UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday a new national lockdown for England until at least mid-February to combat a fast-spreading new variant of the coronavirus, news wires reported. Johnson said people must stay at home again, as they were ordered to do so in the first wave of the pandemic in March, this time because the new virus variant was spreading in a “frustrating and alarming” way.

A British judge has rejected the United States’ request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges, saying it would be “oppressive” because of his mental health, AP reported. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said Monday Assange was likely to commit suicide if sent to the US. The US government said it would appeal the decision.

Britain begins vaccinating its population on Monday with the COVID-19 shot developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, touting its position as the first Western country to roll out an inoculation programme against the coronavirus, Reuters reported.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will find out Monday whether he can be extradited from the UK to the US to face espionage charges over the publication of secret American military documents.

Britain reactivated emergency hospitals built at the start of the pandemic and shut primary schools in London on Friday to counter the rapid spread of a much more infectious variant of the coronavirus.

Norway is lifting its ban on flights from Britain, introduced to stop the spread of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus, the health ministry said on Friday. Planes will be allowed to land from 2 January afternoon. Norway halted on 21 December travel from Britain after news that the new variant of the virus was rapidly spreading.

The post-Brexit trade bill has received the royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II, Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said in the early hours of Thursday, meaning it is now officially law in Britain, dpa reported.

The Swiss government refused to impose further restrictions related to curbing the spread of the coronavirus, even as the more contagious variants have entered the country, Reuters reported. Switzerland launched a “lockdown light” in mid-December as the cabinet ordered restaurants and sports and recreation centres to be shut for a month and urged people to remain in their homes. It shied away, however, from a nationwide shutdown of ski resorts or non-essential shops.

The United Kingdom has become the first country to grant approval for usage of a second Covid-19 vaccine. On Wednesday Britain gave a green light to the coronavirus vaccine that was developed by a joint team of Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The approval comes in time as Britain experiences a major winter surge of newly infected patients driven by a new, highly contagious variant of the virus.

Norway has extended further the ban, imposed on traveling related to destinations in Britain amid concerns over the new Covid-19 variant. Oslo confirmed all flights from and to the United Kingdom will be canceled at least until 2 Jan.