World News

India’s supreme court has given approval for a new parliament building that critics have called an “expensive vanity project” for the prime minister, Narendra Modi. [...]. Since the project was announced, it has faced criticism from civil society groups, environmentalists and politicians about its lack of transparency and public consultation...Read Full StoryHighest CourtLand UseDelhiParliamentSupreme CourtPublic ConsultationCivil CourtIndian CountryCovidCivil Society GroupsLegal ChallengesEconomic CrisisEnvironmentalistsPoliticiansCriticsNarendra Modi

Fans of British fare in France have suffered an unsavoury Brexit shock -- grocery retailer Marks and Spencer hasn't been able to stock its popular sandwiches and meals since Britain's official exit from the EU on January 1. Hungry shoppers found empty shelves this week at more than a dozen...Read Full StoryCentral EnglandBritainUKFranceEUM&S FoodChannelThe Financial TimesEmpty ShelvesGrocery Retailer MarksBritish FareFrenchHungry ShoppersRetailerPork PiesSarahArchie Norman

Video LoadingThe new mutant coronavirus strain is now ripping through areas outside of England's south east, the government's top medical advisor has warned.Professor Chris Whitty told the Downing Street press conference that the fastest increase of the new variant remains in the east of England, London and south-east.But it is "now taking off in other areas as well," he said.England's chief medical officer said there were some indications the virulent new strain's impact levelling off, following a period of Tier 4 restrictions in hotspots and as the country enters a third national lockdown.What do you think of the lockdown decision? Share your views in the comments below...Areas of England where the new variant is spreading rapidlyHowever he added hospitalisations across England are "rising very rapidly and, of course, we are still in the middle of winter".Prof Whitty also warned there would 'inevitably' be an increase in deaths in January.He added that one in 50 people being estimated to have coronavirus across the UK in the days following Christmas is "really quite a large number indeed". Prof Chris Whitty speaks at Tuesday's Downing Street press conference (Image: Sky News)He cited the Office for National Statistic estimates, as he said that the second lockdown in November had brought down rates.But he warned the risks will not disappear in the spring, despite the vaccine rollout.In a stark warning, Prof Whitty said the UK could still face restrictions anew next winter."If people don't take the 'stay at home' seriously, the risk at this point in time, in the middle of winter with this new variant, is extraordinarily high," he said."We shouldn't kid ourselves (that) this just disappears with spring."New cases increased rapidly during the festive periodHe said the new variant and the worst period of winter pressures on the NHS had combined to lead to current surging rates of the virus.The UK today recorded 60,916 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 - in the largest daily increase reported so far.And a further 830 people died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus as of Tuesday.Boris Johnson told the news conference tonight that in the days leading up to the lockdown announcement the Government had been looking at the new variant of coronavirus. The Prime Minister said officials had become aware of its rapid spread on December 18.Mr Johnson said it had been hoped that Tier 4 measures would have had an impact and allow for schools to be kept open.However he had been forced to take action in plunging England into a third national lockdown last night, he added.Highlighting recent infection figures, he continued: "It was clear that we got to a situation where Tier 4 on its own couldn't be relied upon to get the virus under control and that's without really going the whole way and asking people to stay at home and, sadly, to close schools as well."That's why we took the step that we did."South EastCovidMutantPublic HealthUKEnglandCoronavirusProf WhittyNHSGovernmentLondonHotspotsNovemberHospitalisationsDeathsChris WhittyBoris Johnson

Prince William and Kate Middleton won't be leaving their home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk, as they had originally intended to. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been staying at their second home in the countryside since Christmas, and would have had plans to return to their main London base, Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace once their eldest children's school, Thomas's School in Battersea resumed term time.Read Full StoryPrince LouisPrincess CharlotteCelebritiesDuchess Of CambridgeKensington PalaceBBC BreakfastDukeAnmer HallWindsor CastleSandringham HouseSandringham EstateLondonNorfolkThomasChristmasPrince WilliamKate MiddletonBoris Johnson

ARGENTINE World Cup winner Leopoldo Luque has been rushed to intensive care after complications in his fight against coronavirus. The 71-year-old, whose four goals in the 1978 tournament including a spectacular long-distance volley against France helped his nation to become champions, is said to be in a coma. The retired...Read Full StoryArgentinaCoronavirusSwimming PoolPublic HealthLung DiseaseIntensive CareRushed To HospitalArgentineArgentinianOnlyFansCharltonSOLIDARITYSouth AmericanConmebolComplicationsLeopoldo Luque

LEICESTER, United Kingdom – Two mysterious skeletons were found in an abbey in central England on Monday, and no one knows how they got there. A builder was doing restoration work in the chapter house of Mount St. Bernard Abbey in Leicestershire, near the town of Coalville, when he found a cavity in the wall full of bones.Read Full StorySkeletonsMonasteryEducational InstitutionMysteryHuman BonesOriginal WorkEnglishCistercianThe Chapter HouseTrappistTwitterBernard AbbeyRestoration WorkUnited KingdomLeicestershire

I am not actually Lebanese. Sure, my parents are Lebanese, my Arabic is Lebanese-tinted and I can be extremely critical of my local Lebanese joint, but the reality is I am not actually from Lebanon. No, I am a “Lebo”, a special blend of Lebanese and Australian, rooted in western...Read Full StoryFashion SenseLebanonHope IAlan JonesWorld PoliticsAustralian LebaneseLeboLebanese IdentityWestern SydneyMinority CommunitiesLoveRacistsMinority AngstKidsCondescension

Video LoadingMillions of Brits are now living under national lockdown.Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the lockdown in a TV address from Downing Street on Monday night, following a sharp rise in positive cases and Covid patients in hospital.The new rules - which have led to the shutting of schools and people only being allowed out for specific reasons - are already in place, but won't become law until 12.01am on Wednesday.In his address, Mr Johnson told people they "should follow the new rules from now".They will remain in place until at least mid-February when they're expected to be reviewed in time for the end of half term.Urging caution about the timetable for lifting lockdown, Mr Johnson said in his address: "But if our understanding of the virus doesn’t change dramatically once again…"If the rollout of the vaccine programme continues to be successful…"If deaths start to fall as the vaccine takes effect…"And, critically, if everyone plays their part by following the rules… "Then I hope we can steadily move out of lockdown, reopening schools after the February half term and starting, cautiously, to move regions down the tiers."A Downing Street statement also said MPs will debate and vote on the measures on Wednesday, hours after they become law.A national lockdown came into force across Scotland at 12.01am on Tuesday, and won't be lifted until the end of January at the earliest.A Welsh national lockdown has been in place since December 20. Although it's set to be reviewed this week, it's unlikely restrictions will be lifted, meaning it too will remain in place until the end of January.New lockdown rulesBoris Johnson announced a third national lockdown on Monday nightWith the return of national lockdown, new strict rules have also been put in place. People in England can only leave their homes for these permitted reasons : To go to work if it's impossible to work from homeShop for necessities such as food and medicineExerciseProvide care or help to a vulnerable personAttend medical appointments/ seek medical care or flee the threat of harm or violenceVolunteeringEducation and childcareMeeting others in your support bubble, to provide informal childcare or respite careAnimal welfareCommunal worship and life events such as weddings and funeralsPrimary schools, secondary schools and colleges are now closed until the February half term with all learning now being conducted online, although nurseries and childminders remain open.. The only pupils allowed to attend school are vulnerable children or those whose parents are key workers. Pubs, restaurants and cafes must also close again. While delivery and takeaway meals can still be offered, they cannot offer takeaway or click and collect alcohol.FuneralsPublic HealthSecondary SchoolNight SchoolHome SchoolPrimary SchoolBritsCovidMPsWelshVolunteering EducationCommunalNational LockdownCautionTimeBoris Johnson

A dog has been found alive in the rubble of a deadly landslide in Norway which struck last week.The landslide in the Norwegian village of Ask on 30 December swept away several homes and search teams continue to search for survivors.Seven people are known to have died so far and three others remain missing. The dog was found late on Monday “in good condition”, police spokesperson Ivar Myrboe said. “It is a joy for us and gives motivation to further work hard,” said Goeran Syversen, who has been working on the rescue operation. The discovery comes as Norwegian authorities said on Tuesday afternoon that they "no longer hope to find survivors".Search efforts have continued around the village, which lies 16 miles northeast of Oslo, over the course of the last week.Search teams with dogs, helicopters and drones with heat-detecting cameras have been deployed to look for survivors.A car stops on the edge of a deep ravine caused by the lanslide in Ask (EPA)At least nine buildings with over 30 apartments were destroyed in the landslide and more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the village of 5,000. Some buildings were left hanging on the edge of a deep ravine, which grew to be 2,300 feet long and 1,000 feet wide. The exact cause of the landslide is not yet known but the area has a lot of quick clay, which can change from solid to liquid form. Experts said the quick clay, combined with high levels of precipitation and damp winter weather, may have contributed to the landslide. In 2005, Norwegian authorities warned people not to construct residential buildings in the area, saying it was “a high-risk zone” for landslides, but houses were eventually built there later in the decade. Additional reporting by Associated PressLandslidesNorwayRubbleRescue DogsRescue OperationPolice DogsPetsHelicoptersAssociated PressNorwegian AuthoritiesSurvivorsOsloDamp Winter WeatherSearch EffortsJoy

The number of new daily confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK has topped 60,000 for the first time since the pandemic started. It comes as England and Scotland announced new lockdowns, with people told to stay at home. A new lockdown brings a lot of questions, so our panel...Read Full StoryEast Of EnglandScotlandPublic HealthQuestionsSally BeadleCoronavirusHomeMartin BarberLive EventUK