Dr. Birx Says Trump’s Dysfunctional Response to the Pandemic Caused Needless Deaths

Dr. Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator for former President Donald Trump, was featured in a CNN documentary broadcast on Sunday night

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  • Have your say: Are you going to watch Prince Philip's funeral?

    The BBC's Huw Edwards will lead six hours of coverage of Prince Philip's funeral across three channels – despite record complaints to the broadcaster about its coverage of his death.

  • Climate crisis pushing polar bears to mate with grizzlies, producing hybrid ‘pizzly’ bears

    Scientists say warming Arctic is expanding range of grizzlies, bringing species into greater contact

  • John Cleese pokes fun at Hank Azaria's apology for Apu on 'The Simpsons'

    Cleese said he was sorry for 'any distress' caused.

  • Michel Barnier warns that Frexit remains a risk ahead of presidential elections

    Michel Barnier has warned that France could follow the UK out of the EU, as polls show growing support for the Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen. He said there was “social unrest and anger” over immigration and Europe’s failure to defend its borders and for the “red tape and complexity” of the EU. “We could draw some lessons from Brexit for ourselves. It's now too late for the UK but not for us," the former EU chief negotiator said. “We can find, not just in the UK, but here in France, in the northern regions […] citizens who want to leave the EU,” Mr Barnier, who has returned to domestic politics, said. He added, “It is our responsibility to understand why the British left [...] it's important for us to listen to the anger that was expressed in the UK, and to implement the kind of changes that are necessary to better understand and reassure the European citizens that remain.” Latest IFOP polling shows that Ms Le Pen, who leads the National Rally party, would beat the pro-EU Emmanuel Macron by two percentage points in the first round of next year’s presidential elections. Mr Macron is predicted to win in the second round by 54 percent to 46 percent but that is narrower than the 66.1 percent to 34.6 percent defeat she suffered four years ago. Ms Le Pen called for Frexit in that election but has since stopped campaigning for France to leave the bloc. Instead she wants to create a “Europe of nations”. Mr Barnier hopes to rebuild support for the centre-Right Républicains party ahead of the elections. He was speaking at an event on Brexit in Northern France, where fishermen are complaining they have not yet got fishing licences from the UK since Brexit. Clément Beaune, France’s Europe Minister, said the EU was accused of “being weak and slow”. He said that the bloc should take heart from its robust approach to the Brexit negotiations. “Back in 2016 people thought that this was the beginning of the end for Europe, but we have been able to show that we can be agile, that we can react, that we can be consistent in defending our interests in a firm way to defend the greatest European assets – the Single Market and our political unity.” He added: “These are lessons that we must all keep in mind as Europe is facing more difficulties.” The European Commission warned Britain that any further unilateral action over the Northern Ireland Protocol was unacceptable at a meeting on Thursday night. Maros Sefcovic, the commission vice-president, told Lord Frost that “solutions can only be found through joint actions and through joint bodies”. Britain insists that its unilateral actions in extending the grace periods on food products and parcels is lawful and made in good faith. The meeting over the implementation of new post-Brexit customs arrangements in Northern Ireland was said to be “constructive” by both sides.

  • 'This is a disaster': Boris Johnson urged to act after cases of Indian 'double mutant' variant found in UK

    Experts have called for the government to take action after it emerged that a concerning COVID variant first found in India has already been detected in the UK.

  • Prince Philip apologised to Richard Nixon for faux pas with 'lame' toast during White House visit

    Throughout his decades in public life, Prince Philip was known for putting his royal foot in his mouth with occasional off-the-cuff remarks that could be embarrassing. But his faux pas at a White House dinner with President Richard Nixon in 1969 was enough for Philip to actually lose sleep. In a handwritten note to the president uncovered by archivists at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California, the Duke of Edinburgh wrote to "humbly apologise" for failing to toast the president's health as dictated by protocol during a "stag" dinner in his honor. "After the brilliance of the other speakers and yourself, I am afraid my contribution was very lame," Philip wrote to Nixon from Greenland on Nov 7 after his solo US trip had concluded. He added: "That night I woke up in a cold sweat when I realised I had forgotten to propose your health!" Philip died last week at age 99, and his funeral is Saturday. He was married to Queen Elizabeth for 73 years. "I think the letter itself shows the character of Prince Philip that so much of the public in the U.K. and across the Commonwealth, and really across the world, have come to admire," said Jim Byron, executive vice president of the Nixon Foundation. He said the letter was discovered before the coronavirus pandemic but made public this week, as a way of marking Philip's death. "It expresses some private feelings of a moment in time that the public really doesn't always get a chance to see," Mr Byron added.

  • Frank Worthington: Ex-England striker's widow forced to sell home and faces 'terribly bleak' future

    Former Huddersfield, Leicester and England forward Frank Worthington was one of the English game's great mavericks. The latter years of his life saw wife Carol become his full-time carer as he battled dementia and prostate cancer, with benefits their only source of income. The death of the former Philadelphia Fury and Tampa Bay Rowdies player has left his widow in financial difficulties.

  • Vulnerable asylum seeker kept at Napier Barracks for weeks after attempting to take his life

    Safeguarding failings meant suicidal individuals and potential trafficking victims remained in camp for weeks despite Home Office saying vulnerable people should not be there, previously unseen report shows

  • Colin the Caterpillar vs Cuthbert, Curly and Wiggles: we decide which tastes best

    In the tale of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, along with an ice-cream cone, a pickle, a slice each of Swiss cheese and salami, a lollipop, a wedge of cherry pie, a sausage, cupcake and a slice of watermelon, our ravenous protagonist devours a piece of chocolate cake. It is perhaps no coincidence that the latter has become synonymous with the insect (and visa versa), and subsequently that a caterpillar-shaped sponge is often the most familiar guest at birthday parties and office celebrations across the land. Nor is it surprising that the news of Marks & Spencer taking Aldi to court in a bid to protect its Colin the Caterpillar cake has provoked such an uproar. The retailer has accused the discounter chain of riding on its reputational coat-tails after Aldi began selling its own Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake, which looks very similar. But since M&S launched Colin (a chocolate-coated sponge cake bearing buttercream, topped with sweets and fronted by a smiling white-chocolate face) some 30 years ago, similar critters have emerged, and not only from the German discount store. From Cuthbert and Wiggles to Curly and Carl the free-from caterpillar, there are cute-faced chocolate Swiss rolls in almost every supermarket – and each has a band of fervently loyal supporters. But how do they compare to each other? Does Colin hold the gold standard when it comes to softness of sponge and flavour of edible boot? Are the sprinkles on Curly superior to those adorning Morris? While Aldi has not stocked its Cuthbert cake since mid-February, we netted the best of the rest and put them to the test.

  • Quiz: Are you an expert on superstitions?

    If you think you’re a master of British superstitions, try your luck with our multiple choice quiz.

  • Step forward, Prince Edward: the future Duke of Edinburgh's newfound role at the heart of the royals

    One of the inevitable results of Prince Philip’s sad death is a shake-up in the House of Windsor. And Prince Edward, who will in time become the Duke of Edinburgh, is bound to take on a more prominent role in supporting the Queen and, in time, her successor, Prince Charles. Prince Philip may not have been in the royal line of succession. But his importance to the monarchy was paramount – and his death leaves a huge gap to be filled. The title of Duke of Edinburgh has now been automatically inherited by Prince Charles. But, in a sign of the affection of the Queen and Prince Philip for their youngest son, it will be passed on to Prince Edward on the sad day of the Queen’s death. This was made clear by the Queen in 1999, when Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999 and was made Earl of Wessex. When Prince Charles becomes king, the title of Duke of Edinburgh will ‘merge in the Crown’, meaning the title no longer exists. But Charles III will bestow on his youngest brother a new ‘creation’ of the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ – the fourth creation of the title since it was first bestowed in 1726. It makes perfect sense. Of Prince Philip’s four children, Prince Edward has always been most closely associated with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, created by Prince Philip in 1956. Prince Philip funeral news and royal family updates

  • Driver with child in car crashes into lorry during 80mph police chase

    This is the heart-stopping moment an Audi A3 crashed into a skip lorry during an 80mph police chase - leaving a ten-year-old girl and her mum injured.Driver Jake Ilsley, 26, sped off after police tried to pull him over in connection with an unrelated incident. lsley, of Kersley in Coventry, admitted dangerous driving, exposing a child to unnecessary suffering/injury, failing to stop and driving without insurance. He was jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for four years and seven months this week. (SWNS)

  • Driver with child in car ploughs into lorry after 84 mph police chase

    Jake Ilsley reached speeds of 84mph during the five minute chase which only ended when he crashed into a skip lorry.

  • Luscious lemon squares recipe

    Prep time: 20 minutes, plus 30 minutes chilling | Cooking time: 45-50 minutes MAKES 30 small squares INGREDIENTS For the base 250g unsalted butter, room temperature 90g granulated sugar 250g plain flour ¼ tsp salt For the filling 6 extra-large eggs, room temperature 600g granulated sugar finely grated Zest of 5 lemons Juice of 6 lemons 125g plain flour, sifted Icing sugar, for dusting METHOD Preheat the oven to 170C/150C fan/Gas 3½. To make the crust, cream the butter and sugar in an electric mixer on a medium speed until light but not too fluffy. On a very low speed add the flour and salt and mix until just combined. Turn out the dough (don't worry if it hasn't come together) on to a lightly floured surface and gather into a ball. Using well-floured hands, press into a buttered tin measuring 30 x 22cm. Prick all over with a fork and chill for a good 30 minutes (or put it in the freezer for about 10). Place this in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until pale gold. Set aside to cool but leave the oven on. Using a balloon whisk beat together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest and juice. When combined gradually whisk in the flour. Pour over the cooled crust. Bake for 30 minutes or until set (feel for doneness by touching the centre with your index finger). Leave to cool completely. Cut into squares and dust with icing sugar.

  • London may need restrictions for ‘longer’ as new variant clusters emerge, warn scientists

    Mass surge testing underway in parts of the capital after cluster of South African variant detected

  • UK records 34 more Covid deaths as almost nine million given second jab

    The UK has fully vaccinated almost nine million people as another 34 coronavirus deaths are recorded. The UK's official death toll now stands at 127,225. Government data also showed that 2,596 more new cases of the virus were detected, down from 3,568 recorded on the same day last week.

  • Prince Philip funeral: all eyes on William and Harry and the Queen

    Prince Philip funeral: all eyes on William and Harry and the QueenBody language experts will aim to dissect estranged princes’ movements and the Queen will pay silent tribute to her husband Prince Harry and Prince William in 2015. Senior royals must wear civilian clothes to Prince Philip’s funeral. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

  • ‘Comically evil’: Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert cause outrage by voting against bone marrow donor program

    In comments to The Independent, spokesman for Greene brings up abortion, Boebert mentions growing national debt as reasons for voting against legislation

  • Helen McCrory dies after 'heroic battle' with cancer

    Actress Helen McCrory has died after an “heroic battle” with cancer, her husband has announced. McCrory, known for her roles in the Harry Potter series and Peaky Blinders, passed away at home at the age of 52. Fellow performer Damian Lewis, who married McCrory in 2007, shared the news of her death and paid tribute to the actress.

  • Latest weekly Covid-19 rates for local authority areas in England

    Luton, Bradford and Doncaster are currently recording the highest rates.