More than 1,000 migrants have crossed Channel into UK during first quarter of 2021

More than 1,000 people have crossed the English Channel aboard small boats so far in 2021, new data from the PA news agency suggests.

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  • Michelle Heaton apologises for being too scared to visit Nikki Grahame in her final days

    The 'Big Brother' star died last week after a long battle with anorexia.

  • Iran vows revenge against Israel for strike on Natanz nuclear plant

    Iran’s foreign minister on Monday vowed vengeance against Israel for an explosion a day earlier at the Natanz nuclear site that he blamed directly on Tehran’s arch enemy. “The Zionists want to take revenge because of our progress in the way to lift sanctions ... they have publicly said that they will not allow this. But we will take our revenge from the Zionists,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by state TV. Israel has all but claimed responsibility for the apparent sabotage operation that damaged the electricity grid at the Natanz site on Sunday, with multiple Israeli outlets reporting that Mossad carried out the operation, which is believed to have shut down entire sections of the facility. The sabotage could set back uranium enrichment at the facility by at least nine months, US officials briefed on the operation told the New York Times. Iran on Monday said the person who caused the power outage at one of the production halls at Natanz had been identified. "Necessary measures are being taken to arrest this person," the semi-official Nournews website reported, without giving further details.

  • Dillian Whyte questions ‘joker’ Tyson Fury’s heavyweight credentials

    Brixton boxer is still after a fight with the ‘Gypsy King’

  • Prince William pens moving tribute as he shares new picture of Prince Philip with Prince George

    William said he was pleased his wife was able to know his grandfather for so long.

  • ‘They do not work’: COVID expert’s warning over face shields as pubs and salons reopen

    Prof Christina Pagel warned that face shields should be worn with masks.

  • Nikki Grahame death: Big Brother winner Pete Bennett opens up about reality star’s death in tearful interview

    Reality star rushed to see Grahame weeks before her death

  • Ousted Myanmar ambassador ordered to leave London residence by military regime

    The ousted Myanmar ambassador to the UK has been ordered by the country’s military junta to leave his London residence or face prosecution by the new regime. In a hand-delivered letter, Kyaw Zwar Minn, who was last week forced out of the Myanmar embassy at the orders of the regime, has now been told to quit the Hampstead house where he has lived with his family since his appointment in 2013. In a move designed to strengthen the hand of officials loyal to the military government which ousted Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Kyaw Zwar Minn has been given until Thursday to leave. The ambassador’s supporters say he has been kept under constant surveillance at the house by regime officials and is unable to leave the building for fear they will enter and bar him access. Kyaw Zwar Minn was prevented from entering his own embassy last Wednesday and forced to spend the night in his car after the Mayfair building was seized by officials loyal to the junta.

  • Over-40s set for COVID vaccines from this week – but many could face longer wait

    Coronavirus vaccines could be offered to over-40s from Tuesday – though supply constraints mean many will have to wait longer.

  • Coronavirus deaths fall to single figures for first time in seven months

    Deaths from coronavirus in Britain fell to just seven on Sunday, the first time the UK has reported single figures for nearly seven months, and the lowest number since mid-September. The low figure came ahead of non-essential shops and outdoor hospitality opening on Monday and demonstrates that lifting restrictions has, so far, not led to a rise in cases. Britain has not seen such a low figure since five cases were reported on Sept 13, which was also a Sunday. It is the first time the UK has recorded single figures since Sept 14. The death figure is likely to be artificially low because of the weekend effect, and is expected to rise early next week. The number of people testing positive for coronavirus has also fallen by more than 30 per cent in a week, with just 1,730 lab-confirmed cases reported on Sunday, the lowest figure since August. The total number of deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate is now 149,968, while those who died within 28 days of a test is 127,087. The Government said that, as of 9am on Sunday, there had been a further 1,730 lab-confirmed cases in the UK. It brings the total to 4,369,775. It was also another record day for second vaccine doses, with 475,230 receiving their booster jab on Saturday. Government data up to April 10 shows that of the 39,587,893 jabs have been given in the UK so far, of which 32,121,353 were first doses.

  • London's Westfield packed as queues for Primark wind around shopping centre

    London's Westfield shopping centre was packed as the queue for Primark winded around the centre on April 12. Non-essential shops across England reopened on Monday as the country's lockdown rules were relaxed. Footage shows a huge queue wrapping around the top floor of the shopping centre.

  • Ignore the pessimism: Covid vaccines are quietly prevailing

    Ignore the pessimism: Covid vaccines are quietly prevailingNightmare scenarios involving deadly new variants are making us all too gloomy – but there’s a scientific case for optimism Elle Taylor becomes one of the first people in the UK to receive an injection of the Moderna vaccine, in Carmarthen, on 7 April. Photograph: WPA/Getty Images

  • Police officer fired for pepper-spraying Black army officer in ‘horrifying’ traffic stop captured on film

    Army lieutenant has filed a federal lawsuit against two officers

  • Youngest royals give the Queen reason to smile as she faces life as a widow

    They are the two great-grandchildren that Prince Philip never got to meet. Born just 40 days apart, Princess Eugenie and her cousin Zara Tindall paid special tribute to their grandfather before his death by naming their newborn sons after him. Eugenie’s firstborn, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, born on February 9, and Zara’s third child, Lucas Philip Tindall, born on March 21, will forever bear the hallmark of their royal heritage. For the Queen, as she faces life as a widow at nearly 95, the babies will bring welcome joy at a time of great sorrow. Having not been able to see much of her elder grandchildren when they were growing up because she spent so much time overseas when the likes of William and Harry were young, the sovereign now relishes family time. Over recent years, she has grown especially close to her youngest grandchildren, the Earl and Countess of Wessexes’ children, Lady Louise Windsor, and James, Viscount Severn, who are regular visitors to Windsor Castle, living just 10 miles away at Bagshot Park. Royal aides used to speak of stepping over tricycles and roller skates as the youngsters would spend precious weekends with “Granny and Grandpa”. The arrival of no less than 10 great-grandchildren over the past decade has delighted the Queen – not least when many are already showing signs of sharing her passion for dogs and horses. Her eldest grandchild Peter Phillips’s daughters, Savannah, 10, and Isla, eight, are already keen amateur riders, along with his sister Zara Tindall’s eldest daughter, Mia, seven.

  • Quiz! Can you remember all these retro children’s TV shows?

    Do you remember these classic television shows from your childhood?

  • Midnight beer gardens and beauty treatments as people brave snow for England’s relaxed COVID lockdown

    England's COVID-19 lockdown was eased on Monday.

  • Lockdown roadmap dates: What is reopening and when?

    Boris Johnson unveils key dates for easing of England’s coronavirus restrictions

  • Young NI rioters would have benefitted from Duke of Edinburgh Award, former Irish president says

    Northern Ireland riots would not have turned violent if the children involved had participated in the Duke of Edinburgh award, the former Irish president has said. Mary McAleese made her comments after it was revealed children had taken part in some of the riots last week and three male teenagers, who were all aged 14, were arrested on Friday night. Ms McAleese said the unrest involved young people “who are still being taught to hate and who are bringing that hatred and expressing it out on the streets”. Ms McAleese said the recent death of Prince Philip reminded her how the Duke of Edinburgh Award galvanised “the curiosity and the wonder and the energy of youth”, as she questioned what “experience” of life children rioting in Belfast had. She added: "These are young people, I guarantee you, none of them will ever have done a Duke of Edinburgh Award, unfortunately." The award was established in 1956 to encourage young people to discover volunteering and the outdoors. Since it was launched around eight million have taken part, where they learnt self-sufficiency, teamwork and leadership. Many have credited the award as being a formative turning point in their lives. Levison Wood, former military officer and now a professional explorer, tweeted: "The DoE Award gave me an insight into life beyond my own village as a teenager. It inspired me to travel, taught me the beauty of the outdoors, saved me from getting into serious trouble and got me into the British Army as an Officer.” Ms McAleese added that the recent unrest was a result of “a vacuum of the leadership” in Northern Ireland and cautioned that "there is bound to be the consequences of Brexit”. “If we go back to Brexit, we realise how little consideration was given in the planning of Brexit and the referendum, of the impact that would have in Northern Ireland,” she said.

  • Will the Queen abdicate following death of Prince Philip?

    It is highly unlikely the 94-year-old monarch will step down from royal duties

  • China considers mixing its Covid-19 vaccines to make them more effective

    Chinese vaccines ‘don’t have very high rates of protection’ its top official admits