"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning," said a statement released on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. "While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously."
Britain had offered Hong Kong holders of overseas citizenship a path to residency and citizenship in the U.K. China rejects the move as an infringement on its sovereignty.
Mathematical modeling suggests that the mutations in this variant make the virus more transmissible. What does that mean for preventive measures — and the new vaccines?
The agreement comes a week before the Brexit transition period ends. The pact averts a worst-case divorce that would have hurt the EU economy but damaged the British economy even more.
"It's not like we have the Atlantic Ocean to fish in," a French fisherman tells NPR. "Here, we're in the Channel. In an hour and a half, I'm in English waters. If that's off limits, I'm dead."
The two countries reached a deal Tuesday after France initially closed its borders to U.K. travelers on Sunday following news of an outbreak of a new strain of the coronavirus in southeast England.
There's cause for concern. But how concerned should we be? Here's a rundown of the current thinking on key issues as transmission, severity of disease — and effectiveness of vaccines.
"Scientifically, it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine also can deal with the new virus variant," BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said Tuesday.
Recent polls show consistent support among Scots for leaving Great Britain. Many in Scotland think Prime Minister Boris Johnson is poorly suited to handle the pandemic and trust Scottish leaders more.
The U.K. was the first Western country to approve Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration could vote to approve the vaccine as early as Thursday.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was developed fast. But a leading vaccine expert says its important for consumers to know the companies "haven't cut corners" in the clinical science.
A British regulatory agency approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine Wednesday. It could be dispersed within days to the neediest people, government officials said.
Cambridge University Library said Tuesday that two of the naturalist's notebooks have been missing for nearly two decades. Now, the library has told local police that they "have likely been stolen."
Politicians in Great Britain are already studying the results of the U.S. presidential race, hoping for clues that could help them in their next parliamentary elections, due to take place in 2024.
