beauchamp Place, SW3. Several units were deployed to the venue where over 200 people were attending an illegal party.

  • Immunity from first vaccine dose could be as low as 33%, health chief warns

    The immunity offered by the Pfizer vaccine after a single jab was previously estimated to be "around 90%".

  • Dr Fauci says pressure from Trump had 'chilling' effect on White House coronavirus scientists

    The doctor said he expects more transparency under the Joe Biden administration

  • Covid news - live: Biden and Boris Johnson discuss ‘green and sustainable’ coronavirus recovery in first call

    All the day’s events as they happened

  • Neighbours' Paul Keane explains why he won't return full-time as Des Clarke

    "I like the idea of popping back every now and again."