Londoner News

02/04/2024

From the Parliament of the State of Maranhao, in Brazil, the Member of the Parliament, Mical Murad Damasceno, representing the Cristian community.

02/02/2024

London’s iconic Tube map given a new look and some people ‘hate it’

31/10/2022

Rishi Sunak The former chancellor Rishi Sunak is the UK's new prime minister

( Here's what you need to know about him )

He won after running for the second time this year.

He lost to Liz Truss in September, but she resigned six weeks later. In the latest leadership contest, Mr Sunak racked up the support of his fellow MPs early, and fast. He crossed the 100 nominations he needed long before the deadline - including from MPs that had previously backed Truss or Boris Johnson.

He 'predicted' financial problems under Truss

He clashed with the former PM during the previous leadership race, claiming her plan to borrow money during an inflation crisis was a "fairytale" that would plunge the economy into chaos.

He is the son of immigrants

His parents came to the UK from east Africa and are both of Indian origin. Mr Sunak was born in Southampton in 1980, where his father was a GP and his mother ran a pharmacy. He went to the boarding school Wi******er College, then studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford, and business at Stanford in America. He is now the first British Asian prime minister.

He's only been an MP for seven years

Mr Sunak was first elected as an MP in 2015 - for Richmond in north Yorkshire - but rose quickly, and was made finance minister - or chancellor - in February 2020 under Boris Johnson.

He was in charge of Covid support cash

As Mr Johnson's chancellor, Mr Sunak was behind the financial aid during lockdowns - including furlough payments and the "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme for restaurants.

He's thought to be one of the richest MPs

His wife is Akshata Murty, the daughter of Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy. Mr Sunak himself has worked for investment bank Goldman Sachs and at two hedge funds. The Sunday Times Rich List estimates the couple's fortune to be worth about £730m. They have two daughters.

He faced controversy over his wife's tax arrangements

Over the summer, it emerged Akshata Murthy paid no UK tax on big earnings abroad - which is legal. Mr Sunak defended his wife saying, "to smear my wife to get at me is awful" - but eventually she agreed to start paying extra taxes. We also found out he temporarily had a US green card, allowing him to live permanently in America while he was the UK's chancellor.

He campaigned for Brexit and deregulation

"Free ports" are one of his long-time favourite ideas: areas near ports or airports where goods can be imported and exported without paying taxes, to encourage trade.

He really wanted to be... a Jedi

In 2016, he told a group of schoolchildren that he originally wanted to be a Jedi Knight when he grew up. His favourite Star Wars film is The Empire Strikes Back. ( with information from the BBC News )

16/09/2022

02/06/2022

The Royal Family at the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Trooping the Colour parade.

It was an extra special ceremony, as it coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee marking her 70 year reign as Britain’s monarch.

02/06/2022

Nation celebrating Queen's Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of her reign

24/02/2022

London Tube strike across entire network to go ahead in row over TfL cuts

Passengers warned of severe disruption, stations closed and little or no service.

Disruption is likely to have a knock-on impact on Wednesday and Friday, when morning rush hour services are expected to be “severely impacted”.

22/01/2022

FREE PASS All the countries Brits can enter without needing any Covid tests

NOW that the government has relaxed travel rules for Brits returning to the UK, there is a surge of interest in foreign holidays again.

But which countries will allow holidaymakers without any costly Covid restrictions?

We've rounded up the countries that don't require any additional testing from vaccinated Brits, so if you're double jabbed and boosted you can get in with no hassle.

Croatia

To enter Croatia, Brits just need to prove they have had a vaccination that isn't more than a year old.

Children under 12 are exempt if their parent or guardian is vaccinated.

Czech Republic

Brits need to have had both vaccines and a booster to enter the Czech Republic without needing any tests.

Your final dose must have been administered more than 14 days prior to travel.

If you have had two jabs but no booster then you will need proof of a negative pre-departure test to enter.

Egypt

Egypt is a popular choice for Brits hoping to lap up some winter sun while avoiding a long-haul flight.

Brits who are double jabbed can jet off to Egypt with no need to do any additional tests.
Children under the age of six are exempt.

Germany

Germany lifted its UK travel ban on January 4 - just weeks after it was introduced.

Now, Brits aged six and above can enter Germany if they are vaccinated, as long as the second jab was administered more than 14 days prior.

Hungary

Vaccinated Brits can enter Hungary without needing a negative Covid test.
Under 18s who are unvaccinated can enter Hungary if they are travelling with a vaccinated adult.

Lithuania

Brits who have been vaccinated do not need to provide evidence of a negative Covid test to enter Lithuania.

But unvaccinated Brits are required to show proof of a negative test and self-isolate for 10 days on arrival.

Malta

Most Brits visiting Malta do not need to do a Covid test if they are vaccinated.

However, unvaccinated children aged between five and 11 do need a Covid test to enter if they are travelling with a vaccinated adult.

Children under five do not need a test.

Mexico

Mexico is a great destination if you're looking to soak up some winter sun, with temperatures in Cancun reaching a whopping 32.2C in February.

Vaccinated Brits don't need to do a Covid test to enter, so if you want to head off for some hot weather, you can do so.

Slovenia

Vaccinated Brits can enter Slovenia without the need for any additional Covid testing.

Travellers must complete a passenger locator form 24 hours before arriving.

Spain

Brits heading to popular tourist destination Spain can enter if they are fully vaccinated.

Be warned, some Spanish islands do have strict Covid rules so make sure you are up-to-date before you arrive.

Canary Islands Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria are all on Level 4 Covid alert.

Turkey

If you're fully vaccinated you can enter Turkey without needing to test or quarantine.

All arrivals into Turkey will be subject to a medical evaluation for Covid symptoms and may be subject to random PCR testing.

Here are the other countries Brits can enter without needing Covid tests:

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Belarus
Bosnia
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Georgia
Honduras
Kosovo
Luxembourg
Mauritiania
North Macedonia
Panama
Peru
San Marino
Senegal
Sint Maarten
Ukraine

Earlier this month, the government scrapped pre-departure tests for Brits returning home - saving families hundreds of pounds on their holidays.

And now, Boris Johnson has hinted day 2 tests could also be ditched within days, meaning Brits won't need to test or self-isolate when they get back home.

( With Information from the Sun Newspaper )

07/12/2021

Fares on the Tube, bus and Overground could rise by almost five per cent, from January 2022, the highest since 2012.

24/10/2021

Travel rules have been relaxed for those returning to England, allowing fully vaccinated holidaymakers to take cheaper lateral flow tests instead of PCRs.

The new rules came into force at 4am, just in time for the half-term holidays.

They mean people arriving in England from a non-red list country can use a lateral flow test instead of the more expensive PCR on or before day two.

However, the lateral flows must be purchased from a private provider - not those provided by NHS Test and Trace for everyday domestic use.

05/08/2021

A huge shake-up of Britain's travel list has been unveiled, which saw seven countries going green - opening the door for millions more holidays - but four others turning red.The New rules will change from Sunday, 8th August.

08/07/2021

It’s Official: Fully vaccinated UK residents arriving in England from amber travel list destinations will no longer have to quarantine from 19 July, the Government has announced.

They will, however, still need to pay for Covid tests before and after their return, the transport secretary said.

Grant Shapps told MPs that under-18s returning from amber list places would also be exempt from quarantine.

Travel industry leaders said the change was a "positive step" but called for the amber list to be expanded.

Currently, anyone returning from amber or red list countries must isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccine status.

Mr Shapps said a full vaccination means "14 days have passed since your final dose of the vaccine" - and only vaccines given by the NHS will count.

"In essence, this means that for fully vaccinated travellers the requirements for green and amber list countries are the same," he added.

05/07/2021

People will no longer be legally required to wear face masks in any setting from
19th July, and wearing a mask from this point onwards will become "a personal choice" the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has announced.

It means it will no longer be compulsory for individuals to wear masks in shops or when entering a bar or restaurant.

Mr Johnson said the government would end the "legal obligation to wear a face covering", but added: "Guidance will suggest where you might choose to do so - especially when cases are rising and where you come into contact with people you don't usually meet in enclosed spaces, such as obviously crowded public transport."

Asked where and when he would continue to wear a mask, the PM said: "It will depend on the circumstances. Clearly there's a big difference between travelling on a crowded Tube train and sitting late at night in a virtually empty carriage on the main railway line.

Sir Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser, added: "Masks are most effective at preventing somebody else catching the disease from you. They have some effect to prevent you catching it as well.

"The situation you're most likely to catch COVID in is indoors, crowded spaces. So that's the obvious place where mask wearing becomes an advantage, he said.

01/07/2021

The EU’s vaccine passport and what it means for travel

The EU's vaccine passport - the Digital Covid Certificate - is being rolled out across all 27 member nations.

Who can use it and what does it mean for UK travellers heading to Europe?

It's a way for citizens across the EU to prove they have:

Been vaccinated against Covid-19

recently had a negative PCR test for the virus

recently recovered from Covid-19

It's available in, and recognised by, all 27 EU member states - plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

It's free - and all EU citizens, as well as non-EU nationals legally staying or living in the member states (with the right to travel to other member states) can download it or obtain a paper copy.

Some countries have already been using the certificate on a voluntary basis - but it's being officially introduced from 1 July with a six-week phase-in period.

Is it the same as the UK's NHS Covid Pass?

It's not the same - but both show the same information and aim to make it simple for someone to show their Covid status.

The digital NHS Covid Pass can be accessed via the existing NHS app. A paper version can be requested by calling 119.

For people aged 16 and over in England, it shows proof of:

vaccination

a negative PCR test

recovery from Covid-19

Paper versions are available for people in Scotland, Wales and, from early to mid-July, Northern Ireland.

Will the EU recognise the NHS Covid Pass?

Not yet - but some individual countries, such as Greece and Spain, are already accepting it.

The EU says it's working to ensure its digital certificate is compatible with similar products in non-EU countries.

If it's satisfied a non-EU certificate complies with EU "standards and systems", it can decide to accept it across all 27 nations.

The UK government says free and open travel is a priority.

"We are engaging the European Commission on reopening travel routes from the UK," an official said.

If you are an EU national who was vaccinated in the UK, it is up to your home country whether you are eligible for the EU certificate.

14/06/2021

The final stage of easing lockdown restrictions in England is to be delayed until 19 July, the PM has said.

Boris Johnson said there would be a review after two weeks and he was "confident" the delay would not need to be longer than four weeks.

"We will monitor the position every day and if, after two weeks, we have concluded that the risk has diminished then we reserve the possibility of proceeding to step four, and a full opening, sooner," he told a Downing Street news conference.

"At a certain stage, we are going to have to learn to live with the virus and to manage it as best we can," the prime minister said.

Fifteen coronavirus pilot events will continue as planned before 19 July, including some upcoming Euro 2020 games, Wimbledon and arts and music performances.

The pilots include a mix of indoor, outdoor, seated and unseated events. Attendees will have to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test.

07/05/2021

Twelve countries have been put on a "green" travel list for people in England, meaning anyone returning will not need to quarantine from 17 May.

A new traffic light system of rules means international travel will no longer be illegal.

The full list of 12 countries and territories people in England can travel to without having to quarantine upon return are:

Portugal
Israel
Singapore
Australia
New Zealand
Brunei
Iceland
Gibraltar
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
St Helena, Tristan de Cunha, Ascension Island.

Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal will be added to England's red list of countries from 04:00 BST on Wednesday 12 May, meaning travellers from those destinations will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days on their return.

The Transport Secretary, Mr Grant Shapps said people looking to travel overseas should check any restrictions that apply to new arrivals, and should not book trips which do not include a refund should the Covid situation change.

Countries on the green, amber and red lists would be reviewed every three weeks from 17 May, he added.

09/04/2021

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband, has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The prince married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen, and was the longest-serving royal consort in British history.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

"His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle."

Prince Philip and the Queen had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Their first son, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, followed by his sister, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, in 1950, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, in 1960 and the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, in 1964.

Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu on 10 June 1921.

09/04/2021

Ministers are said to be considering giving travellers free Covid tests to take abroad to save the hassle and cost of arranging one before flying home.

Airlines are piling pressure to allow passengers to use cheaper and faster lateral flow tests, which are currently being handed out for free for the Government. Others want the UK to adopt the same policy as in France, where travellers can get free, government-subsidised PCR tests at some airports if they show their plane ticket.

As under Boris Johnson's 'traffic light' system for re-starting foreign travel on May 17, it is expected the vast majority of returning holidaymakers will be required to take PCR tests – which cost around £120 - a move that risks pricing families out of a summer break. It would cost the average family of four an extra £600 on top of flights and accommodation.

A Whitehall source said last night that ministers were 'pretty confident' travel would restart on May 17, as outlined in the Government's road map out of lockdown.

12/03/2021

The wait is over...Spring is in the air!

It's Spring time - what's means you can keep your winter clothes packed away for now.

03/03/2021

Covid: Early vaccine data suggests Britain won’t need another lockdown

Vaccination will stop people passing on the coronavirus “almost completely”, the Public Health England head of immunisation has forecast.

Dr Mary Ramsay said evidence was mounting that vaccination worked to prevent infections and stop people transmitting the virus, something that would make it much easier to ease lockdown quickly and permanently

The fall in deaths is “accelerating” as a result of vaccination, according to Matt Hancock, the health secretary.

22/02/2021

A "roadmap" for easing Covid restrictions in England has been announced by the prime minister, Boris Johnson

After the first stage in March, further lifting of the rules will happen if certain conditions are met - such as the vaccine rollout going to plan.

The aim is for all restrictions to be lifted, which will happen by 21 June at the earliest.

From 8th March

All schools and colleges will reopen;

University students can return for practical courses. There will be a review by the end of the Easter holidays for all other students;

Face coverings are recommended in class for secondary school students and also for parents and staff in primary schools;

Wraparound childcare can also return for vulnerable pupils and where it is needed for parents or carers to go to work, support groups or to seek medical care;

Two people from different households can meet outside for recreation, which can include "a coffee on a bench";

One nominated person can visit care homes, but will need PPE, a lateral flow test and to "keep physical contact to a minimum";

Weddings attended by up to six people can take place in any circumstances.

From 29th March

People will be allowed to meet outside, either with one other household or within the "rule of six", including in private gardens;

The stay at home rule will end but people should stay local as much as possible;

Outdoor sport facilities will reopen, including tennis and basketball courts;

Formally organised outdoor sports can also restart
Parents and children groups can return but are capped at 15 and must be outdoors;

Indoor groups can take place for vulnerable children and where parents need the groups to go to work;

No earlier than 12 April:

All shops allowed to open;

Restaurants and pub gardens will be allowed to serve customers sitting outdoors, including alcohol;

Gyms and spas can reopen for individuals and households;

Hairdressers, beauty salons and other "close contact services" can reopen;

UK "staycations" away from home permitted, with self-contained accommodation able to reopen for use by members of the same household;

Children allowed to attend indoor play activities, with up to 15 parents or guardians allowed to join them;

Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas can reopen;

Libraries and community centres can reopen
Weddings attended by up to 15 people can take place.

No earlier than 17 May:

People can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors;

Six people or two households can meet indoors;

Up to 30 people can meet to celebrate weddings or other life events, like christenings;

Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas can open;

Indoor entertainment such as museums, cinemas and children's play areas can open;

Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen to household groups;

Performances and large events can resume, with some limits.

For indoor events they can be at half capacity or 1,000 people, and outdoors they can be at half capacity or 4,000 people - whichever is lower.
For large venues (at least 40,000 capacity) up to 10,000 will be allowed to attend;

International travel will resume no earlier than 17 May;

Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes can start up again.

No earlier than 21 June:

All legal limits on social contact will be removed;

No legal limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and other life events;

Nightclubs and theatres will be allowed to reopen.

However, the Four conditions must be met at each stage before proceeding to the next one:

- The coronavirus vaccine programme continues to go to plan;

-Vaccines are sufficiently reducing the number of people dying with the virus or needing hospital treatment;

-Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions;

New coronavirus variants do not fundamentally change the risk of lifting restrictions.

21/02/2021

All adults in the UK will be offered their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine by the end of July, the prime minister has pledged.

More than 17 million people have been given a jab since the UK's Covid vaccine rollout began in December 2020.

But Boris Johnson said he now wants the programme to "go further and faster".

He said the July target would allow vulnerable people to be protected "sooner" and would help to further ease lockdown rules across the country.

19/02/2021

The UK could be back to normal by May with new data on the effectiveness of vaccines "looking promising", a senior scientific adviser has said.

Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, was asked by the BBC whether we could return to normal by May. "It still may well be that...we're in a very different country than we are today."

He added that rules would still be in place "but I think society will be a lot more normal".

However, he warned that lifting restrictions depended on things panning out as hoped, but said that the current data suggests they will.

The key data on vaccines being handed to Boris Johnson, as he finalises a roadmap out of lockdown, shows just one dose of either the Oxford or Pfizer vaccines cuts infections and transmission by two thirds in all age groups.

First 'real world' figures show Oxford and Pfizer jabs cut two thirds of infections and transmissions.

It comes as an Israeli study has found the Pfizer vaccine is 85 per cent effective after a single dose, as the country's top scientists endorsed the UK approach of giving out the jabs up to 12 weeks apart.

23/01/2021

Covid-19 vaccines: How fast can vaccination against covid-19 make a difference?

Israel has some answers

Vaccines are the only way out of this. The question is, how quickly can they turn things around?

Vaccines reduce deaths and hospital admissions in two ways: they protect the vaccinated directly, stopping them becoming ill; and they offer indirect protection to the unvaccinated, because those already jabbed will be less likely to infect them.

A sign that vaccination is starting to give Israeli hospitals some breathing space emerged a fortnight after January 2nd, the day when the proportion of those over 60 who had been vaccinated reached 40%.

Taking such early results into a model of the epidemic’s trajectory, Eran Segal of the Weizmann Institute and his colleagues reckon that covid-19 deaths in Israel could start tapering off early in March. ( With information from The Economist )

21/01/2021

PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS: It is "too early" to say whether England's Covid restrictions will be able to end in the spring, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

Once the four priority groups have been vaccinated, by mid-February, "We'll look then at how we're doing," he said.

Scientist Marc Baguelin, who advises the government, has said restaurants and bars should not reopen before May.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he "certainly hopes" schools in England can fully reopen before Easter, while Downing Street refused to be drawn on whether this would happen by then.