Briefly

UNITED KINGDOM

PM loses poll lead after Xmas party revelations

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced mounting pressure on Friday after his Conservatives lost their poll lead over Labour and it was revealed that his chief spokesman Jack Doyle attended a festive gathering in Downing Street during a lockdown last year. Johnson has faced a barrage of criticism since a video emerged showing his staff laughing and joking about a Downing Street party during a 2020 Christmas lockdown when such festivities were banned. Downing Street had denied a party took place. But media outlets reported that Doyle had made a speech and handed out awards as part of a joke ceremony at an alleged party on Dec 18 last year. Meanwhile, tighter restrictions to curb the pandemic came into force in Britain on Friday. Face masks are once again compulsory in indoor public spaces in England. Vaccination passes will be needed for nightclubs and large events starting next week, and residents will be told to work from home, if possible.

UNITED STATES

Harry Potter 1st edition sells for $471,000

A first edition of "Harry Potter" sold for $471,000 in the United States on Thursday in what auctioneers said was a world record price for a 20th century work of fiction. The hardback 1997 British edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, with a color illustration on the cover, was described by Heritage Auctions as "magical, incredibly bright and so very near pristine". The book was published in the US as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The Dallas-based auction house said only 500 copies with the specific binding were printed. The final price was more than six times the presale estimate of $70,000.

Agencies via Xinhua