Belarus to face sanctions over plane ‘hijacking’

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing May 25, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines The UK is [preparing to impose sanctions against the dictatorial regime in Belarus]( over its seizure of an opposition journalist, with all possible measures on the table, foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said. The European Union is planning to follow suit and has banned Belarusian airlines from its airspace. Mr Raab had already slapped a ban on the former Soviet state’s national airline Belavia and instructed UK flights to avoid Belarus airspace after a Ryanair jet was forced to land on Sunday in its capital Minsk. Roman Protasevich, 26, was subsequently taken from the aircraft and detained. But the UK government was urged to go further, with MPs calling for the suspension of oil pipelines running through the country and a block on Belarus raising finance in the City of London. Dominic Cummings has doubled down on claims that the government was [ready to make “herd immunity” its main response to the coronavirus pandemic](, in the face of denials from Downing Street and a string of ministers that it was ever official policy. In a fresh string of tweets ahead of his appearance before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, Boris Johnson’s former top adviser said that as late as 14 March last year, advisers were “screaming” at the prime minister that the absence of a plan for lockdown would “kill at least 250,000 people and destroy the NHS”. He also said that, in “surreal” scenes two days earlier, the PM received advice that he should go public to explain the herd immunity idea, under which people believed to be vulnerable to serious illness or death would be isolated from society while others were allowed to catch Covid-19 in order to develop the antibodies that would protect them from future attacks. The government is [advising against all but essential travel]( to and from the eight areas of England most badly affected by the so-called Indian variant of the coronavirus, it has been revealed. Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Leicester and the London borough of Hounslow are all included on the list. The latest guidance tells people in these places to meet outside rather than inside wherever possible and to keep two metres apart when social distancing. The advice adds that people should “avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential” for their work or education. Residents in these boroughs are also encouraged to take a free Covid-19 test twice a week and get the vaccine as soon as they are offered it. Follow the latest coronavirus updates [in our liveblog](. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Hamas rising: Support for militant group that runs Gaza grows in West Bank]( [Vigil held for BLM campaigner shot in the head in London]( [Daniel Morgan report review by Priti Patel is ‘nonsense’, says brother of murder victim]( . . Stories chosen for you - [Child survivor of Italy cable car fall recovering in hospital as investigation launched]( - [Government advises against travel in and out of English boroughs affected by Indian variant]( - [Priti Patel refuses to say whether government’s plans will cause rise or fall in net migration]( - [What is the latest UK/EU row over the Northern Ireland Protocol about?]( - [Distraction, Brexit, soft power: How the UK government used football for its populist principles]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.