Mandatory mask-wearing in shops and transport reimposed in England; Anthony Fauci says new variant is probably already in the US; Australia scrambles to prevent outbreakJohnson ignored my plan to deal with new variants – ex-officialOmicron’s worst impa…
Action over variant shows government keen to avoid Christmas calamity of 2020
Analysis: variant provides test of whether relaxation of rules and booster push is effective policySouth Africa to be put on England’s travel red list Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLast Christmas, as ministers rashly promi…
South Africa to be put on England’s travel red list over new Covid variant
Flights from six countries will be banned as officials review travel measures after scientists voice concern over variant Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageFlights from southern Africa will be banned, with six countries placed…
French fishers to block Channel tunnel in Brexit licences row
Members of industry association say large number of vehicles will be used to block key artery between nationsFrench fishers are threatening to block access to the Eurotunnel and the ferry port in Calais on Friday as part of an ongoing dispute over acce…
National Geographic green-eyed ‘Afghan Girl’ evacuated to Italy
Sharbat Gula left Afghanistan after Taliban takeover that followed US departure from countryNational Geographic magazine’s famed green-eyed “Afghan Girl” has arrived in Italy as part of the west’s evacuation of Afghans after the Taliban takeover of the…
Kremlin critic found with dead elk in car is stripped of immunity
Duma vote goes against Communist MP Valery Rashkin, who says allegations are politically motivatedRussia’s State Duma has voted to deprive a Communist MP of his immunity from prosecution after police found the dismembered remains of an elk in the boot …
Twenty-seven dead in the icy Channel. This must be the spur for change | Gaby Hinsliff
No one would attempt a crossing in the flimsiest of boats if they had a better option. Now our job is to provide them with oneIt was the kind of boat, a French politician said, that you blow up like a paddling pool.Not much more than a toy, of the kind…
India has more women than men for first time, survey finds
Survey of 650,000 households finds falling reproductive rate, suggesting population boom is endingIndia has more women than men for the first time in its recorded history and is no longer experiencing a population boom, according to a government survey…
All options fraught with risk as Biden confronts Putin over Ukraine
Analysis: Moscow presents Washington with a no-win situation: capitulate on Ukrainian sovereignty or risk all-out warJoe Biden is preparing for a virtual summit with Vladimir Putin with the aim of fending off the threat of another Russian invasion of U…
Protest at Russian court as future of rights group Memorial hangs in balance
Judge orders recess in case deciding whether group should be shut down under ‘foreign agents’ lawA Russian court has begun hearing arguments on the liquidation of International Memorial, a human rights group founded to research and inform the public ab…