Sending out a message of never giving up and solidarity, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a video message for the 20th anniversary of the horrifying 9/11 attacks.

Born in New York, Boris Johnson said the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001 attacks have failed to destroy Western values. The jihadists, he believes, were unable to shake the western countries’ belief in freedom and democracy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-decades-later-americans-fear-entering-skyscraper-as-memories-of-911-attack-still-haunt-us-410443">Two decades later, Americans fear entering skyscraper as memories of 9/11 attack still haunt US</a>

"We can now say with the perspective of 20 years that they failed to shake our belief in freedom and democracy," he said in the vide message delivered ahead of the anniversary on Saturday.&nbsp;"They failed to drive our nations apart, or cause us to abandon our&nbsp;values, or to live in permanent fear."

He also paid respects to the 67 British nationals who had lost their lives in the gruesome attack. Johnson called it a "symbol of the eternal friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-physical-injuries-to-psychological-trauma-long-term-health-effects-trouble-people-years-after-911-attacks-412096" hreflang="en">From physical injuries to psychological trauma, long-term health effects trouble people years after 9/11 attacks</a>

Even as Afghanistan struggles to breathe freely under the rule of the terrorist organisation, Taliban, Johnson claimed in the video message that terrorism has failed.

"The fact that we are coming together today in sorrow, but also in faith and resolve, demonstrates the failure of terrorism and the strength of the bonds between us."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-911-permanently-altered-lives-of-americans-412127">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-911-permanently-altered-lives-of-americans-412127/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He also acknowledged the recent victory of Taliban in Afghanistan, but said this takeover can only "strengthen our determination to remember those who were taken from us, cherish the survivors and those who still grieve, and hold fast to our belief in liberty and democracy, which will always prevail over every foe".

The US had also presented a sculpture made of twisted metal debris from the remains of the fallen World Trade Center to the UK, in memory of the horrific attack.

America will mark the 20th anniversary of the gruesome 9/11 attacks on Saturday as the country struggles to evacuate its remaining citizens from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Sending out a message of never giving up and solidarity, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a video message for the 20th anniversary of the horrifying 9/11 attacks.

Sending out a message of never giving up and solidarity, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a video message for the 20th anniversary of the horrifying 9/11 attacks. Born in New York, Boris Johnson said the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001 attacks have failed to destroy Western values. The jihadists, he believes, were unable to shake the western countries’ belief in freedom and democracy. Also read | Two decades later, Americans fear entering skyscraper as memories of 9/11 attack still haunt US "We can now say with the perspective of 20 years that they failed to shake our belief in freedom and democracy," he said in the vide message delivered ahead of the anniversary on Saturday. "They failed to drive our nations apart, or cause us to abandon our values, or to live in permanent fear." He also paid respects to the 67 British nationals who had lost their lives in the gruesome attack. Johnson called it a "symbol of the eternal friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States". Also read | From physical injuries to psychological trauma, long-term health effects trouble people years after 9/11 attacks Even as Afghanistan struggles to breathe freely under the rule of the terrorist organisation, Taliban, Johnson claimed in the video message that terrorism has failed. "The fact that we are coming together today in sorrow, but also in faith and resolve, demonstrates the failure of terrorism and the strength of the bonds between us." WATCH | He also acknowledged the recent victory of Taliban in Afghanistan, but said this takeover can only "strengthen our determination to remember those who were taken from us, cherish the survivors and those who still grieve, and hold fast to our belief in liberty and democracy, which will always prevail over every foe". The US had also presented a sculpture made of twisted metal debris from the remains of the fallen World Trade Center to the UK, in memory of the horrific attack. America will mark the 20th anniversary of the gruesome 9/11 attacks on Saturday as the country struggles to evacuate its remaining citizens from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Terrorists were unable to shake Western values: Boris Johnson says on 9/11 anniversary

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce a tax raise to pay for the rising cost of caring for the elderly and disabled people.

UK to announce tax raise to provide subsidised care for elderly, disabled

Britain on Monday said it would do its utmost to rescue more than 300 Afghans who helped its armed forces but are now languishing under the new Taliban regime.

Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to answer a question on how many British-Afghans remained after a hurried Western airlift was ended.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fight-for-panjshir-valley-what-we-know-so-far-411144" hreflang="en">Fight for Panjshir Valley: What we know so far</a>

Thousands made it out from Kabul on packed Royal Air Force planes, but he said 311 people were left behind who are eligible for the&nbsp;UK's Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, such as interpreters.

"We will do everything we can to ensure that those people get the safe passage that they deserve," Johnson said.

The airlift was "one of the most spectacular operations in our country's post-war history", he said, vowing an "equal effort" to house and educate Afghans newly arrived in Britain.

Johnson demanded the Taliban honour commitments to allow out those wishing to leave, and to respect women's rights if the militia wants to gain access to billions of dollars in Afghan funds frozen overseas.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/female-and-male-students-separated-by-curtains-as-classes-resume-in-afghanistan-universities-411200" hreflang="en">Female and male students separated by curtains as classes resume in Afghanistan universities</a>

Speaking ahead of Saturday's 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by al-Qaeda, the prime minister pressed the Taliban, in particular, to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for extremists to launch attacks abroad.

Johnson defended the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;and Western intervention in 2001. Critics, including some in his Conservative party, say the Taliban's triumphant return to power shows the effort was in vain.

He said that later this month, he would press at the UN General Assembly in New York for consensus to hold the Islamists to account.

"We will judge the Taliban by their actions, not their words -- and use every economic, political and diplomatic lever to protect our own countries from harm and to help the Afghan people," the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;leader said.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-pm-boris-johnson-addresses-lawmakers-on-afghanistan-pullout-411191/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The government faced fresh criticism for underestimating the Taliban, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab facing demands to quit after he failed initially to cancel a holiday to Greece as Afghanistan imploded last month.

Johnson failed to express backing for Raab, who is tipped to be moved from his job in a cabinet reshuffle reportedly coming this week.

Speaking in parliament later, the foreign secretary denied being complacent and said Britain had extricated more than 17,000 people from Afghanistan since April.

Britain on Monday said it would do its utmost to rescue more than 300 Afghans who helped its armed forces but are now languishing under the new Taliban regime. Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to answer a question on how many British-Afghans remained after a hurried Western airlift was ended.

Britain on Monday said it would do its utmost to rescue more than 300 Afghans who helped its armed forces but are now languishing under the new Taliban regime. Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to answer a question on how many British-Afghans remained after a hurried Western airlift was ended. Also read | Fight for Panjshir Valley: What we know so far Thousands made it out from Kabul on packed Royal Air Force planes, but he said 311 people were left behind who are eligible for the UK's Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, such as interpreters. "We will do everything we can to ensure that those people get the safe passage that they deserve," Johnson said. The airlift was "one of the most spectacular operations in our country's post-war history", he said, vowing an "equal effort" to house and educate Afghans newly arrived in Britain. Johnson demanded the Taliban honour commitments to allow out those wishing to leave, and to respect women's rights if the militia wants to gain access to billions of dollars in Afghan funds frozen overseas. Also read | Female and male students separated by curtains as classes resume in Afghanistan universities Speaking ahead of Saturday's 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by al-Qaeda, the prime minister pressed the Taliban, in particular, to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for extremists to launch attacks abroad. Johnson defended the UK and Western intervention in 2001. Critics, including some in his Conservative party, say the Taliban's triumphant return to power shows the effort was in vain. He said that later this month, he would press at the UN General Assembly in New York for consensus to hold the Islamists to account. "We will judge the Taliban by their actions, not their words -- and use every economic, political and diplomatic lever to protect our own countries from harm and to help the Afghan people," the UK leader said. The government faced fresh criticism for underestimating the Taliban, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab facing demands to quit after he failed initially to cancel a holiday to Greece as Afghanistan imploded last month. Johnson failed to express backing for Raab, who is tipped to be moved from his job in a cabinet reshuffle reportedly coming this week. Speaking in parliament later, the foreign secretary denied being complacent and said Britain had extricated more than 17,000 people from Afghanistan since April.

Johnson defends UK intervention in Afghanistan, vows to get 311 people left behind

UK Prime minister Boris Johnson addressed MPs about Britain's withdrawal from Afghanistan, amid criticism of the handling of the evacuation.

UK PM Boris Johnson addresses lawmakers on Afghanistan pullout

Max Johnson, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's brother, is trying hard to save a 14 million pound investment. The transaction has gone badly wrong and his attempts to invest in a Mongolian goldmine in Gobi Desert has resulted in conmen stealing the cash. Johnson is facing 'significant' personal loss.

However, he maintains that he is not asking for any favours from his brother who heads the British government.

"I am not asking for any favours," he was quoted as saying by The Times.

Max (36) an Oxford graduate, studied Russian and Polish at the university. During his final year he travelled to Russia and then took a train to Beijing as he was taken in by China's growth story. He was the first UK citizen to join Tsinghua University, a respected institution in China to pursue MBA degree.

Today, he runs his own investment and advisory firm MJ Capital. The firm invests in companies looking to sell products in China.

Max is in quite a situation as his failed investment can potentially be a bad reflection on his brother Boris Johnson as well.

Max Johnson, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's brother, is trying hard to save a 14 million pound investment. The transaction has gone badly wrong and his attempts to invest in a Mongolian goldmine in Gobi Desert has resulted in conmen stealing the cash.

Max Johnson, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's brother, is trying hard to save a 14 million pound investment. The transaction has gone badly wrong and his attempts to invest in a Mongolian goldmine in Gobi Desert has resulted in conmen stealing the cash. Johnson is facing 'significant' personal loss. However, he maintains that he is not asking for any favours from his brother who heads the British government. "I am not asking for any favours," he was quoted as saying by The Times. Max (36) an Oxford graduate, studied Russian and Polish at the university. During his final year he travelled to Russia and then took a train to Beijing as he was taken in by China's growth story. He was the first UK citizen to join Tsinghua University, a respected institution in China to pursue MBA degree. Today, he runs his own investment and advisory firm MJ Capital. The firm invests in companies looking to sell products in China. Max is in quite a situation as his failed investment can potentially be a bad reflection on his brother Boris Johnson as well.

UK PM Boris Johnson's brother conned over 'gold mine in Gobi desert'

Leaked Pentagon papers reveal that U.S 'blames' Britain for the Kabul Airport attack. British MPs are outraged, PM Boris Johnson has lashed out at America's assertion calling it 'simply not true'. Palki Sharma tells you how the two 'best friends' are squabbling.

Gravitas: U.S. 'blames' UK for Kabul Airport Attack

Geronimo the alpaca, who has been at the centre of a legal row with the UK government, has been euthanised.

Geronimo was put down by staff from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) after he recorded two positive tests for bovine tuberculosis (TB) and his owner lost multiple court bids to prevent his destruction. &nbsp;

The alpaca's fight for life has been headline news in Britain and more than 140,000 people from around the world had signed a petition addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to stop Geronimo's destruction.

However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs insisted its tests are "highly specific and reliable" and that Geronimo must be put down to control the spread of bovine TB.

UK's chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said&nbsp;"This is a terribly sad situation and our sympathies remain with all those affected by this devastating disease."&nbsp;

"No one wants to have to cull infected animals if it can be avoided," she added.

"But we need to follow the scientific evidence and cull animals that have tested positive for TB to minimise spread of this insidious disease and ultimately eradicate the biggest threat to animal health in this country."

Helen Macdonald, who imported Geronimo in 2016 from New Zealand to her alpaca farm in western England, took the government to court, arguing that the test results were likely false positives.

"I am absolutely disgusted by this government. These are barbaric actions," she said.

Meanwhile, a Downing Street spokesman said: "It's obviously highly distressing for someone to lose animals to TB and that's a situation that farmers sadly have to face.

"Our sympathies are with Macdonald and any others that are affected by this terrible disease."

A post mortem examination will now be undertaken by APHA veterinary pathologists, followed by a bacteriological culture of selected tissue samples which can take up to three months, the government said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Geronimo the alpaca, who has been at the centre of a legal row with the UK government, has been euthanised. Geronimo was put down by staff from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) after he recorded two positive tests for bovine tuberculosis (TB) and his owner lost multiple court bids to prevent his destruction.

Geronimo the alpaca, who has been at the centre of a legal row with the UK government, has been euthanised. Geronimo was put down by staff from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) after he recorded two positive tests for bovine tuberculosis (TB) and his owner lost multiple court bids to prevent his destruction. The alpaca's fight for life has been headline news in Britain and more than 140,000 people from around the world had signed a petition addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to stop Geronimo's destruction. However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs insisted its tests are "highly specific and reliable" and that Geronimo must be put down to control the spread of bovine TB. UK's chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said "This is a terribly sad situation and our sympathies remain with all those affected by this devastating disease." "No one wants to have to cull infected animals if it can be avoided," she added. "But we need to follow the scientific evidence and cull animals that have tested positive for TB to minimise spread of this insidious disease and ultimately eradicate the biggest threat to animal health in this country." Helen Macdonald, who imported Geronimo in 2016 from New Zealand to her alpaca farm in western England, took the government to court, arguing that the test results were likely false positives. "I am absolutely disgusted by this government. These are barbaric actions," she said. Meanwhile, a Downing Street spokesman said: "It's obviously highly distressing for someone to lose animals to TB and that's a situation that farmers sadly have to face. "Our sympathies are with Macdonald and any others that are affected by this terrible disease." A post mortem examination will now be undertaken by APHA veterinary pathologists, followed by a bacteriological culture of selected tissue samples which can take up to three months, the government said. (With inputs from agencies)

Geronimo the alpaca is killed after four-year battle to save him fails

French President Emmanuel Macron said that France and Britain will submit a resolution to an emergency United Nations meeting due Monday on Afghanistan proposing a safe zone in Kabul to try and protect people trying to leave the country.

Macron says France, Britain to propose 'safe zone' in Kabul

Amid growing criticism of UK’s handling of the evacuation process in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday defended their airlift operation saying that “the culmination of a mission, unlike anything we've seen in our lifetimes.”

Like the United States, UK has also been facing criticism for failing to pre-empt the quick takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban forces and not making adequate preparations for the smooth evacuation of British nationals and vulnerable Afghans.

In a video clip uploaded to Twitter, he said, “UK troops and officials have worked around the clock to a remorseless deadline in harrowing conditions. They have expended all the patience and care and thought they possess to help people in fear for their lives.”

“They’ve seen at first-hand barbaric terrorist attacks on the queues of people they were trying to comfort, as well as on our American friends. They didn't flinch. They kept calm. They got on with the job. It’s thanks to their colossal exertions that this country has now processed, checked, vetted and airlifted more than 15,000 people to safety in less than two weeks.”

On Saturday, the final British troops and diplomatic staff were airlifted from Kabul, culminating a chaotic two weeks&nbsp;of the evacuation process which saw thousands of Afghans fleeing, fearing the Taliban rule.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-loud-explosion-heard-in-kabul-few-hours-after-bidens-warning-409224">Afghanistan: Loud explosion heard in Kabul few hours after Biden's warning</a>

However, as per reports, over 150 British nationals and more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted the western forces have been left behind.&nbsp;

Johnson said however that while Britain would not have wished to leave Afghanistan in the way it did, the armed forces should still be proud of their achievements.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said it had worked tirelessly to evacuate people but it had always cautioned that it would not be able to help everyone. The spokesperson declined to give any further details on the process.

Britain`s defence minister, Ben Wallace, predicted last week that time had run out to evacuate around 1,000 Afghans who were eligible to come to Britain, including former staff to the UK.

(with inputs from agencies)

Amid growing criticism of UK’s handling of the evacuation process in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday defended their airlift operation saying that “the culmination of a mission, unlike anything we've seen in our lifetimes.

Amid growing criticism of UK’s handling of the evacuation process in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday defended their airlift operation saying that “the culmination of a mission, unlike anything we've seen in our lifetimes.” Like the United States, UK has also been facing criticism for failing to pre-empt the quick takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban forces and not making adequate preparations for the smooth evacuation of British nationals and vulnerable Afghans. In a video clip uploaded to Twitter, he said, “UK troops and officials have worked around the clock to a remorseless deadline in harrowing conditions. They have expended all the patience and care and thought they possess to help people in fear for their lives.” “They’ve seen at first-hand barbaric terrorist attacks on the queues of people they were trying to comfort, as well as on our American friends. They didn't flinch. They kept calm. They got on with the job. It’s thanks to their colossal exertions that this country has now processed, checked, vetted and airlifted more than 15,000 people to safety in less than two weeks.” On Saturday, the final British troops and diplomatic staff were airlifted from Kabul, culminating a chaotic two weeks of the evacuation process which saw thousands of Afghans fleeing, fearing the Taliban rule. Also read | Afghanistan: Loud explosion heard in Kabul few hours after Biden's warning However, as per reports, over 150 British nationals and more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted the western forces have been left behind. Johnson said however that while Britain would not have wished to leave Afghanistan in the way it did, the armed forces should still be proud of their achievements. A Foreign Office spokesperson said it had worked tirelessly to evacuate people but it had always cautioned that it would not be able to help everyone. The spokesperson declined to give any further details on the process. Britain`s defence minister, Ben Wallace, predicted last week that time had run out to evacuate around 1,000 Afghans who were eligible to come to Britain, including former staff to the UK. (with inputs from agencies)

UK PM Johnson defends Kabul evacuation amid criticism

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had called a virtual G7 leaders’ meeting for Tuesday to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan and urged governments to find ways to prevent conditions from getting worse.

Britain calls virtual G7 meeting on Afghanistan crisis

Amidst Afghanistan crisis, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called an urgent meeting of the G7 representatives to discuss the threat that the Taliban takeover poses for Afghanistan and the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p>

"I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan," Johnson tweeted. "It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years."

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I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan. It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1429423519612481536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The UK currently chairs the G7 group which includes&nbsp;Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United State

His statement has come a little after the locals in the UK took to the streets to protest the Taliban’s establishment of new regime in Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Thousands gathered in London’s Hyde Park and marched down to Whitehall, past Downing Street around lunchtime.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ground-report-afghanistans-day-6-under-taliban-407592">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ground-report-afghanistans-day-6-under-taliban-407592/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

These demonstrators carried and placards and chanted slogans to express their anger towards the Taliban as many believe that "Talib has not changed".<o:p></o:p>

They demanded the Taliban to “stop killing Afghans" and "stop the oppression of Afghan women" as they waved the black, red and green national flag of Afghanistan.

<o:p>Johnson's statement has come a little after the&nbsp;UK's defence ministry said that at least seven people were killed in the chaos near Kabul airport.</o:p>

Amidst Afghanistan crisis, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called an urgent meeting of the G7 representatives to discuss the threat that the Taliban takeover poses for Afghanistan and the rest of the world.

Amidst Afghanistan crisis, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called an urgent meeting of the G7 representatives to discuss the threat that the Taliban takeover poses for Afghanistan and the rest of the world. "I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan," Johnson tweeted. "It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years." I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan. It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years. — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 22, 2021 × The UK currently chairs the G7 group which includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United State His statement has come a little after the locals in the UK took to the streets to protest the Taliban’s establishment of new regime in Afghanistan. Thousands gathered in London’s Hyde Park and marched down to Whitehall, past Downing Street around lunchtime. WATCH | These demonstrators carried and placards and chanted slogans to express their anger towards the Taliban as many believe that "Talib has not changed". They demanded the Taliban to “stop killing Afghans" and "stop the oppression of Afghan women" as they waved the black, red and green national flag of Afghanistan. Johnson's statement has come a little after the UK's defence ministry said that at least seven people were killed in the chaos near Kabul airport.

UK PM Boris Johnson convenes G7 to discuss Afghanistan crisis

As the United Kingdom deals with the formidable challenge of evacuating people from Afghanistan, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now said, his administration would be working with the Taliban if necessary. Johnson says the situation has comparatively improved at the Kabul airport.

Boris Johnson: Will work with the Taliban if Necessary

The British government said it would take in upto 5,000 refugees this year under the Afghanistan resettlement programme, rising to up to 20,000 in the long term. The programme will prioritise women, girls and other minorities.

UK to accept upto 5,000 refugees this year under Afghan resettlement scheme

While speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the UK will do “everything to avert a humanitarian crisis” in Afghanistan. Johnson also added that deploying UK troops to fight the Taliban is not an option.

Johnson says UK will do anything to avert humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan

The British government will provide 232 million pounds ($320 million) in addition to National Lottery funding to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes for the Paris Games in 2024, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

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The investment, which represents a 44% rise on the funding received by UK Sport in the run-up to the Tokyo Games, will be used to back aspiring athletes as well as their coaches and support staff.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) investment will also support athletes and coaches targeting success at the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Earlier this month, Team GB won 65 medals across 25 disciplines in Tokyo and finished fourth in the overall medals table. The Paralympic Games are set to begin on Aug. 24.

"Team GB showed us the very best of this country in Tokyo - demonstrating sportsmanship, hard work and record-breaking performances," Johnson said in a statement.

"This increased funding will support Team GB to deliver their best possible performances in three years' time in Paris."

The British government will provide 232 million pounds ($320 million) in addition to National Lottery funding to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes for the Paris Games in 2024, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

The British government will provide 232 million pounds ($320 million) in addition to National Lottery funding to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes for the Paris Games in 2024, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. ALSO READ: Football - Bayern next up for Haaland in German Super Cup showdown at Dortmund The investment, which represents a 44% rise on the funding received by UK Sport in the run-up to the Tokyo Games, will be used to back aspiring athletes as well as their coaches and support staff. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) investment will also support athletes and coaches targeting success at the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Earlier this month, Team GB won 65 medals across 25 disciplines in Tokyo and finished fourth in the overall medals table. The Paralympic Games are set to begin on Aug. 24. "Team GB showed us the very best of this country in Tokyo - demonstrating sportsmanship, hard work and record-breaking performances," Johnson said in a statement. "This increased funding will support Team GB to deliver their best possible performances in three years' time in Paris."

UK govt to invest £232m to support 2024 Olympic, Paralympic athletes

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that Afghanistan must not "become a breeding ground for terror" and the west must work together to ensure this, as the Taliban enters capital Kabul.

Boris Johnson says Afghanistan must not 'become breeding ground for terror'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on Sunday to hold further crisis talks on&nbsp;Afghanistan, his office said, as he recalled parliament from its summer break.

A Downing Street spokesperson said Johnson had called a meeting of the COBR emergencies committee to discuss the situation, which follows the withdrawal of US-led forces, the second such meeting in three days.

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Parliament on Sunday said it had approved Johnson's request to call back MPs on Wednesday for an urgent debate on what Britain, which lost 457 troops in the two-decade-long war, should do next.

Taliban fighters were on the outskirts of Kabul on Sunday and on the brink of a complete military takeover of&nbsp;Afghanistan, leading British politicians to call for a last-ditch intervention.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, urged Johnson to "think again" about stepping in.

"We have an ever-shrinking window of opportunity to recognise where this country is going as a failed state," he told Times Radio.

"Just because the Americans won't, does not mean to say that we should be tied to the thinking, the political judgement -- particularly when it is so wrong -- of our closest security ally.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-ban-covid-19-vaccine-in-eastern-afghanistans-paktia-province-report-405235" hreflang="en">Taliban ban COVID-19 vaccine in Eastern Afghanistan's Paktia province: Report</a>

"We could prevent this, otherwise history will judge us very, very harshly in not stepping in," he warned.

Ellwood said the government could deploy the Royal Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group to provide air support.

He called the crisis "the biggest single policy disaster since Suez".

'Deeply shocking'&nbsp;

Johnson vowed on Friday that Britain will not "turn our backs" on&nbsp;Afghanistan, even as he confirmed the imminent withdrawal of most embassy staff in the face of a rapid Taliban onslaught.

However, he said that those calling for an intervention "have got to be realistic about the power of the UK or any power to impose a military solution -- a combat solution -- in&nbsp;Afghanistan".

With the Islamists seizing control of more Afghan cities, Britain is deploying around 600 troops to help evacuate its roughly 3,000 nationals from the country, and Johnson said the "vast bulk" of remaining embassy staff in Kabul would return to the UK.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-captures-mazar-e-sharif-fourth-largest-city-of-afghanistan-405447" hreflang="en">Taliban captures Mazar-e-Sharif, fourth largest city of Afghanistan</a>

The Foreign Office said on Sunday that Britain had "temporarily&nbsp;suspended most operations" at its embassy in Kabul and was doing "all we can to enable remaining British nationals, and those Afghans who have worked for us and who are eligible for relocation, to leave&nbsp;Afghanistan".

Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer backed the move to recall parliament, saying in a statement: "The situation in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;is deeply shocking and seems to be worsening by the hour.

"The government has been silent while&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;collapses, which, let's be clear will have ramifications for us here in the UK.

"We need parliament recalled so the government can update MPs on how it plans to work with allies to avoid a humanitarian crisis and a return to the days of&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;being a base for extremists."

Most of the remaining British troops assigned to the NATO mission in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;left last month, according to Johnson.

As well as the fallen troops, the conflict has cost Britain around £40 billion ($55 billion, 46.7 billion euros).

In 2014, the British mission in&nbsp;Afghanistan, centred on the restive southern province of Helmand, shifted from a combat operation to one focused on supporting Afghan national forces, with the help of around 750 troops.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on Sunday to hold further crisis talks on Afghanistan, his office said, as he recalled parliament from its summer break.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on Sunday to hold further crisis talks on Afghanistan, his office said, as he recalled parliament from its summer break. A Downing Street spokesperson said Johnson had called a meeting of the COBR emergencies committee to discuss the situation, which follows the withdrawal of US-led forces, the second such meeting in three days. LIVE: President Ghani leaves Afghanistan as Taliban enter capital Kabul Parliament on Sunday said it had approved Johnson's request to call back MPs on Wednesday for an urgent debate on what Britain, which lost 457 troops in the two-decade-long war, should do next. Taliban fighters were on the outskirts of Kabul on Sunday and on the brink of a complete military takeover of Afghanistan, leading British politicians to call for a last-ditch intervention. Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, urged Johnson to "think again" about stepping in. "We have an ever-shrinking window of opportunity to recognise where this country is going as a failed state," he told Times Radio. "Just because the Americans won't, does not mean to say that we should be tied to the thinking, the political judgement -- particularly when it is so wrong -- of our closest security ally. Also read | Taliban ban COVID-19 vaccine in Eastern Afghanistan's Paktia province: Report "We could prevent this, otherwise history will judge us very, very harshly in not stepping in," he warned. Ellwood said the government could deploy the Royal Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group to provide air support. He called the crisis "the biggest single policy disaster since Suez". 'Deeply shocking' Johnson vowed on Friday that Britain will not "turn our backs" on Afghanistan, even as he confirmed the imminent withdrawal of most embassy staff in the face of a rapid Taliban onslaught. However, he said that those calling for an intervention "have got to be realistic about the power of the UK or any power to impose a military solution -- a combat solution -- in Afghanistan". With the Islamists seizing control of more Afghan cities, Britain is deploying around 600 troops to help evacuate its roughly 3,000 nationals from the country, and Johnson said the "vast bulk" of remaining embassy staff in Kabul would return to the UK. Also read | Taliban captures Mazar-e-Sharif, fourth largest city of Afghanistan The Foreign Office said on Sunday that Britain had "temporarily suspended most operations" at its embassy in Kabul and was doing "all we can to enable remaining British nationals, and those Afghans who have worked for us and who are eligible for relocation, to leave Afghanistan". Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer backed the move to recall parliament, saying in a statement: "The situation in Afghanistan is deeply shocking and seems to be worsening by the hour. "The government has been silent while Afghanistan collapses, which, let's be clear will have ramifications for us here in the UK. "We need parliament recalled so the government can update MPs on how it plans to work with allies to avoid a humanitarian crisis and a return to the days of Afghanistan being a base for extremists." Most of the remaining British troops assigned to the NATO mission in Afghanistan left last month, according to Johnson. As well as the fallen troops, the conflict has cost Britain around £40 billion ($55 billion, 46.7 billion euros). In 2014, the British mission in Afghanistan, centred on the restive southern province of Helmand, shifted from a combat operation to one focused on supporting Afghan national forces, with the help of around 750 troops.

UK PM holds Afghanistan crisis talks, recalls parliament

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not need to self isolate even though a member of his staff on a recent trip to Scotland tested positive for the coronavirus, his Downing Street office said.

Johnson visited a police college in Fife on Wednesday and a wind farm off Aberdeenshire on Thursday.

As per the local media, a member of Johnson’s staff who accompanied him to the police college and travelled with him on a plane tested positive for coronavirus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-johnson-reverses-plan-to-skip-quarantine-after-covid-19-exposure-398957">Also read |&nbsp;UK PM Johnson reverses plan to skip quarantine after COVID-19 exposure</a>

“The Prime Minister regularly visits communities across the UK and all aspects of visits are carried out in line with COVID guidance," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

He added, “The Prime Minister has not come into close contact with anyone who has tested positive.”

This comes a month after Johnson and finance minister Rishi Sunak self-isolated in line with national guidance, abandoning heavily criticised plans to take part in a pilot scheme that would have allowed them to continue working.

The U-turn came a day after health minister Sajid Javid said he had tested positive for COVID-19 and at a time when the government's coronavirus response is under intense scrutiny. 
&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not need to self isolate even though a member of his staff on a recent trip to Scotland tested positive for the coronavirus, his Downing Street office said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not need to self isolate even though a member of his staff on a recent trip to Scotland tested positive for the coronavirus, his Downing Street office said. Johnson visited a police college in Fife on Wednesday and a wind farm off Aberdeenshire on Thursday. As per the local media, a member of Johnson’s staff who accompanied him to the police college and travelled with him on a plane tested positive for coronavirus. Also read | UK PM Johnson reverses plan to skip quarantine after COVID-19 exposure “The Prime Minister regularly visits communities across the UK and all aspects of visits are carried out in line with COVID guidance," a Downing Street spokesperson said. He added, “The Prime Minister has not come into close contact with anyone who has tested positive.” This comes a month after Johnson and finance minister Rishi Sunak self-isolated in line with national guidance, abandoning heavily criticised plans to take part in a pilot scheme that would have allowed them to continue working. The U-turn came a day after health minister Sajid Javid said he had tested positive for COVID-19 and at a time when the government's coronavirus response is under intense scrutiny.

UK PM Johnson will not isolate after staff member tests COVID positive

The UK has been following strict travel restrictions due to the recent surge in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> cases, especially from the Delta variant. However, the country might be looking to reopen its international borders completely very soon.

As the UK’s travel industry suffered a loss, the country’s Finance Minister, Rishi Sunak, has written to the Prime Minister that the current border rules are doing massive damage to the country’s economy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-wife-carrie-expecting-second-child-after-miscarriage-402210">UK PM Boris Johnson, wife Carrie expecting second child after miscarriage</a>

Sunak has reportedly called UK’s entry and exit rules to be "out of step with our international competitors", and has stressed that these rules have particularly negatively impacted the hospitality and travel sectors.

These reports have hit the media a week before the two ministers are scheduled to meet to discuss travel restrictions and rules for August.

The UK has been observing a surge in coronavirus cases, related to the Delta variant, in recent weeks, due to which the government has placed strict travel regulations, especially for travellers coming from the Delta variant-dominant areas.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/western-media-channel-banned-from-youtube-for-covid-misinformation-402200" hreflang="en">Western media channel banned from YouTube for Covid misinformation</a>

Sunak’s request has also come ahead of the holiday season. He has, reportedly, stated that the country’s success of the vaccine programme should be directly proportional to the weakening of travel restrictions.

In the past few weeks, international governments have criticised Boris Johnson-led government’s decision to restrict travel. UK had claimed that the travel restriction of France locals in the UK was due to the "prevalence of the so-called Beta variant, in particular in the Reunion bit of&nbsp;France". A French minister, however, described these measures to be "excessive" and "discriminatory".

The UK has been following strict travel restrictions due to the recent surge in coronavirus cases, especially from the Delta variant. However, the country might be looking to reopen its international borders completely very soon.

The UK has been following strict travel restrictions due to the recent surge in coronavirus cases, especially from the Delta variant. However, the country might be looking to reopen its international borders completely very soon. As the UK’s travel industry suffered a loss, the country’s Finance Minister, Rishi Sunak, has written to the Prime Minister that the current border rules are doing massive damage to the country’s economy. Also read | UK PM Boris Johnson, wife Carrie expecting second child after miscarriage Sunak has reportedly called UK’s entry and exit rules to be "out of step with our international competitors", and has stressed that these rules have particularly negatively impacted the hospitality and travel sectors. These reports have hit the media a week before the two ministers are scheduled to meet to discuss travel restrictions and rules for August. The UK has been observing a surge in coronavirus cases, related to the Delta variant, in recent weeks, due to which the government has placed strict travel regulations, especially for travellers coming from the Delta variant-dominant areas. Also read | Western media channel banned from YouTube for Covid misinformation Sunak’s request has also come ahead of the holiday season. He has, reportedly, stated that the country’s success of the vaccine programme should be directly proportional to the weakening of travel restrictions. In the past few weeks, international governments have criticised Boris Johnson-led government’s decision to restrict travel. UK had claimed that the travel restriction of France locals in the UK was due to the "prevalence of the so-called Beta variant, in particular in the Reunion bit of France". A French minister, however, described these measures to be "excessive" and "discriminatory".

UK's Rishi Sunak urges Boris Johnson to relax Covid travel restrictions

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie are expecting second child. The couple already have a son, Wilfred, who was born in April 2020. &nbsp;

In an announcement on her Instagram page, Carrie Johnson said she is expecting their second child. &nbsp;

Earlier, the prime minister’s wife had shared the news of miscarriage at start of the year in a message on Instagram. She also said the earlier miscarriage had left her 'heartbroken'.&nbsp;

Carrie said, “I feel incredibly blessed to be pregnant again but I’ve also felt like a bag of nerves. Fertility issues can be really hard for many people, particularly when on platforms like Instagram it can look like everything is only ever going well.&nbsp;

“I found it a real comfort to hear from people who had also experienced loss so I hope that in some very small way sharing this might help others too.”&nbsp;

The 33-year-old mother is expecting to give birth in December. Posting a photo of a Christmas tree bauble of a pram, she said, “Hoping for our rainbow baby this Christmas.”&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie had married in secret at Westminster Cathedral in May. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated the couple by tweeting, “Congratulations to Carrie and Boris Johnson on the happy news that they’re expecting another child. I’m very sorry to hear of Carrie’s earlier miscarriage. I’m sure that her speaking out will be of comfort to others. Every best wish to them both.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie are expecting second child. The couple already have a son, Wilfred, who was born in April 2020. In an announcement on her Instagram page, Carrie Johnson said she is expecting their second child.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie are expecting second child. The couple already have a son, Wilfred, who was born in April 2020. In an announcement on her Instagram page, Carrie Johnson said she is expecting their second child. Earlier, the prime minister’s wife had shared the news of miscarriage at start of the year in a message on Instagram. She also said the earlier miscarriage had left her 'heartbroken'. Carrie said, “I feel incredibly blessed to be pregnant again but I’ve also felt like a bag of nerves. Fertility issues can be really hard for many people, particularly when on platforms like Instagram it can look like everything is only ever going well. “I found it a real comfort to hear from people who had also experienced loss so I hope that in some very small way sharing this might help others too.” The 33-year-old mother is expecting to give birth in December. Posting a photo of a Christmas tree bauble of a pram, she said, “Hoping for our rainbow baby this Christmas.” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie had married in secret at Westminster Cathedral in May. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated the couple by tweeting, “Congratulations to Carrie and Boris Johnson on the happy news that they’re expecting another child. I’m very sorry to hear of Carrie’s earlier miscarriage. I’m sure that her speaking out will be of comfort to others. Every best wish to them both.” (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM Boris Johnson, wife Carrie expecting second child after miscarriage

British PM Boris Johnson has unveiled a plan to GPS track burglars released on probation. The plan is to extend this system to all serial offenders. Is this breakthrough in crime prevention or mass surveillance? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Britain to strap GPS tag on freed burglars

A little after UK’s health secretary, Sajid Javid’s announcement of testing positive for coronavirus sent waves of fear around the country, it is now his recovery announcement that has stirred criticism.

Sajid Javid has completely recovered from coronavirus within eight days he claims. However, while announcing about his 'full recovery', he ended up hurting the emotions of other people of the country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-health-secretary-sajid-javid-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-398713" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-health-secretary-sajid-javid-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-398713&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwik35nFiv7xAhVzyzgGHSPFDPYQFjAAegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Ch48A4TV4Eo_MeO4GqBHz" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-health-secretary-sajid-javid-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-398713" target="_blank">UK's health secretary,&nbsp;Sajid Javid, tests positive for coronavirus</a>

"Please, if you haven’t yet, get your jab, as we learn to live with, rather than cower from, this virus,"&nbsp;Javid said.

His usage of the word "cower"&nbsp;has upset the locals of the country who think this comment belittles the efforts and sacrifices of the frontline workers who have spent hours saving people’s lives, and others who have lost their loved ones to this deadly virus.

"129,000 Brits have died from Covid under your government’s watch," David Lammy, the shadow justice secretary said. "Don’t denigrate people for trying to keep themselves and their families safe."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-government-is-letting-people-get-infected-by-covid-aide-claims-400358" hreflang="en">UK government is letting people get infected by Covid, aide claims</a>

Many have accused the newly-elected health secretary of lacking empathy for the locals of the country who have been following rules and fighting to save themselves and their loved ones from coronavirus.

"'Cower from this virus.'&nbsp;Really. The job of government is to keep people safe. To show empathy with folk. To seek to protect people when necessary. This is not acceptable. You might want to reflect and think about your role as health secretary in England," Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader in Westminster said.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I've deleted a tweet which used the word "cower". I was expressing gratitude that the vaccines help us fight back as a society, but it was a poor choice of word and I sincerely apologise. 
 
Like many, I have lost loved ones to this awful virus and would never minimise its impact.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) <a href="https://twitter.com/sajidjavid/status/1419242451068506120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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After the immense backlash, Javid had to quickly delete the tweet and apologise for the usage of the word. "I've deleted a tweet which used the word "cower". I was expressing gratitude that the vaccines help us fight back as a society, but it was a poor choice of word and I sincerely apologise," he tweeted. "Like many, I have lost loved ones to this awful virus and would never minimise its impact."

Javid took over the post of health Secretary on June 26, after the previous minister, Matt Hancock, had to resign after video evidence revealed he flouted Covid regulations by kissing a close aide in a secret affair.

A little after UK’s health secretary, Sajid Javid’s announcement of testing positive for coronavirus sent waves of fear around the country, it is now his recovery announcement that has stirred criticism.

A little after UK’s health secretary, Sajid Javid’s announcement of testing positive for coronavirus sent waves of fear around the country, it is now his recovery announcement that has stirred criticism. Sajid Javid has completely recovered from coronavirus within eight days he claims. However, while announcing about his 'full recovery', he ended up hurting the emotions of other people of the country. Also read | UK's health secretary, Sajid Javid, tests positive for coronavirus "Please, if you haven’t yet, get your jab, as we learn to live with, rather than cower from, this virus," Javid said. His usage of the word "cower" has upset the locals of the country who think this comment belittles the efforts and sacrifices of the frontline workers who have spent hours saving people’s lives, and others who have lost their loved ones to this deadly virus. "129,000 Brits have died from Covid under your government’s watch," David Lammy, the shadow justice secretary said. "Don’t denigrate people for trying to keep themselves and their families safe." Also read | UK government is letting people get infected by Covid, aide claims Many have accused the newly-elected health secretary of lacking empathy for the locals of the country who have been following rules and fighting to save themselves and their loved ones from coronavirus. "'Cower from this virus.' Really. The job of government is to keep people safe. To show empathy with folk. To seek to protect people when necessary. This is not acceptable. You might want to reflect and think about your role as health secretary in England," Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader in Westminster said. I've deleted a tweet which used the word "cower". I was expressing gratitude that the vaccines help us fight back as a society, but it was a poor choice of word and I sincerely apologise. Like many, I have lost loved ones to this awful virus and would never minimise its impact. — Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 25, 2021 × After the immense backlash, Javid had to quickly delete the tweet and apologise for the usage of the word. "I've deleted a tweet which used the word "cower". I was expressing gratitude that the vaccines help us fight back as a society, but it was a poor choice of word and I sincerely apologise," he tweeted. "Like many, I have lost loved ones to this awful virus and would never minimise its impact." Javid took over the post of health Secretary on June 26, after the previous minister, Matt Hancock, had to resign after video evidence revealed he flouted Covid regulations by kissing a close aide in a secret affair.

Cower? UK health secretary's remarks on Covid spark trouble

“Freedom Day” means something different north of the English border, so it was perhaps not surprising that independence-minded Scotland declined to fall in line earlier this week when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted virtually all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England.

While Scottish authorities did follow England in relaxing curbs — the British tabloids proclaimed it “Freedom Day” — nightclubs in Edinburgh and other cities remain closed, face masks are compulsory in pubs and shops, and the government has told people to stay 1 meter apart from one another and keep working from home.

It is the latest example of a divergence that stretches back to the start of the pandemic. Scotland’s nationalist leader, Nicola Sturgeon, a politician whose rallying cry is freedom from the United Kingdom, has frequently taken a more cautious, deliberate approach to the virus than the more freewheeling Johnson.

This time, though, it may prove to be a decisive fork in the road.

England is embarking on a high-stakes gamble that it has vaccinated enough of its adult population that it can fully open its economy, even if that means withstanding a huge new wave of infections. Scotland, with a comparable level of vaccinations, is not yet ready to throw off its last protections.

“To talk of tomorrow as ‘Freedom Day’ is not sensible,” said Sturgeon, who is first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, before England’s big easing Monday. The phrase, she said pointedly, applied to England, not Scotland.

The differences between Scotland’s and England’s pandemic responses, experts note, are often more in tone than substance. On major policies such as lockdowns and vaccines, the two have been generally aligned. And judged by metrics such as cases and deaths, their performance has not been all that different.

Still, in a relationship in which so much is refracted through the prism of Scottish nationalism, Sturgeon’s conservative stance could pay off politically, especially if Johnson’s experiment backfires.

“If it goes pear-shaped and Scotland ends up in a better position, expect those in the independence movement to have something to say about it,” said John Curtice, an expert in polling at the University of Strathclyde.

Pandemic politics, he noted, can be fickle. Last July, when cases and deaths in Scotland dwindled to a trickle while England was being ravaged, support for independence spiked to 55% as people concluded that Scotland could fare better on its own.

But over the winter, as Scotland faced a renewed surge in infections and the British government secured vaccines and distributed them aggressively across the United Kingdom, enthusiasm for independence waned.

With Scotland now recovering from yet another outbreak, polls show that support for independence has slipped below 50%. That is about where it was in 2014, when Scots voted against leaving the United Kingdom.

Although the Scottish National Party kept control of the country’s Parliament in recent elections, it fell one seat short of a clear majority, taking some of the wind out of the movement. Sturgeon has signaled that she wants to get past the pandemic before pushing for a second referendum.

The mood in Edinburgh, which is gearing up for its annual arts festival next month, is more subdued than in liberated London. While the festival is going ahead, the number of live shows has been scaled back or placed online because of social distancing requirements.

Tourists, many of them from other parts of Britain, filled tables this week outside pubs and restaurants near Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. But pub owners say the restrictions, particularly on face masks and midnight closings, are hindering them from rebuilding their businesses.

“There’s no justification for us being any different than England,” said Nic Wood, owner of 22 pubs in Edinburgh and other cities. “England is challenging it head-on, while Scotland is still shying away.”

Scotland’s authorities were alarmed by a sudden surge in cases in June, when the highly transmissible delta variant spread across the country. There are a variety of theories about why it was so prolific — not least that thousands of fans of Scotland’s national soccer team traveled to London for a game against England and brought the variant back with them.

Scotland, experts said, also had an initially slower rollout of vaccines than England and a lower level of antibodies in its population, which could have played a part. While cases have begun dropping again, the outbreak punctured illusions that Scotland was different from its neighbor to the south.

All told, England has reported a rate of 8,597 cases and 202 deaths per 100,000 people. Scotland, with a smaller, more dispersed population, has fared slightly better, with 6,114 cases and 144 deaths per 100,000 people.

“COVID has been a double-edged sword for the government,” said Ian Murray, who is the Labour Party’s sole member of the British Parliament from Scotland and opposes independence. “Most Scots are indy-curious, hate the Tory government and think Scotland has no power.

“Now,” Murray said, “they see that Scotland has real power and that the U.K. works pretty well in a crisis.”

That last point is open to debate, given the lurching nature of Johnson’s response to the pandemic. But it is true that Scotland’s handling of the crisis has laid bare its strengths and weaknesses in ways that were less clear beforehand.

Within the United Kingdom, Scottish authorities are responsible for matters such as health and education, while the British Parliament handles immigration, foreign policy and — crucially, at a time like this — fiscal policy.

This arrangement has led to tensions on issues large and small. Scottish officials protested when the London North Eastern Railway scrapped social distancing requirements on its trains, even after they crossed into Scotland.

Scotland’s chief medical officer wrote to British authorities this week to urge them to rethink limiting vaccinations of young people ages 12-18 to those with underlying health conditions. The British asserted that because teenagers are resilient to COVID, there was little benefit to vaccinating them.

But the academic year in Scotland starts earlier than in England, and public health experts said they feared that letting unvaccinated children back into classrooms was a recipe for new infections.

“I worry most about the schools,” said Devi Sridhar, head of the global public health program at the University of Edinburgh. “What do we do about the kids? Do we just let them all get it?”

Sridhar, who advises the Scottish government, acknowledges that its handling of the pandemic has not been without setbacks. Last summer, when cases and deaths fell to a handful, Scotland aspired to a zero-COVID strategy like that in New Zealand. It did not work, she said, in part because England did not take similar steps.

Now, though, public health researchers say Scotland may not be far from the threshold for herd immunity, given the percentage of vaccinated people and those who have natural antibodies.

“I was never comfortable with all the emphasis on 'Freedom Day,'” said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of public health research at the University of Edinburgh. “If a moderate amount of mask-wearing and other mitigation measures gets us over the herd immunity threshold, then why not do it?”

“Freedom Day” means something different north of the English border, so it was perhaps not surprising that independence-minded Scotland declined to fall in line earlier this week when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted virtually all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England.

“Freedom Day” means something different north of the English border, so it was perhaps not surprising that independence-minded Scotland declined to fall in line earlier this week when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted virtually all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England. While Scottish authorities did follow England in relaxing curbs — the British tabloids proclaimed it “Freedom Day” — nightclubs in Edinburgh and other cities remain closed, face masks are compulsory in pubs and shops, and the government has told people to stay 1 meter apart from one another and keep working from home. It is the latest example of a divergence that stretches back to the start of the pandemic. Scotland’s nationalist leader, Nicola Sturgeon, a politician whose rallying cry is freedom from the United Kingdom, has frequently taken a more cautious, deliberate approach to the virus than the more freewheeling Johnson. This time, though, it may prove to be a decisive fork in the road. England is embarking on a high-stakes gamble that it has vaccinated enough of its adult population that it can fully open its economy, even if that means withstanding a huge new wave of infections. Scotland, with a comparable level of vaccinations, is not yet ready to throw off its last protections. “To talk of tomorrow as ‘Freedom Day’ is not sensible,” said Sturgeon, who is first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, before England’s big easing Monday. The phrase, she said pointedly, applied to England, not Scotland. The differences between Scotland’s and England’s pandemic responses, experts note, are often more in tone than substance. On major policies such as lockdowns and vaccines, the two have been generally aligned. And judged by metrics such as cases and deaths, their performance has not been all that different. Still, in a relationship in which so much is refracted through the prism of Scottish nationalism, Sturgeon’s conservative stance could pay off politically, especially if Johnson’s experiment backfires. “If it goes pear-shaped and Scotland ends up in a better position, expect those in the independence movement to have something to say about it,” said John Curtice, an expert in polling at the University of Strathclyde. Pandemic politics, he noted, can be fickle. Last July, when cases and deaths in Scotland dwindled to a trickle while England was being ravaged, support for independence spiked to 55% as people concluded that Scotland could fare better on its own. But over the winter, as Scotland faced a renewed surge in infections and the British government secured vaccines and distributed them aggressively across the United Kingdom, enthusiasm for independence waned. With Scotland now recovering from yet another outbreak, polls show that support for independence has slipped below 50%. That is about where it was in 2014, when Scots voted against leaving the United Kingdom. Although the Scottish National Party kept control of the country’s Parliament in recent elections, it fell one seat short of a clear majority, taking some of the wind out of the movement. Sturgeon has signaled that she wants to get past the pandemic before pushing for a second referendum. The mood in Edinburgh, which is gearing up for its annual arts festival next month, is more subdued than in liberated London. While the festival is going ahead, the number of live shows has been scaled back or placed online because of social distancing requirements. Tourists, many of them from other parts of Britain, filled tables this week outside pubs and restaurants near Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. But pub owners say the restrictions, particularly on face masks and midnight closings, are hindering them from rebuilding their businesses. “There’s no justification for us being any different than England,” said Nic Wood, owner of 22 pubs in Edinburgh and other cities. “England is challenging it head-on, while Scotland is still shying away.” Scotland’s authorities were alarmed by a sudden surge in cases in June, when the highly transmissible delta variant spread across the country. There are a variety of theories about why it was so prolific — not least that thousands of fans of Scotland’s national soccer team traveled to London for a game against England and brought the variant back with them. Scotland, experts said, also had an initially slower rollout of vaccines than England and a lower level of antibodies in its population, which could have played a part. While cases have begun dropping again, the outbreak punctured illusions that Scotland was different from its neighbor to the south. All told, England has reported a rate of 8,597 cases and 202 deaths per 100,000 people. Scotland, with a smaller, more dispersed population, has fared slightly better, with 6,114 cases and 144 deaths per 100,000 people. “COVID has been a double-edged sword for the government,” said Ian Murray, who is the Labour Party’s sole member of the British Parliament from Scotland and opposes independence. “Most Scots are indy-curious, hate the Tory government and think Scotland has no power. “Now,” Murray said, “they see that Scotland has real power and that the U.K. works pretty well in a crisis.” That last point is open to debate, given the lurching nature of Johnson’s response to the pandemic. But it is true that Scotland’s handling of the crisis has laid bare its strengths and weaknesses in ways that were less clear beforehand. Within the United Kingdom, Scottish authorities are responsible for matters such as health and education, while the British Parliament handles immigration, foreign policy and — crucially, at a time like this — fiscal policy. This arrangement has led to tensions on issues large and small. Scottish officials protested when the London North Eastern Railway scrapped social distancing requirements on its trains, even after they crossed into Scotland. Scotland’s chief medical officer wrote to British authorities this week to urge them to rethink limiting vaccinations of young people ages 12-18 to those with underlying health conditions. The British asserted that because teenagers are resilient to COVID, there was little benefit to vaccinating them. But the academic year in Scotland starts earlier than in England, and public health experts said they feared that letting unvaccinated children back into classrooms was a recipe for new infections. “I worry most about the schools,” said Devi Sridhar, head of the global public health program at the University of Edinburgh. “What do we do about the kids? Do we just let them all get it?” Sridhar, who advises the Scottish government, acknowledges that its handling of the pandemic has not been without setbacks. Last summer, when cases and deaths fell to a handful, Scotland aspired to a zero-COVID strategy like that in New Zealand. It did not work, she said, in part because England did not take similar steps. Now, though, public health researchers say Scotland may not be far from the threshold for herd immunity, given the percentage of vaccinated people and those who have natural antibodies. “I was never comfortable with all the emphasis on 'Freedom Day,'” said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of public health research at the University of Edinburgh. “If a moderate amount of mask-wearing and other mitigation measures gets us over the herd immunity threshold, then why not do it?”

COVID-19: While England gambles on ‘Freedom Day,’ Scotland opts for caution

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not prepared to impose lockdown restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 to save the elderly and denied the National Health Service would be overwhelmed, his former top adviser said in an interview aired on Monday.

In his first TV interview since leaving his job last year, excerpts of which were released on Monday, Dominic Cummings said Johnson did not want to impose a second lockdown in the autumn last year because "the people who are dying are essentially all over 80". 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccination-proof-to-be-mandatory-in-nightclubs-from-september-uk-government-399106">Also read: Vaccination proof to be mandatory in nightclubs from September — UK government</a>

Cummings also claimed that Johnson wanted to meet Queen Elizabeth, 95, despite signs that the virus was spreading in his office at the start of the pandemic and when the public had been told to avoid all unnecessary contact, particularly with the elderly.&nbsp;

The political adviser, who has accused the government of being responsible for thousands of avoidable COVID-19 deaths, shared a series of messages from October that are allegedly from Johnson to aides.

In one message, Cummings said Johnson joked that the elderly could "get COVID and live longer" because most people dying were past the average age of life expectancy. 
 
Cummings alleges Johnson messaged him to say: "And I no longer buy all this NHS (National Health Service) overwhelmed stuff. Folks I think we may need to recalibrate." 
 
Reuters could not independently verify whether the messages were genuine.

A spokesperson for Johnson said the prime minister had taken "the necessary action to protect lives and livelihoods, guided by the best scientific advice". 
 
Britain's opposition Labour Party said the revelations by Cummings strengthened the case for a public enquiry and were "further evidence that the prime minister has made the wrong calls time and again at the expense of public health".

Cummings told the BBC that Johnson told officials that he should never have agreed to the first lockdown and that he had to convince him not to take the risk of meeting the queen.

"I said, what are you doing, and he said, I'm going to see the queen and I said, what on earth are you talking about, of course, you can't go and see the queen," Cummings said told Johnson. "And he said, he just hadn't thought it through."

Despite questioning Johnson's fitness for his role as prime minister and castigating the government's fight against COVID-19, Cummings' criticism has yet to seriously puncture the British leader's ratings in opinion polls. The full interview will be broadcast on Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not prepared to impose lockdown restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 to save the elderly and denied the National Health Service would be overwhelmed, his former top adviser said in an interview aired on Monday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not prepared to impose lockdown restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 to save the elderly and denied the National Health Service would be overwhelmed, his former top adviser said in an interview aired on Monday. In his first TV interview since leaving his job last year, excerpts of which were released on Monday, Dominic Cummings said Johnson did not want to impose a second lockdown in the autumn last year because "the people who are dying are essentially all over 80". Also read: Vaccination proof to be mandatory in nightclubs from September — UK government Cummings also claimed that Johnson wanted to meet Queen Elizabeth, 95, despite signs that the virus was spreading in his office at the start of the pandemic and when the public had been told to avoid all unnecessary contact, particularly with the elderly. The political adviser, who has accused the government of being responsible for thousands of avoidable COVID-19 deaths, shared a series of messages from October that are allegedly from Johnson to aides. In one message, Cummings said Johnson joked that the elderly could "get COVID and live longer" because most people dying were past the average age of life expectancy. Cummings alleges Johnson messaged him to say: "And I no longer buy all this NHS (National Health Service) overwhelmed stuff. Folks I think we may need to recalibrate." Reuters could not independently verify whether the messages were genuine. A spokesperson for Johnson said the prime minister had taken "the necessary action to protect lives and livelihoods, guided by the best scientific advice". Britain's opposition Labour Party said the revelations by Cummings strengthened the case for a public enquiry and were "further evidence that the prime minister has made the wrong calls time and again at the expense of public health". Cummings told the BBC that Johnson told officials that he should never have agreed to the first lockdown and that he had to convince him not to take the risk of meeting the queen. "I said, what are you doing, and he said, I'm going to see the queen and I said, what on earth are you talking about, of course, you can't go and see the queen," Cummings said told Johnson. "And he said, he just hadn't thought it through." Despite questioning Johnson's fitness for his role as prime minister and castigating the government's fight against COVID-19, Cummings' criticism has yet to seriously puncture the British leader's ratings in opinion polls. The full interview will be broadcast on Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson didn't want lockdown as only the elderly were dying, his ex-aide says 

By the end of September, full vaccination will be required in order to enter nightclubs, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said on Tuesday.

'Only double-jabbed will be allowed into nightclubs': Boris Johnson

The UK government has warned that there will be an increase in COVID-19 deaths in the coming weeks. This warning comes as England celebrated the lifting of nearly all COVID-19 restrictions after over a year.

UK Govt: Will see an increase in COVID-19 deaths in coming weeks

Lockdown restrictions ease in England after more than a year but with cases surging UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged the public to remain cautious. Johnson himself remains in isolation after the British Health Minister contracted the virus.

England comes out of COVID-19 lockdown, PM Johnson urges caution

"I’ve been asked to self-isolate by the Test, Trace and Isolate system after I’ve been in contact with somebody who has COVID, in this case of course the Health Secretary Sajid Javid," Johnson said.

UK PM Johnson urges people to stay cautious

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will vow on Thursday to "level up" the forgotten parts of Britain without damaging those areas that are already thriving when he sets out plans for the flagship policy that helped him win election.

Johnson, who won a 2019 national vote thanks largely to voters in struggling regions of&nbsp;England, will set out his vision which he hopes will also relieve pressure on other densely populated parts of the country.

The British economy is dominated by London and the southeast and a 2020 report for the government found that gaps in economic productivity between the capital and other regions of the United Kingdom were as wide as they were in 1901.

Many governments have vowed, and failed, to bring more jobs and prosperity to the areas around the former industrial towns in northern&nbsp;England, and Johnson has promised to "level up" in part through higher spending on infrastructure.

"We don't want to decapitate the tall poppies," he will say in a speech in the West Midlands, central&nbsp;England, according to excerpts released by his office. "We don't think you can make the poor parts of the country richer by making the rich parts poorer."

Johnson will argue that previous governments directed investment in areas where house prices were already high and transport already congested. He hopes that by investing in areas with lower growth, people there will not have to move to secure better jobs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-hope-you-crawl-back-under-the-rock-uk-pm-johnson-condemns-racial-abuse-of-england-football-stars-397699">Also read |&nbsp;I hope you crawl back under the rock, UK PM Johnson condemns racial abuse of England football stars</a>

"We will have made progress in Levelling Up when we have begun to raise living standards, spread opportunity, improved our public services and restored people's sense of pride in their community," he will say.

Hit by a pandemic at the start of 2020, Johnson has so far given few concrete examples of how he hopes to transform the fortunes of the country's poorer towns, but the government is looking to invest in the green economy and attract foreign investment.

It has been given a boost in recent weeks with the news that Nissan and Stellantis both plan to invest more in Britain, to build a battery plant and electric vans in the north east and north west of the country respectively.

Even with that Britain is still lagging other big European countries in the race to produce batteries for the new cleaner vehicles of the future. Coventry Airport, in the West Midlands, is also vying to become the site for a gigafactory.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will vow on Thursday to "level up" the forgotten parts of Britain without damaging those areas that are already thriving when he sets out plans for the flagship policy that helped him win election.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will vow on Thursday to "level up" the forgotten parts of Britain without damaging those areas that are already thriving when he sets out plans for the flagship policy that helped him win election. Johnson, who won a 2019 national vote thanks largely to voters in struggling regions of England, will set out his vision which he hopes will also relieve pressure on other densely populated parts of the country. The British economy is dominated by London and the southeast and a 2020 report for the government found that gaps in economic productivity between the capital and other regions of the United Kingdom were as wide as they were in 1901. Many governments have vowed, and failed, to bring more jobs and prosperity to the areas around the former industrial towns in northern England, and Johnson has promised to "level up" in part through higher spending on infrastructure. "We don't want to decapitate the tall poppies," he will say in a speech in the West Midlands, central England, according to excerpts released by his office. "We don't think you can make the poor parts of the country richer by making the rich parts poorer." Johnson will argue that previous governments directed investment in areas where house prices were already high and transport already congested. He hopes that by investing in areas with lower growth, people there will not have to move to secure better jobs. Also read | I hope you crawl back under the rock, UK PM Johnson condemns racial abuse of England football stars "We will have made progress in Levelling Up when we have begun to raise living standards, spread opportunity, improved our public services and restored people's sense of pride in their community," he will say. Hit by a pandemic at the start of 2020, Johnson has so far given few concrete examples of how he hopes to transform the fortunes of the country's poorer towns, but the government is looking to invest in the green economy and attract foreign investment. It has been given a boost in recent weeks with the news that Nissan and Stellantis both plan to invest more in Britain, to build a battery plant and electric vans in the north east and north west of the country respectively. Even with that Britain is still lagging other big European countries in the race to produce batteries for the new cleaner vehicles of the future. Coventry Airport, in the West Midlands, is also vying to become the site for a gigafactory.

PM Johnson to set out plan to 'level up' Britain

It comes after England players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka received and onslaught of racial abuse on social media after missing their penalties at Sunday night’s Euro 2020 final.

'Will ban racists from attending football matches': UK PM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson kicked off a debate ahead of the parliamentary vote regarding the government's decision to cut the country's overseas aid spending by around 4 billion pounds a year.

Boris Johnson defends proposal to cut UK foreign aid spending

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