COVID-19: Dominoes players fined for breaking Tier 4 rules with restaurant game

​​​​​​​A dozen people have been fined for breaking Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions after playing dominoes in a restaurant.

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  • 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.”

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Navalny Lawyer Forcefully Detained During Live Interview at Moscow Protests

    A lawyer and media producer for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was hauled away by riot police as she spoke to press during an anti-Putin protest in Moscow on January 23.Footage here shows Lyubov Sobol addressing media before suddenly being grabbed by police. She was then led through the crowd to a waiting police van, which was driven away, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.Protests had been taking place across Russia that day in support of Navalny, who was detained in Moscow on January 17 after flying back from Germany. Navalny had been in Berlin recovering from his alleged poisoning in August 2020.The Moscow Times reported that more than 1,900 people had been detained at protests nationwide. Credit: Current Time via Storyful

  • Chief constable warned ministers and coroners to prepare for smart motorway deaths

    A chief constable warned coroners and ministers that smart motorways would lead to more deaths if the hard shoulder was scrapped, a letter obtained by The Telegraph shows. In December 2013, David Crompton, the then chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, warned how plans to “upgrade” the M1 would “increase the risk both to the public” and “contribute towards death or serious injury.” He cited Highways England’s own prediction of a 200 per cent increase in cars stranded in live lanes as “proof” about his concerns. Despite listing nine bullet points about why the M1 should keep its hard shoulder, the Department for Transport approved the proposals. The M1 opened as a four lane smart motorway in 2017. Two years later the Telegraph revealed how four people were killed after their cars stopped in a live M1 lane before being hit by other vehicles across a stretch of the route. The release of the letter, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, come as Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, is due to meet Highways England bosses to demand his 18-point plan meant to make smart motorways safer is “accelerated”. He is expected to ask “tough questions” and demand a swifter rollout of technology capable of spotting stationary vehicles, a source said.

  • 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.

  • 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’

  • 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.

  • 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".

  • Move to EU to avoid Brexit costs, firms told

    Move to EU to avoid Brexit costs, firms toldExporters advised by Department for International Trade officials to form EU-based companies to circumvent border issues * Brexit nightmare: British businesses at breaking point

  • ‘A complete massacre, a horror film’: inside Brazil's Covid disaster

    ‘A complete massacre, a horror film’: inside Brazil's Covid disaster. Hospitals in Amazonas state overwhelmed after surge in infections linked to new variant, leaving many without even the most basic supplies

  • UK weather: Snow and ice across much of country before rain returns

    Plummeting temperatures have brought snow and ice across swathes of the UK with cold conditions following Storm Christoph, and is forecast to remain until the middle of the week. London was blanketed in snow on Sunday morning. Areas of sleet and snow had been forecast for southeast Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England moving east into the Midlands and the south and southeast of England. Sunny spells are expected elsewhere but also wintry showers, frost, and windy conditions in the far southwest. In the evening, showers will become largely confined to eastern areas and overnight will clear. Most places will be dry with clear spells however showers will sink southwards across Scotland and there will be more showers in the south-west by dawn. Steve Willington, chief forecaster for the Met Office, said: “The exit of Storm Christoph – which brought the heavy rain to a central band of the UK – has established a flow of colder air from Iceland and the Arctic. And this is bringing a mix of wintry hazards across the UK." Frosts are expected overnight on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

  • Sturgeon: SNP will hold Scottish independence vote if it wins in May

    Sturgeon: SNP will hold Scottish independence vote if it wins in May. First minister says she will hold advisory referendum, whether Westminster consents or not

  • 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

  • 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.”

  • EU vaccine rollout thrown into further disarray as AstraZeneca announces delay

    Member states warn ‘delays cost lives’ amid threats of legal action and calls to cut bureaucracy, while Hungary turns to Russia

  • UK weather: Snow and ice to disrupt travel

    Temperatures to plunge to as low as -10C overnight

  • WandaVision theory suggests MCU series may have already set up Doctor Strange 2’s main villain

    Disney+ series has left many viewers scratching their heads