Millions of people in Ireland and northern parts of the U.K. have heeded the advice of authorities to stay at home.

Britain’s governing Conservative Party is suffering heavy losses as local election results pour in.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is aiming to repair frayed relations with Britain’s European Union neighbors and with skeptical leaders in Scotland and Wales.

Britain is preparing to join large swathes of Europe in a coronavirus lockdown designed to save its health care system from being overwhelmed. All non-essential venues — which in England includes pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, golf courses, gyms, swimming pools, entertainment places and stores selling items like books, clothing and sneakers — must close Thursday until at least Dec. 2. Unlike the U.K.'s spring lockdown, schools and universities in England are remaining open this time, as are construction sites and factories. Still, that boost didn't make up for a 25% weekly loss in income this year as a result of coronavirus restrictions already in place. ___Follow AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

An aerial view of the Cuadrilla shale gas extraction (fracking) site at Preston New Road, near Blackpool on September 16, 2019. PRESTON, United Kingdom - The United Kingdom once hoped that fracking would unlock its shale energy reserves, enhancing the country's energy security and creating jobs and new tax revenues in the process. The size of UK shale reserves remains unknown and the cost effectiveness of extraction has not been studied by the government. The nascent UK fracking industry pales in comparison to that of the United States. But the firm is sticking to its guns and testing another shale gas well.