Briefly

UNITED KINGDOM

Mission tackling 'North-South' divide unveiled

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday unveiled plans to tackle Britain's long-standing "North-South" divide, appointing former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane as chief of a "Leveling Up" Taskforce. Downing Street said it was part of a central government mission to level up every part of Britain in which London and the south east are seen as the wealthier regions, compared to the working class areas in north and central England. The initiative is also seen as Johnson's way of maintaining support for his Conservative Party in the so-called Red Wall areas of northern England.

SPAIN

Canary volcano erupts, destroying homes

A volcano in Spain's Canary Islands destroyed houses as it spewed out lava and ash, said authorities on Monday, forcing some 5,000 people from their homes. The Cumbre Vieja volcano sent huge plumes of thick black smoke into the sky after it erupted Sunday around 3 pm, churning up molten lava that oozed down the mountainside on the island of La Palma. No fatalities have been reported, but the volcano was still active on Monday. The lava flow has destroyed about 100 houses, local officials said on Monday.

Xinhua - Agencies