It’s time to act on soaring cost of UK’s public transport - NationalWorld digital front page

NationalWorld’s environment reporter Sarah Wilson has argued for the need for government action over the soaring price of public transport in the UK.

The urgency of the situation couldn’t be any clearer, with London-born Ella Kissi-Debrah, who died aged nine, becoming the first person in the world whose death was directly linked to air pollution last year, Sarah writes.

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Without such infrastructure, the introduction of admirable schemes like clean air zones will only disadvantage the poorest drivers, with minimal impact on the reduction of UK emissions as a whole.

To avoid further tragedies like this, UK car use needs to fall dramatically. Without providing viable, cheap alternatives to driving, however, the government will find willingness in very short supply.

Biden touches down in UK ahead of G7 talks

Joe Biden landed in the UK ahead of a meeting with Boris Johnson on Thursday (10 June) on his first overseas trip as US president.

Mr Biden will warn Boris Johnson and the European Union not to “imperil” the Northern Ireland peace process, the US president’s national security adviser said, as they struggle to resolve a trade row.

Mr Biden flew into the UK on Air Force One, landing at the US airbase at RAF Mildenhall before heading on to Cornwall for Thursday’s talks with Mr Johnson and the G7 summit in Carbis Bay.

Ahead of the talks with Mr Johnson, Mr Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned that the president harbours “very deep” concerns on the issue provoked by Brexit.

The Northern Ireland Protocol explained

Talks aimed at ending the deadlock over the implementation of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement in Northern Ireland have ended without a breakthrough.

If you are unsure what any of this means, you’re in luck, as NationalWorld reporter Finlay Greig has put together a handy guide to understand the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The protocol was how the EU and the UK overcame the main sticking point in the Brexit withdrawal talks: the Irish border.

The UK is holding talks with the EU on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

However, tensions between the two are mounting with exports of sausages and chilled meats from the UK to Northern Ireland set to be banned at the end of the month.

Brexit minister Lord Frost did not rule out the UK triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, but said there are a “range of options” under consideration.

15 areas of England with the highest Covid rates

The UK government is due to make its final assessment on 14 June, a week before all restrictions on social contact are due to end, but if cases continue to increase, it is likely the roadmap could be delayed.

NationalWorld’s Claire Schofield has put together a list of the 15 areas of England with the highest Covid rates right now.

A total of 80 per cent of local areas in England have seen a rise in coronavirus rate over the last week, while only 19 per cent have seen a fall and five areas remain unchanged, Public Health England data shows.

Figures are based on the number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the seven days to 4 June, compared with figures for the previous week up to 28 May.

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