Author: Danica Kirka
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Ex-Manchester United star Ryan Giggs starts assault trial
London: Former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs, adored by fans throughout a 24-year career, has a more sinister side to his character, prosecutors said Monday as he went on trial on charges of assault and use of coercive behavior against an ex-girlfriend. Prosecutor Peter Wright told the jury at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester…
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UK breaks record for highest temperature as Europe sizzles
LONDON • Britain shattered its record for highest temperature ever registered Tuesday amid a heat wave that has seared swaths of Europe, as the U.K.’s national weather forecaster said such highs are now a fact of life in a country ill-prepared for such extremes. The typically temperate nation was just the latest to be walloped…
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Britain’s Johnson battles to stay as PM
LONDON • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson battled to remain in office Wednesday, brushing off calls for his resignation after two top ministers and a slew of junior officials said they could no longer serve under his scandal-plagued leadership. Johnson rejected demands that he step down during a stormy session of the House of Commons…
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Queen Elizabeth II to miss Jubilee service amid ‘discomfort’
LONDON • Queen Elizabeth II stepped gingerly onto the Buckingham Palace balcony Thursday, drawing wild cheers from the tens of thousands who came to join her at the start of four days of celebrations of her 70 years on the throne. Her fans sported Union Jack flags, party hats or plastic tiaras. Some had camped…
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Putin gas cutoff shakes up Europe at little cost to Kremlin
BRUSSELS • Cutting off natural gas to Poland and Bulgaria cost Russian President Vladimir Putin very little — but it is adding stress on European countries wrestling with how to reduce the energy imports feeding the Kremlin’s war chest and how to keep a united front on the war in Ukraine. European Union officials say…
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U.K. advises limiting AstraZeneca in under-30s amid clot worry
LONDON • British authorities recommended Wednesday that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine not be given to adults under 30 where possible because of strengthening evidence that the shot may be linked to rare blood clots. The recommendation came as regulators both in the United Kingdom and the European Union emphasized that the benefits of receiving the…
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Prince William defends U.K. monarchy against racism accusation
LONDON • Prince William insisted Thursday that his family is not racist as he became the first British royal to speak out about accusations of bigotry made by Prince Harry and Meghan, his brother and sister-in-law. William made the comments in response to questions shouted at him during a visit to an East London school.…
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Royal family says Harry, Meghan racism charges ‘concerning’
LONDON • Buckingham Palace said Tuesday that allegations of racism made this week by Prince Harry and Meghan were “concerning” and would be addressed privately by the royal family. The comments, made in a statement issued on behalf Queen Elizabeth II, are the first from the palace since a two-hour TV interview by Harry and…
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Capt. Tom Moore, WWII vet whose walk cheered UK, dies at 100
LONDON (AP) — Capt. Tom Moore, the World War II veteran who walked into the hearts of a nation in lockdown as he shuffled up and down his garden to raise money for health care workers, has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 100. His family announced his death on Twitter, posting a…
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Britain OKs Pfizer vaccine and will begin shots within days
LONDON • Britain became the first country in the world to authorize a rigorously tested COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday and could be dispensing shots within days — a historic step toward eventually ending the outbreak that has killed more than 1.4 million people around the globe. In giving the go-ahead for emergency use of the vaccine…