BRITAIN on Wednesday (5) reported record Covid-19 prevalence for the last week of 2021, with one in 15 people in England infected, as prime minister Boris Johnson said cases were increasing at the fastest rate ever.
The increasing number of cases has put huge strains on public services such as hospitals, which face staff shortages and growing admissions.
More than 220,000 Covid-19 cases were recorded on one day in the last week, and the provision of services and testing capacity is increasingly under strain.
"We are experiencing the fastest growth in Covid cases that we have ever known," Johnson told lawmakers
"And potentially of greatest concern, case rates are now rapidly rising among the older and more vulnerable, including doubling every week among those over 60, with the obvious risk that this will continue to increase the pressures on our NHS (health service)."
In England, the estimated Covid-19 prevalence was one in 15 for the week ending Dec. 31 - over 6 per cent of the population and up from an estimate of one in 25 for the previous week, the Office for National Statistics said.
ONS figures also showed record prevalence in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, whose governments follow their own policies on combating the pandemic and generally have stricter measures. Scotland and Wales showed prevalance of one in 20 and Northern Ireland one in 25.
In all, an estimated nearly 3.75 million people were infected across the United Kingdom. The death toll from the pandemic is nearly 150,000 people.
The Omicron variant has had the biggest impact in London, where one in 10 people tested positive.
However, Johnson reiterated that England could ride out the surge in Covid-19 infections without shutting down the economy, thanks to vaccinations and evidence that Omicron is milder than previous variants, even there is substantial disruption from staff absences as people self-isolate.
"This government does not believe we need to shut down our country again. Instead, we are taking a balanced approach, using the protection of the boosters and the Plan B measures to reduce the spread of the virus, while acting to strengthen our NHS," Johnson said.
The UK Health Security Agency said on Wednesday (5) that people without Covid-19 symptoms who test positive on a rapid lateral flow test in England will not need to confirm the result with a PCR test that needs to go to the lab for processing, a move designed to ease pressure on the testing system.
Johnson also said that testing requirements for travellers would be relaxed from Friday, including scrapping pre-departure tests.
FAUJA SINGH, the Indian-born British national widely regarded as the world’s oldest distance runner, died in a road accident at the age of 114, his biographer said on Tuesday.
Singh, popularly known as the "Turbaned Tornado", was hit by a vehicle while crossing the road in his native village of Bias in Punjab’s Jalandhar district on Monday.
His biographer, Khushwant Singh, confirmed the news on social media. “My Turbaned Tornado is no more,” he posted on X. “He was struck by an unidentified vehicle... in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja.”
My Turbaned Tornado is no more. It is with great sadness that I share the passing of my most revered S. Fauja Singh. He was struck by an unidentified vehicle around 3:30 PM today in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja . pic.twitter.com/LMFh7TNE8B — Khushwant Singh (@Singhkhushwant) July 14, 2025
Singh did not possess a birth certificate, but his family said he was born on April 1, 1911. He began long-distance running at the age of 89 and went on to complete full marathons (42 kilometre) until the age of 100. His last competitive event was a 10-kilometre run during the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon, when he was 101. He completed the race in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.
Singh gained global attention after taking up distance running later in life, following the deaths of his wife and one of his sons. He was inspired to run marathons after watching them on television. Though widely celebrated as the oldest marathon runner, he was not officially recognised by Guinness World Records due to the absence of verifiable proof of his age. According to him, birth certificates were not issued in his region when he was born under British colonial rule.
He was chosen as a torchbearer at both the Athens 2004 and London 2012 Olympic Games and featured in several advertising campaigns alongside sports figures such as David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.
Singh attributed his physical endurance to his daily routine of walking on farmland and a diet that included home-churned curd and the Indian sweet “laddu” made with dry fruits.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Singh on X. “Fauja Singh was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness,” Modi wrote.
Fauja Singh Ji was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness. He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2025
“He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”
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Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
A PRELIMINARY report into last month's Air India plane crash that killed 260 people has raised further questions, and the investigation is still ongoing, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in a memo to staff on Monday.
The initial report, released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday, pointed to confusion in the cockpit shortly before the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed.
In a staff memo reviewed by Reuters, Wilson wrote: “The report had triggered a new round of speculation in the media ... Unsurprisingly, it provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions.”
He added: “The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, so I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over.”
No mechanical faults found
The memo noted that the report found no mechanical or maintenance faults, and confirmed all required maintenance had been completed.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was flying from Ahmedabad to London when it began losing thrust shortly after takeoff. Of the 242 people on board, all but one died. Nineteen people on the ground were also killed.
According to the AAIB report, one pilot asked the other in the final moments of the flight why he had cut off the fuel.
“The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report said. It noted that the fuel cutoff switches for engine two flipped almost simultaneously, but did not specify how.
The report did not suggest any immediate action for Boeing or GE, which supplied the aircraft’s engines.
Pilot body rejects early conclusions
ALPA India, which represents Indian pilots at the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations, rejected any presumption of pilot error and called for a “fair, fact-based inquiry”.
Campbell Wilson added in his memo: “The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status.”
The flight’s commanding pilot was 56-year-old Sumeet Sabharwal, who had logged 15,638 total flying hours and was also an Air India instructor, according to the Indian government. His co-pilot, Clive Kunder, 32, had 3,403 hours of experience.
Air India faces broader scrutiny
Following the crash, Air India has come under increased scrutiny on multiple fronts.
On July 4, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it would investigate Air India Express, the airline’s budget unit, after a Reuters report revealed it had failed to promptly replace engine parts on an Airbus A320 as mandated and falsified records to indicate compliance.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Trump will become the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch. (Photo: Getty Images)
KING CHARLES will host US president Donald Trump in September for a second state visit to Britain, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday.
The visit is scheduled to take place from 17 to 19 September.
“His Majesty the King will host the President and Mrs Trump at Windsor Castle,” the palace said in a statement. Further details will be shared later.
Trump said last month that he had agreed to meet King Charles after UK prime minister Keir Starmer delivered a handwritten letter from the monarch to him at the Oval Office.
Trump will become the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch.
The late Queen Elizabeth hosted Trump for a three-day state visit in June 2019 during his first term. That visit included a private lunch with the Queen and tea with Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales.
Starmer and Trump are also expected to meet in Scotland later this month, a source told Reuters last week. The specific date of the meeting has not yet been confirmed.
The two leaders have built a close relationship in recent months. Last month, they signed a framework trade deal during the G7 summit that formally reduced some US tariffs on British imports.
In May, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney criticised the UK's invitation to Trump for a state visit. He said it undermined the government's efforts to show a united front against Trump's remarks about annexing Canada.
Trump’s earlier visits to Britain have seen large protests. His 2018 trip required the deployment of 10,000 police officers and cost more than 14 million pounds.
Most Britons view the US president unfavourably, according to opinion polls.
State visits typically include ceremonial events such as an open-top carriage procession through central London and a formal banquet at Buckingham Palace.
(With inputs from agencies)
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A plume of black smoke rises from an area near the runway after a small plane crash, as seen from inside a building at London Southend Airport on July 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
LONDON Southend Airport in Essex has been closed until further notice after a small plane crashed at the airport on England’s south-east coast on Sunday, according to police.
In a post on X, London Southend Airport said all flights to and from the airport have been cancelled while emergency services, police, and air accident investigators are at the scene.
“We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport,” Essex Police said. The police said they were called just before 4 pm to reports of a collision involving a 12-metre (39.4-foot) aircraft.
It is not yet known how many people were on board the plane.
Photos published by British newspaper websites showed a fireball above Southend Airport, which is located around 35 miles (56 km) east of London.
The East of England Ambulance Service said it had deployed four ambulances along with other response vehicles to the site.
The airport’s website showed that five international flights were cancelled after the crash.
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'This fund will give hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their families a better chance,' Reeves said in a statement. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE UK government on Sunday launched a £500 million Better Futures Fund aimed at supporting up to 200,000 vulnerable children over the next 10 years.
According to the government, the fund will focus on helping struggling families by improving children's access to education and ensuring a safe home environment.
The announcement comes as prime minister Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves face calls from Labour Party lawmakers to expand support for low-income families.
Earlier this month, Starmer was forced to scale back key parts of his welfare reform plan to secure parliamentary approval.
"This fund will give hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their families a better chance," Reeves said in a statement. "Our 'Plan for Change' will break down barriers to opportunity and give them the best start in life."
The finance ministry also said it plans to raise another £500million through contributions from local government, social investors and philanthropists.
Mel Stride, finance spokesman for the opposition Conservative Party, welcomed the funding but criticised Labour's economic approach, saying it had harmed struggling families.
The government is also reviewing the two-child limit on welfare payments to parents as it considers changes to several unpopular policies following a drop in its poll ratings.