United Kingdom

The prime minister has admitted to throwing "bring your own booze" parties at his official residence in London while ordinary Britons were told to stay away from unnecessary gatherings.

The British prime minister denied misleading Parliament about lockdown-breaching parties, as senior government ministers said he would have to resign if he is proven to have lied.

Farewell parties for the prime minister's departing communications chief and another staffer, complete with late-night drinking and dancing, took place the night before the royal funeral last April.

Johnson apologized on Wednesday for attending a "bring your own booze" party in the garden of the prime minister's Downing Street office and residence in May 2020.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer called Prime Minister Boris Johnson's apology worthless, adding that his defense is that "he didn't realize he was at a party."

On the date of the prime minister's party, the country's COVID restrictions meant that people were required to remain in their homes and away from others unless they had a "reasonable excuse."

Cases of the latest COVID variant of concern — first identified in South Africa — have been reported in the U.K., Germany, Italy and elsewhere. Travel from southern Africa is now restricted.

Thousands of the U.K.'s famous red public phone booths will be kept in service, despite lagging use. Regulators say they still play a vital role in emergencies.

"The U.K. is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for COVID-19," Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said.

A town in northern England wants to open a coking coal mine to create jobs. But while hosting the U.N. climate summit, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is urging countries to slash greenhouse gases.