Months of behind-the-scenes negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to halt the fighting between Hamas and Israel, apart from a one-week truce beginning in late November
world1 day ago
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told bereaved families at an official inquiry into the UK's handling of Covid on Monday that he was "deeply sorry" and he hoped the country could learn lessons from the pandemic.
Sunak, a relatively unknown politician who was promoted to become finance minister on the eve of Covid's arrival, said it was important to learn lessons from what had happened so Britain could be better prepared for the future.
"I just wanted to start by saying how deeply sorry I am to all of those who lost loved ones, family members through the pandemic and also all those who suffered in the various different ways throughout the pandemic and as a result of the actions that were taken," he said.
"It's important that we learn the lessons so that we can be better prepared in the future."
Britain's Covid inquiry is examining the country's response to the pandemic and has heard testimony about often chaotic scenes in the government of then-prime minister Boris Johnson, marked by incompetence, backstabbing and misogyny.
ALSO READ:
A former investment banker, Sunak won plaudits at the time for his handling of the pandemic fallout, appearing sure footed as he set out hundreds of billions of pounds of spending to keep companies and livelihoods afloat.
However some officials and scientists have since questioned whether his focus on reopening the economy came at a detriment to public health, with one former government adviser saying Sunak had said they should "just let people die".
One area of focus for the inquiry is likely to be Sunak's "Eat out to help out" subsidised meal scheme which was designed to boost spending at restaurants, cafes and pubs in August 2020.
Some scientists have since questioned whether it may have contributed to a wave of infections.
Months of behind-the-scenes negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to halt the fighting between Hamas and Israel, apart from a one-week truce beginning in late November
world1 day ago
Modi's government has frequently deployed bulldozers and earthmovers to flatten property owned by those facing trial, saying it targets illegal construction and is a firm response to criminal activity
world1 day ago
If approved, Oxford Street would join other major shopping hubs such as Times Square in New York and La Rambla in Barcelona that have gone fully traffic-free
world1 day ago
The country added a total of 10 GW of renewable capacity in April-August, the first five months of this fiscal year, taking its total to about 153 GW
world1 day ago
Between now and 2050, 40 million more children will have stunted growth and 28 million more will suffer from wasting, the most extreme and irreversible forms of malnutrition
world1 day ago
The number of over-65s has hit a record high of 36.25 million, accounting for 29.3 per cent of Japan's population, according to government data
world1 day ago
Long-standing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities revolve around competition for land and public jobs
world1 day ago