England - The African Mirror

Feb

2023

UK police find body near where woman went missing in late January

POLICE in the north of England said they had found a body near where a woman went missing last month. Nicola Bulley, 45, was last seen walking her dog near a river in Lancashire, northwest England, on Jan. 27. Twenty-five minutes later her mobile phone, still connected to a work Teams call, was found on a bench. Her springer spaniel was found waiting nearby. Lancashire Police said they were called at 1136 GMT on Sunday to reports of a body in the River Wyre. "An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Messi picks Brazil, France and England as WC favourites

SPORT

ARGENTINA'S Lionel Messi picks out Brazil, France and England as the biggest threats to his dream of finally adding a World Cup winner's medal to his bulging trophy cabinet. The 35-year-old Paris St Germain forward will again shoulder Argentina's hopes in Qatar as they bid to deliver the South American country's third world title and first since 1986. "Whenever we talk about candidates, we always talk about the same teams," Messi told South American Federation Conmebol. "If I have to put some above others I think Brazil, France and England are a little bit above the rest. But the World…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

England to scrap self-isolation

COVID-19

ALISTAIR SMOUT and MICHAEL HOLDEN PEOPLE who have been fully vaccinated and children will from August 16 no longer have to self-isolate after close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, health minister Sajid Javid has announced. Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out plans on Monday to end social and economic COVID-19 restrictions in England on July 19, a test of whether a rapid vaccine rollout offers enough protection from the more infectious Delta variant. Javid said the success of the vaccine programme meant it was possible to go further in easing self-isolation rules for those who have received…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Cheers drown out boos as England take the knee at Wembley

WORLD

CHEERS and applause quickly drowned out some boos as England players kneeled on Sunday in an anti-racism gesture at kick-off against Croatia in their Euro 2020 opener at Wembley. England players were shocked by jeering at the gesture from a minority of fans in two friendlies prior to the tournament. Manager Gareth Southgate, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and leading football figures had appealed for a stop to that. Once again, there was some jeering from a small section as players briefly went down on one knee, but many others among the 25,000 crowd in a sun-kissed Wembley began applauding and…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Thrill of the silver screen returns to England as lockdown eases

WORLD

HANNA RANTALA LONDONER Sam Poch was anticipating the thrill of the big screen lighting up as he waited on Monday to enter a cinema on Leicester Square - a once routine experience that has not been possible for months because of COVID-19 restrictions. The 31-year-old content producer was among the first arriving to watch a film the old-fashioned way as cinemas in England reopened their doors as part of the latest stage in the government's phased lockdown relaxation plan. "I missed it a lot. It's just the whole experience of going out, sitting down in (front of) the big screen…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

‘I’m so excited’ – England reopens with pints pulled, shopping sprees and hair cuts

WORLD

CARL RECINE, KATE HOLTON and SARAH YOUNG CROWDS queued up outside shops, pubs started selling pints at midnight and hairdressers welcomed desperate customers on Monday as England started to reopen its economy after three months of lockdown. After imposing the most onerous restrictions in Britain's peacetime history, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the reopening was a "major step" towards freedom but urged people to behave responsibly as the coronavirus was still a threat. Some folk lined up at bars after midnight or in the morning to raise a pint with fellow revellers. "It feels good to be back," Matthew McGuinness,…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Happy Monday’ – English lockdown measures ease

WORLD

COSTAS PITAS and ALISTAIR SMOUT ENGLAND’S stay-at-home lockdown order ended yesterday with people allowed to meet up outside in groups of six for the first time in nearly three months, though Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged caution due to rising coronavirus cases in Europe. Johnson announced a third national lockdown in England on Jan. 4, but has said he plans to proceed with a "cautious and irreversible" route out of restrictions, underpinned by a quick rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. That contrasts with much of Europe, with Germany and France among countries contending with a third wave of COVID-19 infections and…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

South African makes debut for Leicester City

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THERE were Nigerian and South African touches in British Premier League’s Leicester City’s 5-0 mauling of Sheffield United. Nigerian star forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored a stunning hat trick in the game and South African midfielder Khanya Leshabela made his debut for Leicester and made his first touch in one of the best football leagues in the world. The win saw Leicester move second in the British Premier League table. SA soccer fans took to the social media networks to mark Leshabela’s historic moment and to heap praise on his manager Brandon Rogers. Leicester marked Leshabela’s debut by…