MICHAEL GOVE

The decision to move forward with the development has sparked a wide range of reactions.

U.K. approves first coal mine in 30 years

Environmental groups have welcomed a decision by Britain’s Conservative government to lift its opposition to onshore wind farms.

The death of a toddler from exposure to mold speaks to the broader consequences of Britain’s economic and social decline.

A thaw in UK-EU relations is the UK prime minister’s best hope of political survival.

Ministers are also considering relaxing affordable homes targets, sparking outrage from Labour.

British Prime Minister Liz Truss has acknowledged she could have done a better job “laying the ground” for her package of unfunded tax cuts.

Michael Gove criticises Tory frontrunner Liz Truss' policies, which come under scrutiny in Saturday's papers.

The country is paying for its failure to prepare for supply shocks when times were good.

Conservative lawmakers have whittled the field down to three leadership candidates. Now we find out what they really care about.

Conservative lawmakers have whittled the field down to three leadership candidates. Now we find out what they really care about.

Contenders have promised a range of tax cuts but given little detail about how they will be funded.

The contest to succeed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has begun after he announced he is resigning as Conservative Party leader.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his resignation amid a mass revolt by top members of his government.

Britain’s beleaguered Prime Minister Boris Johnson is determined to cling to power despite an open revolt within his Conservative Party.

The front pages focus on a forecast of sharp price rises as the cost of living crisis continues.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson managed to narrowly win a no-confidence vote from his own Conservative Party, but the result dealt a heavy blow to his authority.

Lord Harrington insists "raised voices" at meetings reflect a shared desire to help Ukrainians.

A prosecutor says a man who stabbed a veteran British lawmaker to death while he was meeting voters last year was a “committed Islamist terrorist” who had spent years researching and planning potential attacks on lawmakers.

The occupation of the home reflects an idea floated by politicians to help refugees.

The British government has set out plans for a huge shift in power and wealth to left-behind regions of the country.

The British government says property developers must bear the cost of removing dangerous cladding that has left scores of apartment buildings at risk of fire, and thousands of residents facing steep bills to make their homes safe.

The levelling up secretary misses his slot on the Today programme after half an hour in an elevator.

Developers to be told to pay for removal of cladding in lower-height buildings, the BBC understands.

Labour accuses the government of being in "disarray", but ministers promise to tackle regional inequality.

Cumbrian councillors are reviewing their support for a controversial coal mine near Whitehaven.

Britain is experiencing empty gas pumps, worker shortages and unavailable items on store shelves.

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Tuesday evening.

When Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were identified as close contacts of Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, who recently tested positive for Covid, most people were expecting that they would go into self-isolation for 10 days. But instead, Downing Street announced that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor would take part in a pilot scheme allowing them to avoid self-isolation and continue working. Just 160 minutes later, Number 10 was forced into a humiliating U-turn following a backlash from To

Ministers and civil servants at three government departments are able to avoid self-isolation after being quietly invited to join a special pilot scheme that allows them to take daily tests and return to work, The Telegraph can disclose. The scheme, nicknamed a Monopoly-style “get of jail free card” by MPs, is understood to have been used by Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, to avoid self-isolating when he returned from watching the Champions League final in Porto in May. Government sou

Fans attending sports matches and concerts will not have to present a Covid certificate proving they have tested negative for the virus or received a vaccine. "Vaccine passports" were trialled by a government research programme which allowed fans to use an app to show they were not infectious before attending large-scale events. The event trials include Euro 2020 matches at Wembley Stadium and the forthcoming men's and women's singles finals at Wimbledon. A Whitehall review of Covid certificates

Friends of Michael Gove insisted on Saturday night that he had been living at his family home throughout the pandemic, as they accused Labour of “shameful” smear tactics for suggesting otherwise. The comments came after the shadow home secretary said Mr Gove must “clarify” his “household” arrangements, following the announcement on Friday that he and his wife Sarah Vine are divorcing after 20 years of marriage. Nick Thomas-Symonds said although the Cabinet Office minister, 53, was entitled to a

Michael Gove on Friday night became the second senior Cabinet minister in a week to split with his wife as Downing Street refused to say whether any social distancing rules had been broken. The Cabinet Office minister is one of four people who have been making unprecedented decisions about people's private lives during the pandemic, sparking questions about their own domestic arrangements. On Friday afternoon, after months of intense speculation and rumour, Mr Gove and his wife Sarah Vine, a pro

Michael Gove has warned Nicola Sturgeon to keep the Scottish Greens “at arm’s length” after arguing that her plans for a formal cooperation deal with them would further ravage the economy as it recovers from the pandemic. The Cabinet Office minister said the Greens were opposed to economic growth and investment and argued that Ms Sturgeon's proposed agreement threatened the prosperity of the North Sea oil and gas industry. Speaking on a visit to his hometown of Aberdeen, he said he did not belie

Sarah Vine has spoken about the difficulties of sustaining a political marriage in the wake of revelations about Matt Hancock's affair with his aide. Michael Gove's wife, a newspaper journalist, wrote in her column for the Mail on Sunday: "Climbing that far up Westminster’s greasy pole changes a person. And when someone changes, they require something new from a partner. "Namely, someone who is as much a courtesan as a companion, one who understands their brilliance and, crucially, is personally

Police have arrested a man in connection to a string of vandalism incidents in which a suspect smashed several OMNY turnstiles at MTA subway stations.

In Mexico's famed beachy paradise destination, these seven upscale communities boast everything from lush gardens to scuba diving Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

Alex Salmond has accused Nicola Sturgeon of appearing to do "nothing at all" to deliver independence after Michael Gove ruled out another referendum before the 2024 general election. The Alba Party leader said Ms Sturgeon's Government was wasting time "having discussions about discussions", while Westminster was already plotting to "rig the ballot". The former First Minister said it was "time to force the Scottish issue now" and get on with delivering a referendum rather than "have Michael Gove

Nicola Sturgeon has accused Michael Gove of “sneering, arrogant condescension” after he said a new Scottish independence referendum would not be granted before the 2024 general election. The Scottish First Minister and SNP leader said Mr Gove’s comments in an interview with The Telegraph would actually increase support for Scotland leaving the UK. Meanwhile, one SNP MP indicated that the refusal of the UK Government to allow another referendum meant his party should now unilaterally push ahead w

Cabinet minister Michael Gove has insisted that the revised July 19 date for freedom day is “terminus”, adding that something "unprecedented and remarkable" would have to happen for the new roadmap to be extended further. Despite pledges from both Mr Gove and the Prime Minister that they are confident lockdown restrictions will end on July 19, there are already concerns that Britain could be stuck in a dangerous trap of indefinite restrictions as the Delta variant continues to spread. What do yo

Britain's Conservative government is fending off calls to provide more financial support to businesses and workers who will suffer financially from its decision to delay the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions in England by four weeks to July 19.

It’s definitely a July 19 unlocking ... unless it’s not Sausage war: Sir Keir Starmer calls for more talks MP claims height contributed to temper tantrum Government modellers unsure about next wave Coronavirus latest news: Follow updates in our live blog Something "unprecedented and remarkable" would have to happen for the new roadmap date of July 19 date to be extended further, Michael Gove has said. The Cabinet Office minister reiterated Boris Johnson's phrase from last night's press conferenc

All senior civil service roles will now be advertised externally to attract more talent from the private sector, as Michael Gove launches a new Government declaration on Whitehall reform on Tuesday. The plans are among a series of changes that will be signed off at the first ever joint meeting of the Cabinet and civil service leaders from Government departments. The "Declaration of Government Reform", which was set in motion by Mr Gove and Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former top aide, will

Brussels misses dealing with Michael Gove, EU sources said as they accused David Frost of stoking up Unionist anger at the Northern Ireland Protocol. Lord Frost took over responsibility for negotiations with the EU over the Protocol from his fellow Cabinet member in February, amid growing fears that Mr Gove was too soft on Brussels. But one EU diplomat told The Telegraph: “Gove’s professional, less emotional approach was the more logical one from where we sit." Mr Gove is said to have built up a

The cabinet office minister had recently returned from watching the Champions League final in Portugal.

The cabinet office minister had recently returned from watching the Champions League final in Portugal.

As Number 10 braces itself for the unstable ordnance of Dominic Cummings' appearance before MPs on Wednesday, one minister will be certain of emerging unscathed from any "Dom bombs" that go off. Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is beyond reproach as far as Mr Cummings is concerned, having been in lockstep with him throughout the pandemic. The mutual respect between the two is so strong that some Tory MPs are convinced Mr Cummings is plotting a sensational political comeback as part of a future Gove premiership. However unlikely that prospect might seem, it is a measure of the deep distrust of the two men by sections of the Conservative Party that some MPs believe they are conspiring to oust Boris Johnson and stage an imminent Downing Street coup.

Public told to abandon summer holidays abroad Wembley could be used for vaccination drive in fight against Indian variant Analysis: Cummings’s campaign should not be taken lightly Michael Deacon: There’s a problem with Cummings's criticisms Coronavirus latest news: Follow updates in our live blog Boris Johnson has been warned that the opportunities of Brexit are at stake amid a major Cabinet row over the Australia free trade deal. Ahead of a crunch meeting tomorrow, senior ministers are split over the issue of granting Australian farmers zero-tariff access, amid fears that lamb and beef imports could harm the British farming industry. George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, is fighting to extend a transition period - during which tariffs would gradually reduce to zero - from 10 to 15 years in order to shield British farmers and give them more time to adjust. He is also said to favour maintaining tariff rate quotas, which would only allow a certain quantity of Australian imports to benefit from lower tariffs. He is backed Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, along with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Welsh Secretary Simon Hart, who fear a backlash from Scottish beef and Welsh lamb farmers. However, allies of Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, have hit back at Mr Eustice, claiming that a failure to agree terms could scupper future deals with the US and other major economies, in turn squandering the opportunities of Brexit. One source questioned why Mr Eustice had voted to leave the EU if he intended to resort to protectionism, while another accused him and Mr Gove in The Sun of being "more Waitrose than Redwall." Ms Truss is backed by Lord Frost, the former Brexit negotiator and minister in charge of EU relations, as well as Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, who warned that a failure to strike an agreement with Australia would make other deals "very challenging." The Prime Minister is said to side with Ms Truss on the issue, but will be forced to try and broker a compromise on Thursday when the Cabinet committee in charge of trade deals meet. Follow the latest updates below.

David Cameron bombarded ministers and officials with 68 messages about the collapsed lender Greensill, it has emerged, as the scale of his intense lobbying campaign has been laid bare. The communications fired off by the former Conservative prime minister on behalf of the controversial finance firm - totalling up to 19 calls, text and emails in a single day - were published on Tuesday afternoon by a committee of MPs. The Treasury committee, which is one of three Commons select committees conducting an inquiry into Greensill Capital and its collapse, released the messages supplied by Mr Cameron ahead of his appearance before its panel on Thursday. Australian banker Lex Greensill, the eponymous founder of Greensill Capital, faced questions from MPs on Wednesday. He is expected to be quizzed about the 5,000 jobs put at risk by the collapse of the company.

Boris Johnson will recommit to overhauling social care in the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday, The Telegraph understands, but almost no details about how that will be achieved will be revealed. The speech, to be delivered by Her Majesty, in its current draft includes the words “proposals on social care will be brought forward" or similar, according to a well-placed Government source. However, despite Mr Johnson’s election win being almost 18 months old no briefing about what reforms the Government actually wants to see enacted is expected. It will lead to renewed complaints of the 'can being kicked down the road', with debate about the urgent need for social care reform having been a feature of Westminster politics for a decade. Government ministers are locked in disagreement about the best course of action for reforming state support for the elderly and those most in need. The Prime Minister is said to favour a decade-old proposal from Sir Andrew Dilnot, a social care expert, that would cap lifetime care costs for individuals at between £25,000 and £50,000. But the Treasury is concerned about the cost implications of such a plan, with Mr Johnson and Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, having discussed possible solutions recently. Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said that proposals were on their way and would be “heading” for becoming law within the next eight months. Mr Gove told Times Radio: "We're working to make sure that we have an effective social care plan at the moment. That work is going on. "So, by the end of the year you will have a specific social care plan that is heading for the statute books at the very least.” The Queen’s Speech is the moment when a Government outlines its legislative program at the beginning of a new parliament. An address outlining the bills to be tabled before Parliament is read out by Her Majesty, though the speech is drawn up in close consultation with the Government. A national security bill to make it easier to crack down on foreign agents in the UK and a sovereign borders bill toughening up the asylum system are expected to be announced. So too bills that will set legally binding environmental targets, change planning laws to give developers more ability to build, and give more rights to the victims of crime. The social care proposals are expected to be mentioned within the context of an NHS reform bill which will see a merging of local community services with the nationwide system.

Scotland’s leader has told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that a second Scottish independence referendum is “a matter of when, not if,” after her party won its fourth straight parliamentary election.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied a press report which quoted him as allegedly saying he would rather see “bodies pile high in their thousands” than impose a third national lockdown on the country.

Britain is planning to test a series of measures including “coronavirus status certifications” over the coming weeks to see if they can allow people to safely return to mass gatherings at sports arenas, nightclubs and concerts.

The turbulence centers on Northern Ireland, whose complex status has been one of the trickiest issues in the U.K.-EU divorce. Checks have also been imposed on some British goods going to Northern Ireland because it shares a border with EU member-state Ireland. That would have drawn a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland -- exactly what the Brexit trade deal was crafted to avoid. AdThe EU quickly dropped the idea after British, Irish and Northern Ireland politicians expressed alarm. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman, Jamie Davies, said the bloc’s move had caused “shock and anger” in Northern Ireland.

A woman walks past past graffiti with the words 'No Irish Sea Border' in Belfast city centre, Northern Ireland, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. Politicians from Britain, Northern Ireland and the European Union are meeting to defuse post-Brexit trade tensions that have shaken Northern Irelands delicate political balance. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)LONDON – Senior politicians from Britain, Northern Ireland and the European Union held inconclusive talks Wednesday in a bid to ease post-Brexit trade tensions that have shaken Northern Ireland’s delicate political balance. The border checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. are a contentious product of Brexit. British, Irish and Northern Ireland politicians all expressed alarm at the plan, and the EU dropped the idea.

Authorities in Northern Ireland have suspended post-Brexit border checks on animal products and withdrawn workers after threats against border staff. The Northern Ireland government said it had stopped inspections of animal products at Belfast and Larne ports “in the interests of the wellbeing of staff.” The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it had increased patrols in the area. An open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is a key pillar of the peace process that ended decades of violence in the region. He also said problems in shipping some goods to Northern Ireland caused by the new trade rules needed to be resolved. He said senior politicians from the U.K., Northern Ireland and the bloc would discuss the ports situation on Wednesday.

A security guard talks to people at the entrance of Novasep factory in Seneffe, Belgium, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. The Novasep factory in the town of Seneffe is part of the European production chain for AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine. It also indicated how, beyond the medical complexity, the humanitarian needs and the personal pain felt across the continent, the pandemic is also an intense political fight. Much of that political bile pools together in the small Belgian industrial town of Seneffe south of Brussels. Which would make it all the more important for Berlin to ensure the EU gets all the vaccines it can.

Johnson is facing accusations that he is not abiding by lockdown rules as he makes a trip to Scotland on Thursday to laud the rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines across the United Kingdom. (Jeff Mitchell/Pool Photo via AP)LONDON – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced accusations Thursday that he is not abiding by the country's lockdown rules as he visited Scotland to laud the rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines across the United Kingdom. “I’m here in my capacity as prime minister of the whole country to thank hard-working officials and public servants across the whole of Britain who are doing fantastic work," he said. Police Scotland confirmed they had received a “small number” of complaints about the prime ministerial visit. ___Follow AP’s coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines and understanding the outbreak:https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemichttps://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccinehttps://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak___Follow all AP stories about Brexit and British politics at https://apnews.com/Brexit

Britain left the European bloc's vast single market for people, goods and services, completing the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)LONDON – Some businesses said Friday that costs and paperwork are hampering trade between Britain and the European Union as the reality of the U.K.’s post-Brexit trading relationship with the bloc takes hold. A trade deal that took effect Jan. 1 allows Britain and the EU to trade in goods without quotas or tariffs. But that is a far cry from the seamless, hassle-free trade the U.K. enjoyed while it was part of the EU's single market. “We have always been clear there would be changes now that we are out of the customs union and single market, so full compliance with the new rules is vital to avoid disruption,” he said.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper than others and does not need to be kept at ultra-low temperatures required by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. It added that it "aims to supply millions of doses in the first quarter" as part of its deal with the U.K. government to supply up to 100 million doses in total. As a two-dose vaccine, the agreement means up to 50 million people in the U.K., which has a population of around 66 million, could be inoculated. "Everyone will still receive their second dose and this will be within 12 weeks of their first. The second dose completes the course and is important for longer term protection," it added.

British hospitals are cancelling non-urgent procedures and scrambling to find space for COVID-19 patients as coronavirus cases continue to surge despite tough new restrictions imposed to curb a fast-spreading new variant of the virus. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)LONDON – British hospitals are canceling non-urgent procedures and scrambling to find space for COVID-19 patients as coronavirus cases continue to surge despite tough new restrictions imposed to curb a fast-spreading new variant of the virus. British authorities are blaming a new variant of the coronavirus for soaring infection rates in London and southeast England. That is only slightly below the high of 21,683 COVID-19 patients who were recorded in U.K. hospitals on April 12. Still, there is rising confidence help could soon be on the way, with expectation mounting that U.K. regulators may authorize a second coronavirus vaccine this week.

Vincenzo Pinto | AFP | Getty ImagesLONDON — The coronavirus vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is expected to be approved for use in the U.K. in coming days. The Financial Times reported Sunday that government officials confirmed that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency would imminently approve the vaccine, saying the announcement could come as soon as Tuesday. The Oxford-AstraZeneca candidate would allow the country to significantly ramp up its inoculation program, given its development in the U.K. Confusion around its trial data in November led to some criticism of U.K.-based AstraZeneca. The data suggests that the vaccine can help reduce the spread of Covid-19, as well as prevent illness and death.

European Union ambassadors convened on Christmas Day to start an assessment of the massive free-trade deal the EU struck with Britain. (Olivier Hoslet, Pool via AP)LONDON – First came the Brexit trade deal. Businesses were scrambling Monday to digest the details and implications of the 1,240-page deal sealed by the EU and the U.K. on Christmas Eve. And Brexit deal has angered one of the sectors the government stressed it would protect: fishing. ___Follow all AP stories on the Brexit trade talks at h ttps://apnews.com/Brexit

On fisheries, the EU has repeatedly said it wants an agreement that guarantees a reciprocal access to markets and waters. EU fishermen are keen to keep working in British waters and the U.K. seafood industry is extremely dependent on exports to the 27-nation bloc. Johnson has made fisheries and U.K. control over its waters a key demand in the long saga of Britain’s departure from the EU. “We give until Sunday to Boris Johnson to make a decision,” said Dacian Ciolos, president of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament. “He said that, if no agreement could be reached, the UK and the EU would part as friends, with the UK trading with the EU on Australian-style terms.”Australia does not have a free trade deal with the EU.

A sign advertising substantial meals from 3 pounds is displayed outside a pub in Covent Garden, London, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. London and some of its surrounding areas will be placed under Britain's highest level of coronavirus restrictions beginning at 00:01 local time on Wednesday as infections rise rapidly in the capital. Under Tier 3 restrictions, the toughest level in England's three-tier system, people can't socialize indoors, and bars, pubs and restaurants must close except for takeout. Britain's communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, said further discussions will take place on Wednesday between leaders from the four nations of the U.K. about the planned relaxation. However, he gave no indication that a change would be announced, beyond urging people to think harder about their holiday plans.

People wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus as they walk past a pub in Soho, London, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)LONDON – The four nations of the United Kingdom faced mounting calls Tuesday to scrap. or at least limit, a planned easing of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas following a spike in new infections. Any potential easing over Christmas contrasts with measures being taken by other European nations such as Germany and the Netherlands, which have announced sweeping new restrictions for the holidays. When the Christmas easing was first announced last month, Johnson was careful to stress that households should be "jolly careful, especially with elderly relatives.”However, that easing announcement was predicated on an assumption that new cases would be on a downward trajectory.

Britain left the EU on Jan. 31 but remains in its economic structures until the end of the year. That means a serious economic rupture on Jan. 1 that could be chaotic if there is no trade agreement. The two leaders had hoped to inject political momentum into trade talks that have become hopelessly deadlocked on fishing and other key aspects of the future relationship. Reaching a trade deal by then would ensure there are no tariffs or quotas on trade in goods on Jan. 1, although there would still be new costs and red tape for businesses. Months of trade talks have failed to bridge the gaps on three issues — fishing rights, fair-competition rules and the governance of future disputes.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to travel to Brussels this week in a final push to clinch a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU. Johnson will meet European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in person after two phone calls between the leaders failed to bear fruit. "The conditions for an agreement are not there due to remaining differences on critical issues," von der Leyen said late Monday after speaking with Johnson via telephone. Sterling slidesBoth sides remain divided over three issues: fisheries, competition rules and governance of their potential deal. Johnson and von der Leyen then instructed their teams to give it another go after a phone call on Saturday.

Members of Parliament will vote later Tuesday on the proposed tier system as the country prepares to come out of lockdown. Critics say the measures will devastate businesses, especially pubs, which face some of the tightest restrictions. Johnson urged legislators to back the measures, saying the country must “hold our nerve” until vaccines are approved and distributed. But pubs and restaurants face strict limits in Tier 2 and closure in the topmost Tier 3. Other parts of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — are all following their own local restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

With less than two months to go before the U.K. exits the EU's economic orbit, trade deal talks resume in London. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)LONDON – The British government told businesses on Tuesday to make sure they are ready for big changes when the U.K. makes its final Brexit break from the European Union in exactly a month. Talks are continuing, and U.K. officials have said this is the last week to strike a deal. That will hurt both sides, but the burden will fall most heavily on Britain, which does almost half its trade with the EU. But firms that trade with the EU say they still don’t know what conditions they will face in a month’s time.

(Adrian Dennis/Pool via AP)LONDON – The British government appointed a vaccines minister on Saturday as it prepares to inoculate millions of people against the coronavirus, potentially starting within days. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Conservative lawmaker Nadhim Zahawi will oversee the country’s biggest vaccine program in decades. Britain has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, enough for 20 million people, and 100 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Decisions about which, if any, vaccines to authorize will be made by the independent Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Bur Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the restrictions were “grimly” necessary to avoid the health system being overwhelmed this winter.

(AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)BRUSSELS – Please leave a chair empty at this year's family Christmas dinner as a precaution, or face the possibility of having that chair empty forever. That's the stark dilemma Belgium's prime minister has set to urge smaller festive family gatherings, as Europeans battle with containing the surging COVID-19 pandemic over the holiday season. Britain, with the continent's highest death rate at 57,031 yet a Christmas tradition unlike few others, could not resist the temptation of relaxation. Like Belgium, Italy, where the pandemic initially struck hard in Europe, is taking a hard line at Christmas. In Oberndorf, home of the world's most famous Christmas carol, they hope its lyrics will not be taken too literally.

Arizona on Saturday reported 4,136 additional known COVID-19 cases and 36 more deaths. The total number of coronavirus cases in Oregon has now surpassed 72,000 and the death toll stands at 896. ___CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada on Saturday reported nearly 3,000 additional known COVID-19 cases as related hospitalizations continued in large numbers. Seven-day rolling averages of daily new cases, daily deaths and COVID-19 testing positivity in Arizona all increased in the past two weeks. In Tokyo, daily cases have totaled more than 500 recently, raising alarm about a third wave of infections.

Those travelling to and from Northern Ireland will be permitted to travel for an additional day either side. The industry hopes it will spur British families to go on holiday over the Christmas break, especially if children won’t have to miss school upon their return. It will be replaced with regional measures that involve three tiers of restrictions based on the scale of the local outbreak. Though daily numbers can fluctuate widely, the U.K. recorded another 11,299 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the lowest level since early October. Still, with a maze of travel and quarantine restrictions around the world, few industry experts anticipate a rapid rush for the skies before vaccinations become widely available.

Restrictions have been slowly ramping up for weeks in many European countries, but virus cases have continued to rise. Health Minister Jens Spahn, who himself caught the virus, says he doesn't know where he was infected. This time, schools, nonessential shops and hairdressers are staying open. They can go out to exercise or to work, among other things, and nonessential shops will remain open. ___This story has been corrected to show that Austria plans to keep nonessential shops open.

Earlier Saturday British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced England will start a month long lockdown next week. The lockdown announced Saturday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to run from Thursday until Dec. 2. Unlike during the U.K.’s first three-month coronavirus lockdown earlier this year, schools, universities, construction sites and manufacturing businesses will stay open. Like other European countries, virus cases in the U.K. began to climb after lockdown measures were eased in the summer and people began to return to workplaces, schools, universities and social life. ___Follow AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

The state reported 103 infections that day, the largest single day increase in cases. France’s government has shut down all nonessential businesses and ordered people to stay indoors for the next month to slow accelerating virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths. The Geneva canton, or region, said the University Hospitals of Geneva on Sunday counted 474 people hospitalized with coronavirus infections, including 56 in intensive care. Iran has reported more than 620,000 confirmed virus cases in all. Montenegro recently has seen a surge in virus cases.

Britains foreign minister says there are only narrow differences remaining in trade talks between the U.K. and the European Union. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON – Britain and the European Union edged toward resuming their troubled trade talks on Monday, after the bloc's chief negotiator said he was ready to “intensify” negotiations on the legal text of an agreement. Britain and the EU have been attempting to strike a new trade deal since the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31. He told British businesses to prepare for a no-deal economic break with the EU at the end of the year. The bill soured talks aimed at securing a new trade deal between Britain and the EU.

Britains foreign minister says there are only narrow differences remaining in trade talks between the U.K. and the European Union. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON – A senior British official said Sunday the door is “still ajar” for post-Brexit talks to continue with the European Union if officials in the bloc change their position on key points. Michael Gove's comments came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said Friday that the trade talks are “over” unless there is a “fundamental” change of position from the EU. With just weeks to go until the end-of-year deadline, Johnson said the U.K. needed to get ready for leaving the EU with no trade deal. “We’re certainly not saying that if they do change their position we can’t talk to them,” he told the BBC.

After a short meeting between the two sides in Brussels, U.K. Brexit planning minister Michael Gove said Britain wouldn't withdraw its Internal Market Bill, which includes clauses to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal treaty. “Those clauses will remain in that bill” as a safety net in case the U.K. and the EU don't reach a trade agreement, Gove said. The rift means that talks between the two sides' trade negotiators will begin Tuesday under an ominous cloud. Sefcovic warned Monday that Britain shouldn't try to use the withdrawal agreement and its Northern Ireland provisions as “a bargaining chip” in trade negotiations. ___Follow all developments on the EU-Britain trade talks at https://apnews.com/Brexit.

Brexit preparation minister Michael Gove describes that as a reasonable worst-case scenario in a letter to logistics firms. Michael Gove, the minister in charge of Brexit preparations, described that as a worst-case scenario in a letter to logistics firms. Without a deal there will be much greater disruption, with the U.K. and the EU having to slap tariffs on each others’ goods. The EU and the U.K. say a deal must be struck by October so it can be approved and ratified before Jan. 1. But negotiators remain at loggerheads on key issues, especially European fishing boats’ access to U.K. waters and competition rules for businesses.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___ West Ham manager David Moyes and players Issa Diop and Josh Cullen have contracted the novel coronavirus. They were informed of the positive tests ahead of Tuesday’s League Cup game against Hull and left the east London stadium. West Ham says the trio are asymptomatic and will now self-isolate in line with government rules. ___Atlético Madrid says defender José María Giménez has tested positive for the coronavirus. All players and officials have been tested at snooker events since the sport resumed in June with spectators after the coronavirus outbreak.

(Aris Oikonomou, Pool via AP)BRUSSELS – The European Union is pleading with Britain to stop playing “games" as time is running out to clinch a free trade deal over the next month. A transition period now runs until Dec 31, during which time both sides are negotiating a trade agreement to replace the open and unfettered economic relations that are currently in place. The EU has repeatedly expressed its exasperation at what it sees as British stubbornness and refusal to compromise on some key points. The EU has not explicitly said what action it would take but EU Vice President Maros Sefcovic indicated it would stay within the rules of dispute settlement set out in the withdrawal agreement. “I would like to underscore that the EU believes in calm, constructive cooperation through the channels created by the withdrawal agreement," Sefcovic said.

Britain's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced that pubs and restaurants closing at 10pm, due to the spike of cases of coronavirus across the United Kingdom. The most high-profile change centered on pubs, restaurants and other entertainment venues in England, which from Thursday must close at 10 p.m. In a change of emphasis, Johnson urged people to work from home where possible. “If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together,” Johnson said in a prime-time televised address. “In essence, the government is saying, ‘Stay sober, stay sensible and the venues can stay open.’ It’s a carrot to encourage responsible behavior,” she said.

(AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)HONOLULU -- Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city plans to allow some activities that were shut down last month to control the spread of the coronavirus to resume under new guidelines. Gary Herbert will increase pandemic restrictions in two Utah cities as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the state. The county accounted for 42% of the state’s cases despite having only 20% of state’s population. Eric Holcomb’s statewide mask mandate and other coronavirus restrictions poses a possible disruption to his reelection campaign. But the real toll is thought to be much higher, in part because many COVID-19 deaths were probably ascribed to other causes, especially early on, before widespread testing.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 file photo, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street to attend the weekly session of Prime Ministers Questions in Parliament in London. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has strongly defended his controversial plan to override sections of the Brexit deal that he negotiated with the European Union, arguing that the bloc has an extreme interpretation of the treaty that could jeopardize the future of the U.K. With the government showing no sign of changing course, there are real concerns that ongoing talks on a future trade deal between the U.K. and the EU could collapse within weeks. If that happens, tariffs and other impediments to trade will be imposed by both sides at the start of 2021. As a result, the two sides agreed there would be some kind of regulatory border between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.

UK and EU officials begin the eighth round of Brexit negotiations in London. Britains decision to break international law by overwriting part of the EU Withdrawal Agreement has alarmed European leaders and threatens to scuttle the fragile negotiations on future U.K.-EU relations, which are ongoing simultaneously in the British capital. Huebner warned that undermining the withdrawal agreement would pose a serious threat to lasting peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland." It says it's doing so in order to protect the peace agreement in the event there is no deal with the EU. The withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation and we expect that the letter and the spirit of the withdrawal agreement will be fully respected, Sefcovic said.

FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, May 18, 2020, traffic moves along the M6 motorway near Birmingham, England. The EU is insisting on a level-playing field for companies, so British firms cant undercut the bloc's environmental or workplace standards, or pump public money into U.K. industries. So far the U.K. has not, frankly speaking, engaged constructively, Barnier told an event hosted by an Irish think tank. Supporters of Brexit say leaving the EUs single market for goods and services will let Britain strike new trade deals around the world. Most economists say new trade deals are unlikely to make up for the economic hit of erecting barriers with the EU, which accounts for almost half of Britains trade.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wearing a face mask, talks with CEO London Ambulance Service Garrett Emmerson, right, during a visit to the headquarters of the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust in London, Monday July 13, 2020. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)LONDON The British government decided Monday to require people to wear face coverings in shops, joining a long list of countries that have made masks mandatory under some circumstances in response to the coronavirus pandemic. After weeks of prevarication and days of confused messaging, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government said that masks will be required in stores starting July 24. Many European nations, including Germany, Spain, Italy and Greece, already require masks to be worn in enclosed spaces, but Britain had only made masks obligatory on public transit. Scotland already made masks mandatory in stores.

The EU and Britain disagree notably on regulations for businesses and for the fishing industry in particular, with the U.K. adamantly opposed to EU demands for long-term access to British waters. Last week, the EU and the U.K. agreed to intensify their negotiations following another inconclusive round of discussions. The U.K. left the political institutions of the EU on Jan. 31 but remains inside the EUs tariff-free economic zone until the end of the year. European Council President Charles Michel and David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament, will attend Monday's meeting alongside von der Leyen. Britains Michael Gove, the minister in charge of Brexit preparations, and David Frost, the U.K chief negotiator, are set to assist Johnson.

The British government said Friday it will delay bringing in full border checks on goods coming from the European Union to relieve pressure on businesses hammered by the coronavirus pandemic. After that, British firms trading with the EU will face customs checks, border inspections and unless there is a free trade deal tariffs. But on Friday the government said border checks would be introduced in stages. The U.K. says it will build new customs and border facilities for all the checks a process that has been set back by the pandemic. Asked about the border checks, Sefcovic said the EU is determined to protect its single market, customs union and financial interests.

FILE - In this file photo dated Nov. 7, 2019, showing Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson alongside Douglas Ross, parliamentary under-secretary of state for Scotland, right in Moray, Scotland. Junior British government minister Douglas Ross has quit Tuesday May 26, 2020, over Prime Minister Boris Johnsons failure to fire his top aide Dominic Cummings for allegedly breaching COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown rules. (Stefan Rousseau / PA via AP)LONDON Dominic Cummings helped Boris Johnson win power by pitting the people against the elite. When Johnson became prime minister in July 2019 after interminable battles over Brexit defeated his predecessor Theresa May, he hired Cummings as his right-hand man. Cummings revealed that while he was up north, his son was rushed to a local hospital by ambulance after becoming sick.

The U.K.'s death toll from the coronavirus is set to overtake that seen in Italy: As of Sunday, the U.K. has seen 28,446 deaths as a result of Covid-19, closely behind Italy's 28,884 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. When it does overtake Italy, the U.K. will become the worst-hit country in Europe in terms of coronavirus fatalities. Given that the U.K. is seen to be a week or two behind Italy in its stage of the outbreak too, the death toll could be much higher. Italy reported 174 further deaths on Sunday, from the previous day, while the U.K. reported 315 new deaths. Despite the grim death toll, calls are growing in the U.K. for the government to publish an exit strategy to lockdown, and a plan on how and when it will reopen schools.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street for PMQs at the House of Commons on 25 March, 2020 in London, England. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently being treated in intensive care for the coronavirus, leaving him unable to work. Instead, the prime minister asked Dominic Raab, who is the foreign secretary and the first secretary of state, to "deputize" for him. He was then taken to its intensive care unit on Monday evening after his condition deteriorated. However, a number 10 spokesman said Wednesday that the prime minister was "clinically stable" and was responding to treatment after a second night in intensive care.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, hospitalized with the coronavirus, remained in an intensive-care unit overnight but was in stable condition, was not on a ventilator and wasnt suffering from pneumonia, a spokesman for his office said Tuesday. Johnson, 55, has not needed a ventilator, the prime ministers office said. Johnson was admitted to the hospital Sunday evening and moved to intensive care about 24 hours later. Concerns mounted, however, as to whether Johnsons aides had sought to minimize the seriousness of his condition. AdvertisementBefore being hospitalized, Johnson deputized his foreign minister, Dominic Raab, to handle government affairs as needed.

The NBA become the first league to suspend its season last month due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that Mayo Clinic would be leading the initiative in testing the effectiveness of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in hospitals is now 78,167, and the number of confirmed or possible cases in nursing homes is 30,902. All students in New York State must pass five Regents exams with a score of at least 65 to graduate. Blue Origin joins fellow rocket builders Virgin Orbit and SpaceX in producing supplies and devices needed by hospitals to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

* Nurses and doctors demanded action after Spain reported its sharpest daily increase in coronavirus cases on Tuesday and said about 14% of the nearly 40,000 infections were among health workers. * French authorities reported 240 new deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday for a total of 1,100, making it the fifth country to cross the 1,000-fatalities threshold. It has confirmed 2,566 virus cases, of whom 12 have died. * South African businesses braced for a nationwide lockdown as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases jumped to 554. * The Cannes Film Festival venue is opening its doors to the towns homeless who have nowhere to go during the coronavirus lockdown.

Mario Tama/Getty ImagesLONDON - McDonald's has reportedly admitted that its new paper straws, rolled out last year to help "protect the environment," can't be recycled unlike the plastic versions they replaced. The straws were introduced to all 1,361 McDonald's restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland after a trial last year. McDonald's UK and Ireland has not yet responded to CNN's requests for comment. When the firm announced the introduction of paper straws in June 2018, it said the move was "part of wider efforts to protect the environment." The plastic straws previously used could be recycled, but the British government has moved to ban plastic straws by 2020 and encouraged chains to ditch the products.