Johnson wants Britons to cycle way out of lockdown
The British government promised Monday to build thousands of miles of new bike lanes to get people moving and healthy after months of coronavirus lockdown......»»
Masking, lockdown not needed for rising pertussis cases – DOH
Despite the alarming increase in pertussis cases in the country, an official of the Department of Health said there is no need for a lockdown or mandatory wearing of face masks......»»
Asia Represent: Myanmar’s Joshua Van wins; Fil-Am Punahele Soriano returns to UFC action
In a sport dominated by Americans, Brazilians, Russians, Britons and Mexicans, Asia found some representation this past UFC 295 when Myanmar’s Joshua Van went 2-0 in the promotionl......»»
UK marks first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death
King Charles III on Friday thanked the public for their support in his first year as monarch, as he marked the one-year anniversary of the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. In a short statement, the 74-year-old British head of state recalled the "great affection" for his mother, her life and public service. "I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all," he added. Commemorations will be low-key on Friday, with the king -- who is at his sprawling Scottish Highland estate of Balmoral -- not expected at any official engagement. His mother, who was on the throne for a record-breaking 70 years, died at Balmoral aged 96 after a period of declining health. Throughout her reign, she did not publicly mark her accession, as it was also the anniversary of her own father King George VI's death in 1952. Last year, when she began her Platinum Jubilee year on February 6, she spent the day in private at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England. Gun salute In London, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will mark Charles's accession by firing a 41-gun ceremonial salute in Hyde Park from 12:00 pm (1100 GMT). Members of the Honourable Artillery Company -- the oldest regiment in the British Army -- will fire a 62-gun salute from the Tower of London from 1:00 pm. Both regiments were involved in firing the Death Gun salutes to mark the queen's death, and the Proclamation salutes to mark Charles's new reign. The king's eldest son and heir, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine, are expected to carry out royal duties and deliver a message in honor of the late queen. William's estranged younger brother, Prince Harry, was in the UK for a charity event on Thursday but was not expected to meet members of his family. "As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away," Harry told the charity event. "She would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her, and that's precisely why I know exactly one year on that she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we're together." Relations between Harry and his father and brother have been strained since he and his wife, Meghan, quit royal life and moved to North America in 2020. Ties have been frayed further by their criticisms of the family in television interviews, a docuseries, and Harry's autobiography. Memorial Elizabeth II's death was a seismic event in British life. For most Britons alive, the queen was the only monarch and head of state they had ever known. During the 10-day official mourning period, tens of thousands of people queued for up to 25 hours to file past her flag-shrouded coffin as it lay in state in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament. Even more packed the streets of London and the route west to Windsor Castle for the state funeral, which was beamed around the world to a television audience of millions. The queen was interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, Windsor, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died in 2021, her father and mother, and the ashes of her younger sister, Princess Margaret. Earlier this week, the government announced that a national memorial to the late monarch will be commissioned "in due course". In London on Thursday, there were mixed views about Charles's first year. Some felt he had been right not to introduce sweeping reform too early. "He's got a hard act to follow but he will I think change things," Joanne Hughes, 61, told AFP outside Buckingham Palace. But despite 161 official engagements and tours of all four nations of the United Kingdom, others were indifferent about the new king -- and the monarchy in general. "The monarchy is dying," said nursing student Mimi Jaffer-Clarke. "If he wants it to not die, then he needs to try to The post UK marks first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Britons party for King Charles III’s coronation
Ashley Green, United Kingdom — In the central English village of Ashley Green, Britons marking the coronation of King Charles III gathered Sunday to celebrate with traditional party food, patriotic songs and plenty of good cheer. After rain soaked people lining the coronation procession route a day earlier, organizers were taking no chances. The inside of the small village hall in Buckinghamshire, northwest of London, was decked out in red, white and blue bunting and balloons with long tables for 100 people. With people bringing their own savory food as well as a sweet dish to share, the dessert table was soon groaning under the weight of homemade delicacies. There were huge sherry trifles, plates of scones oozing with jam and clotted cream, “summer puddings” made from bread and red berries and endless meringues. Little girls dressed in festive colors and with Union Jack ribbons in their hair eyed the table longingly. “I think it’s lovely,” Annette Cathcart, 67, told AFP. “I think you need these things to bring the community together. People spend as much or as little as they want. It’s the perfect way to celebrate.” Across the UK, as many as 67,000 similar parties were taking place on Sunday as part of the coronation festivities. Rob Barnes, 42, a retail tech boss, who was part of the community association that organized the Ashley Green event, said the best thing about the street parties was that it didn’t matter if you were a monarchist or not. “I didn’t actually watch the coronation myself. My wife and my daughters did but I have mixed feelings about the royal family. It’s about coming together as a community,” he said, adding that it was a “very diverse group with people in their nineties and children and babes in arms”. Retired scientist and royalist Katherine Hyde told AFP the party represented the village at its best. The country needed more “community spirit”, she said praising King Charles for his charity work. Younger generations focused too much on the online world and risked “missing out” on the support that comes from meeting people in person and sharing a meal, she added. New Zealander Graeme Nation, 50, said he was “ambivalent” about the monarchy, describing himself as a “live and let live sort of person”. He said he had come to “celebrate a little bit, but mainly to support the community, be with friends and have a nice time.” The IT manager from the nearby town of Chesham said he felt the difficult economic times the country was going through were “all the more reason to celebrate”. As for the rain, he’d “come to learn that with the great British weather you just get on with it like they did yesterday,” he said. The meal over, another volunteer stepped forward to rig up a sound system for a singalong. Soon “Rule Britannia”, “Jerusalem” and “Land of Hope and Glory” were blasting out with the community joining in enthusiastically. “Sweet Caroline” had them up on their feet, waving their arms and swaying from side to side, before “Auld Lang Syne” and the national anthem wrapped things up. Outside on the village green, the dark rain clouds that had been threatening to strike all day finally gave way to some intermittent sunshine. The post Britons party for King Charles III’s coronation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Charles III to be crowned king in first UK coronation since 1953
Charles III will be crowned king on Saturday in a solemn Christian ceremony steeped in 1,000 years of history and tradition, but adapted to reflect 21st-century Britain. St Edward's Crown -- a solid gold, sacred symbol of the monarch's authority used only once in their reign -- will be placed on Charles's head at 1100 GMT to cries of "God Save the King". Trumpet fanfares will sound through London's Westminster Abbey and ceremonial gun salutes will blast out across land and sea to mark the first coronation of a British monarch since 1953 -- and only the fifth since 1838. Bells will peal in celebration at churches across the land, before liveried soldiers on foot and horseback stage a 7,000-strong military parade stretching through the streets of the capital. King Charles and his wife Camilla, who will be crowned queen, will return to Buckingham Palace in the rarely used horse-drawn Gold State Coach past huge crowds, before watching a ceremonial fly-past from the balcony. The coronation -- the first of a king since 1937, only the second to be televised and the first in color and streamed online -- is the religious confirmation of Charles's accession. Charles, 74, has been king since the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September last year after seven decades as her heir apparent. Much of the two-hour Anglican service, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, would be recognizable to the 39 other monarchs crowned at Westminster Abbey since 1066. But while many of the intricate rituals and ceremonies to recognize Charles as his people's "undoubted king" remain, the king has sought to bring other aspects of the service up to date. There are women bishops for the first time, while leaders of Britain's non-Christian faiths and its Celtic languages will play a prominent role. As king, Charles is the supreme governor of the Church of England but heads a more religiously and ethnically diverse country than the one his mother inherited in the shadow of World War II. He has also sought to make the 2,300-strong congregation more reflective of British society, inviting ordinary members of the public to sit alongside heads of state and global royalty. In another change, the coronation themes mirror his lifelong interest in biodiversity and sustainability. Seasonal flowers and foliage from the wind-battered Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland to Cornwall at the tip of England's southwest coast will fill the abbey. Single-use plastic and floral foam have been banned and all the flowers will be donated to charities helping the elderly and vulnerable. Ceremonial vestments from previous coronations will be reused, and the anointing oil will be vegan. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the coronation as "a proud expression of our history, culture and traditions". The "moment of extraordinary national pride", he said, was "a vivid demonstration of the modern character of our country and a cherished ritual through which a new era is born". But not everyone is convinced: polling indicates waning support for the monarchy, particularly among younger people, with calls for it to be modernized or even scrapped altogether. Republicans who want an elected head of state have promised to protest, holding up placards stating "Not my king". Overseas, Charles's time as the hereditary monarch and head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries looks increasingly fragile. Jamaica and Belize have both this week signaled that they are moving towards becoming republics, while Australia, Canada, and others may eventually follow suit. Britons struggling with the soaring cost of living have meanwhile questioned why taxpayers should stump up for the coronation, with the bill estimated to be over £100 million ($126 million). Yet the huge crowds of royal fans that have been building all week on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace indicate that the royals still have a central role in British culture and history. Many of those camping out to watch have flown in from abroad, underlining the royal family's untouched position as Britain's leading global brand. The coronation is the centerpiece of three days of events, including a concert at Windsor Castle west of London on Sunday evening. "It's so exciting," said charity worker Karen Chamberlain, 57, who has camped out for a prime spot with her sister and young son. "None of us have ever lived a coronation. Our mother came to London in 1953. Being here is a way to say we are proud of the monarchy," she told AFP. The post Charles III to be crowned king in first UK coronation since 1953 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Charles III crowned king at first UK coronation in 70 years
Charles III on Saturday finally met his date with destiny after a lifetime as heir to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, as he was officially crowned king in the first coronation in Britain since 1953. At exactly 12:02 pm (1102 GMT), the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the solid gold St Edward's Crown on Charles's head as a sacred and ancient symbol of the monarch's authority. Cries of "God Save the King" rang out from the 2,300-member congregation at Westminster Abbey and trumpet fanfares sounded at the climax of the solemn religious confirmation of his accession. Outside, ceremonial gun salutes blasted out across land and sea while bells pealed in celebration at churches. Charles, 74, will wear the St Edward's Crown only once during his reign. His wife, Camilla, 75, was crowned queen in a simpler ceremony soon afterwards. The build-up to the Christian ceremony of prayer and praise -- steeped in 1,000 years of British history and tradition, with sumptuous robes and priceless regalia -- has been mostly celebratory. But even before Charles and Camilla left Buckingham Palace for a rainy procession to the abbey, police arrested dozens of protesters using new powers rushed onto the statute book to crack down on direct action groups. The anti-monarchy movement Republic -- which wants an elected head of state -- said six of its organisers were detained, while climate activists Just Stop Oil said 19 of its number were held. Nevertheless, dozens of Republic activists held aloft banners on the route of the procession route, declaring: "Not My King." Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International voiced concern at the arrests. "This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London," HRW said. London's Metropolitan Police has some 11,500 officers on the streets in one of its biggest-ever security operations. It has warned that it has an "extremely low threshold" for protests. As well as being the first coronation in 70 years, it was the first of a king since 1937. It was only the second to be televised and the first in colour and streamed online. Changes Much of the two-hour Anglican service, in which Charles pledged "I come not to be served but to serve", would have been recognisable to the 39 other monarchs crowned at Westminster Abbey since 1066. But while many of the intricate rituals and ceremonies to recognise Charles as his people's "undoubted king" remained, the king sought to bring other aspects of the service up to date. Female bishops and choristers participated for the first time, as did leaders of Britain's non-Christian faiths, while its Celtic languages -- Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic -- featured prominently. A gospel choir sang for the first time at a coronation while a Greek choir intoned a psalm in tribute to Charles's late father, Prince Philip, who was born on the island of Corfu. As king, Charles is the supreme governor of the Church of England and has described himself as a "committed Anglican Christian". But he heads a more religiously and ethnically diverse country than the one his mother inherited in the shadow of World War II. As such, he sought to make the congregation more reflective of British society, inviting ordinary members of the public to sit alongside heads of state and global royalty. In another change, the coronation themes mirrored his lifelong interest in biodiversity and sustainability. Seasonal flowers and foliage were brought from the wind-battered Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland to Cornwall at the tip of England's southwest coast to fill the abbey. Ceremonial vestments from previous coronations were reused, and the anointing oil -- created from olives on groves on the Mount of Olives and perfumed with essential oils -- was vegan. Charles was anointed out of sight of the congregation behind a three-sided screen in front of the High Altar, to the strains of Handel's soaring anthem "Zadok the Priest", sung at every coronation since 1727. Opposition Rishi Sunak -- Britain's first prime minister of colour, who gave a reading from the Bible at the service -- has described the coronation as "a proud expression of our history, culture and traditions". But not everyone is convinced: polling indicates waning support for the monarchy, particularly among younger people. Charles's eldest brother Prince Andrew -- sidelined due to his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein -- was booed as he headed to the abbey. Another royal exile, Prince Harry, who has criticised the family since leaving for the United States in 2020, attended the coronation on his own. Overseas, Charles's position as the hereditary monarch and head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries looks increasingly fragile. Jamaica and Belize both signalled this week that they are moving toward becoming republics, while Australia, Canada and others may eventually follow suit. Britons struggling with the soaring cost of living have meanwhile questioned why taxpayers should stump up for the coronation, with the bill estimated to be over £100 million ($126 million). Support Yet the huge crowds of royal fans that have been building all week on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace indicate that the royals still have a central role in British culture and history. Many of those camping out to watch have flown in from abroad, underlining the royal family's untouched position as Britain's leading global brand. Christine Wilen travelled from Niagara Falls in Canada for the event. "I'm very excited to be here, to be part of this history," said Wilen, wearing a visor and sweatshirt in Canadian colours. "It's just too good an opportunity to miss," said Nick Demont, 60, outside the abbey. "There's a good chance I won't see another one." The post Charles III crowned king at first UK coronation in 70 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sudan 72-hour ceasefire starts
Warring military factions in Sudan have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the United States. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the truce between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces took effect at midnight Tuesday. “This ceasefire aims to establish humanitarian corridors, allowing citizens and residents to access essential resources, healthcare, and safe zones, while also evacuating diplomatic missions,” the RSF, headed by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, tweeted. In a statement on Facebook, the SAF, under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said it would also abide by the ceasefire on condition its rivals did so. The Forces of Freedom and Change, the main civilian bloc which the two generals ousted from power in a 2021 coup, said the truce would allow for “dialogue on the modalities of a permanent ceasefire.” Ten days of fighting by the two sides in Khartoum killed at least 427 people and wounded more than 3,700 others, according to United Nation agencies. More than 4,000 people have fled the country in foreign-organized evacuations that began on Saturday. France has evacuated 538 people from Sudan, President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. After flying out its diplomats in Khartoum on Sunday, Britain is now evacuating other nationals in Sudan. The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office said military planes are collecting evacuees from an airfield outside Khartoum, with priority given to families with children, elderly or people with medical conditions. Those who want to get out are advised not to proceed to the airfield for safety. Instead, they will be called. Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said some 4,000 Britons with dual nationality and 400 with UK-only passports were in Sudan, while 2,000 people had registered with the foreign office seeking help to get out. The post Sudan 72-hour ceasefire starts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Majority of Britons back keeping monarchy: survey
Most Britons want to keep the monarchy but King Charles III lacks support from young people, a new poll suggested on Monday, less than two weeks before his coronation. Fifty-eight percent of respondents backed retaining the monarchy, compared to 26 percent in favor of an elected head of state and 16 percent who "don't know", according to the YouGov survey. But the poll, commissioned by the BBC before Charles's May 6 coronation, indicated that only about a third of young people support the monarchy while 38 percent would prefer an elected head of state. They showed broad indifference toward the institution, with more than three-quarters of 18-24 year-olds saying they were "not interested" in the royal family. Support for the royals was greatest among older people, with 67 percent backing among those aged 50-64, and 78 percent in the over-65s. Meanwhile, 45 percent of the 4,592 people surveyed said they think Charles is out of touch with the experiences of the British public, versus 36 percent viewing him as "in touch". Charles, 74, founded the Prince's Trust in the 1970s while heir to the throne. By 2020 it had helped one million young people aged 11-30 from disadvantaged backgrounds. He has also been a lifelong supporter of protecting the environment and fighting against climate change. But as Britons grapple with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, the financial burdens of the royal family also appear to be weighing on their popularity amongst young people. There has been grumbling about the cost of the coronation, which is paid for by the government, given the current financial pressures on ordinary people. Costs for the event are not expected until after the event, but the last, of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, cost the equivalent of £20.5 million. The criticism is part of wider questions about the transparency of royal finances, and plans by republicans to protest at the coronation. While 54 percent in the BBC-commissioned survey said they thought the family were "good value", more youngsters responded that they were bad value (40 percent) than good (36 percent). The post Majority of Britons back keeping monarchy: survey appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lionel Richie, Katy Perry to play Charles coronation show
Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Andrea Bocelli will be among those performing at a concert to mark King Charles III's coronation, the BBC said on Friday. A televised Coronation Concert is being held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, west of London, on May 7 -- the day after Charles is officially crowned king. BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore said the coronation was a "once-in-a-generation occasion" and called the concert line-up "world-class". But recent reports have said that a number of big-name stars have turned down the gig, including Adele, Elton John, Harry Styles and the Spice Girls. They are said to have declined because of scheduling clashes or touring commitments. But the Mail on Sunday said singer Kylie Minogue had refused given increased republican sentiment in her native Australia, where Charles is also king. Some 20,000 members of the public and invited guests are set to attend in person, with the live event also broadcast on radio and online. Other confirmed performers in the lineup include opera star Bryn Terfel, the singer-songwriter Freya Ridings and composer-producer Alexis Ffrench. Perry -- who performed for US President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021 -- as well as Take That and Richie all have links to Charles's charitable foundations. Richie, who at 73 is just a year younger than the king, said the concert would be an "honor and a celebration". Bocelli has previously performed for Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September last year aged 96. He was among a star-studded lineup headlined by Diana Ross for the late monarch's Platinum Jubilee concert marking her 70th year on the throne last June. Further names for the Coronation Concert will be announced in due course, the BBC said. Despite the coronation being the first since 1953 and an event most Britons alive have never witnessed, public interest currently appears lacking. Coronation coins have been minted, special chinaware produced and even a crown emoji made to mark the occasion at Westminster Abbey. But a YouGov poll of more than 3,000 people published Friday indicated that just over a third (35 percent) "do not care very much" about the event. Just under a third (29 percent) said they "do not care at all", with apathy greatest among younger age groups. About a quarter (24 percent) of all respondents said they cared "a fair amount" and only about one in 10 people (nine percent) said they cared "a great deal". Nonetheless, 46 percent of Britons said they would likely watch or take part in celebrations, including street parties and community lunches on May 8, which has been declared a public holiday. Preparations were ongoing for the solemn religious ceremony, whose roots date back more than a millennium, and the guest list finalized. Charles's younger son Prince Harry is set to attend, despite his public criticisms of the royal family since moving to the United States in early 2020. The former British army captain's actress wife, Meghan, however, will remain in California with their two young children. The post Lionel Richie, Katy Perry to play Charles coronation show appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A court is prosecuting eight Britons for massive fraud in the false poisoning of tourists in Majorca | Economie
Coroner No. 2 of Palma tried eight British nationals for massive fraud by falsely poisoning tourists in Mallorca. The judge charged them with alleged crimes.....»»
Two years later, an opinion poll showed that many Britons wanted a new referendum
First Amendment: 01/03/2023 – 15:39 More and more Britons believe that Brexit has hurt the country’s economy and impact on the world stage, with indications.....»»
Cash-strapped Britons give up pets as living costs soar
LONDON — Stood on her hind legs to greet any prospective owner who might approach her glass-doored kennel, Harriet is a black English cocker spaniel abandoned as a deepening cost-of-living crisis pushes growing numbers of Britons to part with their pets. She was found running along a busy road in London after witnesses saw her […] The post Cash-strapped Britons give up pets as living costs soar appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
2 Britons nabbed over marijuana in Cebu
Two British nationals were arrested after being caught with suspected marijuana in back-to-back operations in Cebu City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported. Suspect Daniel James Gadsden alias “Dan,” a 24-year-old online English instructor, was arrested first, during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Mabolo, according to a report from the PDEA-Central Visayas. Agents of PDEA, […].....»»
Britain maintains quarantine for Britons vaccinated from France
British residents of France, even if fully vaccinated, will be required to self-quarantine upon arrival in Britain, the British government announced on Friday. The executive.....»»
UK: Johnson’s global Britain is off to a bad start | international
Boris Johnson has started implementing his Brexit Instruction Manual and many Britons don’t like the way the mirror looks back to them. Reducing international development.....»»
Britain eases lockdown as Asia outbreaks fuel concern
Britons hugged their loved ones and streamed into pubs, gyms, and other indoor venues on Monday as the country eased pandemic restrictions, but Asia faced more misery with new variants and a cyclone disrupting the fight against a COVID-19 wave ravaging India......»»
& lsquo;Don& rsquo;t leave me this way,& rsquo; sing Britons in Spain as Brexit kicks in
Jimera de Libar, Spain---Bangers and mash, pints of beer, a Europeans vs Britons tug-of-war and renditions of “Don’t Leave me This Way” and “We’ll Meet Again.” UK expats in Spain marked Britain’s departure from the European Union in true British style......»»
Britons to plant trees to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on throne
FILE PHOTO: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth attends a ceremony to mark her official birthday at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, June 13, 2020. The Queen celebrates her 94th birthday this year. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool LONDON — Britons will be encouraged to plant trees to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 70th anniversary on the throne as part of a plan […].....»»
Johnson wants Britons to cycle way out of lockdown
The British government promised Monday to build thousands of miles of new bike lanes to get people moving and healthy after months of coronavirus lockdown......»»