British Prime Minister Boris Johnson demoted his top diplomat and fired his education minister in a major government shakeup Wednesday, as he tried to move on from a series of political missteps and revive his promise to “level up” prosperity across the UK, AP reported. In the biggest move, Johnson demoted Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has faced criticism for delaying his return from a holiday in Greece as the Taliban took over Afghanistan last month.

British PM Boris Johnson is set to announce today how his government plans to control the coronavirus during the fall and winter, news wires reported. At a news conference he is expected to say that mask-wearing, work-from-home advice and social distancing rules that were lifted in July could return if cases climb.

The Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks in the United States failed to divide those who believe in freedom and democracy, British PM Boris Johnson said in a video message marking the 20th anniversary of that day, Reuters reported. "While the terrorists imposed their burden of grief and suffering, and while the threat persists today, we can now say with the perspective of 20 years that they failed to shake our belief in freedom and democracy," Johnson said in the video message.

Britain’s interior minister was meeting her French counterpart on Wednesday as the UK pressed France to do more to stop a surge of migrants trying to cross the English Channel in small boats, AP reported. Dozens of women, men and children, wrapped up in blankets, were brought ashore Wednesday in the southeast England port of Dover by British Border Force boats after being picked up from dinghies in the Channel.

Britain registered lower coronavirus case numbers for seven days in a row on Tuesday, a decline that has surprised officials and experts. However, PM Boris Johnson called for caution, news wires reported. Recorded infection rates across the UK have dropped for seven consecutive days with 23,511 new cases announced on Tuesday compared to 46,558 a week earlier -- a fall of nearly 50%.

British PM Boris Johnson on Monday condemned the racist abuse directed at three Black England players who missed their penalties in the team’s shootout loss to Italy in the final of the European Championship, AP reported. Johnson tweeted that “those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.” London police condemned the “unacceptable” abuse, adding it will be investigating the “offensive and racist” social media posts.

The US military mission in Afghanistan will end on 31 August, President Joe Biden announced on Thursday. Nearly 20 years after it invaded in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the US military has “achieved” its goals in the country, killing Osama bin Laden, degrading Al-Qaeda and preventing more attacks on the United States, Biden said in a White House speech, AFP reported.

British PM Boris Johnson on Monday confirmed the government aimed to end restrictive measures on 19 July, with a final decision to be taken next week, news wires reported. Unveiling a five-point plan for the final step of easing curbs, he said it would eliminate formal limits on social contact and mandates to wear face masks.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced strong concerns over crowded soccer matches from the Euro-2020 championship, saying that may lead to a surge in Covid-19 infections, Reuters reported. Merkel’s worries were provoked by massive gathering of fans at the Wembley stadium. However her comments were downplayed by UK PM Boris Johnson. The two met as part of Merkel’s last formal visit to UK.

The UK’s latest surge in coronavirus infections gathered pace Thursday with new confirmed cases rising above 10,000 for the first time in nearly four months as a result of the spread of the more contagious delta variant, AP reported. Government figures showed another 11,007 cases were reported.